*(Is this all we see?)*

~*Chapter 22*~

Midnight walked downstairs soon after Dawn left. He wanted to talk to his mother. Even if she was going to be stubborn and hardly listen. She hated arguing, and he hated hearing them argue.

Dawn hated it too, she told him Willow was the same.

And with Willow still at home instead of with Lilly at the sick bay, it was more noisy having to deal with her crying. Even if she stayed in Fawns room.

Midnight stayed by the stairs for a few long feeling minutes. He didn't know what to do. Yeah he hated Lilly before but now? He wasn't feeling any extra hate. In a way Midnight thought he should. But he didn't.

He slowly stepped down the stairs and to the kitchen. Seeing his mother there. She was sat in front of counter, her head in her hands. "Mom?"

"Oh.." Fawn put down her cup from her lips; eyes half closed when he sat across. He didn't know what to say. What was there to say. He was the cause of their argument. Him. Their son. It seemed like he was the cause of all the conflict around the current days. "I'm sorry."

"For?"

"Causing you and Lilly to argue." He shoved his arms together. "It's always me isn't it?" He stuffed a light laugh. Fawn quickly lifted her head.

"Never." She frowned. "You can't blame yourself like that. You know it wasn't you..ever." Fawn took a sip of her water. Her face seeming to become even more saddened. "Well..Christmas huh."

"Yep. People will still obsess over me hurting myself. And I will have my mom arguing with her girlfriend."

"Fiancé."

"Whatever." Midnight groaned. "She's an idiot. I swear I just can't stand her."

Fawn shifted in her seat. Her water being empty, she looked at her sons blue eyes with her own blue ones. "Midnight Harper Woods. I really, really want you to make an effort to be nice to her." She clutched the top of his hand. "Please."

"After what she said?"

"Yes. After what she said. After all she's done I've still forgiven her."

"Barely." He rolled his eyes. "I can't believe you're still okay with her."

"Please?"

He pulled his hand back, slouching in his seat. "Fine. Whatever."

~~~~~~

That night Midnight slept terribley. He wished sleep would be better. Especially after finally saying what he was doing. Even if he felt uneasy about it. It still felt better for her to know.

When he picked up his phone he saw a text. From Nick. Surprising since he thought he would have Christmas plans. Or having to hang out with his friends. "How's life Shy kid?"

Midnight frowned. 'Why does he care about my life? Right now..'

Midnight: "alright I suppose. How about you?"

Nick texted back pretty quickly. "Ah you know. Hanging out with my family for the holidays. Surprising enough my friends haven't contacted me. Wonder if they're doing anything for the holidays. Knowing Levi and Kevin it's probably drinking."

Midnight chuckled lightly, texting back with a bright feeling smile. "Yeah. I'm surprised you're not."

Nick: "I don't always you know."

Midnight: "Whatever you say Cool boy."

Nick: "And what? You don't drink?"

Midnight: "You wish. But no, not my bad habit if you're wondering."

Nick didn't text back for a while after that. Midnight would be lying if he said no to constantly watching his phone for a text to pop up. But instead of just staring he plugged in his headphones, and started up his favorite playlist. Mostly consisting of somber songs.
While he did that he drew, a few different things, but from reference he started to draw someone a little similar looking to Nick. Holding a leather jacket over his shoulder and a cigarette sticking out of his mouth from his teeth. His hair was perfectly shaped into a quiff as well.

It was hours before he even bothered to check his phone again. No notifications but it was at least three hours later. He pulled off his headphones. Voices. The first thing Midnight could pay attention to was two, maybe three voices. Female. Lilly. It had to be. 'She wasn't wrong when she said that she'd be coming back.'

He climbed off of his bed, pulled on a grey baggy hoodie, and walked away from his room. He learned around the wall. Yep. Lilly was right near the stairs, her eyes looked red. She was stressed. Tired maybe. But that was all by looks. She was holding Fawns shoulders, her hands moving up and down her arms. "You know I didn't—mean to say it like that." She whispered.

"I know," Fawn replied, "but that doesn't change the fact that you offended him. He's our son..and he's so young and scared.." She paused again. "His magic scares him. I know that, and that's why he's in human school. Because if he can't use his magic since it's evil. He won't use it at all. He wants to be normal."

"I know. I get it." Lilly nodded solomly. "After I became a healer I—you know magic was more of an important factor. I know these things now. I was just worried." 'Worried? Right whatever.' " He thought.

"I get that. It still doesn't change what you said. You-you said he brings a.." she shook her head after she stopped talking. He knew she couldn't say it. He couldn't either. "You know what? Please don't do that again. That's all. I just want to have a good Christmas and now is not the time to argue or cause conflict."

"Right. Okay." She kissed her forehead. "Last time. I'm sorry."

"Me too. I probably should have listened to anything else you had to say, and not kicked you out."

Midnight slipped out from the corner to walk downstairs. Lilly backed up from Fawn. His mom looked up at him. "Midnight.."

"I know. Just forget about it." He managed to create a fake smile. "It doesn't matter. She was just being honest...brutally honest but..I can't be angry. It's not worth it right now." He walked the rest of the way. Walking passed Lilly he glared. "That still doesn't mean I forgive you for anything you've done."

"Midnight please—."

Midnight held up his hand to silence her. He didn't want to hear it. Not now. He didn't want to hear her pathetic attempt at trying to make him forgive. He wasn't going to. He knew everything, everything she said.

And because of Dawn, he knew she was still afraid. Even if she tried not to be.

——
Thanks for reading!

~Liz <3