These meetings were overnight things so everyone was herded into the lounge and started fighting over who got the couch. It ended up being Clair and Meri while everyone got to sleep on blankets on the floor. Luckily it was a very large lounge so it was ok. The scientists left after giving them all snacks and movies. Mac decided they were going to watch a romance and everyone groaned. Liquorice snuggled up to Meri and fell asleep before the movie even started. Pepper and Biscuit were muttering to each other in a heated debate about anime while Eclair and Lime sat in the kitchen scoffing the snacks.
Cinna and Milkshake were sat next to each other, pretending to watch the movie although Cinnamon had headphones in and really couldn't care less for sappy romance films. After one romantic scene, she stopped watching and curled up in her sleeping bag and closed her eyes, focusing on the lyrics of the song she had on. Biscuit watched her from her perch on the stairs and sighed. What a light-weight.
After a few minutes of trying to get to sleep, she heard someone scream and she sat bolt-upright. Looking for the source of the noise, she caught sight of Meri hanging upside down from Liquorice's shoulder.
"Let go!! Get off me!!" She shrieked, trying to punch her and failed miserably. She flicked her tail and Liquorice started laughing.
"Get your tail out of my face, it tickles!" She chuckled and sneezed, everyone cooed and Meri started screaming louder. She grabbed the grey tail of her assailant and tugged on it. "Oh, so you wanna get feisty do you??" She started to spin and around as fast as she could and Meri screamed even louder.
"Put me down!! I'm gonna be sick!!" She cried and Liquorice finally gave in. "I'm gonna spew rainbows."
"Sit down, nut job." Macaron rolled her eyes and went to get Meri some water.
Spice appeared and siddled down next to a now very annoyed Cinnamon. She was hungry and tired and quite frankly wished she was anywhere else but here with this rowdy bunch. She side-eyed him and he pulled a mocking face of fear and Cinna scowled. Spice yawned and tried to put his arm around her shoulders and she couldn't help but giggle.
"You really think you're smooth don't you?" She looked down and shook her head.
"I try my best." He laughed and took his arm back.
"You really need to work on it if that's your best then."
"Ouch... brutal." He clasped his hands together and stared at them. Cinnamon was going to say something when Clair came in with a box in her hand.
"Twister!!" She cried, closely followed by Lime.
The couches were moved aside and the mat was placed on the dark wood floor. Meri said she was doing the spinner because she still felt sick- drama queen. On the mat were Biscuit, Sugar, Liquorice, Spice, Pepper, Milkshake and Cinnamon. With so many people it go tangled very quickly. Within five minutes all of them were on the floor in a heap of knotted limbs. Cinnamon lay her head on Biscuit's stomach and grabbed Liquorice's hand. She took back what she thought earlier. She'd much rather be here with these weirdos. Liquorice looked at her through her veil of dark hair and grinned. Biscuit sighed and rolled Cinnamon off her and they all settled down for the night. Lime clapped his hands and the lights went out. However, by this point, Clair and Cinnamon weren't tired.
They went and sat in the back garden and watched as clouds blew softly across the royal blue sky. The stars winked at them and Clair sighed. She was a loud girl, yet no one knew much about her. She just appeared one day and here she was. She had had an inseparable bond with Lime since they'd met. Cinnamon wondered what that was like. Quite frankly she couldn't stand anyone for too long. Unless it was Biscuit or Meri. She'd always been with them, whether she liked it or not. She guessed Liquorice and Pepper could also be added into that because they were never far from their girlfriends. Cinnamon seemed to be a constant 5th wheel.
It was a warm night, a light breeze caressed their faces and played with their hair. Clair leant her head on Cinna's shoulder and let out another sigh. Something was on her mind.
"This isn't normal. How did we get here? I mean, we weren't born here, we must have families out their somewhere, right?"
"I dunno Clair, I wouldn't be able to answer these questions on a good day. I'm an English and Biology professional, not a philosopher and phycologist. I study Shakespear and dissect brains, I don't like to question my identity. If I did that, I would go into a spiral of depression that I'd never escape."
"We're not natural. We're freaks, Cinnamon. I mean, who do you know who's not in our group that's named after a food? It's weird." Clair continued without even taking into account what her companion said. "We shouldn't be here..."
"For crying out loud Clair! You're gonna take me back to that time I... never mind. Look it doesn't matter. We're here and unless you know a way to escape then that's how it's gonna be until we are eighteen. Just go to sleep." Cinnamon reached her hand out and stroked Clair's soft brown hair and soon she was out for the count.
After an hour of sitting outside with Clair on her shoulder, Cinnamon heard the back door open and then swing closed again. Around the corner came the dark figure of Spice. He looked at her with one eyebrow raised and his natural smirk on his face.
"Couldn't sleep? That's a shock." He mocked her and she rolled her eyes. "Is this seat taken?" He plopped himself down next to Cinnamon on the bench and smiled at her. After a few seconds of sitting awkwardly in silence Cinnamon turned to him.
"What?" Rule number one of living in a house with 3 other girls and close to no adult supervision, be suspicious of everything. "What do you want?? Why are you out here?"
"Jeez, I woke up, realised you and Clair were gone and then came outside for fresh air. No need to be so grumpy."
"Whatever. I'm going back in now anyway." She stood up and picked Clair up in her arms.
"Want me to grab that?" Spice held out his arms and Cinnamon let out a breath of anger.
"That is called Clair, and no I've got her it's fine." Cinna headed back inside and as she got to the door she heard Spice come up behind her.
"Why are you so rude to me? I haven't done anything wrong."
"It keeps you guessing." She turned and winked at him then headed back to bed without another word.
