68 Confetti - Part 1

*Crack*

*Crunch*

"mmm… these tacos are good." Paroppe praised Ayanni for his cooking.

"Thank you my dear." He teased her.

"Seriously Ayanni, you need to stop that." She tried hiding behind her hands.

"Yes, dear."

Paroppe got back home about two months ago. Ayanni has been with her ever since. Ever since she left almost eight months ago, he and Jev had been working gathering more potential future support for his campaign in the southern district. Well he's been working with the whole city, but if he wants to succeed then his main goal is to help those around where he lives.

"Hey Jev, can you grab the dessert please?" Ayanni put his hands together begging for Jev to get up. He filled his stomach a lot already and staying comfortable next to Paroppe is what he wants.

"Fine, just don't do that lovey dovey stuff around me."

Since he has been working hard, Jev's been with him the whole way. Now ever since Paroppe has been back Jev has been in a foul mood. Not because of Paroppe, at least he doesn't think so, but due to the fact that he hasn't been able to find someone for him.

"There's someone out there for you." He was in full support of his friend.

"Ugh…"

---

Paroppe couldn't stop eating the tacos. Most of the food was already gone, though a bit was saved to give to her parents for dinner. When she gets back home she's going to give it to them.

"Jev what is taking you so long!" Paroppe tried to roar at Jev. Spending two months in that dwarven city had removed an manners she used to have. Once she traveled to the port city further north she got on a ship and sailed back south-west and then caught a carriage ride to Suul.

Her snarls and unclean face, bit of meat on her cheeks, were just jokes. She was having fun with it. Laughing internally at their faces. Even Jev's turned to disgust when he turned around with a fruit pie that Ayanni made.

It was the right choice by sending these recipes to him. It had to be time consuming substituting other world foods for the ones they had here. His effort does speak for itself.

The pie was still warm and oozing out. It was a grand scent that filled the air making more room in Paroppe's stomach.

---

"Here you go you two." Jev took a piece for himself.

Regardless of the danger that Paroppe had been in, seeing her again made him happy. He despised the idea of even losing her and from what she had told them, she almost died, at least once. He could tell. There were a few messages he had gotten from her in the past telling him how she loved him and that taking care of their parents was a great idea. That set alarm bells off, but he didn't comment about what might have happened. No, he didn't do anything like that out of fear that she might lose her edge and get herself hurt. Letting her believe that everything was fine on this end was his idea.

Then when she came back the bold faced lies brought him to distrust her. He was her brother and Ayanni was… well they are working on that, but she lied to them. Until she talked to him about it he wasn't going to mention it.

Back to the food, yea, Ayanni was a great cook.

He sat down and with his fork took a big bite out of the pie. Everything melted as soon at it entered his mouth. Paroppe was already on her second piece even if he had gotten a slice before the both of them.

It reminded him of the garden he was taking care of when he was at his parent's home. Many colors and flowers, a few trees along the paths and the small pond that he built a couple months back.

"You don't like it?"

Jev looked back at Ayanni who was staring at him. He was too engrossed in his thoughts that he hadn't taken another bite.

"It's good, gonna go to bed after this."

"You need to do the dishes." Paroppe said between bites.

"Actually it's your turn."

Jev didn't want to talk to her and just ignored both of them and finished his food.

---

Snow was falling from the sky. Lera was wearing a red scarf around her neck with a leather jacket. She was trying to warm her gloved hands rubbing them together. It was time for her shift so she walked over to the restaurant.

She dodged a patch of ice with grace of a three year old. By dodged, just the one she could see. She was looking up at the cloudy sky from the ground. Her butt hurt, but she got up and walked into work through the back door.

The place was warm and the greetings cold. She signed into work using her code, hung her jacket and winter clothes in her bag on a metal hook, then grabbed her apron and got to work.

"You're early again Lera." Byyuan came in through the door behind the dishwashing area.

They have been keeping in touch, but all their interactions have been at work only. She opened up to him a few months back talking about Paroppe, Jev, Ayanni, and Rozaa. Thrann and his friends were mentioned, Byyuan was in the same year as them, but they didn't talk to each other much. Only on occasion when she was with Rozaa in their home.

"Good afternoon Byyuan."

Time she spent, time watching the stars, was the best out of every day. Even when her job got frustrating, sitting on that hill overlooking Suul was the best.

"Same Lera."

She's been gathering all this money here, but she doesn't have anything to use it on. Maybe…

"Byyuan, want to take a break with me?"

"Sure!"

---

"So I was thinking about having a party. I have all this money, but nothing to really use it on. Inviting my friends and family… well since we're friends too, do you want to join?"

"Yes, of course I could use a party. Where is it going to be or when?"

"I thought here would be nice."

"Do you really want to have a party at the place you work at?"

"I do, yea."

"Alright, any idea when?"

"I'd have to ask the others, but maybe in a month?" Lera asked that one more as a question more than anything else.

"I should be able to talk my parents into then. If you could, this just a favor… think you could get some alcohol?"

"I thought you couldn't have that at your age."

"My age… yeah, but it's a party and it isn't like I'm going to drink myself into oblivion."

"Ugh… sure, anything in particular?"

Byyuan just grinned…

---

The sun was high in the sky and Paroppe was just waking up. She looked out towards her window and turned off the alarm on her tech pad.

"Busy busy day."

She saw a message from Lera after a small yawn. Most of her messages are once a month these days, but this one was much earlier so she quickly looked at the contents.

[Hi Paroppe, how are you doing? I'm planning a party some time in a month, would you want to join? It would be at my work and I'll be paying.]

[Yes Lera I want to go to your party. I don't have much to do so anytime is fine with me.]

---

A part of the dining area had three tables pushed together. There were eleven people in attendance.

"Thank you for inviting me to your birthday party."

"Rozaa, it's not my birthday."

"I know how you feel. When we get to that age we must deny any number over twenty. Though in your case you can pull it off."

Rozaa released her hug off of Lera.

"Yes… I see you brought Phreva along. How's she been these days?"

While Lera has been over at their house before, these past few months Lera has been working hard.

"She's been doing well… I'm not really sure actually. I'm hoping that she can have fun here."

"Anything she wants to eat just let her order what she wants. I'm paying after all."

"I know you said you would pay for everything, but are you sure?"

"I am."

When Lera invited Rozaa, she asked her to bring along Thrann and Phreva. More people the better. When Thrann said he was willing to join, she messaged him and told him to invite his friends along too as Lera and Ayanni would be joining. Thrann also learned that Jev would be joining this time too.

Lera saw Urenol, Ophebo and Carxs enter the restaurant and walk over. She greeted them and they greeted her back. Though they didn't really know each other so their interaction ended there.

"Nice to meet you Jev. We heard a lot about you." Thrann was shaking hands with Jev talking with the others.

Even though there were a lot of people in the place, it was still cold. Ayanni didn't want to freeze his ears off, so he was wearing a scarf Paroppe got him and warm headwear. Lera found that they looked cute together considering they were wearing the same shirt.

"Don't look at me like that Lera… Why aren't you wearing that scarf I got you?" Paroppe punched Lera's shoulder. It actually hurt a lot. "I'm sorry Lera, I got a bit stronger."

"Of course you did. I thought it would get in the way, but I really do enjoy it." She rubbed her shoulder.

The live band was setting up their instruments.

"This must be your sister Paroppe. Nice to meet you ma'am." Byyuan came over bowed and then held his hand out to give Paroppe a handshake.

"I'm no ma'am. Call me Paroppe and aren't we the same age?"

"You're the same age as me? Lera here seemed to call you her sister… Anyways, that's a losing battle. My name's Byyuan, it's nice to meet you."

"Same, I heard you were keeping Lera company during work."

"Us noobs need to stay together."

"What about the two people that got hired a few months back?" Lera had heard him use that word before, but there were others who were now newer than her.

"We're friends Lera." He said that with a more serious tone, but was still playful.

---

The table was filled with half eaten warm food. Some were laughing at a joke Carxs had said and others were talking with themselves.

Eventually it became Lera's birthday regardless if it wasn't. Then again it wasn't like she knew what her real birthday was.

"So enjoying your birthday?" Jev asked Lera from across the table. Even if he didn't like her, he kept his feelings to himself while he was here.

"It's nice seeing everyone again." Lera smiled, but she looked down at her plate. She really was happy that everyone was able to make it and they were able to enjoy themselves. The part that made it a bitter-sweet moment was that they would leave shortly. Should she go back, why couldn't they all stay together…

"Yes, true." Jev responded and took a sip of his water. "You picked a good place to have your party."

---

"Did you have fun?" Byyuan and Lera were talking off to the side.

"I did. It was fun seeing my family again."

"Family is important. You never want to give them up even for a second." Lera just smiled at that. "Did you get the goods?"

Lera took out a bottle. "Yes, are you sure you want to drink some?"

"Don't worry about it. I already told my mother I would be walking home today."

"Alright…"

"You don't have to worry about me." Byyuan put on his coat and shook so it feels comfortable on him. "Are we leaving then?"

"Yes, just let me say goodbye to the others."

---

Snow was falling. Cold, dark and quiet. Their boots crunching up the snow beneath their feet was the only sound.

"Don't mind me guys I'm just here for the drink." Byyuan stated.

Lera, Paroppe, Ayanni and Jev were walking with him.

"Don't they have a law here that people your age can't drink?" Jev asked his question towards Byyuan.

"Aren't we the same age?"

"Yea, but we aren't from here."

"You're here now and we are going to celebrate with an after party."

"Whatever."

"Don't be a party pooper Jev."

That got chuckles from Paroppe and Ayanni. Lera just smiled. Jev could be seen enjoying this whole interaction, by only his eyes.

Lera found a bench near a lamppost. She wiped off the snow from the bench, pulled out glasses and handed them to everyone and started pouring them all a cup.

"Thank you all for joining me today." Lera clanked her cup with the others and took their drink.

"What is this stuff?" Ayanni was coughing from the burn he felt in his throat.

"My favorite…" Byyuan grinned upon seeing Ayanni.

"You picked this stuff? You have good tastes." Paroppe took another sip. She really enjoyed it.

"Not what I like, but it does the trick." Jev swirled the alcoholic beverage in his hand.

"Was that your whole speech?" Everyone turned towards Byyuan. "If it was, I got something I wanted to say. Before that though, I'm going to need more." Lera walked over to pour more into his cup.

"That good?"

"It'll have to do since I got to share." He grinned. "We have known each other for less than a year. You were quiet and shy in the beginning, but you were able to come out of your shell. That is something to be proud of." Byyuan made a big gesture with his cup and then drank from his cup.

"My sister is all grown up." Paroppe rubbed her shoulder on Lera's.

"Cheers!" Ayanni already had some still in his cup. He raised it high in the air then took a drink himself. Jev followed shortly after him.

"To family!" Paroppe shouted and took a sip from her cup.

---

"Can I talk to you for a second Lera?"

"Of course Byyuan. I'll be right back."

Lera and Byyuan stepped off to the side, just out of range of the single light in the area.

"I wanted to thank you Lera."

"Me, for what?"

"It's been a long time since I've had a friend. I think of you as a friend."

"You don't need to thank me for being your friend."

"Actually I do. I never really went out of my way to make a friend. When we first met, I saw someone who was like me. I saw you as someone who didn't really fit in with the crowd." Lera didn't deny that. "For me, I'm the same. At school I just can't seem to connect with any of them other than surface level interactions. The only people that I could actually talk to was my family."

Lera stayed quiet as he stared off into the dark clouded sky.

"I care for my family more than anything. Did you know in the beginning, I thought of my family as strangers. They were just people to me. None of them were special in any way, even my parents. People I avoided because I couldn't understand them." Byyuan shook his head. "It's different now. They are the most important people to me. I see the same thing when you look at your family, but they are going to leave after this right? Then you should go with them. Staying away from them is only going to hurt you."

"But…"

"I'm sure you have your reasons, but you want to go with them don't you?"

Lera did. She could have many times in these past months, but she stayed away. Leaving them alone to grow without her.

"I do…"

"Then you should. Quit your job and go with them. Enjoy your time with them. When you get old that's all you do anyways." Byyuan turned towards Lera. "We are friends and if you ever need my help just let me know."

"Thank you Byyuan."

"Think it over Lera." He turned towards the others who were sitting under the light. "Actually I have one question. I know you don't like to talk about where your family is from, but would you be willing to tell me the name of that place?"

Lera felt comfortable enough to tell him that. She only told him that her family lived in a far away place to get around the confusion of another world.

"The city is called Suul."

"Suul?" Byyuan laughed loudly, catching the attention of the others. "Suul, huh?"

From his voice, Lera seemed to catch on to something from Byyuan's voice. "You know of Suul?"

"A distant memory…" Byyuan looked down at his phone. "I got to head home now. Can we talk about this tomorrow, if you're still around?"

"Yes."

"Good night Lera." He turned to the others and waved to them. "Good night everyone!" He took off down the path out of the park.