The next day after the morning classes were finished, Haru sat upon a stone wall on the edge of the grounds. It was a raised platform built in a circle, the flower bed behind him was filled with colour, and a small tree hung over him, its branches drooping

He sat alone in silence, staring down at his carton of juice.

In the distance he could hear other people with their friends, laughing as they enjoyed each other’s company. There was another group nearby playing with a Frisbee, throwing it back and forth. They all sounded very happy.

Haru let out a sigh, bowing his head further. He squeezed the carton of juice lightly, fiddling absent mindedly with the little white straw at the top.

He heard movement then, seeing something out of the corner of his eye.

He turned, giving a start at the sight of the figure, hooded and cloaked all in black, the figure sidled up beside him.

‘Haru...’ the figure spoke in a foreboding and dramatic voice, face hidden completely by the low hood. ‘Meet me in the drama hall in five minutes.’

Haru stared back at the figure in shock, eyes wide and mouth open.

‘….Aubrey?’

‘Don’t be late’ Aubrey said rising to his feet and gliding dramatically backwards, slipping around a corner and out of sight.

Haru stared after him a little confused, wondering what that was all about. He looked ahead again, straightening up and quickly finishing his carton before putting the rubbish in his bag. He made his way across the grounds, heading to the drama hall, following Aubrey’s path.

‘Hey you made it!’ Aubrey called out happily as Haru let the doors swing gently shut behind him.

Aubrey stood there wearing the same cloak but now with the hood lowered, and he watched as Haru stood there at a distance looking nervous.

‘Come child’ Aubrey spoke reaching a hand out to him, ‘there is nothing to be afraid of young one…you are safe with me.’

‘W-what's going on?’ Haru mumbled, stepping closer, seeing the others in the hall, Amelia and Sasha and Ben, they were carrying stuff around and unpacking boxes of costumes.

‘We’re holding a little play’ Aubrey told him playfully, clutching at his own chest, balling the dark fabric up in his hands. ‘I’m naked underneath you know.’

‘What?’

‘Just kidding!’ Aubrey gleamed, smacking Haru playfully on the shoulder a little too hard.

Haru straightened up, rubbing his shoulder and frowning nervously as Aubrey walked away from him, talking to the others.

‘Will you hurry up?! Is this going to take all day?’

‘Be quiet!’ Sasha instantly snapped back at him. ‘I don’t see you helping!’

‘I'm carrying this cloak’ Aubrey answered curtly, indicating the cloak he was wearing, and saying so as if he were doing a wonderful thing.

‘Oh, hey Haru, it’s good to see you’ Sasha said ignoring Aubrey now.

She put the box she was carrying down.

‘Aubrey was talking so long I thought he’d never find you’ Sasha said.

‘Why...’ Haru asked nervously, ‘why do you want to find me?’

‘We want to show you our play’ Sasha grinned excitedly.

‘We’re putting on a play’ Amelia said to him, sitting upon a seat a short distance away, beginning to unpack the box before her.

‘And it’s going to be so much fun’ Ben added, sifting through his own box he had carried out from the store room. ‘We did something like this last year and it was a real blast.’ He straightened up, putting his hands on his hips. ‘Have you been in a play before?’ he asked Haru.

‘Oh’ Haru replied, ‘um…no…I haven’t.’

‘Maybe you should try it’ Ben suggested. ‘It’s really fun once you get into it. Though at first it’s a little nerve wracking.’

Haru blushed slightly as he stared back at Ben, a short distance away Aubrey still wearing his cloak, glanced back at them.

‘I.....’ Haru began, ‘I’ve never been in a play before…. I’m too nervous…I get awkward around people I don’t know.... and I get awkward in new situations.’

Ben fell silent then as the others continued with what they were doing, rummaging through boxes unpacking props, continuing to listen to their discussion.

‘Why don’t you join us in the play?’ Ben offered suddenly.

‘Hey that’s a great idea!’ Sasha cried out suddenly. ‘Why don’t you do that?’

‘Oh no’ Haru fumbled. ‘I’m no good at that sort of thing.’

‘It would help you make friends’ Aubrey spoke up, ‘and build your confidence. I think it would be good for you.’

Haru stared back at Aubrey, for a moment lost for words.

‘Come on’ Aubrey prompted. ‘We would love to have you on our team, it will be fun. We’re still working on the play so we can fit you in easy.’

Haru pursed his lips, blushing slightly, he swallowed the lump in his throat.

‘Ok’ he breathed.

‘Great’ Aubrey clapped his hand together. ‘Oh, we’re going to have so much fun!’

Haru blinked nervously back at Aubrey, before glancing away towards the others. He was surprised to see them smiling.

‘Are....’ Haru began, ‘are you sure I won’t cause any trouble for you?’

‘Don’t be silly’ Sasha waved at him laughing. ‘We could do with an extra member, you’re helping us out, and in turn we can help you out. This could really help you come out of your shell.’

‘Oh’ Haru hunched his shoulders. ‘You’re making me feel like there’s something wrong with me’ he mumbled. ‘I don’t mean to be so shy…I wish I was more confident…’

‘Oh no don’t take it the wrong way’ Amelia said quickly. ‘We’re only trying to help.’

‘I know’ Haru smiled, a little more relaxed now. ‘I know I need to change…and I want to…’

Aubrey smirked at him. ‘Well come on’ he said clapping his hands loudly all of a sudden. ‘Let’s get this show on the road!’

‘What’s going on?’ Haru asked Sasha as the others moved over towards the stage at the back of the hall.

‘Practices’ Sasha smiled. ‘We’ve only just decided to start a play recently, and we’re doing all this in our spare time so it can be a little tricky to get together to work. But we managed it last year so we’ll manage it this year too.’ She grinned. ‘We’re still deciding what play to do.’

The lights shut off suddenly, and Haru jumped, glancing around nervously.

‘It’s ok’ Sasha said to him, taking a seat in a chair that faced the stage, ‘sit down.’

Haru did so, sitting in the empty seat beside Sasha. On her other side was Ben, he glanced with a smile towards Haru, before looking ahead again, towards the stage.

Haru realised suddenly that Aubrey and Amelia were missing, and he glanced about for them, but couldn’t see them.

The heavy black curtains of the stage drew slowly apart then, and Haru blinked as he watched, seeing, Aubrey standing there, still wearing his black cloak. The spotlight from above focused on him when the rest of the stage was in darkness.

Aubrey took a step to the side, and the spotlight followed him. Haru realised then that Amelia must be controlling the levers, hidden somewhere backstage.

Haru’s attention drifted back to Aubrey who stood now centre stage with the spotlight on him. Aubrey bowed his head, hands clutched at his chest.

In one dramatic move he threw the cloak off suddenly, revealing the glittering purple trousers and long sleeve top he wore.

Haru’s eyes widened, and he drew a slow gasp.

Upon the stage Aubrey gestured, a dramatic pose, sweeping his black hair back. He turned towards the audience, arms pressed over his heart now, he began to speak loudly and clearly, his voice resonating around the empty hall.

‘All I wanted was to be loved…to be accepted.’ Aubrey bowed his head then, shoulders hunched, his body began to tremble. He raised his head suddenly, teeth gritted, tears in his eyes. ‘You were the only one who ever cared for me, and you left me, abandoning me to suffer my trials alone!’

Haru glanced nervously to the side of him, seeing Sasha smiling at him and holding something in her hand. They were eye drops, tears in a little bottle.

‘It’s ok’ Sasha smiled, speaking in a whisper as she noticed Haru watching her. ‘He knows what he’s doing, he’s done this before…’

Haru smiled awkwardly back at her, feeling a little embarrassed for panicking slightly, for thinking that Aubrey was actually crying.

He raised his head, watching Aubrey as he continued to act.

‘When you were gone…’ Aubrey continued, ‘…I felt as if I could not go on any longer…I felt as if my heart had been ripped from my chest…as if I had already died…though I kept on breathing and moving.’

He paused then, for several seconds Aubrey did nothing. And then he grasped his chest again, drawing a shuddering breath.

‘Not a day goes by when I don’t miss you…. why did you have to leave me…? Your loss…your absence…. has left a permanent scar on my heart…. mother…’

Haru gasped then, his eyes wide with shock.

‘It just takes one act of bravery’ Aubrey recited, ‘a single breath, a heartbeat……just one small push.’

He moved his hands forward then, as if to push an invisible object before him.

‘And then….’ Aubrey breathed, ‘you are free……...’

Aubrey lowered his hands, smiling down at those before him as Sasha and Ben began to clap, Amelia stepping out onto the stage from behind the scenes, clapped also as she approached Aubrey.

‘That was wonderful’ Amelia told him, ‘you recite very well.’

But Aubrey was not listening, he was staring at Haru in shock.

‘…..Haru…?’

Haru who had been fighting back tears, biting the flesh of his hand so hard it hurt, could no longer control himself.

He hunched forwards, bawling into his hands, to the alarm of Sasha and Ben beside him.

‘Haru!’

Aubrey leapt off the stage, rushing up to him.

‘Haru! What’s wrong?’

Haru raised his head then, looking Aubrey in the face.

And then, through all his tears, he smiled.