Bleeding Hearts

Chapter 30

*Aaliyah's P.O.V*

I somehow end up sitting between Zero and Miachel. I say somehow but I had very purposefully been set between them by Grandpa. I didn't know what he was up to but I didn't appreciate it. I didn't mind sitting between Zero and Miachel, they were okay but a part of me had kinda sorta wanted to sit next to Rana and Zero.

"Goodness, even with a booster seat you can still barely reach the table," Grandpa says, wincing when Ashia smacks the back of his head. Say what you will about my grandma but she didn't put up with any of his antics, something I appreciated right at that moment. I still thought it was stupid that there was even a booster seat too, however I wasn't sure which person in my family to blame for that so they were all on my bad list.

"Aaliyah, ignore him. He's going senile," Rana says, making a giggle escape me as Grandpa gives her a disapproving look.

"I am not! I am as fit as a fiddle," Grandpa argues, earning a chuckle from Ashia as she rolls her eyes.

"You two are terrible," she sighs as she rubs her forehead, looking exhausted. It was as if those two had tired her out as soon as they started talking, something I found really amusing. There was no way that they were that annoying.

"Thank you Grandmama, I do try my best," Rana says as she flips her hair over her shoulder, squealing when Grandma mutters something. She giggles for a minute before her hands glow, suddenly stopping her giggling.

"A tickling jinx? How cruel!" Rana huffs, making me grin as I look down at my plate. Zero had made it for me, something I appreciated since I was barely as tall as the table. Plus I didn't like making my own plates anyways. I would rather not eat at all if I had to do that, it was funner when someone else did.

"Need help baby?" Zero asks, my cheeks flushing at the nickname. I knew she wasn't calling me that to be mean, however I didn't like how it seemed to make my head all fuzzy and took away my ability to think straight.

"Noooo," I whine, brushing off her words. That earns a raised eyebrow from Zero but she doesn't say anything, sighing softly as she smooths my hair back.

"It was just a question darling," Zero says as she kisses the top of my head, going back to eating. I huff, a little disappointed that she gave up on helping me that fast. Wasn't she supposed to put up more of a fight?! It wasn't fair that she was just giving up. I whine, tugging on her sleeve after a moment.

"Yes Aaliyah?" Zero asks, turning her attention back to me.

"Maybe...help a little?" I ask politely, or as politely as I can. My face feels hot and I feel so embarrassed to be asking her for help but I did want it, in a strange way it made me feel even littler than I currently was.

"Of course darling," Zero says as she picks up my fork, stabbing some of my scrambled eggs with it and bringing the fork to my lips. I open my mouth, happily eating them. She continues to do this, occasionally offering me other things to eat from my plate. Like my hashbrown that's been cut up or some of the fruit that's on my plate. The fruit is all kind of mixed together but I notice there's some apple pieces, some orange ones, and some strawberries. I hum as I eat those, at one point thinking Zero is too slow at feeding me. So I did the totally mature thing and wait...until she's distracted to start eating with my hands.

"I take my eyes off you for one second and you resort to eating with your hands?" Zero fake scolds me as I shove a handful of fruit into my mouth. Or at least I try to. It's much harder than I remember.

"Is goof," I say, my words muffled by the fact I have a bunch of fruit in my mouth. Zero rolls her eyes, tapping my chin lightly. I close my mouth, focusing on chewing and swallowing before I speak.

"Do you need a bib?" Rana teases, making me whine as I glare at her. I looked down, realizing I had spilled some stuff on my clothes but that didn't mean I needed a bib! She was the one who need a bib...or well she would after I threw the rest of the fruit in my hand at her.

"Aaliyah, do not," Ashia's voice holds a firm warning, making me drop my hand immediately. I pout, upset she wouldn't just let me throw fruit at my annoying sister. It would solve all of my problems if she would just let me throw fruit at my annoying and mean sister.

"It's not fairrrr, she teased me," I whine as I look at Ashia, my brows furrowing to show my anger.

"And I will handle that, you do not need to retaliate," Ashia says sternly. My shoulders slump at her words, staring at the floor as I sniffle slightly. I didn't like being in trouble and it sounded like I was in trouble with her. I shrink back into my seat, losing my appetite.

"It's okay baby, don't cry," Zero coos as she lifts me out of my booster seat, setting me in her lap. I bury my head into her chest, trying to not let tears fall since she had told me not to cry.

"Cry if you want to baby, it's okay. I won't be mad, I just don't want you to feel upset. I want to help you feel better," Zero coos softly as she kisses the top of my head. I blink back the tears, wanting them to fade away. They do eventually yet even then I can't bring myself to want to get off Zero's lap. Especially not when she starts to hum to me, whispering a soft song that only I can hear.