My Little Penguin

Chapter Eight

Catt's POV

"We are the one true hope so give me an answer now. Ooh ooh give me an answer now."

My phone screamed. The intense voices of We Came As Romans rang through my dark room. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and pushed my toes into the soft worn carpet.

A smile creeped onto my face when I remembered my encounter with Emily yesterday. I was hoping that she would be enrolling at Winter Lake. I had forgotten to ask her about it but I guess I would find out.

Pushing myself out of the warmness of my bed, I shuffled across the room in the comforting darkness. Reaching into my closet, I pulled out a Cannibal Corpse t-shirt and my black skinny jeans.

Sighing, I whispered to myself, "I guess I should turn the lights on." I squeezed my eyes shut and flip the switch, hoping the bright light would spare the life of my eyes. I squinted my eyes, trying to take the pain slowly, I realized there were no lights to hurt my sensitive irises.

I groan. "Oh my God, not again." I flipped the plastic light switch up and down over and over but nothing happened. "Fuck!" I cursed and commenced getting dressed in the light of my phone's flashlight.

After pulling on my vans and tying the black and blue laces, I grabbed my keys and my eye liner, along with everything that I need for the day and got into my car, using the little mirror to slide the little black pencil across my eyelids with precision. It didn't take but 20 seconds, so after that, I groaned silently and pulled out of my driveway, making my way to school.

**skip car ride**

After 15 minutes of driving, the familiar block came into view. I put my car into park and then grabbed my stuff out of the passenger seat. I then realized I didn't have my hoodie. After mentally punching myself and spewing curse words under my breath, I breathed deeply and pulled my hair into place, ready to face Winter Lake without my long sleeves.

"tink tink tink" I jumped in surprise and turned around to see who was knocking on my window. Lucky me, it was the one person I was trying everything in my power to avoid. Becca. I shot a glare at her and then realized that there was someone with her. It was a child. He had the same pale blue eyes as her and the blue cookie monster onesie he was wearing, only made them brighter. I rolled my window down and tried not to get distracted by his adorableness.

"What do you want? Why'd you bring a baby to school?" I seethed at her. I really didn't want anything to do with her but she had to need something. She sighed and pulled her lanky fingers through the tangled, curly mess of her hair.

"Y-you know th-he baby I wa-as t-talking about y-yesterday?" She obviously wasn't trying to cover up that stutter of hers. I nodded, wishing she would get on with her story.

"He's m-my b-brother a-and my m-mom lef-ft us, n-now I h-have t-t-o take ca-are of him." She looked so distressed when the answer was so obvious. I rolled my eyes, know she was so smart how could she not think of it.

"Why don't you have a babysitter for him then?" She had enough money to afford it. Everyone knew that.

"I-I did B-but I w-went h-home early yes-sterday and f-found her h-hurting Asher, th-that's why I-I have t-to s-skip today." Obviously I didn't realize this, otherwise I wouldn't have been so rude. But why she was coming to me with her problems was beyond me.

"So why are you talking to me?" I expected something completely rude back, like in the movies "well I don't want anyone important to know about this." But before she could explain herself, the baby started crying. I opened the door and climbed out of my car. I gestured for her to hand him over.

"Can I hold him? My dad always said I was good with babies." I never understood that. Before my dad died, I was this little girl with missing teeth and bright coloured dresses and I didn't have a care in the world. I wasn't like that anymore. My dad was my best friend and when he died I stopped wearing all the colours that reminded me of him and started listening to screaming bands that would block out the sounds of the memories of him.

Realizing I had zoned out, I took a deep breath and subconsciously cursed at the tears that threatened to spill. She nodded and handed him over to me and scurried to the trunk of her Jag that I just failed to see when pulling in. She came back with a bottle and reached for him. "Just let me feed him first." I handed him back and ran a nervous hand through my hair.

I could feel her eyes on me as I stood there, awkwardly looking at the broken up pavement under my feet.

Her voice broke the silence. "Um...C-Catt? C-Can I a-ask you someth-thing?" I looked up at her but she quickly averted her gaze to Asher.

"Sure, go ahead." I responded.

"C-can you h-help m-me wi-ith A-Asher? I'm r-really sorry a-about wh-what I-I said a-and I d-don't kn-know wh-why I did b-because I-I n-normally don't a-and I-" she stopped rambling and burst into tears. I hurriedly got over to her and took Asher from her arms, resting him on my hip. My heart broke for her. I could see she was being sincere. I pulled her into my arm and hugged her tightly. It was weird but I didn't want to let go. I felt her tears soaking into the fabric on my shoulder and her arms latch around my waist. I stroked the back of her hair and pulled away a little and wiped the tears falling from her eyes that had turned almost green in all the excitement.

"I'll help you with Asher as much as I can but the electricity at my house is out, so we'll have to be at your place. Isn't Zanayia going to help you? She is your best friend." I couldn't believe the most popular girl at Winter Lake High School had only me to confide in. "and that Matt kid?"

"Y-yeah, Zee and M-mikey are g-gonna hel-lp as m-much as th-they c-can b-but it w-will take th-them a c-couple d-days to g-get to w-where th-they c-can." She sniffled between words and I hugged her again quickly.

"Okay. I'll skip today with you and help with Ash. I'll follow you in my car. Okay?" I gave her a reassuring smile and handed Asher back to her. She took a deep breath.

"O-okay." she smiled back and made her way to her car, soon pulling out of the block and driving down the suburban street with me trailing behind her.

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Wow, this chapter is really long. I hope you guys are liking the story. It's been really hard for me to get inspired lately. I have to get in sweatpants and jam out to Bon Jovi xD. (listen to Living on a Prayer and Knockin on Heaven's Door. That's my shiizz) lol love you guys!

~ Kitty