In which we learn more.

Lia slumped down beside Armin, yawning. She did not have an appropriate amount of sleep the night before. There was a marathon of her favourite soap opera and she was not going to hop into her stone-hard bed without finding out why Sammy cheated on Rodriguez on her tiny TV. To Hell she goes if she didn't.

The girl blinked wearily, her mind slurred as she studied Armin's room. Messy? Check. Dim? Checkity check (because she knew well enough Armin liked playing his games in the dark). Cozy? A big, bold check. Lia hoped Armin wouldn't be annoyed if she dozed off for a while.

And then she remembered the day before. She forgot to tell him. Lia gave a dry chuckle as she turned to the male next to her. "Y'know what happened yesterday at the storehouse?"

Still looking at the screen in front of him, he nodded. "What happened, Story-Girl? Brighten my dark day with another tale." Lia stared at him, opening her mouth and closing it before she started.

"I was assigned for being a stupid cashier, right? So, anyway, I was waiting for the next customer and this messed-up tomato guy comes and says, 'Oh, are you that chick who hangs out with the geek?' And I was confused, right, and I was like, 'What are you talking about?' And he's like, 'The gamer guy.' Then, I remembered you."

She took a breath, hating how she was suddenly rambling, a smile tugging her lips when Armin's gaze was on her. "I was mad that he was bitchin' about you, so I insulted him, and he got pissed off and gave me the finger. An' he left."

"I don't know if I should be proud that you insulted a customer without losing your job or to be proud that you backed me up," Armin spoke flatly, turning back to his game. "But thanks."

Lia was already slipping into a deep sleep, but caught his acknowledgement. "Welcome."


Lia certainly earned what she deserved the next day on her way to school.

It could've been karma or something else that was still sounded like bullshit in her ears, but it definitely did attack her, if not literally. Lia took note that she should lay off the insults for a while because next time, something worse than what was coming would occur. And Lia did not want to get beat up in front of many customers because of her stupid mouth. She did not want that to happen. At. All.

The morning started off rather pleasant; she ate her breakfast, took a shower, brushed her teeth, got dressed, and left her silent apartment. Lia smiled at every passing person that went by her, including her apartment neighbour Alexander, who was a fucking pervert. He enjoyed attempting to get into the pants of any poor soul, but usually failed. Which was a big, big relief.

But then, her life decided to play a game with her. In the corner of her eye, Lia saw a bright red. Immediately, her body went rigid and her blood went cold. Upon realization, she relaxed; what could he do if he didn't know she was there? She was probably invisible to him – unintentionally, of course – and unless she tripped over that big-ass rock that sat in the middle of the sidewalk, she was safe.

And then, she suddenly tumbled over it, luckily not face-planting on the ground. Although, she did fall straight on to her sorry ass. Still, it hurt so much.

Damn her stupid plot-twisting life.

A bark of laughter caught her attention from behind her, loud and infuriatingly close. Occasionally letting out groans and murmurs of curses as she got up, she brushed off her knees and turned around.

"Can you shut up?" she said off-handily, her voice slightly wavered due to the fall and her sensitivity. Lia blinked away any on-coming tears, snaking a shaky hand into dark hair.

"And, enlighten me, why should I?" the redhead answered with another question, frowning now. "Are you going to call your army of co-workers?"

The green-eyed girl narrowed her eyes, showing her annoyance with her expression. "Get the hell out of here, dumbass. Go fuck yourself."

"Gladly," the male smirked, crossing his arms over his chest. The look on his face was mocking and Lia wanted to slap him really, really badly. "And why don't you make me leave, huh, Ice Queen?"

"Don't give me a nickname. Also, don't forget that I totally whipped you yesterday at the store," Lia stated, a smile on her own face. Man, wasn't this fun. "I apologize for bruising your pride."

The other, looking very, very angered, stuck his middle finger out to her for the second time. "Suck on this, bitch."

"Would that be the closest to getting laid for you?" Lia inquired softly, tilting her heads. Grey eyes widened briefly before an actual verbal reaction.

"Shut up."

"No thanks."

"It'll make things easier for the both of us."

"Before I beat your ass again, I think it would be best if I ask. What's your name?" Lia said this with bemusement, turning to the direction of the school and squinting. If she ran all the way there, she could make it in time to find Armin and talk with him for a bit before first period.

"Castiel," he replied, shoving past her and walking toward the school. "Don't tell me your name, Clumsy. I don't think I want to learn yours yet."

And he was gone, red hair and all.

Walking behind him, Lia frowned. As if she was going to tell him her name anyway. Her mother (before she got thrown into a smelly imprisonment full of blind and sick people) always told her not to tell strangers her name. And Lia always listened to her mother. And Doctor Phil.


That night, as she unboxed jars of jelly and jam, Lia's slightly calloused fingers skimmed over her latest calls on her cell phone (a flip phone that had lost its power to flip ages ago). She moaned childishly when there weren't any.

Recently, her mother decided to suddenly stop calling as often as she used to, which was once every week. That really scared Lia, but she wasn't expecting anything to happen to her only parental figure anytime soon. Her mom was recovering from the injuries, and she might come home soon. (And Lia was relieved once she heard that. Really. Yeah, staying up late and watching TV until she passed out cold sounded totally awesome, but let's get real: there were times where she sat in the center of her room wishing her mother was there to ask her to do something. Lia was getting bored.)

She truly did miss her mom. Lia remembered a few days after the Incident of Grade Three, where Lia accidentally (or so she says) chopped off a pig tail of her classmate, which tempted the now short-haired child to punch Lia in the mouth. The good thing was Lia lost her first three teeth, and the bad was how much it hurt.

Lia gave a nostalgic hum to the memory, leaning back against the wall behind her. She let go of her phone, setting it beside the box cutter. The girl closed her green-eyes, disliking the burn of her eyelids. God, was she suddenly tired.

"What did Boss say about sleeping on the job, Lia?"

Said girl yelped, bumping her head hard against the wall. She scowled, looking up to Kim. "Don't scare me like that, you devil. Holy shit, my heart jumped."

"Is that so?" Kim began, rubbing her eyes as she broke into a grin. "I didn't even notice."

The fear that was plastered on Lia's face had dissipated almost immediately. "Well, I guess you should keep your eyes wide open more often, eh?" The girl said groggily, standing up and lining up the jars on to a shelf.

"You look like shit, little girl. Better hurry up; Boss's letting us all go early if we finish our jobs," Kim said, studying Lia with a frown. "Do you need some help?"

Lia shook her head, continuing her job. "Nah, I'm cool. Thanks, though."

"'Kay. Don't call me back, though; I already gave you a chance."

"Sure, sure," Lia laughed. When Kim left, Lia took the advantage and sat back in her spot, tilting her head in a more comfortable position.

Screw work; she had could finish that crap later. Sleep was way more important. (Of course, since she was sadly still growing and who gives a shit if she was seventeen? Everybody grows at different ages, don't judge.

Because judging isn't very nice.


HEY! Alright, I like having Armin and Lia hella close. Also, I like arguing with Castiel so freakin' much. I don't even know why, but it's fun. And I'm sorry if my so-called 'disses' are lame, but I'm lame and it rubs on to my writing )':. cue the sad music plz!

OKAY, I LOVE YOU PEOPLE! *BLOWS KISSES*