"Are you sure it's cool for us to stay here? I mean, there's a shelter right down the street—"

"Forget it, Caleb," Mia said, handing him a set of fresh sheets. "Elana is used to staying here, why make her stay at a shelter when it's perfectly fine for you guys to stay here? Plus, if you need to keep working on finding a way, you're going to need a good Wi-Fi."

Caleb offered her a genuine smile and took the bedsheets. "Thank you. I really see why Eli fell for you."

Mia's smile instantly dropped. Her heart clenched just by hearing his name, and of course the context hurt even more.

He never fell for her. Perhaps he tried, but she had betrayed him and treated him so poorly... how could he possibly fall for that?

"Sorry, I... ah..." Caleb awkwardly cleared his throat and looked down at the floor. "I shouldn't have said... I didn't think, ah... I'm just gonna go set up."

Mia nodded and tried for a smile, but it didn't make its way to her lips. Instead it stayed in her mind, and so Caleb walked into the bedroom probably feeling like he popped a bad apple bag. But he didn't. Mia popped that herself.

Trying to rid herself of the horrible guilt in her heart, she pulled her laptop to her countertop and started googling. There was something she had to do, but she just had to find the right place...

"Hey, uh, what's this big black plastic bag for?" Caleb came out, holding a bag that matched the description.

"Oh, that's some stuff I've decided to give away," Mia said, looking over her shoulder to view the bag. Earlier that day, she had rummaged through her entire closet and put every piece of designer labeled brand she had in the bag. She never wore them; All those fancy garbs, those high heels, those purses and hats... they were statement pieces, there to state that she was of wealthy origins.

Mia was through being that kind of girl, the one everyone (or more like one specific) called a rich chick. She wanted to be someone else, she wanted to be... herself. Whoever that was. All she knew was that the material life wasn't her.

"Oh," Caleb said and raised a brow. "Who are you givin' it up to?"

"Well, now that you mention it, I was thinking of going down to the shelter to see if anybody there wanted it. Would you like to help me?"

If possible, Caleb's eyebrows flew even higher. "Are you serious? There are like worth thousands of dollars in here! Are you sure you wanna give them up to people like me who live on the streets?"

"Yes, that is exactly why," Mia said, shutting her laptop and turning to him. "I'm giving back. I have a lot of years of selfishness and prejudice to make up for, so I'm getting started today. Wanna help me?"

A wide grin split Caleb's lips now. "Sure thing. I'm always up for spreading some love. I know some ladies who're going to love these here Pradas."

"Awesome. I can ask my neighbor to babysit Elana again while we're out, or do you want bring her?" Mia questioned. Her sweet, widowed neighbor, Ms Palisbury had been babysitting Elana whenever her and Eli was at the school or out somewhere. She had worked with inner city kids in her days, so she knew ASL. Very convenient, and she adored Elana.

"Nah, let's not take her. I don't like bringing her to the street," Caleb shrugged. "I mean, I didn't mind growing up there, I just don't want her to go through the same thing. She deserves better, you know?"

Mia smiled and agreed. Elana was such a special little girl, she should have better things. Like the doll Mia bought her yesterday. A princess Elsa Barbie doll. She hadn't been able to put it down since – she had even slept with it under her arm. Caleb had told Mia, she'd said it was her first girly friend. It made Mia's heart blossom in happiness, which was saying something given the circumstances. "Alright. I understand. I'll ask Ms Palisbury."

"And hey, Mia?"

Mia had been walking up to the door, but stopped up and looked back at Caleb. "Mm?"

He gave her a little smile. "We'll find a way, okay? He won't be in there forever, I promise. Have faith."

Faith. That was something Mia had been strongly losing over the past few days, along with her confidence. She missed Eli so much it hurt, but there was nothing she could do. Nothing he'd listen to.

Except for maybe one thing.

~~~

"A sweater in May? Don't you think that's a little warm?"

Mia looked down at her red sweater. "I just felt like being comfortable today. No fancy clothes or anything."

"Well, red is your color, it compliments your hair," Zoe smiled as they walked down the hall of the Alexandrettia. Mia's eyes automatically searched for Eli, but knew he wouldn't be there. How strange that she missed seeing him scrubbing the floors or the walls. It made her heart ache when the head janitor stood there instead of him, finishing his job with a bitter face; He had nobody to boss around anymore, nobody to do his dirty jobs.

But what really made Mia's heart hurt, was seeing all the newspapers pasted on the bulletin boards with pictures of him being dragged away in cuffs by the 'police'. Above was the headline: 'GENIUS REVEALED: Good Will Hunting in the flesh?'

Mia could see students holding newspapers and re-watching the videos on their phones of him being taken away by the so-called police. They were whispering in the corners, spreading muffled rumors about why he was taken away. There were conspiracy theories, criminal accusations, and of course talk about him really being an alien who had been hiding among the humans.

Ridiculous, Mia thought and turned her attention back to the floor. The worst part was, all their chatter was better than the things she had accused him of before she even knew who he was. She really had been horrible when gossip now sounded better than what came out of her mouth then.

"Are you sure you're ready for school?" Zoe carefully questioned, bringing a hand to her shoulder. Mia turned and looked at her best friend, loving how she had refreshed her blue hair color and given it a little trim. She really worked the pixie cut. "It's only been a few days, since... well. Are you sure you can handle it?"

Mia nodded a little and offered her a bleak smile. "I'm okay. I just have to be here today, it's presentation time. I have to hand my work in to Valenches so he can approve it. Or you know, flunk me."

"I'm sure you'll do great," Zoe said encouragingly and squeezed her shoulder. "You'll kick artistic ass in there, I know it. You've been working on that piece forever, I mean, we haven't been allowed to see it, but I'm guessing with all the effort you put into it, it has to be good."

Effort. All the fucking she did with Eli, all the tasteless manipulation and games she played to get to know him. That was her effort.

"Thanks," Mia said, fighting the way her throat was closing up. "I'll just... I should go do the presentation."

"I'll be waiting outside if you need me."

"Thanks, Zo."

Zoe gave her another encouraging smile, one that Mia could barely return. With that, she then walked into the art studio where her drawing was standing on her easel, covered by a satin sheet. How silly, really, but here at the Alexandrettia it was all about the flair.

Valenches was waiting for her in there, reading something on his iPad when she came in. Mia managed to see the upside down image of Eli on his screen, telling her he was reading the article as well.

The minute she came in, though, he looked up and offered her a smile. "Mia. How are you feeling? Ready to present your piece?"

Swallowing the throbbing lump in her throat, Mia smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I'm ready."

"That's great. We're just waiting for the principal to arrive, he should be here any minute," He told, turning his iPad off and placing it on his desk. He ran a hand through his dark hair and then sighed tiredly. "What a rough couple of days, hm?"

Mia nodded, looking down at the ground. She really didn't want to small-talk, so she stayed silent and let him have the word.

"Were you one of the people who followed the Genius mystery?"

She just gave a noncommittal shrug with her shoulder, hoping it would be enough.

"Mia..." His tone of voice suddenly changed and Mia shut her eyes, knowing he hadn't bought her act. "You're not okay. Why don't we put this off for a few more hours? We can take you in later. You're clearly not in the right space of mind to present your masterpiece."

"No, I'm ready," Mia protested, pressing her lips tightly together. "I want to do this, I want to... I have to present this, I'm just—"

"Easy," Valenches said, calmly coming up to her when she begun ranting. He held her shoulders soothingly. "Deep breaths, mh? We can do this now, but I'd rather you do it when your heart is with you."

But her heart wouldn't be with her, even if they did postpone it. She'd left it with the very man she was going to present.

"I'm sorry, Mr Valenches—"

"Miles, please."

"Miles," Mia said, looking up at him. "Look, I want to present this. I worked hard on making it perfect, and I feel like I finally put the finishing touch on it. It's ready to be seen and understood by everyone, so I'm doing this presentation whether or not you think I'm fit for it."

Valenches looked at her for a long while, maybe weighing her words. However, just as he was about to give his verdict, the door to the studio was slammed open and in came both Zoe and Caleb.

"What the hell are you guys doing here?" Mia exclaimed, watching Caleb in particularly who was panting. He looked like he had been running if you judged by the fresh color on his cheeks.

"Mia, we gotta go!" Caleb said, sounding as out of breath as he looked. "We did it! We found a way to save him!"

Mia's jaw fell to the ground, the same time her pulse rose to the sky. "What?"

"Save who? Who are these people, Mia?" Valenches said, frowning. He looked at Zoe, then at Caleb. "I've seen the blue-haired one before, but I don't believe you go here, kiddo." He said, directed towards Caleb.

"I don't, but you wish I did," He said, giving a quick grin. "I don't have time to explain, but we really need Mia."

"It's a matter of life and death, Sir," Zoe interjected, looking at Valenches, too. "Can she be excused? Pretty please with a cherry on top? We promise it's not some lame prank to get her out of her presentation—"

"Oh, I believe you. I know a prank when I see one, trust me," Valenches chuckled for some reason, looking at the ground.

"Guys," Mia broke in, not being able to wait. "How did you find a way to save him? I thought we were at a dead end?"

"It's a long story, but it all comes back to the hacker who contacted us," Caleb explained. "A."

"A?"

Mia looked at Valenches when they had said it in unison. He looked back at her and raised a brow, inquisitively. "How, I mean—"

"There's no time to explain, come on, we gotta go get him!" Caleb stressed. "He's spent long enough in that hellhole, don't you think—"

"But I—"

"You should go with your friends," Valenches broke in, smiling at Mia. "Clearly it's important, and since the principal is officially late..."

"What about my presentation?"

"As I said, we can put it off for a few hours. It sounds like your friends and this 'A' are doing something important," He smiled at the floor again. "You should do as they say. I'll tell the principal we had to postpone your presentation."

"Really?" Mia felt her heart beat faster. They were going to save Eli. "I can't thank you enough... Miles."

"No need. Now run off," He said, giving them a serious look. "Go save your friend."

Mia smiled thankfully at her teacher, and took off with Zoe and Caleb. Their footsteps pounded down the hall as they ran, running to the parking lot.

"Where are we going?" Mia panted as they unlocked her car and rushed inside.

"To the facility," Caleb replied, fastening his seatbelt. "I'll explain on the way, you just do the driving. Actually, Zoe will. I have to prepare my speech."

"Your speech?"

"Just drive, sweetcheeks."

Mia hit the pedal. Just like that, they were on their way to save Eli.

• • •

So apparently you can't reheat spinach. It can make you sick.
Nobody told me that.
What I do know, however, is what it looks like coming up again.
#IPoisonedMyselfAgain
#ThisIsWhyIDontCook