Just the Streets, Day Four (February 5, 2317)

[Hwin]

"That's probably why I'm standing so close to you, Tucker." Rosie said with a slight blush. "It's hard to hear, sometimes, when you have only one ear."


Tucker looked at her sweet, innocent face."I don't mind." He stopped and saw a sadness in her blue eyes. Gently, he brushed away the hair from where her left ear would have been.

Clover watched the two. She felt badly for her friend and couldn't help but to notice Tucker's carefulness as he touched her face. Maybe he likes her, Clover thought to herself. No, they just met. We barely know this guy...but still... Clover shook her head.

Tucker couldn't help himself after Rosie's eyes began to water, he wrapped his arms around Rosie, catching her up in a hug. He was somewhat surprised by himself. Never before had he felt such a need to cheer someone else up and actually done it. "If you ever need someone to talk to just know you can trust me. Even if we just met today..." Tucker whispered into her right ear. Letting go, Tucker's eyes twinkled. "I'm not sure if that helped or not..."

[Cytherea]

Rosie stiffened slightly as Tucker gently brushed the hair away from where her left ear should have been. She always tried to cover where her ear should have been with hair and bobby pins, but it moved softly for Tucker.

And then, he caught her up in his arms and hugged her. She felt squeezed... no, completely free... terrified... overjoyed.

"If you ever need someone to talk to just know you can trust me. Even if we just met today..." Tucker whispered into her right ear. Letting go, Tucker's eyes twinkled. "I'm not sure if that helped or not..."

Rosie wanted to hug him again, but all she could manage was a smile. But it was a very happy, very real smile.

"Thank you, Tucker!" she said, still beaming. "You and Clover," she smiled at her friend. "Are my BEST friends! You both can make me feel so happy!"

[Lithium]

Sol went back to the supplies closet to grab Sydny some pain killers while Archer grabbed his coat and opened the door to escort Olivia out. "Ready to go? Do you have everything?"

"Be safe you two," Camri said. "And, Archer, try to not get beat up too severely."

[Cytherea]

"Ready to go? Do you have everything?" Archer asked as he held the door open for Olivia. She was going to grab her blue jacket, but realized she had left it behind at Ms. Mercaniule's. And she wasn't to eager to be anywhere near her house, for quite a long time.

"Be safe you two," Camri said. "And, Archer, try to not get beat up too severely."

Olivia quickly gave Camri a hug and then walked to the door.

"See you soon!" she said with a smile and a wave. "Maybe we could go look for jobs tomorrow with each other."

Olivia stepped out into the hallway and walked downstairs. The moment she opened the door to the outside world, she wished she had her coat.

Oh well. You've been in worse situations than being cold before. She thought to herself. Now get over it.

[Lithium]

"Here," Archer said before taking off his coat and putting it on Olivia's shoulders. "I didn't realize it was drizzling. And cold. I can take it."

Camri frowned as she watched them walk under the window of her room.

"Why are you watching them?" Sol asked sharply. "It's none of your business."

Camri shook her head. "Never mind."

[Cytherea]

Olivia

"Here," Archer said before taking off his coat and putting it on Olivia's shoulders. "I didn't realize it was drizzling. And cold. I can take it."

"Thanks." she said. She hadn't wanted to make him give her his coat, but she was happy for the extra warmth. "If you're sure you'll be alright, anyway. We can take turns with it."

Sydny

"Thanks, Sol." Sydny said as he took the pain killers. "I don't know what's wrong with me. I feel... kind of light-headed, or something. Sort of weak." he studied her face. "You know what's wrong with me, don't you?"

[Hwin]

"Thank you, Tucker!" Rosie said, still beaming. "You and Clover," she smiled at her friend. "Are my BEST friends! You both can make me feel so happy!"

Clover ran up and hugged her best friend. "And you're my best friend!"

Suddenly, the clouds above let out a drizzle and a cold wind stirred the girls hair. Clover wrapped her arms around her waist and shivered. "We should probably find somewhere to get out of this rain..."

Tucker looked at the surroundings. "This is actually close to where Mrs. Kay lives. I haven't seen her in awhile and I'm sure she'd enjoy the company. Sound good?"

[Cytherea]

Rosie hugged Clover back, laughing and smiling. And then, it started to rain.

"We should probably find somewhere to get out of this rain..." Clover said, wrapping her arms around her waist and shivering.

"This is actually close to where Mrs. Kay lives. I haven't seen her in awhile and I'm sure she'd enjoy the company. Sound good?" Tucker suggested.

"Sure!" Rosie said, still smiling. "I'd love to. Do you suppose she could teach Clover and I some piano?"

[Lithium]

Archer

Archer laughed. "No. No way. I'll have it when I go to work. You wear it for now. At least until we get to your house. Or apartment. Just lead the way."

He glanced back and thought he saw Camri's face at the window. He shook his head, looked back and she wasn't there anymore.

Sol/Camri

"Well, Sydny, it's... it's hard to say. I've never seen someone with such extensive, unhealed damage before. It's nearly unheard of. I can't say if you are going to die, because only the Lord knows when and if, but you will be crippled and somewhat weak for the rest of your life. Granted, that could change with time, as you heal up. It's still pretty fresh."

Camri held in her gasp as she pulled her ear away from the door. Sydny? Is he... Oh no. It's all my fault. All my fault!

"Anyways," Sol continued. "You should take it easy for now. I should probably check the stitches. I don't want it to do septic or anything. Then you really would die."

[Cytherea]

Olivia

Olivia smiled.

"It's a small house. It's not too far from here, actually. Normally-"

"Livia! Livia's back!"

Olivia smiled and caught up one of the small children who had run up to her. She spun him in the air for a moment and then gave him a hug.

"Hello Mark!" she said, smiling widely. "How are you?"

"Good." the four year old Mark said with a smile. His light brown hair flopped down over his eyes.

"My my." Olivia said. "I'd better give you a haircut. Where's Annie?"

"I'm right here!"

A young girl, around the age of six quickly ran up to them.

"Are you guys the only ones coming by for dinner tonight?" Olivia said to the two children.

"I'm not sure." Annie said. "Millie is sick, but a nice old woman took her in."

Mark was staring inquisitively at Archer. He furrowed his brow, deep in thought for a four year old.

"Livia, is this boy your boyfriend?" he said in a deadly serious voice with a deadly serious face, which looked rather hilarious on a four year old.

Sydny

"You should take it easy for now. I should probably check the stitches. I don't want it to do septic or anything. Then you really would die."

"Ew, I'd prefer to live." Sydny said with a grimace. "It'd be awful if I died, because then I would never know what it would be like to turn 20. I wonder if I'll even live that long..." he grinned at her. "But no problem! I'm still alive now. And if I'm still alive," he paused dramatically. "then I must not be dead."

[Lithium]

Archer shook his head. "No. I'm just a friend. Who happens to be a boy."

He turned to Olivia and smiled. "Well, I've got to go. How about you come to Camri's tomorrow morning, around 9ish. I'll meet you there and explain to you and Camri about this new... development. Until then, don't do anything with it. I'll see you around."

Archer turned down a nearby street, and started to run. Once he got far enough away, he turned the opposite direction of Olivia's house and continued on his way to the prize-fighting ring.

[Cytherea]

"Okay, bye!" Olivia said with a smile. She watched him run down the street, before suddenly remembering his jacket. "Oh, oh wait!"

"Livia, what's wrong?"

"Nothing." Olivia said. She smiled down at Annie. "I just got myself worked up about a coat is all. I can give it back to him tomorrow."

She let her breath out slowly and hugged the jacket to herself.

"Come on, guys. We'd better get inside. It's getting colder out here, and I bet you're both hungry."

[Lithium]

Sol smiled. "I... guess so. Now, we're going to need to leave you home alone for a while, while we get our Mom settled in. Speaking of which..." She turned away and called to Camri, "Hey, Camri! We need to get going!"

"All right," Camri said, coming out of their room. "I'll get Mom into her wheel chair."

She went back into their Mom's bedroom and pulled out the wheelchair.

"Hey, Mom. We're taking you somewhere to get you better, all right?"

Her Mom narrowed her eyes and shook her head.

"Come on, now Mom. We found a place that can completely cure you–– let you go back to how you used to be."

Her Mom looked away, then looked to the wheelchair and took hold of Camri. Her legs shook as she tried to support her weight on them after so much time of not using them. She slumped into the wheelchair and Camri wheeled her out of the bedroom and into the living room.

Sol wrapped some blankets and scarves around her and smiled at her Mom. "You're going to get better. And we'll come visit you."

"Bye Sydny!" Camri called out as they closed the door behind them.

End of the day for Archer.

[Hwin]

"I'm sure she'd love to very much, especially since she’s always complaining about having nothing to do with herself." Tucker laughed and then stopped in front of a small, minty green house, which was wedged in between two apartment buildings. "Well, here we are!" Walking up to the door, Tucker knocked but received no reply. "Hmm...I guess she's gone."

"Will we have to come back later?" Clover asked, trying to hide her disappointed. It was getting awfully chilly outside.

"No, she has a spare key she told me about." Quickly, Tucker ran to the side of the house and found the spare hidden away underneath some old bushes. Unlocking the doors, he let the girls in first and then followed behind.

[Cytherea]

"No, she has a spare key she told me about."

Tucker ran around to the other side of the house and came back with a key. He unlocked the door and let the girls in first.

"Oh, look at that piano!" Rosie exclaimed. It's so beautiful! Please play for us Tucker!" she turned and looked at him, smiling widely. "Please?"

[Anwen]

"Oh, you're a Royale? That's nice. Wait a moment, I've got to go to work!" He turned back to her. Would you like me to walk you home? It's on the way."

[Hwin]

"Please play for us Tucker? Please?" Rosie was smiling so sweetly that Tucker couldn't help but to grin in reply.

"It's been awhile but I suppose I could give it a try." Tucker walked over to the upright piano and looked at the shiny black and white keys. He always felt so relaxed when he played, as if all of his troubles left him as quickly as the notes came to him. Placing his hands on the keys, Tucker began to play Chopin's Nocturne in C-sharp minor.

Tucker slowly lifted his fingertips off of the last note, reality flooding back to him. "Well, ladies, I hope you enjoyed." He turned around and bit his lip, awaiting the girl's reply.

[Cytherea]

Rosie

"Well, ladies, I hope you enjoyed." He turned around and bit his lip, awaiting the girl's reply.

Rosie was smiling so widely and so happily, that it was obvious she was very delighted. Without thinking, she flung herself into his arms and gave him a hug.

"That was beautiful! You sound like you've been playing your whole life! Could you teach me?" she said. Suddenly her face turned red and she quickly let go of him. "S-sorry!" she said quickly.

Endosi

"Would you like me to walk you home? It's on the way."

"Yes, I would!" Endosi said with a smile. "Oh, if it's no trouble to you, anyway. Maybe you could meet my parents?" She said with another smile.

[Lithium]

The sun was slowly setting and turning the overcast sky into orange and pink tongues of flame when Camri and Sol came back from settling their mother in.

They were both grim and silent. Camri tried to avoid Sol, sensing she was in one of her, "I'm going to hold in my tears and stay strong to make everyone else comfortable," moods. Sol would probably silently cry in the dead of night for the next few months.

"Hey," Camri said. "Where's Gage been? I'm surprised he hasn't come over to see us yet."

Sol looked away. "He's been really busy with work lately. His boss is dangling a promotion over his head, and if he gets this, then he'll gain access into the business world of the Royales. He'll be on his way to being a company executive."

"Oh," Camri said. "Well, why don't we call him to come for some games tonight. I'm sure Sydny would like to meet him. He can... cheer us all up..."

Sol looked at her sharply. "I don't need cheering up."

"Well, call him anyways. You're getting married in a few months."

"All right," Sol said before walked to the phone.

It started ringing.

"Gage Maylin is calling."

"Well would you look at that..." Sol said before grabbing up the phone. "Hey Gage! Are you off work yet? (...) Really? (...) Well, that would be great! Could you bring something over for dinner? (...) That'll work. Okay! Love you. (...) Bye."

She hung up the phone. "Gage says he has something important to talk about with us, so he's picking up some Japanese take-out and he'll be over in about twenty minutes."

Camri nodded. "Where's Sydny?"

[Cytherea]

Sydny had absolutely no idea what to do.

"So... I'm the only one in the apartment." he cautiously looked around the room he was in. "Yep, everyone else is gone." he sat still for minutes on end. "This room's kind of creepy..."

Suddenly, he felt needles on his shoulder. They dug into his skin, his attacker being extra careful to cause him pain.

"Aaaahhhhh!!!" Sydny yelled, as a fluffy white face licked his. He staggered to his feet, and, rather suddenly, passed out.

"Meow."

[Hwin]

Suddenly, Tucker found Rosie with her arms around him and he smiled, hugging her back. It felt wonderful to know his music had brought her this much delight.

"That was beautiful! You sound like you've been playing your whole life! Could you teach me?" Rosie said. Suddenly her face turned red and she quickly let go of him. "S-sorry!" she said quickly.

Tucker’s dark eyes danced and he flipped his brown hair. “No, it’s ok. I rather enjoyed it,” he grinned, “but thank you! I’d love to teach you and Clover if you’d like.”

Clover smiled at the two; they looked awfully cute hugging each other. It wasn’t very often that a friend was made in just one day. “It was beautiful, like Rosie said, Tucker! I’d love if you might teach us something sometime.”

Tucker looked up at Clover and smiled his thanks. “Well, you two, it looks like it’s getting pretty late. Do you want something to eat? Mrs. Kay always has extra sandwich leftovers in the kitchen she’ll let just about any hungry person passing by eat.”

[Cytherea]

"Oh, well, if you are sure she won't mind." Rosie said. "I am hungry." She looked around the room for a clock. "I wonder what time it is."

Just then, an elderly lady came in. She didn't seem to be surprised to find her door already unlocked.

"Um, Mrs. Kay, I presume?" Rosie said, hesitantly, before smiling at her. "My name's Rosie, and this is my friend Clover. You know Tucker already, right?"

[Lithium]

"Sydny?" Camri called out. She walked to the door of the "ward" (normally her's and Camri's bedroom) and knocked. "Sydny? You in there?"

Sol shook her head. "He couldn't have gone outside. He knows its––" She cut herself off.

"It's what?" Camri asked.

"Never mind. I'll go in. Maybe he's sleeping."

She opened the door and gasped. "Sydny! Oh––!" She stooped over and picked up Hikaru, who was lying peacefully on Sydny's back, both of them sleeping. Or in Sydny's case, passed out.

"He probably scared the living daylights out of him," Sol said as she stroked Hikaru. "He's probably hungry. Let's see if I can find something for him."

Still holding the mewling kitten, she took him over to the fridge and rummaged through it until she found a bag of tilapia. She pulled out one of the filets and cut it up into small chunks before putting some of it in a bowl, and the rest of the fish back into the bag and into the fridge.

"There." She set Hikaru down. "Now I need to go take care of my patient."

Camri was already moving him out of the room and down the hall to their mom's bedroom.

"We should separate her bed into two twins. We could buy another one later. It'll be better if we have a larger room for the patients. Plus, you can use the closet for your supplies."

Sol nodded and bit her lower lip to keep herself from crying. It was the only way to save her.

"Help me get him onto the bed," Camri said. They took hold of him and lifted, then set him down onto the bed.

"I'll watch him. You can start moving stuff," Camri said. Sol watched for a bit as Camri stroked Sydny's hair, then tucked some of her own hair behind her ear, before going to grab supplies to move them.

[Cytherea]

In his dream, Sydny was being chased by huge white cats. They were about a few stories high, and weighed about two tons. They had soft, fluffy faces, but their eyes glowed hungrily.

"Hey guys!" Sydny said, turning around briefly, putting a smile on. "Let's try to be friends, okay?"

The cats hissed angrily and charged at him. Sydny turned and ran as fast as he could.

"I'll take that as a no!" he yelled as he continued to run.

But he was finally overtaken.

The cat pinned him to the ground, and barred its teeth. Sydny shut his eyes tight, but instead of feeling eaten, he felt the cat stroking his hair. But wait... cats don't have fingers.

Sydny slowly opened his eyes. Camri was sitting by him.

"Oh thank goodness." he said. He let his breath out slowly. He smiled at her. "I thought you were a two ton monster cat who was about ready to chop my head off."

[Zinna]

Rollo and Saben

"And I'd love to meet your brother."

"Then let's go," Rollo grabbed Lita's hand and rushed to the door (which was unlocked) and rushed through the door shouting at the top of his lungs, "Saaaaaabeeeeeeeeeen!"

A young boy stepped from around the corner dressed in an a pair of jeans covered in black patches, a black ladies long-sleeved shirt, a dark blue hoodie jacket, and a pair of old black boots. He also wore an apron. He glared at Rollo, but stopped when he saw Lita, and continued when he saw that Rollo still held her hand.

Rollo dropped her hand on seeing Saben's glare. "Miss, this is Sabastian Inderados, my little brother."