Cindy's laugh was so small, but it seemed to go around the room. We had no idea what she was laughing over since we couldn't hear other thoughts. It made me really happy seeing her happy though. It thrilled me seeing her this happy.
'When will you choose her,' the bird asked me suspiciously. Already knowing or seeing it on my face probably.
'I don't know yet,' I said looking at Cindy. Was what I felt even safe nowadays?
'This is amazing. Love is so complex and hard, yet you can't get who you will love until it's too late.'
'Poor thing, was it another bird,' I asked, already knowing he was probably talking from experience.
'Yes,' he said with a hush sound. Did he sigh a heavy sigh just now?
'I'm sorry for your loss,' I said, trying to comfort him, and bring back that happy energy.
'It's alright. I get the joy of sharing our memories with other birds.' He pointed out.
'Special memories too.' I agreed, nodding slightly with him. That's when I heard my voice. I was so focused on the bird that I ignored everyone.
"Phoenix. Earth to Phoenix," Cindy was waving her hand in my face. "Hello. Earth to Phoenix."
"I can hear you." I said aloud.
"We're going to the grave now." She said, "you coming?" He pointed to everyone at the door. Waiting for me.
"He has to come." Madison held out her hand for me, she was edging me on. Like a friend joke between the two of us. It had to do with before.
"Madison." Cindy said frustrated, "keep your thoughts to yourself." Madison smiled. Just then Cindy froze, still and solid like ice. Her eyes looking straight but they weren't here, so to speak.
"Cindy," at the call of her name she came back.
"Cindy, are you," Antonio started to ask.
"Fine but we better go. The teachers are getting angry that we missed class. However, our new teacher is waiting for us." Cindy rushed forward away from everyone and out the door.
"Let's go," said Madison.
I took her hand and swung her around behind me as if to give her a piggyback ride. Only to both of our surprises land on four feet. She gasped as loud and as horrified as I felt in that form. It was like a second skin, or my first but in a different form. It didn't hurt to change either. Cindy being long gone.
Antonio didn't trust me enough, kind of like how I didn't trust myself. Madison's trust in me made me force him, however. So, I made him by baiting him into a game he couldn't win.
"Climb on," I said, "or do we race and me win." The rough and husky voice must have been mine. He climbed on, the more weight being a bit heavier on my back.
"Don't drop me, mutt." He was clearly upset. A beast in dog form had beaten him, in words and logic.
We turned to leave, my feet moving and my body swaying side to side. The bird stayed on the window but gave a few words of advice while I was leaving.
'Trust only each other, be safe, and stick together no matter what and you shall survive.'
'I'll remember,' I said leaving the room behind.