Workshop Group C: Story #2

Story #2
Her slender fingers flicked the light switch on, flooding the familiar purple walls and mahogany furniture into focus. Tossing the worn duffle bag from over her shoulder haphazardly onto the ground by the open doorway, she let her feet carry her to the twin sized bed lined up against the opposite wall. Collapsing onto the lilac comforter of the bed, she let out a sigh of relief at the soft, comforting feel of her own mattress against her back as her eyes drifted shut.
“Settling back in okay, Mal?” a melodic voice questioned from the door in a slightly teasing tone.
Mallorie opened her eyes slowly, taking in her baby sister's petite form leaning against her doorframe. “It's good to be home. I missed my bed.” she teased, sitting up slowly.
“Ha ha ha. By the way, Mom says that you need to clean up your room now that you're home.” Moira informed her with a laugh before turning around with a swish of her dark brown hair as she left the room.
“MO!! Are you kidding me?” Mallorie screamed after her younger sister, “I just got home!”
“Nope. And maybe you should start with that wretched butterfly. Welcome home Mal.” Moira's laughing voice trailed behind her.
“So much for winter break.” Mallorie thought wryly, turning her head to the aforementioned butterfly. The navy blue and teal paint a contrast to the lilac walls. Reaching her hand out to the wall beside her bead, she slowly traced her pointer finger against the lopsided outline of the butterfly's wings.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“Are you sure that you want butterflies painted all over the walls?” Kate questioned skeptically, surveying the newly painted lilac walls with disdain.
“Definitely.” Mallorie replied, her bare feet crossing the tarp covered floor to pick up a paintbrush from the pile beside the open paint cans. “Now get back to work.” she joked tossing another paintbrush at her friend.
“Hey, watch it!” Kate cried, jumping back in fright as the paintbrush landed a few feet in front of her.
“Butterflies.” Mallorie reminded her, tucking a second paintbrush behind her ear and skipping back to her side with a smile.
“Ugh, fine. What color do you want the butterfly?” she asked as she picked up the paintbrush and moved to the wall opposite the door.
“Well ...” Mallorie started, shifting her feet back and forth.
“No way. I refuse to paint it pink. Please, I am begging you. Anything else.” Kate interrupted her friend.
“Who said I was going to say pink?” she retorted, turning away from the outlining brush strokes she had just completed to stare at her friend.
“I know you.” Kate laughed, untying her golden blonde hair from its drooping bun and redoing it with a few practiced moves.
“Whatever.” she responded, turning back to her wall. Holding her arm steady, she made a few long strokes to color in the butterfly wings a dark magenta. Ignoring the music suddenly filling the room with a sigh, she placed the pink stained brush behind her left ear and pulled the other to paint the body. The two girls immersed in their respective drawings, working on opposite walls with only the sound of 'Hey Jude' in the background.
“Finished!” Kate cried happily, stepping back and admiring her handiwork with an accomplished smile.
With a final brush of light pink to complete her own perfectly symmetrical butterfly, Mallorie turned her head towards her best friend. “What is that?” Mallorie questioned, her eyes locked on the blob of navy blue and teal that only slightly resembled a butterfly if she squinted her eyes and tilted her head just so.
“My butterfly.” Kate replied, chuckling quietly at the puzzled look on her friends face.
“That does not look anything like a butterfly?”
“What? I never said that I could draw a perfect butterfly Ms. Symmetry.”
“Why did you not say anything about it then?” Mallorie asked, moving so that she was now standing next to Kate.
“Well you know that I am no artist. You should have painted your room dark blue with stars like mine instead. I am the queen of drawing stars. It's my specialty.” Kate retorted, a bit defensively.
“Sorry Kate, the butterfly is fine.”
“You can always paint over it, Mal. I don't mind. I think I will stick to painting flowers on your walls instead.” Kate replied, swinging her arm around Mallorie's shoulder as the two of them stared at the butterfly on the wall in front of them.
The two girls heads turned simultaneously in response to the knock at the door. “Hey Mom.” Mallorie greeted.
“Hi Mrs. Kassidy.” Kate greeted cheerfully.
“Hi girls. The room is looking good.” Mrs. Kassidy responded. “Are you both ready for a little break?”
“Definitely.” Kate replied, putting her paintbrush back into the blue paint can.
“Alright. Come on in to the kitchen then. It's time for lunch.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“Mallorie Elise, last time I checked daydreaming does not constitute as cleaning your bedroom.” Her mother joked from the doorjam.
“I just got home though. Can't I have a few days to relax before I start the whole cleaning thing?” Mallorie questioned, her voice borderline whining.
“Nice try. One day will turn into two, which will turn into a month and then break will be over and your room will still be a complete mess.”
“Fine.” she sulked.
“Fantastic. You can start with cleaning under your bed before dinnertime.” Mrs. Kassidy informed her. “The MacAllister's are coming over for dinner in half an hour.”
“Thanks Mom. I guess I need to start now if there is any chance of it getting done before break is over.”
“That a girl. Oh and Mallorie, it's nice to have you home.” her mother told her, heading down the hallway towards the kitchen.
“No time like the present.” Mallorie thought wryly. Falling to her knees beside the bed, she slowly peeked under the duvet. Piles of shoes and boxes filled nearly to the brim with sweaters greeted her. But it was a flash of dark blue and purple, hidden behind the shoes that caught her attention. Pushing her curly brown hair out of her grey eyes with one hand in a practiced gesture before moving a few items out of her way and pulling the small box out from under her bed.
Dust covered the top and the edges were tattered, held together with more metallic purple and navy blue duct tape than was necessary. She stared at it unblinkingly, wiping the dust off the cover and tracing her fingers over the childhood scribble there. Three words. Kate and Mallorie. Mallorie hesitated, glancing at her cell phone where it lay forgotten on the lilac bedspread as if Kate would pop out of it and reprimand her for even considering opening the box without her.