I appreciate the grammar edits; thanks for the proofreading and taking out the repetition. I edited the article with a newer version of the story since I made a few tweaks, but I did toss in your changes. The different tenses was mostly something I was just playing around with when I wrote it, because I felt like it was maybe more personal for Iniki to be in the present tense, but I decided it'd be a hassle to have Ameo, who in my eyes is better in past tense, to be completely rewritten. So I went with a slightly awkward compromise despite having written it fully past tense originally. I'm just sticking with the past tense now after another look at it. Thank you! I don't plan on contributing much, since I'm not as fresh of a face as it could seem, but I might put an occasional story in since I don't have much better to do with my bits and pieces of stories that I write. I'm mostly seeking to be here without too much overkill attention. Anyone who has any theories, just stay quiet. I'm working like this for a reason.

Canamadio Just a story, written by Alnilam. It begins on page 2, like all the best stories. Maybe this is where I belong. That’s what I thought, as I sat on the curb breathing in the crisp December night. The winter silence hangs indifferent to its inhabitants, and the solitude welcomes my frosty breaths under the streetlights. Maybe I belong with these stars and the moon and with the cold. After all, the cold hasn’t lied to me. The light from the gas station was eclipsed, and I looked up to see Ameo leaning over me. “Took awhile for me to find you. Ready to head home?” With a nod, I reached up, and he pulled me to my feet. “Thanks.” “Let’s go.” Ameo ruffled my hair and we began walking back towards the house. Our shoes left soft little imprints on the dusted sidewalk, and would be the only sign that we had ever been by the gas station that evening. They would be gone by morning thanks to the snowfall. Ameo took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly. After a moment of silence, he looked at me. “Iniki. I know things are rough, but right now, we need you at home. Every time you do this I have to leave Dad and Mama at home while I find you. It doesn’t make the situation any better.” I stared at my shoes and tried to avoid stepping on sidewalk cracks. He continued to watch me, but I didn’t answer. Why answer when there’s nothing to say? Home is nothing but lukewarm dreams mixed with burning anger. Out here, out here, I can lay back on the cold concrete and pretend that I’m somewhere else. It may not be where I belong, but must be a little closer than anywhere near the red brick building that I’ve lived in all my life. “You know Iniki, when you do this, it makes me really sad.” I blinked, startled, and glanced towards Ameo. He gazed ahead with a bitter expression. I looked down again, full of guilt. Crap. I stepped on a sidewalk crack. We were almost at the front door, just like every other time. It never takes long enough to get back, no matter how far I go. Last time I went to the park. The time before that, the library. Each time, Ameo eventually comes. Sometimes we sit on the curb together, watching the stars. Other times, we just go straight home together. I wish we could always just sit and watch stars together, and not ever have to look back. As he reached for the door, Ameo paused. After a moment, he pointed up. “There’s a shooting star. You should make a wish. I’ll make one too, so that neither of our wishes are lonely.” He glanced over and raised an eyebrow. I couldn’t help but smile a little. “Sure.” I pondered for a moment, though you can’t wait too long or shooting stars will disappear before you can make a wish. “I wish we could leave this all behind, so we could always smile at the stars together.” Ameo grinned. “Good wish. I wish that we’ll both be stars one day. Now we just have to wait until it comes true, and hang tight until then.” He turned and fumbled with his keys. I could already hear yelling inside. “I’ll stick with you Iniki, so that you won’t be lonely either.” He opened the door, and we walked in. The heat was almost unbearable after being in the frosty outdoors. Mama and Dad didn’t stop arguing as we went up the stairs. They aren’t always this bad, but they scare me. I’m afraid that one day their fragile and angry relationship will shatter. As much as I hate this place, I’ve known nothing else. This home breaks my heart. It’s not where I belong, but someday Ameo and I will be able to leave it all behind and smile at each other. So for now, I’ll keep surviving here. Until the day when our shooting star answers.

Who's Drak? :ph34r: ALSO FIRST POST!!!111!1!