Underground

Park

This'll work out well. Cass and his friends are going to the park, and so am I. It'll be nice to see my sisters, and just get some shock. That's always fun. 

After I'm positive Cass has left, I get back to my phone conversation with Pear. 

"So, Lulu's bringing the general healthy stuff, Riley's got dessert, and you have the supplies. What do I bring?"

"Don't worry about it, Apple. We just want to see you again."

"It was only a day, Vivi."

"But it was a long one! You can't fight us on this you can't go every day without eating."

"I know, I know. I'll be there soon."

"Love you bunches."

"To the trees and back."

It doesn't feel quite right that I'm not bringing anything. I would always bring something fruity, that was my whole thing. Fruit smoothies, tarts, pies, general fruit, anything with fruit. 

But it'll still be nice to be with them, all of them, friends old and new. 

What should I wear? I could go with the normal hoodie and miniskirt combo, or something different. What am I saying, I never go anywhere without a miniskirt. They're so comfy and cute when combined with the right colors. Tips for you, no matter what gender, anyone can rock an Olive hoodie and maroon miniskirt. Or any skirt of any color. Anyone and Everyone looks great in a skirt.

Just wear shorts or something underneath. We want decency, mkay?

Enough about clothing, I have a picnic to crash!

I'm not leaving you. Stay. This story isn't over. You are going to meet my sisters, and you will like it. 

First, there's Pear. The oldest, and an avid cosplayer. She exclusively wears green, and her common outfits always include one cosplay piece she's made. You'll see a fruit theme throughout this whole thing, and that ties back to something the professionals would probably call trauma.

Something with kidnapping or some shit, I'm not sure. Well, I am. But it's not necessary to you or me or anyone. 

Then would be me, but I don't do the whole girl thing, so we'll go with Orange. Picture a stereotypical emo, but make everything orange and you have her. She's a bookie and enjoys a good cat every once in a while.

Sucks that she's allergic.

Then there's Lemon, the classic hyperactive younger sister. Constantly dressed in the brightest yellows carrying an axe. A fake one, duh, but let's just say she wasn't sad when I told her my 'job.'

Now there'd be me but oh look at that. We're at the park. I guess you'll have to wait, boo hoo. 

"There he is!"

"And there you are! Goodnoonen, Ri!"

Riley (Lemon) ran over to me, trapping me in a true bear hug and scrambling onto my back.

"Momom should have never let you off that leash! Ever since then you've just started wandering off!"

"I should have never been on there, I was eight!"

These are the days I remember, friendly back and forth with possible intentions of harm. Riley is almost always the instigator, but we never stay on her back for too long. 

"Still! Running off is in your blood."

"Why, because you bled on me?"

"Hey! I only ran off 5 times!"

"That's three more than me, dimwit!"

"Hey! At least I'm not the fluffy one!"

"True, but people like fluff. That's why you're so popular."

Riley fluffed my hair, something normally associated with bullying. But it feels different when it's done by someone I love, as I would assume it should.

"Aww."

"Because your brain is fluffy."

"hEY-"

Riley lunged at me, but it was very funny to watch. Since she had climbed on my back, she had to jump off before she could attack me 'properly.' I was already knocked out from laughing before she even began running. Not really, but I was on the ground, and Riley had landed on top of me, also laughing. I could hear Vivpear's voice saying something like 'be nice' or 'get up,' but I was not in the right headspace for listening. Ri and I stayed on the ground, laughing like the fluffy fools we were for maybe 2 minutes. 

We do manage to stabilize, and set up our picnic. That's when I see him, the bright red beacon.

A giant apple tree, and no one is near it.

And Cass, Cass is there, too. He's got some red, his hair isn't totally black. I don't know whether it's bloodstain or hair dye, but it is there and it is red.