Fools on Parade

4. Nova

drenched in moonlight, the silver stars dripped off her thin fingers. head tilted towards the window, curtains splayed open, she looked ethereal, ghostly, alien. the night hung thickly, balancing, just out of her reach, locked behind the glass window panes. she was clutching a thick white duvet around her like a cape, and in that moment she looked like an absurd superhero, challenging the moon, the stars, the night itself, to a battle. stained coffee cups littered the floor around the bed, and various books lay open around her. on one wall, a chart of the moon's phases took pride of place, next to tacky glow in the dark stars and various pinned up paintings and sketches of sunsets- or sunrises- he could never tell, and never dared to ask. he didn't want to break this image, this moment. didn't want to shatter the porcelain girl sitting flooded in the universe.

 'Nova, ' he whispered. her gaze dropped from the incredible view before her, and she slumped into the cocoon of the pale bedsheets. the moonlight illuminated her grey eyes as she looked up at him, weak, no longer a beautiful porcelain figurine but a whitewashed ragdoll, who could no better command her own limbs to stand than command the night sky. her skinny arms reached out and dragged a grey jumper over her messy lilac hair, and she pulled herself away from the stars. she was small, smaller than him by far, despite the fact they were twins. he had always felt protective towards her, from in the primary school playground to her early teen relationships with flaky guys who didn't care- it was just older sibling reflexes he thought, even if he was only older by a few minutes. 'can't sleep.' she muttered, pushing past him and making her way downstairs to the kitchen.

deep down, he knew she didn't need protecting, knew that she was fine alone and independent, but he couldn't help it. she was bullied at school when they were younger for her unique mannerisms and attitude, and sometimes she used to come home crying to him about it, curl up in his arms and they would forget the world together, telling stories and playing make believe. then, she stopped crying to him, and instead would sit by herself in her room, sobbing into her pillow at night. eventually, she simply stopped caring and became a closed off version of herself, untouched by harsh words and slurs, 'the cat that walked by itself'- a fairytale creature no one could touch.

this was the girl now huddled in front of her brother, crouching, cat-like on a stool at the kitchen counter, brewing a pot of coffee. right now, she was looking none of those things- she wasn't strong, resolute, wasn't emotional, wasn't empty, wasn't cheerful- she was just nova.

'fifth cup of coffee tonight huh?'

'shut up alex. i know it isn't exactly helping , but live fast die young right?' she smiled weakly at her brother, who had now taken a seat opposite her. he chuckled, before the two lapsed into companionable silence. the kitchen clock was the only noise, rhythmically breaking the quiet. 

'5:20' it read. 

She reached over, and turned on the old radio on the kitchen counter, and after a brief bought of faint crackling the music drifted over the coffee pot steam and into the kitchen, lazily flowing through the early morning like a soft breeze. 

'so, what is it?' he asked finally, looking up from where he was fiddling with his t-shirt underneath the counter. she sighed, leaning back against the wall, her dishevelled purple hair, baggy t-shirt and smudgy makeup around tired grey eyes contrasting with their mothers pristinely white tiled kitchen and spotlessly clean surfaces. 'i told you, can't sleep. the moon looked incredible, i was kinda stressed about life n shit, so i decided that actually sleep is for the weak, and to just appreciate the little things y'know? i needed to just remember there are bigger things out i guess.' 

'actually, that's a pretty legitimate reason capitano. you are forgiven.' with a gracious bow, alex smiled, and turned back to the counter. 

'so, why are you up then?' she quizzed. 'seeing as it's show and tell this fine monday morning.'

'that, is a very good question little sister'. he replied, getting up to take the kettle off of the hob, and preparing two mugs of coffee for them both. they had always been close, and he had never  had any inhibitions about sharing anything with nova- in fact, he often came to her for advice and even just for the sake of some company. sure, they fought sometimes, but which siblings didn't? it was just being family. 

'if you must know' he began, startled when his voice caught a little in his throat, 'lizzie broke up with me last night, and i've been watching crappy films and feeling sorry for myself all evening.' he returned to fiddling with his shirt.               

 'although i guess it's morning now.' he sighed.

 Nova hated seeing him like this, but who hadn't seen it coming? teen relationships were never forever- but she couldn't say that. And anyway, Alex had a habit of attracting bitchy, air headed girls who wanted nothing more than a rebound, or dated him out of spite- showing their 'no-good-ex' just how totally over them they were. He always fell for the act though, poured his heart and soul into each and every relationship, treated 'her' like the queen to his king and then was left with nothing but a rushed text saying 'it's over' in the end.

'sorry dude,' she began, uncertain of what to say that would help. 'umm, you guys seemed pretty cute. I'm sure she had good reasons and it probably wasn't your fault- you're a great guy, even if you drag me into the kitchen for coffee at five in the morning.' she grinned, trying to lighten the mood.

'alas, all good things must come to an end.' being serious about stuff like this was never going to help. changing tack,she sat up straighter and put on a stupid voice-  'i suggest you should.. write a poem about your heartbreak, of love and loss. make it beautiful, make it heart wrenching, make me feel! and give yourself an award. I want the page to wrench my heart form my chest and make me wail in anguish! compose a song about your true feelings and perform it on top of a cliff face in the middle of a hurricane; sing out your worries!' her voice getting louder and louder, she leapt up and danced around the counter, a mad five AM melody bursting from her as she followed this mad train of thought into wherever it took her. 'scream into the void my friend! do it!' she grabbed him by the hands, laughing, and twirled him about the kitchen until they were both dizzy and smiling. finally, she stopped, giggling, and collapsed onto the floor. 

' i guess crappy films were more accessible. and sensible.' she finally conceded, climbing back into her chair and giving him a friendly nudge. he smiled back. 'thanks nova- glad i got your approval on my entirely independent grieving methods.' she grinned. 'anytime kiddo.' 

the clock continued it's rhythm, ticking on the wall. 6:00 it read. 

'looks like it's time to begin the daily grind huh? Alex muttered. 'school fucking sucks.' 

Nova nodded in agreement. 'but, our all important education for our future awaits! let us go forth not as men, but warriors, making a wild foray into the battlefield that is Regents secondary school. Go well my brother, and may the odds be ever in your favour!' 

'always a drama queen, honestly nova.' he grinned, standing up and stretching. 

'oh but of course darling.' she replied with a flourish of her arm. 'we're seriously gonna need all our strength for today though, especially seeing as i'm pretty sure neither of us actually slept. just don't tell mum' she laughed and left, striding upstairs, somehow looking powerful in her hello kitty pyjama bottoms and t-shirt. his little sister didn't need protecting, he was sure of that. But that didn't mean he wouldn't. Alex sighed, getting up and putting the cups in the sink, glancing out of the window. the spectacular moon had dipped, and was now nothing more than a faint  grey tint in the sky, cowering behind the fiery grasp of the suns rays, rising from behind the hillside to start the new day. the amber tendrils of warmth were lighting up the kitchen, casting pretty shadows on the walls. he sighed, and wandered upstairs to get ready.  maybe everything would be okay after all.

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A/N: okay so i know i suck at writing conversations but there's my best attempt. song at the top is I love you by the bees which is cute and was what i imagine coming on the radio at 5am so enjoy that.

I'm thinking this will  be a multiple P.O.V story (in case you hadn't guessed) but ima try make it as clear a possible in the narrative, hence character names as chapters.

-Thalia