"Hey Liv, tables 4 and 5 need to be cleaned" Her fellow volunteer said.
Liv gave him a nod before grabbing her bucket of sanitized water and making her way to the tables.
Liv was currently working at the homeless shelter in Whisper Wind Falls. When Liv wasn't at school or with Becky, you would find her here. Just like any town, Whisper Wind had its share of the homeless and as for Liv she was one of them. That's right, Liv was homeless.
The past couple of years for Liv have been incredibly hard, filled with ups and downs. From the death of her parents, her life in foster care, coming to Whisper Wind Falls and fending for herself on the streets. During all this she hasn't even told Becky that she has no place to stay. Pride could be a harmful thing at times, and for Liv it was what was keeping her from asking any of her friends for help.
So for about a year, Liv lived on the streets. It wasn't easy by any means she often had to find shelter in abandoned buildings or park benches, but if they tore those old buildings or if the park was being used for an event Liv would often find refuge in the woods. She would also go to the woods during the winter, this way she could find wood to make a fire during those cold winter months.
As for food or clothes, she often would have to steal to get those items. Not that she was proud of it or find joy in being a thief, but she did what she needed to for survival. One good thing was that School offered free breakfast and lunch for those who needed it. So Liv immediately registered herself into school so she would at least be able to eat when school was running. The days when school was out, however, that's when she would steal for food. As for clothes, she would break into those donation drop off containers. After all, she was homeless, she was the one in need of those clothes.
This was going to be the routine and the way Liv was ready to live for the foreseeable future, but then just a few months ago something good finally happened for Liv, the homeless shelter opened. The homeless shelter was the old middle school building, compared to the high school building it was pretty small but to the residence in need, it didn't matter. It was actually perfect, they could fit all the beds they needed in the gym, the cafeteria is where everyone ate, since it was a school it already had bathrooms, showers, and a nurse's office for minor injuries.
As long as you behaved you could stay in the shelter as long as you needed to. However, there was one rule, during the day you were to be out of the shelter, this was so you can go out into the town and look for a job. Once you have found a job, you would give your check to the people in the office, this way they split your check up in three ways. 50% went into your savings, 40% was for your personal use, and 10% went to the shelter to cover your living and eating expenses.
This was good for multiple reasons, Liv now had a place to sleep in a bed and had a roof over her head, she didn't need to steal for food anymore, and because she worked for the shelter during the night time she was making money. Most importantly, it was on the outskirts of town which meant Liv didn't have to worry as much about someone from school seeing her. For the first couple of months Liv made sure to be on guard for anyone that might know her, but the majority of the people in the shelter were older people. In fact Liv was the only teenager there.
The problem was from time to time, one of her classmates would volunteer at the shelter, but since Liv was working there already, it just looked like she was a volunteer also.
She Liv brought her bucket and trey over to the tables, she put all the dishes and silverware in her tray and wrapped off the table. Liv was so concentrated on her work she didn't even the girl walking up to her "Liv?".
Once she heard the very familiar voice, Liv froze midway through wiping the table "please don't be who I think it is".
Liv slowly turned her head to look at whoever was behind her. As much as she hoped it wasn't, the moment she saw the sideways ponytail there was no denying it. It was Bayley, right in front of Liv with her head cocked to the side waiting for Liv's answer.
"What is she doing here, what is she doing here, what is she doing here, what is she…" Liv repeated until she was cut off.
"What are you doing here" Bayley asked curiously.
Liv had nothing, she was still shocked to see Bayley here. Sure she had seen other people she knew stop by to volunteer, but never anyone from her own personal circle. That's really what it was, it's not that she couldn't come up with an excuse, she just never thought she'd see any of her own friends at the shelter.
Then Bayleys eyes lit up "OH! Did you come to volunteer at the shelter to".
Then Liv finally snapped out of it "Um… yeah. That's exactly why I'm here".
Not a complete lie in Liv behalf. To which made Bayley clap her hands "Oh good, I was actually in the back all day helping in the kitchen".
"Oh, I've been out here all day, no wonder we didn't bump into each other" Liv said, thankful that Bayley didn't catch her in her bed with all her stuff.
Bayley took off the apron she was wearing "I actually just finished up here. Since I ran into you, if your hungry I was going to make some dinner when I got home. I know Dean said it was going to be a slow night for crime and you didn't need to go out with them. So if you don't have any other plans you can come over if you want and we can hang".
Liv was going to decline, but her stomach rumbled at the mention of food. She had yet to have dinner and knew all the food here was most likely all gone or old "Yeah, that sounds great, I gotta finish up here but I'll meet you at your place".
"Awesome, don't worry i'll make us a big dinner" Bayley said grinning ear to ear.
Liv gave her a fake smile and thumbs up. When Bayley turned to go check out, Liv smile fell as she pinched the bridge of her nose "fuck".
"Little trouble in paradise Miss. Morgan" A man with a guitar slung over his shoulder said.
"Oh hey Elias" Liv greeted.
Elias Samson he was one of the very first people Liv met when she returned to Whisper Wind Falls. He's also been a big reason as to how Liv manages to survive on the street for the year she did. If it wasn't for him she doesn't know if she would have given up and went back to the foster family she tried so hard to escape from. In fact as far as the school is concerned he is her legal guardian and help her register for school. Liv could trust Elias, this was because he understood what Liv was going through, and why she was on the run from her foster family.
Elias looked at Liv and Bayley "Is there a little heat between you two".
Liv sighed "No, she's cool. Her names Bayley and she's a friend from school".
Elias nodded his head "I see, and I'm assuming she has no idea the place you volunteer at is also your home".
Liv just shook her head as Elias took the guitar off his shoulder "You know, this actually gives me an idea for a song".
Liv glared at Elias as he began to strum his guitar "Liv was at the shelter helping those in need, when her friend showed up the day after Christmas eve, now Liv doesn't know what she's going to do, well Liv I'd hate to tell you but you're screwed".
Liv flipped him off not amused by his song. Shortly after Liv saw Bayley wave goodbye to her as she made her way home to make their dinner.
Elias then laughed "Well, Miss. Morgan I'd hate to keep you from your dinner date. Don't worry too much about it. And Merry Christmas".
"Merry Christmas" Liv said as Elias left.
As Elias left Liv went to finish up her tables "Well, at least I won't be alone for Christmas".
Bayley's Apartment
A knock came at the door and when Bayley opened it Liv was on the other side "Oh hey Liv, I just finished the food help yourself".
Once Liv entered the home Bayley shut her door and went back into her bean bag chair to survey her social media in case of any crime being reported. Liv made her way to the kitchen where she saw an assortment of food. Ham, mash potato, green beans, biscuits, it was almost bigger than a thanksgiving dinner.
Liv licked her lips "Don't mind if I do".
After making herself a plate Liv joined Bayley in the living room "So, any trouble yet".
Bayley threw her head back "Not unless you count a girls boyfriend breaking up with her trouble".
Liv giggled as she continued eating "you know Bayley, you take this hero thing really seriously".
Bayley then looked up at Liv "What do you mean?".
"I mean ever since we started to do this hero thing, you're always on twitter or whatever looking for crime. That or you're coming up with plans, strategies, and you're always fixing someone's gear, especially Becky's".
"That's Because Becky's a dumbass" Bayley said almost making Liv spit out her food in laughter "I love her but it's true".
But then Bayley got serious "The truth is though, I do it all because it's the closest I'm ever going to get to being a hero. I don't have any powers and if I can barely defend myself, how can I protect the town".
Liv stopped eating and watched as Bayley began to play with her fingers "Me and Becky we think so alike, she has the exact same goal as I do and we both want to go about it in the same way. I know I'll never be able to help the town like she can, so if I'm able to do as much as I possibly can for Becky, Dean and the others. Then it's almost like I'm living my dream through them and protecting the town in my own way".
It always amazed Liv hearing Bayley talk about wanting to make a difference. She always had so much passion in her voice so when she spoke you knew she wasn't just all talk. She meant every word she said and that is what Liv respected most about her.
"Yeah, I get that"
"What about you" Bayley said "Don't you think we need to protect the town and change it".
Liv gave it some thought "In all honesty, I don't know. When I hear you talk about it, I definitely do, but then I see how some people in this town are to one another and then I think the town is a lost cause".
Liv then began to play around with her food "I guess the real reason I'm helping you guys out isn't to protect the town, but to protect Becky instead".
This was interesting to Bayley, she knew how much Liv meant to Becky but now she would learn how much Becky meant to Liv.
Liv continued "It's like you said Becky is a dumbass, she can be way to reckless and she's always putting her well being at risk. That's why I travel with those guys when they go off fighting, just incase Becky needs help. I know she can heal herself, but still I want to be right by her side, ready to jump in whenever she needs me".
Bayley decided to push the envelope a little "I guess you can say you two are even closer than friends".
Liv gave this some thought "After everything she's helped me get through. From my mom being killed, to me leaving Whisper Winds and then coming back and her making me feel right back at home. Not to mention all the other countless things she has ever done for me. Yeah, I'd say we're closer than friends, I don't know what that would make us though".
"I do" Bayley sang in her head, "You just might have a chance Becky".
Thanks for reading guys. As always I really appreciate when you guys leave a review, so if you can please do so. One important thing, trying to update twice a week has just been proven to be too hard for me with my schedule. So to keep some consistency and have my fic moving along I'll be updating once a week, every Monday in the afternoon. This will work out better for everyone. Till next time guys.