The Ace of Spades

Chapter 9

It's dreary and rainy when Mea wakes up at six thirty. Mea's first thought is regarding her sanity, or lack thereof. It's summer vacation, she is sixteen, and she wakes up at six thirty for no real reason. Obviously Mea is insane.

Her second thought is that she might just lay in bed all day. Mea hasn't just laid there for years - not since Toto came into the picture, at least. Obviously going to the cave for serenity is not an option. Victor is nice but the silence he allows is only every so often. As if compensation for the fact that he usually blathers on about nothing and everything all at once.

The rain drizzles outside, creating a lullaby, and Mea lays half under the covers, half not under the covers, listening to the rain. It's probably Mea's favourite sound, since silence isn't really considered a sound.

The digital alarm clock on Mea's dresser reads seven thirty when her door opens a fraction, Jojo's head peeping inside, then swings open for Jojo to step inside when Jojo sees Mea is awake.

Fuck. Mea should've faked being asleep.

"Morning," Jojo whispers.

"Morning."

Jojo pulls the covers up on the left side of the bed, crawling in without permission.

"Remember when we used to do this?" Jojo giggles.

Mea takes in the sight of Jojo, noting that she is still in her pyjamas but looks extremely tired. She smells like someone else. The scent is more masculine, spiced even, and Mea knows exactly why she smells the way she does.

Elliot the Idiot.

"Yeah," Mea says, sighing a little.

"Why weren't you at breakfast?"

"I'm staying right here all day."

Jojo pokes Mea in the arm.

"You are not! What about your boyfriend?" Jojo teases.

Mea turns so Jojo can see her face wholly, then rolls her eyes as forcefully as she can.

"Sassy, even with body language."

Mea smiles. "You can stay but if you talk I will suffocate you with a pillow." Mea is only half joking.

"Why aren't you going out today, though?"

Mea realises the two of them are still whispering.

"Why are we whispering?"

"Stop ignoring my question! Tell me."

Mea rolls back onto her back, and feels Jojo shift to do the same. It feels like something out of a memory from twelve years ago. Mea pushes the thought away, it's irrelevant now.

"He's annoying. He never shuts up and I just want a day of quiet."

"You think everyone is annoying," Jojo retorts.

"Especially you."

Mea sits up swiftly, tugging at her pillow and hitting Jojo in the face with it. Jojo squeals and laughs, wiggling about in the sheets. This is not similar to a memory from twelve years ago, and Mea supposes she's glad for that.

**

Mea already knew she missed breakfast, but Viv reminds her with a worried expression when Mea and Jojo walk downstairs around eight.

"Mea, are you alright?" Viv whispers with a worried look.

Mea nods.

Jojo busies herself with Toto while Viv interrogates Mea. Toto looks elated to play with Jojo and his horses, Max and Ruby.