"A little," I responded in a thick accent. I knew very little English, but I would have to try my best.
"Thats ok, I bet they'll teach you it here." Zoe replied before she picked a bed near the window. "Do you think they have a salon here?" She asked.
"Que?" I asked. She had left my range of understanding. I wonder what tier she is anyway.
"Sorry, anyway Im a 3." Zoe held up three fingers.
I held up 4 fingers, "I'm a four," at least I don't have a high tier for a roommate.
"I mean I am a four, but they treat me like a one which is really weird, but anyway hi." Zoe replied as she finished unpacking her stuff and searched around for a translator.
"Oh," I deflated. Even if she was a low tier, they put her on a pedestal. This just got awkward.
"But it doesn't matter, people shouldn't be judged by their tier, more of their personality." Zoe immediately added. "I know how it is to live on the streets."
"Cuando teines anos?" I asked her. She may think that, but she hasn't seen the state of my home. Where tier's are hidden, because the lower you are, the more meirda your given. From jobs to food.
" i had no parents, so technically I use to be a tier 4, but it doesn't really matter," Zoe shrugged. Before she went on her computer.
I sighed as she pulled out the computer. I looked through my small bag to see if I could find the book I stole. It was there, but how many times had I read the book? Wasn't it time I got a new one? No, just read the old one again.
"wait, do you know what Pokemon is?" Zoe spoke up.
I shook my head. Was that even English?
I looked at her horrified. well what can I expect? She's been living on the streets. She reminded herself before turning to Aurora. "Here let me tell you." And started telling her and possibly ranting all about it.
I listened dully. This seemed like something rich kids did to fend off boredom. It wasn't even all that interesting. This girl claims to 'know what it's like living on the streets, I doubt it. I really do, if she has a computer and can spout all this off from the top of her head.
(I asked earlier but I think it got lost in the replies, can I join? this seems really interesting)
I listened dully. This seemed like something rich kids did to fend off boredom. It wasn't even all that interesting. This girl claims to 'know what it's like living on the streets, I doubt it. I really do, if she has a computer and can spout all this off from the top of her head.
Zoe immediately stopped herself. "Sorry, It gets really boring when they keep you in a ro- Uh when you're out there alone. It can be your friend sometimes."
"Pokémon?" I looked up at her.
"What?"
"Amigo? Pokémon?" I asked again. Was her friend pokemon? That's weird, considering I understood almost nothing she said.
"Its machine, but yes, that is my only friend."I answered her. How the heck am I going to explain this?
"Una chica rica," I muttered to myself. I don't like her, can I get a new roommate?
"Well I'm sorry
do you have any parents?" I asked.
Would it make her feel better if I told her I was a nobody, a nothing?
I knew that question. It always made me hurt, they assume because I'm a 4 that I'm an orphan. That my parents couldn't 'afford' to take care of me. Well I never believed any of that. I didn't respond.
"Would it help you know if I didn't have any?" Zoe said in a sharp voice as she slammed her laptop shut. She was tired, tired of people judging her, just tired.
I looked up. So she had no parents, an attempt at sympathy? "No."
"Great well since you obviously don't care like all the other kids, I don't talk to you, you don't talk to me, we good?" Well there went my chance of a friend here, here in this prison, my deathbed, the void.
(well that escalated quickly)
(I wrote that wrong lol. She thinks that maybe Zoe is trying to sympathize so that Aurora will like her. A tactic often deployed by higher tiers.)
I nodded and pulled the book out, 'Don Quixote'. It was challenging, but I could almost read the whole thing.
Zoe took in a deep breath. "Ok there has to be a salon around here." She mumbled. Dying her hair, cutting it, sounds good.
I didn't respond. My eyes focused on reading the book.
Zoe put her stuff away as she was about to head out the door.
I gave her a quick wave.
Zoe didn't say anything as she walked out the door.