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New Year Surprise
Author: Araxie Loren
Date: 02-10-15 17:35
I'd gotten the word around mid-November that they'd decided to release my dad from Azkaban with the re-trial and all charges were being dropped thanks to the evidence that I'd managed to provide. I didn't know when he was getting released, I just knew that if he'd been out around Christmas he hadn't bothered to get in contact with me - and as far as I know he hadn't talked to my Aunt or Uncle yet.
Total. Radio. Silence. That was what I'd had from my dad since I'd gotten the letter a month before Halloween and I was worried because ever since I'd showed him the drawings and things he'd never stopped writing to keep me updated on how things were going. We'd rung in the new year last night at a party thrown by Nichole's parents and ultimately Nichole had crashed at my house after the party.
It was eleven thirty or so by the time the pair of us finally rolled out of bed and padded down the stairs in our pajamas to the smell of french toast and bacon as well as my Uncle's favorite coffee tinted with the hint of vanilla and cinnamon from the air fresheners that my aunt constantly kept around.
I stopped at the bottom of the stairs when I heard a third voice, one I didn't think I'd hear anytime soon. I shared a surprised look with Nichole and sprinted into the kitchen barely giving my dad a split second to put his coffee cup down before I was in his arms hugging him tightly.
"When did you get out?" I asked once he set me down after peppering my cheeks with kisses and he kept an arm around my shoulders and I easily leaned into him.
"I got out right before Christmas. I took sometime to see my parents before I decided to come see you and your aunt and uncle."
I nodded my head and clung to my dad for a minute before turning and dragging Nichole over to me.
"Dad, this is my best friend since forever, Nichole. Nichole, this is my dad."
It felt good to finally introduce my best friend to my dad. He and I had a lot to catch up on, and I was curious to know how things were going to be now that he was officially a free man and he no longer had a murder charge hanging over his head.
"Pleasure to finally meet you Nichole. Thank you for being there for Araxie." Daniel Loren hugged the younger girl tightly.
"Why don't we sit down for breakfast and we can figure out what we are going to do today...because I know you guys don't have much time left on holiday before you have to head back to school."
Everyone settled down at the table, and after breakfast Nichole headed home allowing me the rest of the day to spend with family.
What Died In My Mouth? (Etta)
Author: Jared
Date: 02-10-15 18:40
A hand insistently shakes Etta's shoulder. "Etta, I need to go."
Etta grunts and rolls over, shoving hair out of her face. Henry Appleton peers down at her. "Thanks for the couch."
"You slept on the couch?" she groggily asks, attempting to focus on the wind-up alarm clock on the bedside table. Only there's no bedside table. It's the end table angled between the end of the couch and the love seat.
"You don't remember?"
She starts to shake her head only to wince. "I don't even remember getting home."
Sitting up, too puzzled at the pain in her head and with lack of memory of certain events last night to have an internal freak out over being seen by Henry with puffy face and eyes (or so that's how they feel), ratty hair, and most likely a bloody bad case of morning breath Etta swipes at those puffy eyes, which also feel as though someone has coated them in a sandy grit.
Nodding at her words Henry remarks, "You were a little woozy and out of it when we got here."
"I didn't have that much to drink last night and what I did have wasn't the sort to give me a hangover or faulty memory."
"Jill mentioned something along those lines when we got in this morning but she thought maybe you'd had a few she wasn't aware of."
Etta starts to shake her head but thinks better of it. "No, nothing that should make me feel like this."
Henry stays a few minutes more, even helping Etta make it down the hall to the bath before leaving her checking out her reflection in the mirror and wondering what died in her mouth. He only leaves because of a family commitment of some sort of new year's day brunch.
A short time later, after fumbling a headache potion, somehow getting it all down despite her unsettled stomach, Etta walks unsteadily to her bedroom, being as quiet as she can in case roommate Marjani is still sleeping and in case Jill or Olive or both are in their room. Crawling into her bed, burrowing under the covers, she starts to wonder if someone slipped something in one of her drinks. If that's why she's feeling this way, who did it and was it designed for her or was it a random act?