Chapter 91: A Real Pick Me Up (2/2)
”Well, isn't it obvious? If one of our teammates aren't happily continuing, then none of us is. We are a team. A family. It's all of us or none of us.” Alton pressed, packing his bags. ”This is for the best.”
Zinnia looked distort as she shook her head. ”Don't be absurd. I didn't bring anything to the table. Gale, what are you going to do?!”
”Me? Probably go home. Defend my village like my father before me. None of you will probably ever see me again.”
”Emil?!”
Emil shrugged his shoulders. ”Eh, who knows? Maybe with Monty gone, I'll go back to the Montagues retake those trials.”
Scarlett patted Zinnia on the back. ”I'm going home. It was truly wonderful working with you all.”
Zinnia turned to Alton, looking desperate. ”You? What will you do, Alton?”
Alton smiled, placing his hand on Zinnia's shoulder. ”What I always do Zin, get by. No reason to stick around; I've gotten too noisy should probably skip town; I've already sold the apartment.”
Zinnia looked like she was about to cry as she shook her head. ”Please say it ain't true. Don't go.”
Everyone was about to leave when Alton poked his head through. ”Oh, Zin, one last thing. Gotcha.”
”What?”
Everyone came back in laughing. ”How stupid do you think we are to abandon our friend in a time of need? We're here to stay whether you like it or not. We are going nowhere.”
”You're God damn right we aren't. You can never escape us.” Gale laughed, ruffing her Zinnia's hair.
”I knew she was naïve, but even this was silly.” Scarlett mocked.
Alton sat down, cracking a can opener. ”So, until you move on and feel better, we are never going to leave your side. Period.”
”You tricked me. Again!”
”Oh, don't be such a baby. Come on, sit. Enjoy yourself. We are about to have Emil sing a song.”
Zinnia lowered her head in defeat, sitting on the sofa. ”You win. I want a stuffed crust pizza, though I will make all the meats. All of them!”
”Ai, ai captain.”
”The hell is this shit? You could have least of chosen me a normal song, Scarlett!” Emil screeched.
”I do not know what you mean. I see nothing wrong with this song.”
”It's called 24-hour Cinderella. How does that sound normal to you?!”
”Just sing the song Emil, or else,” Scarlett whispered.
Emil felt chills run down his spine as he took the microphone licking his lips. ”Here we fucking go.”
Alton began scoffing down nuts staring at his phone as Zinnia looked around, feeling slightly overwhelmed. ”I can't believe you all went this out of your way for me. No one has ever cared this much.”
”Well, what do you expect, Zinnia? We all love you.” Alton slurs still on his phone. ”You should expect this more often.”
”I know we are a team, but.”
”Don't think about it too much, Zin. We are all upset about Percy; it hit you the most. So, no matter what it takes, we will help you through it, you're not just a key member of the team but a dear friend, so it's worth it.”
”Thanks, Alton.” She smiled, cupping her hands together. ”Umm, listen, there's something I want to discuss with you. It's important.”
”Hmm.”
”It's about the orphanage. I'm sixteen now; no one is going to adopt me anytime soon. Obviously, Rebecca won't let me go, nor am I allowed to just move out unless, well. Alton, are you even listening?” She leaned over his shoulder, looking at his phone. ”What are you looking at?”
She stopped seeing a news broadcast of a burning building as he looked at her with a smug suggestive look. ”So, shall we do it?”
”Excuse me?!”
”The burning building? Save the people? What were you thinking I was talking about?”
”Oh! Nothing!”
”I love yo-.” Emil screeched out of tone.
”Emil, pack it up; we're heading out. You were right. You are a shit singer.”
”Oh, now you realise! I tried warning you!” He barked.
Scarlett sipped her apple juice, sitting idly. ”Where are we going? I was under the impression we were ordering pizza.”
Alton showed the burning building on the screen as he flipped his streaming card around, smirking. ”What say you all? You all up for a little hero work?”