Call Me Six

22: 'Permanently Sparkling' -Tris

TRIS-

She was beaming; those blue eyes glowing with joy. Just like the time she went to Disney Land and met each and every princess there. "Tris!" she squealed and bombarded down the stairs.

He was still carrying me - claiming that he didn't want me to fall again.

"Hey, Princess," I said as he crouched down on the floor to where her thin arms were able to wrap tightly around my neck. "Haven't seen you in ages. Look how much you've grown!"

"I know! I'm almost seven now, Trissy! Just three more weeks and then it's my birthday party! Have you come back for my birthday? Toby said he'd gotten me the biggest suprise. Are you my suprise?! I mean it's a bit early if you are but thank you thank you thank you Trissy! You have to come to my birthday party. You have to promise to come to my birthday party." The young girl pulled away from me and started bouncing up and down on the spot. "Are you here to play princesses with me again? Toby had Christina play princesses with me whilst you were gone but she wasn't very good at it. She didn't dance with me like you did, Tris."

"Oh really," I smirked and angled my head towards Tobias, only to see him trying - and failing - to hide a massive grin. "Well, let's hope that I can make up for your lack of dancing today, shall we."

She cheered and ran around the house throwing handfuls of glitter everywhere that she'd scooped up from a small bowl.

"I see she's not given up the glitter, then," I mumbled as Tobias carried me through to the living room before placing me down on the couch.

"I must find the perfect dress!" Sophie squealed before running back up the stairs.

"Nope, thanks to you, the house and everything we own is permanently sparkling," he smirked and propped a pilow behind my head.

It's strange, his eyes stayed locked on me the entire time. Not once looking away. But it's the look his eyes held that was strange; a look I'd not seen in a long time from him...

And then I realised he was leaning closer - my own body subconsciously mirroring his action.

Stop it.

"Um," I fumbled and the space between us grew, "is there any chance I could borrow an ice pack? For my jaw, I mean-"

"Sure," he said, standing up quickly, "I'll be right back with one."

Turning away, he fled to the kitchen - his shoulders squared and hands burrowing deep in his jean pockets.

My head was throbbing. I started to doze in and out of various stages of sleep until I felt the numbing cold on my jaw and a warm blanket cradled me before I finally succumbed to the beauty of nothing.

~

"Tris..." Whispered giggles pulled me from my peaceful slumber.

My eyes fluttered open, revealing the blonde girl echoing my name before me.

"Toby's asleep... Will you help me put makeup on him, please?" she says, trying really hard not to be too loud.

"Sure," I reply, stifling my own laughter, "where is he?"

One small finger pointed over my shoulder and I stared at her confused before peeking at her target; it was the young man himself that was cradling me - not a blanket of any kind. One arm was nestled under my head whilst the other held loosely around my waist.

I panicked. Rolling off the couch and out of his grip trying my hardest not to let the profanities spring from my mouth.

He stirred slightly, adjusting his position before continuing to rest.

"So will you help me put lipgloss on him?"

~

By the time we were finished, he was wearing a heavy layer of sparkly eyeshadow, blush to the point he looked sunburnt in two patches, an incredibly poorly done mascara job, and just under an entire tube of pink
lip-gloss had been dumped out on his face.

"He's heavy sleeper, isn't he?"

"Not normally... Maybe he just secretly likes makeup so is pretending to be asleep."

~

I'd just finished making Sophie macarony and cheese, which she insisted I add pink food dye and edible glitter to, when Tobias finally woke up. He walked into the kitchen just as Sophie began to eat with an unamused expression.

And then he grinned, batted his goopy lashes and flung himself against the door frame. "Be warned... There's a new princess in town and she's coming to steal your crown."

To this Sophie cheered and began to clap viciously. "I told you he liked makeup!"

At this point I wasn't even bothered about hiding my laughter. "Why, don't you look stunning," I smirked.

"I do, don't I. However I am gonna have to wash this off before my eyeballs glue shut." With that he turned back out the kitchen. "By the way," he said, head darting back into view, "I must say that dress is exquisite. Fabulous Tinkerbell."

I scooped the remainder of the pasta into two bowls for Tobias and I and sat down at the circular table with Sophie. A few moments later he returned, having successfully removed the sparkly mess from his face.

Sophie hummed from where she sat between us. "Tris makes the best mac and cheese."

"Ouch, Soph, glad to know my cooking is insufficient."

"It's true though... Your's is too runny. And half the time you don't let me add enough pink to it."

"I'll be sure to improve it next time then. Maybe I should ask Tris for the recipe."

"Yes. You should."

~

The Disney soundtrack was playing again, and the little girl was sat on my hip as we danced around. Every now and then, I'd spin, hoisting her up above my head and into the air before dipping back down so her hair brushed the floor. "Again!" she'd cheer, and the sequence would repeat.

"I'm dizzy," she giggled, and I placed her back down on the floor. "Toby it's your turn to dance with Tris." At the sound of that, we both froze. "What? Have you forgotten how to dance?"

She stood up off the floor and went over to Tobias, pulling him by the hand over to me.

"I can't believe you've forgotten. It's the lack of practice, you see... Just hold hands and spin like you used to."

With a quirk of his eyebrow, he took my hands in his. "Come on, Tris. Just like old times."

I sighed, relaxing slightly. "Just like old times."

We spun, swaying slightly until we both started laughing. He wrapped his  arms around my waist. I let my own rest on his shoulders.

Sophie clapped and cheered, spinning once more in her own little circle.

"Best day ever!"