Green-Eyed | Violentine

Part Thirty-Six | The Hard Times Circle Around

Two girls walk side by side along the beaten path.

Under their feet, the tarmac is cracked, and green stalks sprout up from the gaps in the grey stone. The young woman walking by the roadside looks down at her boots before glancing at the environment around her, it's a beautiful day.

The late May weather brings with it a bout of plentiful sunshine, and the first hints of summer are tangible in the air around her when she breathes in. The scent of summer is distinct on the breeze, like individual notes of flavour in a glass of wine.

Sophie closes her eyes and breathes it in, savouring on the way the air fills her lungs as she inhales. She stumbles slightly over an uneven paving slab, and by her side, a chuckle disrupts her peaceful state of mind.

"Watch your step Soph," says Minerva as she smugly smiles.

Sophie rolls her eyes and clears her throat. She knows what she wants to say in reply, but the words seem lodged in her windpipe.

"Minnie," she says softly, hoping that her sister will be in a good mood this afternoon, "did you see what happened today?"

Minerva reaches behind her ear and removes the cigarette that rests there, she clicks the lighter and holds the tip of the cigarette against the flame. She inhales deeply, inspecting the cigarette between her fingers as she holds it out to her twin. "Want a drag?" she questions as she turns her head to the side and breathes out the tobacco.

The smell of smoke cuts through the sweet summer scents and Sophie frowns.

"No," she says, wafting her hand in the air to distribute the grey fog from her vision. "You shouldn't be smoking anyway; dad doesn't like it when you come home smelling of smoke." Sophie pauses as she looks back at her feet.

"And you know what he's like, he's bad enough without something to piss him off."

"He's nice to Tenn," says Minerva matter of facilely as she brings the cigarette to her lips again.

Sophie tightens the grip on her bag as the two girls wait to cross the street. "That's because Tenn does as he's told and he's a sweet boy."

"Well I'm not twelve anymore," states Minerva as she sucks deeply on the cigarette, tapping off the excess ash with her fingertips. "I'm twenty, and he still thinks he can tell me what to do."

Sophie drums her fingers against her upper thigh as she thinks of a way to try and get her sister back on track. "Can I talk to you about something?" she asks, feeling slightly anxious.

"Obviously," states Minerva with little hesitation. "I am your twin after all," the redhead smiles for a moment and Sophie thinks that maybe Minerva isn't all that bad. Afterall she cares deeply about her siblings.

"It's just all this stuff that's going on with Clementine and Violet," she says quietly, not quite able to bring herself to look at her sister. She can feel the tension that's building though.

Minerva rolls her eyes as she breathes in deeply, relishing one last puff on her cigarette before she drops the item between her fingers to the ground, stomping on it as she rubs her heel into the pavement.

"I'm just having fun," she states. Her expression doesn't change at all.

Sophie looks at the clouds rolling above her head and sighs, she knew Minerva would be like this. "It's just that you're ruining their relationship Minnie," Sophie bites her lip as she awaits her sister's response.

"I don't really care," mutters Minerva as she sprays perfume on her upper chest, trying to cover up the heavy smell of smoke.

"Minerva," says Sophie sternly as she reaches out and grabs her sisters shoulders, holding her in place. "You need to leave them alone; I know what you're trying to do. I know it's shit at home with our controlling dad and I know that your ex used you, but that doesn't make it okay to do the same thing to Violet." Minerva raises her eyebrows as she studies her twin.