Thanks for all your reviews asking me to continue this story!
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The first few months after Cashlyn's induction into the misfit family were filled with changes for everyone. Joanne was made partner at her law firm, greatly increasing her income but also increasing the amount of time she was away from home on bigger and more stressful cases. Finally faced with convincing motivation, Maureen grew up. Sure she was still a little eccentric, and wasn't about to give up her protests for anything, but she was doing it in a way that made her a role model. Who knew she had it in her? Her favorite cause lately was better conditions for children under state supervision.
As predicted, Cashlyn melded seamlessly into the group despite the age gap, though Collins spiked her drinks when he was sure Joanne wasn't looking. Her artwork got her a full scholarship into an alternative school where she could continue to study through high school.
"Maureen did you borrow my purple combat boots again?" Cashlyn called digging through the coat closet.
Maureen paused brushing her teeth and looked down at her feet.
"Yeah, did you want them honey?"
They met in the living room, Maureen with her toothbrush sticking out of her mouth still, both with their hands on her respective hips.
"They match my outfit better." Cashlyn said glancing at Maureen's ensemble of skinny black jeans and silver t-shirt.
"How do you figure?" Maureen countered.
"Everyone knows that black jeans are overkill with combat boots. Plus they are the exact purple of this paint splatter right here." Cashlyn said motioning to her left knee that was indeed completely purple.
"Fine. You win again." Maureen sighed dramatically leaning on Cashlyn's shoulder for support as she stripped off the boots.
"Thank you! Mark's picking me up from school so we can go to the film show my school's doing at the old theater down the street. We should be back by six though."
"Okay, have fun."
They each grabbed a travel mug of heavily sugared coffee before leaving the apartment. The mornings were their time together since Joanne left for work so early now.
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"I loved the one that was all black and white except for the green parrot. It was so cool how they did that." Cashlyn said as she and Mark walked up the stairs to her apartment after the film show.
"Yeah, it looked cool but it didn't really tell a story." Mark said softly.
Cashlyn unlocked the door to the apartment and the pair walked inside.
"Hey Mark, want to stay for dinner?" Joanne offered when they came into view.
"Actually Roger's got a show tonight, I said I'd meet him there before. I should probably get going."
Joanne nodded. "Alright, thanks for walking Cashlyn home then. Wish Roger luck for me."
"Sure. We'll see you guys tomorrow night at Maureen's animal rights protest, right?"
"Of course." Cashlyn and Joanne answered in unison.
"Great. See you later."
Cashlyn gave him a hug before he left.
"Where's Maureen anyway?" she asked pulling her homework out of her backpack.
"She convinced Collins he needed some new clothes for his latest teaching job. They've been gone since noon according to the note she left."
"Poor Collins. She's been dying to revamp his wardrobe. She won't stop until he's broke." Cashlyn laughed.
"How'd that math test go today?" Joanne asked after they imagined the things Maureen had convinced their friend to buy. (Cashlyn suspected at least one item bearing polka dots)
"Eh. It's math. I could have aced, I could have failed and I would never know the difference." She went back to sketching the piece she was working on for her portrait project.
"Cashlyn. Just because you're at an art school, doesn't mean you don't have to apply your self in the academic areas."
Cashlyn rolled her lightly mascaraed eyes.
"It was on trapezoid proofs."
Joanne stopped chopping the head of lettuce she was turning into a salad.
"Oh. Never mind then."
They had an unspoken rule about proofs. Especially those involving strange shapes.
"We're baaaaaack!" Maureen giggled swinging the door open.
Collins followed closely behind, looking exhausted, annoyed and harassed. There were more bags in more sizes and colors than Cashlyn had ever seen. Collins proceeded to drop them in a heap before falling himself on the couch.
"Never let her do that to me again." He told Cashlyn, eyes closed.
"That bad?"
Maureen was pawing through the bags locating the few that were hers.
"My worst nightmares were brought to life and expanded upon."
Maureen looked up.
"It wasn't that bad you big baby. If you had cooperated it would have taken a lot less time and effort." She huffed.
"This from the girl who had to try on every pair of boots we found."
The diva shrugged.
"Collins, are you joining us for dinner?" Joanne asked wiping her hands on a towel and coming into the living room.
"Sure, if you don't mind."
"No problem. It'll be ready in a few minutes. You look awful, how many stores did she drag you to?"
"I lost count after the first ten or so."
Maureen ignored him while showing Cashlyn her purchases. A pair of red moonboots, a white denim mini skirt with purple metallic buttons, a green suit jacket with flowered lapels, a smiley face patterned tie, and orange and white argyle knee socks.
"I'm going to wear the skirt and the socks for the protest tomorrow with the orange polo shirt we got last week."
"Good choice." Cashlyn agreed to humor the eccentric woman.
"You really think so?"
"No."
Maureen stuffed the clothes back into her shopping bags.
"I think Roger's attitude is starting to rub off on you." She teased.
The oven timer rang, cutting off any chance of Cashlyn retaliating.
"Come on you two."
Maureen put her bags in the bedroom and Cashlyn pulled Collins up off the couch.
It was good to finally belong somewhere again. Cashlyn thought, as she looked at the sketch she'd just completed. It had each member of her new family posed around her. She really did belong with them.
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i actually have a pair of red moonboots, i thought Maureen would like them too.