Strangers and secrets

After a few hours of crying into Remmy, someone came over to me and wrapped their arm around me. Too small to be any adult but too big to be the one I wanted to tell me it was all a joke. Still too exhausted to notice any difference, I let myself be consoled by the person for a few minutes before they decided it was time to talk.

"Perky, I know she didn't mean it," their voice trailed off. At the moment, I wasn't in the moment so I didn't notice my unmistakable nickname.

"Did she say that?" My eyes were darting around the room but my mind was only seeing Emma's face full of disgust and hatred.

Two months ago if you'd told me a month and ½ later Emma was going to hate me, I would've laughed in your face and told you I'd also be a queen, guess neither of them were too off.

"No, but I know she-"

"You don't know anything! She- she hates me! And it's all because of King! If- if I hadn't come and never liked King enough to want to stay none of this would've happened! None of it!" I hiccuped as much as Makayla did the day she told me about Jaylen liking Nia.

"You what?" They asked distantly. I didn't notice their hold had become stiff.

"Yea, I like him, okay?! Just, please don't tell him, but I guess it wouldn't matter now, or maybe it would since I think I'm staying?" I ranted.

"You think?" They sounded sadder now.

"Yea, they might kick me out, King might kick me out, because of my stupid outburst," I admitted sadly. Emy might've said something like I was just being dramatic because that's how I am. El wouldn't have said anything cause she despises snitches and King, well, King… I don't know.

"They won't kick you out," they told me.

"You think?" I asked, gaining the tiniest sliver of enthusiasm.

"I know," they said.

"Thanks," I pulled them into a hug, still not exactly sure who it was, then left.

Even if I will never know them, I'd always be grateful to them for helping me out. Or I'd come to my senses later.

I felt something curse through my bones as I replayed the conversation in my mind and debunked the actions.

Firstly, why would a stranger hug me as tightly as that person did, and if I didn't know them, I wouldn't have let myself be so easily comforted by them. I must've recognized their touch.

Secondly, for what reason did they have to be sad if they thought I was leaving or turn stiff when I said I liked King?

And the third and most obvious one was what they called me; Perky.

But of course, there were other logical explanations to these things.

Later I shied away from lunch, telling Jessie I didn't feel like it.

She took one look at my never-puffy eyes and never-red nose and knew that staying in my room would be a good option.

Of course, I couldn't hide all day. After lunch, King came to me.

I figured he figured I didn't know I was talking to him because he was as normal as he would've been anyway, dare I say even a little bit happier.

"Hey Perky, I've got another early birthday present to give you," he smirked as he slid into my bed beside me.

"I think that bracelet was far more than enough, King, really," I tried to sound normal but my voice came out meek, timid if you will.

"This is more of a group present, that bracelet was just from me," our eyes caught for a second but I quickly pulled mine down the box in front of him.

"Don't open until Wednesday morning," he swatted my hand away as I went to touch it.

"Alright," I nodded.

"So, up for some ice cream?" He asked, I immediately perked up (I subconsciously accepted the Perky thing) and nodded.

"Great, go get dressed and meet me downstairs in 20," King said before leaving.

I really didn't want to get dressed or even leave my room, but who's dumb enough to pass up ice cream?

I got up and put on orange sweats with an orange crop top and forces.

I was tired of my hairstyle so I took it down and brushed it up into one puff at the top of my head and slid on my glasses.

I still had about 3 minutes left and I was tempted to open the mystery gift box but because my birthday was just 3 days away and I'd probably be late for my ice cream date, I made my way downstairs.

King was already there in a plain black shirt and black jeans littered with gold stripes and gold and black shoes.

"Ready?" He asked.

"Mhm," I nodded.

Instead of taking the limo, Maverick drove us in a convertible which I was grateful for because a limo catches the eye real quick.

We pulled up to Lisa's Rolled Ice Cream & Italian Ice, which I'm sure they could've shortened, and went in.

I got a grape ape with pop rocks and King got a cookie monster.

"So, what would a perfect birthday look like for you?" King asked out of the blue as we set down with our ice cream.

"All the chocolate in the world beside my bed so I could grab it while I sit in bed all day," I nodded dreamily at the perfect day ever.

"What about you?" I asked.

"Well, I've been looking at this one company who isn't doing so well anymore, I thought maybe if mom and dad buy it for me they could see some real profits," King said. To be honest, I didn't think he was into that stuff, he'd never talked about it.

"Oh, and I'd like mom to buy me Madden," King said.

"But you already have that game," I countered.

"I mean the company Perk," I sat shell shocked, mouth open, spoon in midair. Exactly how much were these people making?!

"Okay, well, maybe when you're a little older," I said, it would be unrealistic to buy a company that you stop caring about halfway down the road.

"What companies do your parents own?" I asked, slightly changing the light.

"Dad owns Brannon Honda, mom owns JCPenney and Target, and they both own Walmart. Along with our little bank and some other stuff." King quickly added the last sentence.

"No wonder they're gone all the time."