THE NEW GIRL
The first two weeks living in the Rose/Xiao Long household was an adjustment for Charlie. For one thing she had to keep going to a court room so they could decide what should happen to her. Much to her, Summer's, and Taiyang's relief the judge was fairly agreeable and so the case had been over and done quickly in favor of Charlie being left in with Summer And Taiyang as her legal guardians. Charlie got along with Both of them well enough, and she was becoming great friends with Ruby and Yang. A fact that would be good for her down the line considering the fact they were now legally her sisters.
Charlie was grateful of them for not bringing up her father or the incident. Whether they knew about it or not she was glad she didn't have to answer questions about it. Especially since she didn't know the answers herself. Charlie did find that she got along with Ruby much better than she did with Yang though, but Charlie believes that it's because her and Ruby are both pretty socially awkward.
Apparently Summer Rose was supposed to have gone on a mission as a huntress, but when news of what happened to Charlie's father came that plan was halted. The only good news to come from that apparently was the fact that Summer had inadvertently dodged a metaphorical bullet, maybe even a real one. One of the nights in the first two weeks Charlie overheard a conversation between Summer, Taiyang, her new Uncle Qrow, and a man named Ozpin. Apparently the mission Summer was supposed to have gone on was a suicide mission. She had missed the details on why that was, but she was grateful for it. At least in his death her father had saved another life.
As a few years went on Charlie stopped thinking about those events. It was like her mind wouldn't let her. Right now Charlie is Seven years old with Yang a year older, and Ruby a year younger. They were entering the cafeteria all with home made lunches in brown paper bags courtesy of Summer Rose. Despite being in different years they all shared a lunch. Ruby was wearing a black hoodie with a red interior and a matching knee length skirt, Yang was wearing a yellow tank top and jeans, and Charlie was wearing a dark green jacket over a purple T shirt. She was also wearing a pair of jeans and black combat boots who Ruby copied.
"Where should we sit?" Ruby asks looking between Yang and Charlie. Yang gave Charlie a questioning glance before the two began looking out to the sea of tables. Charlie quickly noticed a girl their age with long strait Blake hair sitting alone at one of the tables.
"How about there?" Charlie suggests pointing to the table with the lone girl.
Yang shrugs with a grin. "Sure!" She says cheerfully.
As the three approach Charlie manages to get a better look at her. She had fair skin that seemed lightened, and dark brown eyes. She wore several bracelets only visible because the sleeves of her black hoodie were rolled up to her elbows. She was also wearing two black necklaces. She recognized that this was the 'new girl' or as some of the more immature classmates started calling her 'The Grimm Girl'.
As the Charlie and her sister sat down the 'new girl' gave them a look of curiosity. "Do you mind if we sit here?" Charlie asks politely.
The girl shrugs. "You already are. Besides I don't own the table." She says.
"Thanks. I'm Charlie, and these are my sisters." Charlie gestures to Yang and Ruby.
"I'm Ruby." Ruby introduces.
"And I'm the pretty one, Yang." Charlie and Ruby roll their eyes and the girl raises a brow with a hint of a grin.
"You can call me Millie." The girl says.
"Nice to meet ya." Yang says popping a grape in her mouth from her lunch.
Charlie found herself looking to Millie's bracelets again with mild interest. "What are those?" She asks. "The bracelets I mean."
Millie's grin seemed to drop but she answers. "It's burial jewelry. Some people even call it funeral jewelry." She explains looking over them. "I have others at home. Honestly I've forgotten the reason why I get them."
"Everyone has a hobby." Charlie states looking into her lunch bag. Inside was a sandwich, two cookies, and an apple. Charlie chose to grab the apple. While looking over to Yang who was still eating grapes. She wondered how she got them. Charlie also took note of a book Millie had on the table.
"You like to read?" Charlie asks.
"Sometimes." Millie answers. "Mostly horror novels and poems."
"I like books two." Ruby states with a smile. Charlie learned quickly that Ruby would often get nervous during a conversation or when there wasn't one. To fix that she'd say something about the current topic, and if there wasn't one she'd make one. "Though I like story's of heroes and monsters."
Millie smiles again. "Everyone has their preferences." She then gives Ruby her full attention. "I have a few stories about heroes and monsters. There not scary but they can be entertaining."
After a moment Yang decided to speak. "So…" She starts. "How are you liking Patch?"
"It's alright." Millie answers. "For such a small place it's got plenty to do so I haven't found myself bored out of my mind yet."
"You know…" Charlie states. "Apparently there's a new restaurant opening up in town."
"Really?" Millie questions with interest.
"Yeah!" Yang nearly shouts in excitement. "I heard it's gonna have an arcade!"
Charlie gave Yang a look. "You don't even know if the food will be good."
"So?" Yang says with a giggle. "Who cares about food when there are cool games to play."
Ruby frowned. "I think I agree with Charlie. What's the point of an arcade if you don't have good food." She says. Millie seemed to nod in agreement. Before Yang could protest the bell rang signaling the end of lunch.
"Looks like we've got to go." Charlie says giving Millie an apologetic look.
"Yeah." Millie says with a shrug. "Thanks for coming to talk with me. It was nice."
Yang then had an idea. "Hey you wanna meet up with us after school?"
Yeah!" Ruby's silver eyes seemed to almost sparkle at the idea. "Then we could be friends and hang out!"
Charlie giggles before looking to Millie. "You don't have to if you don't want to, but the offer stands."
Millie seemed to ponder for only a moment. "Okay sure."
Summer and Taiyang were walking down the road to a new house that was built about a month ago. In Summer's hand was a plate of chocolate chip cookies while Taiyang walks beside her. Taiyang had offered to carry the plate but Summer insisted. About a two weeks ago someone had bought the new house and essentially became their neighbors which is why the two were going over there now. They had waited a bit to let the new family get somewhat settled in before showing up.
Once they got there they saw that it was a two story log made home much like their own though for whatever reason someone had painted it blue. Taiyang knocked on the door and they heard a masculine voice call out 'One Moment'. After the sound of a crash which worried the two they heard the door unlock and open. It was an older man likely in his fifty's.
"Oh hello." He greets with a kind smile. "Your the neighbor right?"
Taiyang smirks and offers a handshake. "Taiyang but you can call me Tai." The man takes the handshake with a surprising grip.
"A pleasure to meet you." The man says.
"I'm Summer his wife." Summer introduces. "Your Mr. Fitzsimmons right?"
The man laughs. "That's my name. You can call me Mr. Fitz if you'd like." Then he gestures them in. "Come on in, just be careful in the living room."
The reason to be careful was apparent almost immediately. In the middle of living room looked like what was a glass table, but was now a massive mess of glass shards. "I can help you clean that up if you'd like." Taiyang offers only for Mr. Fitz to wave him off.
"Oh don't worry about that." He says. "I'll take care of that in a bit." He then led them to the kitchen where a small dinning table sat on one side. Summer sat the plate down on it and took a seat while Mr. Fitz walked over to the stove which had a tea pot on it. "Do you like tea?" He offers.
"I love it." Summer answers politely.
"I'm fine." Taiyang denies politely.
"Vary well." Mr. Fitz says.
"So is it just you here?" Summer asks deciding to start a topic.
"Oh no." The man denies. "I've got my granddaughter Millicent. Though she goes by Millie."
"You care for your granddaughter?" Taiyang asks bluntly before realizing he'd said it out loud. "Oh sorry…"
"No no it's fine." Mr. Fitz says. That was when the tea pot began making a whistling sound and he took it off the burner. "Im watching her because her parents died while working in Vacuo. Couldn't have her get thrown to the orphanage."
"Oh." Summer winced at that story. "I'm sorry to hear that."
Mr. Fitz waves her off. "It's fine, happened years ago." He says pouring two cups of tea. "What about you two? Any children?"
"Three actually." Summer says with her smile returning.
"Our youngest Ruby, Charlotte the middle child, and Yang our oldest." Taiyang lists off. "All girls."
"Ruby's six, Charlotte's seven, and Yang's eight." Summer adds.
"You have your hands busy then." Mr. Fitz laughs as he hands Summer a cup.
Taking a sip she found it to be green tea. Not her personal favorite but she couldn't say she hated it. "They keep us on our toes that's for sure." Taiyang says.
"Well, some friendly advice on parent to another." Mr. Fitz says. "Enjoy them while their young, because when they become teenagers they'll want nothing to do with you." He laughs, Taiyang chuckling along with him.
After a nice conversation with Mr. Fitzsimmons Summer and Taiyang left to get home. Once home Taiyang gave Summer a kiss. "I'm off to pick up the girls." He says.
"Be safe." Summer says with a smile. She stood and watched as Taiyang got in the car and left. Once he was out of sight. Summer frowns before looking down to her chest. With her hand she pulls grabs the key around her neck and sighs. "I've waited too long already." She walks back inside heading upstairs and into the bedroom she and Taiyang share. On her dresser sat Fred the bear with his black beady eyes staring at her. "What is it you wanted me to see Henry?"
