I hear my alarm go off again its the third time now I press the snooze and slowly get up its nearly eleven but I feel tired at least my headache feels better I put on my light blue t shirt and long black skirt making sure I am neat brushing my hair and teeth I study my appearance before heading to the kitchen.
When I come out my grandfather is already eyeing me he says hes been up since five am and that soon as everyone is finished lunch he will begin to try and catch me up on chess lessons and other subjects I bow and thank him for his patience. I walk in to the kitchen my mother hugs me saying she was worried when I missed breakfast this morning I notice the snow start to fall outside. Pouring myself a glass of orange juice "I am not very hungry this juice is fine"
"Ami you need to eat lunch it is not healthy to eat nothing you will feel better with food in your stomach trust me I pick up a plate for her and set it on the table
"Alright mother." I finish my juice putting the cup in the sink my grandfather comes in the kitchen and hands me papers that we will be looking at after lunch I cant even handle to read a word right now no matter how I try. "Please forgive me grandfather but I cant do this today."
"Your not letting your mind go lazy are you Ami? You know how I feel on education your behind in things I Have noticed since getting only slept today and nothing else now you refuse to learn! What do you have to say for yourself?
I feel heat rising in my chest its unfamiliar to me I turn and look right at my Grandfather. "I have been studying very hard everyday even skipping a lot of holiday activities. But I also help my friends." That's when I stopped myself I cant tell him I am Sailor Mercury.
"If your friends hold you back then quit helping them! Focus on yourself that's an excuse to not challenge yourself Ami and you are better then that you were born with many talents to give to the world"
"I do work and challenge myself everyday grand father." I see his eyes glaring at me my head is pounding and the heat in my chest is only growing more like a volcano. "I don't want to do that test!" I leave the kitchen putting on my winter things quickly.
"Ami get back here I am speaking to you! This is not how a young lady should act whatsoever!" I follow her to the small room near the front door her eyes were no longer gentle but an angry glare her cheeks even pink.
"don't need a test to prove how intelligent I am! I know because I give everything my all and with my friends by my side anything is possible!" (did that yelling come from me?) I open the front door and it slams hard behind me I jog away from my home the cold fresh air is a relief but I am not quite sure where to go?...
"Father that's one of the reasons I moved other then just my job you never stopped pressuring her testing her just like me I only invited you here because I thought you wanted to see how far your granddaughter has come and ask her questions not pressure her like this. I even told her to review her studies so you could share a conversation together on some things but I think she may have worked herself to hard."
I look out the window "I wont chase her I trust her fully she will call me when she is ready but shes right there will be no test in this house not now not ever do you understand me father?" I watch him just walk to his room and close the door behind him...
Where should I go? I jump on the bus I can barely read where its going looks like I am going to see Usagi and Minako. The snow is falling faster the sky seems darker too I take a seat my head feels better then it did and the heat in my chest its gone? I never felt that angry before except at Queen Beryl before we died to save Sailor Moon. But I am just glad I have friends I can go too..
I stand by the stove making spaghetti for everyone I stir the meat balls and sauce in the pot using dads secret recipe I turn it down so it can simmer and put the lid on it and set an alarm to keep track of time Haruka is at the table watching me while sipping her coffee Hailey is in the shower everyone else is going to be here in an hour. So far I have been successful in hiding my back pain.
"Thorn really you don't have to do all that you already made that potato soup before and you have been cleaning too are you sure your ok?" Thorn turns around and walks over to me and kisses my head.
"I am fine Haruka you know I like to keep busy"(in reality my back hurts more when I sit still keeping busy is just a good excuse) "I know the potato soup wont feed everyone's appetite I made it special for you." Hugging her tight I hold my tears in as best I can knowing I need to work harder to change my habits but its not easy.
I look straight in to her eyes tears at the brim of spilling down."Thorn you never kiss my head not that it bothered me when you did but your kiss never offends me a peck on the lips is no big deal to me and you know I don't care what others may think"
"I know Haruka but I shouldn't it is inappropriate and I need to change how I relate to people I love its just automatic for me and I see the look on Hailey face at times when I do that but its very"...
I grasp Thorns hand tightly pulling her to the chair in front of me interrupting her I know what shes been through but Hailey does not have a clue I don't talk about Thorns past to anyone her secret stayed with me. "Then let me deal with Hailey I promise not to say anything of your personal past. Did I ask you too change?"
I hold in a yelp as I sit down "No you didn't but I want to be respectful to your space I can change in time I apologize for not trying sooner".. Suddenly I feel her give me a kiss a peck on the lips the feeling brings me comfort and I feel her love and care for me "Haruka"...
"Don't change please I understand so does Rio and Ava you talk to people as best you can but no one knows you not the real Thorn you suffer as is but with your family you don't have too. Dad understood you when you were scared of him he never went near you till he felt that you trusted him he hugged you and treated you as his own like everyone else he is the only guy you really let hug you since I met you."
"Yes I really wish I could get better then the way I am but with my own personal feelings and when I protected you I tolerate men but they are just not for me but you deserve better I saw the habit I left on you"
"Habit? What habit? I chose girls if that's what you mean that had nothing to do with you hell I grew up around guys that worked for dad, I don't care I got through what happened because of you"
"No when I slept beside you I felt you turn over and hold me like I used to hold you when you would shake from nightmares"
I see her confusion when she sees me start to laugh. "Thorn do you think laying there that I don't notice when someone is getting in bed with me? I chose to hold you because I felt better your one of the rare people I like having in my space is that wrong?"
"No Haruka not at all" I kiss her only this time a peck as always. "I better get back to work." I hold in a wince as I stand up from the chair I was sitting in to talk with her. "I don't think Rio and the others would want too eat burned spaghetti and meat balls" checking on the pot so far so good. I hear my cellphone ring I wish I could ignore it. "Haruka do you mind watching the stove? I will turn it down I wont be long".
"Sure I don't mind watching the stove." Thorn and Hailey nearly bump in to each other in the hall way they don't look happy with each other as Thorn closes and locks the door to the bathroom.
I walk in to the kitchen I pour myself a cup of coffee and kiss Haruka. "You may take this the wrong way but I think Thorn is up to something there I said it and I don't care what she does to me! Even if that couch was just a sample of her wrath to me I can deal with it for you." Then Haruka puts her hand up
"Listen Hailey I trust Thorn fully with my life if there is something going on I know she will tell me when the time is right shes always been there its rare that I trust anyone and one more thing shes my family and you know how she kisses me with a peck like the others its just her showing love its who she is you know there's no need to think its otherwise".
"Yes I know that it wasn't her kissing you that bothered me at all. Its her watching you kiss me its the secret calls and her staying here with out her girlfriend. Maybe I am jumping to conclusions but I just cant help but wonder?"
"Let me do that ok? Just when I went to say more the others came walking in brushing snow off. Now that I actually look out my window I notice that its coming down at a fast speed with high winds the sky is so dark like a charcoal gray I can barely see the streets below except for some of the glowing city lights that normally only shine at night.
"Wow one minute its slow next its high speed with white outs. But forget about that" I take a deep breath to smell the heavenly scent of my favourite food. "Yum its spaghetti and meatballs I hope she used dads recipe. I know you didn't make it Haruka where is Thorn?
"Thanks Rio for the compliment my cooking is not deadly you know I am just not a chef. I get to busy to practice cooking" I point to the hall way. Shes in the bathroom on a private call at the moment she asked me to watch the stove there's fresh coffee on over there"
"Well you know how Thorn can gossip." Ava and I share a look hoping everything is alright we have been supporting her as best we can while keeping quiet and the knots in our stomachs are just as evident this has been hell I shake the thoughts from my mind at least for now.
I take a few more mugs down pouring hot coffee in them and watch the others hang up their coats. "Perhaps during lunch we can talk about you more Haruka id like to ask a few questions about you being a Sailor Scout". I hand out coffee too Hailey Mei Jade Rio then pouring myself one.
"I suppose we can a little bit Ava just know that none of it goes further then the family as I said this is a deep secret beyond what you fully understand most are unaware we exist we just do our job"
"We all made a promise not to say a word nor a sound about a thing you know that." We all sit down at the table except for Rio who is stirring the pasta. The way shes trying not to drool on our lunch scares me we don't need her spit as an ingredient.
"I haven't seen a snow hit like this ever not even when I was a kid I cant even see out your window now Haruka. hopefully the heat will dry our coats gee they were not kidding this time"
"True Ava I don't remember seeing this weather ever before here normally we only get a little storm here and there then it melts". I look at the bathroom. "Thorn has been there awhile should I check on her?" I have to use it coffee does that to you it has its own evil it causes bathroom line ups not sure what to do its a fight between my patience to wait and bladder which will win?
"No I will check for you Haruka I bet shes just doing her make up shes a perfectionist you know. And while I do Ava can do some work for once"
Hey I do plenty of work! If you don't call driving in that white out work then your nuts! I get up and start doing some of the dishes in the sink anyway just so Rio will shut it after filling the dish rack with cups and plates to air dry I turn to Haruka who I catch watching Rio. "So tell me why your a Scout"? That caught her attention her serious eyes looking straight in to mine...
"Hey bathroom hog" I knock on the door gently. The last thing I want is to do anything to catch Haruka's eye. "You ok Thorn?"
I grab Rio by the shirt I can hear a button fall to the floor and pull her sharply in then re lock the door. I am sorry I just needed a moment and it must of ended up longer then I anticipated Rio I didn't mean to.
Thorn I pull her in my arms gently when I realize that without that button I am showing way more cleavage good thing I have a sweater. I hug her tightly. "Hey I get it if you want I will answer the calls take some pressure off this should not be on you and I don't think he meant it to be"
I pull away. "Your so wrong he did from the beginning but I don't think he thought it would nearly break me Rio I hold in tears. To be honest at the time when I agreed to this when he asked me I didn't either its not like I didn't see this day coming but its been so many years time flew and it changed everything.
I turn to the mirror "I cant let Haruka know I have been crying I need to be strong" taking out my make up bag I begin to quickly fix the smeared mess. "Rio I will handle it as I promised that day I should of thought it out better and said something but I was young and stupid and felt I owed him without question because he changed my life he changed me saved all our lives from shit that we had no business in I do owe him more then I can give back we all do."
"So this is it I got the message I will find away to pass it to Ava and your right we do owe way more then we can pay and he means more then words describe maybe he was right in this maybe any other way would of been worse I don't know its the first I have ever lost someone this way and this important." I wipe my eyes they sting too with tears threatening to fall.
"Well" I pick up the button from the floor. "I wont have you walk out of here half naked Rio here let me fix it just hold very still or else I don't need to explain what will happen to you." I gently begin to sew the button back on her old T shirt.
"Ok but hurry up the others need to use this bathroom and who knows if Ava ate our servings of lunch Jade made us skip breakfast to get over OW! Watch it Thorn! She wanted to beat the blizzard and Ava wanted to drive for more practice what a time to pick it got worse faster then expected".
"There fixed you big baby all I did was poke you once before Rio can answer back I give her a peck on the lips thanks for the support though I mean it". We hear the knock on the door I hear Haruka asking if we are taking over the world from in here I laugh and open it. "Yes we are I think with how great we look we would turn heads and that alone can be all it takes".
If only Haruka knew we three just used that trick on her she rushes in to the bathroom to use it and I spot Thorn and I meals on the table waiting for us Ava was just finishing adding more noodles in to boiling water on the stove while the coffee maker is brewing more and with whats coming we will need it
"Ava" I whisper this is it but not a word both her and Mei nod without a reply Jade takes hold of Thorns hand. "Ahem with that weather its a good thing we bought a turkey early we don't need to be out in that mess" I peek over and outside the window it looks like one big white out now and I could tell Thorn is worried...
I walk out of the music room and see all the maids putting the finishing touches of Christmas and new years decorations. Good afternoon all it looks terrific going down the stairs I hear Christmas music and smell the roast duck my mothers favourite food there was Theo dressed in a green suit and black tie holding a gift.
"Michiru wow your so beautiful beyond words." Seeing her standing there in a beautiful long ice blue dress with snow white trim there's not one outfit yet that has not perfectly fit her flawless form. "This gift is for you."
"Why thank you Theo that's very kind of you. But I haven't had the chance too get you anything."
"That don't matter Michiru I already know we both have tons of gifts coming here take it"
"Very well I lift the box and untie the ribbon oh my god its.. its"...
"An engagement ring for you Michiru." I take her hand as she stands in total shock and slip the ring on. "I know I have made stupid mistakes but your beauty in itself distracts me all I ask is for a chance to show that even I with my many imperfections can be your man please marry me."
Well before I can answer of course my mother grabs my hand and says. "Shed love too!" So for now pretending to be happy I understand more on how Haruka learned to act the part at times in her life. Before I can move I am pulled in to Theo arms tightly his hug feels like a cold tight blanket around me ugh...
shivering I knock on the door I hope I am not disturbing them the door opens and an excited Usagi hugs me and pulls me inside brushing the snow off me I see Minako sitting on the couch wrapped in a blanket and Usagi mother is setting down sandwiches a Christmas movie is on the television.
"Look Minako its Ami!" I take her coat its soaked with snow and pellets of sharp ice I hang it in the closet above the furnace vent. "Why are you out in this bad blizzard? Are you ok?"
"Hey Ami cough cough its so good to see you. Usagi is right are you ok? Cough cough." I pull the blanket tighter around me the sight of the ice Usagi and I now see in Ami hair gives me chills just thinking about it.
"A very long story but I am feeling better now I hope I am not disturbing your Christmas Eve" I rub my hands together my hands still feel numb despite the fact I had gloves and the wind blew my hat off and I couldn't see to find it in the blizzard so I hurried to get shelter here instead.
"No not at all come on in and be comfy!" Do you want some hot chocolate there's sandwiches and my mom is making soup!" I quickly hand Ami a warm blanket which she takes with no question.
"That does sound nice if its not to much trouble I do not mind helping out" I see Usagi mom coming out with a hot bowl of soup which she sets in front of me with a pack of animal crackers.
"Don't worry at all Ami sit and relax the boys are making a snow fort in the yard but with this blizzard I doubt they will be out much longer. Your always welcome here."
Thank you so very much I take a seat by Minako taking a sandwich off the tray and a small sip of hot soup. "I am happy sitting here relaxing with my friends" even my legs are burning a little as they warm up its great to be inside too.
"Great because we missed you Ami! Hey why don't you pick the next Christmas movie we all watch"
Alright finishing my sandwich I look through the DVDs Usagi has. "Here how about the grinch."
"Yay that's a great movie! I take it out of its case and gently push the disk inside the player then cover myself back up with my bunny comforter.
"Cough cough sounds good to me to Usagi" I drink more water down I cant wait for this cough to go away but at least I am home for Christmas even if its not my house its even better because of the people who love me.
My mom brings out our hot chocolates we all toast too friendship then start the movie...
