Chris' P.O.V.

After closing the door, I walked past the lounge to the kitchen.

"Hi Alx” aggression not stopping after seeing both Shayla and himself on the couch.

Wait. What?

I take a few steps back. They're sitting on the couch drinking coffee?

"Um... Why are you here alone with my sister?"
"I took her to a check-up." "bothering me." They both answer at the same time.

Alx rubs his eyes before sitting up straight.

Shayla must be trying his patients. How stupid of her. For such a smart person she can be so stupid sometimes.

"How dumb are you Shayla?" I ask.

A shocked look is placed on Alex's face for a moment. Shortly replace by one of anger. What does he have to be angry about? 

"Pretty dumb I guess. But I'll never be as dumb as you." she states plainly, waiting for my reaction. 

Nope won't give her that satisfaction.

"Haha very funny." Looking away from her

"Beer Alx?"

"No, I still have coffee." 

"What? Is that it?" giving me a questionable look.

"Yep." I answer walking to the fridge. "I'm getting you one anyway Alx. You look like you could use it."

After handing Alx his beer,  I take what I believe to be his coffee and empty it into Shayla's cup.
She gives me one of her death stares before looking at Alex.

"You didn't do anything odd did you?" she asks plainly. 

"Shayla!" I warn her.

"No, I didn't." he answers in a better state than I thought he would be. "Why would I?" He asks plainly 

Shayla just shrugs her shoulders. "Who knows?"

I just shake my head at her, taking a seat between them.

'Drink up Alex. Just drink up.' taking a swig myself.

"Ok, you guys have fun. I'm going to have my alone time now. Thanks for the coffee. It was good." Shayla states non-negotiably, before getting up and leaving for her room. 

Wait? Did Alex make the coffee? He made the coffee. Odd. Although Shayla making the coffee would be even odder.

"Ok, knock yourself out. Oh, and while you're at it go jump off a cliff. Since you clearly don't want to be part of existence."

"I'm not too far from it" she states only just loud enough for me to hear.

"Don't tell her to do that you might actually do it." give me one his angry looks again.

I don't get it.

"Alx? Do you really think that I let my sister go and jump off a cliff?" I asked giving him a questioned look.

"No."

"Good. On another note. Other than taking my sister to her checkup? What have you two been doing?"

"Asking her questions." 

"Like?" 

"Why she ever thought that going to town alone was ok."

"Did she give you any actual answers?"

"No. I was going to ask her more questions but that's all I managed to ask her." he stops to think for a moment. "She asked more questions then I did, now that I think about it."

So her tricks work on him too.

"Yeah, she tends to do that. Don't know how. Does it to avoid the question. And learn some things in the progress. Killing two birds with one stone, as they say."

He just nods. But somehow in a confused way.

"So, I'm guessing that you're free. Considering your here."

"Yes, I am." Taking a sip of his beer.

"Would you like me to put something on, or something? Have anything you would like to discuss? Or do you just want to chill out." I ask him sympathetically knowing full well that even when he has nothing to do there is still a lot on his plate. 

"No, I think I might just head home if that's ok?"

"Yeah, no worries."

With that, he leaves.

Hmmm... What should I make for dinner?
Cheesy mince toast?
Yeah, that sounds nice.

-

Taking her dinner to Shayla in her room. Mince on toast. But of course, she'll is mince is not on the toast. It's on the side and the toast is buttered. I can't have her complaining that the mince is on the toast making the bread soggy. The weirdo.  That's the best part.

Arriving at her door I knock, but she doesn't answer. So, I just walk in. Her light isn't on. So, I turn it on. To my surprise, she doesn't hiss at me. Strange.

"I bought you your dinner, Shayla." I inform her, walking further into the room.

She's curled up into a ball on her bed. In the time that she's been here,  I've seen her curled up in a ball more times than I ever thought I would. It concerns me.

Now beside her, I can see her face is covered in tears. Her pillow is wet from them. She's been crying so much. Yet didn't make a sound. And I thought I was concerned enough as it is.

Putting her plate on the nightstand, I sat down next to her.

"What is wrong?" I asked her hoping that maybe this time I'll get an answer.

She just shakes her head.

I really don't like seeing her like this.

I hug her and she hugs me back. Yet another reminder that she's far from ok.

"How am I supposed to help you if you won't tell me what's wrong?"

"Chris I'm sorry." More tears leaving her eyes "I'm so sorry." taking a sharp breath in and hugging me tighter. "I can't tell you." now bawling her eyes out into my shoulder.

I can't do anything but try to comfort her until she falls asleep.