#mthau

Aliyana walked stiffly into her new apartment, feeling the bag in her hands weighing her down.

Her eyes roamed up to the ceiling, taking in it’s extravagantly tall height. She’d been in apartments and homes like this. Luxurious and big. She wondered what she’ll even do with all the space, being that she was for the first time in her life, living alone.

The apartment was mildly furnished. They had already set up a picture, the couch, a side table, her living room looked fairly expansive and nice. Especially with all the light coming in from the window. 

She set her bag down and slowly made her way over the white carpeted floor. The window was taller than her, so she’d need to fly up to close them. She walked past her reflection in the mirror, her hair was tied up and she had a light jacket with a white shirt under, and some jeans. She looked out over the city.

Being on the fourth floor gave her quite the sight.

She looked across the landscape of buildings and crossing streetways, wondering…

Wondering if she’d see some familiar pattern in the sky-

“Aliyana.”

The voice spooked her. 

She jumped a little startled and turned around.

Penny looked immensely proud of herself as she entered the apartment. She smiled wildy and stretched out her arms as if to say, “Ta- da!”

“So…” she started.

Aliyana gave a blank look.

Penny caught on to this and dropped her arms but kept up the excited charade, “What do you think? It’s nice right?”

“Yeah, it’s nice-” Aliyana’s words are cut off by a loud thud. Both ladies turn their attention to the front door where the thud was heard just outside of it.

“You guys good?” Penny called out.

The men outside grunted, “Yep, we got it,” Aliyanna could hear them answer, in a strained voice. 

She dashed over, “I can help them…” her words cut off as she takes in the gigantic television they’re hauling in. “You know…” she finishes in awe. She shakes her head and goes to grab it, alieving the men of the weight.

“Thanks Aliyana!” They say in unison, before rushing back to the truck to retrieve more things.

More things she hadn’t initially packed for this trip.

“It’s no problem!” she calls after them, with a skeptical expression. She carries the TV back in.

“Aw look at you,” Penny says in a sweet voice as she crosses her. “Always trying to help. You’re too sweet you know?”

The T.v is set against the wall and Aliyana stands up straight looking up and about, mind reeling, “Yeah you know, I didn’t exactly ask for all this extra stuff.” she turned back to Penny.

Penny blinked, and and then did a little cheer, “but it’s so great!”

“But it’s going to take up a lot more room,” Aliyanna responded, not really amused, though she tried not to look to indifferent to it. This stuff looked expensive. “And it’s going to be a lot to pack up.”

Penny gave her an unsure look, “Um… yes?”

“So, why am I getting all this stuff?” Aliyanna finally sighed. She sat back on the arm of her couch, crossing her arms, “I thought J.S was only sending me here for the summer.”

“You don’t want to be left without a Television.”

“Why am I getting an entire apartment, is what I’m saying?” Aliyana inserted, unconvinced.

Penny looked at her a moment before dropping the campy act, “Look, I don’t know why J.s sent you out here-”

“I don’t have any friends or family with me,” Aliyana continued on. “I don’t even know anyone here except the rowdy ruff boys” she gave Penny a stern look, “And you know how I feel about them.”

The curly haired lady adopted a sympathetic look, “Aww, still feels weird talking to your ex?”

“Penny!”

“What” she shrugged, feigning naivety. “It’s cute. Young dumb, highschool love is always cute.” she fanned off.

“That isn’t the point!” Aliyana clammored. She could feel her face tingling with a familiar sensation. She shook it off, “J S inc sent me here out of the blue.” She began to think her brows firming, “Somethings going on… somethings… I feel like Darius is behind something,” she said. Her eyes that were turned to the ground, thinking, flickered up to Penny.

Penny had looked far away and took a moment to respond, but when she finally came to, she simply shrugged, “You’re just over thinking things.”

This did not sway Aliyana, she opened her mouth to speak again, but there was another loud thud.

Again, both ladies turned to speculate.

Three men stood around a marbled coffee table.

One of the men wiped at his brow and took a deep breath.“Whew, Anthony’s got expensive touch.”

“Expensive indeed honey,” A flamboyant voice responded by Aliyana’s door. Anthony wore glasses and a scarf and extremely tight jeans. He was very artistic and knew his shit. 

He strutted about the apartment, “chop chop with the furniture, I want to get the lighting in here fixed. These built ins are killing my eyes.” The other men hustled out as he walked beside Penny.

“You’re doing pretty good,” Penny smiled around, amused.

“Please,” he huffed, “This was just a side project I talked Smith into. You know I couldn’t send my girl off into just anything,” he said, looking at Aliyana. Penny touched at her chest, heart-felt and puppy eyed.

Aliyana rolled her eyes, “I’m not staying here for long.”

“You’d better not,” Anthony immediately responded. “If I can’t see you walking by my desk every morning I’m leaking the photo’s I found on Smith’s computer.”

“She won't,” Penny urged. “Smith know’s better than to leave this little diamond here.” she said reaching a comforting hand to her cheek.

“He didn’t know better to keep the other ones,” Aliyana muttered turning away. She didn’t see Penny’s face fall.

“Well, you know to give us a call,” Anthony said turning away, “If anything happens that is. Don’t party to hard.” He said walking away and catching some workers slacking. He shooed them to their places.

Penny turned to Aliyana, “He’s got the right idea,” she said in a little voice. “Go party. Live life. Be a normal teenager for once, you know?” she said, giving a very gentle, reassuring gaze. 

Aliyana’s gaze was casted to the coffee table. One of the workers had dropped a magazine on it, and on the cover was three boys she’d never thought she’d see on a Townsville magazine.

Aliyana finally huffed, “I just don’t understand why I was sent on vacation here.”

*****

It was night fall and it felt a little weird being in an entire apartment to herself. 

She had switched into her pajamas, some shorts and an old tee, hours ago when she figured she wouldn’t be doing anything for the day but sitting around.

How did you even get to know people during the summer?

She flopped on the couch, bowl of chips in her arms and scrolled through the channels boredly.

“I’ve never actually seen a unicorn before, but I believe in them!” 

Aliyana’s wrist went limp. She clicked the up volume button as the crowd behind the screen applauded.

*****

“Turn to channel 6, Bubbles is on!” Boomer lit up.

“Go watch it in your room,” Butch replied boredly, eating cereal. The remote was taken from his hand, “You little-”

“I can’t miss one second of this! I-I promised her I’d watch it!” his brother responded, putting in the channel. He then turned to Butch, “Is that Brick’s cereal?”

The remote was wrenched out of his hands, “Fine whatever,” Butch said stuffing his mouth with Lucky Cap’n’ Rabbit King Nuggets, “But only because Buttercups up there,” the last of his words were muffled behind the cereal as he chewed.

The audience laughed as the camera turned to a very pretty, very well dressed Bubbles. She beamed brightly.

‘How would you say, is the best way to deal with mean people at your school? Are they not like monsters as well?” The host asked.

Boomer leaned forward, “Gosh, she’s so pretty.”

“Gosh, you’re such a dork,” his brother mocked behind him, stuffing his face more. Boomer ignored this.

“They aren’t really like monsters. Not big one’s at least! Besides, everyone has a bad side, it doesn’t make them bad!”

Buttercup interrupted her, ”I’d say, the best way to deal with bullies is with my fist in their face,” Buttercup interjected and the crowd obliged her with some applause.

“Hell yeah Buttercup, you tell them,” Butch rooted from the couch.

“I think that there are way more sufficient and reasonable ways to handle bullies in school,” Blossom spoke up, giving her sister the eye.

Butch jumped up, “Now that’s something to stay tuned for,” he said readjusting himself. 

Boomer threw a pillow at him “Shh! You’re talking too much, I can’t hear the TV!” he grabbed the remote from butch and turned it up more.

“The best way to deal with bullying is to tell a teacher. Always get authorities involved. Speak up! Your school cares about your well being.” There was courteous applause about the studio they were in.

Butch scoffed, “Bor-ring!”

A door suddenly opened. Both boys looked over to see Brick.

“Why the fuck is the TV blasting?” he glared, less interested in why was the matter and more interested in how to put an end to it.

“Oh Brick, look, The girls are on TV!” Boomer said pointing fascinated at the screen.

Brick frowned and looked just in time for the camera to turn from Blossom. 

Brick scowled, “Why the fuck should I care?” Before either of his brothers could respond, he snatched the remote from Boomer and turned it off.

“What the hell!”

“Bed time,” he grumbled.

“Dude, it’s summer,” Butch said.

“I’m sorry, but are you the one sleeping on the couch?” Brick challenged.

“It isn’t our fault you ruined your bed!” Boomer clammored.

“It’s going to be your fault that you’re in a hospital if you don’t shut up and go,” Brick warned glaring at both his brothers.

They groaned but moved anyway.

—--

“Our friendships… we’ve known them since like, elementary school!” the blonde one, Bubbles said, with a far away look. The audience cooed at this. 

Aliyana was watching with a very attentive eye. It was starting to sink in that these were ther girls she’d be seeing flying around. It just didn’t seem real.

“Well, on the topic of relationships Bubbles,” the show host started, The audience ooh’ed. The camera was back on her face and she was grinning, albeit a bit shy, “We’ve seen your past beau’s, but this new one, he seems like a bit of a trouble maker,” The crowd seem to grow louder, as well as the blondes blush. 

Aliyana was leaned so forward, she almost rolled off the couch. The chips fell from her bowl. 

Shit! That was going to leave a stain and she just got these carpets!

Frantically, she went to the floor, on her knees to clean it up.

“There’s a particular blonde boy. A rowdyruff boy we believe. You’ve been spotted hanging with him recently.”

Aliyana peeked from over the table as the camera zoomed in on a flustered, blushing Bubbles. She had this far away, delirious gaze, “well…” she spoke up, grinning, “I guess he is quite cute-”

“But he’s just a friend!” Blossom added. “Just a well known friend.” she added a convincing smile but the audience whistled and cooed anyway.

The TV suddenly sparked black.

Aliyana, remote in hand, sat on her knees in front of the chip bowl, looking past it at the stain it already left on the ground, though… her eyes were looking very far, past even that.

She could remember, the first time she saw Boomer, sitting in the Garden of JS, strumming at an acoustic. She’d never seen a guy like him. 

The sun was just right, the flowers around him were all in place, and then he caught her spying on him in the reflection of a window, and he turned with a curious expression.

She shook her head viciously and picked up the last of her crumbs, ready to go to bed.

—-------

Townsvilles mall was large and bustling, which was to be expected. 

Aliyana stood by the entrance digging into her purse. She’d hope she brought everything she needed for the day, because she’d be spending the most of it here anyway. 

She sighed and shouldered her purse, blending into the crowds.

There ceiling had a huge window that allowed in enormous sunlight and worked with the smaller decorations throughout the walls and ceilings. She was on the second floor, but the first floor had a fountain you couldn’t miss. 

She looked along the stretch of stores, trying to decide on where to go first. 

This was normal. Going to the mall alone? It seemed everyone else went with a friend but, whatever, she couldn’t sit at the house all day.

Well she could but… why the hell not? What did Townsville’s style had to offer. 

Her stroll slowed past Guitar God. She got a glimpse into the store to see it looked like any other old music store. She paused and considered…

No. No. She wasn’t coming to the mall to mope around about a boy she’d purposefully forgotten, even if she did spend the entire night tossing and turning thinking about him.

She came to the mall for a new change in pace. To “be a teen for once” as Penny put it. 

It would be just her luck if she bumped into him though. 

At this point, what would he say? What would he do? Did he look the same? 

Did she look good?

She shook her head.

There was a clothing department that caught her eye and she scurried into it before her thoughts could take her too far away. 

She felt a little awkward walking in. It smelled very sweet and some Britney song was playing over the speakers. She bit at her lip as she looked across the store, trying to find an area to start in.

She caught some summer dresses and figured she’d start there. She began rummaging through the rack.

“But I have to find the dress, Boomer picked it out for me!”

She halted.

It seemed he was very popular around these parts. 

Some girl, short, brown curly hair and oddly pink eyes stood puppy eyed in front of another girl with red hair and oddly red eyes.

“Lillian, you have to move on! You need to put this back!”

“But I can’t!” the pink eyed girl pouted.

A brown skinned girl with blue eyes and dark brown hair came around the corner with an exasperated look, “Just let her keep it Meghan.”she huffed, “You knew she was going to come in here for this anyway.”

“No. NO. I’m putting my foot down and I’m going to be a good friend here,” the red head interjected sternly. She whipped the whimpering pink eyed girl to her, “Lillian, you’re only setting yourself back buying that dress because of him.”

“No!” she pouted, crushing said dress to her chest.

The red head gave her a look of disbelief before turning away and throwing her hands in the air, “Ugh! This trip was pointless.”

The pink eyed girl seemed to be very conflicted. Her eyebrows were arched up wearily. Aliyana had slowed her shopping substantially to eaves drop on the conversation. She met eyes with the puppy, pink-eyed girl, then quickly averted her gaze.

Though it was too late because she sensed her approaching.

“Does this color look nice on me?”

Aliyana stepped back from her rack and looked over.

She had big round eyes and a gentle face. She held the dress in her hands to her chest.

Aliyana pulled her lips into a tight line, “Um… yeah. Sure. It looks great.” she turned back to the rack.

The pink eyed girl was suddenly over her other shoulder, doe eyes blinking at her, “Do you really mean that?”

“Ah!” Aliyana stumbled back into a close by rack.

The girl was sheepish. She hurried to Aliyanna, notably floating, “Sorry!” she said, holding out a hand to help her up.

Aliyana chuckled, “No worries, you startled me a little there.”

“Yeah… I do that a lot,” she said, wincing a little.

Aliyana chuckled awkwardly more, “It’s fine.. It’s you know-”

“That’s a cute outfit you’re wearing,” the girl said suddenly.

Aliyana took a moment and looked down at herself. She was wearing a skirt and a halter top with sandals, “Um, thanks!”

“Yeah, no problem, Lillian by the way,” the pink haired girl said, pressing her index fingers together and looking down.

“I’m… Aliyana,” she responded reaching out a hand. 

Lillian took it and shook it, “My friends and I are doing some shopping for the summer.”

“Oh, nice,” Aliyana said, grabbing her purse with both hands, “I am too I mean,” she suddenly laughed. “Um… by myself because I’m new here-”

“To Townsville?” Lillian asked, energetic.

Aliyana couldn’t help but to giggle, “Yeah.”

“Me too! Oh my gosh that’s insane!” She had a bright look in her eye, “We should hang out together! I mean, I don’t know what school you go to but whatever, it’s summer.”

Aliyana was a little in disbelief. She hadn’t expected to meet someone at the mall. She smiled, “Um… yeah! Totally!” She dug in her purse for her phone, “Here, I’ll give you my number.” she dug around and pulled out her cell, But Lillian had already opened her own. She laughed and took it. 

As she thumbed through the contacts, she halted passing one.

Boomer…

Should she be talking to this girl?

“Lillian, we’re about to leave out!” her friends called over.

“Give me a minute, I’m making a new friend!” she hollered back.

Aliyana bit her lip.

Damn. She was probably going to regret this. Hopefully not but… what the hell.

She keyed her number and name in. 

She handed it back to Lillian.

“Sweet! Thanks!”

“It’s no problem,” Aliyana responded unsure.

Lillian was a chipper mood, “Hey, so if you wanna, you can hang with my friends and me around the mallll,” she stretched the last of her statement, rolling her arms and giving a convincing smile. Just then her friends reappeared behind her, with curious looks.

For some reason, Aliyana felt shy to the attention. She chuckled nervously, “Um, actually? I… think I’m good.”

Lillian blinked and cocked her head, “Oh well, that’s okay. But if you ever wanna hang out, you can call me!” she made a calling gesture with her hand.