Chapter Text
Small Problems
Chapter 1: Day of Surprises
Warm afternoon light shines through my curtains as my sleep-deprived mind finally posts my finished work. The small office goes quiet as I turn off the music, my stomach gives me an angry growl in demand, ‘food then rest.’ I decided to myself. Heading to the empty kitchen, the cold floor seeping through my star-covered socks, I looked into the half-empty fridge, ‘nothing….’ I groaned realizing I’d have to make something. Cracking my neck and knuckles getting ready to make something but before I could, a small chime rang through the empty apartment. ‘My phone.’ my mind hazed as I picked it up.
☆彡彡 Butterflies ミミ☆
Hey! Wanna go out to lunch?
I’ll buy!
☆彡彡 me ミミ☆
Sure
Just give me a minute
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I walked through the cold apartment to my room, the medium-sized room was messy, not that I cared. My bed was covered in hoodies, blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals. Compared to the rest of the apartment this room was cozy and I could barely feel the suffocating feeling the rest of this place gives off. I pulled on my oversized purple hoodie from my bed and some shorts. Heading to the bathroom, I pulled my hair from the messy work bun it was in and brushed it out, putting it back in the bun to keep it out of the way. Grabbing my phone and keys I head to the door leading out of the silent, empty apartment. Slipping on my shoes as I locked the door, my phone sang to get my attention. Looking down at my phone screen read,
☆彡彡 Butterflies ミミ☆
Got the food!! I’ll meet you at the park!
☆彡彡 me ミミ☆
oki
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‘She’s so nice’ I chuckled to myself as I walked down the hall, heading to the elevator. The button made a soft ding as I pressed it. After waiting for only a minute, the big, shiny doors opened, and a neighbor standing in the small space walked out almost immediately. I noticed the stare they gave as they walked into apartment 15. Stepping into the space, with a single push of a button sounded the familiar ding and began the sinking feeling as I descended to the lobby. It wasn't long till the silver doors opened letting me out into the small cozy lobby. My shoes squeaked as I walked, and a soft conversion drifted my way, it was about what the pair would be having for dinner. Pushing the big glass door open, I walk outside. It was far too bright compared to the soft lighting of the apartment building.
It was a short walk to the beautiful park, surprisingly the streets weren’t as busy as I thought they would be. The warm sunlight shone as I walked through the grand gate which read in love cursive letters “Willows creek park”. I found my friend sitting at the fountain, in a pastel yellow sundress, covered in butterflies. Her oversized sun hat looked amazing on her, this was a painting. It had to be, she fit so perfectly in with the scenery. She slowly turned my way, and moments before she caught sight of me, I could see her brows knitted together in worry, then she saw me, and the smile she gave me was indescribable, she glowed, it was absolutely radiant. She waved and I jogged over “Heyy Stella!” she spoke softly as her lovely green eyes glittered in the sunlight. “Hi Trisha” my voice came out rough from the silence that followed me. Trisha got up and hugged me, stars she was warm. “I got the food, let's go!” her smooth voice chimed.
She gently intertwined her caramel fingers with my pale ones and started walking to where we usually sit… she didn’t have the food with her? “Where’s the food?” I openly asked, worry lased in my tone. She turned to me, and her smile widened. “you’ll see!! I think you’ll like my new friend!” she chirped happily. New friend? Does that mean I’m meeting a new person?? Worry filled me with every step we took. As we drew closer to the shady tree line, I saw no one. My thoughts started to run from me. I stopped paying attention to what Trisha was saying, realizing that it had nothing to do with this new person. We stopped at the bag of food, and a smiling Trisha spoke in her soft happy voice “Wisher? Come out and meet my best friend!” the bag shook and out popped a tiny skeleton. Oh, She got a bitty. That makes sense. “Hi, new friend! It is a pleasure to meet you! I’m Wisher!” the small bitties’ voice chimed sweetly, their smile grew as I told them my name, “That’s a lovely name!!”
As we spoke, Trisha sat down and picked them up, I could now see what the little one is wearing, mostly yellow, soft pastels, and to the looks of it, and from the attitude of the bitty. It was a dream type and a new one. Brand new clothes, fine with getting picked up, no cracks or marks. “isn’t he awesome?” Trisha interrupted my thoughts, at the complement, Wisher’s skull lightly dusted gold. ‘Yep, definitely a dream type’ I confirmed to myself. “Yea, he’s amazing,” I said unenthusiastically, this isn’t the first time I’ve seen a bitty won’t be the last. Trisha handed me my food and began filling the silence by telling a story, I was starting to space out.
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“Is she ignoring you?” Wisher asked as he looked at his mama's friend, who was staring off into space. “No, she’s just tired, I’d bet she didn’t sleep last night” Patrisha chimed with a soft smile. She did look tired, her eyelids drooped heavily, and deep eyebags could be seen. All of her movements were sluggish.
“That was delicious!” Patrisha chirped as she put her garbage in the bag the food came in. She took out her phone from her purse and then gasped at the time, “we have to go! We’re going to be late!” she said to her bitty as she gently put him in the purse. She got up and placed a kiss on top of her friend's head, getting her attention “hm?” sounded from the tired roughness of her friend’s cracked voice “I have to go, have I a date tonight with Robbie,” the expansion tumbled out as she began to leave “I have to get ready! Get home safe! Bye!!” she yelled as she left her friend sitting on the grass with a half-eaten sandwich.
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‘I don’t want the rest of this….’ My tired brain decided. I stood up on wobbly legs, dizzy with exhaustion. Picked up the bag of trash, about to put the rest of my sandwich in it. Before I could I heard tiny voices, a whine followed by apologies. I turned towards where I thought the voices were coming from. A bit further in the small woods, that the park was built in, was a withered cardboard box. I took a step closer to investigate and the voices went silent. Slowly I moved closer to the box until I was standing close enough to just peer in. I could just make out small figures in the shadows,” Are you ok?” my voice was small and dripping with worry. I was answered with silence, but the box shifted again. “ I won’t hurt you” I tried softly…. More silence. I let out a soft sigh.
Then I heard someone coming near, “Really! A box with bitties!” one voice said, before I could think I picked up the box and put the bag and the half-eaten sandwich in the box and walked out of the trees. “Hey lady!” a teenager shouted and jogged up to me, “That’s my box of bitties.” he spoke in a harsh tone, reaching for the box. “This box is full of trash,” I said dumbly “ I picked it up and it was empty, my dude” I finished my lie just as two other teens showed up, skeptical of their friend’s words. “No way!” The teen whined, “there were bitties in that box!” he had this plea in his eyes, desperate for his friends' approval. “Look, I have places to be and trash to throw away,” I said irritation from lack of sleep showing, sidestepping the kid, and starting to walk off.
“ wait! We can throw away that box for you!” he began walking along with me, a smile on his face. “No, I’m going to use it for something,” I started before getting interrupted by one of the friends “ like what?” she asked with sass, she’s probably never been told no, “ splatter box.” I spoke as if that was obvious “ the one I used to have got thrown away” the girl made an ‘o’ with her mouth. She stopped trying, “come on guys, this is boring” the last teen spoke up walking off the other way. “ but-” the first boy tried, but gave up seconds later.
I walked away as if I had done nothing wrong. Once I was far enough away I whispered into the old box “ Are you ok?” I stopped briefly at a crosswalk, “Are You Really Going To Throw Us Away?” a soft, scared voice asked, “pfffft, no.” I answered simply “ I’m taking you somewhere safe,” I began as I started to walk across the street, trying my best not to shake the box. Unaware of the glares being given to me and the small voice that spoke.
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