Gone With the Other Half

By Kat

Half running down the street, Ulana reached William's house. She went passed it and to the side garage where she typed in the door's password. It beeped softly and unlocked the door. Lights were already turned on and she took in the room. Smooth concrete floors ran into pale-creme walls. The ceiling wasn't completely painted, but in stretches that were bare, she could see the same concrete as the floors above her. Hanging on the north side of the garage was a punching bag, and on the south was an old fashioned jeep. Ulana guessed from the tools strewn across the floor that William was underneath the car, working on all the pipes and tubes that kept leaking oil. William hadn't noticed her yet, so she went back to the door and opened it again, closing it a second later, but harder, acting like she just walked in. William rolled out from under the car, back supported by his old skate board.

"Ulana! You almost have me a heart attack!"

She grimaced. "Sorry,"

He wiped his hands off on a nearby rag and embraced her in a bone crushing hug. "I know we saw each other just yesterday, but it feels like forever,"

Ulana nodded, smelling the familiar scent of oil grease and sweat on the black shirt Will wore. Suddenly she had a familiar desire to be closer. "I can't take it. They can't ground me! In ten days I will be eighteen! Ten! Just because they have a miserable life doesn't mean that it has to reflect on mine!"

"I know," William said calmly, taking a deep breath. "But soon it can and will change, okay? We will go to college together and get the jobs we want, everything will be in our own hands, we will decide."

A rouge tear slipped down Ulana's cheek. She took a shaky breath. "Let's hope that the letters come soon. We still have a while; summer starts in two weeks. Why can't it be sooner?"

William shook his head and pulled Ulana back, brushing the tear away with his thumb. His expression told her that everything would be okay, and that they would work through it. He bent his head down so that his and Ulana's foreheads were touching. She hooked her index fingers into his first belt loops, tugging him closer. Ulana tipped her head up so that William's lips brushed hers. He leaned in further, pressing her to him with his hand on the back of her head, tangled in her hair. Ulana's skin prickled when William put his other hand on the small of her back, pressing her closer.

Eventually Ulana pulled back, bringing her chin down. "They think that I'm on a walk around the block, I have to go."

William kissed her between her eyes, and said softly, "I wish you could stay," he pressed his lips to hers once more and watched her as she made her way to the door.

Ulana opened it and disappeared into the darkening May light. She ran back to her house, and as she entered, crashed right into her older brother, Jack. Sighing, he took her by the shoulder and led her to the backyard. Jack sat her down on one of the lawn chairs, pacing in front of her.

Ulana felt awkward trying to look tall in the low stooping chair, so gave up and collapsed on the back of it, trying to look as comfortable as possible.

"Did you seriously just go and see him? Right after mom and dad have a fight? That was the stupidest thing you have done. In fact, you didn't even think about how long it takes to walk the block. You should have been back eleven minutes ago!"

Ulana's eyes widened. How long was she gone? Jack had to be lying. She tried to think if something else that he could distract him with, but only came up with something that had been twisting in the back of her mind along the walk home.

"Where's Susie?" Ulana asked.

Her ten year old sister hadn't been home before she left. "Across the street again." Jack answered simply.

Ulana hid her relief. "Why do you even care where I go? Just because I broke a rule doesn't mean you have to parent me. I mean look at you! Your twenty and still haven't moved out of the house!"

"Your not looking so good either. Sneaking out to see your boyfriend, skipping work, lying to our parents. You can't possibly think that your reputation is flawless."

Ulana muttered something under her breath and stomped inside and up to her room, Jack following close behind.

"Did you know the the reason I have stayed home all these years - don't you think that I would want to leave too? - the reason I stayed was to take care of you and Susie. I knew that something might happen, and didn't want to leave you two alone. Maybe mom and dad started fighting because of my grades. Maybe they started fighting because of me - but you know what? I couldn't bring myself I leave when I might have started their fighting! I wanted you two to be safe! To be comforted! And you know what I get in return? Nothing!"

He slammed the door and marched down the stairs. Ulana stood there, her back to the door, for a very long time. She eventually sat down on her bed, tears silently dripping down her face. It was a long time before she looked up from her pillow, and it was only to find the annoying tapping noise. She wiped her tears and got up.

It was already dark outside, stars starting to light up the night. She pulled back her curtains and saw William perched on her roof. He pointed to the window, and motioned for her to open it. She did, and welcomed him with a hug.

He had changed from his black oil stained shirt into a navy blue hoodie. The color made his electric teal eyes stand out more than usual.

"My letter came, has yours?" He asked.

"I'm not sure. Let me get my mail key real quick," she answered, taking a key from the hook on her door and sliding it into her jeans pocket.

Hopping out of the window with William, she saw how he got up, and was immediately afraid of the height of the roof.

Sighing, she jumped down from the roof and landed on the stick-out part of the garage two feet below. Then she slid down her body length to reach the hood of her father's car. Hopping off of that, she landed, Will following close behind. When William got down, he reached out for her hand, pulling her into a hug.

"I never want to leave you again," he mumbled into her hair.

He noticed the dried tears on Ulana's face and pulled back.

"What happened?"

"Brother and I got in a fight again. Nothing much. I just hate that we keep on meeting after a fight,"

William laced his fingers in hers. "Hey, it's okay. Let's go get that letter. I'm sure it's here,"

Ulana nodded, dropping their laced hands, but not unclasping them. They walked down the road, street lamps giving an almost eerie glow. Hand in hand they reached the mail box. Ulana pulled out her keys and bent down to unlock her houses' box.

Peering inside she saw multiple letters, along with one fat, giant envelope. She reached inside and took it, looking it over with trembling hands. It was labeled for Ulana, and in the upper right corner there was a big red stamp. She jumped up and down, nodding when William asked her if it was the acceptance letter. He laughed softy and pulled her into a hug, kissing her softly on the top of her head.

"You got in!" He grinned when he pulled her back.

"I got in!" She repeated, breathless.

They hugged again and started walking, away from their houses. They walked downtown, where there was barely any activity whatsoever. The car lights were scarce and the people were rare. All the lights in the houses had been turned off, their owners retreating into their bedrooms. Will twirled Ulana around in the street lamp's dim light, and hand in hand they walked down to the docks.

The sat on the wooden platform and untied their shoes, letting their bare feet rest in the cool water. Laughing and talking, they watched the little starts above.

The water wrinkled and swirled at each movement, accepting and flexible at the same time, making Ulana yearn to have an attitude like such. William pulled Ulana to his side, and wrapped an arm around her waist as they watched the water.

They spoke about what they wanted to be in the future, where everything would be bright and hopeful. Nothing could come between them except classes. They would go to college together, until they found their way into a fitting life - although they had spoken of this before and every little detail was etched in their memory. Neither one of their minds even glanced back at their checkered past or arguing parents.

When they finally started yawning and decided to start heading home, the moon was already on its way to the west. They had stayed up about three hours past midnight. Clutching her letter from college, Ulana climbed up onto the hood of her father's car.

Story #.3
by KaleighP2004

Half running down the street, Ulana reached William's house. She went passed it and to the side garage where she typed in the door's password. It beeped softly and unlocked the door. Lights were already turned on and she took in the room. Smooth concrete floors ran into pale-creme walls. The ceiling wasn't completely painted, but in stretches that were bare, she could see the same concrete as the floors above her. Hanging on the north side of the garage was a punching bag, and on the south was an old fashioned jeep. Ulana guessed from the tools strewn across the floor that William was underneath the car, working on all the pipes and tubes that kept leaking oil. William hadn't noticed her yet, so she went back to the door and opened it again, closing it a second later, but harder, acting like she just walked in. William rolled out from under the car, back supported by his old skate board.

"Ulana! You almost have me a heart attack!"

She grimaced. "Sorry,"

He wiped his hands off on a nearby rag and embraced her in a bone crushing hug. "I know we saw each other just yesterday, but it feels like forever,"

Ulana nodded, smelling the familiar scent of oil grease and sweat on the black shirt Will wore. Suddenly she had a familiar desire to be closer. "I can't take it. They can't ground me! In ten days I will be eighteen! Ten! Just because they have a miserable life doesn't mean that it has to reflect on mine!"

"I know," William said calmly, taking a deep breath. "But soon it can and will change, okay? We will go to college together and get the jobs we want, everything will be in our own hands, we will decide."

A rouge tear slipped down Ulana's cheek. She took a shaky breath. "Let's hope that the letters come soon. We still have a while; summer starts in two weeks. Why can't it be sooner?"

William shook his head and pulled Ulana back, brushing the tear away with his thumb. His expression told her that everything would be okay, and that they would work through it. He bent his head down so that his and Ulana's foreheads were touching. She hooked her index fingers into his first belt loops, tugging him closer. Ulana tipped her head up so that William's lips brushed hers. He leaned in further, pressing her to him with his hand on the back of her head, tangled in her hair. Ulana's skin prickled when William put his other hand on the small of her back, pressing her closer.

Eventually Ulana pulled back, bringing her chin down. "They think that I'm on a walk around the block, I have to go."

William kissed her between her eyes, and said softly, "I wish you could stay," he pressed his lips to hers once more and watched her as she made her way to the door.

Ulana opened it and disappeared into the darkening May light. She ran back to her house, and as she entered, crashed right into her older brother, Jack. Sighing, he took her by the shoulder and led her to the backyard. Jack sat her down on one of the lawn chairs, pacing in front of her.

Ulana felt awkward trying to look tall in the low stooping chair, so gave up and collapsed on the back of it, trying to look as comfortable as possible.

"Did you seriously just go and see him? Right after mom and dad have a fight? That was the stupidest thing you have done. In fact, you didn't even think about how long it takes to walk the block. You should have been back eleven minutes ago!"

Ulana's eyes widened. How long was she gone? Jack had to be lying. She tried to think if something else that he could distract him with, but only came up with something that had been twisting in the back of her mind along the walk home.

"Where's Susie?" Ulana asked.

Her ten year old sister hadn't been home before she left. "Across the street again." Jack answered simply.

Ulana hid her relief. "Why do you even care where I go? Just because I broke a rule doesn't mean you have to parent me. I mean look at you! Your twenty and still haven't moved out of the house!"

"Your not looking so good either. Sneaking out to see your boyfriend, skipping work, lying to our parents. You can't possibly think that your reputation is flawless."

Ulana muttered something under her breath and stomped inside and up to her room, Jack following close behind.

"Did you know the the reason I have stayed home all these years - don't you think that I would want to leave too? - the reason I stayed was to take care of you and Susie. I knew that something might happen, and didn't want to leave you two alone. Maybe mom and dad started fighting because of my grades. Maybe they started fighting because of me - but you know what? I couldn't bring myself I leave when I might have started their fighting! I wanted you two to be safe! To be comforted! And you know what I get in return? Nothing!"

He slammed the door and marched down the stairs. Ulana stood there, her back to the door, for a very long time. She eventually sat down on her bed, tears silently dripping down her face. It was a long time before she looked up from her pillow, and it was only to find the annoying tapping noise. She wiped her tears and got up.

It was already dark outside, stars starting to light up the night. She pulled back her curtains and saw William perched on her roof. He pointed to the window, and motioned for her to open it. She did, and welcomed him with a hug.

He had changed from his black oil stained shirt into a navy blue hoodie. The color made his electric teal eyes stand out more than usual.

"My letter came, has yours?" He asked.

"I'm not sure. Let me get my mail key real quick," she answered, taking a key from the hook on her door and sliding it into her jeans pocket.

Hopping out of the window with William, she saw how he got up, and was immediately afraid of the height of the roof.

Sighing, she jumped down from the roof and landed on the stick-out part of the garage two feet below. Then she slid down her body length to reach the hood of her father's car. Hopping off of that, she landed, Will following close behind. When William got down, he reached out for her hand, pulling her into a hug.

"I never want to leave you again," he mumbled into her hair.

He noticed the dried tears on Ulana's face and pulled back.

"What happened?"

"Brother and I got in a fight again. Nothing much. I just hate that we keep on meeting after a fight,"

William laced his fingers in hers. "Hey, it's okay. Let's go get that letter. I'm sure it's here,"

Ulana nodded, dropping their laced hands, but not unclasping them. They walked down the road, street lamps giving an almost eerie glow. Hand in hand they reached the mail box. Ulana pulled out her keys and bent down to unlock her houses' box.

Peering inside she saw multiple letters, along with one fat, giant envelope. She reached inside and took it, looking it over with trembling hands. It was labeled for Ulana, and in the upper right corner there was a big red stamp. She jumped up and down, nodding when William asked her if it was the acceptance letter. He laughed softy and pulled her into a hug, kissing her softly on the top of her head.

"You got in!" He grinned when he pulled her back.

"I got in!" She repeated, breathless.

They hugged again and started walking, away from their houses. They walked downtown, where there was barely any activity whatsoever. The car lights were scarce and the people were rare. All the lights in the houses had been turned off, their owners retreating into their bedrooms. Will twirled Ulana around in the street lamp's dim light, and hand in hand they walked down to the docks.

The sat on the wooden platform and untied their shoes, letting their bare feet rest in the cool water. Laughing and talking, they watched the little starts above.

The water wrinkled and swirled at each movement, accepting and flexible at the same time, making Ulana yearn to have an attitude like such. William pulled Ulana to his side, and wrapped an arm around her waist as they watched the water.

They spoke about what they wanted to be in the future, where everything would be bright and hopeful. Nothing could come between them except classes. They would go to college together, until they found their way into a fitting life - although they had spoken of this before and every little detail was etched in their memory. Neither one of their minds even glanced back at their checkered past or arguing parents.

When they finally started yawning and decided to start heading home, the moon was already on its way to the west. They had stayed up about three hours past midnight. Clutching her letter from college, Ulana climbed up onto the hood of her father's car.

"I had a great time," she said, grinning as she sat instead of climbed.

William moved closer. "So did I,"

Before Ulana could blink, William's hands were on her hips and she was pulling him closer. Will leaned in and kissed her softly on her lips. They stayed there for a few moments, barely moving except to breathe, until they somehow set off the car alarm. Ulana leapt, got her feet underneath her, and pulled herself up to the roof. In seconds she was on her windowsill, waving her goodbye to the running figure in the shadows.

Softly Ulana slid into her room without a sound, and slipped into her bed. She immediately fell asleep, clutching the big letter in her arms as she did.

~•~

"Ulana! You're going to miss the bus!" Ulana heard faintly, but it sounded like a voice in the back of her head, just a figment of her imagination. She ignored it as if it were a simple house fly zooming in and out of her doorway.

"Ulana! Get up!" She heard the voice again, and then a great pounding echoed throughout her room.

Groaning, Ulana opened her eyes, and they roamed around the room to her alarm clock. It was supposed to have gone off thirty minutes ago! She jumped out of bed, ignoring the dizziness that tried to topple her over.

"I'm up!" She tried to yell back, but it caught in her throat when she saw the letter lying in the floor. It wasn't a dream! She was going to college! How could she have forgotten?

The next few days were fast, and most ended with Ulana listening restlessly to her parents arguments. It seemed to be all they did anymore.

Though at home she was gloomy and felt useless, her short meetings with Will made everything feel bareable, almost like all the bad things were dreams, that is, until Ulana told her parents she had gotten into the college she wanted.

"You can't go! We need you here! There is no way!" Her mother almost screamed.

Ulana made a silent sarcastic comment and mentally stabbed a knife through her own head. "Mom, you know I have been planning for this. I will pay for it all, too. There is no need for you to pay a single penny. I will go to school and get a few jobs. All I need is some help moving my stuff,"

Her dad let out an angry sigh. His greying hair was ruffled from running his hands through it. "I can't help you with any of this. If you want to go, you will have to find a way to do it yourself."

"Fine!" Ulana stormed out of the living room and stomped to the front door. "I'll just ask Will to help me! I don't care anymore!"

Her mom marched up to her. "You can't go, I forbid you! And if you are still seeing that horrible influence-"

Ulana screeched in annoyance. "Mom! Tomorrow I will be eighteen! I will be able to do whatever I want, without your damn opinion! I don't care anymore! Your thoughts on my life NO LONGER MATTER!"

caps is italicized

Ulana slammed the door, feeling with great satisfaction that the house seemed to rattle from the force of the slam. She practically jogged out to the sidewalk, and though she knew where she was going, she felt like she was lost.

Finally she reached William's house, and already tears were threatening to pool over. Before she even raised her hand to knock the door flew open, and a concerned William quickly slipped out of the house.

"What happened?" He asked, studying her.

"I... Mom..." I tried, but no sentance a formed. "Dad won't... And then... Oh Will!" Ulana excepted an embrace and held tightly, bawling so hard that she barely got any gulps I air.

"It's okay," William soothed. "I'm here now,"

The tears never seemed to stop. Ulana felt horrible for crying so much, not to mention the tear stains that would be left on Will's shirt. William sat her down on the porch step and cradled her in his arms.

"Hey, it's okay. We're getting out of here, remember?"

That brought on more tears. Ulana felt like all of her crying was going to drown her, like he was going to shrivel up like a raisin. She tried to stop the tears, and finally breathing became easier, her eyes stopped flooding, and her throat was able to ease its pain.

"I'm okay," Ulana whispered. "It's just that I told mom and dad about the getting into college thing, and they were really mad. They think that I shouldn't leave, and that I should stay. I even told them that I was paying for all of it. Dad doesn't want to help move my stuff... Mom hates you even more now... I just can't deal with them anymore! It's like they want me to have a horrible life!"

William pulled her closer. "Ulana, they would never want you to have a horrible life. You're their daughter, and they know that. They probably just don't want to let you go. That doesn't mean that you don't get to be mad at them, I get that, but you should try to see it from their prospective, at least try."

Ulana sighed, breathing in the smell that she had gotten used to associating with safe. "You're right, I should. Sorry about..."

Ulana couldn't finish, but Will knew what she was talking about. "It's okay, Ula," he said, using her nickname. "What do you want to do? We could go on a walk, or a drive, I could take you home, what sounds good to you?"

Ulana thought for a moment. There was no way that she was going home, taking a walk would make Ulana freeze to death, but taking a drive didn't sound too bad. Maybe they could stop somewhere and look at the stars.

"How about a drive?" Ulana asked.

Will nodded. "I'll go get my keys,"

A few moments later Ulana was in the passenger seat of Will's Jeep, listening to the radio and the slow drizzle of rain. Ulana's tears had dried and her breathing had regulated, and she was delighted when she noticed she could speak in full sentance a without her throat screaming.

Will had his eyes on the road, but Ulana could tell by his body language he was angry and confused. Ulana hated to see him this way. William was usually the one that would bring the good moods and set everything straight, and when he wasn't doing good, Ulana had no idea what to do.

"What's wrong?" She finally asked.

William sighed. "I just hate the way they are treating you. If it were up to me we would be moving out right now. But we can't. And that frustrates me."

Ulana nodded, understanding what he meant. William still looked like he had a question, and Ulana want sure if she should ask him what's on his mind. She didn't have to though.

"Can I ask you something?"

Ulana startled. "Yeah,"

William inhaled largely. "When your parents upset you, what do you usually do about it?"

Ulana was not expecting that. She didn't know what the question was going at and why William wanted to know, but she prepared herself to answer.

"I don't do anything about it. I leave it alone; not that I can do much without worse coming my way,"

Will seemed to have expected that answer. "But why wouldn't you talk back, or fight back, or do something that would help?"

Ulana sighed. "Nothing helps but to wait and forget about it. Why are you asking?"

Will looked back to the road, expression numb. "I.... I'm having trouble at home. Mom and Dad don't really think that it's a good idea for us to go to the same college and.... They don't think that we are good for each other."

Ulana wasn't shocked to hear this, but it hurt anyway. "Why would they think that?"

William thought for a moment, before shaking his head. "I have no idea. They seem to be really mad, but whenever I try to defend us, try the defend you, they just send me away - like I'm not worth looking at or talking to. It's.... Hard."

Ulana thought for a moment. All Will wanted to know was how to cope with his parents? Well he had come to the wrong person; Ulana didn't know how to make her parents proud or happy, and surely she never had her parents jump up and say 'sorry for that nonsense, happy April Fools day!'

"Will, I know that your having a hard time, but why don't we both just forget it, we-"she was interrupted by an angry looking William.

"Is that all you know how to do?" He asked, still stubbornly facing the road. "Just forget everything? It's like you don't care that they are trying to take over your life! You just act like it will all work out in the end, but what happens if it doesn't? What happens if our parents never come to is or talk to is ever again after we move away? I know that you don't have a great connection with your parents, but I do! I want to be with you, but you aren't thinking clearly!"

Ulana felt her heart drop. Had she not been thinking clearly? Was her connection either parent really that weak? A silent tear made it's way down her face as she looked out the side window.

"I want to go home." She finally said.

"No, please, Ulana - I didn't mean it like that, I meant-"

"I don't care what you meant!" Ulana almost screamed, tears burning in her eyes. "Take me home - *now*"

Will was pale and looked heartbroken, but he turned the car around. He looked like he wanted to say something, but he bit his tounge, and Ulana welcomed the fact that he knew that she did not want to hear it. She knew what he would say, and she didn't care.

Once they were in front if Ulana's house, Ulana made to get out, but the car door was locked. She sighed in exasperation. Why had it come to this?

"William," she started. "If you do no let me out this instant, I will scream."

William nodded, as if he had expected that. "I just want to say one thing,"

"I think you've said enough," Ulana murmured, but stopped trying to get out.

"I just want to say that I know that this probably won't change your mind about leaving, but I want you to know," he paused. "That I have and always will love you, no matter what kind of fight we get into you. I just hope you could somehow forgive me,"

Ulana's heart fluttered, but she couldn't buy into the flattery. Even if it was true, she was too young to say that she felt the same way. She tried the door again, and William unlocked it, the sadness in his eyes making Ulana's chest throb. She couldn't do this, it was way too hard. She did love him, but didn't want it to hurt him in he end.

She got the door to swing open and Ulana got out, and before she could look back, Will had closed her door and was driving back down to his house. Ulana's heart broke, a strange feeling that seemed to hollow her of all emotions - all except emptiness.

That night Ulana couldn't sleep. All of her instincts were telling her to go to Will, she yearned to see him again, to be cradled in his arms, but she knew she couldn't.

The next morning was a Sunday, and Ulana had been kept up all night, unable to sleep, until she saw the sunrise. About then her eye lids had started drooping, and her tear stained pillowcase called to her like a lonely friend. Ulana crawled back into bed and curled up, dried tears hardening on her face, making it itch. She ignored it, feeling as if she had deserved the irritation. If anything, she wondered what William was doing. Had he moved on, or was he moping around like her, spending restless hours trying to forget who she was? Who she had been to him?

Though that was the main question in her head, there was another thy seemed to lurk behind a curtain that was just barely see through. When she thought about what might be behind it, she had realized that she had been thinking about this the whole time. Would she have to change her whole future? Will and her had built it up together, not seeming to even think about the obvious things that might happen. Mentally slapping her forehead, Ulana got up.

Her bones and muscles ached, head to toe complained, and the worse was her mental state. Grimacing, Ulana got dressed in sweat pants and an old tee shirt, not caring - she had no plans. Her parents were gone for work, dad on a business trip and mom in the emergency room quarters. Her little sister had been sent out to their grandmothers and her brother was most likely goofing around with his friends and causing mischief.

Ulana painfully made her way down the stairs, fierce sunlight burning her eyes. Emptiness crept inside her, a monster that wouldn't give up on making her feel terrible. Sighing, she pushed her feelings away, letting the monster eat them. She was gone. Her other half was cut from her, and now she was just an empty body.

Author Notes: Review if you want me to write more, but I'm not sure I will be able to. Thanks! -KP

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