//------------------------------// // Chapter XXVI // Story: Family Matters // by TheKing2001 //------------------------------// Indigo I walked alongside Twilight and the others as we strode the mall. Sunny had a bag hanging off her wrist as some random guys gave her approving whistles and I felt a pang of jealously. Must be nice to always be noticed by the guys. “You nervous?” I asked as Twilight jumped slightly. “It’s just a mall Twilight.” “I don’t really do well with crowds of people. I prefer to be with my group of friends. Sunset and the others don’t force me into the public. Usually,” Twilight said and her eyes widened. “Not that you guys aren’t my friends or forced me here!” “I know you hate crowds but hey, you’re getting out and about at least!” I commented with a grin as I held up a fist. “Fair enough,” Twilight admitted as she pushed her glasses up. “I don’t think I’ll be able to get your guys gifts with you all here.” “You’re getting us gifts?” I asked with a raised eyebrow. “Don’t you like, hate us?” “I’m afraid of you all, I don’t hate you,” Twilight corrected. “Well let’s correct that then shall we dearie?” Sunny Flare suggested as she slowed down to walk alongside us. “We shall have a soiree at dear Indigos house. Primarily because mine is ah less than hospitable, Lemons is messy, Sugarcoat doesn’t have guests at her apartment often and Sour is grumpy.” “What the heck is a soiree? Sounds like a type of thing they sell at the gas station so I’m in!” Lemon Zest announced eagerly as she slung her headphones around her neck. “That’s a slurpee Lemon. Not a soiree,” Sour facepalmed and shook her head. “A soiree is like a party or something stupid. It’s fancy talk.” “I hate fancy talk. Just speak like a human,” Lemon scoffed and folded her arms as she looked away. “Trust me, we know,” Sugarcoat chimed in. “So whaddaya say?” I looked at Twilight who was in the process of chewing her lip. “We can watch movies and order pizza. Got some video games too if that’s your speed.” “Video games are more of Trixie’s speed along with Rainbow, Sunset, Derpy, Applejack, Lightning, Lyra and Vinyl,” Twilight admitted after a moment. “But movies do sound appealing I suppose. I’m in.” I knelt in front of my TV in the living room as I thumbed through the dvds. Twilight and the others were in pajamas on the couch and I resisted the urge to laugh at Sours lemon decorated pants. “Star Wars, The Hunger Games, Lord Of The Rings,” I listed off a few more franchises as they all looked at me. “You don’t seem to be the Lord Of The Rings type,” Sugarcoat stated as she pushed her glasses up. “I’m trying to figure out if I should be insulted or not,” I said as I paused and looked back at her. “It wasn’t an insult, just an observation,” Sugarcoat answered as Twilight handed me a movie. “The Conjuring?” I read as Sour grinned evilly and rubbed her hands together. Sunny and Sugarcoat looked at each other nervously as Lemon raised an eyebrow slightly. “You watch horror?” Lemon asked in disbelief. “I thought you’d watch sci fi movies?” “Well I do,” Twilight conceded after a moment. “But when I was lonely and had no friends, horror movies helped in a sick sort of way.” We all looked away or down as Twilight sighed, rubbing her wrist absent-mindedly as Sugarcoat glared at her suddenly. “Show me your wrist,” Sugarcoat demanded as Twilight gave her a confused look. “I don’t under-” Sugarcoat grabbed the other girls sleeve with surprising agility as we all gave her confused look and she yanked the wrist up to reveal one cut and we all stared in silence. “Woah,” I said after a moment. “The fuck?” Sugarcoat snapped as I recoiled. I had never heard her curse before. It’s comparable to catching Sunny cuss. “It was just once,” Twilight weakly protested as I put the movie she handed me in the dvd player. “Research said it helped people who were lonely so I tried it. It hurt like crazy and didn’t help me so I never did it again.” “I assume we didn’t help either,” Sour muttered as she rubbed her neck. “I’m well, sorry.” Twilights eyes widened as she pulled away and hugged Sour. “No, it wasn’t your fault!” Twilight said hastily and Lemon raised an eyebrow. “Okay maybe a little but that doesn’t matter. What does matter is that you didn’t make me do that, I did when I followed foolish unproven research. What works for another person doesn’t work for me and that’s not on you.” “Since when did you get so damn good at public speaking?” Sugarcoat demanded as Twilight let go of Sour and hugged Sugarcoat next. “Warn me next time please.” “Well since you said I was bad at public speaking, I read up on it. It’s a fascinating topic and I owe you for helping me be better at it!” Twilight grinned as she let go. “And I’ll uh warn you next time?” “Thank you.” “So Twilight dear, what ever happened to Timber?” Sunny asked curiously as Twilight gave a groan. “So we were dating but apparently he was nineteen and with me being seventeen, that was evidently illegal and he got arrested. But he got out last week and we’ve been texting. He’s nice to me.” “And what about now?” “We’re just friends now. We should set Suri up with him,” Twilight mused her arm rubbed her and I snickered. That sounded like a recipe for disaster. Suri got along with practically nobody unless it was benefitting her in the long run. “That sounds awful,” Sugarcoat stated as I picked up the TV remote and hit play. “So Timber doesn’t have your eye anymore then?” “Nah. He’s a great guy but we decided we are good friends. Shame, his sister was really hoping it would last. Gloriasa is a nice women when you get to know her.” I gave a nod as Lemon shut the lights off and everything went dark save for the tv lighting up our faces. “This is the best horror movie, trust me girls,” Twilight reassured us all and leaned back with a warm smile. Lemon gulped as we both gave each nervous glances that the others thankfully missed. I would have hated for them to see me be afraid of a silly horror movie. I had a reputation to maintain after all.