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💚Zoe's P.O.V

Now that the carrot and I share the same opinions, I thought my life would go back to the way it was before.

Peaceful and less stressful.

Obviously that didn't happen because the said carrot made it a mission to try and apologize to me in any chance he could get.

Thursday morning, I opened my locker and saw a folded piece of paper. Opening it, I was surprised to see a poem.

I'm an asshole.

That will never change.

My opinions about friendship.

Now that has changed.

My actions were wrong

more so were my words

I'm a narrow-minded person

Who sucks at doing this poem

I don't deserve forgiveness

My friends made that clear

I'm still gonna say I'm sorry

And try to make things right.

-Carrot

I glanced at the paper, completely dumbfounded. It was clear who it came from and I've seen his hand writing a few times to confirm it was indeed him.

Eliki found it adorable and I did too, but his words from that night was still stuck on a replay and I wasn't letting him off that easily.

In fact a part of me was annoyed, I thought this was what he wanted? Why is he starting to do the complete opposite things that he would?

When I arrived at homeroom, it wasn't a surprise that carrot was already there. He was asleep though, his head completely hidden against his arms.

What surprised me was the glass ball that was placed on my desk. It had small colorful rocks at the bottom with a miniature treehouse in the middle, small flowers and trees surrounding it.

Seeing the treehouse, it reminded me of the time when we went to the carrot's hideout and how I told him it was my first time seeing one.

It was absolutely pretty and I knew it'll have the perfect spot on my desk. It even lights up when you press something at the bottom of it.

Glancing at the sleeping carrot, I gave him a confused look, somehow overwhelmed. A small smile slipped on my lips but it faded away the instant I remembered what he said to me and then I became a carrot.

again.

When lunch came, we were at our usual spot. Eliki was giddy at the way the carrot was apologizing but I wasn't, well I was but not too much.

We were happily munching our tuna sandwich when Chica came up to us, carrying a styrofoam.

She didn't say anything, merely kissed both Eliki and I's cheek, handing me the styrofoam before walking away with a skip.

When we opened it, a big fat slice and delicious looking chocolate cake sat there. A small note was taped with a familiar hand writing.

'I learned the difference between tablespoon and teaspoon.'

This time, I found myself actually smiling. Food was something that I adore and somehow, he managed to chip off a tiny fraction of my anger with this effort.

When Friday came, there was no sign of the carrot, he was absent. I was supposed to go talk to Mr. John about my decision but I actually hesitated.

Why was I hesitant? I should be sure of my decision, I mean I was on Wednesday but then this stupid carrot started pulling stunts on me that had me re-thinking.

I had my part-time job today and was ready for the walk. Eliki came out of nowhere and led me to the parking lot where a white bike with a beautiful basket was parked.

"What's this?" I raised a brow, before noticing the object placed on the basket.

Picking it up, I realized that it was a plush stuff toy of a purple rabbit holding what seems to be a radish.

Eliki handed me a small note, a grin on her lips."Use the bike to go to work. Someone will pick it up." Bidding me a good bye as she went to her car.

Glancing at the stuff toy on my hand, it was cute with its long ears bent down to the side and eyes closed with a smile on its face. I found myself scowling. I'm still hurt but my anger was very slowly chipping away with his surprising actions.

He's clearly only doing this just so that he wouldn't work alone on the project. With that in mind, I became a carrot.

Opening the note, my eyes took in the words.

'Mr. Arden wouldn't be alone anymore. I hope you have a fun weekend.'

I'm surprise he remembers him. He's currently back at home, in my bed. Mr. Arden became my cuddle buddy despite having memories with him.

It took me three minutes to arrive at work, the diner bustling with customers since its the end of weekend.

A wide grin settled on Delilah's face when she saw me."You still have eight minutes. Use it wisely."

I gave her a confused nod before making my way to the staff room. My stomach grumbled at the faint scent of food.

There on the small bench was a bottle of orange juice, a taco, and three chocolate bars that I loved buying at the vending machine in school.

Not wasting my time, I grinned, walking towards the food and started to feed my monster. There was a note again, opening it, 'I'm sorry for throwing orange juice at you that day.'

Finally remembering, I knew this was the food that I was eating when Tyrone and I had a little scene.

I'm surprised that he actually remembers considering he was fuming and spewing words the whole time.

Taking a picture of it, I quickly send it to Eliki with a caption saying 'Were you a part of this?'

After finishing it up, I readied myself and started to work. It was tiring but I found myself enjoying since it made me feel independent.

Once the rush of customers dwindled down, Delilah bumped her shoulders gently against mine.

"I guess someone wanted to repent for his sins, huh?" Delilah smirked, her dimple popping.

"Its a D for an effort." I told her, handing the change to the customer.

"Dang!" She giggled."Salute to you ginger. I would've cave the second he gave me that poem."

Delilah wasn't excluded to the events that happened, especially when I couldn't go to work on Monday.

It seems that Eliki and Delilah were already expecting all of this to happen. I wasn't sure if they had vision dreams on me but from the way they looked at me with knowing looks almost made me believe.

"Maybe he just searched it up in the internet." I told her, surprised that he even managed to make one.

As he said, Tyrone Adler doesn't waste his time on anything but then why would he waste his time on me when all he's been doing is pushing me the other way.

"Nope," She shook her head, her eyes glimmering."I searched it up and there wasn't anything on the internet. It all came from his pretty little head ginger."

Turning to her, I leaned against the counter."He's just doing this so that he wouldn't work alone on the project."

She raised a brows, the corners of her lips twitching."Is that what you've been convincing yourself with?"

I huffed."Its the truth. You know what he said to me." I argued, my lips twisting in a scowl.

"And he said his opinions have changed." She pointed out, tipping her chin at me.

I shook my head."I don't believe it." No, I refuse to listen to the part of me that was starting to hope again.

"You don't want to," Delilah corrects, crossing her thin arms across her chest.

"No, because it doesn't make sense." I huffed, growing annoyed.

It absolutely doesn't. His opinions can't change that easily, I mean he was hell bent on not wanting to be my friend and now he wants to?

"It does make sense ginger." She said."Your point managed to sink in into his thick and stubborn head. This is his way of telling you that he regrets it and wants to give your idea of friendship a try."

I could feel myself shut up, her words reminding me of the conversation I had with my mom on Monday night.

Flashbacks

"How are you feeling honey?" My mom asked, making her way towards the bed, placing my precious maltesers on my night stand.

"How is my fire princess?" Mom asks, freshly showered and looking adorable in her penguin printed pajamas.

"I'm peachy mom." I answer, making room for her to climb in bed with me.

She gave me peck on the cheek, slipping beside me in and pulling me in for a motherly hug that had me sighing.

"What's wrong honey?" Mom pulled back, a frown on her lips."I know there's something bothering you."

Being a middle child was hard and my past was a proof of that but one thing that made it bearable was my mom.

She knew me like the back of her hand and we've always been honest with each other. Before she started dating Jack, she would ask my opinion and advices on wether she should give it a try.

Knowing that it would lessen the weight on my chest, I started telling her everything that happened.

Mr. Arden was in my lap, listening in to our motherly talk while I played with his long ears.

"Are you mad at him?" That was the first thing my mom asked after I was done.

"Mad? That's a stupid question mom." I scoffed but was cut off by a sneeze.

curse you sneeze.

Mom smiled, patting my hand."You are mad."

"Of course I'm mad." I agreed."He's an absolute asshole and his words hurt."

"Don't be mad at me for this." She starts off."I think, you're being unfair to him honey." Mom said, making me double take at her words.

"I beg your parson mom but did you just say that I'm being the one unfair to him?" I repeated, leaning back with disbelief.

"You heard me sweetheart." She rolled her eyes, pushing some of her red curly hair back."I'm sorry that things didn't go according to plan but did you ever try and see it in his own perspective?" She asks, her eyes knowing.

"I didn't but I understand your point mom, he has trust issues." I said, patting Mr. Arden.

"If you understand then you'd realize that you are at fault too." She says."How would you feel like if you hear someone talking shit behind your back? How would you feel if he bring ups your dad without knowing your relationship? How would you feel if someone tricks you and corner you into talking? How would you feel if someone forces you to be cuffed with him? Despite agreeing, do you think it made him comfortable? That he was 100% on board with it?"

I opened my mouth before closing it, slumping against the headboard with a groaned knowing the answer was what exactly Tyrone's reaction had.

"You weren't asking for a chance sweetheart." Mom softly said."You were practically forcing a friendship on him."

"I cornered him because he wouldn't give me a chance to talk and apologize mom." I defended.

"I know." She nods."But the fact that he believed your lie should say enough that despite not wanting to talk to you, he trusts you enough to tell the truth."

I could feel guilt entering my system. Remembering the time where I also let Chica cuff us again without even thinking what he'll feel.

"I hate that you're right." I grumbled, cuddling Mr. Adler to my chest.

Mom cracked a smile."I'm not saying you're completely at fault honey since the way he reacted was still wrong and hurtful."

"It doesn't even matter who's at fault mom, we both made our point clear." I said, a bittersweet smile on my lips.

"Sometimes," Mom pressed a soft kiss on the crown of my head, her eyes portraying her love."The best thing to do to make your point clear is to walk away."

I snapped out of my trance, Delilah looking at me worriedly."Are you okay? You lost me there for a second."

I offered her a weak smile."I'm okay Li. Just some flashbacks."

She nodded slowly, seeming to caught on my sudden mood change. A customer was calling for a waitress and she quickly walked towards them, ending our conversation.

I sighed, somehow feeling like crying. My carrot mask was slowly slipping away and I wasn't sure wether it'll stay until I can talk to Mr. John on Monday.

The sound of the bell caught my attention. My brows furrowing when I saw it was Chica walking towards me, looking charming in her mom jeans and blouse.

Jax and Chica had been coming her nowadays, trying to eat each meal at the menu.

Delilah told me that they were becoming regulars and I was happy that they enjoyed the food here since its one of the best in town.

"Hey Z." She greeted."How long till your shift ends?" Glancing at me briefly before turning to stare at the menu.

My brows furrowed, turning to my wrist watch."Roughly ten minutes Chi. What are you doing here?"

She grinned."I have a surprise for you waiting in my car."

"A surprise?" I wondered, making eye contact with Delilah who was walking towards us.

"Hey Del," Chica greeted, earning a flying kiss in reply."Yes, you'll love it, well hopefully." She continues, turning her attention back to me.

I gave her a suspicious look before nodding."Can I get you anything then?"

"Can I have a chocolate milkshake please? I'll wait in the car." She answers, handing me the money.

Ten minutes flew by like a bird and before I knew it, I was out of the diner and carrying Chica's milkshake towards her car.

It was a sleek white Volkswagen Tiguan that perfectly suited her. Looking around the parking lot, I noticed that the bike was no longer here.

Coming up to the passenger door, I knocked against the window before smiling.

She unlocked the car doors, nodding her head to hop in. When I opened the door, a gasp escaped my lips at the sleeping figure on the passenger seat.

"Grumpy!" I exclaim, excitedly handing Chica her drink and scooping him in my arms.

She let out a giggle, taking a hold of my school bag and new stuff toy before placing them in the back seat.

"What's he doing here?" I ask, settling him down on my lap where he continued to sleep.

Sipping her milkshake."He misses his furmom." She explains, making me confused.

I quickly did my seatbelt, running my hand across the mini rolls that was starting to form on Grumpy's back.

He weighed heavier than the first time and I could tell that he was being taken care of from the slight scent of shampoo on him.

"How? Tyrone has been hogging him from the start." I grumbled, accidentally mentioning his name.

I bit my tongue, cursing myself for mentioning the forbidden word that I had promise myself not to say.

"Apparently he's been waiting at Tyrone's front door for the last two days ever since he caught a whiff of your scent on his clothes." Chica explains, my mouth falling open in surprise.

"Really?" I ask, looking down at the small puppy that was stuffing its face into the crook of my elbow sleepily.

Chica started to back away from the parking lot, driving away from the diner with ease.

Placing the milkshake in the cup holder, she glanced at me with a confused frown."Neo didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?" I turned to her, her face looking like a deer caught in headlights.

She sighed, biting her lip."Tyrone asked him for one of your shirts and made it wear on his porcupine stuff toy just to make Grumpy sleep at night."

"What?" Neo didn't tell me anything and I didn't even notice that one of my clothes were missing.

She nodded, her grey eyes truthful."That's why Tyrone decided to let him stay at you. He knows you've been wanting to talk about the sleeping arrangement of Grumpy."

I froze. My annoyance towards him somehow diminishing and I found myself slumping against the car seat.

"Don't worry about buying stuff. Tyrone had already purchased a pet carrier for him and his puppy bag has his food and milk. The porcupine stuff toy is there too along with his shampoo and groo-"

I cut Chica off."Why is he doing this? We aren't gonna be partners anytime soon anyways." That was lie, I was still thinking about it.

Chica bit her lip, glancing at me briefly."We told him he fucked up big time and doesn't deserve forgiveness."

I nodded absentmindedly."I know, he mentioned it on the poem that he gave me."

My whole body jerked forward as Chica accidentally stepped unto the breaks. Grumpy almost falling off my lap if it weren't for my arms enclosing around him.

"What? Poem?" She squeaks out, her expression lighting up."He wrote you a poem?" She repeats, making forehead pinch.

"Yes, on Thursday morning." I nodded slowly."He didn't tell you?" I ask, earning a no in reply.

"We know he's been making an effort like the miniature glass ball treehouse that he did the night before along with the cake that you ate that day." She explains."Although I never knew anything about the poem."

I kept quiet, her words sinking in. He personally made that treehouse himself? My head finally connected the dots on why he was asleep during the whole time.

My heart feeling warm all of a sudden, something stomping on the insides of my stomach that had me biting my lip.

"He's trying." I murmured and Chica heard it loud and clear.

"I'm ready to say what my fifth condition is." Chica says, referring to the time where we were cuff.

"What is it?" I found myself asking.

"When he comes to you, at least try to give him a chance to explain."