FOURTY-TWO

Marco hasn't spoken to me yet.

And it was driving me mad.

It was Friday and everyone had that common joy for the weekend. I didn't had it. I was dreary and anxious.

I tried approaching him to talk to him, but I couldn't. I kept thinking of all this mess with the cellphone and the video. I needed to settle it right. It's what has Marco all shaken up like that. I know he'll get better if I fix it all. Then, we can hang out again and make out all we wanted.

And yet, the farther we were, the stronger our sexual tension grew. I yearned for his touch and kisses. Just one look from him and my body melted. I kept remembering his smiles, his laughs, his freckles…

I kept remembering our kisses, the way we touched that day, his deep moans, the sensations…

I was distracted from classes –as I used to call it: I was in the clouds and didn't understand shit what Levi was talking about. Now that I mention Levi… there were circulating rumors that he and Eren had something in secret. That's impossible, inappropriate and prohibited, considering Levi's a teacher. Also, he was too reputable for that. And Eren was too annoying for him.

I was in the same row as always. Marco was in the same row, but two chairs in front of me. I needed to tell him something. Anything. The distance was killing me. These memories were slaughtering me. I couldn't take it anymore.

When I sat behind him, I planted my face in his back, burying it in his blue Superman overcoat. I surprised myself when I started sobbing mildly. I guess I was sensitive today. I don't know why. I can't explain it.

Marco gasped, feeling frigid from the small spot I was crying into, -"Jean…"- He whispered, probably looking over his shoulder.

I almost squealed. Almost. He just said my name.

I squeezed his coat, -"I'm sorry…,"- I wailed, not even bothering if someone else was hearing, -"I-I promise I'll fix everything. I… I swear."- I spoke through hard breaths, my throat rugged and my chin aching.

Marco breathed deeply, but said nothing.

After that, I spent the day alone and skipped a few classes. I then wondered why I bothered to come to school when I could be out there doing jobs. I looked at the clock from my phone. It was almost lunch hour. I'll eat, then leave and do a few jobs.

As I walked through the hallways to go to the lunch room early, several kids –girls and guys alike, were being bullied –and interrogated. I often heard the word gay and lesbian from the bullies. I did nothing however and wasn't surprised when no guard or staff member did anything either. Diego was right: it was getting worse.

-"Do you know a guy named Diego? Answer me!"

-"No, I don't! I swear!

Slap.

I halted my steps.

-"Please stop! I don't know him!"

I blended in the crow, observing. I had my Batman coat and had the hood over my head. The bully showed her something from his cell, -"Take a good look at him and when you see him, you come to me. Understand?"

The guy just nodded and ran off when the bully let him go. He started asking random people around, threatening if needed. Damn. Diego was in trouble. I hurried to the lunch room when students started to look at me suspiciously. There, I ate as fast as I could until I heard loud laughs and 'uuuuh's outside.

-"I got you!"

No… it can't be!

Panic reign me when I thought it was Marco, but when I got out after throwing the leftover from the tray…

-"Mierda!"- Diego cursed in Spanish when he was pushed harshly against the wall.

-"We finally got you and we've got a message for you,"- George emerged from the crowd beside Trevor. I gritted my teeth, -"Your kind aren't allowed here so you better fly away."

Diego attempted at dodging Trevor's punch. Wrong move, I said mentally, noting he sidestepped and almost tripped. Trevor was a leftie and always attacked that hand. Diego hasn't noticed that. I knew because I fought him. If he sidestepped to the right, he could've avoided that attack. His aggressor's fist landed in his abdomen and Diego lent forward, barely sustaining himself. Trevor pushed him back to the wall, as harsh as before. De Castro had his arms wrapped around his abdomen and too blind to see another punch directed at his face. When it made impact, I swore Diego went unconscious right there, considering his head went back and hit the wall, but Trevor was making sure he was awake. He wasn't done.

I was in panic. Move, Jean. You need to do other stuff. Leave this to the superiors.

He… he needs help. I argued with myself. I knew the guards were as corrupted as the principal.

You've got other things to do. Jobs, remember?

But I couldn't move. My legs were glued there. I watched as Diego got beaten up and my heart ached, my body trembled with fury and fear. My irrational and reckless part of me was taking over my body. I wanted to do something, but I knew if I did, I was going to get in real trouble. There may not be a way out of this.

I heard cries. Someone was crying behind me. I looked over my shoulder and among the snickers, laughs and shouts, there was a guy crying, hands on his mouth to avoid bawling and get detected. I observed him further until Diego's piercing outcry made me look over. Trevor turned him around, his back at him and pushed his head against the wall with a thud. I winced as I saw Trevor forcing Diego's arm up. The latter one shrieked. And when Trevor kneed his back, Diego let out a muffled cry. He was lacking air to cry louder. God, what's wrong with this school?!

The crying guy behind me rushed at the middle of the scene, unable to hold himself, -"Diego!"- He shouted.

And that made Diego's eyes widen in terror, -"Zaeed… no! Run!"

So that's Zaeed.

George turned his attention to him, -"Well, well, our little beacon worked. You finally show up."

Everyone gasped, but not in terror or solicitude. Do they really think this is a movie?

I noted a few leaving, recognizing this was getting real ugly.

I also noted Zaeed had no self-defense. At all. That's when I ran in, pushing students aside. I grabbed Zaeed shoulder and when he looked up at me, I said, -"I got this. Get to safety."- But did I meant it? He didn't seemed to believe me, but he sidestepped to the sidelines anyways. I knew he was up to something. I had to keep my eye on him.

Diego eyes widen more at me and my eyes locked with his: he was suffering, he wanted this to end and yet he had the smallest flicker of hope when he saw me. He tough I was his savior. How ironic. I was probably ruining both of our lives.

Only George's slow but loud applauds snapped us both, -"Look who's here, ladies and gentlemen. Jean Kirshtein. It's been a long time, buddy."

-"Don't call me buddy."- I said through gritted teeth. Ire began to arise inside me, remembering everything he did to Marco and me.

And he was right, it's been a long time. He had his eyes red and was walking toward me sloppily. He was high. Very high. I could use this observation to my benefit. Trevor, however, didn't looked so inebriated.

-"After all this time and that's how you treat me. Why don't we…"- He kept blabbering and I took a quick glance at Zaeed. He was moving closer –a bit scared, to where Diego laid, all beaten up. What is he plotting? Trevor hasn't seen him yet, his eyes were on me and I wanted it to stay that way. Diego did say Zaeed was clever. I'll buy him time for whatever he was planning.

I interrupted George and spoke to Trevor, -"Hey! Leave him alone."

Trevor laughed out loud, -"Says who?"

-"Me."- I said and launched towards him, ignoring George. He'll be easier to deal with. Trevor was going to be more complicated since he had his mind on the ground unlike his pal.

My attack was unexpected, but he still remained composed and blocked my punch with his forearm. I raised my knee, but he also blocked it. Slowly, I lured him farther and farther from Diego. When Trevor launched at me, I did a swoop around and quickly gazed at Zaeed when I was out of Trevor's sight. He was picking Diego up.

Even though he was drunk, I was worried George would bust him, so I tried to distract them both. Like I said, George was easy to deal with. His attacks were sloppy. Trevor was giving me a hard time. He was Frank's left hand after all.

After a few minutes of fighting, I was exhausted. I knew I blew it up when I promptly glanced at Zaeed's positon in front of Trevor. He followed my eye and growled in anger when Diego wasn't there, -"Wha-!? Where is he?"

I sighed in relief and noted two figures moving at the far end of the hallway. Was that… Marco?

When both Trevor and George –kind of-, grew in anger, I knew I had to make a run for it. This crowd wasn't dispersing and people were taking videos. I can't let them record me in a rampage and fighting like the madman they thought I was. I needed to prove them wrong. I ran.

-"Come back here, you coward!"

Yet I knew I was going to be called a coward nonetheless. Better that than a lunatic.

Both of them were in their group's soccer team, so they knew how to run. George stayed behind and stopped to take air, so I was lost for him in a second. Trevor was on my heels.

No matter how many turns I took, he was still onto me. The only way I was going to escape him was if I outsmarted him, so I tried and remembered how Marco disappeared from Frank's eye by blending with crowds. The bell rang and it meant that lunch hour will soon be over, so students were probably waiting in front of their teacher's classrooms, so the hallways were probably packed right now.

I set a course to the nearest hallway and ran as fast as I could. My legs were beginning to hurt. I was forcing myself and my breaths were ragged. My heart was going to explode. I wasn't running properly, but this was a life or death run. This wasn't soccer practice.

When I reached the crowd, I decelerated and started walking at a fast pace, still keeping a normal aspect to it. –"Jean! You can't run forever!"

Shit, shit, shit, is he seeing me? But since I wasn't feeling my neck snapped, I guessed he wasn't. The hallway was packed as I foretold and all the while, I stopped seeing him.

-"Jean! I can see you!"- He shouted.

My heart skipped a beat. I couldn't tell if he was bluffing, but when I felt a slight pull in my shirt, I knew I was done for. I knew there was no way of escaping him now. He'll beat me to a pulp.

But it didn't come. I wasn't feeling that pull anymore and when I promptly looked back, I saw two black figures among the crowd, straddling Trevor. They easily blend in with whoever wore black –if "they" were real. Was I seeing things again? Did I just summoned some dark ghosts? It didn't matter. I made a run for it again. This time, I was shit scared. I didn't knew who I was running from now.

When I was positive I was clear, I leaned down, hands on knees and panting heavily, sweat trailing rapidly down from my forehead to my chest. I was quivering, both from the running and fear. I swore I saw something there – or someone.

-"Psst."- I heard a whistle.

I turned around abruptly, balling my fists and aiming at whomever just whistled atme.

It was one of those black figures. It looked… male. He had black gloves and black sneakers. I saw a face underneath the black hood, so I could say he was human, -"Come with me."

I shook my head. No way. He could be leading me into a trap.

-"It's Diego De Castro."

I lowered my arms a bit, -"Diego…? How do you know him?"

-"Zaeed is with him. And Marco too."

At the mention of his name, I gasped and my arms dropped, -"Marco?"

He noted that and smirked, nodding.

I hesitated for a while, but realized he knew of Zaeed's plan. I knew I saw Marco aiding Zaeed with Diego and this guy knew that too. Some lowlife lackey of Trevor or George would've said something stupid. I still wasn't trusting him, but I gestured him to lead on and I followed him. I prepared myself for an ambush or some shit anyways.

But when we reached a small lieu on the second floor lead by the stairs to the rooftop, I quickly met with a bunch of guys, all dressed in black. Among this blackness, I saw gold. I saw Diego resting his head on Zaeed's lap. I quickly rushed to him, -"Diego? Hey, are you alright?"- When I saw Zaeed's stricken face, I swallowed. Diego didn't look alright at all. He had a massive bruise on his cheek and a smaller one on his forehead, where his head clashed with the wall. He was unconscious, breathing, but knocked out.

-"Those bastards…"- I muttered to myself, that ire wanting to take control of me, that hate at those assholes for what they did. I wanted them to pay… to feel what Diego felt...

And then…

-"Jean!"- My savior's voice nulled those corrupting thoughts and emotions. Marco came rushing at me, fear and worry plastered all over his face.

I stood up and began to apologize, but he clashed against me into a tight, warm hug. I stood dumbfounded for a few seconds before hugging him back. I haven't gotten this close to him in a while, -"It's okay, Diego's ok-"

Marco squeezed tighter, -"Why'd you do that?"

I knew what he meant, -"He needed me, Marco. Nobody was doing anything."- I said, remembering how he said the same thing about the bullied kid in the lunch room.

-"I know, dummy, but you fought them on your own! Why didn't you told me or someone from our group? They could've beaten you too!"- Marco was letting his emotions out, but he was keeping them under control. Unlike me.

-"I… I…,"- I couldn't argue with him. Yeah, I could've call them, but if I went over and back to the scene with help, Diego would have been in a worst condition and things would've been different -yeah, death included, -"I'm sorry, Marco…,"- You do worry, I though as a sentimental tear escaped my eye. He sobbed and I lifted his head up to see tears on his sweet eyes, -"Don't cry. I'm here. I'm alright. You're gonna make me cry."

He chuckled, -"Just promise me you won't do it next time."

There will be a next… that much I knew. About calling him and the group for help? I wasn't so sure, but I'll definitely try, -"I'll try, Marco. I promise."

I knew that wasn't the answer he wanted, but he decided against arguing, knowing how bad it ended last time we both did. He nodded and buried his face in my chest. I felt that warm I've been longing for this whole time… that hunger for his lips… his touch…

I began to lean down, but abruptly stopped. This wasn't the appropriate place for that and I knew what a small kiss led to. Someone even reminded us, -"Get a room you two."- It wasn't a discriminating tone of voice, there were just too many people.

I turned to Marco and spoke lowly, -"I want… to speak with you. Maybe later?"

Marco nodded, -"Upper rondure."

I nodded back.

-"So,"- I heard a masculine voice call out. Was it to me? –"You're the Jean,"- His voice had… authority among the others and when I turned to look at the guy, he certainly looked like the leader of this…black gang or whatever they were. He too wore black: gloves, jeans and combat boots alike, but was the tallest and most toned. As if to be one with the darkness, his hair was pure black, mildly shaved on the sides and rear but abundant and messy with hair above. His eyes were hazel. He also had an 'I founded a gang' look; I noticed a few earrings and another handful of piercings: one in his nose and the other on his lower lip, -"A pleasure, I guess."- A handsome guy for any girl's eyes.

-"Nathaniel, he's waking up."- One of his guys spoke.

Nathaniel Guerrero, he filled the request to cast Kat out, right after Diego.

Nathaniel looked over his shoulder, -"Bandage him up –let Zaeed do it."

Zaeed look up at Nathaniel and nodded, willing to do anything for Diego. He was the quiet and shy type, like Diego said. I haven't gotten a better look at him. He wasn't as tall as Diego –tenth grader? And had a black formal haircut, neatly brushed to the side, no shags whatsoever. He had one of those squared glasses nerds used a lot, layered in white to expose his sky blue-ish eyes. A cutie in Diego's eyes, no doubt and yet they were so different. I saw love and worry in his eyes as he tenderly bandaged his boyfriend up.

-"He'll soon wake up,"- Nathaniel spoke, snapping me for my sudden trance, -"That was pretty clever for you, blending in crowds like that and yet he was onto you. You would've been ripped if not for my guys."

-"Your 'guys'?"- I snorted, -"Are you playing war now?"- By his selection of words, I could point out he played CoD or Battlefield.

He didn't found it amusing. What a serious guy, -"Technically, yeah,"- He said, grimacing, -"One that doesn't involve politics but rights."

-"This whole place feels like it,"- I said, looking around. This part of the school was utterly abandoned since access to the rooftop was prohibited. There were spider webs on the corners and dust loosening from the walls, -"So… you're gay too."

The statement didn't set him off at all, like it was totally normal, but one of his guys raised his head, -"Yeah. Problem?"- He spat, crossing him arms.

And he had the 'bring it on anytime' personality too, -"Nope."- I said, not looking for fights with someone who might've saved my life –and can kick my ass. He had the coats sleeves up to his elbow and I could see his toned arm –and a tattoo on his right arm: it was like a phrase or something. His vein was healthy visible like mines. I bet he had defensive training.

-"Good. We understand each other,"- I guessed he knew about Marco and me then, but didn't point anything out about it. He pointed at Diego, -"They went too far this time."

-"Um, a quick question,"- I began, -"What did you do with Trevor? Not like I care about him or anything. Just... er, wondering."

Nathaniel raised an eyebrow. He hesitated for a few seconds, -"We knocked him out and dropped him in the bathroom. We left a few drugs on him as "proof" that he was drunk."

I casted a weary expression, -"And... where did you get those?"

He grinned, -"I have my sources."- He sounded a lot like Kat right now.

-"Okay..."- This definitely looked like mafia work.

-"He'll still claim he was knocked out by someone, but people and superiors will say he was just drunk -and crazy, it's enough to cover us. Get it or do I have to repeat it?"- He spat quickly, probably irritated he had to explain everything to me. Well yeah, I had to know who the fuck I was dealing with. Is he an ally or a foe?

-"No, but thank you for offering."- I spat back, grinning. I had to admit that was a clever strategy.

-"Anyways,"- He began again, this time, his voice harsher, more serious, -"This is getting out of hand. What happened with Diego was just the beginning."

-"Do you know him?"- I asked -again, out of curiosity. It was a stupid question.

-"Yeah. Why do you ask so many questions?"- What a spicy little fuck he was.

I just shrugged, -"I dunno."- It's a new record! I haven't fought with him yet –but physically and verbally.

He clicked his tongue, -"All you need to know is that we're the ones trying to stop the bullying and find a place in this school no matter our sexual preferences."

Now, I couldn't hold myself, -"Well, it's not working,"- I said, crossing my arms defensively –I felt this guy can jump at me any time, -"And it's not like you can stop it all either. There will always be bullying and racists, no matter where you go."

He looked like he wanted to jump at me. Again, he pointed at Diego, -"But we can stop this. This is far too much. They've crossed the line. It's unfair,"- He said, his voice hard, angry, -"And what about you? You haven't done shit. Diego seems convinced you can help us."

I snorted, -"And you?"

-"All I see is a loudmouth."

I was about to answer back when Diego spoke out, -"And I see… a fighter, a warrior… someone who can make a difference. We need him, Guerrero."

I looked over at him. Did he really think so? I didn't. The term 'warrior' was a bit off in our situation.

-"Didn't he told you he wasn't getting involved?"- Nathaniel was in complete distrust of me, -"He's selfish."

-"You don't understand…,"- Diego shook his head, -"Weren't you egoistic as well when this all began? You wanted to protect Axel just the way Jean wants to protect Marco without getting dragged in dangerous activities. Isn't that why you don't let Axel participate?"- At the mention of Axel, Nathaniel's face softened and one of the guys raised his head, the one of before, -"None of us wanted to get involved. Surely, you understand Jean."

Nathaniel grimaced and gaped his mouth to retort, until that same guy of before stood up, -"Nate,"- He spoke and I swore Nathaniel's attitude went from bad to goody two shoes, -"He has managed what you couldn't in years."- The guy lowered his hood and I saw a red head with spiky hair on top and messy all the way to his rear into a small braid with distinct accessories. He had emerald eyes and a tribal tattoo underneath his right one. He had a beauty mark over his eyebrow, at the end of it. On his other eyebrow, he had a piercing, as well as lime green plugins on his ears. By their proximity, I figured he was Nathaniel's boyfriend. They looked alike.

The truth of that made Nathaniel a bit troublesome, -"Fine, but what does he say now?"- He looked at me.

I quickly spoke, placing my hand on my forehead, feeling my head heavy, -"Just… give me some time."

Nathaniel sighed, -"In the meantime, try to stay out of sight. Use a variety of hooded coats. You too, Marco,"- He turned towards Diego, -"Especially you. I told you before, didn't I?"

Diego made a face, -"Ugh, they're so… habitual."

Once Nathaniel dismissed his little gang, I walked towards Diego, who was sat up and leaning on the wall. Zaeed sat beside him, -"Hey… how are you feeling?"

Diego smiled weakly, -"I'm alright… thanks to you. I owe you again."

I shook my head, -"No, don't worry. It was nothing,"- I scratched the back of my neck, -"Uh… did you meant what you said earlier?"

He nodded, -"Yes. I wouldn't have said it otherwise, would I?"- He stood up with Zaeed's help, -"And yes, it was something. You saved my life twice. You could have turned away, it wasn't your business, right?"

My gaze fell, guilty, -"It's not like that… I just… couldn't stay and watch, you know? You're… my friend."- It took me a while to say that, but I meant it.

Diego's smile grew, -"I'm honored to hear that."

-"What're you gonna do now?"

-"I'm going to take him home until he recovers,"- Zaeed spoke next, -"Thanks… Jean."

-"Take care of him, yeah?"- I said and started walking away after saying goodbye.

I walked with Marco outside and reached the upper rondure, where we promised to talk.

-"Jean … how are you holding up?"- He spoke first.

We were facing each other and yet I couldn't look at his eyes, -"Uh… good, I guess."- I really wanted to apologize, but I didn't know if it was the right time. I felt I needed to complete those jobs to pay that woman and then I could apologize to him. I knew he was mad at me for intervening in the reunion.

He lent and tried to look at my eyes, but I avoided them, -"I told you I had it under control. Now you need to work this weekend. You won't be able to study. And what if you received news of your mom? You just put more weight on you –more than you already had."

-"Marco… she wanted to see me. I needed to be there, otherwise she wouldn't accept the deal."- I answered back, afraid of what his respond might be.

Marco was speechless. What I said was true and he knew it.

-"I can handle it. I promise."- Really now?

His face softened and his eyes watered, -"You should have let mom pay her."

I shook my head, -"You've both done so much for me… I can't just let you pay for problems I caused."

-"But…"

I drew myself closer to him, lifting his head up to face mines, -"Trust me. I can do it. I'll be alright."- I finally gave him that kiss from earlier, overwhelmed by his worry. It was soft and slow at first, then, I couldn't resist myself. That burning sensation in me begged me to practically chew on his lips. My heart throbbed faster as I drew my tongue deep in his mouth, but it wasn't enough. With my hand on the back of his head, I pushed deeper until I could reach and touch his mouth's sides and roof. I explored it thoroughly, slithering my tongue all around it, taking his saliva into mines. Marco started coughing, unable to keep up with me, but I didn't stop, I couldn't stop. My body yearned for him. I roughly began to kiss his neck and sliding down to his shoulder where a trail of freckles descended, sucking here and there. Marco's moans echoed in my ear and that was enough to turn me on.

I unconsciously began to pull on his shirt underneath his coat while the other hand began to unzip it. He didn't stop me and when I finished, my hand began to unbutton his shirt –or tried to, I couldn't see what I was doing, -"Ngn… Jean…"- Marco moaned deeply.

I pushed him to the wall and nailed him with my body. Giving up on his shirt, I escalated my hand all the way up his back and slowly dropped it, feeling his soft skin. Without thinking, I dropped it too low and into his pants, taking and feeling his buttocks. I squeezed and Marco took an intake of hard breath. They were sweaty and soft, like pillows. I couldn't prevent an erection. It was impossible. I needed to feel him more.

I moved my hand to the front of his pant and dug deeper. Marco flinched, -"J-Jean…!"

I knew at the back of my mind –way back, we were in school. It wasn't the right place to do this and yet, I couldn't stop myself…!

Until the second bell rang, ordering students to enter class.

Close by, I heard loud, collected footsteps, like cattle coming up to their hutch. I kept kissing Marco, still hearing out the students until I pushed him away… harshly and pulled the hood over my head. It was an impulsive act, one that I didn't even though of. The students teemed the area.

Marco was looking at me surprised. He wasn't expecting that. I was too harsh, I didn't measure the strength in my arms. His face fell, saddening, -"I-I'm… sorry. I just…"

-"I…, it's okay,"- He said, always compassionate and understanding, yet there was something else there too. Doubt? Grief? He avoided my eyes, -"We should go."

I noted he wanted to hold hands. I hesitated. The rondure was still crowded. I couldn't risk it. A shallow fear tingled in me as students started to look at us strangely and whisper to their friends. I slightly shook my head, worried at how Marco would feel.

Marco bit his lip again and lowered his hand.

-"Marco… I-I need to head home t-to work early."- I stuttered, getting a weird ache in my chest. The sensation of our moment was still there, begging me to continue what I started. The erection was getting uncomfortable and I tried to push it down with my hand stealthily. If Marco noted, he didn't say anything.

After a while, he nodded reluctantly –yet understanding, -"O-okay… I'll copy the material for you."

I thanked him and headed out, the ache in my chest growing worse. He thinks you're ashamed of what you both share. Diego's words buzzed around my head. No, it can't be. I loved Marco. I did what I did for his safety in this fucking school.

An annoying doubt lingered somewhere in my mind.

When I reached home, I quickly went towards Nana's, -"I'm ready for that job."

She gestured me in and I began to clean her house –nonstop, picking up random stuff from the floor and dumping them away. I swept the house with a worn out broom, blowing off dust and then washing it with a mop. I threw out the garbage and washed the dishes. The bathroom stank like a dump, but I cleaned it thoroughly, using Clorox, Lysol and Lestoil. I sneezed countless times. The bathroom's garbage was packed and nasty toilet papers fell. I found cleaning gloves and picked each one of them up and dumped them –lastly picking up the dump and throwing it away. God, this lady didn't do shit.

Then, I headed to her bedroom which was –to say the least- worse than mines. She had her clothes –both dirty and clean- thrown everyone, her bed sheets were crumbled on the floor and her shoes were disorganized. I patch it all up, fast as lighting, never stopping for a break. I used a vacuum, which helped a lot. I tossed her dirty clothes on the washer –which took me minutes to understand and turn on, -"Jean, would you like an omelet?"

I almost squealed. I loved omelets –just Mom's though, but I was still hungry.

-"You've done an excellent job,"- She said when I sat to eat, -"Thank you."

I just nodded since my mouth was full. I silently thanked her for feeding me. Like I said, it wasn't like Mom's, but close. Enough to satisfy my stomach. I haven't eaten anything since I walked here from school.

When I finished, I continued to work and tossed her damped clothes on the dryer. While I waited for it to finish, I wrapped up final details here and there.

-"Here,"- Nana called me while I folded her dried clothes and retrained them in her cabinets. I turned to her and took… ten bucks from her hands. I said nothing, as I decided ten was better than nothing and thanked her, -"You can come by again to work for another ten bucks."

-"Thanks."

At home, I slumped to bed without changing or anything. I haven't realized just how much my body hurt from so much work. I fell asleep in a matter of seconds.

Long and boring chapter, right? I'll have to compress them :/