Our Friend, Mr.Sun

The next day...

Jade's POV

Mommy, are we going to be late?" I ask, feeling my own anxiety starting to bubble up as Lana continues to whine and flap her hands.

"No, sweetie, we're not going to be late," Mommy says, sighing as she tries to focus on getting all of us ready. She glances back at Lana, clearly frustrated. "Lana, stop that right now."

"I want to go home," Lana suddenly shouts. 

Mommy looks back at Lana, taking a deep breath. "Lana, I understand that it's hard for you, but we need to go. And Mr. Sun is very nice."

Lana shakes her head furiously, curling up tighter. "I don't like him!"

I glance at Izzy, who's still hugging her bunny, her face hidden. "I like Mr. Sun," she mutters. "He's... funny."

We arrive at the daycar. I blink in surprise as Lana rushes ahead, her whole mood shifting the second she spots Klyde. I thought she didn't want to come. Just minutes ago, she was so upset, and now she's skipping toward him.

Klyde waves back, bouncing excitedly on his feet. He's always full of energy, like he's got a thousand things running through his mind at once.

Izzy rushes past me, catching up with Lana.

"Girls!" Mommy calls. "Wait for me and Jade!"

Sometimes, I wish I could understand Lana better. How she can go from one extreme to the other so fast. Maybe it's just how she deals with things, but I still can't help but worry. What if we walk in, and we immediately see Mr. Sun? 

Mommy sighs. "Come on, Jade, let's catch up."

I glance at Mommy, then back at Lana and Izzy, who are already halfway to the doors with Klyde. They're so fast. One minute Lana's upset, and the next, she's practically bouncing. I try to keep up, but I can't shake the feeling in my stomach-the one that worries about everything going wrong once we get inside.

I take a deep breath and follow her inside, hoping today will be a good day.

Y/N's POV

I can't help but smile as I watch Izzy giggle in Sunny's arms. It's such a contrast to the quiet, shy girl who rarely speaks. Seeing her so happy and engaged with Sunny gives me hope that she's slowly coming out of her shell.

"You were almost late! This day would have been no fun without you!" Sunny says cheerfully, spinning Izzy once more before gently setting her down. She stumbles a little, still giggling as she looks up at him with wide eyes. 

Meanwhile, across the room, Klyde, Sam, and Lana are deep into building their castle. Klyde's enthusiasm is infectious, and even Lana, who usually keeps to herself, seems focused and happy. It's good to see her getting along with the others. I know how hard the transition to the daycare can be for her sometimes, especially with how overwhelming the pizza plex can get.

At the arts and crafts table, Jade is quietly focused, carefully coloring alongside Mason, Ruby, and Katie. They chat softly about their drawings, each one intent on making theirs the most colorful. Jade's calm energy always brings a nice balance to the more energetic kids.

I glance over at Sunny, who is now sitting cross-legged on the floor next to Izzy, making sure she's comfortable. He's doing his best to make her feel included, and it's working. 

I walk over to the arts and crafts table, offering a quick smile to Jade and the others. "How's everyone doing over here?" I ask.

Jade looks up, her smile small but genuine. "Good. We're coloring the castle we're going to build after lunch."

I nod, glancing at their detailed drawings. "It's looking great! I can't wait to see how the real thing turns out."

Sunrise's POV

Izzy's little fingers point at the playground, her eyes full of curiosity. I crouch down to her level, trying to make sense of her silent gesture. "What do you see, little Izzy?" I ask, hoping to understand what's catching her attention.

Izzy looks at me, then back at the playground, her small hand still pointing. I try to follow her gaze but don't see anything out of the ordinary. "Do you want to go play?" I ask, thinking she might be eager to join the other kids.

She shakes her head slowly, and I frown slightly. My gaze shifts back to the playground, trying to spot what might be bothering her. "Okay, Izzy, you gotta speak to me. What's at the playground?" 

Izzy takes my hand and pulls at my arm. Okay! Okay! I'm coming!

Izzy's grip on my hand tightens as she tugs me toward the playground. Her little face is filled with an urgent look, and I can't ignore the intensity in her eyes. I follow her lead, walking carefully as she pulls me through the colorful chaos of the daycare.

When we reach the playground, I look around, searching for whatever caught Izzy's attention. And then I see her: a small girl sitting quietly behind the playground equipment. 

"Hi there," I say softly, trying to sound as friendly as possible. "My name is Mr. Sun. What's your name?"

"Is this who you were trying to show me?" I ask Izzy softly. She nods, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity.

I approach the little girl, crouching down to her level. "Hi there," I say gently. "My name's Mr. Sun. Are you okay? Do you need any help?"

The girl looks up, her eyes clouded but calm. She doesn't say anything, just watches me with a quiet intensity.

Izzy's POV

I'm pretty sure she was just staring at me. Was she? I walk closer to her, and wave my hand in front of her eyes.

"What are you doing?" The girl asks.

"You can see!" I shriek in panic.

"N-no. I can't..." 

"B-but-"

"I can hear you, ya know."

Sunrise's POV

I gently place a hand on her shoulder, offering a reassuring smile. "It's okay, Izzy."

The girl turns her head slightly toward me, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "I'm used to people being surprised. I don't mind."

I glance at Izzy, who's clutching her bunny tightly, her eyes darting between me and the girl. I can tell she's embarrassed, but she's also curious. 

"What's your name?" I ask the girl softly.

"Maya," she replies, her voice calm.

I nod and look back at Izzy, giving her a gentle nudge. "Izzy, do you want to say hello?"

Izzy hesitates, her lips pressed together in a tight line. After a long pause, she whispers, "Hi." It's quiet, almost lost in the noise of the daycare.

Maya smiles softly in Izzy's direction. "Hello, Izzy. It's nice to meet you."

Izzy relaxes just a little, her shoulders no longer hunched, though she still keeps close to me. I can see that despite her fear, she's intrigued by Maya.

I decide to sit down with them, hoping to ease the tension. "Why don't we all sit together for a bit? Maya, do you want to join us at the playground?" I ask, trying to help bridge the gap between the two girls.

Maya shakes her head slightly. "No, I like sitting here. It's quiet."

Izzy sits down beside me, and though she stays silent, I can see her sneaking glances at Maya, curiosity replacing her initial panic. Maybe this is the start of something good. 

A few hours later...

Y/N's POV

The children gather around the small tables, their little faces glowing with excitement as I place the plates of pizza bites in front of them. It's always a favorite during lunch. 

Klyde is practically bouncing in his seat, barely able to contain himself. "Pizza! Pizza! Pizza!" he chants, earning giggles from Mason and Emma.

Izzy sits quietly at the table, nibbling on her pizza bites while glancing over at Maya from time to time. Jade is busy chatting with Sam about how many pizza bites they can eat, while Lana quietly colors the napkin in front of her with a crayon she found.

Maya, still sitting beside Izzy, carefully feels around her plate, using her fingers to find the pizza bites. Izzy watches her for a moment, then silently pushes her own plate a little closer to Maya, as if offering to help.

I smile to myself, noticing the subtle connection growing between the two. It's amazing to see Izzy coming out of her shell, even in small ways like this.

Izzy's POV

"Do you like pizza?" I whisper.

Maya nods with a small smile, taking a bite. "Yeah, it's my favorite."

A couple hours later...

Y/N's POV

It's Arts and Crafts time, and the room is buzzing with excitement as the kids gather around the tables, eager to create. I smile, watching as Izzy carefully guides Maya to the tables, holding her hand like a lifeline. It's heartwarming to see how much Izzy has come out of her shell since meeting Maya earlier. Sunrise told me all about their encounter, and how Izzy formed a quiet bond with Maya in just a few short hours. 

Maya seems relaxed, trusting Izzy to lead her through the daycare. The sight of them together fills me with hope. Izzy has always been so shy, but there's something about Maya's calm presence that seems to draw her out. It's like she's found someone she can connect with in her own quiet way.

I glance over to the smaller table in the corner, where Lana, Klyde, and Sam are sitting. As usual, Lana has distanced herself from the larger group, preferring her own space. But today, she's not alone. Klyde and Sam are quietly drawing with her, 

Sunrise is busy helping some of the other kids with their drawings, his upbeat energy filling the room as he moves from table to table. The kids love him, and it's clear how much he loves making them happy.

I kneel beside Maya and Izzy as they settle in at the arts and crafts table. "What are we making today, girls?" I ask, my tone light and encouraging.

Maya smiles softly. "I'm not sure. Maybe Izzy can help me decide?"

Izzy nods, still holding tightly to Maya's hand. "Bunny," she whispers, her voice barely audible but filled with excitement.

"A bunny it is, then!" I say, handing them both some construction paper and markers. I can see Izzy relaxing more with each passing moment, her confidence growing as she focuses on her task. It's amazing what a little friendship can do.