//------------------------------//
// Fist Full of Words 
// Story: Through the Looking Glass (revised edition) 
// by X3n0heart 
//------------------------------//

I took a deep breath to calm myself a bit as I stood in front of the coffee maker waiting for it to finish. It wasn't to long before it went through it's usual cycle, filling the pot with a pleasant aroma. As the last few drops fell into the pot I took it off it's stand and poured two cups for us. Preparing hers just the way she likes it as well as the way I like mine, I brought both the cups over and set them on the coffee table sitting down next to her.
Trixie kept her eyes on her lap as I just watched her for a few moments waiting for her to reach out and take her cup but she never did. The silence was starting to get to me as I picked up my cup and took a few sips before setting it back down and turning towards her. I took this time to look closely over her, from her posture to how messy her hair looked to her worn out, puffy eyes. It broke my heart to see her like this and my first thoughts went straight to which one of those girls messed with her again.
"Umm, hey! I got this new book, would you like to see it?" I asked as I got up trying to lighten the mood. It was then that as I started to step away I felt a tug on my sleeve which made me stop and look down at her.
"Don't leave me..." she said with a whimper and without looking up at me.
"I'm not going to leave you silly," I told her with a smile. Her grip tightened on my sleeve and that's when I finally noticed it. She was trembling slightly as she held onto it. I sat back down next to her as she continued to hold onto my sleeve as I noticed her other hand was balled into a fist resting on her lap. "Trixie, what's the matter?"
"Don't leave me, Sunset, please..." Trixie repeated as her voice cracked slightly.
"I won't. I promise!" I said softly as I placed a hand on her leg as she flinched slightly which made me quickly remove it and apologize. "I'm so sorry, did I hurt you?" Trixie just shook her head and released her grasp on my sleeve before interlocking her fingers together in a tight grip upon her lap. There's definitely something wrong with her. I thought to myself as I tried desperately to try and find the right words to say to her.
"What happened?" I asked kindly hoping I could get her to open up to me without her shutting down. I started to get scared that I might have pushed her away for she was quiet for a few moments and right when I was about to say that it's okay and she doesn't have to talk about it if she didn't want to, she spoke.
"It's my damn father!" Trixie said through clenched teeth. I was taken aback slightly for I've never heard her swear before but I just let her continue. "He's so condescending and makes me so mad yet there's nothing I can do about it!" Her tone was absolute but there was something underlining it that I picked up on.
"Did he do something to you?" I asked cautiously. She was quiet once again and I really thought I crossed the line this time but once again she surprised me by only taking a few moments to probably gather her thoughts before answering but that wasn't the case. She unzipped her hoodie and took it off and it confused me for a moment until she lifted up her shirt just enough to show me a few fresh bruises on her side. I couldn't believe what I was seeing and my eyes widened as they shifted from her side to her face, which was still facing downwards, back to her side.
"Oh Trixie, I'm so sorry..." There was really nothing I could actually say to her. I mean who could do something like that especially to their own daughter? My thoughts became more and more tangled up as anger started to flow through me. It wasn't until she spoke again that broke my concentration and brought my attention back to her.
"When he drinks he..." she paused for a moment as she slowly lowered her shirt and I could tell that it was painful for her, "he gets like this and does things..." Trixie trailed off as my concern for her grew ever more.
"What does he do?" I was afraid to ask her but at the same time I needed to know more.
"He's always yelling at me, telling me I'm no good and that it's my fault mom died. Then when I try and stand up for myself he gets ever more angry and hits me." Trixie was visible shaking now and once again on the verge of breaking down. That's when I finally acted as gently wrapped her arms around her as I brought her close to me, holding her comfortingly. Like before, I really had nothing to say to her that could possible make her feel better so I just thought that my actions could speak for themselves.
"I don't want to go home, Sunset. I don't ever want to go back there again!" Trixie cried in my arms as she trembled. I couldn't help it as my eyes started to water with a mixture of sorrow, pain, and anger. "It's not my fault! It's not my fault she died..." she kept saying over and over as she continued to cry. What should I do? I don't want to say anything that'll make her more upset. Just when I finally thought of something to say her phone went off.
Reaching into the pocket of her hoodie she brought out her phone and we both looked at it as the screen showed that it was her dad calling her. Trixie sat up and threw the cell down the hall as I heard it break into a few pieces. That was a nice phone. Hope it's not to busted up. Ohhh focus Sunset! I told myself as I turned back to her as she was glaring down the hall at her phone. I blushed slightly for she looked kind of cute as mad as she was but I didn't let it get to me as I got her attention.
"You're safe here, Trixie, and you can stay here for as long as you'd like to," I said with a soft smile on my lips. Trixie turned and faced me as the look in her eyes softened up and it looked like she was about to cry once again. "It's alright," I told her as I took her hands into mine and squeezed them gently. "And if it matters at all I could go back to your place with you to get some of your things so you can stay here. That's if you'd want to."
Trixie just smiled as she wiped her eyes as she leaned in and gave me a gentle hug and a quiet thank you before sitting back and taking a deep breath, closing her eyes for a few moments. I watched her with a pleasant look upon my face knowing that things will look up not only for her but for the both of us. Trixie opened her eyes and saw me staring at her and I quickly turned away reaching for my mug and hastily taking a sip of it pulling a weird face.
"Ugh! Coffee doesn't taste very good after it's gone cold." Trixie just giggled softly then flinched as she took a slow breath which made me frown slightly before she gave me a smile reassuring me it's okay. "I'm going to make some new coffee, would you like some more?" Trixie nodded as she finally noticed her mug on the table that was not touched this entire time.
"I'm sorry," she said rather disappointingly.
"No it's fine. I have plenty still left," I replied as I took up the mugs and dumped them into the sink, rising them out and preparing a new pot. I didn't realize it was this bad. Poor girl, my life seems like a fairy tale compared to hers. I thought as I poured water into the coffee maker and started it up.
"Sunset?" I heard her call from the couch as I turned my head and looked over the counter towards her.
"What's up?"
"You're the first friend that's ever cared for me like this. Umm, I'm not sure how to say these things..."
"You don't have to say anything," I cut her off. Like you sometimes I don't know how to express myself either.
"Thank you." Trixie turned and tried to smile but it looked like she was forcing herself. I knew she was feeling miserable and it just broke my heart to see her like this as she turned back to stare at her lap once more. I turned back to the coffee machine for the timer went off and refilled our mugs, fixing them just the way we like it, and returned to the couch holding hers out to Trixie.
"Here ya go, with milk and just a little bit of sugar," Trixie's face softened up and she gave me a genuine smile as she took the mug and took a small sip, enjoying the hot liquid.
"You make some pretty good coffee," she complimented which made me blush slightly and take a sip from my own mug trying to hide my face from her. I heard her giggle as we just sat there for a good few minutes just enjoying the coffee and each others company. It made me really happy that she was here again and if anyone could see me now they would swear that I was glowing.
"Hey, Sunset? Would it be okay if we went there tomorrow after school?" Trixie asked as she stared into her now half empty mug.
"Sure, Trixie. We can head there anytime that you'd like to."
"I don't want to see him so soon but it's better to get it over with soon than later."
"Can I ask you something, Trixie?"
"Of course."
"Did you start living with him after your mom died?" Trixie took another sip from her mug followed by a long sigh. Perhaps you shouldn't have asked that, Sunset. I thought as I watched her expression change.
"No, not really. I was placed in an orphan house until about the age of ten. After that I stayed at a few foster houses before they finally found him and told me that I had to go live with him because he was my only living relative. Ever since then my life has been pretty much a living hell."
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked."
"It's alright. I trust you, Sunset and when I talk to you it makes me feel better," Trixie told me with a comforting smile. "Thanks for being a true, true friend," she placed a hand on mine which made those butterflies in my stomach return and give me goose bumps. I placed my mug on the coffee table and gave her a smile in return. Way to go, Sunset! Now just focus on cheering her up. I told myself as we locked eyes for a moment before she finally spoke.
"What?"
"Oh, it's nothing," I giggled.
"Suuuure," Trixie rolled her eyes and smirked.
"Hey where did you get that hair pin?"
"This one?" she asked as she pulled the star out of her hair and handed it to me.
"It's pretty. Did you get it at the mall or something?"
"No. It was my mother's. She gave it to me for my 5th birthday."
"Oh I'm sorry..."
"It's fine, Sunset. No need to apologize. It's the only real thing I have left to remind me of her so I cherish it greatly," she told me as I handed it back to her. I watched her replace it back into her hair with a smile as I smiled along with her.
"Well I like it and I think it suits you just fine!" Trixie blushed slightly at my compliment and gave me a bright smile. "I'm so glad you're feeling better."
"Well it's all thank to you, Sunset."
"What are friends for?" I grinned feeling very pleased with myself at the moment. We finished our coffee, watched a bit of television and then I got her a pillow and the extra blanket I used last time for it was getting late and we had a big day tomorrow. She thanked me once again as I told her good night and headed off into my room leaving the door slightly open just in case she needed anything. As I crawled under the covers and gave a quiet yawn I closed my eyes and slowly started to drift off to sleep for it was quite the emotional day. As my conscious faded from my grasp I wondered what tomorrow had in store for us and the unknown fears that lie in wait just around the corner.