Chapter three: Sorrow Awaits
Gloria awoke the next morning at the same time she had the previous morning. With her eyes closed, she attempted to get ready. She ended up crashing into things and stubbing her toe a couple times. Gloria eventually opens her eyes up and gets fully ready. Afterwards, she went into her sisters room and woke her up.
She decided now would be a good time to go talk to her mother about her after school plans. Gloria opened the door quietly and walked over to her moms bedside. She gently shook her awake.
"Mom, me and Erin won't be coming home right away after school, but don't worry we will come home." Gloria explained.
"Alright, take care sweetie." Minako replied, not even opening her eyes.
Gloria and Erin make their way to the school. Erin doesn't say a word, Gloria looks down at her and sees tears weld up in her eyes. She takes Erin into her arms and tells her everything will be okay.
"Nut-uh.. Gloria. It's over!" Erin cried.
"Please, Erin don't say that." Gloria begged.
Gloria let Erin cry for a couple minutes and then finally the little girl stopped.
"Don't worry, I won't cry in school or anything. I promise I'll be cheerful. Its too embarrassing to tell my friends our parents split up." Erin spoke through gasp of breathes, she was trying not to cry again.
"I wouldn't be able to tell my friends either, they'd assume it was my fault." As soon as Gloria said it she knew it was wrong to say.
Erin starred into Gloria's eyes; she didn't know what to say. Finally in a barely audible voice she said, "It's…my…fault."
"No, it's not." Gloria replied.
Erin took off running toward the school and she didn't stop either. Gloria stood there and watched her run, she knew Erin had heard what their father said about Erin and it was going to hurt her more than anything. Gloria wished it truly had been all her fault, but he chose to blame it on Erin.
Gloria felt alone in the world, like there was no one that cared for her. Erin had just taken off on her. Their father had abandoned them. And Gloria's own mother wouldn't even look up at her.
In unexpected tap, made Gloria jump and lose all thought for just a moment, but it all came crashing back down on her, even harder then it had before. Gloria made eye contact with each of her friends, who stood before her, now.
"Hi!" Gloria finally said.
"Hey Gloria, what have you been up to and why do you keep leaving so early?" Annika asked, wanting an answer.
"Yes, cause we all know it's not like Gloria to go to school early." Faith implied.
Gloria chuckled a little. "Oh, my mom and.." She paused for a minute. "Dad are making me get some tutoring."
"Well, that's good." Annika said. "Then that means you won't get grounded." Annika put her arm Gloria.
"I think I've missed it though. Guess I'll have to go tomorrow or something." Gloria indicated.
Gloria begin walking with her friends, she felt like an outcast for once in her life. Everyone else was laughing and talking. They had no problems on their hands, everything was so happy go lucky for them. They had the perfect family, they were perfect children. They didn't mess up like Gloria did. They didn't play pranks 24/7. They weren't always grounded.
"Where's Erin?" Chloe asked.
"She decided to run ahead." Gloria answered quickly. "I'm not sure why."
"Oh." Chloe said, confused.
The clan made it to school. Gloria makes it through the school day without many complications. Gloria and Erin meet up after school and leave right away. They don't head toward the palace, they go to the playground that is across from the Jr. High School, not paying attention to the fact that Maggie, Daisy, and Usagi go to that school.
Gloria gently pushed Erin on the swing. They weren't talking to each other, but they knew what the other was thinking. Gloria feels a hand go over shoulder and she jumped backwards, startled. Daisy started to crack up with laughter. Gloria just stared at her dumbfounded.
"What are you two dong here?" Usagi questioned. "Aren't you going to the dinner tonight?"
Gloria and Erin looked at each other in horror. How could there be a party tonight, of all nights? What were they going to do? Asai wasn't going to show up, was he? No, he probably wouldn't.
"What's the matter Gloria Aino, did you just realize you have nothing to wear?" Daisy teased.
"No." Gloria replied, kind of weak.
Daisy stopped talking, maybe she had gone to far. Nah..
"Well, your gonna be there right?" Usagi questioned.
"Yea, sure of course, why wouldn't we be?" Gloria said, stuttering over her words.
"Alright." Usagi said confused. And the three girls left.
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"What is up with those two?" Maggie asked.
"I don't know, seems to me they didn't know anything about the party." Usagi replied.
"That scum bag is just pretending to forget, so she can make it harder on her mother and father." Daisy says.
"No, I don't think that's it. Both girls seemed shocked by this news. You know we haven't had a practice in a while, I wonder what's up with that?" Maggie replies with.
"The scum bag has really pushed her family over board. They always have to punish her and make sure she's being watched after." Daisy fumed.
"If that's the case why isn't anyone watching her now?" Usagi questioned.
"Erin's watching her." Daisy replied.
"You're acting childish." Maggie said.
"Whatever." Daisy replied.
Gloria and Erin decide to leave for home, since they now need to tell their mother about the party. Minako is shocked when she hears the news.
"A party?" Minako questioned.
"Yes." Gloria replied, confused that her mother was taking it this way.
"Tonight?" Minako asked.
Gloria nodded. "Usagi asked me and Erin if we were going."
Minako sighed and let herself sink into the couch. "Can things possibly get any worse?"
Gloria stood their watching her mother struggle inside. She finally leaned over and gave her mother a hug. "Things will get better."
Minako hugged her daughter back. "Let's get ready."
The three girls showed up at the party a little shaken up. Minako didn't know how she was going to tell everyone that Asai wasn't with her. Gloria and Erin were still upset about what their father had said and done to them. When Minako saw Asai over next to the guys she was relieved, now she wouldn't have to explain anything just yet.
Queen Serenity waits for everyone to get settled down. Maia and Ariel were arguing so it took a little bit extra time for the food to get out. Minako sat next to Asai. Gloria and Erin sat on the other side of their mother. During dinner the girls were completely oblivious to anything that was going on.
"What is wrong with them?" Ariel whispered to Annika.
"I don't know." Annika whispered back. "Gloria hasn't told me anything that was wrong."
"They are all acting weird." Ariel whispered back.
"Maybe they got in trouble?" Annika took this into consideration.
"Ariel sweetie I want you to eat." Ami ordered.
"You to Annika." Rei said.
"Gloria, hun, is everything all right?" Queen Serenity asked, looking concern.
Erin looked up at her sister. She was beginning to shake. Erin stood up. "Yea, she's fine. She just doesn't feel well." Erin explained. "Come on Gloria." Erin whispered.
Gloria and Daisy dismissed themselves from the table and went to the bathroom. Michiru eyed the girls suspiciously, she then turned to Minako "Is everything okay? I've never seen Erin stick up for Daisy."
"The girls have been bonding some." Asai spoke up.
Minako agrees with Asai. "Yes, the girls are in a way putting aside their difference." Minako laughed. "At least for the time being."
"Daisy why is Erin acting funny?" Chloe questioned.
"I don't know." Daisy said, ruffling Chloe's hair. "I'll be right back." Daisy looked at Maggie, giving her the look to follow her. Maggie tells her mother that she's going to go with Daisy really fast, Sestuna doesn't object.
Daisy and Maggie slip themselves into the bathroom. Gloria and Erin were both crying. Daisy stepped back in shock, she was still out of view from the girls.
"Yes, huh, Gloria.. Daddy does too hate us. You heard what he called us." Erin sobbed.
"He.. meh.. Maybe he was confused." Gloria says, trying to make everything right, but was failing. "Shhh... It will be okay."
Maggie pulled on Daisy's dress. Daisy followed Maggie out of the bathroom. Both Maggie and Daisy were looking over at the table. Minako and Asai seemed fine, nothing seemed to be wrong. They couldn't possibly be different people at home. Why would their dad hate them? None of it made sense.
"I don't get it." Daisy said to Maggie. "They seem like the most loving family I've ever met. How is it possible for their dad to hate?"
"I don't know Daisy. But Erin and Gloria have been acting really strange lately. So something has to be going on." Maggie mentioned.
Daisy nodded agreeing with Maggie.