At The End Of The Day

Chapter 8

Its well past 2 am when theres a knock on the door. Vi looks over to Powders bed to make sure her sister is still asleep. Surely enough, she is. Vi opens the door a crack.

Matildas standing on the other side. "I couldnt sleep, and Moms taking up her whole bed. Can i sleep with you?" Matilda whispers. Vi chews her lip.

"Uh, sure, yeah. Come on in." She whispers back. "You can have the bed, ill sleep with Pow."

"No its ok, please, stay with me?" Small fingers wrap around Vis own larger ones.

They curl up together, Matildas face to Vis collarbone as strong arms hold her protectively. "Wanna talk about whats going on?"

"During the art show, i was so excited, but..." Matilda takes a moment to gather her thoughts. "I dont know how it started but i was scared. And then we had tea and i was fine, and then i was feeling something sorta like scared, and then i saw you had cards too, and i felt better, but i was still- still- I dont know..."

"Nervous? Anxious maybe? Powders that way too. Its why i tried not to leave her too long. How are you feeling now?"

"My tummy hurts, and i cant sleep."

"Im sorry sweety. Let me text your mom real quick like, and then ill get you some Tums. That sound ok?" Matilda nods. Vi grabs her phone off the nightstand, texting Caitlyn like she said she would. "I need to get up for a moment." From her luggage, she pulls out a bottle of tums, handing two of the chalk like discs to Matilda. "You can chew those."

"Thank you." She takes them gratefully. Vi climbs back into bed after putting the Tums away.

"If you still cant sleep, thats ok. We can stay up together."

"You sure?" Vi nods.

-

Caitlyn wakes the next morning to an empty room. Thinking nothing of it, she gets up to brush her teeth. Upon the bathroom being empty, her stomach drops. Matildas gone.

Before she gets too far into her head, she thinks it wise to check her phone. She facepalms. 'Of course she would be with Vi.' She thinks to herself.

Changing into day clothes, Caitlyn pads down the hall to the elevator, and down to the room Vi and Powder are sharing.

She knocks, and is met with wild, bright blue hair. "Your kid stole my sister." A glance to the bed, and Caitlyns heart melts.

Matilda is tucked under Vis chin, face in her neck, as Vis holding her as if shes an infant. "Theyre so precious." She doesnt mean to voice it, but Powders frame softens.

"Yeah, they are. Whoever Matildas other parent is, theyre missing out."

Caitlyn orders room service, shoving Powders card in her pocket so Powder cant sneakily share the bill. "To confirm: one order of French Toast, one order of Blueberry Waffles, and two orders of Cinnamon and Honey Pancakes?"

"Yes." Caitlyn tells the concierge.

"For beverages you have one orange juice, one apple juice, one mixed berry smoothie, and one fruit and vegetable mix smoothie?"

"That is correct."

"The bill will be on the cart. Thank you."

"Thank you, goodbye." Caitlyn hangs up the phone, Powder pouting on her bed with her arms crossed. "Whats that look for?"

"Youre just like Vi. Wont let me spend money on anything."

"I told you breakfast was on me. So suck it up."

"Poo." Powder throws a pillow at the back of Vis head.

"Fuck off." Vi slurs, rolling onto her back, Matilda still tucked into her.