Fight to Win (Book 5 of the SRMTHFG Series)

2

After stopping by a gas station and changing into clothes a little more fitting, we climb back into the Jeep and arrive at the cafe that Gwen's poetry club is meeting at. I'm wearing a navy-and-white-striped sweater (a size too big so my wings fit inside) with a black skirt and knee-high brown boots. My hair is in a French braid over my shoulder, a white beanie topping it all off. Markus is in jeans and a maroon button-up with black Converse. Cameron switched his image to black pants and a navy, long-sleeved shirt with black shoes.

The place has a calm dimness around it. A couple of workers are behind the counter, but the overall vibe is relaxed and laid back, yet cool. A bunch of people are scattered around, all either talking, murmuring over journals or slips of paper, sipping coffee, or glancing at the raised area of the floor in the corner of the room that's used as a stage. There are the usual small tables and chairs scattered across, with a mic, mic stand, and two speakers set on the stage.

"Nice," Markus comments, looking around. "Where's she at?"

"I don't know," I mutter, resting one hand on my hip. My brown canvas bag is slung over my shoulder, carrying only the necessities: wallet, a phone, a journal, a few pens and pencils, some gum, chapstick, a few small weapons . . . what? You can't expect me to just come unprepared.

Cameron gives out a silent, sharp whistle, making us look at him. He gives a small nod of his head. I look over where he gestured to, and sure enough, the girl's there. Her Guardian is with her, too.

"How are we gonna do this?" Cameron asks.

"Let's get acquainted first," I mumble back, putting on a smile and motioning them to follow me. I look around as I make my way to Gwen. Our eyes meet, and I sigh as I walk next to her. 

    "You look nice!" I compliment. "I'm kind of new here, so I don't really know anybody." She laughs.

"That's alright, I'm Gwen. This is Eric," she waves her hand to her Guardian, and I give him a little wave. He grunts and nods in reply.

"Love your name! I'm Chelsea, and this is my friend, Markus, and my brother, Cameron." I point to them as I call their names. Markus smiles and shakes hands, while Cameron nods.

"Cool," Gwen replies. "Cam's a little shy, huh?"

"Oh, uh, he just . . . prefers to keep to himself," I lie.

"Pretty much," he adds. Gwen looks at us for a minute before smiling again.

"I respect that! Well, feel free to grab a coffee and sit down. We don't judge too much here!"

"Thanks for the advice," I say, leading Cameron and Markus to the counter. A lady stands behind the register to jot down our order. Her ebony-black hair is in a bob, and her misty blue eyes catch sight of us. She gives a small smile, but doesn't seem to be paying as much attention to me and Cameron.

"Hi, welcome to the Appleseed Cafe, what can I get for you?" the girl says, leaning on one arm on the countertop with a small smirk. She watches Markus, and I feel little bit of heat rise to my cheeks.

"Uh . . . I'll have a caramel late," he says cautiously. The girl winks.

"Anything for you," she comments, typing in the order. I cough and step up a little farther than Markus, putting my hand on the tabletop and looking her straight in the eye.

"And I would like the vanilla bean frap, grande, both on the same bill," I interrupt, earning a glare from her. I reply with a smile. "Please."

"Right," she frowns, scowling as she types into the cash register and gives us the price. I hand her a ten and take the change, while Markus gets the drinks and carries them to a table. We all sit, and Markus counts the change and glances at the receipt.

"She only gave you three dollars for change," he points at. I frown and rest my chin in my palm, propping my elbow on the table. "I don't care," I say monotonously, sipping my frappuchino. I think I see him grin a little, but rub it off - it's too dim in here to tell.

    "Alright, everyone, let's start," a girl in an orange tee shirt and skinny jeans says, tapping on the mic. "Who wants to go first?"

    A guy raises his hand, pointing to a small girl beside him. She's wearing a slightly oversized sweater and a black skirt, along with tights and brown combat boots. Her dark blonde hair is down and comes to the bottom of her shoulder blades, and her brown eyes nervously look up from the journal she's clutching in her hands. She nods and stands, shuffling to the front and opening her journal and looking inside, not making eye contact with anyone.

    "Um," she winces as the speakers whine for a second before going back to normal. Her voice is soft and shy. "My name is Alice Berkley, and . . . here it is." She clears her throat before continuing.

    "The time we spent together,
  Is the time I took for granted
When you were swept away
Our relationship was firmly planted
Then it was ripped up from the roots
We made so long ago
And now that you're gone
I'm left feeling alone
You helped this lost, little seed
Find her way through the stone
But now she has no one,
Now she has no home."

    Alice gives a little nod as people clap. She scurries back to her seat, where the guy from before rubs her shoulder. "What happened?" I hear someone whisper.

    "Mom passed away. Dad already left the kid when she was born. That's her brother with her now," another voice mutters.

    I stop listening, though - my hands ball into fists on my lap, tears brimming my eyes as I stare down at the table. My mind isn't on Earth anymore - it's galaxies away, in a dark place holding innocent friends.

    "Chels, it's okay," Cameron says quietly.

    "We can do this, we've already started," Markus adds, putting a hand over mine. A warm sensation spreads from my hand and throughout the rest of me, making me sigh and rub my eyes.

    "Thanks," I say quietly, and Markus nods. A few more people go, and I notice Gwen hasn't gone up at all. Just as the lady from before goes up to close, I see Gwen and Eric.

    They're walking out the door.