Yellow Charged

Olive Branch

Before she left her room for the day, she put a dried marigold on the altar. She found that giving offerings to the gods she followed built a stronger connection with them, and even if it was something as small as a flower bearing her name, she knew Chaos would accept it.

Grabbing her bag, she made sure she had everything she needed for the school day before slipping on her shoes and heading down the stairs. Soleil, her sister, was making coffee for herself and a cup of tea for Marigold when she walked into the kitchen.

Marigold giggled. "Y'know you don't have to do that anymore, right Sol?"

"I never needed to, Mars. It's just that you're always tired without it." Soleil handed Marigold her tea. "It's better than when you used to drink all of those monsters."

"You still do."

Soleil chuckled. "I'm graduated and have a job. You are a senior." She smiled. "Your lunch is beside the door and I put gas in the car."

"You're literally the best."

"Yeah whatever, just don't be late or you're gonna get both of our asses handed to us."

Marigold smiled before pulling on her old bomber jacket and picking up her bag.

"Tell dad I said hi when he wakes up, and I made you all sandwiches last night for breakfast. They're in the fridge." She walked out the door, a smile lingering on her face.

~•~

"And anyways that's why my mom put the shovel in the fucking tree," Olive laughed. "My brother had to climb up it to get it down this morning."

"At least she shoveled the snow..." Jacob mumbled across the lunch table. "There was still snow on my porch this morning and I don't even own boots."

"Maybe ask for a pair? Or just get used to it. My brother used to shovel barefoot." Aideen said, pulling the rest of her hair back into a ponytail.

"Do it yourself! That's what my dad makes me do," Marigold mocked. "Or better yet, pay me and I'll do it for you."

"Oh shut it Mari, your dad is like the dad of dads." Jacob crossed his arms.

"Yeah, especially with his cooking." Olive hummed in delight. "That man makes amazing food – especially that one with the yellow sauce and chicken."

"Aji de Gallina? I mean, it's Peruvian, of course it's good — and besides he's always working now I don't even see him anymore." Mari slumped. "We communicate through notes on the table and Sol relaying messages."

"What did I hear about Mr. Cytirus?" Minali leaned over the table.

"Shut it shitface, you know he hates you," Marigold cackled, "remember when you sent Soleil the—"

"YEAH YEAH I REMEMBER!" Minali cut her off, "NO- no need to repeat it."

The group laughed, the chatter of the lunch room filling in empty space in their conversation.

The sound of voices filled the room as she looked around to her peers. Gray colored tables and chairs were placed at regular intervals, some spots blank while others were overflowing with people — and while her school wasn't exactly diverse, it was always nice to see everyone in one room.

People in the lunch-line punched in ID numbers before sitting down — most with friends but some alone. Marigold focused her gaze to two tables over; a group of people that she used to call her friends.