"WHO SAY'S YOU'RE HER FAVORITE CHILD?"

"WELL, IT'S DEFINITELY NOT YOU, IS IT QUI?

"WHAT IF I AM, LIYA?"

Yep, it was a normal day at the Bikes™ house. A plate of waffles and bacon over arguing about who is the favorite child. At least the china stayed on the table and food didn't decorate the walls this time.

Sal sighs, "I should buy leashes and dog kennels for you children."

"SHE STARTED IT," Liya points at Qui.

Taken aback, Qui sputters, "YOU KICKED MY FOOT UNDER THE TABLE."

"IT WAS A FRIENDLY GAME OF FOOTSIES," Liya spits back.

That was the moment Eliza decides to sleepily trudges down the stairs. She groans, "this again?"

Maoam just stuffs a forkful of waffle in her mouth. "It's not a good morning without it."

Eliza groans again, "I'm going to go out today. I'll eat breakfast later," she says, hastily putting on her shoes and running out the house.

"AT LEAST DRINK SOME ORANGE JUICE," Sal yells after her, only to go ignored and shakes her head. She turns around when she hears footsteps coming down the stairs over the "I'M HER FAVORITE CHILD" and sees our lovelee Toni skipping down the stairs (do not ask how this is possible, only Toni can do it).

"Good morning, lovlee's," she simgs as she sits in an empty chair. Liya looks at her in disgust. "Why so sugary sweet in the morning?"

"Sweet like these waffles and you." Toni remains unaffected.

Qui huffs, "god. Your girlfriend ran out early."

Toni looks up, "Eliza? She's not my girlfriend though."

Liya and Qui roll their eyes, "suuure."

Liya pushes her chair back, puts her plate in the sink and hops up the stairs after giving Maoam a hug. "I'm going to cuddle with Maha, byeee."

"Ungrateful children," the mother grumbles, washing Liya's plate.

"What do you mean, she's very grateful," Maoam puts her plate in the sink too. Sal glares at her. "You're only saying that because she gave you a hug."

Baekkie 2.0 jumps up and hands Sal her plate, hugging her. "I gave you a hug. Does that mean I'm your favorite child?"

Sal's face visible pales, "go upstairs and clean your room." She whips around and busies herself with taking great interest in washing the plates while Daddy chuckles.

Toni jumps up after finishing her food, washes her plate, hugs both the parents and skips out the door. "I'll be back with Eliza~"

"Now that is a grateful child," Sal smiles.

__

Toni skips around the plaza she knows Eliza goes to often, taking in the scenery and window shopping occasionally. She see's Eliza sitting in a cafe, same seat where she always does. The Smol Child smiles and skips into the cafe.

She pushes open the door, the little bell chiming. The cafe is spacious and bright, but  pretty much empty this time of day. Toni skips over to Eliza's table and sits in the white, wooden chair across from her.

Eliza looks up hearing the chair legs screech on the floor. "Oh. Good morning, Toni."

"Good morning~" Toni beams at her and Eliza diverts her gaze quickly. Toni doesn't notice. "Why did you leeaavve?" she whines.

Eliza sighs, "I just didn't want to be home."

"Then lets do something by ourselves," Toni jumps up from her seat and grabs Eliza's hand, pulling her out of the cafe, not letting Eliza protest.

"I really don't feel like doing anything today, Toni," Eliza whines, being dragged by the sunshine. Toni ignores her and drags her into the arcade around the corner. 

She pulls Eliza into a booth, "stay here for a bit, I'll bring the coins." She runs off.

Eliza watches Toni smile as she greets the receptionist and pays, patiently waiting for the coins. Eliza felt like she could watch her smile for hours. Toni runs back to her and Eliza snaps out of it.

"Let's go to the basketball hoops first!" Eliza gets dragged again and her "but I don't feel like playing" gets ignored once more.

__

"Why are we eating ice cream when it's cold as fuck?"

Toni giggles as she hooks her arm with Eliza's, "shh, I know you like it."

They sit down on a bench and look up at the cold sky, clear, and stars twinkling like many immobilized planes of hope, each girl thinking of their own separate things.

Maybe one of them was thinking of the people who she lost, who looked up at the same stars. Maybe one of them were trying to count them. Maybe one of them were connecting the dots, to make a new constellation. No one would know. 

Toni sighs and rests her head on Eliza's shoulder, smiling. "I'm glad I met you guys. You helped me through so much."

Eliza stiffened slightly, but relaxed. "Me too. I mean- I'm happy that I met you guys too. I wasn't trying to say that I helped-"

Toni smiles as Eliza keeps rambling about something she thought as a mistake. "you did nothing wrong though, why are you so worried?"

Eliza shrugs, "You might have interpreted it wrong-"

"No. You wouldn't be like that," Toni shakes her head, dismissing Eliza's worries. "Please appreciate yourself more, Eliza."

Eliza nods, but says nothing, her face warm. Just then, her phone buzzes and she checks the notification. 

"Come back home," Sal had texted.

"Time to go back," Eliza puts her phone back in her pocket, "mom texted."

Toni jumps up, "Alright, lets go!" 

Suddenly, she leans forward and pecks Eliza's cheek, and just as quick as it happened, she pulls back and skips away. 

A dumbstruck and firetruck-red Eliza sits there on the park bench and stares after Toni's bubbly figure.

A/N: SORRY IT TOOK SO LOOOOOOOOOOOONG. mkay tell me which one y'alls want next, bby's. Liya wuvs you all~