//------------------------------//
// Chapter 8  Rent  
// Story: More Silver Than Gold 
// by Stepany1234 
//------------------------------//


I open my eyes to the sight of pink. I sit up and see that I had dozed off. I rub my eyes again before clearly seeing that Silver Spoon was using my pink sweater as a big blanket. Despite the ripped sleeve, she seemed pretty warm and comfortable. I rub my neck and stand up.

“Sofa’s uncomfortable,” I mutter under my breath. 

I stretch and try to rub my back before looking out the window. I knew I was tired but I didn’t think I would fall asleep during the day. I basically took a nap and I guess Silver Spoon followed. That’s when I remembered, we were watching a movie. The DVD had already ejected itself from the player and the TV was blank. I turned it off and looked at the pony on my sofa. Her hair finally braided and her glasses sat on her tiny nose as she slept. How long have I had her with me now? Days? I don’t even remember how long its been. This whole time being with her has made me forget about my responsibilities. A job to pay my bills and rent, money for food, not to mention food for Silver Spoon. I can’t keep feeding her apples. I’ll run out eventually and I’m sure horses eat more than just apples. 

I want to remember that she’s only staying with me temporarily. But then there’s a part of me that feels like she’s my full responsibility now. I don’t know when or how or if she will be going back to her home. I just know that I want to take care of her until she does.

I walk over to my room and pick up the small keychain I got from the convention. I see the picture inside and smile. Based off the descriptions and information she’s given me, I was sorta able to point out who was who. The unicorn, the pony with a bow and then the pony with tiny wings were ponies she went to school with. Then the one wearing the tiara was her best friend. Now that I get a good look at her, she doesn’t seem like she was the nicest one in the group. Then there’s Silver Spoon. Smiling cheerfully in the picture. I was tempted to watch the show she’s from. Then again, there’s that risk of her catching me and finding out that she’s just a cartoon.

My mind was in a knot just like my stomach. I just wanted to have a solution to all my problems. The lecture I would get from my parents was already ringing in my head. There’s no way I would complain to them about what I was going through. They’d just shoot the ‘I told you so’ look. I walked out of the room and make my way back to the living room. I check on Silver Spoon again and see her cuddle under my sweater, as if it was a real blanket. For her it was pretty big so I guess it kinda was. I feel my stomach rumble and so I go to the kitchen to scavenge something together. I go to open the fridge and that’s when I see the picture I sketched of Silver Spoon earlier. I smile and then proceed to making myself something to eat. A salad was all I could put together. I really need to go shopping for more food. I walk out of the kitchen with the small bowl in hand and stop in my tracks after seeing Silver Spoon was awake. 

She rubbed her eyes and yawned before looking over to me. It was kinda cute how she yawned just like a little kid. I looked down at the bowl of salad and then up at her. I brought it to her and sat down next to her. 

“Here, I made you something to eat,” I lied. She rubbed her right eye again before looking into the bowl. She beamed at the sight of lettuce and took the bowl.

“Thank you!” She smiled. It wasn’t long before she started eating. My stomach growled but not loud enough for her to hear. 

There isn’t much left in the kitchen and so I had to serve myself a bowl of cereal. It’s not a gourmet meal but it did the job of settling my hunger. I didn’t mind after seeing how much Silver Spoon enjoyed the meal. That’s when I remembered something important. I set down my bowl of cereal and dash out the living room.

“Oh! Hey, Silver Spoon. I’ll be right back, okay?” I said while entering my room. By the time Silver Spoon lifted her head from the bowl, I was already back out of my room. Her mouth was still full as she watched me stumble through the apartment. I struggled to put on my blue jacket as I ran around. 

“Ok? Where are you going?” She asked, her mouth still semi-full. 

“Down the hall,” I say before almost tripping over the rug. I catch myself and continue to look for my satchel. 

“Where is it?” I mumble under my breath. I finally find my bag hidden under some papers on the table and scavenge through it. “I won’t take long. Don’t worry.” I took out my wallet and took out all the money I had left to my name. The idea scared me but I knew I wasn’t gonna let it show. I smiled to Silver Spoon while walking passed her.

“Kay, hurry back,” she said as she returned the smile. I nodded and walked out the door. I made sure to lock it before walking down the hall. I sped over to my landlord’s door and paid my rent. It was that moment when my throat grew dry. I desperately needed money now. I was set with my rent now but it won’t last forever. How am I going to be able to get a job with Silver Spoon around? I can’t take her to work with me and I certainly can’t leave her alone all day everyday. After letting my mind wonder, I realize I was already walking back in front of my apartment door. I lifted my head and exhaled. I’ll figure something out. I don’t know what or how but I know I’ll have to. If I’m gonna support Silver Spoon… I just have to. I grab the key hidden under the doormat and open the door. I slip it back under the mat and shut the door behind me.

“Alright. Maybe, I was thinking we could watch another movie? I don’t know it’s up to you,” I say as I walk deeper into the apartment. I toss off my jacket and head over to the sofa after not receiving a response. 

“Silver Spoon?” I call. No answer. I walk around the sofa and see that she wasn’t there. The bowl was half empty but she wasn’t anywhere around.

“Silver Spoon?” I call again, a slightly bit louder. 

I projected my voice in case she couldn’t hear me but I still didn’t get an answer. I walk into my room and look under my bed with a grin. My smile fades away after seeing she wasn’t hiding underneath. I stand up and look around. I check the closet and behind the door…nothing. 

“Silver Spoon? Come on, this isn’t funny,” I say, my voice louder than before.

I’m staring to worry now. Where could she be? She couldn’t have left. The door was still locked when I got back. Now I’m back in the living room. By now I’ve already checked every inch of this small apartment and I couldn’t find anything of hers! No glasses, or her necklace, or that small pink band she used to tie her braid…

“Silver Spoon!” I shout. 

Nothing. 

I was panicking now. Could she have fallen out the window?…No, they’re all shut. What if someone came in and took her from the fire escape and now some lunatic has her? No! No! Out of anything she’s probably napping again somewhere around here. I felt faint by now, my head felt light and so I had to sit on the sofa before loosing my balance. I rest my forehead on the palm of my hand and try to think straight. I rub my face before running it through my hair. I sit back and take deep breaths. A pathetic attempt of trying to calm myself down. I then notice the bowl and sweater next to me. After staring at it for a moment, I reach for the sweater and hug onto it. By now I feel my eyes burn and soon I’m crying. Crying? Me? Crying? A tough girl like me crying over…a fictional cartoon character? I lay down and embrace the pink hoodie tightly. She must have went back home. I didn’t know how she got here and I don’t know how she left. I expected as much but I didn’t expect it so suddenly. Why does it hurt so much? Oh. That feeling. That’s right, I remember that feeling. When I was younger and my cat died I felt pain like this. It’s just, I don’t know. This feeling is different. It hurts more. I can’t handle this kind of pain. I squeezed the sweater tighter but the tears didn’t stop. I refused to let out a cry, I tried my best to keep it bottled up inside. I’m not gonna cry. No. I won’t. The tears will stop eventually. 

“Damn it! Why won’t they stop! Stop crying! She wasn’t even real! No! Stop! She’s gone! Stop it!” I ordered myself. 

I was my own worst enemy now. I tighten my grip on the sweater and that’s when I feel the tear holes on the sleeve. I snapped. I was bawling now, no longer holding it back. She was…fictional…right?