Badwolf Jr.

oo. Shadows.

                Lena woke up by her sister who was trying to slide and hide under her bed. Nancy snatched Lena's pillow, dragging it under there with her.

'' I brought you breakfast.'' she echoed as Lena was struggling to wake up. '' Mum is drunk again...'' Nancy informed. '' so... can you pick me up with Allan'scar...?''
'' Thanks for the cookies...'' Lena managed the words out. She got up and got ready to leave for the subway. Today is Thursday, and the first period was texture and colour. The train would come in ten minutes.'' I'll text you... I have to make the shift at 32 today.'' Lena looked in the mirror and tied her long black curls in a ponytail. Her white and pale skin made the black circles under her eyes look more intense. Her ragged worn up hoodie was reflecting exactly her mood. She tried a smile.
'' Get up and let's go...'' Lena laughed with her sister. '' mum will be wasted, and likely to wake up tomorrow...'' Nancy looked at her, with a glow in her eyes. '' so invite whoever you want to a sleepover. Today is my payday ''. and Nancy hugged her. Lena should pay rent, bills, groceries, taxes,... the perks of having dranks for an excuse of parents, she thought to her self.

Lena gave her last money to Nancy to buy lunch, and she kept the cookies for hers. As she walked out the door, she took a second on the porch, watching the paperlike clouds move by, and the sky shifting a million shades of pink, into the new morning blue. So peaceful it was.....like a painting in a museum, that would be ruined if Lena moved.
This draze was wrecked by Nancy. Jumping on Lena'sback as her laughter echoed in the street. Always kind and fearless was Nancy. Never losing her good character and good mood. Qualities that Lena taught her, and she was very proud of her little sister.
Their block was quiet today. Only Nancy's lively chatter was to be heard.
'' Well, what can I say... I can't go unnoticed.... school is my plaything....'' she said with confidence stronger than brick walls. This comment was enough to trigger Lena and burst into laughter.
'' Can I say something? '' she continued with ease and her interrogating kind of glare in her eyes. These sudden changes of the subject were Nancy's attempts to sneak up on Lena and get the truth from her, as being a liar was not in her traits.
'' Ooh, Jesus...you have been talking all morning...'' Lena laughed it off. '' I have got enough of you for the rest of the day don't you think...?'' she tried to avoid her sister with an attempt of a joke.
'' Great....'' Nancy proceeds with confidence.'' I just wanted to say have a good day today...''
'' Thanks cutie.. you too!'' Lena hugged her as she thought danger had passed.
'' With the friends that you don't have...'' she got to the point.
'' Here we go again....'' Lena answered in a huff.

''And what's the point of art school, if you are working at a firehouse?'' she said undeterred.

''We need the money, Nancy...'' Lena answered with the usual response.
The truth was that she sincerely, truly, did not want any friends. People are disappointing, so why bother... she'd rather focus on her major problems and not becoming familiar with other's issues.
'' Then why don't come to public school with no snob rich people? You could make a perfect GPA and make friends...'' Nancy suggested for the tenth time that month. Lena stayed silent. Art school was a great school and she was doing the one this she liked. School, work and drank parents don't go with hobbies.
'' I will think about it.....'' she said to her, trying to make up for the time that they were losing together ever since the firehouse was occupying her evenings.
'' Lenalisten....''Nancy sighed. '' I know that you got your hands tightened right now, but I want you to have the best time you can get... friends can make that happen... There is no point of going to a school that you draw all day and not socialize.'' she finished her thought.
'' Nancy I will think about it. Thanks for the concern.'' Lena put her arm around her sister's shoulder. They smiled to each other and waved at the market owner. '' now goto your bus.''
They farewelled and went their separate ways. The subway was two blocks away and Lena was hungry already. The cafeteria food wasn't so bad. It was free after all. After school and before her shift she had to go and babysit theBraxter kids. She could use the extra cash, but miss Baxter was in the hospital. So the only fallback was this parttime job at the cloth factory. She would have to lose the two last periods to make all that in one day.
She crossed the street and headed to the sub stairs.