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After a solo bong sesh in his room, Peter snuck downstairs to grab a snack in the kitchen. Pulling the cabinet open, he took the bag of Doritos from the top shelf and opened them as gently as he could.
He slid to the other side of the room for a bowl–
Cluck.
–but nearly dropped it at the sound of a low chirp.
Glassy-eyed, he flipped around and saw Charlie standing at the doorway. She stared intently at him while twisting her index finger around a loose string dangling from her hoodie sleeve.
“Hey, Charlie...” Peter breathed, holding his hand over his racing heart. He spoke to her in a hushed voice.
“What're you still doing up? Mom'll freak if she finds you down here.”
She didn't budge, but her eyes glinted over to the blue bag in his hand. Catching that, her big brother lifted it up as if showcasing them.
“You want some?”
Charlie shook her head quickly. She looked down at her finger, watching it turn red between the thread.
Peter swiftly drew them back.
“Shit, that's right. They give you headaches.”
Cluck.
He didn't mind the lingering aftertaste of tangy dust from munching on Doritos. But even through his foggy brain, he remembered how sick his sister got from eating just one.
Peter faced the counter again and went back to pouring himself a bowl, trying not to be put off by Charlie still standing behind him. Once he was done, he crumbled the top of the bag closed and slipped it back in the cabinet. Before he closed it, another bag inside caught his eye.
A smaller, brown one with multicolored candies decorated at the center. He pulled it out and gave it a small shake.
The light jiggling of the chocolatey pieces hitting each other made Charlie's head spring up. Her deep blue eyes locked right on it, her twirling string going limp.
Cluck.
A swift smile rose on Peter’s face. He walked over to her with the candy. When he was close enough, she reached for the bag. But her brother reeled them away.
“Hang on just a second.”
Charlie frowned, harshly pushing her eyebrows together.
“Sorry, but I gotta let you know one thing first.”
She pursed her lips and said nothing. Peter took that as her waiting on him and continued.
“You can't eat these in your room, okay? If Mom and Dad hear you, we'll both get in trouble.”
She nodded quickly, her eyes still glued to her favorite treat. Peter sighed.
“Charlie...You're not going to your room, are you?” He asked with bitten back exasperation.
She shook her head.
“Will you tell me where you're going instead then? Please?”
“The treehouse.”
“...That works.”
Finally lowering the M&Ms, Peter gingerly laid them down in his sister’s palms. Charlie shoved the bag inside her hoodie pocket and turned to leave.
“Hey, uh...”
She stopped but kept her back facing her brother.
Peter grabbed his bowl and shifted on his feet.
“Mind if I...eat up there with you?”
Charlie looked over her shoulder for a brief moment.
“Okay.”
She rounded the corner and headed towards the backdoor, listening for her brother’s shuffling footsteps to follow behind her. As soon as the siblings kicked their shoes on, Peter creaked the door open for them.
From the stairwell, Annie watched her children walk outside together. Spotting them from the window, she made sure they made it up the steep, wooden ladder safely.
Once they were out of sight, and the red heater light flashed on inside the treehouse, she smiled warmly and went back to bed.