Malory and Kyle must participate in the annual April Fest production as the leading co-stars. If they can cooperate by the end of the production, their long records of uncivilized behaviour towards each other will be forgotten. 
Malory and Kyle attempt to cooperate, grabbing the opportunity to make a positive impact on their own future. In the process, they become entangled in the chaos of the other’s personal life. Malory learns of Kyle’s disturbing reality, and Kyle learns of Malory’s scarring past. Can these two brilliant but messy teens learn to rely on each other in the face of their silent battles?

Between The Lines

 We exit the medical centre after my appointment and walk out to the main road. It’s after six and the light of the sun is quickly dimming. I stand next to a streetlight that turns on as the darkness sets in. 


 I notice that Malory has gone dim, herself. The air becomes awkward. Silent. 


 “Well, I’ll... see you around, then,” she says. 


 I turn to her, confused. “Where are you going?” 


 “I have to get home before it gets too dark,” she insists. “My house is the other way, dummy.” 


 “Your mom didn’t drop you to the compound?” I ask. 


 “She’s not here,” is all Malory says. 


 As in halfway across the world, China!? 


 “She’s... what? So you travelled to the compound?” I ask, slightly distressed. 


 She rolls her eyes. “No, Davidson, I flew.” 


 I drop my hand –the one holding the bag of medicine- to my side and look at her. “Who’s waiting for you at home, then? Your grandmother or something?” 


 “No, Kyle!” She says, irritated. “I’m there alone, okay?! So I’m...” she calms down. “I’m going to get home because I didn’t leave any lights on. I wasn’t planning on staying out here with you this late.” 


 I’ve got to snap out of it. There are bigger problems to worry about than the ways in which we are similar. Malory cannot return to the house. 


 Nobody can know that she stays at home alone while her mother is gone. 


 I frown. She folds her arms. I try to speak as carefully as possible. “I’m sorry... I didn’t mean to upset you... I just...” She looks at me. My eyes lock onto hers. “I didn’t know.” 


 She releases some of the tension from her face and unfolds her arms slowly. “I know. You didn’t know. It’s fine. Get home safely, okay?” 


 She turns, walking quickly into the other direction where she will be sure to find a taxi heading in the direction of her house. 


 I wish there was some way I could be sure she was safe. 


 I can’t believe I didn’t know about this sooner. 


 Suddenly I’m shaking, and I feel cold. Malory is alone. Her mom is in China. Her dad is dead. 


 I bite my sensitive lip slightly and furrow my brows, sighing in frustration as I watch her disappear around a corner. 


An Aiding Shadow [4]