Chapter 1: Rain

It was a long walk to their new home, an old apartment that was still in tact. Inside it was a cozy place, a couple of minor adjustments had to be made in order to call this place a home. A minor hole was in the ceiling but Selene offered to fix it up quickly before the rain poured through. The windows were cracked but 3 offered to make a new window along with his brother. Chandra took care of the kitchen, Selene promised to make a new generator to make sure the house got power. Chandra was excited that she would be able to use a stove for the first time, she wasn't sure much about it but knew she could learn. The bedrooms were big enough for two beds in each one, it was two bedroom so Selene went in one and Chandra in the other. Chandra made her room bright, the pastel colored walls were dotted with many pictures she found in the rubbish outside. She had made her own blankets and pillows by sewing all night and all day. Even though she was exhausted Chandra never stopped.

" Alright what would you guys like for lunch today?" Chandra asked as she stepped into the living room, she had finished making her room and realised the time. She saw all of the group in the living room as they watched Selene working on an old broken TV. 7 and 9 were sitting on the couch while 3 and 4 found a stack of cards and were playing a game they invented, Selene looked up at her sister and smiled kindly, she dropped the wrench from her hand and sat straight up.

" Well how about you and 3 go out shopping? It is our birthday after all maybe a meal would be in order" Selene suggested, her mind danced with the thought of a home cooked meal after years of eating PB&J sandwiches. Chandra smiled and chuckled to herself, it was true today was their sweet sixteen. Chandra smiled at the thought of a well cooked dinner. She nodded as she went into the kitchen to make a list of foods to get while out. Chandra walked towards an old oak drawer pulled it out and grabbed a slightly broken pen, a couple of ink blots dotted her hands as she scribbled down some words, she figured a nice fresh cooked chicken would be fine, if she could one fresh enough that was. Turning her attention back to the group she saw 3 smiling towards her.

" I'm ready when you are!" 3 offered cheerfully, Chandra smiled as she slipped on her shoes and walked outside.

The grocery store wasn't very far from their new house, maybe a couple minute walk but it was well worth it, the night they arrived Selene scouted to find spots that would be useful for them, she found an old grocery store that was huge enough and still well in place, Chandra smiled as she thought of her sister and her sharing their 16th birthday with their new family, it would be a lot better then their mother coming to visit them in the closet and giving them a food choice and a reading a story. At least they could eat and talk with it among friends.

" So your 16 now, what does that mean?" 3 asked as he balanced himself on a piece of slippery rock, Chandra followed after him, holding onto his arm to keep her balance as well.

" It means that I'm almost an adult now, if I could have I would have been able to drive a car by now!" Chandra laughed as she thought of herself driving a car. Not in this world maybe. Chandra then stared up at a building and smiled.

The grocery store was alright except for some minor cracking in the structure, the sign was blocking the doors but there was a hole big enough for them to slip through. Chandra walked over and slipped through the hole. The inside was dark but still Chandra could see the aisles in front of her. She then searched around to find a good enough meat for their main course. Chandra picked up each piece of meat and examined it carefully, each one she picked was going bad so she decided to skip out on the meat, she crossed it off her list and decided to look at lettuce and salads next.

At least the salads were fine, she picked up one and put in under her arms, she smiled as she picked up a bottle of water to have with the salad, it may have been plain but at least it was something. Walking out Chandra and 3 walked back to the apartment. Chandra walked into the kitchen and started working, she poured the glasses of water and placed the salad on 4 different plates she smiled as she looked at her neatly table. Chandra walked into the doorway of the living room.

" Alright guys it's ready!" Chandra called cheerfully. Selene and the twins walked into the kitchen, Chandra's happy face turned into a frown as she saw 7 and 9 still sitting on the couch, she knew they couldn't eat since they were stitchpunks, she still felt guilt she was reculent at first but decided to turn back towards the table.

Everyone decided that the meal was fantastic, Selene agreed that she liked it and ate her plate. 3 and 4 never ate salad before but they liked the texture and taste of the new meal item. Chandra smiled as she placed the plates in the sink and everyone walked into the living room, 3 stayed behind and played with his hands nervously, he looked down as he walked closer towards Chandra, she was humming as she washed her dishes, making sure each one was as shiny as the next. He came right beside her and stood still.

" What- what would you like to do?" 3 asked, his voice starting to crack.

" I would like to finish these dishes" Chandra laughed at her little joke, she then turned towards 3 and smiled, her eyes had seemed to have a calm, mature feeling to them, she even seemed older to him as well. What did he look like to her? Some child with bad humor, 3 laughed a nervous laugh in order to relieve his own tension.

" No what I meant was would you like to go out? Find something to do for your birthday? It's a pretty big thing to me I'd like to experience that feeling once" 3 added, he wasn't sure what a birthday was or how you celebrated it. He heard Chandra giggle a bit, he looked up to see her cheeks turning red from flattery.

" That's sweet I'd love to do something, I really like dancing why don't we go for a dance?" Chandra suggested as she put her dishes away, 3 nodded he read enough books on dancing to get a picture of what it was. He smiled as he saw Chandra beam as she ran to tell her sister about what was going on.

" May I go with 3 and have a dance with him?" Chandra asked excitedly, Selene had just finished fixing the TV and was analyzing it, she smiled kindly at her sister while she tinkered with the dials. She nodded without making a sound, excited Chandra turned around and went to tell 3 she was aloud.

That night 3 and Chandra had walked around the town trying to find a nice place to relax, Chandra found an old dance studio that was recked but still it had music to dance too. Chandra pulled 3 towards the old studio and walked towards the gramophone, a whole box was full to the brim with old scratched records, she found one that wasn't scratched but the label was tore off. Chandra put it on the player and listened as the music started. The song started off slowly but fully started to play, a melody that was calm yet energetic was rising in their ears. Chandra slowly walked towards 3 and placed her hands around him and together they started to dance. Chandra smiled as she nuzzled into 3's chest, she heard 3's heartbeat speed up as she kissed his chest abruptly. 3's face heated up as he felt her face snuggle in close to him, he enjoyed the intoxicating feeling that he received with it. He put his head on her's and held her closer to him. He saw as she peered up towards him and reached her neck up and brushed her lips against his. 3 returned the kiss and leaned towards it. Both of them stopped dancing and stayed with their lips pressed against each others. Such a feeling came from it they never felt before, a new taste was dominant on their lips if only the could find what it was. Chandra pulled back and smiled embarrassed, the record has stopped almost as if a wake up call for them. Chandra managed to peer outside to find that it was completely black outside. How long were they here? It seemed like 5 minutes instead reality was telling them a while.

They walked back towards the apartment and stepped in, all the lights were out, Chandra checked the living room to find that there was no one on the couch. She peered into Selene's bedroom to see Selene was fast asleep and so was 4 who slept in a bed beside her. She watched as Selene tossed and turned and listened to 4 snore. Chandra smiled as she walked towards her own room, the door was closed. Funny, Chandra didn't remember closing it, Chandra opened the door and in surprise she hadn't expected to step in and step on some fabric. Looking down she saw 3's robe sprawled across the floor. Chandra bent down to pick it up and looked at it, why would 3 take his robe off? Maybe it was dirty laundry or maybe a thread got stuck in the door and pulled it off. Chandra continued to stare at it and decided to ask him, no harm in asking she thought to herself.

Chandra looked up towards her bed and gasped, her heart raced and her face lit up as she saw something she wished she hadn't. There standing in front of her gazing into a broken mirror was 3. It wasn't him that caught her off guard it was just, Chandra's mind seemed to be blunt as she found herself staring at the bare back of 3. His whole backside was showing to her and 3 never barely noticed, he just stared into the mirror and looked at his muscled arms, he seemed astonished at it as he looked at his body. Not to be perverted within her own mind Chandra never expected 3 to look so, so muscled! She stepped forwards and watched her step, she came close behind him and admired his backside. Chandra didn't want to see his front side, her face heated up just thinking about what she didn't want to see. Her hand loomed out as she groped his robe in the other. She touched his backbone making him turn his head to see her.

" Chandra you surprised me" 3 laughed childishly, instead of a little laugh he was surprised to see Chandra almost in her panicked trance but more of a lifeless body, she stood there tracing his backbone and touching his back. 3 then turned around fast. Chandra came out of her trance when she found herself staring at his navel instead of his back. She looked up to see 3's concerned face as she saw that he also had abs, was it wrong to think of him this way? Chandra wasn't sure of what to think of a stitchpunk now, she always saw 3 as a child and not as some hot, 15 year old like herself, well she was older then him but still it surprised her. Chandra made herself look up into his blue eyes, his face was what she loved, scruffy blond hair, blue eyes that sparkled. Cute little freckles dotted his cheeks and bridged across his nose, she loved every part of him and now she forgotten what she was doing, she could have sworn that his robe moved in her hand, and she looked down at her hands.

" Oh here I was wondering why you took it off" Chandra said uncomfortably while handing him his robe, 3 took it without question in his hands and smiled, instead of putting it on he returned back to the mirror.

" I was wondering what a human boy looked like, don't ask me why but it doesn't seem like me. Maybe because we look like kids as stitchpunks but were older then we look." 3 replied, Chandra nodded in response though she knew that 3 couldn't see her.

" Okay when your done just turn off the lights for me, good night" Chandra said as she slipped through the covers into her bed. 3 nodded as she turned the other way, staring into her room's bathroom. She closed her eyes as she heard the click of the light switch going off. As soon as it got dark, Chandra felt something crawl in beside her, she turned her head to see that 3 was laying beside her, feeling flustered and confused she turned her whole body around.

" What's wrong 3?" Chandra asked quietly and calmly.

" You seem not like yourself, so I'll stay right here in case you feel upset about anything" 3 replied cheerful as ever. Chandra smiled though she knew 3 couldn't see her smile in the dark. She put her arms around him and cuddled closely to him, she heard 3 sigh in response. Chandra feel asleep as soon as she felt 3's warmth coming off of him.

Chandra reopened her eyes for a minute before moving closer towards him. She snuggled closer towards him as she felt cold by the old window that was letting in a cold wind. She closed her eyes once again and fell asleep.

Alright not sure what you'll think of this one, but it was worth a shot!

1995penguin