Petty Happenings

VIII. (eight)

"And they just left you there?" Zayn asked through the jelly sandwich he was chewing. His mouth was hanging open a little in shock and the young woman wrinkled her nose before nodding, averting her gaze to the floor.

"Yeah. Like, I didn't know them the best, but they went back to the girl's house when I was swinging. I asked them at school why they left and... uhm. They weren't nice kids."

The young woman's companions brushed off crumbs off his shirt while shaking his head in disbelief. He had asked the young woman about her childhood all throughout lunch and she knew he was more or less horrified. Now that she was re-evaluating it, yes, it had been a terrible time. She didn't feel like it truly happened to her, though, and she managed to block out most of it. On the bright side, she got to live with her aunts until she found the bookstore. That was fine.

"The bitches!" Zayn exclaimed. The young woman let out a sharp laugh of surprise that was a little too loud--everyone around them looked over, even the business man and his girl toy. She cowered in her seat and Zayn reached over to pat her knee against, giving her heart just a tad bit of reassurance.

"Uh, hah. Yeah. What about, er, your childhood? You don't have to share if you don't want to--"

Next to the young woman, Novaleen stirred. Both their gazes turned quickly to her as she lifted her head, squinting sleepily, before falling back with a groan. Zayn grinned and the young woman's mouth twitched with a faint smile.

"Please tell me we're getting off this damned thing soon," Novaleen complained.

"'Fraid not for a while. Lunch came around 'bout ten minutes ago," Zayn replied cheerfully. The young woman cringed--that's not the best tone of voice to use as someone is waking up. Zayn noticed her sour look and pouted, probably scolding himself. The young woman smiled.

"That's great. Just--" yawn, "--fantastic."

"There's, uhm, a jelly sandwich if you want... I didn't wake you, did I? Was being way too loud," the young woman fretted.

Novaleen blinked, trying to process consciousness. Zayn gave the young woman a soft smile, having grown accustomed to calming her down. She was worrisome, but if he had to keep reminding her she was fine, that was okay. He wanted to be friends, and she really was bright. He hoped Novaleen could see that, too.

"No, you're good, doll. I sleep so heavily I wouldn't wake up to a hurricane," she reassured, chuckling at herself. "Jelly sandwiches, you said? That's unusual, I don't think I've ever had one before."

"I think it's for, uh, peanut allergy purposes."

Zayn nodded in agreement.

"Huh, good thinking. Still a bit odd, but I'm willing to try it. How were they?"

The young woman shrugged, busying herself with the edge of her dress while Zayn handed over a wrapped sandwich and replied.

"It was interesting. We both stomached it fine enough."

Novaleen smiled in thanks and nodded, unwrapping the sandwich and quieting down to eat. Zayn watched her for a moment, simply studying, before turning back to the young woman to try and continue their conversation without getting distracted.

"My childhood was pretty normal, nothing horribly unique. I had a dog at one point. My sisters used to put sunglasses on him and paint his nails. He was old and gentle enough to let them do whatever. We also had a cat, but, well. We're definitely dog people."

The young woman nodded, taking a deep breath before making eye contact with him once again. "I always wanted a kitten, but my aunts only ever gave me fish. Two of them lasted for like... three years, I think."

"Fish, hm? Quite the opposite from a cat, yeah?"

"Yeah. I was furious at them, wouldn't talk for a whole week." The young woman laughed lightly, Zayn joining in, but slightly louder and less hesitant.

"By the way you describe your aunts, I'll bet they went crazy!"

"More than usual, yeah. They tried to bribe me with chocolate, but at the time I didn't even care."

"Reminds me of the time when my uncle..."

The two continued on, the young woman speaking with more confidence than she ever had--which, of course, wasn't much yet, but it was progress. Zayn reminisced over funny memories and she replied politely back, sharing her thoughts, too. Even though, in some part of their mind, they knew that Novaleen was awake and still next to them, they both got a little lost in the conversation.

Novaleen had eaten half her sandwich, deciding that jelly wasn't her favorite thing. The two close to her hadn't noticed that she had finished, and she was more than content to leave it that way. She observed the pair with a smile on her face, seeing the young woman laughing her quiet, timid laugh before staring at the floor, and watching Zayn gesture with his hands as he spoke. He didn't speak too loud; it was a nice pitch, one she found her smile widening to. And as she turned away from them, giving them as much privacy as one could have when sitting right there, she noticed, for the first time from any of the three, that it was snowing, and clouds stretched on from as far as she could see.

... ... ...

Here's an update, just as I promised. For once, I was on time. A little shorter than the past two chapters, but I think it's kinda nice. Novaleen is awake, Zayn isn't as flustered (who knows how long that'll last for, tho, hahah), and the young woman is basically as comfortable with Zayn as she is with, well, anyone. Good times.

It's all good in the hood. Imma watch the WWA movie now and probably cry bc I'm feeling feels already. Peace out, homies.

Vote, Comment, Whatever! It's all appreciated c:

-lexie x