Wilbur

"She didn't come home today, either." Tory placed her bag down before slumping on the sofa. She looked a little. I picked her bag up from the floor and started putting our clothes in the laundry basket.

"You want to eat outside? Anywhere you want."

She pouted, playing with the strings of the jacket she wore. "I don't know," she murmured. She took one of the throw pillows and placed it on the armrest. She sighed before resting her head on it. "I'm not hungry."

I finished my task and walked to the kitchen. "You had fun this week?" After washing my hands, I opened the freezer to get the tub of her favorite ice cream. I heard a humming sound from the living room. We do go back to my parents' house from time to time. It wasn't good for her to stay cooped up in the apartment after coming home from school. It was nice that our neighbor was kind enough to look after her. She needed attention just like any other kid. I remember my parents giving me enough attention that I planned my own escape at age thirteen. Of course I failed miserably. The back door and the floor on the porch creaked loud enough that my dad was by the door before my foot could even step on soil. I struggled with saying how I felt.

And now I'm struggling to take this ice cream off the fridge.

"Can we ask Diana to come over?"

I turned my head towards her voice, my hands numb for being in the freezer for too long. Tory was standing behind the fridge's door.

"I don't know. She might busy."

She looked at me. "Office stuff?"

I nodded. "Office stuff." Grunting, I pulled on the cursed container before sighing. "Do you want to eat breakfast for dinner?"

Her face lit up like Christmas lights. "Waffles and bacon?"

I closed the fridge and wiped my hands on my jeans. "Want to bet on who can make the most stable waffle tower?"

Tory jumped, smiling as she clapped her hands. I smiled back and poked her cheek. She complained about my cold hands. We spent a couple of minutes chasing each other around the apartment with me convincing her that my cold hands could erase frown lines.

The next day, we were back to our usual routine. We get ready in the morning and I drop her off at school. It was good to see her being her usual self but how she was yesterday was becoming a real concern, it's been a concern for quite some time now. I have used every cheer up method for kids known to man; enough to write a book. Maybe this time around, before the next school year, I can convince her to stay over at my parents' house.

I went to James' office after driving for a wedding. It ended quickly, half an hour earlier. The bride ran away. Wedding jitters must have gotten the best of her. I spent the rest of the time filling on a log and checking the car.

"What are you still doing here?"

James was walking towards me, his hands busy reaching for his keys in his back pocket. He frowned, pausing for a while. Either he had deep pockets and it was difficult to reach for his keys, or he was scratching something itchy.

"You're too easy on me, James. I need to do my job properly." I closed the log book and faced him - still reaching for his keys.

"Aren't you visiting her today?"

"I am. See you tomorrow." I was walking away when I turned to him. "Have you checked the keys inside your car?" I asked. He slapped a palm on his forehead before grumbling his way towards it.

I didn't have to travel long. I stopped in front of the building, taking in the warm color of the walls. I was already told that she was doing well so I was hoping to have a better conversation with her this time. I told her I was going to visit her and she seemed okay with it.

I made my way through the halls, a box of chocolates in hand. She never did like flowers.

"You're late," she whispered. She was looking at the window, her hands together.

I said nothing and placed the chocolate on the table.

"I missed you, too," I said, smiling.

She looked at me blankly, then at the chocolate. "You got me chocolate."

"Actually, the flower wall's on its way." I said, fixing my time. I didn't bother changing my work clothes since she said it suited me and I should 'wear it often'.

She scrunched her nose and I had to laugh.

"How's Tory?" She reached for the box of chocolates and slowly unwrapped one.

"She's fine." I stretched my arms, a little tired from driving during most parts of the day.

"I want to go home," she whispered. I was mid-yawn when she said this. I sat down properly and reached for her hand.

"I know."

"But I can't." She was about to take a bite off the chocolate but her hand down. "I want to get better, Wilbur. I want to get out of here and I never come back." She looked frustrated before she finally ate the chocolate. I knew she would cry - that's what the chocolate was for.

It was like we were kids again. She hid under her bed and I would give her something sweet, like candies. I had to sit on the floor until she crawls her way out.

"Good thing I didn't wear makeup." She wiped her tears and reached for another one from the box.

"Also, they won't allow you to bring makeup here," I added.

We talked about a lot of things. About the weather and the people she sees inside the hospital. We talked about Tory and how she 'warded off evil' from coming near me. We talked about our mom and dad. She still found Diablo weird and suggested we get him some hair growing shampoo. When it was time for me to leave, she gave me a kiss on the cheek.

I got to my apartment door with the living room lit, the TV on, and a woman with blue hair. I saw the sofa pushed to one corner of the room, my bed mattress was on the floor and every pillow in the apartment was on it. They were watching The Princess and the Frog with the ice cream tub in Tory's hands. She was the one who saw me first. She handed Diana the ice cream and towards me. I looked at her, then at the woman comfortably sitting on my bed.

"She said she was done with the office stuff."

Diana chuckled. "I've had enough office stuff for today."

She got up, her pantsuit wrinkled. Her eyes were a bit of red. She looked down and showed me the ice cream. "I hope you don't mind. Tory insisted we eat it."

Tory was eyeing me. "I had a pretty rough day. But I finished my homework and I just needed some cheering up."

We nodded in silent agreement. Tory pulled my hand towards the mattress and I almost tripped trying to take off my shoes. She jumped on the mattress and patted the place next to her. So the three of us watched a firefly admired a star.

I kept stealing glances at Diana. She cried a little longer than the actual sad scenes and I saw her struggle to find tissues from her bag before her nose decided to open the flood gates. Tory was asleep by the time the movie credits rolled. I got up, slowly taking the spoon from her hands. Diana and I walked quietly to the kitchen after turning the TV off.

"What a day," I stated.

She agreed, asking for a clean towel. I handed her a small cloth and she silently washed it. She smiled at me before going back to the living room. She knelt in front of Tory and gently parted the hair covering her face. Diana started to gently wipe the towel on Tory's face. Tory was a messy eater and I always insisted that she wash up before going to bed. Tory protested at first, but went back to sleep. I leaned on the wall and watched as Diana wiped Tory's hands as well.

I didn't speak when Diana returned to the kitchen.

"How was your day?" she asked, wiping her own hands.

"How was yours?" I asked back.

She sat down and shrugged. "Oh you know..."

"Diana?"

She looked at me, her lips quivering. I opened my arms and waited.

She came to me, hugging me tight.

"They got married today."

I soothed her back. "I know."

I cupped her face and made her look at me. "I'll give it a month."

She broke into a smile, which was all too confusing. She was crying a while ago but now she laughing while crying. She stepped back and wiped her tears.

"Sorry about this. Tory called me today and I figured it was better than drinking." She took a deep breath and exhaled. "You must've had a tiring day."

"It was okay. And you know what? It was his loss. Guys like him don't deserve you anyway. Don't let guys who think that they're the next best thing since sliced bread make you feel any less worthy than sliced bread."

She regarded me for a second before going to the fridge. She got a tray of ice cubes and placed one on her hands. After about a minute silence, she wiped her hand in a towel.

"I wasn't going to say anything but you were looking so serious when you got home." Without another word, she placed her hands on my cheeks and started motioning small circles with her palms on my face.

"Tory did this to me a while ago. She said it made frown lines disappear."

I didn't mind her hands on my face. Chuckling, I covered her hands with mine.

"I wasn't going to say anything but how the hell did you get the ice cream from the freezer?"