Tuesdays
March- 3029
The stone skipped along the river's edge, creating large ripples as it hit the water. One... Two... Three...
"Haze!" Mia's voice rang out as they ran up to the river, their hand skimming along the old brick wall. Their hand was covered in soot, their grey pants stained green from grass and a small cut stood stark against their pale cheek.
"What do you want Mia?" he sighed, but a small smile tugged at his lips as he stood up and brushed the mud from his knee's.
"House Mother made supper and told me to round up the kids"
"She did?" Hazel's voice came out harsher than he intended but worry seeped at the edges and softened the accusation enough for Mia's shoulders to relax.
"Yes— she called out to me from the window while I was playing with the younger kids"
Hazel's own shoulders relaxed, the tension easing out of his body. He brushed Mia's hand, gently intertwining their fingers with his, a low laugh leaving his throat as they blushed.
"Good, sorry I just...worry"
Mia gripped his hand tighter, rubbing slow circles into his palm.
"I know— Believe me, I know"
The mess hall was overcrowded, new kids from the nurseries flooding the tables and loudly banging at their bowls as they giggled.
Hazel groaned, covering his ears as he walked next to Mia, "Must they be so loud?"
"They're seven Haze"
"So?"
Mia snickered, placing their hand on Hazel's back and pushing him towards the furthest table where Ginny and Maria waited. Ginny was loudly talking while eating her bread, while Maria just picked at her food while forcing a smile.
That's right... It was Tuesday.
"You know you use to be loud like that? Before you became a sullen teenager and began moping all day"
Hazel pushed Mia down into their seat, rolling his eyes, "I'm not sullen and I don't mope— I've just matured, unlike some people"
Mia gasped, clutching their chest as they giggled. Ginny finally stopped blabbering into Maria's ear and took note of their presence.
"Well, if it isn't my two favourite boys, finally gracing us with their presence" she pushed their plates over to them. Bread, milk and cheese, because.... Tuesday. "So where have you two been?"
"Oh, you know, setting fires and bewitching ladies" Hazel muttered, ripping his stale bread up and picking at the crumbs.
"We were by the river because mopey wanted to skip rocks" Mia interjected, slapping at Hazel's hand to stop him playing with his food.
"That sound much more believable than Hazel's dribble, where would you even set a fire?"
"In your bed, obviously" Hazel muttered as Ginny turned red, Mia paled, and Maria tensed.
"Wow, forward much Hazel?" Ginny giggled, causing Hazel to choke on his food as he realised how that sounded.
"Haze, you can't say stuff like that-"
"-I did not mean that and you know it-"
"-I'm going to go to my room" Maria finally spoke, her chair screeching as she sat up. Hazel winced. He hadn't meant to sound like that, but it was too late— Maria was pale and sweating.
"What? Why? You've barely eaten" Ginny whined, but concern laced her voice.
"Maria— I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"
"Leave her be she just... needs a bit" Mia cut in, their hand gripping Hazel's under the table.
One... Two... Three squeezes.
Maria walked out of the mess hall despite Ginny's protest's, each step ringing out like a final bell. Hazel's stomach turned, his eyes lingering on the faint bruises of her legs.
He pushed his food away.
The cheese was far too salted anyway.
Hazel stood in front of Mia as he folded his clothes, the fabric rough in his palms.
"She looked so happy..."
"Don't think about it Mia"
"Maria was happy too... before-"
Hazel dropped his clothes to the ground, sighing as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "I said not to think about it, you'll just become sad and end up crying and if you cry... if you..."
Mia gently grabbed Hazel's hand, weaving their fingers together. Their eyes couldn't meet Hazel's, instead focusing on turning his palm up and down— tracing each line and in-dent.
"Sorry, I just... hate that we can't help them..."
"You helped me," Hazel squeezed Mia's hand, bringing it slightly closer to his chest, "If you hadn't helped me that day, I would have been just like them"
"I was just being a dumb kid— I didn't help, it was just a coincidence-"
"It still saved me"
Mia couldn't fight the smile that tugged at their lips, "God Haze, you're such a stubborn arse you know that?"
"You love it"
Mia flushed as Hazel snickered, before they tugged him down onto the bed. Hazel let out a small gasp before laughing, squeezing Mia's hand which was still interwoven with his.
Hazel curled slightly into Mia's chest, sighing as he felt them tense when the taps passed outside the room.
One...two...three
And then the screams and sobs.
"It's Ginny tonight" Mia muttered.
"I know..." Hazel held them tighter.
"She's only fifteen... why do they-"
"I don't know"
"Haze?"
"Yes Mia?"
"I turn seventeen next week— Will you be safe on your own?"
"They won't take you"
"But-"
"No"
The sobs became more muffled, but he could still hear the taps, the slams... every sickening creak.
"I hate Tuesdays"
