Title: Pieces of Blue - Chapter 8
By Ashley Delfín
Notes: Basically a PWP chapter (a long one), getting ready for more important stuff in Chapter 9. Hope y'all like it and remember you can comment on it in the forum. Have I mentioned Esper and Roberto are fun characters to write?

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It was 3PM, which meant that Mother Superior would probably tell Amaranth and Roberto to leave even if they weren't done. By then both of them should've suffered enough and the janitor would not complain as much about cleaning whatever was left of whatever they were cleaning. So Quinoa decided to go and pick her cousin up at school. After all, she wasn't that far away and Amaranth so needed some spiritual guidance which could not be provided by those friends he usually hung out with.

However, when she got there, she was not pleased to find Matt and Cee Cee waiting for her cousin. What did Amaranth SEE in those two anyway. Fairly average looking, neither of them captain of their teams (and with good reason, in Cee Cee's case), and without a car. Okay, so Matt had a car, but not only was it brown, it was also old (and not "classic" old, thank you very much). She parked a few spaces away from them and sighed but made sure to have her winning smile on when she got out of her own car.

"Oh my God! Hi! What are you doing here?" she said as she walked closer to them.

"We're waiting for Amaranth," Cee Cee said, flat.

"Really?" she asked, trying to act surprised, "But I was supposed to pick him up. We're going for some smoothies."

"Nice try, but Amis and Esper are waiting for three of us at his house," Cee Cee said, half-smiling.

"He must've forgotten," Quinoa replied. "You wouldn't mind if I, say, borrowed him for an hour or two, right?"

"Yes, we would," Cee Cee said, almost hissing.

"Cee Cee, don't. Jealousy is so not your color."

"Don't you start with-"

"The thing is he's supposed to help me with some of the homework," Matt said, cutting in.

"Really?" Quinoa asked. "And why do Cee Cee, Amis, and Esper need to be there?"

It took Matt a second to answer, which just confirmed her suspicions the jock was helping Cee Cee take Amaranth away from Roberto. Sure, her cousin said he was gay, but apparently that was just a front for his bad taste.

"I need an audience," Matt said. "You know, peer pressure."

Sure, Quinoa thought.

"WOULD YOU STOP THAT? I'M JUST TRYING TO HELP!"

The three of them turned to the source of the yell, and that was the courtyard.

"Wasn't that Roberto?" Matt asked.

They ran towards the iron fence that divided the parking lot from the courtyard. That's when they saw Amaranth lying on the floor, looking hurt and blusing. Roberto was holding the albino's left foot, not looking at all happy. Mother Superior was kneeling besides them.

"...ashamed of yourself, Mr. Alegria. Now allow yourself to be taken to the parking lot so Mr. Moreno can drive you home," Mother Superior said as she helped Amaranth up.

"Amaranth, what happened?" Cee Cee asked.

"What do you mean what happened? He hurt himself!" Quinoa said.

"What are you three doing here?" Mother Superior asked.

"We came to pick up Amaranth," Cee Cee said.

"You can't take Amaranth like that on your car! He's going with me," Quinoa exclaimed.

"Matt's car is perfectly fine, and we're going to Amaranth's house anyway," Cee Cee replied loudly.

"Both of you, quiet, Amaranth's going home with Mr. Goldenthal once he lets Mr. Moreno carry him as he is in no condition of walking himself," Mother Superior said, her last words directed at Amaranth.

"Fine..." Amaranth said, after he managed to stand up on one foot. He let Roberto pick him up, although neither of them looked happy about it.

"You're lucky you're hot, you know?" Roberto said. "Or I'd just leave you here."

"Mr. Moreno!" Mother Superior exclaimed.

"Well, you're lucky I can't stand or-"

"Oh, shut up," Roberto cut him off. "You look cuter when you're quiet."

Amaranth's eyes widened and he smacked Roberto. "The moment you put me down you're going to be in so much pain."

"If you boys don't get out of here quietly I'll have you back next Saturday to clean the restrooms," Mother Superior exclaimed as she walked after them. Both of them were quiet but it was obvious they had a few threats and insults for each other.

Quinoa went back to the entrance alongside Matt and Cee Cee where they waited for the other two to come out.

"Would you stop that, I said I was sorry!" Amaranth's voice was heard behind the door.

"I'm not doing anything you don't deserve," Roberto said.

"You know it's your own fault. You've been trying to get under my clothes all day," Amaranth replied. Quinoa heard the doors being unlocked and saw Mother Superior come out.

"Well, not like you didn't enjoy watching me work shirtless," Roberto said, coming out behind Mother Superior.

"Please," Mother Superior said, holding her head. "Take them away before I see myself forced to murder them."

"Roberto," Quinoa said, "put him in my car."

"No way," Cee Cee said, "bring him here, we'll take him home."

"You know, I'm his family. It's my God-given responsibility to take care of him," Quinoa said, standing in front of Cee Cee.

"I don't care if God himself wrote you a letter asking you to make his life miserable, he's coming with us," Cee Cee said, stepping closer to Quinoa.

"No, he's coming with me. That car is a safety hazard!" Quinoa exclaimed.

"Dude, no dissing the car. The car's fine. Amaranth will be fine in it," Matt said, glaring at Quinoa.

"Don't call me 'dude', and nothing that shade of brown can be fine," Quinoa shot back at him.

"Silence, all of you!" Roberto said, sounding more like himself. "Milady is coming with me," Roberto said, standing straight.

"No, I'm not," Amaranth said. "And if you keep on calling me 'lady' I swear I'll personally rip out your vocal chords."

"I've had it with both of you!" Mother Superior exclaimed. "You two have been driving me insane ever since you got here. I can't believe you have so much trouble over a guy being courteous to you, Amaranth. No wonder you haven't had a boyfriend for so long! And I can't believe you can't take the hint, Roberto, that you need a different approach if you're that interested in dating him. Now, put Amaranth in Matthew's car so you all can leave before I decide to recommend you to babysit the kindergarden children during your lunch hour."

That got everyone moving, although not all of them in the right direction.

"Roberto, that is not Matt's car," Amaranth said, his tone a tad worried.

"I said I will be escorting milady to his house, and so I will," Roberto responded.

"But Mother Superior-"

"I changed my mind, as long as you all get out of here you can go anywhere. If they all want to take you they can chop you and put a little bit in each car," Mother Superior said, walking back to the school. "See you Monday, and I wouldn't mind if you stayed out of my sight then." With that, Mother Superior slammed the door shut and they could hear that she locked it quickly.

"Amaranth, kick him," Cee Cee said.

"Cee Cee, seriously, you need to control that jealousy," Quinoa said.

"You mention that again and I'm practicing my wrestling moves on you instead of Amaranth," Cee Cee yelled at her.

"Oh, please, like I couldn't mop the floor with you," Quinoa responded.

"You couldn't beat me if your life depended on it," Cee Cee shot back.

"Please, I could have you begging for mercy without even breaking a sweat."

"Umm, guys?" Matt said, a tad sheepishly.

"WHAT?" Both of them glared at him.

"Amaranth's left already," he responded, pointing at Roberto's car, which was already pulling out.

"And you just let Roberto take him?" Cee Cee yelled.

"Why didn't you stop him?" Quinoa asked him.

"Well, I tried, but Amaranth said it was okay."

"And you believed him?" Cee Cee exclaimed. "He was obviously delusional!"

"Do you know the way Roberto drives?" Quinoa added. "Oh my God, Amaranth is so not ready for that."

"Well, it's your fault," Cee Cee said to her.

"MINE? If you'd just stopped being a selfish bitch and let him come with me he'd be in a nice car heading safely home!" the cheerleader said, yelling straight to Cee Cee's face.

"Well, if you didn't show up where you weren't even asked to you would be less of an annoyance to everyone!"

"OH, for Pete's sake, JUST LEAVE!" said Mother Superior and slammed the door shut once again.

"She's right, you know? I have to go make sure Amaranth gets home okay," Quinoa said as she got in her car.

"Matthew get in the car, your car has a reputation to win back," Cee Cee said, getting in.

"We'll end up at Amaranth's house, anyway, Cee Cee," Matt said, getting in and starting the car.

"Matthew, Quinoa just insulted your car! Are you just going to let her get away with it?"

"My car is old enough to ignore random insults," Matt said, patting the steering wheel. "Besides, Quinoa's taking the highway and I know a shortcut."

Cee Cee expected Matt's shortcut to take them somewhere around the 5th circle of Hell and then back to Amaranth's house sometime Tuesday, but they actually got there just a few seconds after Roberto and a couple of minutes before Quinoa.

"Where is my cousin?" Quinoa exclaimed once she was out of the car and heading up the stairs to the main entrance "I told you to put him in my car," she added as she passed by Roberto, who opened the door for her, taking the opportunity to hit him in the shoulder.

"Milady courteously accepted my offer to bring him home," Roberto said with his most dignified voice.

"Well, where is he?"

"Living room," Amis said as she crossed the hallway, heading to that same room. Quinoa and Roberto followed her, the soccer jock offering to carry the container filled with ice she was carrying.

"No, thanks, I can handle it," Amis responded as she set it down just in front of the couch where Amaranth was sitting. "What happened?"

"Milady lost his balance and fell off one of the courtyard tables," Roberto explained, as Amaranth put his foot in the water.

"Amis, this is freezing," Amaranth complained.

"That's the point," Amis responded. "Why were you on the table on the first place?"

"I had to bring down a ball one of the junior high school kids had gotten stuck there on Friday," Amaranth explained.

"Why didn't Roberto do it? He's taller," Amis said.

Roberto snorted and Amaranth looked away, obviously annoyed.

"Oh," Amis said, trying not to laugh.

"Does it hurt much, Amy?" Quinoa asked, sitting besides Amaranth.

"Quinoa, you don't want to touch me. I've been scraping bubble gum and God knows what from the bottom of lunch tables all day and I'm all mossy from my fall," Amaranth said, pulling away.

"I don't care, I need to know you're fine," Quinoa said, although she seemed more angry than preoccupied. She also inched a bit away from Amaranth.

"Milady's fine," Roberto said. "If you don't believe me, ask him to kick you."

"Oh, please, I didn't even kick you that hard," Amaranth said, rolling his eyes.

"My knee's hurting still, you know?" Roberto complained. "And I was just trying to help you. But no, first you get all angry because I offer to get the ball and then you get angry because I didn't get the ball."

"Well, I wouldn't have lost my balance if you weren't distracting me."

"I was helping you not lose your balance!"

"You were grabbing my butt!"

And that was when Cee Cee, Amis, and Quinoa smacked Roberto, repeatedly.

"Well, dude, really, you can't blame a guy for trying," Matt said to Amaranth.

"That still doesn't mean I don't have the right to cause him pain when he does," Amaranth responded.

"Would you stop? It wasn't on purpose!" Roberto said, taking Quinoa's place on the couch.

"Right," Amaranth snorted.

"You know I'd never treat you without the utmost respect, beloved," Roberto said, taking Amaranth's face in his hands.

"Roberto, you're not allowed to kiss before you're officially dating!" Quinoa said, pulling the jock from his shirt, and not without a little help from Cee Cee.

"Amaranth?" Esper asked, appearing at the doorway.

"Yes, Esper?" Amaranth said turning to him, like everyone else in the room.

"I have to complain about the state of the things in your room," the boy said, seriously.

"Why?" Amaranth asked.

"There is a total and complete lack of platypus in it," Esper replied, and crossed his arms.

"No there isn't, Lancelot's in there," Amaranth said.

"Who's Lancelot?" Quinoa asked.

"Leonard's pet," Roberto said, standing up and straightening his shirt.

"Leonard was here?" Quinoa said, turning to Amaranth.

"Not that I know of," Amaranth responded, rolling his eyes.

"Amaranth?" Esper repeated, whinier this time.

"What?" Amaranth turned to him again.

"There isn't any Lancelots in there either," Esper said, pouting.

Amaranth was silent for a few seconds, then he stood up and instantly fell back down into the couch. "Ow."

"Dude, not smart," Matt said.

"My love, you really have to be more careful," Roberto added.

"I have to find Lancelot," Amaranth said. "Leonard's picking him up today."

"Leonard's coming?" Quinoa said, smiling all of a sudden. "Good, that will give us a time to chat."

"No, no chatting," Amaranth said, sitting straight up. "We need to find Lancelot!"

"You can't walk like this, Amaranth," Cee Cee said, a tad annoyed.

"No problem, Matt can carry me," Amaranth said, trying to stand up again.

"Or I," Roberto said, standing up and offering Amaranth a hand.

"Or I can hop," Amaranth said, taking Roberto's hand but hopping past him.

"Amaranth, you're going to fall," Amis said as her brother hopped past Esper and out of the living room.

"Shouldn't someone go after him?" Matt asked, and not two seconds later they heard Amaranth yell.

"That sounded like he fell," Matt said.

"But he didn't hit the floor," Amis said, sounding disappointed.

"Love, are you alright?" Roberto said, walking out of the living room followed by Cee Cee and Quinoa.

"He's alright, he just falls a lot," Leonard said.

"Leonard?" Quinoa blurted out. "How did you get in here?"

"Door was open," Leonard explained.

"You could've, I don't know, rung the bell or knocked or something!" Quinoa said angrily.

"It was for the best, if it hadn't been for him, milady could've been greatly hurt." Roberto said, walking towards Amaranth who was leaning against Leonard for balance. "For that, I thank you."

"Uh, sure," Leonard replied. "Well, I'm obviously interrupting so-"

"You're not interrupting," Amaranth cut in.

"Yes he is," Quinoa complained.

"We weren't doing anything," Amaranth rolled his eyes.

"Not yet, at least," Esper added. Amis smacked him.

"Ow, that's my penguin-thought area," Esper complained.

"Esper, for once in your life, make sense," Cee Cee said.

"Anyway," Leonard said, fearing things might just become more confusing if he didn't stop them. "I'm just here for Lancelot."

"Just Lancelot?" Amaranth repeated, not hiding at all his disappointment.

"Why would Lancelot even be here?" Quinoa questioned loudly.

"Because Amaranth kidnapped him yesterday," Amis said before she could stop herself.

"I did not kidnap anyone, he was in my locker. Not the first time he's gotten in there, either," Amaranth said, annoyed.

"Really?" Leonard confronted him. "And how did he get in your locker?"

"How am I supposed to know? he's your platypus," Amaranth said defensively.

"Who just happens to disappear and then is magically found in your locker." Leonard's voice was more than obviously sarcastic.

"I really hope you are not implying what I think you're implying about milady," Roberto growled at Leonard, pulling Amaranth closer to him. "I'd hate to have to challenge you to a fight for his honor."

"Roberto, calm down," Amaranth muttered.

"You're kidding, right?" Quinoa exclaimed. "The jerk calls you a thief and you want him to go away without pain?"

"Yes, Amaranth, it is your duty to knee any guy that says stuff like that in the crotch," Cee Cee added, Leonard instinctively put a hand in front of the aforementioned area.

"What is it with girls and kneeing you in that area? It hurts, you know?" Matt complained.

"Of course it does, that's why God put it there." Amis smiled sweetly at him.

"I will not have my love engaging in a fight. I will engage in it for him," Roberto said, holding Amaranth tighter.

"Roberto, that's nice and all, but could you please not hug me like this. You're all sweaty and you smell," Amaranth said, turning away from him.

"It's the smell of man, my love," Roberto said, his face coming too close to Amaranth's for Quinoa's taste. The cheerleader dealt with this by pulling Roberto's shirt, making the jock fall. Amaranth was saved from following suit by Leonard.

"Good save," Matt cheered.

"Thanks, been practicing." Leonard smiled.

"I still say it's funnier when he hits the ground," Amis said.

"It is not funny that my cousin is in the arms of an intruder!" Quinoa yelled.

"Quinoa, don't. Jealousy is so not your color," Cee Cee said.

"That's it! You're going down," Quinoa said, turning towards Cee Cee. The cheerleader would've jumped the other girl had it not been for Amis.

"Quinoa, you know my parents have a strict 'no fighting in the house' policy ever since we left those blood stains on the sofa," Amis said.

"Matt, let go of me, I promise I'll pull her out before I make her bleed!" Cee Cee said, trying to free herself from the blonde jock.

"Has everyone gone insane?" Amaranth yelled, which made everyone freeze where they were.

"I haven't," Esper said, and proceeded to pounce on a fly that was passing by, disappearing into the kitchen. "AHA! The great hunter succee- hey, no wait, COME BACK! Don't you want to be trained as a Helium Mage? My party needs you! The world needs you!"

"He hasn't gone insane," Cee Cee said. "He's got a permanent residence there."

"I'll get you free smoothies!" Esper said, and then they heard the sound of a boy falling out a kitchen window and landing with a thud.

"Oh gods," Amaranth said, his eyes widening.

"Little dude, you okay?" Matt said, running into the kitchen.

"I'm sure he's fine," Cee Cee said, following Matt.

"You're so mean," Amis said, following her.

"Oh, please, the worst that can do is make him talk with some sense," Quinoa added, following the two.

"If your friend worries you, my love, fear not. I will go and make sure he is fine," Roberto said standing up and dashing into the kitchen.

"Want to go and make sure he's fine?" Leonard asked.

"No, actually I was just worrying because we can't find L-" Amaranth decided not to finish that sentence.

"You can't find what?"

"Stuff."

"'Stuff' does not begin with an 'l', Amaranth," Leonard said, looking suspicious.

"Lost stuff," said Amaranth, and he mentally kicked himself for such a lame response.

"Right," Leonard said. "You lost Lancelot, didn't you?"

"He's not lost. It's more like he was in my room but then he was not so I don't really know where he is," Amaranth said, trying to look as innocent as possible and hoped Leonard wouldn't get too angry at him.

Leonard laughed, which troubled Amaranth because he didn't want Leonard was psychotic. Not right now, since he couldn't run on his hurt foot and there was no one around to save him, not even his teddy bears. So he just stood there, and got ready to yell for help if needed.

"Do you have a swimming pool?" Leonard asked.

Amaranth was about to ask how could he think about swimming at a time like this when he remembered that platypuses were aquatic animals.

"Oh," he said. "We do."

"Where?" Leonard asked.

"This way," Amaranth responded, pointing to the living room.

"Okay," Leonard said, helping Amaranth to hop besides him. "Why is it that every time I see you, you seem to hurt yourself?"

"Don't flatter yourself, this was all Roberto's fault," Amaranth said, rolling his eyes.

"Oh, you mean Mr. Knight in Shining Armor?" Leonard asked.

"More like annoying soccer player that watches too much TV," Amaranth responded and turned to see the glass doors that led to the pool area. They were not even outside and he could already see Lancelot getting out of the pool in order to jump back in.

"Well, he's okay," Amaranth said opening the door.

"He'll do this all the time, but he ends up on my neighbor's pool because he likes it better," Leonard said, smiling.

"Or in my locker," Amaranth added, smile-glaring at him.

"I have no idea how he does that," Leonard said, by now they were outside and Lancelot had run (well, waddled rapidly) to meet Leonard. Amaranth sat down in one of the wooden deck chairs they had and Leonard spent a few seconds talking to Lancelot.

"So, why the reunion?" Leonard asked, sitting beside him.

"It was kind of unexpected, really," Amaranth explained. "Roberto dropped me off from school and Quinoa's here because she felt she had to make sure I got here alive."

"Roberto's driving skills not good enough for her?"

"Oh, they're good," Amaranth responded. "You need good driving skills if you're going to do what he does at the speed he does it."

"Esper is safe!" they heard a voice from the kitchen.

"He won't be when I'm done with him!" Quinoa yelled.

"Hey, you can't hurt Esper! He's MY punching bag!" Cee Cee shouted at her.

"Run, little dude!" Matt urged Esper.

"Should we go help him?" Leonard asked.

"Nah, he should be appearing around here soon." Amaranth smiled, and right on cue Esper appeared running away from a very angry Quinoa. From the look of things, she had fallen when they were trying to help him, and now both of them had twigs and leaves on their hairs and clothes.

"Stop running so I can kill you," Quinoa said almost snatching Esper that time. "Do you know how much this blouse COST me?"

Cee Cee appeared running after Quinoa. "You're not allowed to kill Esper! Not before I do!"

"Five bucks say Esper comes out of this unscarred," Amis said, walking out from the living room.

"You're on!" Roberto exclaimed, walking behind her.

"Dude, run!" Matt shouted at Esper, who had managed to dodge Quinoa once again.

"Hey, you found Lancelot!" Amis exclaimed, sitting next to her brother.

"Yes, he was in the pool," Amaranth explained.

"Amaranth?" Quinoa said, noticing her cousin. "What are you doing here? You should be taking care of that-" And Quinoa did not finish that sentence because she was so angry at her cousin she did not see that the pool was just in front of her.

"HA!" Esper laughed and pointed at Quinoa.

"HA!" Cee Cee said right after she pushed Esper in. "Who rules? I do!" And she proceeded to do her victory dance, not noticing Matt closing in behind her.

"That was NOT COOL!" Matt said, which was sort of useless considering Cee Cee was underwater.

"Esper, get back here so I can drown you!" Quinoa yelled, jumping the boy, who instantly swam away.

"Stop throwing people in the pool!" Amis said after she had pushed Matthew in, making quite a splash.

"Amis, that got me wet!" Amaranth complained.

"Say no more, my love," Roberto said, and ran after Amis.

"Roberto, no, that's not what I-" but it was too late. Roberto was fast enough to catch up to Amis and throw her in the pool. However, he did not see Esper trying to come out, and he did not expect Esper to use him to get out of the pool. So, instead of getting out of the pool, Esper fell back in, bringing Roberto with him.

The next moments were a bit chaotic as war broke out in the pool. Quinoa was still trying to catch Esper to drown him and had to fight off Cee Cee. Amis and Matt had teamed up against Roberto.

"Bad idea," Leonard said.

"What is?" Amaranth asked, confused.

"Oh, nothing," Leonard said. "Wanna jump in?"

"My foot's hurt."

"The water will be good for it," Leonard said, standing up and picking Amaranth up.

"Leonard, put me down before I hurt you." Amaranth was squirming in Leonard's arms, trying to free himself.

"Cee Cee, get back in the pool!" Quinoa yelled at her. "I though we were going to drown Esper together! And don't you dare throw poor Amy in-" And she did not finish that sentence because Amis tackled her from behind.

"You jerk!" Cee Cee said as she pushed Leonard in.

"Cee Cee, behind you!" Amis warned her.

"Amis, there's no one behind me, everyone's in the-"

But there was someone behind her, and when Cee Cee surfaced ready to scream hell at that person she was very surprised.

"Hi Mrs. Alegría," Cee Cee said.

"Hi Cee Cee," Mrs. Alegría responded and looked at her children. "Amaranth, Amis, are your friends staying for dinner?"

"YES!" everyone responded, except for Amaranth who was busy trying to tackle Leonard.