Sunset sat on my couch wrapped in three or four blankets. Her shivering and shaking had almost stopped entirely to my relief. She tried her hardest to keep it hidden but I could easily see it. Her hands were wrapped around a steaming cup of hot chocolate and she gave a sigh. I knelt down in front of her with another steaming bowl, this one with soup I had made.
“Eat,” I coaxed with a smile. “You might have a cold based on the coughs. How long have you been sleeping there?”
“Ever since I’ve been going to school,” Sunset sipped her chocolate. She set her cup down and peered into the soup before shrugging and accepting the spoon. She bit into a chunk of chicken and swallowed it. “What is this? It’s really good.” I gave a smug smile her way.
“It’s chicken noodle soup. I make it myself,” I smiled. My smile disappeared at Sunset’s horrified expression. “Something wrong?”
“I’m vegetarian,” Sunset explained and stared into the soup. My eyes widened and I suddenly wanted to slap myself. I completely forgot that I’ve only ever seen her with salads.
“I can make something else,” I stood up quickly. “My apologies.” Sunset slowly shook her head.
“I can not believe I’m about to say this, but it’s pretty good for meat. Never tried it before,” Sunset admitted before eating some more. I watched her eat quietly as a million thoughts ran through my head. Mainly how long she had been homeless and how stupid I was to not have realized it. I wonder if any of the other teachers know she is. Or if Celestia herself knows. I glanced outside and shuddered at the thick snow. It was only October, the middle of fall and it was still snowing. We typically get our first snowfall in November or October. The thought that the girl in front of me was absolutely convinced she could survive this was beyond me. I just hope I can get out of my house and driveway for work tomorrow if it isn’t canceled. I know students love snowdays but we teachers hate them. I plan out my teaching lessons based on each day. If we have a snow day, that messes up all my lessons I have planned for the year. I remember as a kid absolutely loving snowdays. A faint laugh escaped me as I remembered snowball fights with dad and building snowmen with mom.
“What’s funny?” Sunset broke me from my thoughts. She stared at me curiously with an empty bowl. I don’t know when she finished eating.
“Nothing. Just remembering things,” I smiled. “Where are you from that your parents couldn’t be here?” A flicker of frustration crossed Sunset’s face so fast I wasn’t sure if it was even there to begin with. Sunset gave a faint laugh.
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” she replied. Well that totally wasn’t mysterious at all. “Let’s just say it’s a far away place. Very far from here.”
“How far away are we talking?” I really hoped this wasn’t a runaway from places like Manehatten or Baltimare. Those were some pretty strange names now that I think about it. Sounded horse related but I’m assuming the people who named the cities loved horses. Hell, I love horses but they still scare me. The thought of falling off and getting trampled scares me. Have you ever seen videos of some idiot standing behind a horse and getting kicked? I’d accidentally be that idiot and die and I have better things to do than get my skull caved in by a well placed hoof to the head.
“Not sure,” Sunset shrugged. “All I know is that it’s far away.” I had a feeling I wasn’t going to be getting any answers from her about so I might as well stop pressing. For tonight at least.
“It’s getting late. I have the spare room already made just in case I have guests over,” I looked at my phone. “I suggest we turn in for the night.”
“I can sleep on the couch or floor,” Sunset frowned. The entire car ride here she had been saying she was independent and could survive on her own and would sleep on the floor instead of any bed. I rolled my eyes and picked up her bowl.
“I recommend the bed. It’s more comfortable than my couch. It’s certainly more comfortable than the wooden floor.”
“I’m only going to agree because I’m tired and I value good sleep,” Sunset warned and stood up. “I’ll follow you.” I gave a brief nod and stepped inside the kitchen to place her bowl on the counter next to the sink. I made a mental note to wash the dishes before I went to sleep tonight.
“Right this way,” I gestured cheerfully for her to follow me up the stairs. It wasn’t the biggest house on earth but it was nice. Two bathrooms, three bedrooms and a nice garage for my car. Sure I could buy a bigger one with my funds but what’s the point? Being alone in a big house would be well lonely. I’ve already done that once and I don’t want to do it again. I stepped inside a decent sized room and gestured to the bed. “This is your room. Bathroom is down the hall if you wish to take a shower. Spare unopened hairbrushes and toothbrush are on the towel shelf if you want to use it.”
“Are all houses usually this big?” Sunset looked around curiously, trying to hide her interest but I could easily see through it. Maybe because she’s sick and wasn’t trying as hard as she normally did.
“Not really,” I admitted. “Some are and some aren’t. This is a medium sized house to most people.”
“It’s massive!” Sunset announced before turning red. “I mean, it’s decent.” I gave a grin her way. That was the most energetic I’ve seen her all night. I looked her over and my grin turned into a frown.
“You don’t have a coat do you?” I asked even though I already knew the answer.
“No. Why?” Sunset gazed at me warily. I’ve only ever seen her in jeans and a tshirt.
“We can go looking for one next week,” I told her with a smile. “It’s too cold for you to not wear one.”
“I’ll be fine. I survived this long,” Sunset retorted. I had never know she was this stubborn. I rolled my eyes and sighed.
“I insist. In the mean time, I have a jacket you can use. It’s not much but it’s warm,” I stepped to the closet and opened it, thumbing my way through the clothes hanging up. “Here it is.” I pulled out a leather jacket and held it out. Sunset carefully picked it up and stared at if.
“It’s nice,” she finally said and slipped it on. “Why do you have a leather jacket in your closet? Doesn’t seem like the thing you would wear.”
“I was a kid once too. They were going out of style when I was growing up but I still had one,” I chuckled at the memory of teenage Cheerilee with her leather jacket. “I remember one year I was going through a disco music phase for some reason and my hair was absolutely crazy and I wore that jacket. I have the picture around here somewhere.” Sunset stepped in front of a mirror and admired herself for a few moments.
“I like it,” she admitted. “I’ll give it back after I buy my own jacket.”
“Keep it. With you wearing it, it’s actually getting some proper use instead of just sitting in my closet gathering dust,” I shook my head. “It’s yours now.”
“Thank you Miss Cheerilee.”
“Cheerilee is fine at home. You don’t have to call me Miss Cheerilee,” I told her. “Goodnight Sunset.” I stepped out of the room and shut the door carefully. My phone rang and I rolled my eyes. I fished it out of my pocket and pressed answer. “Cheerilee speaking.”
”Hello Miss Cheerilee,” Celestia said cheerfully.
“Principal Celestia. How may I help you?” I hoped she didn’t find out I brought a student home.
”I’m calling to make you aware tomorrow is a snow day so you don’t have to worry about coming in,” Celestia sounded a bit disappointed herself at the fact.
“Okay. Thanks for calling and telling me,” I sighed. “Have a good night.”
”Have a goodnight,” Celestia hung up and I groaned. I stepped back to Sunset’s room and knocked. Sunset opened the door and stared at me.
“Why are you knocking in your own house?”
“Because I hated when people came into my room when I was your age without knocking first,” I shrugged. “Anyway, Celestia just called. School is canceled for tomorrow. Wanna watch a movie?” Sunset appeared to be debating with her self internally before shrugging and nodding briefly.
“Yeah sure.”