Nothing like you

Part 1

*sizzle*

The egg releases a spicy sound as its contents warm.

The date is January 15th, Hailey is starting her second semester of senior year in less than an hour. Renine stands in front of the stove, preparing her daughter breakfast.

The light has no trouble clawing its way inside with the floor to ceiling windows. Six of them make up the wall to the right. In front of the window sits a perfectly set dining table. Two separate spoons, two forks, a bowl and a plate sit at each of the 8 dining spots.

It's just Renine and Hailey here. No other kids, no pets, not even a fish, just them. All the time alone has made their relationship grow stronger. That and the death of Hailey's father when she was 14. He wasn't around much. He worked down at the giant office building in the middle of the city, doing something that neither of the ladies can quite remember. He payed for his absence with money. He made sure his girls had whatever they needed, and they did. That part hasn't changed much since his death.

Upstairs Hailey stuffs her MacBook in her Kanken. This one is yellow with tiny sunflowers speckled all around. It's "a limited edition" or so she told her mom when sending her the amazon link. She throw's the bag over her shoulder and joins her mother downstairs.

"Oh your cooking!" Hailey jokes

Renine quickly shuts her up

"you stop it now, I'm trying"

The space is filled with laughter as Renine dumps some not so appetizing food on a plate. Their chef Lucille is out with the flu and Renine refuses to get a replacement. "I have a specific taste" she told Hailey over takeout one night.

"well" Renine starts while carrying a plate over to Hailey "dig in"

Hailey grabs a fork from the drawer and grabs the plate from her mom. she shuffles over to the island and begins to pick through her food. She looks down at her plate and see's mountain of scrambled eggs with tomatoes, along with a piece of bread that was left in the toaster for a bit too long. Tossing the overcooked eggs to one side of her plate, she picks out the tomatoes and throws them into her mouth.

"mom I love you, I really do" Hailey says "but I'm not eating this"

Renine throws her hands up in the air

"well at least I tried"

she grabs Hailey's plate and scrapes the food into their trashcan

Hailey pushes her chair in and start towards the door

"Ill just grab something on the way to school mom"

Renine smiles and walks towards Hailey

"okay hun" she pulls her daughter in for a hug and stuffs a twenty dollar bill into her hand.

"ill see you at 8 and no earlier! your young you need to have fun while you still can"

Hailey rolls her eyes at her moms old lady joke. It's one of many. Renine looks good for 43. Her jet black hair showing no signs of her age. whether or not its from loads of dye is besides the point. Her skin still holds tight to her bone with only the subtlest of sag under eyes from late nights. Hailey always loved her moms eyes. Narrow and dark, but still so welcoming.

Hailey kisses her moms cheek and walks out the door.

---

The cold New York bites Hailey's face as she starts down the busy sidewalk. She places her airpods in her ears and begins to scroll through her music library, she lands on one.

-all I am is a man, I want the world in my hands-

She turns up the volume and imagines herself in her own coming to age movie. She dances a little as she walks towards the subway., accidently bumping into strangers that walk past her. She doesn't have long to walk, 3 minutes at most. As the song ends she reaches the stairs to the subway. She carries herself down the stairs and jumps down the last the three steps as she see's her friend Damon.

Damon has been one of her closest since freshman year. They met in drama club, paired up by drawing each others names out of an old top hat. Random, but he was exactly who she needed when her dad died so unexpectedly. He was there through all of her tears, tantrums, and silences. He was always there, with the same genuine support. Hailey is always trying to show just how grateful she is.

Seeing he has his earbuds in Hailey sneaks up behind him and pushes his shoulders.

"AAHH" Hailey yells in his ear

With a swiftness Ymir turns around with his pocket knife pointed at Hailey. Hailey's smile quickly vanishes off of her face as she jumps backwards. His fingers instantly let go when he see's who it is.

"Oh my god girl" he says annoyed while picking up his knife off the dirty ground.

Hailey pulls her airpods out and puts them back in the case.

"D! What the hell! Why do you have that" she yells over the sound of the approaching subway.

They begin to walk towards the train.

"Have I taught you nothing!?" Damon lets out a playful sigh One, I am black and gay, a certain level of protection is required honey"

Hailey laughs and wraps her arm in his as they board the train. They find seats on the right.

"And two" Damon continues, quieter now " I am not the one to sneak up on"

Damon pulls out his multi colored pocket knife again and places it Hailey's hand. She quickly places it back in his.

"ok, ok I get it, but you can keep that" she exclaims

Hailey puts an airpod in her left ear and offers the right to Damon. She scrolls through her music again and chooses her "off to school" next soundtrack