Café Starlight Dream

Once she is settled in the shop, which is owned by Faith's aunt, she felt the bile finally rise up again. This time she wasn't going to be able to hold it back.

Dor asked the woman for a barf bag as soon as he saw her expression. She had it, surprisingly, and Kaia went to the corner of the shop to throw up.

"What happened?" Faith's mother asked as she entered the shop with the younger two girls.

"Nothing," Shia said as Max patted Kaia's back while she continued to throw up. "Are you done?"

"Yes." She answered, walking to Kaia. "Are you alright dear?"

She reached out but Max stopped her, shaking his head. "She is overwhelmed right now."

Understanding, she nodded and walked back, "Shall we continue the shopping then?"

"If you don't mind, I will stay here," Carlotta said, grinning at her.

"If you say so, dear." She said, smiling kindly. "We will buy what you need. Give your list here."

"Ok." She said, taking the paper out of her bag and also money. "This should cover for me and Kaia."

"Nonsense. I am not taking your money." She said, only taking the paper from her. She then turned to her sister who said, "I will be accompanying them. Now you rest here and we will be back soon."

While the aunt turned the sign from 'open' to 'close', Faith's mother walked out of the store. The others followed her, casting a single, concerned glance back at Kaia.

"Shouldn't you be going?" She asked Dorran who sat down on one of the chairs in the store while she closed the door and pulled the drapes over the window.

"Na." Ran answered, looking at Kaia slumped against the wall, "What happened?"

"I don't know." She said, taking another seat. "Max is the only one that actually saw it."

"How are you feeling?" Max asked Kaia as she huffed, trying to catch her breath.

He took the bag from her and threw it into the dustbin. Kaia got up from the floor and looked at them as they smiled up at her, concern written all over her face.

Tears slipped out before she could stop them and she began to sigh, "I'm sorry."

"No," Carlotta said immediately, rushing to embrace her. "No. No. No. Don't apologise for that. Ok?"

Kaia nodded her head, tears still flowing as Dorran took out a bottle of water from the bag he carried and handed it to her.

She finished the entire bottle in one long gulp, tears still flowing from her eyes.

After that, she sat on the long chair with Carlotta, head on her lap while she patted her hair. She didn't fall asleep but she was very tempted to.

When the others came back, they made their way back. Kaia was silent the entire time, face sullen. Once they reached the house, she gave a grateful smile to Faith's mother and shut herself in the room.

She did not come out until it was time for dinner and she still did not look any better. Swollen and red eyes, hair like a tornado was her designer and a dull expression.

She is much better the next day but they hadn't the heart to ask her of the incident now that she is looking better so they left it like that.

__________

"I don't think it's a good idea to take her to an adult just yet," Carlotta said after they were done remembering what happened.

It was just another incident they pretended didn't exist though it has been running through their minds continuously.

"I don't think so too," Shia said, still a little conflicted with everything. "But we need to get her help."

"Right. But not right now." She agreed, "Maybe we can first wait a couple of days after school starts? She will be a little used to people by that time so it will not be as scary for her."

"Yeah." Carlotta said, looking to the side, "Kaia's coming, change the topic now. I agree, don't you, Kaia?"

"About what?" She signed, looking from Carlotta to Shia.

"I was just asking if my cooking was better or Dorran's cook. Caitly- Carla, was just agreeing that this was better. What do you think Kaia?"

"Of course it's you," Kaia said without any hesitation.

"Even after I messed up the receipt by using salt instead of sugar in the whipped cream and still serving it to everyone without trying it?" Shia asked, brows furrowed.

"So that's what's been bothering you," Carlotta said, with a bit of a smirk. "Dessert was horrendous that day, don't you think so Kaia?"

"I thought it was fine, even with that," Shia said, both turned to her at the same time, expecting an answer from the girl.

"It was fine." She answered a faint smile on her face but the slight twitch on her right eye gave away what she really felt regarding the situation.

"If Kaia says so, it's ok then," Carlotta said, grinning.

"Are you coming?" They heard Max call to them. "We are cold!"

They had already reached the car and Dorran, being the stubborn human being he is, chose to wait in the cold for the three to arrive before he gets in the car.

"Chilverious," Shia said as she continued her walk with Kaia and Carlotta.

"I guess that's just his upbringing," Carlotta said, watching the two talk as Dorran attempted to borrow himself into his jacket. "Oh, what did they call you for, Kaia?"

"They wanted to check my tablet and make sure there is no one trying to spy on us through the camera or something like that," Kaia answered.

"Why?"

"Children who can't afford their own tablet are given one from the school. Kaia signed up for the school provided tablets after she got her result last month." Carlotta explained. "I have enough money to buy my own one so I did. You should have told me if you needed one."

"I just wanted to see what kind the school had," Kaia answered.

"Not a good enough excuse. What are you going to do if it suddenly broke because of its faulty and awful system?" Carlotta scolded.

"Did they find anything?" Shia asked, cutting in on her scolding.

"Not really, but they can't check properly on the side of the road so they decided to do that at Dorran's house."

"School provided anything is always bad." Carlotta continued grumbling. "You really should have just told me."

"Max said that he will rewire some things tonight to make sure it lasts longer." Kaia answered quickly, "Don't worry about it."

"Well, he wouldn't have to do that if you just let me buy you the tablet." Carlotta huffed as they reached the car.

Dorran held the door open for them and everyone piled inside. Once they were comfortably seated, Dorran walked to the passenger's side and sat there, closing all windows and turning the heat on.

"What's this about a tablet?" Max asked, taking off his snow-covered jacket and placing it on his lap.

The others did the same knowing from experience how hot it can get when Dorran is the one in charge of heat control in the car.

"You are freezing, young master. Why didn't you wait in the car?" Alex, the driver asked. "You have never been good with the cold."

"I can't just leave them out there now can I?" Dor said, grinning while his teeth chattered.

"If you say so, young master." He answered, looking from the mirror at the four. "Would everyone like to stop by a café for some hot chocolate?"

Silence filled the car as soon as he asked that. Subconsciously, everyone turned to Kaia who had her attention on the world outside the window.

"Why don't we have hot chocolate at home?" Dor quickly said, "We are a little tired after all."

"Of course, young master." He said, not noticing the tense air that filled the car only moments before. "I just heard of this new café that opened up downtown."

Kaia's ears perked up when she heard that. She quickly tapped on Carlotta who was sitting to her right.

"What is it?" Carlotta asked, unable to understand what Kaia is trying to say.

This is the bit of the problem with sign language, there just isn't a sign for every word in the world.

"Is the café called 'Starlight Dream'?" She wrote on her phone, asking Alex.

"Yes, how did you know?" Alex asked, beaming at her. "It is a quaint little café, closer to the woods than the road that's why it isn't very known. But that's the beauty of it."

"Can we go?" Kaia typed, feeling a hint of excitement bubble in her.

Seeing her reaction, the others couldn't bring themselves to say 'no' even if it is with her well-being in mind.

"Sure. Why not?" Dor said, his teeth finally stopped chattering and he is more relaxed. "If the others agree that is."

"Sure," Carlotta said without hesitating, the other two nodded in agreement. "Let's go there."

A bright smile came on Kaia's face as she thanked them. This was enough to make them feel fluffy inside while the snow raged outside.