>The sound of rummaging dishes in your kitchen stirs you from sleep.
>You occasionally hear doors opening and closing, along with muffled speech through the walls.
>The living room television tuned to morning cartoons echo through to you, even if you try stifle the sound with your pillow.
>Ugh.
>You open your eyes, the only light in the room being diffused through your blinds. 
>Well, not your blinds, really.
>This is Adagio's room now. 
>Since you left to uni, she's put up band posters and a hell of a lot more fluffy cushions.
>Guess it's time to get up.
>You sigh, dreading these early mornings.
>How the hell did you deal with high-school? 
>You can barely wake up for an 11AM nowadays.
>Imagining a 7AM wake up schedule five days a week sounds like a death sentence.
>Oh, that's right.
>You never went to school on time, that's how.
>Guess some things don't change.
>A knock on your door cuts your daydreaming short.
>It opens with a creak, light flooding in along with a figure.
>"We're ready, get up."
>You sigh again.
"Yeah, yeah."
>A voice bellows out from the kitchen.
>"Aria, is he awake?"
>Aria goes ot answer but you decide to shout back.
"I'm up, Sonata. Is Adagio?"
>There's a pause.
>"W- well..."
>You pinch the bridge of your nose.
"I'll be out in a minute."
>Aria nods, shutting the door as she leaves.
>You throw off your covers, donning some jeans and a hoodie.
>This is good enough.
>You pocket your phone, wallet and keys and open the door.
>Wiping sleep from your eyes, you head to the kitchen and sit on a barstool.
>Sonata greets you and points you to a plate with some toast on it.
>It takes you a few seconds to get your mind up to speed, biting into the food.
"So, where's Dagi?"
>Sonata smirks, just looking towards the couch in front of the TV.
>You raise an eyebrow, looking behind you and seeing nothing.
>With the toast still in your mouth, you shuffle over there and are greeted with a large orange ball of hair face down on the couch.
>You laugh a bit under your breath.
>Guess some things are genetic.
>You fish your phone out of your pocket, checking the time.
>Damn, already running behind.
"Come on girls, let's get going."
>Aria's already at the door, so she picks up her bag and heads out.
>"I haven't finished the dishes though." Sonata says, drying her hands.
"It's fine, I'll do 'em when I get back. Just get your stuff."
>She obliges, heading out with her sister.
>You look back at the couch.
"That means you too."
>"Mmmmnnph."
"Come on, up we get."
>You grab Dagi by the arm, lifting her out of the crater she's made on the cushions.
>Your other hand cradles itself on her waist as you start walking her out the door.
>Through muffled breaths you hear curses and violent threats being thrown your way, but she doesn't put up a fight.
>With all three girls finally in the car, you get in the drivers seat and start it up.
>There's never a lot of conversation made in the mornings, so you just turn the radio on as you sit in the morning gridlock.
>It takes around half an hour, but you get there just fine.
>The girls grab their stuff and head out, with Sonata being the only one to wish you goodbye.
>You wave back at her, heading back out through the mess of cars piled up at the school gates.
>Checking the time again, you can't help but feel a stone in your throat sink to your stomach.
>Guess today's the day, huh.
>Once back home you take a shower, putting on some actually decent clothes and making yourself look presentable.
>You look at yourself in the mirror, making sure there's nothing obviously wrong.
>Checking that everything in the house is off, you head out to your car again.
>Look at you, doing grown up stuff.
>Going to lunch with an old friend now that you're back in town.
>Hm.
>Well, you suppose the word 'friend' might not be the word to use for this situation.
>With the restaurant's address loaded up on your phone, you get out the driveway and drive off.
>
>
>
>...
>God, this is weird.
>You look up from your plate at the guy in front of you, picking at his plate awkwardly.
>Flash Sentry.
>Your best friend all through middle school and the first three years of high-school.
>Before...
>Shit.
>Come on Anon, man the fuck up. 
>You came here for a reason.
>At this rate, you're both going to go home and you're going to feel terrible.
>Cards out on the table.
"Look, Flash."
>He perks up at the mention of his name, looking up at you and putting his fork down.
"I called you out here cause I wanted to apologise."
>His eyes widen in genuine shock.
>Well, you can't say you blame him.
"I don't mean to bring up the past, but after I went to university, well..."
>GOD, this is hard.
"Look, after you got with Twilight in senior year, after you stopped hanging out with me and the gang, all that shit. When you started doing well in school, when she //changed// you... I felt abandoned. You were the only person who really got me and stood by me through all the crazy shit we did, and when you decided that wasn't what you wanted anymore I was at a total loss."
>You don't talk to his face, instead opting for literally anywhere else in the room.
"I was a total cunt, right? I get it. What I did... it was disgusting. I thought it would just be you and me against the world forever, you know? I never wanted that to change."
>You lean back in your chair, covering your face with your hands.
"God, I had no clue what I was doing. There's no reason I can give you for what happened. I thought that maybe the only way to get you back to the Flash I knew was to beat it into you, I don't know."
>You stop pussing out, leaning forward in your chair again and looking at him face to face
"All I wanna do now is apologise. After I left and the years went on, it just ate at me more. By no means am I asking for you to forgive me. I mean, fuck, even the way I am now I wouldn't forgive anyone who did what I... You know. I just knew I would never be able to-"
>"Hey." Flash cuts you off.
>You're taken aback for a second, having forgot that you were talking to an actual person and more or less just started rambling.
>He throws his arms out to his sides, leaning back.
>"Water under the bridge, man."
>What.
"Wait, wh- are you serious?"
>He grins the same shit-eating pretentious smile he always has, laughing it off.
>"Dude. The fact you're even here is almost enough to warrant forgiveness. But hearing the words outta your mouth is something I never would'a dreamed of. As far as I'm concerned, 5 years down the line, there's no use in holding any grudges."
>You're dumbfounded.
>There's no way it could be this easy, right?
"Flash, I dunno what to say."
>He breathes out heavy, looking up at the ceiling.
>"I hated you. Good God I hated you. Honestly, I can't say I still don't. My jaw is //still// fucked, you know?"
>A pang of guilt hits you, flushing through all your bones and muscles, reverberating in waves.
>"But that's not the point."
>He crosses his arms, focusing back onto you.
>"People change. I believe that now. You're not the same person that did that to me. As far as I can see, he's dead."
>Flash uncrosses his arms and fishes around in his pocket, pulling out a pack of cigarettes.
>"It would be hypocritical of me to vilify you for who you used to be when I probably would have done the same thing."
>He pulls a cigarette out, tilting the pack over to you.
"Thought you quit."
>He chuckles, lighting his.
>"Twilight doesn't need to know. Special occasion."
>You borrow his lighter, clicking it twice before it works.
>He blows out some smoke, continuing.
>"I don't know what changed you, but when Twilight came into my life she turned my world view on its head. Man, without her I would probably be living in that dingy studio we used to squat in, still dealing or some shit."
>He ashes his cig, resting his arms on the back of the chair.
>"Anon, the two of us, we're not //them// any more. I know better than anyone changing like you have is damn near impossible, 'cause God was it a trial for me."
>There's a moment of silence between the two of you, smoke floating upwards in thin lines from the still lit cigarettes.
>He laughs under his breath, shaking his head.
>"Besides, it ain't like Twilight doesn't dig the scars nowadays, know what I mean?"
>You damn-near do a spittake, leaning back in your chair as Flash somehow dissipates the serious atmosphere with just a sentence.
>You can't help but smile.
"Shut the fuck up."
>After that, it's straight back to old times.
>Laughing, talking crap, looking back on old escapades.
>Other patrons in the restaurant with you occasionally give you snide looks for how hard you laugh at each other, but you don't care.
>You've got five years to make up for, and to hell if social etiquette wants to stop you.
>"So, you still got those sisters of yours kicking around? What were their names?"
"Yeah, they're still around. For better or for worse."
>He chorkles.
>"Fuck's that supposed to mean?"
>You sigh.
"Tell me, how do you remember 'em?"
>He scratches his cheek, thinking. 
>"I 'unno. There's not much to really remember. They were pretty quiet most of the time. I remember one of 'em always wanting to get in on the action, barging into your room and asking if she could hang with us."
>You smirk, rolling your eyes.
"Yeah, that was Sonata."
>"Oh, right. She was always with the other one, right? The uh... The really quiet one who would never talk? Man I swear I still haven't ever heard her voice. Sonata just held her hand and dragged her //everywhere//."
>You can't hold back laughing out loud.
>Oh wow, she really was like that back then, wasn't she?
"Jesus, you should meet Aria now. She's the snarkiest little shit you will ever meet."
>He raises an eyebrow.
>"Really? Never would've guessed. I thought that award would go to the redhead. She hated literally everyone who wasn't you."
>You shrug.
"To be fair, they're all just as bad as each other."
>"Ouch."
>You shake it off, explaining.
"Nah, not in a bad way. Truth be told, I couldn't be more proud of them all. Who they've managed to become, even with all the shit they've been dealt - it astounds me. Daily."
>You take a sip of your drink, leaning back and reminiscing.
"Earlier, you said you didn't know what could've changed me. It was them. They're the thing that gets me up in the morning and makes sure I go to bed so I can see 'em again. Sometimes literally. There's nothing I hold to a higher pedestal than those three, because in them I see something... magical."
>You shake your head, smiiling.
"I know that sounds fuckin' dumb. I mean, of course I think that. Everyone thinks that about their family. But I mean it, man. They could change the world, I swear."
>Flash just smiles and nods.
>"I get you. I think the same thing about Twilight."
>Flash picks his phone up off the table, unlocking it.
>"Looks like we both hit the jackpot, didn't we?"
>You nod.
"Looks like it."
>Flash almost says something, but cuts himself short before beginning another thought.
>"Say, doesn't school end right about now?"
>You blink, confused.
"Yeah, I think so. Why?"
>He raises an eyebrow.
>"Your sisters?"
>Oh.
>OH.
"Oh my God, I totally forgot."
>You hastily fish your wallet out, counting bills as fast as you can.
>Screw it, this should be enough.
>Securing your stuff, you stand out of your seat and pat yourself down.
>Flash stands up with you, raising his arms out. 
>You say your goodbyes, hand him the money and head out the door apologising for running out so abruptly.
>Starting your car, you drive off in the direction of the school.
 
>
>
>...
>Hmm.
>It's been a while now, where are they?
>You expected for them to already be waiting when you got there, and were willing to recieve lip for being late, but they're nowhere to be seen.
>Reaching into the passenger seat, you grab your phone and unlock it. 
>They did text you, asking where you were.
>So it's not like they got a ride home.
>They would've told you, or at least responded to your messages.
>You check the time.
>Almost an hour, huh.
>Yeah, this is weird.
>Better get out the car and see if anything's up.
>Getting your stuff and locking the car, you walk through the oh so familiar school gates.
>Nothing's changed.
>Not a damn thing.
>Pretty funny, considering that as far as you can remember the school was always going on about how they're gonna rebuild or refurbish old facilities day in day out.
>Doesn't look like they ever get around to it.
>You take a look inside the doors, not seeing anything.
>They wouldn't be inside.
>If you know your sisters, they aren't the type to go back //into// a classroom if they can help it.
>But where would they most likely be?
>Probably around the sports facilities. 
>All the after school kids stayed there as far as you can remember.
>Lighting up a cigarette, you slowly make your way over there.
>It's not like you're in a rush or anything.
>If the girls wanted to get home quickly, they should've been at the gates.
>Besides, a little nostalgia never hurt anyone.
>Sure, you hated the ever living hell out of this school when you attended, but looking back on it...
>Eh, it could've been worse.
>You make it around the school and to the fields, taking in the scenery.
>Such a typical high-school.
>Bleachers, with old food trays and discarded shoes probably festering underneath them.
>A worn and beaten down track field, dying grass, rusted goal posts for football.
>The whole shebang.
>You check the basketball courts to see if there's anyone still hanging out there.
>Nothing.
>Hm.
>Which is weird, considering that back in your day the most popular girls would sit in the middle of it, sometimes whilst games were going on, just to make a point that they were the most important thing in the world.
>Somehow you just assumed your sisters would do that kind of thing.
>You glance around you.
>Barren.
>You know, since you were part of the delinquent gang, you never got to hang there.
>You were relegated to the 'cage'.
>Called that because of the chain link fence surrounding every wall of the court.
>It's not like you never thought about what it would be like to sit there.
>And considering there's no one here...
>Screw it, drop the pretenses.
>You make your way to the centre of the field and sit down, taking in the view of the school.
>God, this is sad.
>An alumni, alone.
>Sitting in the middle of the football field.
>In the hopes of reliving highschool fantasies.
>Ugh.
>Weird how you never thought about it before, though.
>You //did// wanna hang out here.
>Even you were sick of the fights and gang warfare.
>There were times where you wish you could've just been a normal kid with normal kid problems.
>But try as you might, your role was set.
>If you'd left, well...
>They would've done to you what you did to Flash.
>...
>Come on, now's not the time to think about that.
>Speaking of the cage, you should probably check it out.
>You can't see it from here, so maybe that's where Adagio and the rest are.
>The light from your cigarette dims and the smoke stops as you walk forward, closer to that old metal door.
>After the school found out it was a gang meetup area, they tried chaining it up to keep you all out.
>Let's just say Don's industrial sized metal clipper stopped them ever working that out.
>You discard your cigarette, pushing the door open and taking a look around.
>About 20 feet away from you, you see some plastic chairs and a jacket or two strewn about, right next to the breaker room.
>So there is someone here.
>As you walk closer to the chairs in the hopes that these people will have seen your sisters, you notice that a few of what you thought were 'jackets' are wrapped up bottles of booze.
>'Course they are.
>Some things don't change.
>You dread the thought of having to engage with someone who acts the way you used to.
>Probably wouldn't have the self control to not punch the fucker in his throat.
>You get to the chairs, but still don't see anyone.
>The drinks aren't finished, so it would be dumb of 'em to bounce.
>Maybe they're in the breaker room?
>Gross.
>That's where the couples would go to fuck during lunch hours.
>There'd always be weird sticky patches and condoms everywhere.
>You walk forwards reluctantly, 'cause at the end of the day you still have to find your sisters after all.
>Here's to hoping you don't walk into a couple of highschoolers going at it.
>Well, that's not the only thing it was used for, actually.
>There was also-
>Oh.
>That's when you see it.
>Yourself.
>Back to the entrance, encroaching closer to the other boy crouched at the end of the room.
>Him, begging you to stop.
>Before you kicked his jaw in.
>You called two of your friends in and continued to lash the guy till he passed out from the pain, and then some.
>Your fists were red and dripping raw, part his blood and part your own.
>By the end of it his face was so swollen it looked like you could pop it.
>There were points on his body where you could //see// broken bone.
>And that's when you look at the 'you' standing in front of you.
>And she turns around.
"D- Dagi?"'
>"... Anon?"
>Time stops.
>Everything stops.
>Your friends dissapear, revealing Sonata and Aria on either side of Adagio.
>They huff in low breaths, hunched around each other.
>You look down at their feet.
>Three other girls, cowering at the end of the cramped room.
>Clothes torn, hair pulled, with bruised eyes and mouths.
>Aria drops something to the floor.
>Something metal.
>They all hide their hands, turning towards you whilst also trying to make their bodies as large as possible to hide what's behind them.
>Adagio manages to fumble a few words out, her voice quivering and on the edge of breaking.
>"This - this isn't what - I swea-"
"Get to the car."
>She stops, recoiling a bit and looking confused.
>Aria chimes in to back her sister up, her just as caught in her throat.
>"Anon, it-"
"Now."
>With bated breath she looks to her sisters, trying to see if either of them have an explaination or excuse.
>None of them move.
>You grit your teeth hard enough to make your jaw hurt, repeating yourself.
"I - said - now."
>Aria moves first, tapping Adagio on the waist and moving her forward to let her know that this really is the time to move.
>Sonata grabs Aria's hand and follows her out, none of them so much as daring to look you in the face.
>Now you see the three they were hiding.
>You don't recognise them, of course.
>They just look to be girls in the same year as your sisters, if not older.
>Rather than looking scared of you, it's more just confusion as to why you have power over their assailants.
>You walk inside as they get up, looking themselves up and down and holding their wounds.
>It's not as bad as it could have been.
>Sure, they'll be shaken up for the next few days, probably need a sling or two.
>But as far as you can tell, there shouldn't be any permanent or even semi- permanent harm.
"You all okay?"
>They look at you and then amongst themselves.
>You roll your eyes.
"Do you need an ambulance, or can I leave?"
>They just squint at you and take up a typical high-school girl demeanor with you.
>"And just who are you to them?"
>God, why do you bother?
>The people at this damn school haven't changed a bit.
>Without another word you head out of the room and walk out the cage.
>Remembering where each camera is on campus, you make sure to walk in every blind spot to get back to your car.
>It's the only way you and your pals got away with all your shit.
>If your sisters don't know about it and get caught that's their own fault for being fucking idiots.
>Walking out to the front, you see your three sisters with their bags, standing around your car talking to each other in hushed tones.
>As soon as they see you, they all stand up straight and pick up their stuff.
>You unlock the car from a distance and they all hop in without any of the usual fight about who goes where.
>In fact, none of them sit in the front seat.
>Good.
>You get in and don't say a word to any of them, just letting the engine rumble in the background.
>You drive out onto the near empty road out of the school and have an absolutely silent drive home.
>In the rear view, you catch a glance from Sonata before a look from you prompts her to gaze at the floor again.
>Pulling into your driveway you grab your shit and get out the car first, the girls following.
>They all get out the car and move past you quickly, entering the house and making a straight dash towards their rooms.
>In the distance you hear the faint opening and closing of a door, and that's it.
>You lock the car and enter the living room, a blanket of silence eveloping everything.
>Your body, almost without concious thought, collapses onto the couch as your heart travels into your throat and you feel an overwhelming urge to puke.
>The vision plays over and over again in your head.
>That look Adagio gave you before she realised who you were.
>Pure anger.
>It shook you to your core.
>Not because you haven't seen her angry before.
>Not because you thought your sisters were perfect and peaceful girls.
>You knew they would get into scuffles and fights.
>But just for a second.
>It was like looking into a mirror.
>The silence around you doesn't stir as you're left to the thoughts in your own mind and the hours go by.
>Hours pass and you go to your room, your sisters still nowhere to be heard.
>You've more or less gotten over the unbridled rage at this point, so you don't think you'd blow your top anymore.
>Although, you don't think it's a good idea to just barge in and start a conversation with the three.
>You're just hoping to hear their side of the story now.
>On the one hand, you don't think there's any reason for the situation to have escalated like it did.
>Whatever excuse they have, the fact remains that they went too far.
>But you don't honestly believe there wasn't a clear motive for it.
>Your sisters stir up trouble when they can find it, that's for sure.
>Mostly with you, that is.
>But they don't revel in the suffering of others.
>They're good kids.
>You're sure that in any other environment, they wouldn't be half as edgy and prone to violence as they are now.