Please be my nightingale (Camren)

Part 2

2.

"Honey,can you and Mani set up the table real quick?", Mrs Kordei calls from the kitchen.

"Sure"I grab Normani's hand, who refuses to help and drag her along. It's the least I can do for getting a real, warm meal. Mani is used to it.She gets three plates and cutlery before we walk back and prepare everything as my stomach starts to grumble.

"Mh,Mrs. Kordei, it's delicious!", I moan out as I take a bite just minutes later as we started eating.

"It's just rice risotto, honey. Nothing special, but thank you", she smiles. I know that it is a quite simple meal. But it's a meal...

"You can join Normani in her room, honey", Mrs. Kordei says as I'm standing up with the empty plates in my hand on my way to the kitchen. The least I can do  is help when she offers me a warm meal that I haven't had so far this week. She smiles as I set the plates on the kitchen counter and instructs me to go. "You can stay the night if you want", she winks

"Thank you!"

I walk up the stairs towards Normani's room. This house feels more like my home than my real home does. The smell, the feeling of the soft carpet under my feet. There are some pictures with me on family occasions on the wall as well. I'm really glad that I have them. You can almost say I'm family.. No, not really.. I don't want to be a burden.

I open the door and sit down next to Mani on her bed. She's playing Mario Cart and is giving me her cold shoulder.

I huff; "What did I do?", I whisper. It's always me..

"Some days I think that my mom likes you more than me..I was just getting angry..I'm sorry, L."

"You know that I only behave the way I do, because I'm still a guest here and appreciate the things your mom does for us, you know.."

"I appreciate it as well if you're saying that I don't.."

"Gosh,no...it's just..."

"It's just what, Lauren? Every time you come over my mom never stops praising you and you help her with every little thing rather than to spend time with me..", she says angry.

"Mani,that was my first warm meal this week. I just wanted to be nice. I won't bother you anymore, I promise" I wipe my tears, grab my bag and rush out of the house.

"Lauren,dear!", a surprised Mrs. Kordei shouts out as I run down the street.

Seems like I lost my last friend as well. And I was just being nice and tried to help...

Maybe I haven't tried enough.

I run until I realize the time. I can't sneak into my house now without being noticed. I gulp, let my head fall and walk to my so called home, looking at the ground all along the way. I have no other place I can go to anymore. Maybe I deserve it. I do. I made Normani angry.

Soon,I see my house and think about climbing into my room by using the balcony in front of it, but the window is closed. It wouldn't help..I scrunch my nose in disgust as I smell the so familiar smell before I even stepped a foot inside. My hand turns the knob around, opens the door and I slowly step in. I know what follows. I wasn't prepared well.

Later that night, I fall into my bed and cry into my pillow thinking that I deserved it for the things I did wrong today before I drift off not looking forward to the next day where I can't leave for school. It's Saturday. I'm stuck until Monday.