Chapter 14
[Balkan Church]
After a few less-than-rousing games of Life, Yahtzee, and Candyland, they broke for lunch. Afterwards, Blossom excused herself to her room with a claim she wanted to "make a gradual transition back to reality."
Generally feeling pleased with herself, she settled down to find her place and finish reading what she planned to be her last book. Unless, of course, she bought a new one tomorrow.
Taking and fondling the object had become so natural at this point that when she heard a small knock on her door many hours later, she was surprised to find it in her hand.
"Come in," she said, quickly stashing it.
"Hi," Bubbles said, poking her head in. "Dad and I made spaghetti."
Blossom sighed testily and climbed out of bed. "Eat, sleep, and read. Eat, sleep, and read," she muttered to herself.
"What's that?" Bubbles asked.
"Sorry," Blossom said. Had she said something out loud without realizing it again? "It's just that it feels like I do nothing but eat, sleep, and read. I'm getting tired of it."
Bubbles giggled as they walked to the kitchen. "Well, good. I'll be glad to have you back."
Dinner was mostly food, little talk. Near the end, Blossom did ask, "So, any plans tomorrow?"
"Not really," Professor said. "Did you have something in mind?"
Blossom shook her head and swallowed another mouthful of food. "I was thinking about picking up that book you said you saw, but if I read another word, I think I'll go crazy."
"So, I take it you're not looking forward to school Monday?" Bubbles teased.
Blossom mock glared at her sister. "Just had to go and bring that up again, didn't you?"
Blossom finished her meal in silence and excused herself. "See you tomorrow."
"Good night," Professor called.
Bubbles seemed to struggle for words. Blossom noticed, and put her hand on her sister's shoulder. "Don't worry. I'll come out tomorrow. It's a promise."
Bubbles smiled weakly but seemed as if there were more on her mind. Blossom, oblivious, patted her on the shoulder and walked off.
Back in her room, she dressed down for the night, too tired to read and too uninterested to do anything else.
Still, she wasn't that sleepy. Even if she tried, sleep was a good hour away.
In the dark, her hand stole out from under her covers, took hold of the object, and was soon engrossed by its comforting presence.
It was almost numb to her fingers now, so often had she stroked it over the last several days. Again she drew it up to the sensitive area of her lips, sliding one of the longer tendrils against it. After a few passes she drifted closer to the center of her lips. They parted slightly, and she brushed it against the smooth area just before the mouth.
She gasped and pulled it away. Another knock at her door.
Glaring at the door like it was its own fault, Blossom stashed the object on her headboard and stomped over to her door, flinging it open with a rush of air that pulled Bubbles's ponytails forward.
"What?" Blossom asked tersely.
"Um...." Bubbles started, but seemed too nervous, frightened, or embarrassed to continue.
Blossom let her face soften slightly and half-raised an eyebrow in show of interest. That was as inviting as she planned to get.
"I was wondering...if...if I could sleep with you tonight."
Blossom furrowed her brow and put her one eyebrow at full mast. "Why?" she asked.
"Cause it's lonely. Sometimes I get scared at night. And its hard...in our old room and stuff."
Blossom relaxed her face, closed her eyes, and sighed. "My bed isn't even big enough for two people. Why don't you go sleep with dad."
"He doesn't wanna," Bubbles said. "Besides, your my big sister. And it was real easy for me when I slept with you on the ride back. You didn't mind, then."
Blossom closed her eyes in a sort of grimace and shook her head. "Bubbles, I hardly even remember that whole week. I think my mind went home early and decided to meet me there. And besides, you've gone this long without me."
"But I miss you."
"And what are you going to do?" Blossom asked, irritation mounting. "Sleep on the floor?"
"I dunno," Bubbles said, her voice becoming high pitched. "Yes."
Blossom half-sighed, half grunted. "No. Good night."
Blossom practically slammed her door shut and tromped back to bed. She heard heavy steps as Bubbles ran back to her room. Or to daddy. Or anywhere other than here.
After she wrapped herself up in her covers, she waited to calm down again so she could get to sleep.
Sleep? It wasn't even nine o'clock yet.
She struggled to remember what she'd been so upset about anyway.
The realization hit her strongly. So strongly she froze as she thought about it.
She kicked off her covers and turned on her lamp. Retrieving the object, she looked at it with a mix of confusion and disgust. Did she really just send her sister away crying because she'd interrupted her time with this...thing?
It was so worthless and ugly. Just a little thing.
Blossom made a mock gagging sound in disgust. Cleansed by fire or not, she'd practically had that thing in her mouth.
Disgusted with herself far more than the object, she opened her closet, floated up to the top shelf, and hid it in the back corner.
Taking a moment to steady herself, she opened her door and trekked to Bubbles's room. To their old room, right next door to what had been Buttercup's.
Blossom paused at the door and listened. Her heart sank when she heard soft sobbing from within.
Gingerly, she knocked on the door and waited.
"Go away," Bubbles called out, her voice muffled by both her voice and her pillow.
Blossom swallowed hard, took a deep breath, and opened the door anyway.
Bubbled lay on her belly, face buried in her pillow. When she heard the door open she seemed to shrink a little, as if she could bury herself completely and hide from sight.
Blossom sighed again, regarding Bubbles with the sort of loving pity only family could give.
Closing the door behind her, Blossom shuffled over to the bed and crawled into it. Bubbles didn't look up even when Blossom scooted closer and wrapped an arm around her.
"I'm sorry, Bubbles," Blossom cooed. "I don't know what was wrong with me."
Bubbles's only response was two quiet sobs.
"Is it too late to say 'yes?'"
Several seconds passed. Bubbles, face still buried in the pillow, shook her head.
"So I can stay?" Blossom prompted.
Still hiding, Bubbles nodded her head.
"Can I see your face so I can tell you I love you?" Blossom asked, smiling.
Bubbles didn't move.
"Am I going to have to tickle you?" Blossom asked.
Bubbles shook her head furiously.
"Well then, come out and say 'hi' or I'm changing my mind again."
Several moments later, Bubbles turned her head to face Blossom, inches away. Her face was wet and red, though much of the redness was probably embarrassment at this point.
"There," Blossom said, wiping under each of her sister's eyes with her thumb. "Is it okay if we sleep in here? Will I make you feel safe enough?"
Bubbles smiled and nodded.
"Do you forgive me?" Blossom asked.
Bubbles nodded again and sniffled.
"Thank you," Blossom said. She bent her head forward and gently nuzzled her sister's forehead with her own. When she opened her eyes again she said, "Now why don't you turn that icky pillow over and go to sleep."
Bubbles nodded and withdrew from Blossom's embrace to do just that. While she did so, Blossom slipped under the covers and asked, "It's not too early, is it?"
"No," Bubbles replied meekly.
Blossom lay down and waited for her sister to turn change into her nightgown. After she slid under the covers beside her, Blossom turned to her and said, "Goodnight."
"Goodnight," Bubbles replied.
A few minutes later, Bubbles said, "I miss her."
Blossom sighed a little and replied, "Me, too."
A few beats later, Bubbles said, "Goodnight."
A few more minutes later, Bubbles asked, "Do you think we're going to be okay?"
"Of course we will," Blossom replied sleepily.
A few beats later, Bubbles said, "Goodnight again."
If Bubbles said anything further that night, Blossom missed it in her sleep.