I was born to brave, I know who I am inside

Sprinkles were timeless in looks… but as far as Valerie was concerned, they’d outlived their usefulness in taste. “A little black dress is timeless. Louboutins are timeless. I don’t know if sprinkles quite make that category. But to each their own,” she shrugged. “What other hot takes of yours should I know of? Anything you think will completely blow my mind?”

“See, I could take or leave the dress and the shoes.” Maggie shrugged. She’d never cared too much about fashion, aside from not wanting to be teased by the other kids for what she wore. A result of wearing mostly hand-me-downs and thrifted clothes, she knew. “Nah, I’m pretty boring.” Not the truth, at all, but she didn’t think Valerie would appreciate her talking about ghosts. “High School Musical 2 is the superior HSM movie, however.”

Dominic nodded. “I think a lot of people from my high school regressed after the first few weeks of enjoying their freedom. Putting so many young people together full time sure sounds like a social experiment.” To be honest, Dominic was fairly mature out of high school, but he hadn’t known a lot of skills for living alone, coming from a well-off family. He had been lucky to have his future partners as roommates rather than some random kids in a college dorm. Maggie’s tone was light, but he still smiled in sympathy. As toxic as his family life had been, at least he had had parents around. Also, he couldn’t imagine having to had raised Charlotte and Bridgette himself like Trevor did.

“That’s terrifying.” Dominic gave a fake shudder. “Do PTA moms have a secret group chat where they bitch about people talking about them?” That actually sounded fairly plausible. “I guess it is now my mission to keep avoiding this meeting. We shall remain acquaintances.”

“I’d say its like a rite of passage, but I think it’s more inevitable. I don’t necessarily think that it’s their fault, though. It’s more a societal problem. Didn’t mean she wouldn’t bitch about it with Dominic, however. She appreciated that he didn’t press the subject when she brought up her family situation, grateful for his sympathetic smile.

“They probably do. Everyone has group chats these days. I imagine that they all have quite a few chats going on. I’d pay good money to see their chats. You know there’s gotta be some juicy drama going on there. I bet every couple of months someone forgets what chat they’re in and is trying to talk shit behind someone’s back, only to realize that they did it in the chat with that person. Like. That’s got to be a fairly common occurrence, right?” Maggie tried to stay away from drama, but it was fun to imagine. “And that’s why you’re a very smart man.”

Valerie almost had to stop herself from making a face. “I mean, sure, if you like sprinkles. I’ll always think they’re nasty. It’s a texture thing, for me.” That, and every time she saw someone order sprinkles, she couldn’t help but think about a scene from a movie she saw as a kid, where the sprinkles weren’t exactly what they seemed. “So I take it that’s your logic for everything, then? Classic is the way to go… always?”

“Totally get that.” Maggie said, nodding in understanding. There were things she didn’t eat because of the texture either. “Oh, god no.” Maggie said, laughing and shaking her head. “Far from it. There’s just... something about sprinkles, to me. They’re fun, they’re classic, they’re timeless.”

Trevor groaned in protest. “Hey you had to learn by trial and error because I didn’t know how to help you! When have I ever let you struggle with something I was able to help you on?” He looked at her big eyes, laying the guilt card on thick, and it eventually paid off as Maggie finally pushed off the door. He didn’t gloat though, and turned his head when nudged and didn’t say a word as she worked, wincing to himself at the pressure on the wound but keeping his mouth shut. When she finally stepped back, he turned immediately to face the mirror, craning his head one way and then another in the shitty lighting. “You’re a magician, Mags, that looks amazing!” Already the relief bloomed in his chest that he wouldn’t have to go to work completely exposed. “Thank you.”

“I know, I know. I’m allowed to have some fun though. It’s part of being your little sister.” Maggie says, rolling her eyes fondly. She did her best to keep the pressure light, not wanting to cause him any unnecessary pain, but it was unavoidable at point.  “I think that’s the most enthusiastic you’ve ever been about me putting makeup on you.” Maggie said, laughing at his reaction. She hadn’t expected him to turn towards the mirror so quickly. “I mean you always let me play makeover on you, but I always had to beg. If I knew that this was all it took to have you as a willing canvas...” She trailed off, thinking of how often she’d used him as a model in her youth. “You’re welcome.”

Dominic smiled, enjoying the fun conversation with Maggie. He was glad that he knew her through Maxine now. Maggie was actually around Bridgette’s age, but Dominic was pretty sure that they hadn’t ever gotten along. To be fair, Bridgette was a bit of a, well, huge bitch in high school–speaking of people needing to mature past high school.

“It really helps that we aren’t dying at 40 anymore. There’s plenty of time to actually grow up. And doesn’t the brain not finish developing until like 25 or something? I’m pretty sure I’ve heard that.” Dominic knew that his priorities and just way of looking at the world were way different in his teens and early twenties. He snorted. “Yeah, I know all about my father’s dreams. I sure crushed those.” Jeremy had called him selfish for giving up his magic and ‘betraying the family’, but sealing away his magic had not been just for him. It was for everyone’s safety.

Dominic looked around as Maggie got quiet again. “What, are you worried about the lemon shirt party hearing you?” The group in bright yellow shirts was still partying in full force. Leaning forward and also resuming the conspirator role, he said, “Ooh, I’ve definitely heard of this Karen, but only met her in passing. Huh, I guess that lemon bars would take some more skill than a brownie box though.”

“Yeah, it’s a good thing that our life expectancy has increased.” Maggie agreed, not sure that she could deal with how many young ghosts she would be encountering. Although, perhaps that would be better than nosey old ladies. “I think I’ve heard something like that. I’d certainly believe that. Most people aren’t mature when they’re graduating and college seems to just make some of them even more childish.” She said, rolling her eyes at the thought of all the antics she’d encountered over the years. “Well, I guess it’s a good thing I don’t really have parents then, right? No dreams to crush.”

“She has ears everywhere.” Maggie agreed, nodding very seriously. She was glad that Dominic was humoring her. She knew how easy it would be for him to write her off, knowing that she was closer in age to his sister than to himself, and the sort of reputation she’d acquired over the years. “Well, sure. But it’s really not about the skill that goes into it. It’s about raising money for the kids. You’re lucky you haven’t had the pleasure of properly meeting her. I mean, she likes me well enough on my own. But she can be a lot.”

“Just a small one to make sure the mixture was perfect.”  Willow sighed sadly, mourning for the lost perfect cup.  “I’m glad it missed you though, would be a shame to ruin two perfectly good pair of shoes.”  She was about to resign that today was just going to be an off day when Maggie went and offered an extra pair of shoes.  “You’re my hero, you know that?  It definitely is better than coffee shoes.  Honestly I am going to start bringing an extra pair of shoes just in case something like this ever happens again, you’re a genius.”

“Oh no.” Maggie said, right alongside Willow in mourning the loss of the perfect coffee. “Eh, it wouldn’t have been the first or the last time if it had happened.” Maggie said, waving off her concerns. It would have been a bummer, but it wouldn’t have ruined her day. “Left over habit from my athlete days, comes in handy. Hold on a second, I’ll get the for you.” As she spoke Maggie pulled her bag around to the front of her body, shuffling over to the side so that she wasn’t in anyone’s way. It took her a few moments to rummage around in her bag, she really did have a lot of stuff, she would have to clean it out sometime soon. “Aha! Here we are!” She said, holding the shoes up victoriously, holding them out to Willow.

To Mags: You should make “Fire happens, okay?” your tagline for everything.

To Mags: Well I didn’t think you meant it that way but the fact that you felt the need to clarify now makes me think you mean it that way. 

To Trevor: I’ll put it on a shirt. I already get enough weird looks in town, what’s one more reason.

He let Maggie laugh at him, too grateful for her help to be upset at her mockery. Besides, he was more shook up about the mark and the missing time than he’d like to admit, so her teasing was a good distraction. “Now you tell me,” he sighed, looking at the glob he’d already heaped onto his neck. But what was done was done, and he went to work rubbing it in with the pad of his index finger as best he could. Even he could tell he had too much on, so he scooped the extra and wiped it on the back of his free hand, before returning to try and blend. But no matter how much he swiped at his neck, he just couldn’t seem to get it even. Finally he turned his head to glance at his sister. “I’m clearly floundering so any time you would like to jump in and take over…?”

“If I had to learn by trial and error than so do you. It’s like a rite of passage.” Maggie said, probably taking a bit more joy out of this than she should. But Maggie had made a lot of mistakes when she first started learning how to use makeup, and she still made them, if she was being honest although at this point she didn’t really care. Eventually though she took pity on Trevor. “Fine, fine. I’ll help you. But you’re going to owe me even more.” Maggie said, pushing off of her perch with a dramatic sigh. Stepping into Trevor’s space she put her hand on his chin, angling his head so she could get a better look at his neck. “You’ve really made a mess over here.” Maggie said, tsking as she got to work, using her fingers to try and smooth out the mess he’d made. She was quiet for a few moments as she worked, before finally stepping back, nodding to herself. “I think that’s about as good as it’s going to get.”

“The Muppets are for little children who don’t want to open their eyes and believe in the real world,” Bridgette said, opening up her compact mirror to check her makeup. “Kind of sad don’t you think? To still believe in things that don’t exist. Never growing up to be a fucking adult. Idiotic if you ask me. And depressing as fuck.” She wiped away from lipstick that was smudged at the corner of her mouth. She closed her mirror and laughed at Maggie. “Really? You’ve grown up? Doesn’t look like it based on what you’re wearing? Did you granny knit you that little Christmas kitty cat sweater, Maggie Moo?” She said in a much more mocking tone. “It really doesn’t look adorable on you. Makes me want to pinch your cheeks.”

Ronan 📲 Maggie

Ronan: It’s all about the timing, an accomplishment like that should get something better than a casual drop lol

Ronan: Hopefully, good luck 👍

Maggie: Would you really call this an accomplishment tho??

Evangeline wasn’t sure what kind of conversation she had just walked into, but she kept her mouth shut and let it play out, reaching across the aisle to grab more fruit. Was this really the kind of thing that people argued about, it took all her self control not to roll her eyes. Patience. It was good practice for the role she was meant to play. Finally when it was just the two of them alone, she leaned over and offered,”I agree, I hate a Christmas Carol.”

Maggie slumped her shoulders, letting out a sigh of relief as the conversation came to a close. The people you ran into at the store, she thought, shaking her head. She just managed to stop herself from jumping, but she still gave a visible startle when she heard someone speaking to her. She had not been expecting that, she’d thought she was alone. Still, she was getting better about getting her wits back, these days. “It’s just... it’s boring. And ghosts! Who wants to think about ghosts at Christmas?” She said, turning to face her new conversation partner. “Christmas stories should make you feel good, they should be full of magic.”

Ronan 📲 Maggie

Ronan: Oh I’d start keeping track, might come in handy some day. Probably 😜

Ronan: But your officially off the wall! Hopefully for a while but we’ll see

Maggie: Sure but then if I know the exact number of times it’s happened my brother will get mad if I let it drop in conversation.

To Mags: Haha fair enough.

To Mags: First started??? :P 

To Mags: No it’s okay, I’ve seen the bills for this month already and they look good. Let me know if you need me to pick one up on my way home or if it’s something you want to handle shopping for. 

To Trevor: Um excuse you when’s the last time I gave you food poisoning? Exactly. Even the people on the food shows burn things! Fire happens, okay?

To Trevor: It’s not an immediate need, we can get buy for a little while without it. Gives me a bit of time to do some research instead of just buying one in a blind panic and ending up with a really shitty one.