-by me“ANGELO!” Shouted an overly happy voice.
“Angel.” I corrected then added sleepily. “Morning Alice..”
“Good morning cutie! I brought some coffee! I know how much you depend on this stuff. I also brought some bagels and a few doughnuts, wasn’t sure how you felt today so I just got both.” Alice rambled as she held up a bag and a coffee.
I quickly snatched the coffee out of her hand and took a few gulps, mentally thanking her for remembering how I like it. Reaching into the bag I took out a doughnut and took a huge bite of it.
“Why are you here so early? Its only-“
“Eleven in the morning!” Alice chirped a little angrily. “We were supposed to go running this morning but your lazy mop didn’t get out of bed. So I went home and grabbed my credit card. And I suppose you can imagine how the rest of that story went.”
“You broke into my house? Again?” I said, not really angry.
“Yes.” She responded.
I rolled my eyes and walked outside of the room, sipping on my drink quietly.
“You do know I used to run a gang right? You know that I could’ve hurt you for breaking in right?” I asked, repeating the questions for the hundredth time it felt.
“Yep!” Alice said.
I sighed and shook my head. Someone help this girl she’s a mess. Hair always up in a bun, glasses falling off her face and constantly moving. I’m still not sure how she’s standing, especially considering her job as Robotics Designer. Then again I’m not really sure how any of my friends are still standing, they’re all a little crazy.
I looked up as the doorbell rang and thought to myself ‘Cue the second crazy friend.’
I groaned as Garnet waltzed in. And asked “Why even ring the doorbell if you just gonna walk in?”
“Its polite.” She said back, matter of factly.
“Oh so now we have one insane Robot maker and one polite murderer? What’s next, a socializing Verona?” I asked sarcastically.
She shrugged at me and reached over to steal my coffee. I smirked and watched her take a drink of it and then spit it out.
“Omg how can you eat so much sugar?!” She screamed and tossed the cup in the trash.
“Hey! That was my coffee!” I protested.
“Too bad!” Garnet quipped.
I groaned and turned away from her. Walking back towards Alice, who had been standing there tapping away on her phone.
“And what you said earlier, don’t forget we have a lazy Gang leader too.” She said and punched my shoulder.
“Ex-gang leader.” I said, flicking my tail in annoyance.
“Whatever. You still go by Angel so your still part of that gang. And besides you still hang out with a few members so therefore you technically never left.” Garnet shot back.
“I’m used to Angel I can’t help it.” I growled and then turned my back on her. “Alice is Verona coming today?” I asked, ignoring Garnets angry whispers about turning backs on psychopaths.
“Mmm, not sure!” Alice said. “You know her, unsocial little butterfly.”
“Yeah, who knows maybe she’ll just show up. Just like two others I know.” I said shooting a glare at the two.
I took my phone out of my pocket as I heard the faint ringtone. Swiping it on I answered it “Hello?”
“Hey Ang! Its Ver, can you come over right now?” She said quietly.
-by me“Yeah sure you want anything?” I asked, ignoring the two Kalons behind me as they argued over politics.
“Bagel with cream cheese is fine.” She chirped and then suddenly hung up on me.
Huffing I leaned down and swiped up the bag off the floor. “Im leaving, you two have fun with your debate.” I said knowing they hadn’t heard a single word.
I walked out of the apartment and headed down the block. Verona lived near me, only five blocks away but she always preferred me to be the one walk the distance. I panted a bit as I jogged, my short legs working twice as hard as a normal person’s. Finally, I came to a stop in front of her door, breathing in the beautiful aroma of the flowers she grew. I walked in through the open door and through her shop. Climbing up the stairs I called up.
“Ver?”
“Up in the kitchen.” She called back down.
I walked into her kitchen smiling at the dandelions she was cutting. “For me?” I asked, loosening the bow around my neck as it was a little hot in here.
“Nah, just a center piece, you dimwit.” She said laughingly.
I held up my hands in a surrender position and sat down at the table. “So what’s up, you didn’t come over this morning.”
“I usually don’t. But this time I just didn’t want to be around a psychopath, Garnet scares me a bit.” She confessed.
“Oh and I don’t?” I asked jokingly.
“No.” Verona said in all seriousness.
“That’s a little odd Ver. I’ve probably done worse than Garnet. I’ve hurt and even killed quite a few Kalons. I’m not a good person.” I said quietly.
“Yeah but you’re not scary. You don’t act like a big bad wolf around me. You…you’re nice.” She whispered.
“Nice isn’t one of the words that comes to mind when most people think of me.” I said, fiddling with the pink ribbon on my neck.
“I don’t know maybe it’s your name, Angel, or maybe it’s that bow around your neck. Just something about you screams compassion to me.” Verona said defensively.
“My real name isn’t Angel and you know that. It’s some nickname given to me by a group of killers.” I said, raising my voice a little. I sometimes hated my nickname, but it’s also who I am now.
We sat in silence for a bit before she asked me in a low voice, “Why did they give it to you?”
I pondered quietly, watching as she put the yellow flowers in a vase and set them on the table in front of me.
“I’m not sure to be honest. Maybe just because it was a part of my real name, Angelo. Maybe because of my height and pink bow they decided to give me something cute and girly. Sometimes though I’d hear them saying how I was their Angel, sent by heaven to help make them great.” I murmured.
“Did you? Make them great I mean.” She asked.
“They think so.” I said. “I became leader quickly and brought up to the top of the city. We were living it rich and we didn’t want for many things. I got them a roof over their heads and food in their bellies. But I didn’t get them a good conscious or a decent job. They’re still out there you know? Stealing from others, killing for pay.”
“Oh. How’d you end up out there, you never told me.” Verona asked, changing the subject quickly.
“My mom died, hit by a car the day before Christmas. My dad, never knew him. He’s a bit wild from what I heard though, no Kalon could pin him down. Me? When my mom died I ran away. Got caught up in a city gang and eventually left them after a long time. And here I am.” I summarized quietly.
“I’m sorry.” She murmured.
“Its fine. I still carry my mom with me.” I said, pointing at the ribbon around my neck.
She smiled at me and then said “So how about those bagels?”
“Right here.” I said holding up the plastic bag and waving it slightly. “Dig in.”
