Chapter 4: Birdy in Distress

Kit opened the door with an unimpressed look etched on her face. Alex smiled sheepishly.

"Girl," Kit said in a pointed tone as she stepped aside and let Alex into her apartment.

"I know, I know," Alex said guiltily as she sidled by Kit, giving her a quick hug and kiss on the cheek.

"You're late," Kit said with a slight smile and an eye-roll. "Why?"

"I'm still getting used to getting around this city," Alex explained as they walked down the short hallway to Kit's open-plan living room and kitchen. "The subway system is a little confusing."

Kit chuckled and watched as Alex collapsed onto her couch and fanned herself slightly. "Getting lost on the subway is a rite of passage. You've got to get on the wrong train a few times."

"I think I filled my quota just trying to get here," Alex joked with a smile as she looked around Kit's living room. "Nothing's really changed in here, I don't even see any new photos of you and Luca."

Kit rolled her eyes and took a look around the room in a considering manner. "Nothing's changed because it looks great in here. There'll be pictures of him up in our own place."

"How's the search going?" Alex asked with interest.

Kit groaned dramatically and turned to walk to her kitchen. "If we're going to get into that, we need to get into some wine too."

Alex laughed and clapped her hands. "I'm one hundred percent on board. Shouldn't Birdy be here?"

Kit walked back into the living room with an unopened wine bottle and two empty wine glasses, a frown painted on her face. "She's running late too, very unlike her. I'm a little worried."

"Oh," Alex muttered with a slight frown. "Have you tried calling her?"

"I have but it just goes to voicemail," Kit answered as she sat next to Alex and started pouring the wine. "We'll just wait a little longer."

Not long after a quiet knock rang throughout the apartment.

"That must be her," Alex said.

Kit nodded and jumped up, walking to the door quickly. She pulled the door open for Birdy, her face falling as she got a good look at her.

"Birdy!" Kit exclaimed. "Are you okay?"

Birdy smiled ruefully and nodded, swallowing past the lump in her throat that had been there since Dale kicked her out. She felt like she hadn't slept in the last few days and she looked it too.

"I'm okay, sorry I'm late," Birdy answered with a tired smile. "Can I come in?"

Kit nodded with a worried expression and stepped aside, letting Birdy walk into the apartment with her garment bags. Kit closed the door and followed, determined to get an answer out of her before the day was over.

"Let me help you with that," Alex offered as Birdy entered the room, standing and reaching for some of the garment bags.

"Thanks," Birdy said gratefully as she handed Alex some of the bags she was carrying.

"Are you sure you're okay, Birdy?" Kit asked as she walked into the room, joining the other two women.

Birdy smiled bravely and nodded. "I've just had a rough couple of days. I don't want to bring my personal issues to work, I'm already late."

"We like each other outside of work, don't we?" Kit asked in a gentle tone as she put a comforting arm around Birdy. "You look like you need a hug."

Birdy nodded and felt horrified as tears started spilling down her cheeks. She turned and buried her head in Kit's shoulder as she pulled her into a hug. Alex and Kit locked eyes over Birdy's bowed head, both of them filled with sympathy and compassion.

"I'm joining the hug," Alex announced for Birdy's benefit as she joined them, cradling Birdy from the other side. Birdy relaxed into the group hug and allowed herself to cry for a few minutes until her tears slowed to a stop.

"Thank you," she sniffled thankfully.

"Let me get you a tissue," Alex offered with a smile before breaking away and disappearing down the hallway.

"Come and sit down, sweetie," Kit said as she guided Birdy toward the couch and helped her sit down. "I'm going to get you a glass."

Kit past Alex as she walked back into the living room with a tissue box, offering it to Birdy with a warm smile. Birdy accepted the box with a watery smile and a sniffle.

"This is so embarrassing," Birdy chuckled weakly as she wiped her face dry. "You must think I'm so unprofessional."

"Girl please," Alex said with a slight chuckle. "I've cried on jobs too, we all have bad days."

"You're a superstar, Birdy," Kit commented as she returned with an empty glass. "I won't hold this one bad day against you."

"You're both very kind," Birdy said gratefully as she accepted a glass of wine from Kit.

"So…" Kit said as she sat next to Alex, across from Birdy. "Do you want to tell us what happened?"

Birdy bit her lip as she thought it over. She had been too embarrassed to call her mother or her best friend so she'd been holding all her feelings in since everything had gone down. It would do her good to vent and get an objective opinion on everything, plus she felt so safe and comfortable here with Kit and Alex.

Birdy sighed heavily and took a hefty sip of wine. “My long-term boyfriend broke up with me and threw me out.”

“Long-term?” Kit asked, hoping for some clarification.

“We’ve been together since we were seventeen,” Birdy answered with a sad smile. “Or should I say, we were together."

Kit's mouth dropped open in shock while Alex took a fortifying sip of wine. Birdy smiled for the first time in a few days, amused by the reactions of the two friends.

"D*mn," Kit muttered. "That f*cking sucks."

Alex nodded empathetically. "Break ups are the worst, I've had my fair few."

"What was his reason?" Kit asked. "If you don't mind sharing, I know I've been really nosy."

Birdy laughed a little and sipped her wine. "Well, we're already into it, might as well continue. Basically, he hates me. I think."

"What?" Alex asked in shock. "He told you he hated you?"

"Not in those exact words but apparently he hates my hair, my job and I embarrass him," Birdy answered as she ticked each item off on her hand. "So yeah, he basically hates me."

"What a piece of sh*t," Kit swore emphatically as she picked up her own wine glass. "Why even date someone if you don't like anything about them?"

Birdy shrugged sadly as she sipped her wine. "I think he thought I would change. Actually, he said he thought I would grow up."

"F*ck that guy," Alex said angrily. "Seriously, he never deserved you."

Birdy laughed, feeling flattered by Alex's anger on her behalf. It felt nice to finally talk about everything but it felt even better to have people on her side.

"Where have you been staying?" Kit asked with concern. "You said he kicked you out, right?"

Birdy nodded, her cheeks turning pink in embarrassment. "I've been staying in a cheap hotel, I haven't told my parents what happened."

"Oh, no honey," Kit said with a shake of her head. "We can't have that. I'll pay for you to stay at a proper hotel while you get back on your feet."

Birdy shook her head vehemently. "That's really generous Kit but I can't accept that offer."

"Girl please," Kit said dismissively. "Not to sound like a rich a*shole but it's literally no trouble. I want to make sure you're staying somewhere decent."

"That's too much Kit," Birdy protested. "I could never pay you back."

"Pay me back!" Kit said in disgust before turning to Alex. "Talk some sense into her."

Alex laughed at the disgruntled look on Kit's face before placing a calming hand on her thigh and turning to Birdy. "What if you stay with me?"

"What?" Birdy questioned dumbly, completely caught off guard.

"Yes!" Kit squealed. "That's perfect, you can stay with Alex."

"I don't want to impose on your space," Birdy told Alex sincerely. "You hardly know me."

Alex smiled at Birdy warmly and shrugged slightly. "I travel a lot, so you'd have the place to yourself most of the time and I'm sure we'll get to know each other."

"Say yes," Kit commanded sternly. "It's just temporary and you can save up for your own place quicker if you're not paying for accommodation."

Birdy looked between Kit and Alex as she contemplated the offer. She couldn't deny that she absolutely hated the motel she was currently at and she wasn't ready to go crawling back to her parent's house. Alex seemed lovely and if she was anything like Gemma or Kit, Birdy knew they would get along well.

"At least let me pay for groceries or something," Birdy offered Alex. "I don't want to be a total freeloader."

Alex smiled broadly. "If you want to help me a little you can sort through all the free clothes I get and pick out the stuff that would look amazing on me."

Birdy smiled at Alex gratefully and nodded her head. "I can do that. Thank you so much, I really appreciate it. I promise I'm a clean and quiet housemate."

"It's honestly no problem," Alex assured Birdy. "I'm sure we'll be great friends."

"I'm glad that's settled," Kit said with a grin as she topped up their glasses. "In a few hours, we'll go to that hotel and help you move your stuff."

"Why not now?" Alex asked, puzzled.

"First we're going to drink some more and talk sh*t about the scumbag that dumped Birdy," Kit said with venom. "What's his name anyway?"

"His name is Dale," Birdy answered with a wry grin, eager to let some things off her chest.

"Dale?" Alex muttered in disgust. "What kind of a name is Dale?"