Pink carefully pried the over enthusiastic child's arms from her waist and gently shoved her back to give herself some space.
"I'm so happy you're here Pink!" Spinel squealed bouncing in place happily, completely unfazed by Pink's slight shove as White smiled fondly at them.
Pink shot her mom a irritated look before Spinel grabbed her arm tightly, and started dragging her towards the back of the orphanage, where the garden was. Spinel loved to play with Pink in the garden.
"Pink! Pink! Pink! Pink! We should, we should, play a game!!!" The six year old proclaimed brightly, her eyes sparkling wide as she bounced around Pink excitedly. Pink sighed heavily, before relenting to her enthusiasm. Pink always came here to play with the orphans, though mainly Spinel who always seemed so attached to her, for whatever reason, while her mom went inside to talk with the orphanage owner.
"Okay Spinel what game should we play?" Pink asked once they finally reached the beautiful garden, and the child grinned devilishly as she tugged Pink closer and grinned slapping her hand against Pink's arm.
"Tag you're it!" She giggled happily before sprinting across the yard, giggling merrily as she went. Pink rolled her eyes before she took off after the unsurprisingly fast girl.
Eventually Pink caught her and tagged her back, before sprinting off herself, but Spinel always seemed to catch her quicker than Pink ever caught her.
The back and forth went on for awhile before Pink collapsed against the grass, breathless and completely exhausted. It was too early and she was too tired to continue, especially after the emotional whirlwind she went through the previous night.
"What game should we play now Pink? Huh? Huh?" Spinel rolled around in the grass, bouncing and spinning around the worn teen.
"Let's nap!" Pink muttered unenthusiastic as her eyes slipped closed, letting the sunshine warm her tired body.
"What??? Boo! No way! That's no fun, let's play hide and seek, or, or have a tea party, or or or I can show you my new trick!" Spinel proclaimed wildly as she tugged at Pink's shirt and poked her cheek. Pink peeked at Spinel opening one eye, to watch the bright doe eyed, red headed little girl as she pouted dramatically and blinked those bright brown eyes at Pink sadly.
"Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhh fine, fine show me your trick." Pink relented tiredly as she sat up sleepily. She figured if Spinel was showing her a trick then she wouldn't have to move or participate too much anyways.
"Yay! Yay!" Spinel giggled excitedly before grabbing Pink's arm and started tugging her towards the backdoor of the orphanage.
"Wait why are we going inside?" Pink demanded curiously, making Spinel giggle once more as she swung their joined hands and skipped towards the door.
"I gotta...I gotta get stuff inside first!" She explained through her squeals and giggles, Pink shook her head fondly at her antics.
Though as she followed Spinel inside she couldn't help the off feeling that overtook her when she realized there wasn't really any other kids around. Spinel cautiously opened the back door and tugged Pink towards the winding spiral staircase.
But except for Spinel's occasional giggles and light footsteps, everything was quiet. Almost too quiet.
"Spinny, where is everyone?" Pink questioned softly as they reached the top of the stairs and began trekking towards the end of the hallway.
"Um...dunno... Valerie is still here though!" Spinel whispered as she pushed open her and Valerie's bedroom door open, startling the eight year old into dropping her book with a slight squeak.
Pink smiled sweetly at the familar child, wincing slightly when she saw the dark scar that marred her poor face. Pink still blames herself for Valerie falling out the window and hitting the sidewalk. The poor girl had enough trauma, coming from the family she had.
" See, see there's Valerie! Oh she taught me my new trick too!" Spinel exclaimed as she wildly dashed towards the small toy box on the other side of the brightly painted room and began digging through it vigorously.
Valerie giggled softly at Spinel's exclamation before she turned hesitantly to Pink and waved slightly.
"Are you going to play with us for awhile?" She asked and Pink realized she had no idea why her mom was even coming here or how long they intended to stay.
"Uh until my mom says otherwise." She promised uncertain before Spinel jumped up with a loud scream of joy, that startled the other occupants of the room slightly.
"FOUND IT!!! FOUND IT!!!" She produced four bright pink balls from her toy box and carefully moved to the center of the room. Pink watched in amazement as the six year old juggled them pretty decently, a wide grin plastered on her face.
"Good job! Ah you did so so good!" Pink praised the practically glowing Spinel, as she clapped for her and tugged her into a hug.
"Spinny, did you know Pink taught me to juggle first!" Valerie whispered softly from her bed smiling proudly at the other girl. Spinel bounced back from Pink instantly her eyes wide as she picked up the balls and threw them in Pink's lap.
"Juggle, juggle, juggle please, please!!!" She begged bouncing in place happily. Pink grinned, shaking her head at their antics.
"Okay, okay!" She giggled softly as she skillfully juggled for the little girls making them both clap and praise her skill.
"Wowie you're good!" Spinel praised excitedly making Pink smile.
Even if she couldn't see her friends anymore, well besides school, it was nice to see some familiar faces, even if they were slightly childish. Showing off a bit, Pink started to juggle one handed, making Spinel gasp and cheer merrily. Valerie smiled slightly, but it didn't quite reach her usually bright almond eyes. Pink chuckled softly at Spinel's amazement before she dropped the juggling turning back to the exuberant six year old.
"Okay you take over a minute Spinny." Pink offered gently handing over the juggling to the overenthusiastic little girl as she noticed the other little girl's quiet, yet upset demeanor. "Hey volley, what's wrong?" She softly questioned as she shuffled closer to the eight year old.
"I'm okay." She whispered lowering her eyes and Pink carefully picked herself up from the floor and sat cautiously next to the teary eyed child on her bed.
"Hey, you can talk to me Volley?" She promised kindly, as Spinel struggled to juggle one handed off to the side, but only managed to keep hitting herself with the multiple colored balls repeatedly.
"Well... I just...Pink do you know why our orphanage might close?" Valerie questioned suddenly, her big eyes wide as her tears started slipping from her eyes and down her little plump rosy cheeks. Pink was completely taken aback by this question.
"What? No I- I had no idea! Oh my gosh, I'll talk to my mom about it okay! I mean this place can't close! Where would you all live?!" Pink exclaimed standing up as the awful thought overtook her senses and sent nervous energy searing through her veins.
She had to do something, orphans couldn't be homeless too. Pink quickly pulled the two girls into her arms, making Spinel drop her juggling once more, as she hugged them tight, her own eyes filling with tears. She'd do everything she could to help them.
"Don't you worry, I promise I'll help anyway I can!" She vowed and Spinel and Volley both hugged her tight.
"PINK, it's time to go Starlight." Her mom called from somewhere downstairs. Pink gave the two orphans one last hug before she stood, giving them a soft smile.
"Thank you Pink." Valerie whispered eyes seriene and hands clasped in her lap.
"Bye, bye Pink!!! Come play again soon!!! Please, ok bye bye!!" Spinel stated wildly as she bounced around her room.
"Bye guys, and I'll do my best on both accounts!" She promised firmly before her mom called her name once more. With one final wave Pink turned and left to join her mom.
The ride home was still tense, even more so now that Pink wasn't half asleep. But, even though Pink was still slightly chastised and embarrassed from the previous night, she promised those two little girls she'd talk to her mom. She glanced quickly at the woman, taking a deep breath, trying to find her courage.
"Mom?" She cursed herself when her voice cracked involuntarily, but steeled herself for her mom's response.
"Yes sweetheart?" Her mom questioned without looking up from her tablet, that she had been clicking through since their departure from the orphanage. Encouraged by her mom's slightly calm response Pink scooted into a more confident posture.
"Did you know the orphanage is going to close soon?!" She questioned and her mom didn't even look up.
"Yes, I know." Was her rather brisk and bland statement. It lit a fire within Pink.
"That's it? Mom we have to do something!!! We can't let it close! Think of all those kids, they'll be homeless! We have to help them somehow!" She adamantly proposed and finally her mom looked up, meeting her eyes. Then to Pink's utter confusion she laughed.
"That's very cute darling, but I'm afraid it's just business." Her mom stated flippantly. Pink's heart sank at her mom's words and hesitantly she questioned.
"What do you mean?"
"Well it's not like I could let them live there for free, be realistic Pink."
To Be Continued...A/N: thanks for reading!!! I know I technically already did pink pearl but I had to add her alter ego Volleyball, you know when she isn't white Pearl!!!