Chapter 6: Birdy
Nat's POV
My last week of freedom was spent working. All of Wednesday and Thursday was spent learning practicing the songs. We worked from 9:30 am until 9:30 pm. Kristina informed us we had to appear on Good Morning, America Friday morning so we had to get up extra early. Like, 7 am. Then as soon as we got off, we were going to prepare our costumes. Well, only Rosalina had to prepare cause she still didn't have her outfit. We gave her an hour since we needed more rehearsal. So for the first time in forever, I had an hour without Rosalina. Alex and I were playing a video game when he paused it.
"You remember how I'm gonna be Bassff Man and your Birdy my sidekick?" Alex asked, and I nodded. "Well Juanita is now Bassff Man and I'm her sidekick and you're my sidekick, okay."
"Whatever," I said. "I have less powers now."
"You know it," Alex said. "You haven't fed me in a while."
"I'm sorry," I said.
"Does Rosalina know you know about her being a premie?" Alex asked, and I nodded. "Where is Rosalina? The love levels are too low."
"She went shopping with Kristina," I said. "Can you pause the game?" He nodded, pressing the button quickly.
"I'm surprised you didn't go with," Alex said. "You guys are practically inseparable."
"I didn't want her to go, I don't trust her out there alone," I said. "And I honestly don't think she likes it when I'm not there."
"It's not like you'd know," Alex retorted. "You guys are always together. It's no wonder she thinks you're clingy."
"I'm not clingy? She thinks I'm clingy?" I asked, a little worried.
"Probably," Alex said. "You answer her calls as soon as it's the first ring—"
My phone started ringing, and I looked at the number. "This isn't over," I said, answering the phone. "Hi Kristina."
Nat? Her voice was crackly and sounded worried.
"Kris, what's wrong?" I asked.
Ro-Rosalina, she's hiding in an alley and won't come out.
"What happened?" I asked urgently.
We were walking back to your house and there were these guys that cornered us and started whispering and she started freaking out—
"Don't leave where you are, okay? I'm on my way."
I hung up before she could say anything else, slipping my feet into my sneakers. "Who was it?" Alex asked.
"Kristina," I answered. "Come on, we're going for a little walk."
.
I saw Kristina first. She was standing outside an alley, which I ran into. I nearly fell over Rosalina. When I did, she flinched, looking up slightly at me. She had her knees pulled up to her chest and her head down in them, and she looked absolutely terrified. When she saw me, she jumped up and wrapped her arms around my neck, quietly sobbing into my shoulder. I nearly fell over again because she was more of leaning on me then standing. I pulled her up, putting my arms under her knees to better carry her.
When we got back, Rosalina was pretty much asleep. I lay her down on my bed, going back to Kristina. "What happened?" I asked her.
"We were on our way to your house when these guys stopped us." Kristina started. "They were whispering to Rosalina so I couldn't hear but she got really tensed and tried to push past them. And then they grabbed her and started touching her all over and she screamed and I punched one of the guys. Then a store owner came out and they ran off. And as soon as you were gone, Rosalina was gone and hiding so I called you."
"There's no way we're gonna get her to play now," Alex said. "We might as well cancel."
"We're not canceling," I said. "If she doesn't want to play we can just have Thomas play or something. We'll figure it out."
"But she's your good luck charm!" Alex exclaimed. "You didn't even think about writing songs until she came around."
"It'll be fine, Alex," I said.
"You should go check on her," Kristina said. I nodded, walking back to my room. Rosalina was sitting up, looking from at me. She jumped down, standing in front of me. I smiled at her, pulling her into a hug.
"Are you feeling better now?" I asked. "I let you sleep on my bed, and that is a really comfortable bed." She nodded, pulling back slightly.
"Shouldn't we be at rehearsal?" she asked.
"Do you wanna go? Cause it's okay if your not—"
"I did not spend my last three days of summer break practicing in a dusty warehouse to quit now," she said. "And plus, Kristina showed those knuckleheads who's in charge. And you, of course."
"Just get your costume together and we'll meet you downstairs," I said, grabbing my bag from the floor. "What are you gonna be, anyway?"
"It's a surprise," she said with an evil smile.