Number Eight

Extra Ordinary

I'm sitting in the library when my phone starts to ring. I ignore it, deciding that if no one bothered to come looking for me last night then I shouldn't run at everyone else's beck and call.

My phone stops ringing for a whole of 10 seconds before it starts up again. Rolling my eyes I answer, "what?"

"Good morning to you too," Diego drawls on the other end of the line. "Five was out all-night last night, came back with a grazed bullet wound and half a mannequin and won't talk to anyone," a pause, "where have you been by the way?"

Wow.

"First of all, none of your business, second, what do you expect me to do about that?"

A sigh, "can you come talk to him, please."

"And you presume he'll talk to me why?"

"Because it's you."

I stare at the drawing of two stick figures going at it on the library table before replying. "Okay, I'll be there in 10."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Don't you think you're a little old to be using choo choo band aids?"

Five sits on the edge of his bed sticking a band aid which I know for a fact has been sitting around since we were kids. There is no way those things don't expire.

He stands up to put his shirt on and I push him back down. "What are you-"

"Not cleaning up the blood is a one-way path to an infection," I wet my thumb before gently clearing it off, "last time I checked you can't afford to spend time in bed, or we'll all die."

When I look up at him, I'm almost caught off guard by the look of affection. Clearing my throat, I step back allowing him to put his shirt on. "Why are you still in your 17-year-old body, Eight?"

"It doesn't matter."

Just a minor incident.

He doesn't question it any further, putting on his shirt and blazer. Next, he moves over to a bag, gently picks up half a bald mannequin before putting it inside. "What's that?"

"Her name is Delores."

"Delores?"

He ignores me moving to open a window. "You can come if you don't have any library duties to carry out today."

I take my bottom lip in-between my teeth. I do, but it isn't urgent. "No," I say walking toward the window, "the world's more important."

We both make our way out the window climbing down the ladder to the sound of Klaus rustling through and yelling at garbage.

Nice.

"I'd ask what you're up to, Klaus," Five starts, "but then it occurred to me, I don't care."

Not nice.

He turns toward us, "hey! You guys know there are easier ways of getting out of the house?"

"Yes," I reply, "it's called a front door."

"This one involved the least amount of talking," Five adds, "or so we thought."

Klaus ignores us, "hey, hey, hey, you need any company today?"

"No thanks, Klaus," I say, "I don't want to lose another $50 to your drug fund."

"Come on!"

Five and I turn to walk away, "mi Hermano, mi Hermana," a pause, "I love you two! Even if you can't love yourselves!"