NINE
It's nine o'clock at night and still the other two girls in the bedroom are chattering excitedly about Ken leaving.
Gosh, doesn't it get boring?
There's only so much to be said, isn't there?
And then it gets worse.
"Shuiichi said he saw the couple who's adopting him!"
"Really?!"
"Yeah! A French-speaking man and a scary-looking woman, he said."
"Scary? Why's she scary?"
"I dunno, Shuiichi just got that impression, I guess."
"I wouldn't want to go with someone scary…."
"Me neither. I'd want my new parents to be cool, but nice and friendly, too! Like, I want a mom who—"
She tries to muffle their conversations by shoving her head deeper under her pillow and blankets, but it doesn't really work out.
"…doesn't mind teaching me how to cook, can give me advice about boys and stuff, and…"
It's getting kind of hot and uncomfortable.
But maybe that's just her…?
If she fell asleep then she wouldn't have to think about anything, but she just can't. She's already tried counting sheep, but that didn't really work out because she keeps thinking of the sheep on Papa's farm, which does the opposite of making her fall asleep.
Then again, it's not like she has to count sheep in particular, right?
There's something else she can count—except the other two girls have to fall asleep first, or else she won't be able to sneak out.
Unless she just says she's going to the bathroom. If she doesn't come back they probably won't notice.
"Yeah! And dads should be strong, but without all the stern stuff—like, he'll let me—"
That's definitely her cue to leave.
She emerges from her nest warily, but since she's on the bottom bunk the girls don't notice her.
It sounds like she won't even have to give an excuse at all.
She's made it to the door and not once have they paused.
But it's still a little nerve-wracking, standing in front of the door and hoping it doesn't make too much noise.
And she's out in the hallway, no lights shining under the doors of the other rooms, and then she's outside in the backyard, and from here it's only a matter of counting.
Sometimes numbers are the worst invention ever, but other times it's not so bad.
a/n: FF doesn't let me add pictures to chapters, so to see the fan art I mentioned in the last chapter, please go to:
squishy-artiste . tumblr post/131384652424/see-old-news
Just take out all the spaces.
Aside from that, a guest review asked me to explain what's going in in the story... but I'm afraid I'm not sure what there is to explain? It's a story told from three different points of views, alternating between Elfnein, Tsubasa, and Maria. So far Tsubasa and Maria are planning on adopting a kid; they were going for a younger one, like a baby or toddler, but now Maria's thinking of having an older kid. Elfnein, on the other hand, is just contemplating her dull and sometimes sad existence in the orphanage. That's the bare bones of it, I guess...? Guest, if you need further clarification, please ask me specific questions.
No, chapters will not be longer and will not be updated more than once a day.
Please review! I am open to suggestions, especially since it sounds like there's a degree of confusion...