If You Read This...

Then He Gave Me Rat Babies

"Wanna go get breakfast?"

I rubbed my eyes and sat up. Rory stood in my doorway with wet hair and new jeans, but the same sweatshirt.

I covered my face with my pillow, "I'm not hungry."

"I'll pay," he smirked.

"Okay, I'm a little hungry," I pushed the pillow onto the floor.

He tossed my phone at me, "Nia and Ivy want to meet us." I groaned and rolled onto the floor.

He chuckled and pulled out his guitar. He began to play a song he wrote about Nia, Ivy, and me a few years ago.

"When the water washes you down

Stick your head up, look around

Cause I am coming in after you

Four legs are better than two

Four legs are enough to kick through

I won't let you down

I won't let you drown."

I throw my pillow at his face. He laughs.

"I'll be right back." I trudge to the bathroom and put on my glasses. I then change into a grey flannel and black jeans, comb my hair into a "poof" on top of my head, as Ivy calls it, and go back to my room.

"Ready?" He asks, putting his guitar down. I nod.

Nia and Ivy were waiting for us at Desole, the coffee shop we always meet at. Rory bought me coffee and a muffin. I always felt bad when he bought things for me, but I didn't have the money. He says it makes up for giving him a place sleep. I guess that makes sense. Still, I hope I can get a job soon. I could probably find a summer job for the rest of the month before school starts, just to get a little something. I wasn't sure where I'd work, though. The city's so busy, it's nearly impossible to find a doable job.

"I mean, he's just being such a jerk about the whole thing!"

I realized I hadn't been paying any attention to Nia's story.

"This whole thing would've been avoided if Ki had just apologized at the beginning!" She continued.

Oh. Ki. Just hearing his name made me clench my fists under the table. Ki is Nia's boyfriend.

"What do you think I should do, Theo?" She asked.

"Break up with him."

"That escalated quickly," Ivy snickered.

"Yeah, that's a little extreme, don't you think?" Nia added.

"No." I sipped my coffee.

"What's your issue with him, man?" Rory asked

I shrugged, "I don't have one." That wasn't true.

"Whatever, I'm not going to break up with him. He just made one mistake." Also, not true.

"It'll work itself out, don't worry," Ivy assured her. This entire conversation was a lie.

I crossed my arms, "Nia aren't you hungry?"

She paused, "I- um, already ate." Would you look at that? Another lie. Ivy shot me a look.