Chapter Text
First person…
Most people love getting a new sibling, it's someone to talk to, hang out with, and mess with. But honestly… I couldn't care less if my sister Kate died, I actually stayed up at night hoping silently that she'd croak. To fill my free time up I snuck into buildings, stole some things, broke others, just the normal stuff.
It gave me a rush that I never knew I needed. It felt better to get high off adrenaline than scrounge for whatever attention I got from my parents. They used to be cool, we played games, went to parks, hell- we even went to local plays and musicals as a family. But ever since she came into the family, it's almost as if I don't even exist, it's been like this for years now. I'm 16 and she's 7.
I've held this hate against her for over 7 years now, and it's like she knows, cause now she acts like a smug little asshole. Everything she wants to do, our parents say yes, they go to every event of hers- hell they even get her gifts for every little accomplishment. I think the day my parents got her a beautiful necklace I gave up on thinking they'd come to anything I did.
I mean it's not like they missed all of my soccer practices right?! or games… or my first kiss, right? Today was like another day, or so I thought, it was Friday and I decided to skip my last few periods to go hang out outside a nearby abandoned warehouse. I came here every week, I never really went into the building, till today that is. Once I got to the building I would walk up to the doors of the building. It's locked… luckily I always have a hairpin for this very situation.
Once I finished unlocking the door I would sneak in walking up the nearby stairs, it creaked under the weight of my every step. Once I got up to the top I would find a hatch that led up to the roof. Having already gone up this far I would climb up through the hatch emerging out onto the top of the roof. The breeze froze, my heart beat held an eerily familiar rhythm of danger as I stared down over the edge.
Plopping down on the tiles I would pull my homework out from my bag, when I took my math work out and looked over it I would mutter under my breath “fuckin’ math… I hate algebra…”. Not even 10 minutes would pass when I heard sirens, someone must have gone over the limit… it's getting louder… m-maybe they're following the culprit… Ok, that's too close for me.
I would quickly pack up, carefully sliding down the ladder, they're outside… outside a booming voice would call out "You're trespassing on private property, come out with your hands up!” Reluctantly I would do just as they said, stepping out of the building slowly. My steps crunched on the gravel road as I held my hands above my head. The lights from the police car would blind me, a figure would walk over to me.
They would stop right in front of me, it was Officer Dale… he always was the one who found me… how many warnings has he given me again? I think at 12- he cut my thoughts off abruptly with an annoyed snarl “Avery this is the second time this week” I would nod gently whispering “I-I know” “and you know that I've given you warning time and time again correct?” I would nod mumbling “Correct sir…”
He would abruptly grab my wrists, twisting them back behind me. I would grunt in pain as he yelled “THEN WHY IN THE HELL DO I KEEP FINDING YOU LIKE THIS?!” I would hear the clicking of cuffs behind me. He would continue rambling about how I should start thinking of the future as he made the cuffs tighter, and tighter… and tighter.
My limbs being bent in uncomfortable and unnatural ways made me squirm in his grasp. He would push me down to the ground putting his foot on my back saying “stop struggling and let me take you to the station damn it!” I would sob quietly “i-it hurts please” he would put cuffs around my ankles, lest I run before pulling me back up by the cuffs around my wrists pulling a taser out before putting the barrel against my back.
As he shoved me into the police car I would sniffle and cry from the pain of the cuffs and his mishandling along with the fear that the taser might go off had me fading in and out of focus. Every time I blinked I was somewhere else, the backseat, the station, a cell. Every time I blinked it got worse till I didn't open my eyes again, passing out on a cot in the cell.
Hours later I would awake to my cell door opening, when I sat up the chief would be standing in the doorway. “D-Do you need something sir?” I asked with my head down, sleep still beckoning me to lie down. He would sigh gruffly saying sadly “ you really need to stop getting in trouble like this” I would nod gently timidly saying “I understand… Are you letting me out now?” he would shake his head, stepping back out of the cell
“I can't let you out without a parent here, plus I can keep you here for a few days for trespassing” I would lay back down begrudgingly as he locked the cell. For hours I would stay like that, waiting with only my thoughts as company. There was a bit of a rush at one point with officers running out of the station in a rush yelling to each other about a crash or some sort, but that was at least 3 hours ago now.
I was picking at my skin recounting the ceiling stains for the 3rd time when the chief walked in with a devastated look on his face. I would sit up asking “are my parents here yet?” He would shake his head slowly before saying “there was an accident… your sister is in the emergency room” my heart would sink to my stomach…
all those years of wishing she was gone and that she was dead might come true… and it didn't feel good at all, in fact I felt terrible. My throat would close up as I sobbed the chief would leave locking the cell again, I would curl up in my cot now having a new guilt settle into my stomach. I would stay there for another few hours waiting, waiting for my parents to come with good news, or to come at all.
I would hear my cell unlock as a new officer walked in saying gently “You're free to go” I would lifelessly stand up walking out of the cell to the front. The moment I stepped outside I would realize it was the afternoon. I would check my phone for the time seeing it was the next day before it died. I would curse under my breath before jogging to my house.
As I ran down the streets of my small town I thought of all the ways I could better myself, maybe I could stop sneaking out… or I could start working to save money to give back to the people I stole from. Once I got to my house my parents’ car wouldn't be in its normal spot, oh no… they're still at the hospital!
I would run away from my house to the nearby hospital. After a few miles of running my lungs officially burning and my abdomen cramping I would arrive at the hospital. I would scramble inside asking the front desk worker “ e-excuse ma'am I need to know which room Kate Keeler is in” I panted between words as the nurse nodded typing something on her computer.
The nurse would frown saying with a sigh “ I'm afraid that Kate Keeler didn't come to the hospital, if you'd like to see her she is still currently in the morgue” my heart would stop at her words before saying gently “I wanna see her” she would nod before standing up and walking over to one of the doors.
I would follow her to the morgue, once we got there she would open the door for me before looking through the list of body's. The room was freezing, colder than outside, that is, she would walk up to one of the shelves to unlock it before sliding it out. My eyes ran over her mutilated features… I finally have all of my parents' attention, but at what cost?
I would run my fingers over her hand before gently trailing my hand up to her neck pulling her necklace off. I would snap it around my neck before walking out the room. Walking back home left me with my thoughts again, I can't believe that she's actually dead, after years of wanting it… I feel no better, if anything I feel more guilt settle in my stomach.
When I got home again I would pass my parents car silently walking inside, my parents were crying together in the living room and instead of balling up with them to cry I would walk right up to my room. I had my attention now… I have all of their attention, but… it feels so hollow, it'll never be what it was, I should've known.
5 Years later…
I kept to my word and never got in trouble with the law, hell I don't even jaywalk. I actually got too scared that I would accidentally do something that I only rode my bike to and from places. Life was fine, my parents didn't really get over Kate's death, but who would… It was so sudden. Sometimes I catch them crying in their own respective places, when that happens I lock myself in my room.
I tend to do that now, just locking myself in my room when anything even remotely emotional happens. Good news though, I finally saved up enough to move out, I even have enough to take a plane to my new apartment. I decided to move to California, I heard that everyday not only was new but actually felt new too.
I didn't have a whole lot of stuff to take with me so it was easily shipped to where I chose to stay. I didn't say anything to my parents, I kinda just left… I don't know if they noticed I left though, but I don't care anymore either. The plane ride was nice though, no turbulence, no crying babys… It's almost as if the new city is welcoming me with open arms. Once we landed and I got out I was officially on my own, finding a cab wasn't too difficult luckily and the ride there was informative.
I mentally kept a tab of the sites I saw, places I'd eat at, and what stores had ‘hiring’ posters up. Once I got to my apartment complex I would climb out pulling my key out for my room. As I walked through the halls I would see a woman and man standing outside of one of the doors.
The woman had pink swirled up hair and the man had green spiky hair, as I passed by them I would wave. The woman would smile warmly waving while the man waved enthusiastically making the woman hold his hand down giving him a warning look to calm down. I would snicker, unlocking my apartment door before disappearing inside, the rooms were bare, the only furniture being a couch, coffee table and a bed. Once my storage bins came in I could make it a little more homey but for now I set my suitcase down falling backward on my bed.
Turning to lay on my stomach I would search up gyms in the area, finding one a few blocks away I would call in to set a membership with them. Once I did that I would call in to multiple shops who were ‘hiring’ posters up. A few hours later I would finish setting my normal schedule up by going to the gym, visiting a few potential job sites for interviews, eating, then hitting the gym one last time.
It was a good and sorta packed schedule but it'll pay off later, and I had to remind myself that as I begrudgingly went to bed early. The moment I finished eating a few granola bars I would head to bed, falling asleep almost immediately.
The next day…
The sun was still asleep when I woke up, as I got ready to head to the gym I would sneak a peek at the time ‘4:36 a.m.’ ugh not even the birds are out yet. I would slip a jacket on before heading out, as I followed the GPS cars would pass by me, it seems like everyone going to work is waking up.
Once I got to the gym my legs would burn slightly from the walk, I can't wait till I get my bike from the moving team, I believe they're actually getting here tomorrow afternoon. When I walked in there wouldn't be too many people in yet, but I knew when I was leaving it was gonna be bustling with people.
Surprisingly Dimsdale wasn't that bad of a city, the people were nice too, walking over to one of the boxing bags I would pull out some bandages, I know you're supposed to use boxing gloves but honestly they take too much room up and I'd rather bruise and scuff my knuckles up than confide them in tight, sweat prone gloves.
Plus after a few years of boxing my knuckles are calloused enough that I don't even bleed much anymore. I would kick and punch the living hell out of the bag for a few hours before using the weights and pull up bar. Luckily since it was arm day I could box and lift weights all day.
I didn't really like having my whole body feeling tired, so I try to look forward to arm days. Once I hit 50 pull ups and 50 reps I would hit the showers, once done there I would head back to my apartment to get ready for my interviews.
Once I got home I would get changed, fix my hair and clean myself up a bit before eating a snack. When I got done eating a small deli sandwich I would check the time before setting my GPS up to take me to my first interveiw… i have to admit I am nervous, but whats the worse that could happen?
After all 5 interveiws…
Dear god… im so fucked… I stumbled on my words so badly and could barely even remember my own name! Ugh I knew this week was going too well for me, honestly I should just get my bags packed and go back to North Dakota and die in my small town like life planned for me before. When I got to my apartment again I would crash onto my bed before pulling my phone out to doomscroll my sadness away.
As I scrolled through social media my finger would pause seeing a babysitter site looking for more people to work. I would sigh in relief that the universe is giving me something to work with! I would put my information in and immediately I would get two notifications for families in need of a baby sitter.
After looking them both over I would choose a family named the Dimmadones, I would laugh a bit at the frankly stupid name. The moment I applied, Mr. Dimmadone would text me when to come and what to do when I got there… Wow, I guess a normal hello is foreign to him.
I would put the hours into my calendar before checking my email for anything, upon doing so all of the stores I got interviewed by emailed me saying the same shtick of ‘ we apologize but you aren't a fit’. But one of them said I got the job of a waitress in a small café.
I would sign now, having two part time jobs, surely I would get enough money one day to get a better house, but till then ill stay in this apartment.
The next day…
I'm truly lucky that my café job is from 5:00 to 1:30 because that gives me time to shower and head to the Dimmadones house for babysitting. I decided to change when I go to the gym at the end of the day, because waking up at 4 in the morning just to get ready is already really tiring.
Once I got to the café and went to the backroom the manager would walk over to me holding out an apron and name tag with a warm smile, one that held years of knowledge and safety.
As I put the apron and pin on she'd say "I'd like if you opened up the café from now on Avery, ill give you the key at the end of your shift” I would fix my name tag before nodding. She would lead me outside teaching me what buttons didn't work on the register and what coupons the café actually took.
After she gave me a demo we'd run a little crash course, that was actually pretty funny. After she thought I could handle the position she'd walk over to the front flipping the open sign. By this time multiple other people came in, many of them setting the coffee pots, frothers, and receipt printer.
I got to speak to some of my new coworkers and most of them were new hires as well so I was glad that I wasn't the only one. The morning was very busy, I guess all of the influencers and their mothers heard the café just opened and couldn't wait to get their manicured hands on some bean juice.
Hell at one point we had at least 10 orders on hold while everyone else was in the middle of brewing. It was definitely stressful but luckily the rush only lasted an hour or so. By the time the rush hour ended my shift was halfway done, so I'd start helping my coworkers in the back cleaning.
It definitely got really messy after the rush hour but it was thankfully easy enough to clean in a handful of minutes. The rest of my shift consisted of people coming in once in a while, I'm guessing because everyone else has a job or is in school. Once 1:30 hit I'd hang my apron up before setting my pin in my locker, after officially clocking out I'd buy two muffins for me and Dev before heading home to get cleaned up.
After I showered and changed out of my coffee scented clothes I would call a taxi, my moving company would call me as the taxi driver took me to the Dimmadones home to tell me that they've made it to my house early, including would quickly tell the taxi driver to take me back so I could take my things inside, he would oblige and turn around.
Once we got there I would take my things up to my apartment as fast as I could, once I got everything up I would check the time realizing that I was late to my first day of babysitting. Cursing under my breath I would call a new taxi climbing in quickly before telling the driver where to take me.
On the ride there I would text Mr. Dimmadone to say I'd be a tad bit late, to which he sent a thumbs up emoji… yknow im really starting to get a bad feeling about this family, it's known it was weird a rich family like them doesn't already have a babysitter.
Once I got to the impossibly giant mansion I'd step out of the taxi, walking up to the gated fence and press a red button to which a gruffly voice would come from the side speaker “welcome to the Dimmadone manor, if you have business with Mr. Diamond is currently not here, but I can take a message for him" I would look for a camera before saying “oh um actually im here for his son? im Dev's new babysitter actually”
There would be silence for a moment before the gates opened as the man spoke again “ Dev's room is in the left wing, and welcome to the Dimmadone manor” his voice would crackle out as he finished, I would follow his instructions going up to the house toward the left wing. Inside was neat and completely white, the only splashes of color being the shadows and some sprinkles of gold here and there.
Once I got upstairs I would look around for Dev's room, it was conveniently labeled right in the middle of the wood door. Inside I heard two voices, thinking it was his father. Inside I'd open the door, upon doing so I would see a child surrounded by cupcakes.
Above the child's bed would be what it could only imagine to be a fariy of some sorts, the fairy would quickly turn around looking at me for a moment before yelling at the kid asking “ why didn't you tell me your babysitter was still coming?!" Dev would groan saying “I thought she wasn't! Come on, you could have hidden by the time she came!”
They would argue a bit as I stood surprised. I didn't really fully believe in supernatural things like Bigfoot or unicorns and such, but I never doubted they could be real. Once the fariy defused the argument he would turn to face me saying “ ugh great i really thought I was doing pretty good with this first kid too” I would look between him and dev before asking “what are you?”
He would sigh floating down in front of me saying “ well my dear im a fairy, I could've sworn that was at least a tad bit obvious?” He would fidget with his wand as I scoffed saying “well obviously, but I just thought they were made up is all” he would raise his brow asking “wait so you're not gonna freak out or like… faint?”
I would shake my head saying “well im surprised but now that surprised, plus I kinda had a small gut feeling some folklore creatures could be real” he would visible relax, not before Dev cleared his throat saying “ ahem, if you're done talking i wish for another cupcake, correctly made this time” the fariy would grumble before floating over to Dev.
I would silently follow him, stepping over mountains of cupcakes before sitting down on the edge of Dev's bed asking “would you like a muffin Dev? I got you one earlier” I would pull it out of my backpack holding it out to him. Dev would look between the muffin tin and me before scoffing and rolling his eyes “ I don't need your busted muffin, I have a fairy that can get me anything I want, so why'd I want that?”
I would shrug, setting it down beside me saying “ psh- your loss” the fariy would speak up saying “well if he won't take it I'll gladly take it instead” I would smile warmly up at him before handing the fairy the tin. As he took it and pooped it away somewhere I would ask “ so… whats your name?”
He would spawn another cupcake for Dev who had asked him for more “ah silly me, I was so focused on other things- my names Poof, but~ you can call my Peri- like periwinkle!” I would snicker saying “that's a very fitting name for you, Peri- ah my name's Avery by the way”
He would hum nodding in understanding before floating down to sit beside me “ so you have any hobbies, Avery?” Peri said my name as if testing it out, I would think for a moment since most of my time is just working and sleeping. “ Well I like to listen to crime podcasts and I box in my free time” my answer would make Peri's eyes light up as he grinned saying “ no way! I love martial arts and crime podcasts. We already have so much in common!”
His happiness would dull down slightly as Dev groaned saying “ ugh you two need to seriously get a room, and you Peri need to eat me another cupcake” he would hold his hand out expectingly. Both me and Peri's faces would flush at his words before he poofed a giant cupcake onto him.
The embarrassment from Dev's words would melt away as I laughed as Dev got out from under the cupcake, he would glare at me saying “ I wish Avery had a cupcake fall on her too!” My laughter would cease as a cupcake appeared above me before falling directly on me.
The moment I got cupcake icing off my eyes I would throw some at Dev with a smirk. This would spark an all out war as we threw icing at each other, from above Peri would hold an umbrella moving it as icing flew at him. When me and Dev realized what he was doing we both came to a mutually silent agreement as we directed our attack at Peri.
It's safe to say that he didn't last too long, being only a pair of eyes under cupcake icing. Both me and Dev would snicker as Peri waved his wand to poof all of the cupcakes away, I would look around at the now clear floor saying “phew im glad im not the one cleaning that up”
Dev would sigh saying with an indifferent frown as he crossed his arms “ maybe i did want a muffin instead…” Before Peri could bring the one I got him back I would hand Dev my own. Dev would eat the muffin as Peri asked “ why'd you give him your muffin? I could've made him one” he would gesture to his wand as he spoke. I would sigh shrugging “ I mean, it's not like I can't get them whenever I want, plus I want you to keep yours”
I would give him a reassuring smile, he would smile back slightly before it faded as he sighed “ im gonna miss talking to you when Jorgan finds out about you” I would pause for a moment asking “ wait what? What's he gonna do?... Who even is Jorgan?”
Peri would shiver slightly in fear saying “ well Jorgan's like my boss-well like every fairy's boss really, and when he finds out that an adult knows fairies exist he'll erase your mind…” I would pause before saying “WHAT, YOU DIDN'T THINK TO TELL ME THAT BEFORE?!” he would rub the back of his neck nervously before saying “w-well I didnt have a need to since he's just gonna erase our whole interaction!”
The moment he said that a big burst of glitter and smoke would appear, as it disappeared a way bigger, and a much more muscular fairy would emerge. He would look down at Peri with a permanent disappointed expression “Peri you were spotted on your first godchild? I really had better expectations”
Peri's eyes would downcast before he quickly said “ wait can we just not erase her mind? I mean she doesn't seem like she'd tell anyone, plus you let Crocker keep his memory cause he has no evidence of us!”
He would scoff waving a dismissive hand before looking down at me with a frown “ humans have no evidence and knowledge of fairies still cause we erase the minds of all who sees us, Crocker may be an exception but he is no example”
I would speak up saying “ look i know i have no say in this but I swear if won't tell anyone! I don't even have anyone to tell, my family's another state away, I have no friends yet, I have no one to tell and nothing to gain by telling people” Jorgan would think for a moment before Peri cut in one last time “ i-if she tells anyone you can not only erase her mind but-but… also take my job away, ill work under someone else like the tooth fairy!”
This would make Jorgan sigh saying “if this human really means that much to risk your job, then… I suppose I can let her keep her memories, but one slip up and it's over for you both" we would both nod quickly as he poofed away just as he came in.
I would sigh before looking over at Peri who was smiling, I would frown slightly asking “ why are you risking your job for me?” Peri would blush slightly before saying “w-well… I think you're cool, and it's kinda nice knowing someone my age, even if they're not a fairy” Dev, who watches the whole thing would groan asking “ so now I have to share my wishes? Ughhhhh”
I would chuckle saying with a shake of my head “ hah, no no i won't ask for anything, I promise” an alarm would go off on my phone as I sighed “ looks like its your bed time Dev” he would scoff saying “wha- I don't need a bed time!” I would chuckle saying
“Yeah well, tell that to your father, ‘cause he's the one who set it to 9:30” he would groan saying “fine whatever just get out so I can sleep” I would sigh standing up “ hey Peri can you come with me?” Peri would look confused as Dev sighed even harder, I know his type… hell I used to be his type as a kid, I knew his sneaky ass would wish for something to do.
Once we left the room I would lean against the wall next to his door before asking “ so… Are there more of you?” Peri would smirk saying “ there's a whole city but… im the last kid that was born for… well about 10,000 years, I could show you Fairy world some time, but i dunno if human adults can go in sadly”
I would not gently understanding his worry before saying “ it's alright i believe you, but wow, 10,000 years? So there aren't many of you?” Peri would shrug, moving to float beside me “ nah there's a few hundred but since fairies live forever so there's still older fairies in Fairy World” I would nod in understanding before laughing nervously “ hah it's probably pretty rude to ask so many questions about your species huh?”
He would chuckle lowly shaking his head, waving a dismissive hand “nonsense, you're the only one who feels this way besides I enjoy talking to you” I would smile saying “ that's quite an opinion since we just met only a handful of minutes ago” he would shrug with a pleased smirk “ eh just a guess”
we would hear snoring from Dev's room, i would peek into his room to see Dev asleep. I would close the door saying “well looks like my job is done” Peri would look at me confused asking “wait aren't babysitters supposed to wait for their parents?”
I would shrug saying “ id think so too but all Dev's father said for me to do is to get his son to sleep and then to leave, im guessing he thinks Dev is gonna sneak out or something” Peri would nod gently before saying “ well I'll see you tomorrow then” I would shoulder my backpack with a smile saying “yeah… ill see you tomorrow Peri”
With that he would poof away, the walk out of Dev's home was silent yet comforting. Knowing that I had a new friend, even if they aren't exactly human is great! This may have actually been the best thing that's happened in my life since… Kate died. But besides that, I think starting anew here will be good for me, hopefully nothing bad happens to ruin my time here, hah… hopefully.