At The End Of The Day

Chapter 4

"Holy cow! What's that?" Powder jumps over the desk, trying to see the painting in Vi's hands.

"Matilda made it." Vi's voice is warm and proud.

"Show me!" Powder demands. Vi turns around. Powder's face fills with wonder. "She's even got our freckles right!"

"She's a damn tubular artist." Vi praises, lifting the art onto the hook she just installed.

"Don't ever say that word again. But, I agree."

"Caitlyn brought her by before taking her to school. She's also going to be attending today. Kinda missed seeing a head of blue hair wandering around."

"No, you missed her-" Vander walking into the gym makes Powder snap her jaw shut.

"What's going on here?" Vander asks, having heard the argumentative tones.

"We're talking about Matildas painting!" Vi points to the now displayed artwork.

"She's amazing." Vander is in awe.

-

"Mom look!" Matilda jumps out of her chair as soon as Caitlyn enters the gym. Mylo jumps in his seat. Both girls try not to laugh at him. "Vi put it up this morning!"

"That's sweet of her." Caitlyn was in shock the first time she saw Matilda's painting.

"Hey kid, ready to muscle up?" Powder flexes.

"Oh yeah." Matilda flexes back.

-

Caitlyn begins her routine, starting off with smaller weights to get back into rhythm.

It doesn't take long for her body to adjust, but she keeps the lighter weights for safety.

As Caitlyn gets into her lunges, she meets Vi's eyes as Vi exits the room she was using to train people. They don't speak, Vi rushing towards the bathroom, and Caitlyn mid lunge.

Caitlyn sees Matilda grab a water bottle from her bag before jogging back to Powder. She must have forgot hers, Caitlyn thinks to herself.

Caitlyn doesn't mind Matilda taking her water bottle, if anything it makes her want to tease her daughter a bit. 12 years is very old, she would say. Your forgetfulness is setting in.

-

Vi shows the kids how to hit, holding each bag as she assesses her students.

Some kids have it down, others she has to talk through their stance or velocity of punch.

-

Matilda is back to the wall sits, this time with some weight on her lap. Powder watches her form as the timer runs.

Her breath is coming out in puffs at the end of her last sit, Powder counting down the seconds. Then, the timer beeps.

With caution, Matilda stands properly again, weights carefully discarded to the floor. "That was better! You're almost ready for the real weighted squats!" Powder announces. Matilda beams.

-

Caitlyn and Matilda are stopped by Vi as they exit the locker room. Caitlyn takes the offered flyer in Vi's outstretched hand.

"It's an art gala. I thought Matilda may like attending. It's in Demacia. I go every year with Powder, and figured I could spread the word. There's, uh," Caitlyn nearly smiles at Vi's nervousness. "There's still a few artist openings, if Matilda, you, wanna enter your art."

"Can I mom?" Matilda doesn't pick up Vi's anxiety, probably passing it off as not knowing what to say.

"Sure! I will contact them once we're home." Matilda launches herself at Vi, Vi stumbling back a bit before wrapping her arms around the girl.