The Ace of Spades

Chapter 10

When Mea slumps out of bed the next day, the sun is peaking up above the treeline and the sky is a cloudless light blue. The leaves and the grass still look wet from the night's dew and the previous day's rainfall, but the humidity that seeps in the window tells Mea it'll all be dry by midday.

The digital alarm clock reads six forty-five, and so Mea makes her way down to the kitchen.

Toto is already sitting at the dining room table, Viv is already slaving over a delicious soon-to-be breakfast, and Jojo is absent.

"Morning, Mea," Toto beams the moment he sees Mea. Mea's heart warms.

"Morning, buddy."

"Morning, Mea! How did you sleep?" Viv smiles, too.

Everyone is so cheerful. Mea is honestly a little cheery, too. (Though she's not cheerful enough to announce that.)

"Good, thanks."

"Good. Scrambled eggs and toast?"

Mea nods, smiling a little. She doesn't miss the way Viv's smile turns up even more when she catches sight of Mea's smile. Mea remembers a quote from somewhere that she heard in sixth or seventh grade. She doesn't remember it directly, but it talks about how happiness is like a mirror. If you're happy, the people around you will be, too. Happiness reflects. That seems to apply this morning.

"Where's Jojo?" Toto asks Mea.

Mea shrugs as she plunks down in the chair she usually sits in.

"Jo's a big girl. She can go out on her own," Viv simply states.

Mea wonders if Viv actually knows where Jojo is, considering her calm demeanour. The last time Jojo was out without anyone knowing her whereabouts, Viv was panicked. Jojo might've had a talk with Viv about this since then. There are many possibilities regarding the situation, and Mea decides not to dwell on a single one.

Instead, she nods along to Toto, who is telling Mea and Viv about the dream he had last night. He's so adorable, so fucking endearing, that Mea's heart feels like it's going to explode out of her chest.

Today, Mea thinks, will be a good day.

**

Mea meets Victor at the cave around nine o'clock. He appears to have just arrived only moments ago when the cave comes into view.

He jumps a little when Mea clears her throat, announcing her arrival.

"Oh, hey, Mea!" He bites his lip for a moment, as if suppressing a grin. "Where were you yesterday?"

Mea shrugs.

Mea thinks about the great day she had with Jojo the previous day. Jojo was, once again, just like the version of Jojo in Mea's head. The sisters smiled and laughed and Mea felt comfortably nostalgic. When Viv and Toto returned, the four of them played Monopoly and drank orange pop, until the sky outside was dark. Mea is thankful for the days that come along - despite how few and far between they always seem to be - where things are okay. Things are good, even. They help to pull her along, give her that extra boost, when she's just dragging along in the swift river of life.

"So you don't know where you were?" Victor chuckles a little.

Mea shrugs. She's a smartass sometimes.

"Can I guess?"

Mea shakes her head quickly.

Victor smiles, shaking his head in amusement. "Fine."

He shuffles into the cave, tugging his backpack along with him, and Mea follows suit.

"You know, I actually thought you weren't okay," Victor says. He eyes Mea in a way that makes her feels as if maybe there's something she doesn't know.