CHARADE | Glimmer

Chapter Two

The song above is probably more District 4 than District 1, but thought I'd include it anyway! Be warned though, it mentions betrayal and death

Trigger warnings for this chapter: Sexual harassment, Mentioned death of a loved one

"Can I stay tonight?"

Sparkle hovers in the doorway. It's some hours later. I somehow managed to serve the rest of the drinks, with Sapphire staring daggers at me for the rest of the evening. The bar closed at one in the morning, prompting most of the partyers to go home.

I yawn, "Won't your family wonder where you are?

"Mother doesn't care," Sparkle waves a hand, "And Marvel...well, he's kind but he doesn't understand."

No, I suppose he doesn't. He wasn't the one sat next to Sparkle, holding her hand whilst she watched her boyfriend get torn apart on television. Nor was he there to help pick up the pieces when Sparkle was feeling her absolute worst.

I pull out some blankets from under my bed. They're a bit threadbare in places and not the most comfortable but they'll do. I arrange them on the floor, scattering pieces of my paper as I do so, and then curl up onto them. I look up at Sparkle. She's staring at me and hasn't moved.

I tilt my head towards my bed, "Go on."

Her eyes dart to the bed and then back to me, "Glimmer, I couldn't."

"You look like you haven't slept in days." I say, nestling down onto my blankets.

"No," She winces, "It's near...the anniversary."

The anniversary of Shimmer's death, her boyfriend.

I reach over and pat my bed, "Get some sleep."

I don't wait for her to get in, and I roll over on my blankets. I'm asleep within minutes.

Sunlight filters through my blue curtains, causing wavy lines on the floor, hitting my eyes. I blink and turn away from the stream of daylight, glancing around my room. Aside from the ones I'm lying on, all my sheets of paper are in one place. They're designs for pieces of jewellery that I haven't got round to making yet. Or impossible ideas that I know deep down I'll never make but I just thought were cool.

I turn to the bed, and see that Sparkle is lying there spreadeagled. I smile at how peaceful she looks despite her unusual resting position. The wall of sunlight hasn't reached her yet, and she's snoring gently.

I dress quietly and quickly, and make my way downstairs into the kitchen. It's a small space and Ma and my aunt are side by side brewing coffee and slicing warm bread. It's the standard fare for breakfast, but sometimes if things are going really well in the shops, we can afford to buy luxury goods, like fruit.

An empty plate and half-drunk mug tells me that Moonshine has already risen and left to go to training. I grab some bread from my aunt who gives me a chiding look, and I take my place beside my grandmother, who's reading a newspaper. She's still in her flowery nightgown and she lowers her paper to smile at me in greeting and take a sip of herbal tea.

"How much coffee do we have, Ma?" I ask, between mouthfuls of bread and butter.

"Enough for all of us and a bit more," Ma says, "Why?"

"Enough for me to have two?"

Ma frowns but my aunt laughs, "You're that tired are you, Glim?"

I mean I did go to bed after one in the morning, but considering whoever's job it is to work in the bar in the evenings usually does anyway, I can't really comment.