Ballad of Flowers

Chapter 9

                "... Did you two kiiiiss? ~" Apple teased with a chuckle. Orchid was rather flustered, blushing and trying to ignore him. He would only prod more, testing how far he could go before... She snapped, sitting up and intensely glaring at him. "You REALLY think this is funny, huh? The fact I got rejected and I had to cry in the hallways to actually get someone to even give a scrap of affection to me? How would you feel if I made fun of you staying at your boyfriend's house for days on end, leaving me all alone to nearly kill myself again!! You think I like that? Do you really think I loved everyone leaving me SO much, I just HAD to do this to myself?!" She pulled up her sleeves, revealing the many scars around her wrists, most healed up. Apple had a regretful look on his face as Orchid's tears started to fall from her eyes. "You think I'm proud of these?! Just think of how it feels to be left alone in this god-forsaken world, nearly killed by those racist pricks every time I go to run errands, then come home to find the only person who ever truly cared about me after age seven gone, leaving me to fend for myself!!" She cries, scales pulsating a red, cyan, and light blue. "When mom died, and dad killed himself, we only had each other, but you just threw me in the trash to go hang out with some guy you met a week ago! Now, I finally have someone that will be there for me, and you're dissing me for it? That really just goes to show how much you like seeing me in pain!!" Orchid was practically sobbing now, running over to the ladder and bursting out the hatch, flying off without hesitation. Apple felt horrible, trying to chase after her but deciding it would only hurt her more...

She wiped tears as she flew in the general direction of Alex's apartment, keeping the address in high regards. With a small swerve, she messily landed in front of the building tripping and scraping her elbows and knees. With a whimper, she picked herself up and stumbled towards the front door, looking for the buzzing mechanism. It was lightly drizzling outside, the sky starting to darken as she pressed the button next to Alex's name. "H-Hey... Alex... It's Orchid...... please let me in..." She whimpers with a sniffle, waiting for a response of a click from the door or his voice. Thankfully, the door clicked as it unlocked, and she ran in. The building was rather tall, at least 40 floors arranged in a cylinder. The stairs led along the side, working around in a spiral as they gave access to the upper levels. With a sigh and shudder, she rushes up the staircase, searching for apartment 27. She finally reached it, panting and gasping for air as she gingerly knocked on the door. It swung open, Orchid quickly engulfed in the familiar furry embrace and dragged inside the small apartment. They both dropped onto the nearby couch, Orchid purring and Alex's tail wagging. "I missed you so much... Why are you here?" He slightly separated from her, noticing the tears and wiping them from her cheeks gently. "Oh no... What happened? Are you hurt? Did someone hurt you??" He frantically looked Orchid over for any scratches, bruises, or knocked out teeth. "... N-No...... Issues with my brother..." She whimpers, looking away. "I'm sorry... How can I make you feel better?" He asks quietly, looking into her shifting irises. She didn't know how to feel better, sighing and hugging him tightly. "I think I just want to be with you..." Alex nods and hugs her back. "That sounds like a good plan..."