|Efflorescence Z.M.|

White lips,pale face breathing in the snow flakes

It was cold. She was cold. But content for the cold made her numb. When she was numb she couldn't feel and she loved that. She couldn't feel the cold spread throughout her body. She couldn't feel the hunger in her stomach.

Her eyes followed a white,fluffy cat. It was wandering the big streets of Los Angeles California all alone. In her intoxicated state,she watched it with a smile. Her smile,however,faltered when she saw the cat go into the streets. Main Street was a busy street; a fast street. Her mind couldn't focus on the cat and drifted towards millions of other things. But when she saw a big black car speeding towards the cat,she panicked.

The young girl stood up and ran towards the cat,her heart beating through her ears in anticipation. She managed to retrieve the cat but it was almost too late. The car was stopped right before the girl who acted as though nothing happened. All she cared about was the cat. She kept talking to it,petting it lovingly whilst sending a mad glare towards the driver. She went back to her spot and pushed the cat into the warmth her varsity jacket provided.

The big black car stopped at the curve of the street,before the homeless girl. Seconds later a man in a dark coat stepped out of the driver's seat. The man,who Angela decided to name "mr.grumpy",had a stern face. He was shocked for he almost took a life and confused as to why the girl would risk her life to save the runaway.

"Are you insane?" The man speaks in a thick British accent.

"Says the man who almost killed an innocent cat." The young brunette said her words with precision and no thought whatsoever.

"And you were the one who saved it. Why would you do that?" Zayn asks,totally confused as to why the "street rat" would ever risk her life for the sake of an animals. Not even he would do that. It was careless and reckless and stupid.

"Everyone deserves a second chance..fluffy needs a home."

"And you can provide that?" He said,almost in a mocking way. Angela stood up as tall as she could,which was five feet and eight inches. Compared to "mr.grumpy" she looked like a child even though she was two months older. The man was  6'2 meanwhile the girl was 5'8. She was proud of her height. That was until she met him.

"Just because you inherited some big company doesn't mean you have the right to insult me. You haven't worked a day in your life and I'm sure this is your first time talking to 'someone like me' so I'll make it brief. Insult me again and I'll make sure it's the last thing you'll do." She spat.

"What are you taking?" Zayn asks,assuming the worst. He remembered his best friend and how bad drugs influenced her. He doesn't want the same to happen to the girl.

"Excuse me?" She huffs,rolling her brown eyes.

"Drugs."

"None of your business..and I'm not on drugs." She lies pathetically.

"You're shaking. And you have..stuff in her hair." He says and as to prove his point,he pokes her, causing tiny white specks to fall from her hair. She stands tall against the "giant" and peers up at him through her long eyelashes.

"It's cold."

"Your eyes are red."

"Maybe I was crying. Look mr.grumpy,just leave me and furry alone." She says, taking a long huff of her cigarette.

"You know smoking kills."

"And would that really be bad?" She whispers, a tear falling from her ashy face.

"Leave me a fur ball alone."

"I thought his name was fluffy." Zayn corrects, making her frown.

"S-same thing."

"I'm trying to help you-"

"Maybe I don't need your help."

"Fine." The business man said,walking away from the girl. He walked slowly,as if he were waiting for her to change her mind. And she did. Once she looked down at fluffy,she pouted for the cat was skinny and shaking and she couldn't provide enough. Maybe he could.

"Wait! T-take snowflake.. I don't deserve him." She pouts,having one of her constant mood swings. Naturally,she was a calm girl but because of her constant use she was often bipolar. Her pout increases while looking at the cat who's name she couldn't remember.

"I want to take you and fluffy. I can help you."

"I don't want your help."

"But you need it. For how long have you been here?" He asks,genuinely concerned for the girl covered in black but with a heart of gold.

"Been this way since eighteen. So..two years."

"It's going to be twenty if you don't take this opportunity. I'll take you to my apartme-"

"What do you get out of this? I'm not sleepin-"

"God forbid." Zayn mocks. "Besides..you're not my type." He adds rudely,his eyes raking down her small frame.

"I don't even know your name." She argues. Angela looks down at the cat who was cold. Although she couldn't feel the cold,the cat could. She continued to groom it,thinking if she should stay or go.

"Zayn. And my offer expires in five..four..three..two-"

"Fine!" She barks. "I mean..please."

"Get in the car."