Tony's (not so) Little Girl

8: Confusion

"Don't make this worse then it is," Tony growled

Tony moved to get up but stopped as Steve's hand gripping his wrist and pulled him down. I had lost so much of my family, I didn't think I would be able to handle loosing my mother. I narrowed my eyes at Tony and moved to say something, but Anna instead stood up in front of me and glared down my verbal attacker.

"Don't you dare," Analise spat, getting all riled up "Don't you dare try and force Lilith into something she doesn't want to do! Are you aware of how much this girl has lost!? Everything! Everything she thought she had she lost! And now you want to tear her away from what little she has left? Fuck this! You are such an asshole, did you know that? You're a monster!"

Anna gripped my arm and mumbled at me to follow her, barely giving me time to grab the empty container and my book. I quickly gripped the two items and followed my friend without a word. My head spun and I wobbled quite a bit, but I had to get up and get moving. I had an hour and a half until I had to be at the townhall, and there was no way I would be ready in time. I had to collect my costume, had to do hair and makeup, and had to get some food and drink into my stomach before I passed out. What I needed most, was to go home.

But that just couldn't happen.

I followed Anna accross the school and into the year ten locker area. I almost broke down when I saw my mother standing in front of my locker with my bag in her hand. I could feel my eyes go wide and my hands fly to my mouth. Eventually I couldn't take it any more, and I ran at her. I ran towards my mother and threw my arms around her shoulders. I burried my head in the crook of her neck and just breathed in her scent. An odd combination of roses, strawberries and baked goods.

"Jeeeesus fuck," I laughed through a sob "Gods..."

Mum didnt say anything, and just let me hug her. Together, we had been through so much, and I just needed her hugs. I just needed hugs in general. I let out another small laugh and gestured Anna over, holding my arm out to her. I wouldn't have gotten this far without my supports and these two were some of the most prominent.

"Dancing this weekend, and the tallent show the next. What have you gotten yourself into, Lils?" Mum asked with a small laugh
"Too much," I sighed, hard and pulled away "Now let's get going, We've got shit to do."

I picked my bag up from the floor and swung it over my shoulder. I quickly did an inspection of my locker, not knowing when I would open it next, before closing it and beginning to walk out of the school grounds. I walked out past the gates, Mum and Anna in tow, before waiting till Mum unlocked the car and I could open the door and slide in. Without a mirror I pulled my makeup bag from my school bag and applied my several shades too dark foundation, just hoping that it was even. As Anna and Mum got in the car and got the car started I continued, doing my makeup from the minute we left the school.

"Did you sign me out?" I asked Mum once we had partially pulled away
"Of course I did," she nodded
"Thank you," I thanked, sighing in relief

I continued to do my makeup, eventually having to pull out a mirror. I wasn't focussing on anything until we stopped at home, at which point I moved to get out of the car but got glared at by Anna, who got out for me.

"No touch," she called back at me "No."
"It's in the bedroom!" I called back, shaking my head and letting a laugh bubble up in my chest
"Tony isn't going to like Artemus," Mum warned as Anna got out
"I know but I'm not going to dump her just for him and if he thinks otherwise he can shove a fire hydrant up his ass."

She just flashed me a thumbs up. Whilst we were parked and stationary I pulled out my mirror to quickly do my eye makeup. Luckily, I got it done just as Anna was walking out the door, my costume in her arms. I grinned at her as she slipped back into the car and gently passed my costume back to me, from the front seat to the back.

"Thanks girl," I sighed thankfully "You're a life saver."
"Hey hey hey, I'm the one that gave her the spare key!" Mum exclaimed
"Hey hey heyyyy children, no fighting," Anna giggled "Okay? Mmmkay? Food now?"

We all giggled and Mum agreed. Food it was. So we all geared up and drove to the nearest fast food joint: KFC. Heather, despite being our own mini ballerina, was still at school and not needed at the town hall till later then I was. She also didn't have to be in full hair and makeup. As we were ordering and then driving to the town hall I twisted my hair into a bun, pinning it all in place at the back of my head.

By the time we got to the town hall we were almost exactly on time. We all got out of the car as quickly as we could, dashing to the dressing rooms to get a spot. As soon as we found a spot in the almost derelict dressing rooms to call our own we lined it with blankets and filled it with stuff. It may have only been a small corner but it was our small corner and we had claimed it. Anna, Mum and I ate quickly before slipping our shoes off and running out to where the stage was to meet with the dance instructors and see if we could help with anything at all.

We moved scenery pieces, counted the props, rung up costume box mums, and swept the stage. We had promised to help set up for one of the last stage run throughs and so there we were, a mere half hour before anyone else would get there, running arround like a bunch of headless chickens trying to make sure everything was in order.

It was like that every year.