Bags were underneath her grey eyes. She lay in her bed, burying her face deep into her hands. Her petite body glistens in sweat as she got done dancing her ass off. She stuck her hand onto the table, grabbing for a bottle of water. She had been told to give her new sibling time to warm up to her.
"Ahem!" The blonde curly haired boy in a royal blue hoodie calls in the doorway. He is toying with his hands.
"London?" Midnight asks, having repeated the name in question to their folks. She had to make sure she wasn't hearing things.
"I like to bake." London nervously voices, casting a gaze around her whimsical pink bedroom. Curiosity sparks in the boy, causing him to walk further in the room. He goes over to her closest with a ballet bar attached to the other side of the wall.
Midnight rolls onto her back, releasing heavy breaths. "What else?"
"Well, I like to read. Pink is my favorite color only no one knows." London chimes in. The boy had been with them a week, having yet to start at the school. He didn't believe he'd make it in the sea of sharks.
Midnight chose to avoid all outside contact until she got her new brother to become open with her. She tried for a week straight nearly giving up when he showed no signs of having heard. "Ooh, a boy fancying the color pink? Juicy."
London blushes, touching the metal dance bar. "I don't think I'll ever be ready to start school."
"Boy, you can't hide forever in the shadows. What? Are you Batman?" Midnight accidentally becomes harsh with the boy. She sighs, sending him an apologetic glance.
"I know. Everything is so new to me. I'm honestly frightened. Whoever likes the new kid?" London worries, leaning on the dance bar.
Midnight sits up, sighing. She pats the bed for him to come sit with her. "I'll be the first if no one else will. People didn't like me either."
"Because of your obsession with Cruella de Vil?" London softly replies.
"I liked the hair, not the woman. Dalmations are my favorite breed of all dogs!" Midnight exclaims, rolling her eyes to the back of her head.
"So, should I be myself?" Londom asks, fumbling with his hoodie.
Midnight takes into account his nerves. She wraps a comforting arm around him, causing a flinch to erupt from the boy yet he relaxes. "Always, Wit."
London nods, furrowing his eyebrows. "You dance?"
"I do just about everything including the dance." Midnight beams, sporting a prideful smile. She drops it immediately.
"What are you going to do once you grow up?" London quizzes, playing twenty questions with the girl.
Midnight taps her fingers gently on her face in deep thought. "A fashion designer or professional dancer."
"Hm, I want to be a Baker. A creative one." London bites on his plump, dark pink bottom lip.
"Graduate high school first." Midnight lamely jokes, concocting an outfit for the boy in her head.
"I heard you'll be skipping to the final grade next year. You must be intelligent." London gushes, earning a brief nod from the female.
"What is your choice, color, and style of bottom fitting clothing?" Midnight voices, earning confusion from him.
"Dark sweatpants. I also prefer dark jeans. Why?" London wonders.
Midnight grins, "I am going to help you not so blatantly fit in by standing out. Those who accept you for your oddness are true friends."
"Really?" London giddily asks, bouncing in his seat.
"Yup!" Midnight dreamily replies. Her mind accidentally flickers to the guy of dreams where guilt tugged at her heart. She had a guy already. Why daydream of one she couldn't have?
"Do you like any sports?" London gets her attention.
Midnight stands, softly steering the boy from her room. She walks with him about to head into the backyard as she goes to reply. "I love basketball yet can't play to save a life."
"Me too!" London chimes.
"YO! London! Spice! We're having dinner at the Douglas household. I'm bringing the Turkey and stuffing we were meant to eat during the long forgotten holidays." Samuel calla to the pair, grunting as he takes the food from the oven.
London tenses under her touch. He isn't quite ready to meet new people. He latches onto her hand.
"Sam, it's not a good idea. London is frightened by the prospect. He'll meet them at school. Also, I-" Midnight gets halfway when the doorbell sends London running to his blue painted bedroom.
"Fine, but at some point, you two will have dinner with them in our presence. Now, who is at the front door?" Samuel grunts as Midnight jogs to answer the door.
Midnight is tugged into pink lips, colliding with her. A shiver spreads to her toes as she feverly returns the kiss. Her fingers find themselves, wrapping into his slick dark hair. "Greaser, what brings you to my doorstep?"
"I came to check up on my girl. Haven't heard from you so I got worried." Mars comments, slinging an arm around her shoulder.
"MIDNIGHT! I asked you a question. You don't leave your step-father hanging." Samuel came into view, stopping short upon taking in the tall figure of Mars.
"Sam, this is Julian Warrington. Or Mars. Mars, this is Sam. My step-daddy!" Midnight half jokes, smiling up at the taller guy touching her.
"Julian Warrington? The cancerous son of Timothy Warrington? The bad boy who breaks all the girls heart, stabs them in the backs then run. I don't think so, Night!" Samuel grew outraged, stomping over to his step-daughter.
Mars sport a hurtful gaze. He loosens his grip on Midnight, shooting her an apologetic look. He truly never meant for anyone to get hurt, but they had, hadn't they?
"Sam, you're crazy! I love him!" Midnight blatantly replies, tossing her tiny arms into the air.
Samuel pulls Midnight roughly away from Mars. He shoves her behind him. He reveals a butterfly knife, pointing it in the direction of Mars.
"Did you feed on her affection to steal her womanhood? Don't lie to me or I will gut you!" Samuel seethes in a threat.
"Sorry, sir, I'll go." Mars backs up off the steps. His eyes briefly flit to the pained expression written in her grey eyes.
Samuel kicks the door angrily shut, locking it tightly. He puts away the pocket knife, swirling around. He gropes her shoulders harshly, "Did he touch you?"
The silence in her eyes, the quiver of her bottom lips, and the tears pouring down told Samuel all he needed to know.
"Dad, I chose to give myself over to him. I've never felt so safe with him. How can you take away my happiness? I work hard at school to appease you, but I get nothing? Should I just kill myself?!" Midnight barks, accidentally letting 'dad' slip off her tongue.
Samuel glares at her, "He's an older man. He doesn't want your love. He wants fuck your brains into oblivion with no care of your feelings. You are grounded- no dancing, no afterschool specials, chilling with friends or luxuries in general."
Midnight had the urge to slap him. She had nothing to live for so she took the chance, bringing her palm across his face. "YOU LEFT ME ALONE! NOW, YOU PRETEND TO CARE? FUCK YOU, SAMUEL!"
"Midnight, you are grounded until next school year. Slapping me was out of line. Go to your room. No supper!" Samuel barks, sending the girl storming angrily to her bedroom.
Midnight scowls, concocting a plan. She was a pacifist meaning she didn't fight yet here she was. How could she have let herself fall so far from her true form? Sighing, she writes a note to London. She grabs up a small, pastel pink backpack.
She strips, changing into a pastel pink knit sweater showcasing her petite, caramel mid-riff following her bottom with a short plaid pink mini skirt with black checkers. She wore pink, strapped pumps going over to her window. She is officially done being at home. Where to next?