Loss Of The Stars

Chapter 11

Ah, so sorry for the long wait! Writer's Block is a pain in ass...
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(Nagisa's POV)

Mom sat at the table, a bottle to her left, her face on her palm. I kept my distance, feeling as if I so much as showed my face, it would anger her.

There were bills all over the table, most of them due for next week. Mom hasn't paid any of them.

She came home yesterday from who-knows-where and after a yell or two, she stumbled across these bills. They've been piling up, and since I am yet to find a job, I can't pay them.

Now that mom is back...maybe she can take care of it.

As bad as I feel about it, nothing else could be done. It's not like I haven't been searching for a suitable job, because I have.

It's just that nobody is willing to hire a boy, who not only looks like a girl, but also looks like a twelve-year-old.

But I swear, as soon as I find a job, once I start earning money,

I'll pay back my mom.

She may not be good at parenting...but she's still my mother, and I would help her in any way I can.

Mom groaned aloud, making me flinch when her cold eyes landed on me. But she made no move to hurt me. She just sat there.

After a while...she stood up, the bottom of the legs belonging to the chair scraping the floor as she pushed it back.

She walked passed me, and I scrunched my nose when I smelled the strong scent of alcohol, and disappeared to the bathroom.

I didn't see my mother for the rest of the night. The next morning though...I heard commotion coming from mom's room, but I was too scared (and too much of a coward) to check it out.

And when I stepped into the kitchen, there were more bottles scattered all over the floor, and on the counter...something that made me stop dead in my tracks, making my eyes wide.

Small little envelopes...white powder spilling out.

The thought of my own mother on drugs caused my stomach to churn. Mom has been spending her money on alcohol and drugs.

She's been in debt for a while. This is the reason mom hasn't paid the bills? I shook my head, willing my thoughts to disappear.

I quickly gathered up the envelopes and threw them in the trash bin, as well as the empty bottles. I made sure to clean the counter with bleach.

Mom will murder me if she finds out I threw them away, but it's for the better.

I was surprised when mom finally came out though... She had luggage with her. Was she going somewhere?

She said she was going on a business trip. Which confused me...mom's job wasn't one to make business trips. She worked at a fucking bar (that paid quite well actually)

She claimed she was gonna return in a few days. But all that luggage for a few days?

Nevertheless, I believed her.

She left just as quickly as she had showed up. No more words exchanged. Not even a goodbye..but then again, I shouldn't expect that from her.

Her behavior was strange. She seemed sober and not high on that monstrosity. Or was she..?

Fear struck me like lightening and I bolted to her room, slamming the door open. No way...

Empty. Her room was empty.

—

"And she just...vanished?" Asked Skyscraper, his eyebrows raised in disbelief. "And now you're gonna end up homeless unless those bills are paid."

I ducked my head down in shame, my cheeks burning. Slowly, I nodded, confirming his words.

We were currently sitting on the steps of my apartment, after school ended...he just walked me here, and before I could turn around to head inside, he halted me, asking why I was in such a gloomy mood all day.

It took me a while, but I ended up telling him my situation. Though I was hesitant, Karma threatened me...saying that he would make me eat super spicy food if I didn't tell him the truth.

I had no choice. I didn't just tell him because he threatened me...but because I trust him.

Despite us being friends for three, almost four, months, I trust this guy with my life.

That didn't change the fact that I was ashamed to be admitting something like this...

"Yeah..." I said "Ugh...I don't know what to do! Nobody is willing to hire me for a job....and I literally have five days left. I'm doomed."

"Bluebell..."

"I'm gonna end up living on the streets." I buried my face in my knees, my arms wrapping around them.

I felt his hand on my back, rubbing calming circles as I sighed.

"Sorry...I ranted. Thanks for listening to my crappy life problems." I thanked him, straightening my back and turning my head to look at him. I smiled. "You're a good friend."

The redhead grinned at me. Now I was wondering if he took anything that I said, seriously...

"I have an idea. But I won't tell you right now." Was what he said. "You just get your pretty little bum in there and rest for today."

I felt my face heat up. Damn him. "Excuse me, but have you seen my bum? It's not little in the slightest!" I puffed out my bottom lip, pouting.

His cheeks went pink for a second there before he burst out laughing. "I also said pretty~"

My face burned even more. I was about to argue, but decided not to. "Wait...you said you have an idea?" I changed the subject.

Karma hummed, standing up and dusting the make-belief dust from his trousers. "Yep."

"And why can't you tell me now?"

"Because I said so."

"Jerk."

"Pipsqueak."

"You're mean."

"You're hot."

Groaning, I stood up as well. "I'm flattered, but right now is not the time for flirting."

Karma turned to look at me, his eyes gazing into mine. "Who said I was flirting? I was simply stating a fact." He swung his school bad over his shoulder. "Anyway, see you tomorrow."

'Tomorrow?' "Skyscraper, tomorrow is Saturday."

"I know." He replied, beginning to walk off. "I'll be here around seven in the evening!"

And with that, he walked off, me watching his back as he walked away until I couldn't see him anymore.

Does he really plan on coming here tomorrow? The apartment is a mess...

"Oh god, the apartment is a mess!"