Mikah

CHAPTER SEVEN

"Have you ever seen one of those bunnies up close before, Angus?" Nora questioned.

I turned towards her, as if she were a crazy lass, even though I knew for a fact she wasn't.

"No... I haven't. You have?" I questioned.

She nodded, as we looked at the little bunnies by the trees, all huddled together as a family.

"Oh yes, it looked just as that little family of bunnies. I even got to hold one! It was so kind to me, Angus."

I began to feel fascinated with Nora's fascination with bunnies.

"Is that so, Nora?"

She looked at me, as if she were to squeal at any moment now.

"Yes, yes!" She spoke, "But I don't think these bunnies will be as kind as the ones in my old yard, sadly."

I looked at her, smiling greatly.

"I bet they are a nice family of bunnies, you never know. The mama probably reads every night to his little bunnies and the papa probably goes out to find some food each morning. Isn't that sweet, Nora?"

She let out little squeaks, and smiled, nodding up and down rapidly at me.

I almost awed out loud, Nora was way too cute for her own good.

If Nora and Phoebe get adopted any time soon, I won't be surprise. They're the sweetest young lassies I've ever met. But that doesn't change the fact I will be quite sad when they leave, which is hence why I never want them to leave, despite my hope for them to find a wonderful family like themselves.

Nora looked up me with curiosity buried in her eyes,

"Do they make any sounds?"

I nod,

"Little squeaks. But us humans can't hear it, since they talk in a very low whisper. Isn't that just adorable, Nora?"

She squealed,

"Yes! So cute!

"Just like you," I chuckled.

Suddenly all of her emotions drained from her face, and I began to feel concerned.

"What is wrong, Nora?"

She didn't look me in the eyes this time, and locked eyes with the little bunnies in the snow from the large windowsill.

"That's what Philip used to tell me." She murmured.

"What?!" I exclaimed.

"Philip... uhm... he used to call me cute. And told Phoebe the same... as well as practically every other girl in Bristol," Nora whispered, "Please don't call me cute, thanks."

***

Around four in the afternoon, the time where I took Nora up for a nap, was around the time that Phoebe came home from being at the market.

Earlier she said she were going to get some groceries, but I knew for a fact that it was a lie. She went to get more cigarettes. She couldn't fool me.

But she fooled her little sister, that's definitely for sure.

"I'm home!" Phoebe's voice croaked out.

I ran down the steps, putting a finger to my lips and hushed her.

"Shh... Nora's sleeping, Phoebe."

She looked at me, shocked, as set down the bag of cigarettes, taking of the bag and zipping the box in her winter coat pocket.

"So... you did go to the market just for cigarettes, huh?" I joked.

Phoebe looked at me, without laughing, and said,

"Listen, groceries count as cigarettes. Have you told her?"

I shook my head, and in response, she said;

"Good."

I watched as she began to struggle taking off her boots, and then opened the door once more, heading out without me.

Opening the door, I watched as she sat down on the white porch steps leading out to the yard.

"Wait up!" I called out.

Running up to her, and sitting down next to her, I began regretting not bringing a coat or gloves with me.

She turned towards me,

"Why do you care for me?"

I was taken aback.

"Of course I care for you, why wouldn't I? I care for most kind people."

Smoke blew out of her mouth.

"Why me, though? I'm not special."

I shook my head, clasping my hands together and rocking back and forth.

"You doubt yourself, Phoebe. You're a lot more special to me than you think, really."

She shook her head, and watched as I shivered.

"You shouldn't have joined me. You're gonna freeze to—"

"You are important to me, Phoebe Stagg." I interrupted.

Suddenly, she looked at me the same way Nora did as before. As if I hit some sort of trauma.

"Do... don't say that," She replied. "And while you're at it, go inside, or else you'll freeze your entire body off... and your making me cold by just looking at you."