//------------------------------// // August 14, PM: Simply So // Story: 7DSJ: Downtempo // by Shinzakura //------------------------------// “And that’s everything in a nutshell,” I tell Sunny.  I know that look on her face, the kind that’s trying to put two and two together and make five.  Scary part is, I know she can do it.  Hell, if there’s anyone on this planet that can do it, it’s her. “I…uh, thanks for sharing that with me?” she tells me and I wonder if I went a few too many times into FYI-land.  Then again, she has to know that I’m a healthy girl with a healthy need for her to hunt in my jungle! I wonder if I should get a Brazilian? “Well, you wanted to know, and it is a long story,” I admit.  “Besides, the story isn’t really over.” “It isn’t?” I shake my head.  “No.  I keep in touch with Merry and Cov, and well…the story doesn’t end happy.  Well, Hope, she ended up going to trial for everything she did.  Her parents, they tried, I’m sure they did, but—” I feel Sunny take my hand in hers for a second while I have it off the steering wheel.  “You did your best,” she tells me, not taking her eyes off the road, then turns and gives me a smile.  “I’m sure of that.” “I know.  But Hope wasn’t the kind of person that learned from her mistakes.”  I feel my eyes sting; I wasn’t there for it, but….  “It was Merry that told me.  Hope didn’t end up in juvie – she was tried as an adult and ended up in the Newport Women’s Prison.  It was there….”  I sigh; I know it’s not my fault, I know that.  But that doesn’t absolve me for not trying hard enough.  “They said that she got into a prison fight, and….” “You don’t have to talk about this.” “You’re right, I don’t.  And I don’t want to spoil the mood anyway.”  Besides, she’s gone now, I failed and I just ruined whatever chance I had with Sunny right now.  Then again, I’m driving and we have all the other girls here, so it’s kinda hard to stop the van and go do the “Chevy Van” song thing. “Pinkie….” “As for Merry and Cov, well, they’re an item now,” I tell my friend and would-be love interest.  “Jolly says that at the rate they go like rabbits, Merry might have a kid before they graduate.  But I guess in that part of the country, that’s normal.  As for Jolly, a lot of people still picked on her until they found out that she was capable of fixing a lot of things, like cars and such.  Well, after that, she got popular with the boys, and of course nobody wants to fuck with a girl who’s the kid sister of the school’s football star.  Last I heard, she’s got a circle of friends of her own, a slate of boys who would love to get to know her better and anyone who was on her bad side is either trying hard to change that or staying clear. “Maud didn’t bother telling Mom her secret.  When she saw what was going on, I think she opted to not make things worse.  I don’t blame her.  I’m still kinda getting over the fact that my sister’s different from the person I saw earlier, but somehow I think it suits her much better.” “And your Mom?” “I…I’m not sure about that,” I admit.  “I still love her, but….  Well, if you want to know why I was grounded the week you came back from your trip, that was why.  Although Auntie did let me off easily for saying what was on my mind.  Still, I hope I can forgive my mother for what she said.  Of course, I probably should seek forgiveness as well, but...I guess you know about fighting with your mother, right?” I can see her nod out of the corner of her eyes.  I wonder what that’s like, fighting with your mother when your mother is a Goddess-Queen.  No wonder Sunny felt like she was exiled – that probably makes being grounded like nothing in comparison. Still, I guess if Sunny can make up with her mother, I can make up with mine, right?  Stranger things have happened. “Pinkie, pull over a sec, okay?” she asks, me and I comply.  She then looks at me and says, “Look, what happened in my situation?  I don’t want you to go through with that.  Granted, I really doubt your situation is the same as mine or that you’ll go to the lengths that I had to deal with,” she tells me with a smile, “but you love your mother and she loves you too.  Don’t let it get to the point where you don’t feel you can deal with her anymore.  Trust me, that’s not something you should live for.” “I understand.  And I don’t want it to get to that point, because if it does, I know that my parents will divorce and I definitely don’t want that.  So…I’ll do what I can, Sunny, I promise.” To my surprise, she kisses me on the cheek.  Little closer to my mouth, please? “I know you will,” she tells me, then gives me that smile that I feel is only for me. Sunny, please stop tempting me!