The Group Chat

Trixie

I shouldered my back pack as I stepped out of Cloudkickers car as she followed me up to the door step.

“Thanks for the ride,” I said nervously as I shifted to look through the window.

“Anytime,” Cloudkicker answered and looked around me. “Can I come inside? I’ve never been inside your house before.”

“Uhm dad’s home so maybe next time. I can already smell beer though the door so,” I said as Cloudkicker raised an eyebrow slightly.

“Uh huh. Well, I’ll see you tomorrow at school Trix,” Cloudkicker turned to leave as I inhaled and kissed her.

“Love you,” I rubbed my neck with a smirk as she nodded slowly.

“Love you too. Stay safe, have a good night.”

I turned around and opened the door, stepping through as I gagged slightly at the smell. I should have brought more Febreze as I shrugged my backpack off onto the floor next to the door where I usually left it.

“Trixie is home!” I called out and grumbled a curse word as I sprayed the last of the Febreze around the living room, my boot nudging an empty bottle over. I didn’t entirely like lying to Cloudkicker or well, any of my friends but a house full of empty beer bottles isn’t necessarily the image you wanna convey to people.

“Why do you insist on talking like that?” I sighed as dad glared at me from the doorway of his room. “What are you, a retard?”

“No sir,” I answered and internally rolled my eyes. Last thing I needed was another beer bottle thrown at me. That had been a hard lie to sell to Lavender and Fuchsia months ago about why I had a bruise on my back. Really shoulda said I fell in the shower on soap or something.

“Who was the girl?” Dad asked curiously as he opened the fridge.

“A friend who gave me a ride home,” I answered casually. Technically it wasn’t a lie. Cloudkicker was a friend now. Just one I happened to be dating but not like I’d ever tell dad that. He’d get really annoyed about it. More than annoyed. Pretty sure I’d die if I admitted to dating Cloudkicker.

“Then why did I see you kissing her from my bedroom window?” I paused and he glared at me as my mouth went dry.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I forced a laugh and a smile. “I’m straight. I don’t date females.”

We made eye contact for a few seconds and he showed me a picture on his phone of me kissing Cloudkicker and I stared, cursing internally. I forgot we recently got a camera on the porch and I winced in pain and slammed into the ground with a grunt.

“You actually hit me,” I muttered in shock and stared up at Dad as he turned around and got another beer before disappearing into his room, slamming the door shut behind him.

I pushed my self up and shakily stepped toward the bathroom, staring at my reflection.

“That’s gonna bruise,” I grumbled and winced and let out a hiss as I touched my eye. Times like this made me glad I had makeup and eye shadow that matched my skin tone well to hid any incidents. I just had to find it. “Sunset and the others are gonna be hard as hell to lie to. Might just get sunglasses too.”

Better than nothing I suppose.

I adjusted my sunglasses and inhaled before I stepped into my school, ignoring the students walking around me with their friends. I hadn’t seen Sunset yet so I assume she had to go ahead to class for something.

“Hey Trixie!” Cloudkicker called out and I froze as she and Wallflower walked up, giving me curious looks. “What’s with the sunglasses?”

“It’s bright outside,” I answered weakly and continued to my locker. “Where’s Sunset at?”

“She texted us that Diamond Tiara was sick with a cold and was staying home. Apparently DT had a panic attack or something so they’re not coming today,” Wallflower answered and held up her phone. “You’re in the group chat, surprised you didn’t see it.”

“You’re inside. I hate when people wear sunglasses inside,” Cloudkicker rolled her eyes and I smacked her hand away. “Ow!”

“Leave the sunglasses alone,” I said and gave her a flat look that I forgot she couldn’t see. Cloudkicker paused and examined me before she held up a finger and flicked them up briefly. “Hey!”

”Who did that to you?” Cloudkicker demanded and I froze. I’ve never heard her this angry before in the entire time I’ve known her. I gulped and looked nervously at her angry expression and she narrowed her eyes.

“I fell in the shower. No one hit me.”

I felt myself being shoved into the bathroom and the two gave me angry looks. I’ve never really seen Wallflower angry either but it was surprisingly scary.

“I know what a black eye from falling looks like,” Cloudkicker said flatly and folded her arms. “And that sure as hell isn’t it. That’s from someone hitting you.”

“Uh my family saw me kissing you yesterday evening,” I admitted finally as she shifted on her feet. “They uh weren’t happy to say the least. Or well, he wasn’t but it’s okay. We had a good morning and he gave me some magic stuff as an apology.”

“Your dad?” Wallflower asked and I nodded as Cloudkicker looked angrier if that was possible. I was glad Sunset wasn’t here or anyone else. I know she’d be angry as hell.

“Just because he gave shit as a half asked apology isn’t even okay,” Cloudkicker grumbled and grabbed my wrist. “I get really pissed when people defend their abusers so don’t you fucking start.”

If Cloudkicker was cursing this much, I knew she wasn’t messing around and I shouldn’t make a smart remark that I planned. She almost never curses like this.

“Where are we going?” I asked as the two started dragging me out. “Can I at least get my sunglasses back? I don’t want our classmates seeing me like this. Normally I put eye shadow that matches my skin color but I couldn’t find it.”

“We’re going to the nurse. You’re going to tell her what you told me, then we’re going to the police. Wallflower, give Trixie her sunglasses back,” Cloudkicker ordered as I felt Wallflower slid the glasses on my face.

“H-hey wait!” I snapped as Cloudkicker started dragging me. I started dragging my feet but she was much stronger than me. “Don’t. I’ll handle it.”

“Trixie, you literally got hit in the face,” Cloudkicker said flatly as Wallflower nodded. “We have different definitions of handling things. Yours is forgiving him, mine is punching him in the throat. At least get it looked at.”

“Fine.”

“And don’t worry, I got you,” Cloudkicker squeezed my hand as I returned the gesture.

“Okay.”

I gave a sigh and rolled over slightly in bed as I continued reading my book. I had to lie to Redheart about what happened, which may have annoyed Cloudkicker more but it is what it is. Just gotta save up more money then I’ll be outta here and my problem is solved.

Dad was asleep when I got home so I had no real trouble there. Got my homework done so there was that. If Sunset was on, I’d be playing video games but it’s boring playing solo.

I paused as I heard the window scrape open slightly and looked up to see it being shoved open from the outside and my eyes widened.

A purple hand reached inside and Cloudkicker rolled inside with a grunt as I gave her a stunned look.

“What are you doing here?” I whispered angrily and glared at the door. “My dad is down the hall!”

“If you seriously think I’m letting you stay here alone, you’re out of your damn mind,” Cloudkicker said quietly as she shut the window. “You really should lock your windows, by the way. You’re asking to get robbed.”

“Sorry, I didn’t plan on my girlfriend breaking in!” I hissed softly as Cloudkicker plopped down on my bed and propped her head up with a smirk.

“Eh. Anyway, you’re looking nice. How are you?” Cloudkicker asked with that infuriatingly smile that made me happy deep down.

“I was good till my room got broken into-” I commented dryly as Cloudkicker kissed me.

“You really talk too much,” Cloudkicker noted after she pulled away. “Anyway, I’m staying here for a few days in here. I’ll come and go out the window. I’ll figure out the bathroom and shower situation later on.”

“You’re insufferable, you know that?” I asked as I rubbed the bridge of my nose in frustration.

“I know.”

“I also love you.”

“I know.”

I rolled my and yelped as Cloudkicker rolled on top of me and kissed me again.

“Are you insane?” I grumbled and glared at her. “Are you trying to get us caught? Imagine if he hits you? Then it’s my damn fault.”

“Nah it ain’t,” Cloudkicker shook her head and kissed my forehead before sighing and rolling off next to me. “I’d like to see him try hit either of us. I hit back.”

“Please don’t. I just gotta get enough money together and I’ll be good,” I said as my eyes fell on my dumped out old lunch bag where I hid all the money I earned. “Fuck my life.”

“What?” Cloudkicker eyes followed mine. “What is it?”

“My money is gone. I hid it all in the closet behind my dresses. He never looks in there,” I sighed as I slammed my head against the pillow. “Fuck.”

“How long have you been living this like?” Cloudkicker demanded as she started to get out of bed.

“Middle school. Where you are going?”

“To get your money back,” Cloudkicker said as she looked back and I grabbed her wrist. “Let go.”

“No. I’ll do anything,” I said as we made eye contact. “I’ll go to the police if you don’t go try to start a fight. Besides, maybe there was a genuine family emergency. Grandma has been sick for a bit so we don’t know.”

“Fine. But we go in the morning,” Cloudkicker said after a moment and made sure the door was locked. “Now what?”

“Hug me?” I suggested with a grin and held out my arms as Cloudkicker gave a small laugh.

“Now that I can easily do.”