Iterum | A Zodiac Story

2.5| The Treehouse

Year: 1995

Pisces stood up in her blue overalls that were, once again, covered in paint. This time, at least she wasn't dripping with it. She had her hair in two Dutch braids and she was painting a wooden wall an eggshell white. She was using the roller while Aquarius, whose hair had frizzed up considerably, was using the paint brush for the edges.

"Make sure it doesn't drip," Aquarius scolded her.

Pisces nodded and wiped the roller on Aquarius' arm. Aquarius shrieked and flung paint back at Pisces. The two of them engaged in a war in which neither would make it out with their life. Pisces got paint in Aquarius' hair, and in turn Aquarius let the paint drip down Pisces overalls. Pisces shivered as the paint made its way into unsavory places. The war raged on, as if Hannibal Lector himself were leading it, until the paint made it's way unto Aries, who just sighed.

"I literally gave you guys the easiest job," Aries criticized. "How are you messing this up?"

Pisces shrugged and flicked more paint onto Aries. In turn Aries took an empty paint can and put it over Pices' head. She gave Aquarius a warning glance, causing her to immediately get back to work. Pisces gagged from inside of the can.

"This tastes terrible," she murmered.

"Then don't taste it," Virgo replied, taking the can off of Pisces' head. "C'mon, guys, we have to focus. We have too get this done before snow sets in."

"The snow won't set in for a while," Pisces complained. "Chill out."

Leo shook her head. "Hawaii has messed with your head. You have forgotten what its like here."

Pisces scoffed. "I live in Hawaii when I'm not here. Give me a break."

Scorpio looked up from nailing two pieces of wood together. "This is Connecticut, though. Here, snow comes in when you least expect it. Last quarantine, there was snow in May."

Aquarius huffed. "We get your point. We'll start working."

"Thank you," Aries replied.

She and Scorpio were working on drilling pieces of wood together to form walls of what would soon be a treehouse. Pisces and Aquarius were painting the walls while Leo and Virgo were putting the base together, as the two of them were most experienced with building. Together, they were building a treehouse in the woods behind Scorpio's house so that they could have a hangout. They hadn't yet figured out a roof, but their plan was to use a mix of wood and metal sheets for insulation; also, they needed a way to insulate the walls to make it withstand the winter, but they hadn't come to that stage yet.

"This treehouse is going to be bangin'," Virgo said.

"It will be if you do your damn work," Aries replied haughtily.

Virgo sneered at her. "Eat my shorts, Oprah."

Scorpio rolled his eyes at the bickering pair. "Shut it, you two. Virgo is making polite conversation so stop being such a hothead, Aries."

"I am not a hothead!" Aries shouted. "I am so chill!

The group exchanged weary glances and returned to their work silently. Aries watched as her traitor-friends ignored Scorpio's accusation. She let out a loud sigh and continued working with Scorpio on the walls.

"I hear they're taking the old well down," Leo said quietly. Everyone's attention immediately snapped to Leo.

"They can't take down the old well," Scorpio muttered. "We all met at that well."

"Correction, you all met at that well," Virgo reminded them. "I met you guys at the hospital after you saved me from the well."

"How did you fall down there again?" Aquarius asked, cracking a smile.