Chapter 29: Ess: At The Mall by warelander

''No she doesn't!''

''I'm telling you I heard she has a birthmark there!''

''How embarrassing!''

The self-named Banshee Trio gleefully gossiped, sitting at the ice cream parlor of Primp's shopping mall.

Outside all the giggling though was Ess, who sat at the table, not contributing to any of the cheerful chatterings. She just silently took spoons of her mint ice cream, lost in thoughts of what she recently witnessed.

'Unbelievable! Now he's hanging out with that tone-deaf chicken! Does this guy make friends with every girl that isn't me?!'

They remained like this until it was time to leave. Ess grew conscious that she was trialing of on some mental rants, she gave quick smiles and nods to mask that she wasn't actually all that attentive to the topics at hand.

The girls paid up and prepared to leave.

''So, what are we doing next?'' Shosu asked instinctively, directing her looks at Merigu, who merely shrugged and Emii was rarely the one to ask for suggestions.

''Actually. I gotta go pick up some groceries at the supermarket for papa.'' Ess threw into the conversation, speaking up for the first time in quite a while.

The banshees nodded in approval and the gang was quickly on their way, surely this would help Ess to get her mind elsewhere.

In a matter of only minutes, they arrived. Ess pulled out her phone, to check her shopping list.

''So let's se-''
''I need a new charging cable for my headphone''
''I want chocolate!''

Shosu and even the timid Emii excitedly ran towards the electronics and sweets sections respectively, leaving a rather stunned Ess and far less surprised Merigu behind.

''And off they go.'' Merigu bluntly mused.

''Don't you want to go off somewhere too?''

''Nah, I want to stick with you.''

Ess' heart fluttered a bit hearing that, it felt so nice for someone to say something like that to her. With a large smile, she took her phone out again.

''Alright. Cabbages, milk, dish soap, bananas and cheese. Not that much.'' She read out loud.

And with that, Ess marched onwards to the vegetable and fruits section of the market, humming to herself, which Merigu took note of. In fact, the smaller greenhead was not blind to the shift in attitude, one that always tended to happen when anything related to him came up.

''You know, Ess. You don't seem like the type who'd do groceries for just anyone. You and Mr. Zed sure are close, huh?'' She asked, surprising Ess a bit, but not in a negative way.

''Of course. He is my papa after all! He always tucks me in at night and tells me he loves me, spends all the time he can with me, I love him!'' She declared, grinning from ear to ear, the mere thought of him made her practically burst with affection and love for her dear papa.

And there it was again. In the time Merigu had spent with Ess she always noticed her getting like this when Zed came up in conversation. All of the sudden, a softer, calm, and deeply cheerful Ess entered the scene.

She watched the Tetra daughter pick up everything she needed and put it all into her basket, that cheery attitude not fading over time, not even one bit.

Merigu really liked seeing that side of her and she didn't mind mostly, silently following her in silence and watching. It was nice seeing her be this happy, especially with how tense she could be at times.

''Got everything?'' Soon enough, Shosu and Emii returned to the scene, a set of new headphones and a chocolate bar in hand.

''Just about done. All I still need i-oh!'' Ess' attention was swiftly grabbed by the magazine rack she was standing next to.

Above all else, she needed to see this month's issue of Robotics Monthly, and wouldn't you know it, they spotlighted him.

Ex Tetra, a revolutionary genius in the field of robotics.

Beloved and admired by people of all ages.

A gifted man. A brilliant one even.

A father.

Ess' father.

Merigu, Shosu, and Emii watched her stare at the cover. She smiled, but it was different from how happy she looked before. She seemed far more melancholy, like something was weighing on her, all while keeping her eyes laser-focused on the photo of Ex on the cover.

''Don't you think you are being really weird right now?''

Ess almost jumped at the sound of this new voice entering the scene. It was just her luck that Raina would show up here.

''None of your business.'' She retorted, the tone of her voice icey and ticked off.

''Maybe not, but you are really embarrassing yourself. I mean, how did you even begin to think that your wannabe stance against the bullies a couple weeks ago was a good idea?''

''I...I...At least I tried!'' It was really hard for Ess to decide if she felt more angry or humiliated at this point. Go figure she had to rub salt into that wound.

''Oh you tried alright. You did a great job dangling up there by your undies.'' Raina snarked, which only served to put down Ess even further. She didn't even want to say anything anymore at this point. ''And besides, wh-''

''Shut up already!'' Raina was rather shocked to be cut off by Shosu and Ess too was bumfuzzled, but as it turned out the trio of self-proclaimed banshees had reached their limit.

''Yeah, who do you think you are talking to her that way?'' Merigu spoke up too.

''It's what she needs to hear you little punks.'' Raina tried to justify herself, but none of the three were particularly impressed.

Ess suddenly noticed Emii squeezing her hand with her own, looking timid, but as if she wanted to contribute.

''...You're just a bully yourself.'' The small blonde dared to speak up, making her sisters in spirit more than a little proud.

''How about you get your head out of your butt and try to aim for something like Ess does!'' Shosu took it even further, glaring at the pinkhead.

Raina was trying to think of a retort as scathing as she could think of, yet, the expression on her face began to soften. Without another word, she walked forward, until her and Ess stood mere inches away from each other.

''Not bad. I guess you did reach one of your goals.'' She complimented her frenemy, before taking her leave, not giving them another word or look, she picked up a magazine before finally disappearing around a corner.

''This freaking girl...'' Ess sighed, glad that this was over as she put her own magazine in the basket. She could still hardly believe what had happened though.

''Thanks, but why did you stand up for me like that?''

The trio was a little confused at that statement, to them it seemed obvious.

''You're our friend Ess.'' Merigu softly assured her.
''You reached out to us when nobody else did.'' Shosu added.
''W-we like you a lot Ess.'' Even Emii spoke up, still holding Ess' hand.

As if a boulder that ready to crush her had suddenly vanished into thin air, Ess went from stressed out and uncomfortable to grateful and elated. A part of her felt like tearing up even, but she fought it back.

''I-I'm so glad to have met you...'' Was all she said before inviting her friends into a group hug. She loved every second of it.

She loved having someone by her side like that.

She loved knowing her wish of having her own group had come true.

She loved feeling like she was being loved back...

Authors' Notes:

WARE: And we are back from a brief, illness-induced hiatus. Things are returning to their normal schedule from here.