xp_logs | Hope, Match, & Sharon: The Teens Are Not Getting Along

xp_match posting in

(slightly backdated) Match and Sharon’s reunion is interrupted by the appearance of a new girl.

Match had shuffled down to the main entrance, avoiding the damage that the intruder had caused, upon getting the text that Sharon was almost back. Someone else was around but he didn’t pay them any mind as he carefully took the wrapped package out of his backpack and offered it when a mane of purple hair became apparent. “Happy belated Christmas- wait, no, that’s not… right. I- Merry Christmas?”

"Is still appropriate, yes." The tall girl seized the package automatically, lowering her nose to sniff at the wrapping.

"Your present I left on your bed," she said. "You did not open?"

“The sweater? I did, opened it after lunch, wore it the rest of the day.” He nodded in assurance. “I hope that’s okay?”

The purple head bobbed. "Is okay. Did not wish to delay your seasonal gratification simply because Liam and . . . me . . ."

Sharon's inspection of the package abruptly trailed off, replaced by another, more pressing matter. Sharon sniffed again and looked up, yellow eyes narrowed.

The small redhead approaching them had a half-friendly, half-apologetic look on her face. "Hi! Um, are you Sharon? And Match? I - "

“Hawkward,” Match mumbled, before realizing he’d actually spoken several octaves louder than he’d intended and he stared at the short girl in a semblance of horror. “Oh god. Uh, Sharon, who is she?”

Sharon was still staring at the other girl with the sort of fixed, unblinking hostility usually reserved for Liam at his very orangest.

With three long strides Sharon swept up to Hope. She had nearly a foot of height on her. Slowly, Sharon leaned forward until she was eye-to-eye with the smaller girl and hissed:

"I do not like you."

There was the soft thump of a package hitting the floor as Sharon vanished, replaced by a great purple cat. Without another word she simply turned her back on Hope and stalked away.

“She don’t like you, sorry, kid.” And Match kinda looked sorry, though he simply leaned over to collect the package that the purple haired girl who'd turned into a cougar to stalk away had dropped. For a moment his eyes met hers, trying to place her but nothing sprung to mind. "I'd leave her alone, she bites."

Hope, blinking rapidly in an attempt to stem the surprised tears in her eyes, opened her mouth, but couldn't find words. As Match left, she swallowed and pressed her lips together, using one hand to scrub vigorously at her face.