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[img]https://i.imgur.com/cU81nB4.jpg[/img]

[color=slategray][sub]Featuring: [color=f3a8f7][b]Panda[/b][/color] and [color=fef929][b]Chari[/b][/color]
Location: Outside School - The Pandamobile
Time: Straight After School[/sub][/color][/center][hr][hr]

School was over with, and there was no band practice tonight on account of the party. Panda once again checked her phone. Her sister had asked her via text if she'd mind dropping her off at Sunset Castle. For a split second, Panda thought that it was for the party, before remembering that this was her sister, and quickly dismissing that. It was to meet Trixie for some newspaper club related business. Charity took writing for that thinly veiled excuse for some bitching and gossip way too seriously, in Panda's opinion, but it was good to see her sister so into something. She was very religious, but that's not really an active interest as much as a lifestyle. Panda should know. She was still christian, admittedly entirely because of her wonderful sister.

Of course she was happy to give her sister a lift. It had only been a matter of months such she had passed her test, and mere weeks before that when she first got her car. Of course, the first thing that Panda did was give it the ridiculous paintjob it now sports. She was proud of that. This car was now completely [i]her.[/i]

She checked her watch, and then looked over to the school's entrance. Sure enough, only seven minutes after the bell, her sister emerged, and waved cheerfully. Panda waved back, and when Charity reached her older sister, they hugged briefly, before making their way over to the Pandamobile. Charity tutted and shook her head.

[color=fef929]"I don't think I'm ever going to get used to your car, Pamela,"[/color] Charity complained. To Panda, family and teachers were the only ones who were allowed to call her by her christian name. Even the adults had to call her Panda if they weren't in positions of authority over her.

[color=f3a8f7]"That's the whole point! I hope the day never comes when I see my beautiful car and don't feel anything. Hop in. Sunset Castle, yeah?"[/color]

Charity nodded, and as she opened the passenger door, was hit with the smell of cigarette smoke like a brick wall. She actually coughed, which caused Panda to grin, roll her eyes and mutter [color=f3a8f7]"Drama queen..."[/color] as she got in the driver's side. When they were both seated and strapped in, Panda started the ride with a lurch, before driving off smoothly. She wasn't a bad driver, miraculously, but to this day she has never managed to start the car without it lurching.

[color=f3a8f7]"So,"[/color] asked Panda. [color=f3a8f7]"What's so pressing you had to meet Trixie at a spa? Let me guess, it's something to do with the party at the weekend."[/color] When Charity affirmed this, Panda carried on. [color=f3a8f7]"I think it's a waste of time. The Weekend Warrior covered that pretty well, and you'd just be treading new ground. If you ask me, you should write a story on both parties; the beach hose one, and tonight's. Just cover them both in one article. Don't need two stories. Ask Trixie about it."[/color]

Her sister smiled, and thanked Panda warmly for her insight. Panda didn't want to bore Charity with stories of her band, or emo shit. She knew that Charity wasn't interested, but would listen attentively anyway, damn her. She's just too good a person. As an older sister, Panda frequently had to protect Charity from herself. So a minute or two of silence reigned. Surprisingly, Charity was the one to break it.

[color=fef929]"I talked to Miriam today, for the first time in a while. I told you that she's seemed distant recently and we don't talk much anymore. Today we talked again, and it was nice, but something is really bothering her. She went to the party at the weekend, and she just...I don't know. She doesn't seem happy even when she smiles."[/color]

Panda knew exactly why Charity told her this. It all sounded quite familiar. It sounded like rebellion. It sounded like there was something in Miriam's life that she wanted to fight. She wasn't going to say it was also a home issue. It could also be a school issue, or a societal issue. But some form of order or authority in Miriam's life was making her unhappy and she was fighting back. Maybe, Panda thought, it was Christianity itself. It was certainly a possibility, but all this was useless conjecture. One thing was sure, though, and that was that Charity was right to be worried about her longtime church friend.

Before Panda could express some of these sentiments, she spotted that she was approaching Sunset castle. She pulled in to the parking lot, and stopped outside the entrance.

[color=f3a8f7]"I'll be getting ready for the party when I get home, but if you need a lift, ring me and I might be free."[/color]

[color=fef929]"Thank you, but I should manage. I'll call you as a last resort, though, so keep your cell on."[/color]

[color=f3a8f7]"I promise, sis,"[/color] Panda chuckled, and after another hug, Charity got out and headed into the reception. Panda put her car back into gear and drove off. She had a party to get ready for, and it was going to be fucking epic!