Say you love me

Thirty-seven

TIVELLY POV

Chapter name: alleyway screaming

"What's up with you today?" Saanvi nudges me as she helps me collect the plates from a table.

"Just a lot going on." I respond with a sigh, taking all the plates in one hand as I spray down the table with the other.

She reaches across the table, wiping it so I don't have to as she takes the spray from me, "Well we have been missing you a lot here."

The boss has been going easy on me, giving me a few days off from my... situation and letting a new girl take over.

Going back to work is stressful but I couldn't stay away forever. I would lose my job if I was away for any longer, I'm just thankful she gave me the days off.

"Oh and..." Saanvi glances around before leaning closer to me, "I would avoid Tony... he's been asking about you a lot."

I shrug, "Yeah because we are friends. He's probably been worried about me and that's why he was asking." I don't give him much thought as I explain why he could be asking about me.

She looks at me, concern filling her eyes.

"Honestly I'm fi-"

"Don't give me that." She cuts me off, taking the plates from me.

I thin my lips, before letting out a sigh, "Honestly I made friends with good people and they are helping me."

I started this year being popular with two main friends. Now, halfway through the year I'm sure I'm an outcast but at least I have eight new friends.

Sure, seven of my new friends are in some shady stuff but at least they are my friends. And I'm now friends with my half sister.

"Where are you staying?"

I glance at her, not sure what she would think about me living with a guy. But on the other hand, would she rather me be homeless?

"I live with Kaiden." I respond with a shrug. She takes a second to think before her eyes widen, finally realizing who I'm talking about.

"That cute guy? Ugh he's so hot." She rolls her eyes back, nudging me in a teasing way. "Do you sleep in his bed while he sleeps in the floor? Like a romance movie."

I shake my head no, explaining that I sleep in his sisters room while she's away.

"GUYS!" Akira screams at us from the kitchen, almost making Saanvi drop the plates she took from me.

"What?" I yell back, ignoring the costumers that just heard our outbursts. "Come here!" She tells us.

Saanvi and I exchange glances before we walk into the kitchen. I help her drop things in the sink as Akira walks over to us, excitedly holding something in her hands.

"Is it a roach?" I ask, focused on the water hitting the dishes and not on her hand. "A bird." She replies.

I shake my head, turning towards her hand and then immediately stopping when I see a bird in her hand. Not one of those house trained birds... but a bird from outside. One of the ones that sits on the power lines.

"Uh... i don't know if anyone told you but that's a health hazard." I respond, making her smile drop.

Before she can say anything else she pushes me out the back door and into the parking lot, pushing the bird into my hand.

I hesitantly hold my hands out so it won't fall. I hold my breath, watching it walk around on my hand, it's wing bent to where it can't fly.

"It reminds me... of me." I mumble. Akira doesn't say anything, just watches in silence.