I Knew I Was Only 16;; [past]

[DUSTIN SKY HALLIDAY]

Californ.i.a.--->

The phone rang twice before he finally picked up. Putting down his beer, he paused, looking at the number. On the last ring he answered but it was too late. No one was there. He flipped his phone closed, sitting there in silence. Had that really been the name and number he thought he saw on his phone just a moment ago? What was going on? After a year, this had happened so suddenly? Could something have been wrong? The second he flipped his phone open, he heard a slight beginning to a ring before the numbers appeared on the screen. They started counting the time he was on the phone. Putting the phone up to his ear, he waited even longer to say something.

0:01 0:02 0:03 0:04 0:05 0:06 0:07 0:08

"...Hello?"

"...I-It's so cold."

Anthony froze, staring at his phone once more. It really was him that had called. It wasn't some trick of the mind.

0:17 0:18 0:19 0:20

"A-Anthony?"

"I'm here. What do you mean it's cold? What's wrong? What's happened?"

The person on the other end sniffled."I don't feel good. And it's freezing out here. "

"Don't you have a jacket?! Where are you?

"A j-jacket? N-Nah-h. A girl I met-t was cold and told me a-about how she had a sickness where if she wasn't warm, she'd die immediately. S-So, I gave her mine. "

Anthony made a desperate sigh."Don't you know not to believe everything you hear? Where are you?"

"I don't know. I'm just o-out on the streets. I'm out o-of a j-job." The boy sneezed, teeth chattering. "O-Oh, hey, how was your birthday? D-Did it go well? It was a bit ago, wasn't it? H-How old-d are you?"

"I'm only 18. Don't worry about me. What's wrong with you? You sound sick!"

"U-Uh...m-maybe I am...Anthony, it's awful. I think it is. Ah, I don't even know anymore! Everything is so..fake. None of my art work sold and being kicked out of my acting career..."

"Why were you fired?"

"I kept messing up. But, it was weird for me. None of them understood. A-Anthony..right now, I don't even know what I'm feeling," he coughed for a good minute, teeth still chattering. "I don't know what to do! All I saw on stage was myself..but yet..where was I? Anthony, I d-don't know what's g-going on! I'm so lost..c-confused! Am I talking to y-you or is he?"

"Who's he?"

"Me. Or no. I don't know!"

"...I'm going to come find you."

"And I had a dream last night where you were killed. By him. Or, me. I don't want to go to sleep t-tonight. I-If I can, in t-the cold, that is."

"Get somewhere warm. I'm going to come find you. I promise."

"I'm so sorry for i-inconveniencing you. You don't have to come find me. I-I'll be o-okay."

"I'm 18. I can leave now. I'll find you and we'll get you better again, okay?"

"M hm....I-I gotta g-go. Phone's g-gonna d-die. P-Please call me t-tomorrow, okay?"

"I will. I promise. It's 2am. Find some place warm and get sleep. Please. Be safe."

"B-Bye bro.."

Anthony hung up his phone, now grabbing a suitcase and already packing.

-----------

Dustin held his phone tightly in his hand as it blinked LOW BATTERY. Wrapping his arms around himself tightly, he felt like he could puke any minute. Grabbing a small blanket from his bag, he wrapped it around him tightly as he laid down. There wasn't anywhere he could go at 2AM. He would be stuck there for at least the night. The cold concrete wasn't too comfortable but it would do. Wasn't like he hadn't slept there before. And now he thought of Anthony. He felt bad, not being there for his brothers birthday. But Anthony wasn't there when he turned 16. Then again, he hadn't contacted his family in a year. That was expected.

He sat up and put his hand to his mouth, only for a moment later to move it away and start puking. At least it was from being sick this time, not from forcing a tooth brush down his throat after eating. If there was one feeling he could feel it was definitely the feeling of being sick. And it didn't feel good. All he could really hope for was that his brother Anthony really would come for him.