A nice change

Bullstonks

Remington almost cancelled the trip with Sebastian. Almost. Shadow convinced him to go. He NEEDED to talk to Sebastian about healthier ways of dealing with disagreements. And if he put it out any longer he never would. So thusly Shadow found themself at Emerson's house the next day, sitting at Alva's desk, listening to Alva and Autumn jokingly make fun of Viola's internet friends while laying on the floor.

"Okay but what kinda username is Xx._Bullstonks_.xX?" Teased Autumn.

"They're non-binary and weren't out to their family when they made the account!" Viola defended.

"Okay well that is a fair point, they literally could have chose any other username, and they went with Bullstonks."

"But what's not fair is how this long usernamed guy can do a backflip in high heels while eating a sandwich!!! Like I can't even walk in a straight line with heels on!!!" Complained Alva.

"Well I can't do anything straight ever," Commented Autumn without missing a beat.

"Shadow?" Asked Viola, getting their slightly spaced out attention.

Shadow hummed in response.

"You good? You didn't laugh at a gay joke." Viola asked softly.

"Yeah, just a lot of storylines in my head right now." They said.

"You can plot your lines later, right now is friend time!"

"I know, Autumn, I'm sorry."

"No don't feel bad, do you want to tell us about some of your ideas?" Viola asked in the same soft tone.

"Not really, we can keep talking about Viola's friends."

"Okay, what's wrong?" Asked Autumn. "You never miss up an opportunity to let us in to that twisted world you call a brain."

"Nothing! Honestly Autumn!"

"Hey leave them alone, I'm sure if they'll tell us when they're ready." Said Viola.

Autumn completely ignored Viola, "Seriously I'm just trying to have a good time and you just sitting here being sad is bringing down the mood."

"Then I'll just go hang out with Emerson, I don't want to argue." They said, standing up.

"But that's what we always do!" Said Autumn, standing up as well. "And I can't be happy if one of my friends is unhappy!"

"Please just drop it, we're clearly upsetting Alva," They pointed at the anxious fourteen year old who was currently being calmed down by Viola with literally no tact whatsoever.

"I'm sorry, I think we've all a little stressed."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Asked Viola, remaining calm.

"I- um, it's complicated."

Shadow's face immediately shifted from angry to concerned and promptly led Autumn back down to the floor in front of Viola and Alva, who was still leaning on the former.

"Well uh, I guess only Shadow really knows this but, um, my Mom cheated on my Dad a few years ago."

"Oh, Autumn, that's awful." Whispered Viola.

"Yeah and the guy she cheated with didn't even know she was with somebody. He seemed like a nice dude too."

"I'm so sorry Autumn." Said Alva quietly.

"It's fine, it happened awhile ago. Anyways the nice dude got her pregnant so I guess he felt guilty and decided to stay with her, or maybe he just really did like her, whatever, the point is he was already taking care of his niece who's about two years younger then us but recently the guy got hurt and Mom asked me to ask my Dad if his niece could stay with us to help her out."

"Oh, wow." Alva said again, because what else can you say? Apparently "What happened to the guy?" which was what Viola asked.

"He was in a really bad car accident I think."

"That sucks, I hope he'll be okay." Said Shadow, who knew he was a pretty nice person.

"What's her name?" Asked Alva.

"Violette."

"Oh, that's such a beautiful name." Viola said sadly.

"When's she moving in?" Shadow asked.

"A week or two after my Dad and Remington get back. He only told me yesterday afternoon."

"Oh really?" A lot of things happened yesterday afternoon thought Shadow.

"Yeah, my Mom never talks to me so I was wondering what happened."

"I'm sure she'll come around, but that sucks," Said Viola

"I don't really care anymore to be honest."

"It's weird people keep moving here recently," Noticed Alva, changing the subject for Autumn's sake.

"I'm glad," Said Shadow. If it weren't for their new friends, they might not have forced done something so dramatic Remington and Sebastian finally realized how damaging their ways are. "It's been a nice change so far."