Those With Wings

Awkward Conversation

Alex' POV

I was staring at the clock. Surely they had to get back soon. I was going crazy here. I'd already been through all the yelling of Zero's parents, who hadn't been very pleased about seeing their son's and Luanna's bed empty. I'd shown them the note, but it hadn't seemed to have helped.

There was a knock on the door, and Zero's mother jumped up, nearly ripping it out of its hinges.

"Oh. W-who are you?"

I turned around, and spotted Piper, who grinned at me. "I'm Piper. Alex' friend."

Zero's mother didn't respond, but merely went back to what she'd been doing. Which was staring and scowling on a chair.

I got up and walked outside, shutting the door softly. "So, what are you doing here?"

Piper shrugged. "Just thought I'd come to see you. You didn't show up for school today, and I figured you felt lonely."

I flushed. Lonely. Huh. "I'm fine," I told her.

She frowned and folded her arms. "Does it bother you?"

Her question baffled me. "What?"

"Does it bother you? That your sister likes Zero, and that you don't have the claim you used to have on her? That you don't have anyone for yourself, someone you can call yours?"

Piper faltered at the end, and I refused to meet her gaze. She kicked my foot. "You can tell me, you know."

I shrugged, but then blurted it out. "Yes, it bothers me. Sometimes. I don't know. It just doesn't seem fair, and they-they always leave me out of things- and- I just don't like it."

She did something that caught me completely off guard. Piper hugged me tightly, and I patted her head. "Uhm- thanks for that."

"You're welcome," she growled, seeming embarrassed about her show of pity towards me as she pulled away.

I grinned. "So, what have you been up to?"

"Waiting for your sister and the shushnub to come back. And going to school. You know, the usual."

"Do you usually blend in with the ground, you know, so no one notices you're different?"

Piper shook her head. "No. I like people to know I'm there. Besides, if I blended in the boys wouldn't notice me," she said, smiling teasingly.

I rolled my eyes, but felt a little hurt. "You're noticed by boys?"

"No, not really. The lopsided mouth and big nose aren't good enough for them," she admitted.

"Well, I think you're pretty."

Piper grinned smugly. "Thanks, shushno. Why don't you come to my place? We can wait there until they come back. Besides, your foster mom didn't seem in a very good mood."

I nodded, and gave her an awkward pat on the shoulder. "Thanks, I'll take your offer."