Girl Who Cried Wolf

Fuck, shit, fuck

"What was that? Who was that? What was he saying about me? What was he saying about you? Who's Alessandra?"

The questions started like rapid fire, just as Tracey and Kassandra left their bedrooms searching for dinner.

"Where's the food?" Tracey asked upon finding none sitting out of the table.

"FUCK!" Tyla yelled. She'd forgotten about dinner in the rush to get the money for rent.

Tyla pushed past the questioners and went into the kitchen. Opening the fridge all she found was a quarter of a carton of milk, a pickle jar, and three slices of cheese. "Shit!"

The freezer had the same story. There were three left over fries that had almost completely frozen over and some chocolate ice cream Auburn had brought over for Tracey, Kassandra, Auburn and herself to share.

"Fuck!"

"What is it?" Kassandra asked. Peering over Tyla's shoulder to look at their pathetically empty freezer.

"I didn't buy any groceries..." Tyla said angrily as she closed the freezer.

"Tyla!" Tracey yelled.

"I know!" Tyla yelled right back. But she knew she wouldn't be able to afford them earlier, having to save up for rent. And she definitely couldn't pay for them now, she just gave all her money she earned to Jordan. She'd have nothing until she went back out to work. Which she couldn't do right now.

"Just- just order some pizza or something." Kassandra suggested. Tyla looked down and shook her head.

"Can't afford it," Tyra admitted. This was the first time she'd really have to talk to Tracey and Kassandra about their current financial situation.

"What'd you do with the money?" Tracey asked.

"Rent was due today, Tracey, there's nothing I could do about that!" Tyla groaned. Backing away from the fridge, Kassandra, Tracey, Tillie. All of it. Trying to think of what to do. She can't let Tracey and Kassandra go hungry.

"Where's the rest of it then?" Tracey asked and Tyla snapped her head Black to him.

"The rest of it?" She asked confused.

"Yeah. The rest of the money. Where is it? It's not like rent is all the money we have. So what'd you do with it? Did you buy more cigarettes? Alcohol?" Tracey interrogated but Tyla hadn't done anything. Tyla didn't drink alcohol. And the cigarettes came from Harriet. Who insisted that Tyla needed something to get her loose for something like their kind of job the first day she went out on that street.

Tyla took a cigarette and she's been hooked ever since. But Harriet gives them to her, for free. She only ever smokes while on that street corner. She really isn't that bad of a smoker.

"Something like that," Tyla lied. Figuring letting Tracey and Kassandra think Tyla blew the rest of the money on drugs was better then them knowing that they were really that broke. Or them knowing how exactly she gets the little money that she has.

"Tyla!" Tracey and Kassandra yelled together.

"Yeah, ok, I know. Won't do it again. Promise. Now help me figure this out," Tyla said. Raking her fingers through her hair.

"You guys can just come have dinner at my house," Tillie's small voice said suddenly. After previously just watching the family dispute.

"Really?" Tyla asked. "I mean, that's okay?"

"Yeah, I'm hungry. And I can't just leave you without food. So, we'll just go to mine," Tillie explained like it was the most simple thing in the world. Tyla smiled and wrapped her arms around Tillie. Tyla wasn't sure she was allowed to do such things but she was too grateful not to.

"Thanks, come on, I'll drive. You'll navigate." Tyla said, she grabbed her backpack and the baby that was laying,m on the couch and waved for Tracey, Kassandra, and Tillie to follow her.

Tracey was pretty grumpy when he got in the car, and Kassandra chose to ignore them all and read a book instead and Tillie got in the car, her phone out, with Google Maps on it.

"Sorry, I wasn't planning on having to go to your house like this. Is it okay with your parents?" Tyla asked, starting up her car and driving in the direction Tillie told her too.

"It should be fine. They work until 8 so we'll be there before them," Tillie waved it off and Tyla smiled and nodded. Following Tillie's directions silently until they reached a big, white home.

Well, it was the same size as every other house on their street but way bigger than Tyla's apartment and Tyla was secretly jealous.

"This is your house?" Tyla asked. Parking the car in her driveway. Tillie nodded. "It's nice."

They all piled out of the car and followed Tillie to her front door and she unlocked it.

"Welcome to my house," Tillie introduced, leading them inside her house. And they all awed audibly.

"It's real nice," Tracey said. Looking around.

"Thank you," Tillie blushed, "what do you guys wanna eat for dinner?"

"Pizza!" Tracey and Kassandra yelled together.

"Anything's fine," Tyla countered but Tillie just smiled.

"Pizza's actually a good idea. I'm a horrid cook," Tillie said and lead them into the kitchen. Tracey and Kassandra took seats at the booth and Tyla stayed standing as Tillie ordered two cheese pizzas.

"You guys can watch something on the tv until pizza gets here," Tillie pointed to the family room and being the completely polite people they are. Tracey and Kassandra booked it to the remote. Fighting over it until Kassandra won and turned on a baking show.

"So, was that guy at the door your... landlord or whatever?" Tillie asked.

"Yeah. Who'd you think it was?" Tyla asked and the blush on Tillie's face made Tyla less curious.

"Oh... I don't know. He's pretty creepy," Tillie quickly changed the subject.

Tyla snorted, "tell me about it."

"Did he say you where taking care of Tracey and Kassandra yourself?" Tillie suddenly got serious and Tyla silently cursed Jordan out.

"Uh... yeah," Tyla scratched the back of her head.

"What happened to your parents?"

Tyla could just tell this was going to be a fun night.