[PRE-NOTES] New chapter. Sorry for taking so long, time flies when you have to work and shit... I don't want this story to be too long, I'm going to try to make it to a maximum of 10 chapters. Enjoy the new chapter [/PRE-NOTES] Vulcano Housing Projects. 6:30am The alarm had not yet sounded in the small room, but its occupant was already awake. Looking at the ceiling without any particular expression, strangely she had the energy to start the day. The young triceratop sat on the bed, still wrapped in the sheets and sat there meditating for a few seconds, staring at her feet inside the sheet. The young woman was visibly uncombed, with pimples on her face and her small muscle shirt appeared to slip away from her right shoulder. -Mmm just woke up in the morning...- she said in a tired murmur. Trish's lazy eyes glanced into the room and she could notice something strange. Everything around her was very calm. She could hardly hear any noise around from the neighbors or inside his bustling house. -"Thank you Jesus Raptor... But I don't know... today it feels a little odd." - she thought for herself as she got out of bed and went straight to the closet to pick up her school clothes. While taking her characteristic outfit she noticed that this morning, there was silence in her neighborhood.. There were no dogs barking or the characteristic smog stench of neighbors' cars coming in through the window... But if there was anything she could hear, the distinctive sound of footsteps coming from his kitchen. But they were footsteps very characteristics, very specific feet: those of her mother. Trish's mother had the day off today so Trish could afford to look after herself today and not look after her younger siblings. As she left her room to take a shower, Trish intercepted her mother who had a basket of dirty clothes in her hands. -Hey Trish, good morning. - said her mother fondly to her eldest daughter. -Hi, Mom. - answered Trish back still walking to the bathroom. -Breakfast's ready, honey. Leave it in the fridge so it doesn't get hot. A little fruit salad. – said her mother as she resumed her step towards the washing machine in the kitchen. Trish loved fruit salad and more for breakfast. She thanked her mother and quickly went into the bathroom to clean up. For some reason Fang came to mind and as usual, Fang mother always prepares meat for breakfast. Trish knows Fang is a carnivore, but for her it's kind of disgusting to start the day eating processed meat. -"At least mamma cooks a breakfast with no hog"- she thought as she opened the shower key. Already bathed and with clean clothes she left her bathroom to go to the kitchen and luckily for her, her siblings still not awake. Her mother was throwing away the leftovers from the day before and listening to the radio. Some Funk and RyB singles from the 70s. Although it's a little old-fashioned, Trish really liked that music. Trish decided not to interrupt her mother and went straight to the fruit salad in her fridge. And to the beat of an old 70s Soul song, Trish started eating her finely chopped fruit, but decided not to eat them all because she didn't want to choke like a pig. The rest of the fruit was simply put back in the fridge. Looking at the kitchen clock, it was almost 7:30 and Trish still had some time to get to school, but decided to leave early. She didn't know why, but she really wanted to walk today. Before leaving, she received a good morning message from they friend Fang and a few minutes later from his other friend Reed... maybe they both would like to rehearse this weekend. The young triceratop took her things and after saying goodbye with a kiss on her mother's cheek decided to hit the door and walk towards school. When leaving her house, Trish neighborhood was quieter than usual... no annoying noise or unwanted people hanging around. -"Great, it'll stay that way about 24 more" ?- thought Trish as she walked down her porch and turned left to the sidewalk to walk to school. Its was a very nice day, not too hot, but also not too cool, Trish could walk quietly down the street wearing thick clothes and not sweat in the process. As she reached the corner of the Triceratops neighborhood, Trish pulled up dry in front of the stop sign to see if any vehicles were passing by and also... to make sure no one was following her. It wasn't that it happened often but it wasn't weird either, sometimes a scumbag who thinks he can approach a girl alone to steal from her or… something else. But Trish was no ordinary girl, she could easily break the legs of some idiot who wanted to get over her, but she was still cautious. As she waited for the traffic signal to go green so she could pass, Trish looked in several directions looking for someone suspicious. Nothing. -Not a jacker in sight.- Trish murmured in a good mood and when the traffic signal went green she started moving again. As she walked carefree down the street she could notice a green Cadillac passing by. The Cadillac was a refurbished 70s model and looked great for an “old” car. Its occupant did not even notice Trish on the sidewalk and his eyes were focused on the road, the person in question was a corpulent male Triceratop ranging from 25 to 30 years old. While the Cadillac was lost on the horizon Trish became somewhat fascinated by that showy vehicle, she remembered that when she was very young she often saw that kind of car around her neighborhood... although she always wondered how they managed to get the money for such a sophisticated and certainly expensive car. Of course, she was very small and innocent and did not contemplate the idea of people close to her getting their things illegally. The young triceratop frowned in disapproval and thought of all those lowlifes male triceratop she had met throughout her young life... certainly some were nice and others some assholes. But most of them were in shady businesses to get money and some of them... she never saw them again. A good reason for an ambitious young woman like her to stay away from men in general, at least almost all the men she knew only had interests in one thing and never meant well. Trish was better off alone and she'd be much better off when she gets out of her neighborhood. Her and her family and her band. Trish ignored this train of thoughts that threatened to ruin her day that had started quite well. As she walked, Trish decided to take out his cell phone and text the group she had with Fang and Reed. -“Hey Yall... you want jam this weekend”?- Trish wrote quickly as she walked to her fourth street on the way to school. It's been a while that they didn't get together to fuck around and have fun, the last time they did it Trish got too excited and became a problem, that day Trish did some bass lines really smooth and surprised both her friends and her it self. And that they were just hanging out. -I can't believe, that day was a good day, shit!- said the young girl triumphantly to herself, taking advantage of the fact that no one was around as she happily walked to her school. The entrance to Volcano High was just as bustling and crowded as the first day of class, the colorful students of the school came and went and some were just arriving like the young triceratop Trish, who arrived in a good mood hoping the rest of the day would be like her morning. Although Trish could notice something: she was the only one who wasn't in a group or talking to anyone. Everyone there seemed to be divided into several groups and hang around waiting for classes to start, but Trish didn't really have anyone to hang out with today...or tomorrow or the next day or until the end of the year. Trish didn’t have many friends except Reed and Fang... Maybe she could sin of being “intense” or have a bad attitude or temperamental, but Trish was just Trish and no one seemed interesting or open-minded enough to hang out with her... at least that was Trish’s thought. Trish's good mood quickly faltered and began to give her an anxiety she hadn't felt since elementary school and that was the uncertainty of rejection or being a social pariah. It was true that Trish and her group are not the most popular in the school and added to that the bad attitude of her and Fang and they gender thing , condemned her and her group to osctracism... but Trish is willing to let it go, let everything go. Because it was her and her friends against the world and once they had achieved success under her leadership and management she would prove to all these fools that she and her group were winners with dreams of greatness and all the others just aspiring to a minimum-wage job and a cliché family with no ambition to anything but bear children and cook for some bastard who would eventually leave her and her children to never come back. And obviously, it wasn't about her at all. Not at all. Although seeing all the happy couples and friends... maybe it put some resentment on Trish, because until she was successful, right now she was at the bottom of the school food chain. As Trish's face momentarily shaded, she could hear a familiar voice speaking to her left in his characteristic monotonous tone but for some reason, with a little more energy this time? -Hey Trish, good morning. - said Anon as he held his backpack in one hand and held a disposable cup of coffee in the other. It took Trish a few seconds to realize what was happening and quickly greeted Anon who looked at her with a tired face. -Hey Skinnie.- said something cheerful Trish looking at the human. -First to arrive? Reed didn't come with you? - question Anon stepping a little out of the way to let the other students pass. -Naah... The fool is suspended for two weeks. - said Trish with a frown, to Anon's direction. -Suspended? What the fuck did he do? - asked genuinely dismayed Anon. He didn't think Reed was the type of guy looking for trouble. -Looks like Spears found a bunch of weed in his backpack and stuff like that. - while saying this, Trish touched her eyebrows. - They gave him a slight suspension because this is his first warning and he doesn't have a bad record. Anon looked disbelieving as he heard that. Although he couldn't say much, he hadn't said it, but when he met Reed he reeked of ganja and was only disguised by a slight scent of male dinosaur perfume. -Men... Thats bullshit, well... I guess you want to be alone. See you later Trish.- said Anon ending the conversation and going up the stairs to the building. Trish opened her eyes with consternation and was about to tell Anon to wait, but she gained two things: her stupid pride to show some affection for Anon and the school bell that kicked off a new day of school. As all the other students began to enter the building, Trish was at the bottom walking slowly, mentally preparing for a lonely day of school. -"It's a good day... I think..."- she thought as she walked straight to her new class. The hours had passed at school and it was soon time for lunch Last hours where Trish practically spent in complete solitude, even in classes where she had to share with a colleague in order to be able to work. She did it all by herself and for Trish that sucked. Coming from a big family where the last thing you had or felt was loneliness... or personal space or belongings of your own or silenc... But at least Trish got used to her loud family, but here... that loneliness felt different. As Trish kept her things in her backpack, she waited for some of her classmates to leave the class room first before she started her own way to the cafeteria. As she walked down the hallways Trish could feel like the other people... didn't register her presence at all... almost as if they didn't even notice she was there. Trish felt this like it was worse than Bullyng, at least with that she could break someone's horns and relax a little, but people didn't even bother to bother her... they just ignored her completely. Not even an excuse to get mad at them... or give her reasons to hate them. Trish frowned as she walked through the crowded hallways of the school. She was on autopilot for this point until a sound pulled her out of a trance. -Hey! look where you're going skinnie.- mused a jock while pushing with annoyance the only human in the school, who didn't even bother to protest or look at him, just kept walking with complete apathy. Trish followed Skinny's eyes down the hallways, it seems that the students were giving Anon a hard time or at least noticing his presence. Impossible to ignore the only human in the whole school. Some dinosaurs returned mocking looks at Anon as he walked down the hallways and a few others: authentic looks of utter contempt, though these looks only lasted a few seconds. A few like that jock shark were the ones who had the courage to be aggressive with Anon or at least for a second. -"The vantage of having a caveman as director is that he does not tolerate any kind of mistreatment among the students”- thought the girl arriving at her destination: the Volcano High cafeteria. The atmosphere was quite cheerful at least... nobody seemed to bother anyone, all the different groups lived together and the herbivores and carnivores split up in rows to go for their lunches. Today there was special lentil stew for herbivores and meat, obviously, for carnivores. Trish didn't like the food in the cafeteria very much, but she had to put up with the general disgust that it gave her eating there because, honestly, there was nothing else to eat and carrying a lunch every day was cumbersome. The young triceratop stood in the nearest line of herbivores waiting for grab at least a some of the stew and sit alone to eat. While waiting she took out his cell phone to check if she had new messages and indeed she had two new messages: from Reed and Fang, both within their group that they had in common. They had responded affirmatively to their invitation to rehearse the three of them together... or at least they did. Fang put on a generic affirmation emoji and Reed... a gif of ill-drawn Sonic and Mario kissing while violently taking off their clothes. Trish turned a blind eye to this answer and just let it pass, sometimes Reed's humor could be certainly absurd and silly. Trish picked up her tray of simple vegan food and set out to go to the back of the cafeteria to spend the rest of the period alone, but she could spot something right on the table where she was about to sit: Anon, the recently transferred human. He was eating his stew alone, while losing his sight on his cell phone, completely ignoring everything around him. The young triceratop was somewhat puzzled by Anon's attitude, she thought he'd hook up with Naser and Naomi or at least try to talk to someone new, but instead he was eating alone like a loser. Trish turned her head to the side, about three feet away from where she was looking and found Naser and Naomi eating with another couple at a table near the windows. Trish doubted her next move, but since Anon seemed to need company and there wasn't another table empty maybe they could share. -"I guess I'll do this loser a favor and hang out with him."- Trish said triumphantly as she walked toward the table. But deep down because she didn't want to be alone at lunch. -Hey Skinnie, alone like always? - said Trish sarcastically sitting right in front of Anon. He only returned a look of confusion on his face. -"Hey Trish..." said Anon dryly trying to hide his annoyance in his voice. He didn't expect company. -Just trying to eat this piece of shit you call food. - said as he stretched his spoon and lifted a very thick stew. -If you close your eyes it'll taste better, trust me. - said Trish as she did the same thing with her stew. Anon didn't tell her anything and just focused his cell phone, leaving a slightly irritated Trish with her things... alone. After a few minutes Trish spoke again. -You know, Skinnie... I don't think we introduced ourselves very well the other day.. - she mused looking at the human, who only returned a sound of confirmation without raising his eyes. – I'm sorry we left you stranded with Reed but we didn't want to have to talk to the idiots Naser and Naomi.- she remembered with some annoyance. -To tell the truth, neither do I...- he said with a note of grace, still without raising his gaze. -But... we were just introducing ourselves and I don't think we let you talk. So why don't you tell me a little about yourself skinnie.- she said cheerfully as she stood right on her table. Anon almost chokes on his food and after coughing a little back he look at the young triceratop. The nervousness was palpable on his face. -Ahhh... that... Ahh.... There's not much to tell... - he said in a whisper. -Give me a chance... -Trish returned as an answer arcing an eyebrow. "Why so nervous?" thought the violet triceratop. -Ahh... Ehhh... I'm Anon, I'm a human and I've been here since Monday - he said quickly as he looked in different directions. -Ehh... yeah i know that, I asked something else: what were you doing before coming, what were you doing before....friends or family?- Trish answered firmly, surprised by Anon's attitude. –“It’s not very difficult to introduce yourself, is this guy autistic”?- -Ahh... There is not much to say, I am not a person who is interested in such things...- he said almost in a murmur. “I don’t want to be questioned about it either,” Anon murmured loud enough for Trish to listen. -Ooooook.- said Trish squinting her eyes to see the skinnie carefully, he seemed a little upset but they kept their appearances. -And well... at least tell me why you're here... what makes you want to change schools? Come on... you can tell me. - said Trish genuinely trying to sound friendly but her patience was beginning to run out. –“Come on, filthy monkie, I’m trying to be nice here and you’re not helping me” – thought Trish while waiting for an answer from Anon who had been completely still for several seconds and abruptly got up from the table and started talking very fast looking at Trish who understood almost nothing of what he said. "UPS, I'M SORRYTRISHITWASAPLEASURETOTALKSEEYOUANOTHERTIME BAY," said Anon, running awkwardly to the front door of the cafeteria. -Anon wait...!- protest Trish but Anon had already left the cafeteria. Trish just put a poker face to Anon's attitude but maybe she had pushed Anon too hard... - Or he's just a complete idiot- said Trish trying to understand the sudden attitude of that human. The rest of the lunch hour Trish spent alone until she campaigned to announce the next class. Professor Carldelewski's mathematics class started with the right foot, first Professor Carldelewski missed class. Apparently he gave a medical pass to miss today and Principal Spears did not want to give details of the matter, he had only presented himself to the class who were excited to do nothing, but quickly the caveman director gave a loud roar to prevent the young student from mutinying. Trish seemed kind of boring now, having time off and not having your friends around was just shit to her and she was just gonna slow things down for it. Taking advantage of the fact that there are no math classes some students switched places and joined the tables so they could be together. Trish was left alone like a mushroom in her seat and next to her the empty spot where Reed should be, barely noticing that the class room door was opening. -Mr. Anon... Your late- said Spears firmly to see a confused Anon who was surprised to see the director where Carldelewski should be. -Ahh sorry Principal Spears... I was in the bathroom. I don't think I like the stew very much. - he said gracefully to apologize, and it seemed to work because the caveman didn't respond badly. -Don't worry, Anon, Carldelewski didn't come today and I'm going to stay in his class for today. But in short: your have free time. - said Spears as he lifted his briefcase to pull out a large block of papers and start filling out forms. Anon nodded in confirmation and as he got ready to go to his place he realized that his seat was occupied by another student. -Sorry skinnie, do you mind if I sit around here? - said a blue velociraptor mockingly while his friends next to him laughed. -Ahh no... ist okay... I'm going somewhere else. - said in a murmur Anon looking at an empty spot just in front of the hall and quickly sat down in it. -Good way to handle the situation.- said Trish without much interest and without looking at Anon beside her. Anon jumps gracefully from his seat at Trish's sudden comment. -Ahhh Trish... I didn't see you there... - said a little frightened by the surprise. -We shared classes today genius, obviously I was going to be. here... – she said without much interest in his voice. Anon settled into his seat and lifted his backpack to feel the things he had in there, then turned to Trish's side to watch her carefully before speaking. -You know, Trish... about lunch today... I meant…. that... said Anon as he murmured what he was going to say, but Trish interrupted him. -Before you say anything... I'm sorry Anon.- admitted Trish looking to her left. She was still lying on her desk. -Aaah... What? - said Anon, staring in amazement. -Didn't you hear me? Trish raised her voice a little and her cheeks took on color. -Look... I shouldn't have pressed you to tell me about your life... Whatever the reasons you transferred, you don't have to tell me.- Trish turned her eyes to the door, then to the window and walked past Principal Sprears at his desk to return her eyes to Anon. -Everyone has shit in their past that they'd rather forget... - she admitted. Anon returned a look of disbelief, actually hoping that the little triceratop would rant at him for leaving her alone in the cafeteria. -...Each person fights their own battles...- murmured Anon, things Trish managed to hear. -Mmm yes, something like that... - confirmed Trish. After a few seconds she returned to her seat and looked back at Anon. -So... "Truce?" She said, looking at Anon with a genuine smile on his face. -Ah... yes... I guess. - said Anon not quite sure how to answer. -Great, Skinnie. And now if you'll excuse me...- said Trish turning around and taking out her cell phone to spend the rest of her class with something to entertain. Anon stared at the young triceratop and quickly looked away and went back to his own business. The young human pulled out a rectangular box from his backpack and began to open the package to reveal small plastic pieces in the shape of squares the size of erasers. Anon inspected more the small pieces without knowing very well what they were or how they were used, but made a distinctive noise when supporting them on the table. Trish could hear that sound, its a sound she knew very well, and she turned to Anon's and was surprised at what she saw. -Hey, Skinnie! I didn't know you played Domino. - said Trish staring at the box . It was a simple box, no logo, and the small pieces were loose all around. -I really dont know how top lay this... I found this box this morning in the garbage at the front desk of my apartment lobby. - admitted Anon lifting a couple of dominos pieces with his fingers. -What…? Were you so poor you had to check the trash for cans and bottles? - she said mockingly with a cunning look. -Ja... not even cans leave me in the trash. But surely at least the food in the garbage tastes better than that in the cafeteria.- Anon replied with a smile. -Mmm, you know. I played for many years at home with my mother and her friends... I could teach you. - Trish taking her desk and joining her tables to Anon's table. Rather than asking her permission to play, she was affirming her willingness to play. -Ahh sure... - answered Anon taking all the pieces out of the table and passing them to Trish for she to arrange. -Although I warn you skinnie... they says I can be a Little… “intense” playing. Just so you know.- said Trish with an astute look arranging the pieces. -As long as you don't gore me with your horns. I don't care. - replied Anon in his seat. -I promise nothing.- said Trish arranging the pieces on the double desk. -Very well…. pay attention skinnie... it's played like this: you have to complete first…- Trish got lost in herself as she started talking to Anon about the basic rules of the game. Basically each player tries to match the number of one end of one of their tiles with the number of a free end of any tile that is on the table face up. If a player is unable to do so, he loses the turn and the player to his right continues. Trish managed to be as simple as possible for Anon to understand and after a brief pause, Anon and Trish started playing Domino. The next hour and a half Anon and Trish spent playing Domino in math class, there was a moment when Spears walked out of the classroom for a moment and they had a little more freedom to do whatever they wanted. Since Anon had never played before obviously Trish had the advantage and kicked his ass several times and while Anon barely managed to win one game and that's because both had run out of pieces and Anon had scored more points. Although Trish wasn't lying when she said she got a little competitive when she played, Anon didn't care much and even found it a little funny that she was so excited to win. -AND... DOMINO! MOTHERFUCKER.- said Trish placing her domino abruptly on the table, jumping the pieces that were already placed. -YES! Suck on that Anon, eat my ass!- said the violet triceratop triumphantly as she settled into her table. -Haha, wow I guess... You do it great Trish... where did you learn to play like that? - said Anon as he picked up some pieces that had fallen to the floor. -Ahh it's something I learned from my mother... She used to take some friends home when I was little and they would play and teach me... - said Trish with a certain nostalgia in her voice. -Although then the party got louder and with alcohol included …I had to go to sleep. - . -That's how criminals are born, between negligent parents and bottles of alcohol. - Anon said wanting to sound funny, but Trish just frowned. -Hey, my mother is a decent woman, you know...- said Trish with faked annoyance in her voice.-She would never expose her children to anything strange. - sentencing the triceratop staring at Anon. -Ahh... Trish... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound rude... - said Anon stuttering his words. Trish just gave him a laugh back in return. -Calm down Skinny, I'm just fucking with you, relax.- Trish said triumphantly but in the end she put on a more serious voice. -Now if we're talking about my father... That's another story. - Trish mused looking down. -What about him? - said Anon watching his words. -Mmm let's say he wasn't very present at that time...and by presents I mean not at all. - said Trish annoyingly in her voice. - The bastard left me and my siblings when they were practically babies... my mother was devastated, but she had to go on... for us. - she said it almost like a murmur. For some reason she was relaxed enough to tell this to the skinnie, not that it matters much. Her father was a bastard who abandoned her and her family, and neither was Trish going to defend her memory. Anon under his gaze as he held about 2 of Domino's 6 pieces, he could feel the touch on his fingers by the slits that were engraved on them. After he put the piece in his box, he spoke again. -Well... I can't say my parents care much either. Barely the two of them talk to me and they sent me far away to live in the shittiest part of town. - Anon admitted looking back at Trish. - It's not that they don't love me or anything... but they were never there for me when I needed them. - said Anon as he closed the Domino box in front of Trish's attentive gaze. The violet tricerarop felt that this conversation had been diverted to a talk of her family's tragic moments and it wasn't exactly what Trish wanted so she quickly diverted the conversation to a new topic. -And where do you live skinnie ? On Skin Row?- said Trish crossing her legs -Actually... yes, I live in that shithole. So obvious am I? - said Anon between shame and grace. -I guessed. After hearing about your lunch card, I doubt very much that you live in the suburbs. - Trish laughed as she said that but she was far away to mock Anon. -Although I can't say much... I live a few blocks away...- admitted Trish as she closed her eyes. -In the Projects? - Anon asked innocently, which surprised Trish to be true. -Ahh yes... How did you guess? - She said with intrigue in her voice. -Aahh just... I guessed it... hehe.- Anon admitted putting a silly smile on his face. -It's because I'm a triceratop, isn't it?- she said as she frown -Mmm Ahhh….yes.. - Anon blatantly admitted. Trish just let a little air out of the outrage and punch Anon on the shoulder. Who only made a grim grimace. -Well Fuck You skinnie.- she said gracefully. -Or what do you think? That there's always gunfights or triggas going by with expensive cars? Or that the police raid people's homes looking for drug bunkers? - said Trish now if indignant, but holding a smile with folded arms. -And it doesn't happen?- asked Anon looking at Trish who just put on a poker face and turned his eyes in indignation not to look at him. -Shut up... you skinnie bigot.- Trish said in a somewhat blushed murmur. -Don't worry, Trish, I was just making a joke. - Anon was saying in an attempt not to make her mad anymore. -No, you screwed up. Skinnie bigot .- spit Trish now not wanting to see them. -Come on Trish... Ah...- Anon started thinking about possibilities to tell Trish until he came up with the first thing that came to his mind. – Ahh you know... since we live very close... we could go to school together... you know. - Anon was stuttering this, hoping his shitty excuse would help him with Trish, who was now staring at him a little surprised by it. -Ahh you know what? Don't listen to me, I'm just saying nonsense," said Anon, feeling very ashamed of what he had said. -Ok..- said Trish back. Which leaves Anon with his mouth slightly open. -Sorry, what? - said quickly back Anon. -That we could go to school together skinnie, I wouldn't mind. – said Trish trying to hide her embarrassment at Anon's proposition. -Ahh, great. Then I'll give you my address so you can pick up my ass on Skin Row. The truth was that Anon's excuse really worked, since Trish wouldn't have expected Anon to tell her this in the first place. The rest of the hour they both started talking about trivial shit that they liked, Trish about her projects with her band and Anon about the few music bands he had ever heard, to Trish's surprise Anon liked those 2000s Butt Rock bands that she also secretly liked... or at least the Singles, as Anon had discovered them in several video games he had had when he was a kid. When the class ended they both headed to the cafeteria for the new break and were still talking about the cringe music they both enjoyed. Trish was happy to at least be able to talk about the silly bands she liked without her other friends mocking or making faces. -How about that shit band with a horrible name... “Spit” I think they were called... That shit song, “Click Click Boom”. – Raptor Jesus…. that shit got old badly. - Anon mocked as he walked down the halls next to Trish. - I don't know about them... but I'd be ashamed to sing that to my 50s -Ohh raptor Jesus, yes...- Admitted Trish looking at Anon. -That song is always on any Butt Rock compilation or playlist. It's funny if you're drunk or high. - Trish said gracefully. – Another shitty band... Mmm... “Popcherry”, I admit their songs are macho and disgusting, but their singer is hot- said Trish with a smile. -Ahh that disgusting Trish, if it wasn't for his tattoos, that guy couldn't be distinguished from a garden rake. - said between grace and genuine disgust Anon as they arrived at the cafeteria. –And if that guy dedicated a song to you you would be in your right to sue him for violence against women”- murmured Anon as Trish pulled at the cafe door. -Yes, but at least I'd be a Single and sell millions.- Trish said walking into the cafeteria. – You know you should do something with that murmur of yours, I can always listen to it. - Anon blushed with shame from his nervous tic of whispers. -Even though you know what other band is cool to hate? “Cointback”... I think there was a time when I just heard that everywhere... and not of my own free will. - clarified Anon as he sat in the nearest table next to Trish. -You know... we do a cover of them! - Trish said gracefully, remembering that creepy song they were parodying. -Well, more than a cover is a parody... that song that talks about how he follows a woman home... I mean, even by 2000s standards that thing is really wrong. -Oh raptor jesus, I know that song. - said Anon laughing quite a bit at the idea of Trish and her band even having something to do with “Cointback”- I want to hear it, but so bad... I could go to a rehearsal of you if you would play it.- Anon now wiped his tears from her face. Trish swallowed a bit of saliva (ironically) at Anon's proposal, she had actually meant it and didn't realize that they were actually getting pretty close, but things seemed to happen naturally. Trish took the opportunity and didn't think much about the situation. -Ahh yes, I don't see why not.- the young Triceratop tried to hide her nervousness with a slight laugh. - Maybe Saturday we'll get together to rehearse... I'll ask the guys if I can carry your ass, almost certainly they wouldn't mind. - said Trish relaxing her muscles a little now. -Although if you tell them that I listen to all these crappy bands, I'll put my bass up your ass, skinnie.- she said gracefully and a little seriously to Anon. -Of course not, because they would also discover that I also listen to these bands. - said Anon taking out his cell phone and putting it on top of the mezzanine. – I'll tell you... if you guys switched to butt rock you could easily have some success and sell very well. It's a good strategy. - said Anon putting a face of disbelief at his own joke but Trish didn't take it the same way. -Mmmm come to consider it, not ironically. It’s actually a really good marketing strategy... you know, make a stupid single that sells our record and then do something more serious... But guys have a lot of “artist integrity” and shit to do something like that. - Trish stretched her fingers in sarcasm, but she couldn't blame Reed and Fang for not wanting to do that. – And I wouldn’t want to go through the embarrassment of being a “one hit wonder” either- Trish was staring at the vegan food line, maybe hoping to find something to eat. -A “One Butt Wonder”- both friends laughed at that occurrence and the atmosphere seemed more relaxed than they had started at the beginning. -Hey, I'll get something to eat, you want something skinnie? - said Trish pointing her thumb backwards. -Naa, Iam Good. If there's anything to drink, I'll take it. - said Anon with his cell phone in his hand staring at the Triceratop girl. -"Okay but then you pay me, you shaved ape- she said gracefully in his voice as she left the table to go get his things. The rest of the day both friends spent talking and laughing at nonsense beyond music, like memes or movies. Although Anon remained mostly in Japanese movie animation as it was more her style but Trish was not left behind by preferring them bad horror b movies. As time passed, hours were over at Volcano High and classes for the rest of the day were over. Trish and Anon walked out of the school through the main entrance between the sea of students that was the exit and as they walked, they happily chatted about unimportant shit. -And what plans do you have for the band? - asked Anon with Trish walking next to her. -Big Plans! I certainly designed a whole plan to lead us to immediate success.- Trish's gaze lit up with joy and a bit of pride. -You're also like... the manager of the group or something? - Anon said with graice. -Mmm, you could say that. I mean, I have the ideas, I attend the merch booth and give the creative tips for the band.- Trish joined hands in jubilation. -Creative advice? – asked Anon -Okay. I was the one with the idea to use 2 basses for our band. To make it original. - Both were crossing one of the streets near the school. -Mmmm well you know... from what you're telling me it seems like you don't let the others take the band decisions. - Anon bowed his eyebrow a little while Trish did the same, but of disbelief. -That's not true. We all decided democratically. They don't have a problem. – said Trish looking back to the front. -You mean Fang? said Anon as he swapped her backpack. -I spoke in a general way... but yes, also Fang.- corrected Trish -Well, you know... it's good to listen to the others too... If there's one thing we learned from Butt Rock bands it's that there's no point in getting to the top if you're the only original member of the band, playing with just…supporting musicians. - Anon said gracefully, but there was some truth in his words. -Calm down skinnie , I have everything under control.- said Trish gracefully because of Anon's joke. The couple continued to talk about music and stuff for several more streets, until they finally reached Anon's Skin Row neighborhood, more precisely the modest apartment complex where Anon lived. -Well... this is my stop. You know where I live now, so if one day I find a piece of shit or a dead rat in the mailbox I'll know you were your Trish.- Anon said, making the violet triceratop laugh. -You're not going to faind anything you haven't faind before skinnie ... Sorry, Anon.- Trish apologized looking down a bit. -Ahh… why are you apologizing?- said Anon gracefully in his voice. -All day I almost didn't call you by your name... just giving you offensive and speciesist nicknames... I'm sorry. – Trish said looking down with a certain blush. -Take it easy, Trish. It didn't bother me at all... If it makes you feel any better, I can call you Trigger to be even. - Trish just gave Anon a look with annoying eyes, but with a funny expression. -Come and say it loudly in my neighborhood... I'm sure all my neighbors are going to love your new nickname for me. - Trish folded her arms while waiting for an answer from Anon, who only returned an embarrassed and awkward expression. Maybe visualizing the image of a bunch of angry triceratops gore him at the same time. -Je...je... It was obviously a joke, Trish. But seriously... don't feel bad, you can call me whatever you like. - said Anon reassuringly. -Mmm well, I'll keep that in mind Anon... See you tomorrow dude.- Trish says goodbye to the human who greeted her back to enter her building. The young Triceratip walked the streets of Skin Row on her way to her neighborhood with a smile of joy on her face. The day had started well, then it went down a bit and went up again until it became great. Trish didn't tell Anon but she was very grateful that he kept her company today, also like that both of them shared some things they loved like music...even if it's ironic, Trish appreciated that gesture. -Skinnie fool... Thank you for today. - whispered with a smile on his face. -I didn't even have to use my iron bat... I must say it was a good day.- added Trish thinking about the other guys she still had to get revenge on for the fiasco of the concert. While Trish was a few blocks away, she could see a green Cadillac coming down the street from the front. The same completely refurbished '70s Cadillac she saw this morning. As the vehicle passed, the driver and Trish exchanged glances for a few seconds and Trish got a better look at the corpulent triceraptop: he had loose clothes that matched his bluish skin, a bandana of the same colour and a menacing look on his face. A funk song by the Isley Brothers was playing in the car stereo... but Trish couldn't quite remember which song it was. Trish watched as that vehicle drifted away on the horizon as she resumed her walk back to her home after school. As she walked, Trish couldn't help but hum that song that sounded from that Cadillac. With a few blocks from her house, Trish murmured to herself. -"Today was a good day”.- said Trish as she got home and heard the characteristic noise of her brothers and sisters fighting among themselves waiting for her, but right now Trish didn't care. [POST-NOTES] I hope you enjoyed today's chapter. If you noticed, there were many references to bands and artists in this chapter, leave in the comments if you liked it or it was just cringe. See you in the next chapter.