Chapter Text
Beep… beeeeeeeeeppppp…… BEEP!
Moonwatcher’s alarm screeched, begging and prodding at her mind as it began to throb… back and forth. She opened her eyes, a deep forest of many migraines as she slowly sat up in her messy bed, a few journals and textbooks laid on the spot next to her. A hand rose to her temple and she checked the time, she always woke up two hours earlier than she should be.
She always slept in a loose tank top and thrift-store shorts; they were a few sizes too big. She stepped out of her bed and fell forward as a furious headache shot right through her skull, but she breathed through it and walked out of her room, pulling her shirt up by the shoulders of it, and covering her chest. She moved towards the bathroom, clutching her stomach now… god all the pain was upon her today, wasn’t it?
She gazed at herself in the mirror, running a hand through her long black hair that slipped down to the small of her back, and just barely flowed like a waterfall over her shoulder. She brushed her teeth and brushed her hair for a minute or two and washed her face. The water that splashed on her face was warm, anything cooler or she would break out into sobs. That always made her head hurt so bad, once she did it, she had to stay home for the whole day. The work she had to catch up on was easy, but it still got her a worried complaint from her friend, Kinkajou, who had been worrying at her phone all day.
Moon remembered the long conversation she had suffered with Kinkajou through call:
“Moon!” Kinkajou had yelped, “Are you alright? Are you on your period? How bad is it? I was on my period a few days ago and I was going to go on a date with Turtle, but I had to bail because it hurt so bad! It was awful, Moon, I’m so sorry for you.”
“I’m okay,” Moon had answered, through whispers, “I just had an awful headache, sorry, Kinkajou.’
Kinkajou had been silent for a little while and then she sent a ‘get well soon’ cat gif through text, “It’s okay, please get better, Moon! See you at lunch tomorrow!”
“See you…” Moon had answered before the call hung up on her.
That was last week. New day, better headache, bad cramps. But, she would suffice with herbal tea, pads, and very strong Advil.
She wandered out and stepped downstairs, her hand clamped on the railing and her face furrowed involuntarily. She had a moment of frustration as she remembered she left her phone upstairs, so she had to venture up again, grab it and then hobble back downstairs. She also firmly had her earbud in one ear, on the lowest volume. She was listening to classical music, Bach, Tchaikovsky, or Beethoven… It didn't matter as she made herself some brown toast, popping the wheat bread into the toaster and stepping over to the couch… only to find Peacemaker sitting there, watching TV and shoving a handful of raspberries into his mouth. He looked up at her and grinned wide, those eyes big as he swallowed, “Hi, Moon!!”
Moon smiled a weak smile at his huge grin, although she knew why he was awake and nobody else was, he had trouble sleeping, he needed someone. That’s why he was here, of course. The kid hated to be awake in his room, all alone, in the dark. He tended to come softly knocking on her door, quietly asking to sleep with her if Hope didn’t allow him… which was very rare.
“Hi, Peace, what are you watching?” Moon asked absently, sitting next to him as he nuzzled under her arm and continued to eat his raspberries, they gleamed of the water they were washed with.
“Bluey!” Peacemaker stated, though his crimson eyes narrowed toward the show and he ate a bit slower as if he suddenly realized her absent state of mind and slowly turned toward her, “Are you okay…?”
“Yes, I am okay,” Moon explained, patting him on the head and watching Bluey with him until her toast finally popped out and she stood… pausing to catch her head, wincing, and stepping towards the counter. She took the toast out of the toaster and put it on a paper towel. She opened the fridge, took out the butter and buttered her toast, taking bites of it gingerly and slowly walking towards the couch once more.
After about 30 minutes, Secretkeeper came down the stairs and silently made her coffee, seeming more gloomy today than she had the day before. Moon knew that Secretkeeper was still dealing with Morrowseer’s death, taking it hard, even though her Mom kept it from her. Moon still knew.
Peacemaker weasled his way out from under Moon and darted away, bowl and all. She heard a quiet yelp emanate from the kitchen, it was probably her Mom, not anticipating Peacemaker to shoot to the refrigerator. Moon just kept eating her toast, the grain almost calming her senses… but then again, Bluey was also helping a bunch. The little blue dog and her parents rushing across the screen, something that could be put on without thought.
Moon gazed at the staircase, Hope was probably sleeping, she seemed nocturnal as she woke up at 1 pm everyday. Though, Secretkeeper tried to help Hope get her schedule back on track, but to no avail. Hope was a general, leading troops in the frontlines, apparently she was fantastic and well respected amongst her men. Moon knew of the story in which Hope got taken hostage and escaped an almost life threatening situation, she had Peacemaker before then. When she arrived home after 6 years of being kept captive, she was a widow.
“Moon, come here,” Secretkeeper called from the kitchen, voice slightly distant to Moon’s ear. But, Moon still mustered the strength and stood, closing her eyes with the pain that hazed down her mind. Secretkeeper turned to Moon and surveyed her up and down, then walked over and gave her a hug. But, the warmth was over too soon, and Secretkeeper got to business, “Did you finish homework? I know you have an art club today, do you need me to come get you or can Sora drive you?”
Moon rubbed her temple and looked around for Peacemaker, “Yeah, I did… and no, I will have Sora drive me home.”
She watched as Secretkeeper nodded and snatched the bowl from Peacemaker and washed the fruits he had gathered from the fridge, earning an upset huff from the little kid. Secretkeeper seemed to be avoiding talking about her mental state and continued on, “Is Kinkajou sleeping over today? Is she bringing her boyfriend? And is he bringing his little sister or that weird girl he hangs out with?”
“Peril…? And I… I don’t know yet, Mom.”
“Yes, that one,” Secretkeeper nodded, seeming to remember the last time they had a full Jade hang out (that is what they call their friend group). It ended in pure chaos, lots of wrestling and arguing and Moon watching with a very yielding expression, “Why don’t you and your friends just go to Kinkajou’s boyfriend’s house? He is the son of a very rich writer.”
“I’ll bring it up…” Moon whispered, twirling her hair with her finger and watching as Secretkeeper gave Peacemaker the bowl back. He had been jumping around at her legs trying to watch her wash them, until he skipped back to the couch. Once he was gone, Secretkeeper turned to Moon with a look on her face, and she recognized it instantly. It was the “keep pain hidden” face that Moon was familiar with. For some reason, Secretkeeper was adamant on Moon keeping her headaches hidden.
“How much Advil do you need?” Secretkeeper asked, turning away again and turning on the coffee machine, “Did you already take some?”
“No, Mom…”
“Take some now, bring some in your bag, the bus is almost here.”
“Okay…” Moon muttered, walking over to Secretkeeper’s room and going to the bathroom. She searched through the medicine cabinet and eventually found some pain medicine. She took it with some water and then grabbed her bag and phone from the living room.
“Bye bye, Moon!!” Peacemaker called from his spot on the couch, he had school in a few hours. So, she assumed he would take a nap while it was bright outside.
While Moon stepped out of her shared suburban blue house, her and her Mom moved here after Morrowseer died. Secretkeeper didn’t ever tell her why, but she knew it was because the house was dark and brooding for her standards… and it reminded her of him. She shut the door with a small smack. She walked over to the giant yellow bus that had pulled up. She took one last sigh and glance at her house. Then she walked up the steps and sat at a window seat, feeling the loom of the day upon her, and closed her eyes.
“KINKAJOU, OH MY GOD, WAKE UP! IT IS FIVE PAST SIX!”
“In a minute….” Kinkajou mumbled, waving a hand at the door even though nobody was there. She sleepily opened her eyes and fell out of her bed with a loud thump and she let out a screech.
“FINALLY!”
Kinkajou rolled her eyes and stood, a small smile growing on her dark skin. She strode into the bathroom, splashed some cold water onto her face and grinned at her face in the mirror. She inspected her teeth, her canines were long, but so was Glory’s and Glory’s brother and Glory’s Grandma… Did she mention she lives with Glory?
“Green or yellow…. hmmm…” She hummed to herself, eventually settling on yellow eyeliner, she lifted her eyelid and streaked the eyeliner onto it. She smiled at the mirror again and turned her head side to side. Her pink bushy curly hair was beginning to grow a bit dull at the scalp, turning an upsetting black. She would have to dye her hair again in the shower with Glory’s help.
“Kinkajou—“ Glory started, poking her head in the bathroom and then smiling slightly, “Oh, good, you're awake, I was beginning to assume your death.”
“Nope, not me!” Kinkajou exclaimed proudly, puffing out her chest and putting her hands on her hips. She attempted an unsuccessful hair flip, then waved Glory away with a grin, “Not me, I can’t die, I must live forever and ever and ever.”
“Sure,” Glory yelled as she walked away. Kinkajou smiled to herself and then walked after her. The only reason Glory was still here and not somewhere else, is because she had to drive Kinkajou to school… and pick up Deathbringer on the way. But that was totally because Glory LOVED him! It was obvious in Kinkajou’s eyes! Oh they were just so adorable together.
Kinkajou felt around in the fruit basket in the kitchen, looking for a ripe mango that she could eat in the car… even though Glory yelled at her last time for it spurting all over the car. She remembered the furious look on Gloy’s face, her face turned bright red and she swatted at the backseat with a towel.
“Get a banana or something,” Glory yelled from the bathroom, toothpaste probably through her teeth since her voice was muffled. Kinkajou snickered, but obliged and got a banana instead, saving the mango for later in her backpack, so she could pop it in her friends' faces instead.
Kinkajou hop stepped outside, backpack on her shoulders and a wide glow on her face. Glory was behind her, on her phone, keys in hand with her backpack slung on one shoulder. Kinkajou had convinced her to get a silk press, begging her that it would look phenomenal, and it totally did! Glory looked so fantastic, it looked great with the wide golden earrings she wore most of the time, and her long lashes. Kinkajou knew that Glory didn’t appreciate makeup most of the time, but they both knew that Glory looked way better without it anyway.
She watched as the senior smiled slightly at her phone then clicked the unlock button on her keys and put her phone away. Kinkajou opened the door to the backseat and wrapped her arms around the headrest of the passenger seat, “Are we getting Deathbringer? Can we go to Starbucks? I want a Mango Dragonfruit refresher again, that was so delish!”
Glory gave her a glance through the mirror and started up the car, “Yes and yes and yes, my goodness.”
Kinkajou smiled at her and sat back, taking her backpack off and putting it next to her on the seat, she brought her legs up and strapped herself in. She felt the car move as she pulled out her phone and checked their friend group-chat, accurately named “Jade Freaks”.
Kinkajou: “GOOD MORNING EVERYONE”
Qibli: “morning, wsg”
Moon: “Winter, do we have a study guide due tomorrow?”
(Winter thumbs up Moon’s message)
“Great.”
Turtle: “G’morning <3”
Kinkajou: “HIIII!”
Kinkajou loved her friends, they were so supportive and awesome and all super duper smart! She wouldn’t have any other friends then the ones she has and she hoped that they all felt the same way. Besides, they all were in the same grade (besides Peril, she didn’t really like Peril that much anyway…).
Kinkajou was snapped out of her happy thoughts about her friends when Glory pulled up to Deathbringer’s apartment complex, she waited until his form came around the corner and he tried to open the door. Glory snickered when he failed because it was locked, then she unlocked it and he stepped in, ducking his head, “Good Morning, Your Majesty.”
“Oh shut it,” Glory rolled her eyes and flipped her hair over her shoulder and began to pull out of the parking lot, heading into the Commons for Starbucks, “How much money did you make last night?”
“100 bucks, so I can pay for drinks,” Deathbringer pulled out his wallet and gave her a twenty, which she pushed out of his hand and closed his fist, “Nono, trust me, you need my money, Glory!”
Glory waved it away when he tried to drop it in her face and giggled under her breath, “No, I don’t, just keep it, bleach-head.”
Kinkajou let out a laugh, “bleach-head” was something Glory used because Deathbringer had bleached his hair then buzzed the sides. Kinkajou knew he was the only person who could pull it off; she also knew Glory thought it was very handsome and hot, but of course, Glory would never ever tell him that, if not in private.
Glory pulled up to the Starbucks ordering station and waited for a moment, studying the menu, then she ordered, “‘Morning, can I get a venti mango dragonfruit refresher with extra dragonfruit, a pistachio cold brew, and an iced mocha without the whipped cream.”
“Will that be all for you today?”
“Yeah, thank you,” Glory nodded, then pulled up to the window and stopped the car. She turned her head to Deathbringer, who was smiling and crossing his arms, she rolled her eyes, already knowing what he was referring to, “What?”
“You know my order~” Deathbringer cooed, yelping when his arm got smacked and then he laughed aloud, so loud the people at the window looked a bit shocked when they came back with the drinks. Glory paid, took the drinks one by one, giving it back to Kinkajou, then handing Deathbringer his, and then taking her own.
Kinkajou sipped on her refresher, now scrolling on her phone. She opened up her backpack and rummaged through the most important pocket she had, the makeup pocket. She took her phone and propped it up on the back of the headrest, she pulled out her mascara and pulled her eye up with her finger and began to apply it. Glory and Deathbringer were having some of their very strange banter, that always was between flirting and then yelling and then apologizing (mostly from Deathbringer). Kinkajou thought they were both just so adorable together, even though Glory repeatedly told her that they were both friends… yeah right.
BZZT!
Kinkajou yelped when her phone fell from the headrest and landed on her knees, she quickly capped her mascara and picked up the phone and saw the text that lay there and SQUEALED.
“WHAT!?” Glory hissed, almost swerving on the road and whipped her head towards the rearview mirror and sent daggers towards Kinkajou, who was now bouncing up and down and hyperventilating, “What could be so important?”
“MOON JUST ASKED IF WE WANTED TO PLAN A SLEEPOVER FOR TOMORROW!!! EEEEEEEEE!!!!” Kinkajou sang, instantly replying to the text with quick thumbs.
Kinkajou: “MOST DEFINITELY! LET'S TALK AT LUNCH!!!”
“Oh, fun, I can drive you, I might go to Sunny’s tomorrow,” Glory hummed, pulling into the school parking lot and parking. She sat there for a few moments, both Deathbringer and Glory stared at each other, then at Kinkajou.
“Fine, I’ll get out,” Kinkajou snickered, getting out and then calling over her shoulder with her drink in hand and her backpack over her shoulder, “Bye bye, loverbirds!”
Kinkajou skipped to the school and opened the door, held it open for someone else and then skipped to her first period class, Geometry, with Winter! She stepped in the classroom and scanned the room, since there were no assigned seats, she set her backpack in the middle of the class, sitting down and then playing on her phone. Eventually, Winter walked into the class, his hair looking sleeker than it did the previous day and he put his backpack on the desk next to hers then walked out. She watched him go and shrugged.
Today was going to be great! She couldn’t wait for the upcoming plans and she could hardly wait to see her best friend, Moon!