may shatter on impact (tronnor)

97. Nora and Zoe & Forgetting

Nora and Zoe dragged me out of my house somehow, shoving me into a car kindly and money into my hands roughly.

"Come on. We're going shopping," Zoe said, already beginning to drive away.

"I feel like you missed an amazing opportunity to quote Mean Girls," Nora signs.

I manage to smile at that, tearing my eyes away from the house drifting away and the mug of hot chocolate still undrunk on the table by the window.

Nora and Zoe stand on either side of me as we wander throughout the hallways with lights lit too brightly and, for some reason, a waterfall.

I frown as we pass it, shiny pennies glimmering at the bottom of the pool, a dime or nickel peeking through the water every now and them.

"It was a donation," Zoe asked, "from Phil's parents, I think, in honor of the hundredth anniversary or something. Pointless, really, but so is almost everything that his parents do with their money."

I nod at that, the idea of having enough money to just donate a waterfall to a mall for no reason completely alien to me. Yeah, my family moved across the country, but it was for a reason, and besides we had to work pretty freaking hard to get that money. And Phil's parents were just tossing it around.

"They're kind of a weird family. Rich, but strange about it," Nora signs, tapping my shoulder to get my attention and pull me away from my thoughts.

Zoe nods, then quickly changes the topic by squealing excitedly about some store I had never heard of. They dragged me inside, the bright colors hitting me instantly. There are three light pink walls and one hot pink and covered in...ice cream flavors?

"Frozen yogurt," Zoe explains, grabbing a cup. "Take one, I'll pay for us."

Nor and I both thank her and we share a second of smiles before rushing to the wall of machines with flavors and toppings. For a few hours of frozen yogurt and clothes and bad food court food and shoes and laughing, I almost forget that everything is a mess. I let myself be happy even though he's not waiting for me at home.

And that's okay.

this entire part was written on december 1 btw