Chapter Text
Quinn sat at the dinner table, looking at her mother Grace, who held a cell phone up to her ear with a worried expression spread across her face. “Are you sure? What about his godfather- Gosh what’s his name.. Archer! Yes, what about him?” A small pause took place as the person on the other line of the phone responded. “Archer’s dead? I mean, I knew that yes of course. Um.. Are there really no other options?” Another pause was held. “Fine. Just- fine.” Grace stood up, now angered. “Grab your coat Quinn, we have to pick up your cousin. He’ll be staying with us for a while.” Quinn silently did as she was told, and followed her mother as they left the house and got in the car to drive somewhere. The entire drive was quiet, besides Grace’s quiet mumbling that Quinn couldn’t make sense of. “Mom? Where are we going?” Quinn finally asked. Grace let out a heavy sigh before answering. “Your uncle Steven got himself arrested and now Paxton will have to stay with us for a while until he can pull himself together for once in his life, okay?” Quinn nodded her head. The two eventually arrived at their destination, Quinn’s uncle Steven’s home. A police officer held the two-year-old Paxton’s hand, But let go to approach Grace once she and Quinn left the vehicle. “Hello officer.” Grace dipped her head slightly in respect to the policeman, as Quinn stared at the uniformed man with curious eyes. “Greetings ma’am! Who might you be?” The man questioned Grace, ignoring Quinn entirely. Quinn filtered out the conversation between Grace and the officer, and focused on her cousin instead. The toddler Pax half-waddled half-ran into Quinn’s arms in a wide hug. “Qwinn!” The toddler called out, clinging to his older cousin with a smile on his face. The oblivious child’s joy made Quinn a tad happier. “Hey Pax.” Quinn gently pat Paxton’s head in a welcoming gesture. The two children sat right there in the grass for many minutes as the two adults talked and exchanged information. Eventually, Grace looked down on the two children and spoke. “Come on then, let’s just get home already.”
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The day was drawing to an end now, and per the usual Quinn was up far later than she had anticipated. She heard footsteps sound from the hallway, and hurriedly shut off her flashlight and pretended to be asleep. Her door opened, and a small figure revealed itself. “Qwinn?” Quinn sat up in her bed. “There.. There- a monster in bed..” Pax said, struggling to put together his words into a proper sentence. Quinn looked at the toddler for a moment before responding. “You want me to check for you?” Pax nodded slowly. “Well, alright then.” Quinn left her bed and followed Pax to the guest bedroom, where he was staying for the time being. When they arrived, Quinn peaked under the bed. “Don’t worry Pax, I can say this bedroom is monster-free!” Quinn said confidently, giving a thumbs-up signal. “Sure?” Pax asked nervously. “I’m sure. Pinky promise?” Quinn held out her pinky finger, to which Pax held out his. Pax’s face grew into a gentle smile, and he waddled back over to the bed. “Goodnight, Pax.” Quinn said as a brief farewell before shutting the door and quietly returning to her own bedroom. Before she made it the whole way though, she heard familiar footsteps drawing nearer and nearer. Quinn tried to walk faster, but could only move so much quicker without making noise. “Quinn Ace Amaranthus.” A tense, whispering voice called out. “Do you realize what hour it is?” Quinn spun to face the voice, and met the gaze of her mother Grace. “I.. I’m sorry it’s just- you see- I-” Grace cut Quinn off. “Enough. Quinn, it is nearly midnight and I have a very busy schedule tomorrow. And you just woke me up.” Quinn shrunk a bit, her previous confidence thinning. “I- I’m sorry it’s just that Paxton needed help and I couldn’t just not do someth-” “Are you talking back to me right now, Ace? I won’t be taking this disrespect from you anymore. Go to your bed and sleep. Now, you’ll be having a busy schedule tomorrow too. Now go. ” Quinn did nothing but do as she was told, and walked silently to her bedroom as Grace stared at her like a hawk. “I better not find you up this late again young lady.” Grace said as Quinn approached her bedroom door. “You won’t.” Quinn said weakly before rushing inside the room. She collapsed onto her bed, and opened up a brand new notebook and began writing. “Log One Day One: 20/11/2017”