One Last Breath
~By: Lauren~
L I F E ' S
F L Y I N G
B Y
"Good job!" Tony smirked, giving Meimi a pat on the back as she hopped off her motorbike. "It fits you perfectly."
"Thanks." Meimi brushed back a piece of red hair that had flown into her face. "I can't believe you got this once piece of junk from a junk yard back into tip top working shape!"
"All in a days work, or in this case, a months work." Tony lifted up his hand, rubbing the back of his head. "Here is your license." He handed her a tiny, plastic card that had her name, picture and other information. It stated that she was sixteen and had passed the driving test. He also gave her back the picture of her with her parents by the cherry trees.
The girl collapsed onto an old car seat that had been torn out. "I think I've finally got the hang of riding by myself but.how'd you get this? I'm not sixteen yet and I never took any kind of test!" She grabbed the prized picture while she examined the card.
"Let's just say before he died, my father had friends in high and low places. They would do anything to help an old friend's son. That's how Tammy got her license too. We scanned your picture and placed it onto the card. Are those your parents?" Tony nodded to the picture.
"Yeah." Her lips tightened while a silence fell around her.
"Sorry." Tony whispered.
"Good job Meimi!" A voice nearby stated proudly, interrupting the silence. Tammy stepped out of the shadows, giving Tony a wink. "Told you we should keep this one. Except it really was funny when Tony kept repeating gas, brake, gas, brake. Now brake. Then Meimi floored it and the bike shot up into the air while she went flying on her butt!!" Laughter erupted out of Tony and Tammy's throat while Meimi rolled her eyes.
"Oh be quiet! I was just uneasy about a new member. But that was pretty funny!" Tony snapped back quickly, tilting his head sideways.
Tammy's chocolate hair bounced as she launched herself onto the car seat Meimi was sitting in. It had grown a bit longer in the months that had passed since Meimi had joined them.
"Would you be quiet!! Some of us are TRYING to read!!" Aaron rolled his eyes, hanging his head upside down out of a close by opened rusted car door.
"So the little one learns." Meimi flipped an apple into the air, catching it in her hand before she took a bite. How long ago did she join these people? Counting back it was around six months already. She was surprised how fast the time flew by. Meimi was sure that their tedious ways of living would drag on forever but after having a taste of it she was beginning to enjoy it.
"Thanks again for the book Meimi!!" Aaron flashed her a smile before returning his attention to the book he was holding. Meimi smiled back a 'your welcome'.
"Where's Marie?" Tammy glanced around the yard nervously. "She was here a second ago."
Tony shrugged, sitting down next to the girl. Somehow his arm mysteriously made it's way around Tammy's shoulders. "Probably sneaking into a movie or something. You know the little rascal." Ruby squeaked in agreement. The hedgehog was now sporting a leather ribbon in her hair.
"Well she learns it from her brother." Tammy shot the boy a dangerous glare.
"We all learn it from him." Meimi commented, ducking when a magazine went flying past her head. Laughter filled the air for a few moments before she paused, her eyes growing serious as she stared into the dirt in front of her. Her sunglasses caused the brown to tint a bit.
Tammy glanced at Meimi suddenly, asking a question that had never been stated for fear of the reaction but now the girl felt it time for her to get some kind of answer to Meimi's sometimes strange actions. "Why don't you ever take those things off?" She pointed to the red head's sunglasses.
Meimi looked down, trying to search for an answer that wouldn't take her explaining everything. She just couldn't tell Tammy or for sure she would turn on her. "I.I just.don't want anyone to see my eyes." She stuttered.
"Why not? Are they like disfigured or something?" Aaron flipped right side up from where he was laying down. He smiled. "We wouldn't hate you if they were, silly!"
Tammy glared at the boy, silencing him.
"No.I j-just can't l-look at my eyes. It was my fault t-that they're gone.if I look in them.I'll see what I use to be." Meimi uttered the words before she stood up. "I'm going to go on a walk. See you guys in a bit." Without waiting for an answer, Meimi disappeared around the corner, tears welling in her eyes.
"Who's gone Tams?" Aaron looked at the older girl with wonder in his eyes.
She stepped over to the blonde, ruffling his hair. "I think.her parents. I don't know if you'd really understand but.she's afraid to see inside herself. She's afraid she'll look into her eyes and see the happy go lucky perfect girl she used to be before whatever happened to her. Or she'll look into her eyes and see an ugliness that she fears is herself. She's afraid to see her heart has turned black. There are so many things it could be little guy.so let's just leave her be for now, ok?" Tammy stood up while she quickly blinked away the tears that had formed in her eyes. She stepped into a nearby car. "I'm taking a nap." And with that, she shut the door.
~*~
Meimi stepped faster as she strutted along the town sidewalk. She was fighting the flood of painful, hot tears that kept threatening to break down the wall she had built to hold them off. Meimi searched her soul. "I should tell Tammy the whole truth." She thought to herself. By then she had given her friends some of the less painful details of her life such as she felt it was her fault but she hadn't told them much more. But she had come to see Tammy was right. It felt better to talk. She ignored a strange look that an elderly woman gave her. Stepping into an old nearby restaurant she plopped down on a stool. Running her hands through her hair, she glanced down at the table.
"Can I take your order?" A voice spoke.
"I'll just have a glass of water." She replied, keeping her vision locked to the table. Thoughts shot through her mind a million a second. "Should I tell the rest? But what if they turn on me, like I felt the others would do? Maybe it's best to keep shut. The pain, the hurt- it's all back there. Maybe that's where it should stay." An image of her new friends popped into her mind while the waiter sat down a glass of water for the girl. She nodded a thank you while she returned to her thoughts. "I'm starting fresh. It can't be worse than at home where people always talked about me in whispers. Nobody here knows about Saint Tail and they don't know about the other thing, the bad thing. They don't need to know. The past will stay in the dark and I won't let it come out. I'm a new person now with a new life." She smiled with her decision. "I'll manage. Silence is the best."
Suddenly, her thoughts rushed back to reality as a hand roughly shook her. Jolting her head back up, her eyes met with a pair of sparkling jade eyes. Blinking with confusion, Meimi shrunk into her seat. It was the waiter.
"C-can I help you?" Meimi squeaked. He was hovering over her, his face dangerously close to hers. His hands seemed to grow heavier and heavier on her shoulder as his grip tightened, causing Meimi to wince. "Y-you're h- hurting me."
The waiter stepped in closer as if he was trying to peer through her sunglasses. With his other hand, he ripped the black shades off and threw them to the ground. The quick replacement of sunlight caused Meimi to blink for it seemed to be blinding.
The waiter spoke, his voice coming out rough and hoarse. "Wait a minute.I thought you looked familiar! You're that missing girl that boy cop is lookin' for. They had your picture on the news." A large grin spread across his mouth. "You're a cutie." He seemed to move in closer her, his immense body crushing her into her seat. The hairs stuck up on the back of her neck as fear crawled through Meimi's skin. She gasped for air as she felt she couldn't breath. Her every limp was frozen. His grip constricted on her shoulder and she knew she would have future bruises there. Suddenly the man's weight seemed to disappear and she was free to breath again.
"Excuse me, please leave my sister alone!!" Marie grinned as she used all of her strength to pull the waiter away. "Eh Meimi, help? You know what to do."
It felt as if her strength returned as Meimi stood, running at the man. She pushed as hard as she could as his body went slamming into the floor.
"GET BACK HERE YOU STUPID KIDS!!!" They heard the waiter's voice boom as Meimi grabbed her sunglasses, putting them back over her eyes.
"Good job!" Marie grabbed Meimi's arm, pulling her along as they went flying out of the restaurant and down the street. Meimi felt her trembling body calm down as she rounded the corner, catching her breath. They walked for a few blocks before Marie spoke up. "What did he want with you? To take care of jerks like that, just give em' a little punch in the face or a kick in a sensitive spot."
The now gone fear rapidly returned with vengeance. "H-He said I was.that m- missing girl from the.news." And Meimi knew who the boy cop that was looking for her was. Asuka Jr. She had finally let go of her past but now it seemed as if her past wasn't ready to let go of her.
~*~
"Are you sure that's what he said?" Tony leaned in closer, staring at Meimi with concern.
Meimi frowned. "Those were his exact words." She ran her fingers through her hair, fidgeting her feet in her boots uncomfortably with worry.
"What are you going to do? You won't leave us.will you.?" Aaron scowled, sticking out his lower lip.
"No!" Meimi jumped up to her feet. "I would never leave you guys. You're my family now! I-I guess I'll just have to be more careful with who sees me. Maybe I should cut my hair too or something." She shrugged as she sat back down on the car seat.
Marie smiled. "Exactly! Tomorrow at daylight we head out, where to, Meimi can lead us!"
"Isn't that MY job?" Tony glared at his sister over a plate full of food.
"Not anymore. And you ALWAYS take us to dumb old towns like this one." Marie wined while she gave her brother her puppy dog face.
Meimi chuckled while Tony flashed his sister another death glare.
"Not the puppy face.please not that.!! Argh!! Fine, you win!!! But JUST this time, ok?!" Tony barked, raising an eyebrow to show he was angry.
"Hey Marie.why'd you call me your sister back in the restaurant?" Meimi nervously stated.
"Because if I ever had a sister I know she'd be just like you!!" Marie laughed, bringing a smile on the red head's face. "And Meimi.you have pretty eyes, I don't get why you cover them up..."
Meimi turned as she flopped around on a seat cushion. "Maybe I'll tell you one day but right now.I just want to sleep and forget today ever happened." She closed her eyes, letting all the sounds around her fade away.
In the background Meimi heard Tammy chuckle. "Too bad you couldn't do that with lives. But the good thing about being with all of you is that you can accept it and move on in time and no one rushes you or brings it up. You're free to be who you want to be, no strings attached or prices to pay. No foster homes, no stupid relatives who hate you, nothing."
Tony nodded with agreement before he spoke up with a thought. "But I think your wrong on one thing Tammy. Somewhere along the way we all have to pay the price. Maybe living like this is the price.who knows.it's different for everyone."
And then the voices disappeared for she was fast asleep.
~*~
Hold me now
I'm six feet from the edge and I'm thinking
That maybe six feet
Ain't so far down
~By: Lauren~
L I F E ' S
F L Y I N G
B Y
"Good job!" Tony smirked, giving Meimi a pat on the back as she hopped off her motorbike. "It fits you perfectly."
"Thanks." Meimi brushed back a piece of red hair that had flown into her face. "I can't believe you got this once piece of junk from a junk yard back into tip top working shape!"
"All in a days work, or in this case, a months work." Tony lifted up his hand, rubbing the back of his head. "Here is your license." He handed her a tiny, plastic card that had her name, picture and other information. It stated that she was sixteen and had passed the driving test. He also gave her back the picture of her with her parents by the cherry trees.
The girl collapsed onto an old car seat that had been torn out. "I think I've finally got the hang of riding by myself but.how'd you get this? I'm not sixteen yet and I never took any kind of test!" She grabbed the prized picture while she examined the card.
"Let's just say before he died, my father had friends in high and low places. They would do anything to help an old friend's son. That's how Tammy got her license too. We scanned your picture and placed it onto the card. Are those your parents?" Tony nodded to the picture.
"Yeah." Her lips tightened while a silence fell around her.
"Sorry." Tony whispered.
"Good job Meimi!" A voice nearby stated proudly, interrupting the silence. Tammy stepped out of the shadows, giving Tony a wink. "Told you we should keep this one. Except it really was funny when Tony kept repeating gas, brake, gas, brake. Now brake. Then Meimi floored it and the bike shot up into the air while she went flying on her butt!!" Laughter erupted out of Tony and Tammy's throat while Meimi rolled her eyes.
"Oh be quiet! I was just uneasy about a new member. But that was pretty funny!" Tony snapped back quickly, tilting his head sideways.
Tammy's chocolate hair bounced as she launched herself onto the car seat Meimi was sitting in. It had grown a bit longer in the months that had passed since Meimi had joined them.
"Would you be quiet!! Some of us are TRYING to read!!" Aaron rolled his eyes, hanging his head upside down out of a close by opened rusted car door.
"So the little one learns." Meimi flipped an apple into the air, catching it in her hand before she took a bite. How long ago did she join these people? Counting back it was around six months already. She was surprised how fast the time flew by. Meimi was sure that their tedious ways of living would drag on forever but after having a taste of it she was beginning to enjoy it.
"Thanks again for the book Meimi!!" Aaron flashed her a smile before returning his attention to the book he was holding. Meimi smiled back a 'your welcome'.
"Where's Marie?" Tammy glanced around the yard nervously. "She was here a second ago."
Tony shrugged, sitting down next to the girl. Somehow his arm mysteriously made it's way around Tammy's shoulders. "Probably sneaking into a movie or something. You know the little rascal." Ruby squeaked in agreement. The hedgehog was now sporting a leather ribbon in her hair.
"Well she learns it from her brother." Tammy shot the boy a dangerous glare.
"We all learn it from him." Meimi commented, ducking when a magazine went flying past her head. Laughter filled the air for a few moments before she paused, her eyes growing serious as she stared into the dirt in front of her. Her sunglasses caused the brown to tint a bit.
Tammy glanced at Meimi suddenly, asking a question that had never been stated for fear of the reaction but now the girl felt it time for her to get some kind of answer to Meimi's sometimes strange actions. "Why don't you ever take those things off?" She pointed to the red head's sunglasses.
Meimi looked down, trying to search for an answer that wouldn't take her explaining everything. She just couldn't tell Tammy or for sure she would turn on her. "I.I just.don't want anyone to see my eyes." She stuttered.
"Why not? Are they like disfigured or something?" Aaron flipped right side up from where he was laying down. He smiled. "We wouldn't hate you if they were, silly!"
Tammy glared at the boy, silencing him.
"No.I j-just can't l-look at my eyes. It was my fault t-that they're gone.if I look in them.I'll see what I use to be." Meimi uttered the words before she stood up. "I'm going to go on a walk. See you guys in a bit." Without waiting for an answer, Meimi disappeared around the corner, tears welling in her eyes.
"Who's gone Tams?" Aaron looked at the older girl with wonder in his eyes.
She stepped over to the blonde, ruffling his hair. "I think.her parents. I don't know if you'd really understand but.she's afraid to see inside herself. She's afraid she'll look into her eyes and see the happy go lucky perfect girl she used to be before whatever happened to her. Or she'll look into her eyes and see an ugliness that she fears is herself. She's afraid to see her heart has turned black. There are so many things it could be little guy.so let's just leave her be for now, ok?" Tammy stood up while she quickly blinked away the tears that had formed in her eyes. She stepped into a nearby car. "I'm taking a nap." And with that, she shut the door.
~*~
Meimi stepped faster as she strutted along the town sidewalk. She was fighting the flood of painful, hot tears that kept threatening to break down the wall she had built to hold them off. Meimi searched her soul. "I should tell Tammy the whole truth." She thought to herself. By then she had given her friends some of the less painful details of her life such as she felt it was her fault but she hadn't told them much more. But she had come to see Tammy was right. It felt better to talk. She ignored a strange look that an elderly woman gave her. Stepping into an old nearby restaurant she plopped down on a stool. Running her hands through her hair, she glanced down at the table.
"Can I take your order?" A voice spoke.
"I'll just have a glass of water." She replied, keeping her vision locked to the table. Thoughts shot through her mind a million a second. "Should I tell the rest? But what if they turn on me, like I felt the others would do? Maybe it's best to keep shut. The pain, the hurt- it's all back there. Maybe that's where it should stay." An image of her new friends popped into her mind while the waiter sat down a glass of water for the girl. She nodded a thank you while she returned to her thoughts. "I'm starting fresh. It can't be worse than at home where people always talked about me in whispers. Nobody here knows about Saint Tail and they don't know about the other thing, the bad thing. They don't need to know. The past will stay in the dark and I won't let it come out. I'm a new person now with a new life." She smiled with her decision. "I'll manage. Silence is the best."
Suddenly, her thoughts rushed back to reality as a hand roughly shook her. Jolting her head back up, her eyes met with a pair of sparkling jade eyes. Blinking with confusion, Meimi shrunk into her seat. It was the waiter.
"C-can I help you?" Meimi squeaked. He was hovering over her, his face dangerously close to hers. His hands seemed to grow heavier and heavier on her shoulder as his grip tightened, causing Meimi to wince. "Y-you're h- hurting me."
The waiter stepped in closer as if he was trying to peer through her sunglasses. With his other hand, he ripped the black shades off and threw them to the ground. The quick replacement of sunlight caused Meimi to blink for it seemed to be blinding.
The waiter spoke, his voice coming out rough and hoarse. "Wait a minute.I thought you looked familiar! You're that missing girl that boy cop is lookin' for. They had your picture on the news." A large grin spread across his mouth. "You're a cutie." He seemed to move in closer her, his immense body crushing her into her seat. The hairs stuck up on the back of her neck as fear crawled through Meimi's skin. She gasped for air as she felt she couldn't breath. Her every limp was frozen. His grip constricted on her shoulder and she knew she would have future bruises there. Suddenly the man's weight seemed to disappear and she was free to breath again.
"Excuse me, please leave my sister alone!!" Marie grinned as she used all of her strength to pull the waiter away. "Eh Meimi, help? You know what to do."
It felt as if her strength returned as Meimi stood, running at the man. She pushed as hard as she could as his body went slamming into the floor.
"GET BACK HERE YOU STUPID KIDS!!!" They heard the waiter's voice boom as Meimi grabbed her sunglasses, putting them back over her eyes.
"Good job!" Marie grabbed Meimi's arm, pulling her along as they went flying out of the restaurant and down the street. Meimi felt her trembling body calm down as she rounded the corner, catching her breath. They walked for a few blocks before Marie spoke up. "What did he want with you? To take care of jerks like that, just give em' a little punch in the face or a kick in a sensitive spot."
The now gone fear rapidly returned with vengeance. "H-He said I was.that m- missing girl from the.news." And Meimi knew who the boy cop that was looking for her was. Asuka Jr. She had finally let go of her past but now it seemed as if her past wasn't ready to let go of her.
~*~
"Are you sure that's what he said?" Tony leaned in closer, staring at Meimi with concern.
Meimi frowned. "Those were his exact words." She ran her fingers through her hair, fidgeting her feet in her boots uncomfortably with worry.
"What are you going to do? You won't leave us.will you.?" Aaron scowled, sticking out his lower lip.
"No!" Meimi jumped up to her feet. "I would never leave you guys. You're my family now! I-I guess I'll just have to be more careful with who sees me. Maybe I should cut my hair too or something." She shrugged as she sat back down on the car seat.
Marie smiled. "Exactly! Tomorrow at daylight we head out, where to, Meimi can lead us!"
"Isn't that MY job?" Tony glared at his sister over a plate full of food.
"Not anymore. And you ALWAYS take us to dumb old towns like this one." Marie wined while she gave her brother her puppy dog face.
Meimi chuckled while Tony flashed his sister another death glare.
"Not the puppy face.please not that.!! Argh!! Fine, you win!!! But JUST this time, ok?!" Tony barked, raising an eyebrow to show he was angry.
"Hey Marie.why'd you call me your sister back in the restaurant?" Meimi nervously stated.
"Because if I ever had a sister I know she'd be just like you!!" Marie laughed, bringing a smile on the red head's face. "And Meimi.you have pretty eyes, I don't get why you cover them up..."
Meimi turned as she flopped around on a seat cushion. "Maybe I'll tell you one day but right now.I just want to sleep and forget today ever happened." She closed her eyes, letting all the sounds around her fade away.
In the background Meimi heard Tammy chuckle. "Too bad you couldn't do that with lives. But the good thing about being with all of you is that you can accept it and move on in time and no one rushes you or brings it up. You're free to be who you want to be, no strings attached or prices to pay. No foster homes, no stupid relatives who hate you, nothing."
Tony nodded with agreement before he spoke up with a thought. "But I think your wrong on one thing Tammy. Somewhere along the way we all have to pay the price. Maybe living like this is the price.who knows.it's different for everyone."
And then the voices disappeared for she was fast asleep.
~*~
Hold me now
I'm six feet from the edge and I'm thinking
That maybe six feet
Ain't so far down