Vestige | The Society

Twenty | Ice Cream

A few days earlier, Alexandrea sat on the bed, one of her Father's journals in her hands. She read over the words trying to understand her father's mentality. 'Those girls were the light of my life. Merina had always been there for her sister, acting more like a mother than their mother did. I just hope that Alexandrea lives for her sister' Alex laughed, agreeing with her Father's words. Her mind drifted back to one of the Days that Merina had picked her up to school. 

***  F l a s h b a c k  ***

"Can we get ice cream," Little Alexandrea asked, tugging on her sisters arm.  The older girl looked down, rolling her eyes. But when she looked into her little sister's bright blue eyes, her heart melted. The younger of the two sucked on her bottom lip, waiting for a response. Reluctantly, Merina nodded her head. She laughed as Alexandrea jumped as high as her little legs could push her. Her light blue pinafore jumping up with her. 

The two skipped down the road. The sun beamed down on them, the summer heat trying to burn them alive. People threw Merina a few looks, thinking that she was the mother of the excitable girl. Alex didn't notice.  She was fixated on her favourite ice cream shop. Merina was happy. Watching her little sister with her wavy brown hair and light blue eyes. A small ball of innocence and childish ignorance. They walked into the shop. The man peering over the counter, smiling at the two. "Ah, my favourite customers!" The old woman grinned at the two. Her hair was grey with a few strips remaining of her ginger hair. Her eyes a stunning hazel, with a green rim. 

"Good Afternoon, Mrs Lana," Alexandrea smiled at the old woman. 

"Afternoon. Cookies and cream?" The little girl nodded her head frantically. The thought of the creamy goodness making her even more excited. She watched as the older woman scooped it into a cone. A swirl of chocolate sauce and caramel on top. "There we go. What about you, Merina?"

The Teenager shook her head, "Nothing for me," She held up the money. The teen was saving up for her little sister's birthday present and party. It was in a few weeks, so money was short. While their Father was as good as he could be, their mother barley contributed anything to the family. She would buy a card and slip in thirty pounds. She would most likely be working an extra long shift, leaving Merina and their Father to look after the younger girl.

"Vanilla and strawberry swirl then. On the house," Mrs Lana mouthed the ending. Alexandra was too busy already gobbling down the ice cream. Chewing on the small chunks of cookie dough. Merina smiled at the older woman. She gave her the money and took her ice cream.

"What do you say to Mrs Lana?"

"Thank you La La," The smaller girl said. Her mouth surrounded by ice cream. Merina laughed taking a napkin to wipe the girls mouth. 

"Bye girls,"

"Bye," They chimed in, leaving the shop. Both laughed as they jogged down the road towards their house. The sisters eating their ice creams as though it were the best meal they ever had. However, Merina's smile dropped as she saw her mother's car outside of their house. They went inside. Their mother turned towards them with a forced smile. Alexandrea ran past her mother, into her father's arms. The man swung his daughter in circles making her giggle. Stopping to rest her on his hip. "Careful, Drea was insistent that got ice cream," The teen laughed, ignoring her mother as well.

"I can tell. What is that around you mouth?" Their father asked the small girl.

"Cookie and Cream,"

"The best! High five," The two high fived.

"Alexandrea. Why don't you go upstairs and wash your face," The small girl nodded her head, rushing up the stairs. Merina's smile dropped. Looking at the woman with a sheepish look. her mother was insistent with reducing their sugar. But she had never seen the puppy dog look Alexandrea would give them. "Ice cream?"

"When you start being in our lives, then you can complain and tell us what to do. She's a little girl. I'd like to keep her as happy as I long as much as I can. At least before you ruin her," Merina relied, giving the woman a pointed look. Their mother held her head high, quirking an eyebrow at the attitude. She was the type that thought 'respect your elders.' While Merina thought 'respect must be earned'. 

"She's right, Hunny. She is a child. Leave her be," Their dad tried to argue. The older woman stood up scoffing and walking past the two. Merina turned, throwing her middle finger up. Her father trying not to laugh and alert the hag who walked away. "Merina. She is you mother,"

"Biologically. That is all she is. You know I always thought that bio family had to family forever. But I had never thought so wrong. Mrs Lana is more motherly than she will ever be. Even Mrs Lana was there when she found out about my PCOS. That woman, went on a vacation," The man pulled her into a hug, letting her squeeze him near to death. He didn't mind. He had seen how much that had hurt her. Finding out that not only did she have that, but she didn't have any eggs left, had pained the girl. She had dream of having children. Of being a better mother than her mother was. She already knew she wanted to adopt one child. But something still hurt about the realisation that she could never have them biologically.

"Which is why, Alexandrea needs you. You are a mother to her Meri," Merina sighed. She knew it already. She did everything that their biological mother was supposed to. Picking her up from school, dropping her off at school. Holding her when she had a nightmare. Sticking up holes in her clothes and going shopping for new ones. 

"Yeah. I guess when I found out, I thought 'maybe I can be a mother figure to Drea. Maybe, that's my role here," 

"And it is. She needs you. And I am so, so proud of you," The man kissed his daughters forehead. Alexandrea rushed down the stairs, her smile faltering as she saw her mother gone. Merina, seeing this, rushed over to the girl. She picked her up, and ran out into the garden. Their father watched. Proud of the two beautiful beings in front of him. 

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So, as I am publishing this I have actually finished writing the last chapter of this book. I can confirm that there are 30 chapters over all. I'm sad that it's ended, but it means when TUA season 2 comes out, I can focus of finishing that before S2 of The Society comes out. I also currently have a Riverdale fanfiction, that is a crossover with Percy Jackson and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which I will also be focusing on. I am so excited. 

Once again, thank you for reading, voting and commenting. It makes my day.

See you next week, 

Paige xx