The Man Who Never Speaks

24. My Chosen Family

"Pack your dolls and a sweater
We'll move to India forever
Passed down like folk songs
Our love lasts so long"
————

A few days later, Alice and FP walked into Pop's to get some breakfast. It was a quiet morning, something they both really appreciated. However, something was off about the diner. It didn't have the usual ambience it always had. Cheryl and Veronica were standing behind the counter, but instead of greeting their customers with a warm good morning, they both yawned loudly and didn't register the couple walking in.

A little apprehensive, they walked towards the counter, making Cheryl and Veronica realize that two customers had come in.

"Oh, good morning. We hadn't seen you." Cheryl excused them, offering the couple a smile and took her notepad to write down the order. FP scanned their faces, and noticed the bags under their eyes that usually weren't there.

"Are you two okay? You look... tired." He asked carefully, afraid to strike a nerve.

It wasn't his place to comment on their appearance and though the girls were beautiful as always, it didn't take a genius to see that something was off. Veronica sighed, but nodded nonetheless.

"We are. Ever since my father... well, ever since we're not family anymore Cheryl and I have been staying over here at Pop's." She confessed, her cheeks blushing slightly.

Everyone had been a witness of how Veronica had broken the bonds with her dad and currently she was suffering the consequences of that action. There was no way she wanted to live in a house with a man that betrayed her, and he was glad to see her leave. Since Cheryl wasn't welcome to come home ever since she came out it left them with no other option— staying at Pop's.

"Cheryl, honey... I've told you, you're always welcome at our home." Alice said worriedly, the concern written all over her face. The last time the girl had stayed over she had assured her that her door was always open and she wondered why they hadn't reached out.

"We couldn't knock on your door asking for a favor like that, we could be without a home for weeks..." Cheryl averted her gaze away from Alice and frowned sadly.

She trusted her, but asking a woman that once had been friendly enough to give her shelter to take two girls in her home for God knows how long didn't seem fair. The last thing she wanted was to bug the one adult figure she had in her life.

"At least stay with us tonight. You need a good night's rest." Alice proposed, giving the two young women a sweet smile. Veronica wanted to protest, feeling the same way as Cheryl about accepting any help, but FP beat her to it.

"I have a better idea..." He searched into the pocket of his Serpent jacket and took out a pair of keys that he handed out to her.

"Here. This is for you." Veronica reluctantly took the keys, her eyes asking him what he was offering them.

"It's the key to the cabin. You can stay there for as long as you need." He smiled at them, feeling like offering them a place to stay was the least he could do for two teenagers in need, but three pairs of eyes looked at him with wide eyes.

"FP... that's your home." Veronica sputtered, her heart glowing that he would do something like that for her and her girlfriend, but afraid that she couldn't accept such a big gesture. She wanted to hand the keys back, but FP refused.

"I don't need it anymore. Take it, please." He was happy to know that even when he didn't stay there anymore, that the cabin would be for good use. It had been his home for so long, he wanted it for others to be the place to go to in need, just like he had done all those years ago.