Taylor woke up because something was snoring in her room, and it wasn’t her. Blinking a little, she turned her head just enough to see her alarm on the nightstand, then squinted until she could make out the numbers. It was too damned early. She still had fifteen minutes to sleep in and she was going to profit from each and every one.
Whoever was snoring could wait for later.
The door to her room creaked open and she blinked awake with a start. Tiny feet pit-patted closer and when Taylor looked up it was to see the new girl, the one she had summoned just last night and had yet to name, stepping into the room with careful footfalls. She was carrying a tray that was nearly half as long as she was tall, tongue pinched between her lips as she carefully walked closer.
On the tray was a pair of plates full of eggs and a tea kettle that steamed a little, letting a nice familiar scent fill the room.
“Hey?” Taylor asked as she tried to push herself up to a sitting position.
The girl froze, then noticed that Taylor was up and with a shrug walked closer without trying to be quiet. “I thought big sis would like some breakfast in bed this morning,” she said with a small smile.
Taylor shrugged. She wasn’t about to say no to that. “Did you cook it yourself?” she asked.
The girl shook her head and was about to speak when a loud snore cut her off. She glared towards Taylor’s feet.
Giving in to the inevitable, Taylor looked down. Cheshire was on her back, one arm over Taylor’s legs and the oversized T-shirt Taylor had given her as pyjamas riding up to expose her tummy. Her mouth was wide open, one fang in full display as a bit of drool slid down her cheek.
“I did not cook it myself. Dad did.”
“Ah, yeah, that makes sense.” She pulled her legs out from under Cheshire. All that accomplished was making the girl mumble something before rolling onto her front so that her other arm could hug Taylor’s legs but she was already sitting up with her back against the head of her bed. “Thanks,” Taylor said as she allowed the new girl to place the tray on her lap. “That’s really nice of you.”
The comment earned another small smile and the new girl looked down demurely. “It was nothing,” she said.
Taylor shifted so that the second plate was closer to the girl. She then picked up one of the forks and dug in. “Yeah, it tastes like dad’s cooking,” she said.
“It could use some salt,” the girl agreed.
Taylor nodded, but continued eating while Cheshire snored at her feet. Her leg twitched a few times, poking over the edge of the bed. She figured that given enough time, Cheshire would fall off the side. “So,” she said. “I have school today. It’s Friday, so last day until the weekend. Will you be okay staying here with Cheshire?”
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The girl nodded. “I will be. No worries. I’ll try to make sure she behaves.” She took another bite and kept her eyes down. “Um, big sis?”
“Yeah?”
“Would you happen to have any sewing supplies? Maybe some yarn, or some cloth?” She looked up, dark eyes peeking through brown hair. “I, I’d like to help a little, but I can’t without things to work with.”
“Of course,” Taylor said. She actually felt rather bad. Unlike Cheshire, this girl was polite and actually helpful, if a little shy. “By the way, have you thought of a name for yourself?”
She shook her head, a tinge of red climbing to her cheeks. “That, that would be the height of impropriety. Only big sis should name us.”
Taylor paused. She wondered, as she poured two cups of tea, if that was part of her power or just this girl’s feelings on the matter. “How about you tell me about the things you like? That way I’ll be able to give you a name that you like.”
“Of course.” She had that small smile again. “I know how to sew, fix any kind of clothes, make little plushies and teddy bears and all sorts of things with cloth. I would like to think that I’m pretty good that that. And I like fashion. Pretty dresses, matching the right colours together, picking out outfits so that they compliment the wearer. It’s a science, but also an art! And it’s a great art. There’s so much depth to it. Fabric choices and styles. From simple crocheted items to entire gowns with mixed materials. I, I really like that kind of thing, and my power lends itself well to it.”
“I see,” Taylor said. She could keep her own smile off her face at the pure delight pouring out of the girl. “I don’t think a name like needle would fit then?”
She could tell that the girl didn’t like it, but didn’t want to say no.
“No, not quite. It’s a nice name but not for this little sister, right?”
“If you say so, big sis.”
Taylor chuckled and set down her cup to pat the girl on the head. It earned her another small smile. “How about Crochet?”
“Like the needlework? Yes, yes I like that very much.”
“Well then Crochet, do you want to help me bring all this downstairs? Then we can rummage around for materials you can play with while I’m gone.”
Crochet nodded fervently, her poised act discarded for the moment. “I would love that, big sis.”