Maka

Something was…off. Firyal hasn't said a word since school ended, which seems like something she would do, but she looks almost like…I don't know. It's almost like she's sad with her back hunched over like that. Maybe she's feeling lonely, like she alone in the world. That's how it looks when she's clutching the bag on her shoulder with both hands. I want to say something…but I can't. She wouldn't answer even if I did ask her something.

There are foreign conversations everywhere on these streets. It doesn't stop. Firyal weaves through the people in the middle of conversations and they let her through without a word! They barely glance at her…but for me? They immediately stop their conversations and stare at me suspiciously. Every time I look down at the ground. I can't help it, I know I'm not welcome here, but I can't stop me from following her Firyal. I might lose her in these uneven streets if I waste my time.

I didn't recognize anything. I felt completely lost, but I knew that I would be okay if I followed Firyal exactly. I breathed a sigh of relief when I followed her through a door though. Once inside, I sort of recognized the old, but clean, building that she lived in. All of the buildings here look almost the same and the roads are more like pathways and alleys than anything. I'm just happy that we're back though before the sun started setting.

"Firyal," A stern, old voice came just after Firyal put her foot on the front step. I looked to the voice and saw a very old woman in the doorway of the first floor apartment. Firyal pushed herself away from the railing and looked to the woman with tiredness. The woman's face was completely wrinkled and she looked Indian by her bright yellow and orange robes as well as her dark skin and hair. Firyal's Indian too I think, but I don't remember. She certainly looks that way.

"Your debt is paid. Your books are here," The woman said to the girl, saying every world like it was a very strong statement and in a very thick accent. On the ground next to the door, I saw the books we bought earlier. Firyal walked over, leaned down on the balls of her feet, and picked them up. She stumbled and fell onto her knees near them when she tried to rise.

"Thank you for holding them," Firyal responded in a very breathless voice. I couldn't help it, I rushed to her and started taking a good chunk of the books before she hurt herself. I had three books in my arms when she gripped my arm. It wasn't very strong, but it stopped me. She didn't seem like the sort of person that would touch anyone of her own free will.

"Hmph," The woman huffed and retreated into her apartment, slamming the door in Firyal's face. She let go of my arm and then, One by one, she stacked the books in her arms before struggling to get up.

"Let me take some more," I said, rushing to her with the three books clutched in my arms. None of them were mine, but that didn't matter. She didn't say anything as I took more than half the stack from her dropping arms. Her face was so tired looking and her breathing was very heavy. I opened my mouth to ask if she was alright, but then I closed it. She would probably glare at me if I asked that. Today is he first day she's been out of bed since we got back from our mission. She's probably just very tired.

"Thank you," She breathed and turned to the stairs. One by one she climbed them, balancing her bag and books on one side while gripping the rail with the other. It was an interesting way to hold the railing. Her hand wrapped over the top and gripping it from the bottom.

Something still didn't feel right though...Firyal's always been someone who's known to be arrogant, pushy, and cruel. I've never heard Kim or Max say anything nice about her at all. Actually, they told me she's never thanked them for anything at all, even every time they've willing saved her life at first...Why did she thank me just now? This was beyond what I thought earlier. Something was physically wrong with her.

We made it up the stairs finally. I watched her shuffle to the door and collapse against the door jam. This was beyond being tired. My stomach clenched and I wondered if something was wrong with her heart or something. Professor Stein told me to watch her and bring her back if she wasn't feeling right.

I gathered my courage and approached her. "Are you okay?" I asked her worriedly and put a hand on her shoulder for added comfort.

"I'm fine," She responded and shrugged my hand away. I pursed my lips and was about to take the rest of the books from her when she found the keys. She unlocked the deadbolt on top and the door lock on the bottom before pushing the loose door open. She didn't say anything else as eh dropped her bag on the ground by the couch and kicked off her shoes nearby. I put my own by the door and put the books on the coffee table while I gathered my courage again. She's can't be that proud to not admit that she isn't well.

"Are you sure you're alright?" I asked her, stopping her as she started heading to her room. I stood right in front of her and blocked any attempt to get past me. She stared at me for a moment, he face clearly annoyed as sweat slid down her face.

"Move," She commanded in a weak voice. It was too weak to scare me. I held my stance and stared right into her eyes.

"Tell me what's wrong," I demanded. She looked at the celling, frustrated. Good, maybe she'll answer me now.

"Why do you think you deserve to know?" She asked, "You don't care about how I feel. NO ONE cares how I feel. That's how the world works. You're only worried about getting in trouble, but I don't care. Now MOVE," She told me very forcefully, tears glistening in her eyes. I stared at her, open mouthed and shocked.

"You're wrong. Everyone has someone that cares about them, even if-" I started softly. A look of pain flashed through her face and then she laughed a little in a saddened tone.

"You're the one who's wrong. You can't assume someone has had a good life like yours and you can't assume you can base someone off other's complaints. You have to know that person for yourself before you can demand anything from them. You can never demand anything from me," She snapped at me. I stared at her stunned and then looked to the floor. She was right. I stepped aside and let her go into her room, hugging my arms as she did. She slammed the door behind her and locked it.

I looked around the house and over the bookshelves…there weren't any pictures in the apartment. Not a single one. There were tons of books and plants and windows, but that was it. The place looked nice, expensive even, but you can't tell much about Firyal from it all. If I took away her bag and shoes, all I would see is someone who likes to read and has plants. Those are the only personal things here.

My hands moved up and I hugged my shoulders. I was sad for her now. Does this mean that Firyal is bitter because of what her past was like? Did someone hurt her and that's why she pushes the boys away even though they're still beside her, or was she raised with these sorts of gestures and that's why she acts like it? My stomach rumbled and I went to the kitchen. I searched around a little, but I could barely understand what most of these ingrediants were and what they were used for. I wound up making a cup of jasmine rice and sat at the table with it. The sun was starting to set now, turning the sky orange and magenta. Did Firyal know she had the perfect view of the desert from here? This must be one of the tallest buildings in the area because I can see over everything.

I wanted to call Max and Kim right now. Did they know what this "terrible past" might be? No, they couldn't. They would have said something or not complained about her so much. I feel like I would only get complaints though and maybe lies. Still, I finished up my rice and searched around the house.

Firyal didn't own a phone. She didn't even have a TV or computer. There was absolutely no connection to the outside world. Why would you want that? Would you want something to talk to your friends or-

Firyal doesn't have friends I remembered, at least not at school. Everyone's afraid of her. Some even hate her. Even if she did have a phone, who would she call? Maybe she would call her parents once in a while.

What if her parents are the reason her past is bad?

What makes me think the boys know anything that's real about her though? They argue all the time, why should they know anything about each other? They shouldn't….but maybe they do. The three did live together at one time (though they don't now), so they must know something. There has to be something.

I'll ask them tomorrow though. I thought about my cell phone on my desk at home. I didn't think to bring it with me because I thought I might lose it. Maybe I can get Firyal to open up on my own somehow. If life used to suck, maybe I can be the one who shows her how good it can be.

I know. I'll make her play soccer with us. If she doesn't want to play, then I'll take an interest in what's she's reading and ask her about it until it annoys her enough to tell me. Someone has to care about Firyal, but maybe they don't show it. I'll show her that I can care though even though she did what she did to Kid and the girls. I'll show her.