Magenta felt quite blue once she settled back home. Her mom was busy with her job so most of the time Magenta self-studied. And when she wasn't studying, Magenta swung into a bout of depression. All she wanted to do was sleep or eat ice cream and watch television shows. She was trying to hide and escape from her feelings about the trauma and what unfolded in the past month.
She felt like it was her fault that her friends had to study from home for the rest of the semester. She felt so stupid for believing Reese was a good guy. For ignoring the warning signs.
Magenta didn't want to read or write as she usually did. She just spent time munching on food, watching tv, or sleeping during the day.
One new development was the nightmares. Magenta was now an insomniac, and when she did get to sleep in the night, she'd wake up less than a few hours later, sweating and feeling like she was back in that party room with Reese's hands all over her.
Cathy was having difficulty balancing the demands of her job as well as spending time with Magenta. But she managed to get a bit of leave, citing family matters. Cathy proposed a pizza and game night and also invited Blue, Shelby, and Jasper too. Magenta agreed and got excited over the idea of a game and pizza night. Finally she could see her friends again after a short break.
Magenta and Blue texted regularly throughout the week. So when Magenta invited Blue to her home he readily accepted, as did Shelby and Jasper. The three came bringing gifts, as was custom culture for their families. They had a tradition of bringing food and gifts to each other ever since they were all young.
Blue brought a mystery potpourri dish, Shelby brought drinks, and Jasper brought a wrapped gift.
"Why so mysterious?" Shelby asked Jasper.
"Oh it came naturally in this wrapping," Jasper said.
Magenta hugged her friends when she saw them and ushered them into her house.
"Ooo a gift, can I open it?" Magenta asked.
"Duh," Jasper smiled.
She made a big deal out of opening the present, wrapped in a pink bow. She unwrapped the bow and tore the paper. It was a bottle of wine for her mother. Magenta's eyes sparkled.
"Whoa, my mom loves wine!" She said.
Even though the memory remained of Reese and the wine situation with him, Magenta shoved that thought far at the back of her head. Tonight she would enjoy her time with her friends and her mom. She wouldn't let any other things interfere with her thoughts.
Magenta's mom was the host, so she decided on the first game while they waited for the pizza they ordered.
"I propose PICTIONARY!" Cathy said. The wrinkles on the side of her face stretched as she smiled widely.
"Oh mom, but you're so bad at Pictionary," Magenta said.
"That's why I like it," Cathy winked.
They split into teams, Cathy with Blue against Magenta, Shelby, and Jasper.
"Just the way I like it," Cathy said.
"Why mom, you're two against three?" Magenta asked.
"Blue is like two brains for me," Cathy said.
"And you're like minus two," Magenta cajoled.
"Hey, young lady!" Cathy said in jest.
They started playing pictionary, and a few minutes later, Jasper, Blue, and Shelby saw what Magenta meant by saying her mother was bad at the game.
"Tiger! Cat! Hat? Oh I know, it's a stick crown!" Cathy shouted answer after answer, getting them all wrong.
The timer buzzed and Blue threw his hands up in exasperation.
"It's a hula hoop!" He said.
"What! It doesn't even look like, where is the circle and the body with the hoop?" Cathy asked.
"I was drawing it!" Blue said.
The five of them couldn't stop laughing their stomachs out until their eyes watered. The pizza came after a few more rounds of the game. Magenta's team won, no doubt. So they got the first pick of pizza. There was margherita and chicken delight.
"No pineapples." Jasper said.
"Pineapples!" Cathy argued, sprinkling some on her pizza.
"The horror," Jasper said.
As they were happily eating pizza, Mr. Davies, Magenta's dad, turned up in the driveway. Magenta was so happy! Her dad was always on business trips so it would be awesome to see him now.
As her father opened the door, she launched herself into his arms.
"Dad!" Magenta said.
"Buttercup! Howdy, all!" Tim Davies nodded at the rest of Magenta's friends. He went to kiss Cathy and excused himself to freshen up. Tim Davies smelled like candy and out of his pocket, he threw a lemon candy for his daughter.
Magenta caught it and said, "Thanks, dad!"
Towards the end of the night, Magenta and Blue sat on the porch of the Davies' house, sitting side by side on the porch swing, their thighs touching comfortably. Magenta passed Blue a cup of lemonade.
As they rested, Magenta and Blue's hands inched closer to each other. Blue was trying to make the move but it was entirely unsuccessful when Tim Davies knocked on the door, startling Magenta and Blue.
"Watch where your hand goes, Mr. Blue Harrison!" Tim stepped out onto the porch, adjusting his belt from the food baby.
"Sorry, Mr. Davies." Blue retracted his hand, wiping sweat off his trousers.
"I think we need to talk, young man." Tim motioned to Blue.
Magenta complained, "No dad, don't do it. Don't freak Blue out with your scary talk."
"It's okay," Blue said.
Tim Davies crooked a finger and Blue disappeared for a while, to go inside and talk to her father. Magenta's mom came outside, sighing, and sat beside her.
"I love you mom," Magenta said.
"I love you too, Maggie." Cathy hugged her daughter.
"Do you remember the time when you used to be so mad at Blue Harrison?" Cathy said.
"Yes," Magenta spoke without hesitation.
Cathy boomed in laughter.
"But now, I don't want to be mad at him. He's been good to me." Magenta admitted.
"If he makes my precious daughter feel special, protected, loved, then I approve," Cathy said, holding her daughter close.
Magenta smiled, feeling tears pricking the corners of her eyes again.
"Mom, don't say things like that. We're not even together, and I didn't ask for approval yet," Magenta said, trying to get the tears away and failing to make them disappear.
Just then, Blue came back out after his 'talk' with Tim Davies.
"Oh hi, Mrs Davies," Blue said.
"Oh, dear I have to get the tea off the pot," Cathy said, and she got up, giving Blue a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Oh okay, mom." Magenta said, stretching and straining her back to see her mom go back inside.
Cathy did her version of a subtle wink which was not that subtle. Her whole body bent weirdly and she gave one of those chucking thumbs ups. Magenta felt herself blushing when Blue sat back down next to her.
"Embarrassing," Magenta said.
"Nah, your parents are really sweet," Blue said.
"Really, did my dad scare you with his intimidation tactics?" Magenta asked, her eyes lighting up as Blue shook his head.
"No, like I said your parents are sweet. Your dad just asked me some questions about how I felt about you."
They sat in silence for a few seconds before both of them tried to speak at the same time. Magenta was dying to know what Blue really thought of her and how he was feeling about everything. She knew her answer if he really asked her out. She didn't know if she was really ready but she was ready as she would ever be.
"So how-"
"Would-"
"No, you go first," Magenta said.
"Magenta, I like you. Do you want to go on a frate with me?" Blue asked.
"Blue, I like you too. What's a frate?"
Blue looked hopeful, and Magenta was puzzled and chuffed, feeling all the ooey gooey emotions swirling in her stomach and heart.
"A friend-date. It's a thing apparently," Blue shrugged.
Magenta chortled and she said, "Oh I see, is it like if it goes well we call it a date if it goes badly we can call it a frate? Why yes Blue. I'd love to go on a frate! Where shall we go?"
"We shall go to Wonderlands!"
Blue mentioned the local theme park.
"Yes! I haven't been there in ages!" Magenta said.
"Cool, it's settled. Is Friday okay with you?" Blue checked with Magenta.
"Yeah, let's!" Magenta replied.
The main door opened behind them and Shelby stuck her head out.
"Hey, what are you guys talking about all secret-y there?" Shelby opened the door wider and waved at them to come back in.
"We're talking about you and Jasper!" Magenta teased.
"Gasp! How could you," Shelby placed a hand over her heart as to say she was highly offended.
Blue held out his hand and Magenta took it. Shelby pretended to not see, with no reaction. But she was fangirling so hard on the inside she almost peed with joy in her attempt to conceal her emotions.
Blue and Magenta went back inside the house, grinning ear to ear.