They made plans to grab ramen tomorrow after school, and that alone was enough to drown out the lecture that began as soon as she shut her front door. She marveled at how easy it was to talk to KaiвЂ™Sa. The journey was surprisingly pleasant, despite Akali knowing what awaited her at home. After settling the dog in one of the plush shelter beds, KaiвЂ™Sa walked Akali straight home. вЂњYou napping in an alley says otherwise.вЂќДЄkali realized sheвЂ™d never win an argument with this girl. вЂњWe can drop this little guy off, and then IвЂ™ll walk you home.вЂќ вЂњOf course you do,вЂќ Akali said dryly as KaiвЂ™Sa set off.

вЂњMy dad runs the shelter down the street. What are we gonna do with the dog? No way my mom would let it in the house. Means you have good character.вЂќДЄkali laughed. Plus, you got your butt handed to you trying to save a puppy.

вЂњWell, for starters,вЂќ KaiвЂ™Sa said as she stood, still holding the dog, вЂњI saved your life. Which Akali did, of course, but KaiвЂ™Sa didnвЂ™t know that. well, anything, really, unless you counted playing video games. вЂњMe?! Why would you wanna be friends with me?вЂќ Akali wasnвЂ™t good at. вЂњAnd here I was thinking IвЂ™d made two,вЂќ KaiвЂ™Sa mused. The creature was filthy, more dirt than dog, but it gave a small wag of its tail as KaiвЂ™Sa held it. вЂњThere you are!вЂќ KaiвЂ™Sa said, pulling the trembling pup from beneath a sodden bag. They were elbow-deep in trash and muck until. KaiвЂ™Sa helped her dig through the nearby bins, and Akali marveled at her willingness to get her hands dirty. Sometimes? But they were picking on a-oh, crap! The dog!вЂќ вЂњYou do this often? The fights, I mean, not the losing.вЂќ KaiвЂ™Sa grinned. вЂњIвЂ™m gonna have bruises on my bruises,вЂќ she admitted. Akali was as impressed as she was in pain. Akali heard KaiвЂ™Sa tell all five assailants that if she ever caught them picking on anyone, human or otherwise, sheвЂ™d personally make them regret it. Basically AkaliвЂ™s opposite, or so she had thought, right up until KaiвЂ™Sa had stormed into the alley. Polite, excellent in every subject, quiet. Akali had never spoken to her, but she knew KaiвЂ™Sa had been popular ever since she transferred to Valoran City Middle School earlier this year. It was only then that Akali realized she recognized this girl! Tall, pink hair, prim clothes. вЂњAs comfy as that seems, maybe we should get you off the ground? This place is gross.вЂќДЄkali couldnвЂ™t argue with that, grabbing the girlвЂ™s arm and pulling herself up. The girl stepped forward to stand above Akali. ItвЂ™s cozy, you know?вЂќ The girl laughed, making Akali smile. вЂњBut then I figured IвЂ™d just stay down here. вЂњKnocked down, actually,вЂќ Akali corrected her with a wince. вЂњDid they knock you out?вЂќ the stranger asked, concerned. Awareness of where, exactly, those punches and kicks had landed, however, kept her on the ground. She forgot everything but the stars, until a soft voice broke her focus.ДЄkali tried to turn toward that voice, curious as to whoвЂ™d been brave enough to break up a five-on-one fight. Forgot the way the other kids had turned on her when sheвЂ™d tried to stop them from hurting the small, grimy puppy theyвЂ™d found in the alley. She forgot the feeling of gravel pressing into her back as she lay prone where theyвЂ™d left her. Pretty, Akali thought, focusing on those distant lights, forgetting for just a moment that she couldnвЂ™t breathe.

They shimmered above her, each one a flickering flame over Valoran City.

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