Sisters
You know, I was sad to realize Marie would be an only child,
I always wanted a dozen squiddos
To play with each other and laugh
But your Callie is over here all the time,
And she's over there,
Playing and arguing and making up
And getting in so much trouble I still can't believe it.
They may both be only children,
But I don't think they realize it.
Final Fest starts at 6, so they need to be there by 4 for prep and—and—Callie stops where she is, swallows down the lump in her throat, and focuses on breathing. In for seven, out for seven.
"You almost ready, Cal?" Marie calls through the door.
Callie doesn't answer her. She can't. Not until she's taken another three, four, five breaths and has herself under control. "Almost," she says, opening her eyes. She's got her purse open in one hand, her phone missing. "Have you seen my phone?" She should know where it is, she never misplaces it—
"Uh, yeah," Marie says, and Callie frowns, because Marie sounds... off. "It's on the kitchen counter."
Right, that sounds like somewhere Callie would leave it. She slings her purse over her shoulder (full of splatfest good-luck charms, it's tradition at this point) and heads for the kitchen. Her phone is on the counter, yes, but Marie's standing by the kitchen sink, a sponge in one hand, frowning out the window.
"Are you almost ready?" Callie asks.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Marie says.
Callie frowns. Marie answered a completely different question. That means she's not listening. That means she was expecting a different question, and was gonna lie about it.
That means Marie isn't fine, and Callie sets her purse on the counter, places a hand on Marie's shoulder, and gently turns her around.
Marie inhales sharply but lets Callie look at her. There are tear tracks on Marie's face and her eyes are swimming, though she's not actively crying now. Callie takes the sponge from Marie, sets it on the counter, and pulls Marie into a hug. "Tell me."
Callie feels Marie shake her head against Callie's shoulder. "It's not important."
"It's important to you, and you're important to me. Tell me."
"No, really, it doesn't matter."
"If it didn't, you wouldn't be crying. I want to help."
"It's just—I'm being stupid."
"Never happens."
"You're going to think—"
"Never." Callie squeezes her. "Talk to me, Marie."
Callie's shoulder is getting wet. Marie's voice is thick as she finally says, "Don't leave me, Cal."
Callie's grip tightens. "Never."
"That's what this splatfest is," Marie says. "I've seen it—there's a million shows, and novels, and—every time there's something like this it tears people apart. It ruins friendships, it ruins lives—"
Callie feels tears on her own cheeks; she sniffs, just once, and pulls Marie tighter, feeling Mar's arms go around her as well. "Don't you think I know that?" she demands, hearing her own voice go hoarse. "But we can't let it, Marie. We're not going to let it. We—" She sniffs, tears of her own starting. "I, you... we can't."
Marie pulls back a little. "You're crying?"
Callie swallows back the lump in her throat, the pain, and even though it hurts she admits it: "I'm scared."
Marie hiccups. "What for? You're going to win."
"I'm scared this'll tear us apart, Marie," Callie says, squeezing her eyes closed. Marie pulls Callie closer and lets Callie bury her head in Marie's shoulder. "I have been since they announced the stupid thing." She's not sure who hiccups; both their bodies shake with it. "And I know how I act so strong and independent and happy all the time, especially where they can see, but..."
"I'm sorry," Marie says. "I'm sorry for being so self-centered. And for always being sarcastic, and mean. I'm sorry that's how we decided to be for the news, because now I can't escape it, and I always have to be sarcastic and mean around you, and I hate it."
"I know you don't mean any of it, Mar," Callie says, and if it were possible to hold Marie tighter she would, the comforting feeling of Marie's arms around her keeping Callie upright. "You have nothing to be ashamed of. I'm just—I know how competitive you are, and sure, splatfests started fun, but having to be against each other all the time is hard. I wish. For one splatfest, we could be on the same team."
Marie laughs, though it's watery. "We are. I joined team Callie."
A snort escapes Cal. She pulls away to look at Marie. "I joined Team Marie."
Their eyes lock, and then both of them are laughing. Callie has to release Marie to lean against the counter; Marie grabs hold of the sink. Tears still streaming down their faces, the two of them laugh and laugh, until Callie's stomach hurts and she's all out of tears.
Callie holds her hand out to Marie. "No matter what happens, Mar, you'll still be my sister," she says. "And I love you."
"Squid sisters forever." Marie takes Callie's hand. "And I love you, too, Cal."