Good Character

 

 

After the gym it was time for a second, hastier, shower and change before the start of classes. Sarah squeezed into a tight grey tanktop that accentuated her slim waist rather than her flat chest, pulled on some baggy black sweats, and took a few minutes to fuss over putting hair back up or letting it down. Down was the victor this time, her scalp still stinging from the tight ponytail she'd worn earlier. Her hair was getting too long and heavy for it these days.

"Ka- Mom, are you going out?" Sarah was still finger combing as she trotted down the stairs. Her socked feet almost slipped on the last step, legs numb and wobbly from her tredmill and elliptical hopping. "Before Dad gets home, I mean? I wanted to take the car today."



"Oh, I don't know." Karen was in the kitchen, chopping away at an iceburg lettuce that Sarah hoped was just going to be the makings of her stepmother's lunch instead of the whole family's dinner later. Toby could whine his way into something more substantial, but Sarah would just have to pick up some takeout and make apologies for herself and Dad.

"Well," Sarah sat down on the bottom step, making a face as she put back on her sneakers. She could already feel their sweaty dampness seeping into her fresh socks, "I kind of need to know now. I have to leave?"



Karen sighed, knife clacking as she set it down on the counter. "I wish you wouldn't use that tone with me, Sarah. I don't exist just to give you a hard time, whatever you may think."



Sarah had to reign in her groan. They were not getting into that old argument again, not right now and not over her tone of voice. Sarah was too old for this shit. "Yea- yes. I know. I just-- I'm just in a hurry, Karen. Am I taking the car or the bus?"



Karen sighed again, and her own put-upon tone didn't lessen all that much either. "I don't know. I was thinking of going to the store..."



 

 

Sarah wanted nothing better than to sink into the hottest bubblebath known to mankink when she got home that night. From foot to shoulder she ached from either being on her feet or bent over a desk all day. That last trudge home from the busstop had been her breaking point, legs wobbling like rubberbands as she mounted the porch stairs and slipped in the front door as silent and ginger as she could manage with feet that felt like mortar bricks.



"Sarah! Is that you? I have your plate ready... Were you in the mood for ranch or italian?"



Shit. Sarah kept the groan inward, made to slump back against the door by the force of her exasperation- she completely forgot to grab something edible to stash away and bring home during her work break. Maybe, if she could lure Karen away from the kitchen and use the phone real quick-



"Your father called to let us know he'd be late, so don't worry about holding back. I know how you like to eat, Honey."



No, Karen did not know how Sarah liked to eat. Karen couldn't comprehend how anyone liked to eat if it involved copious amounts of meat. Sprinkle a little tuna on top and she was happy as a clam. It wasn't that Sarah hated salads or vegetables or cucumber zuccini whatevers, but couldn't they just be, you know, on the side?



Sarah covered her face, took a big deep breath, and dragged herself upright. Stuffing her hands in her jacket pockets she slumped into the kitchen. "Ranch, Mom. Ranch sounds... good. What did you make?"



"A nice antipasto!" Karen was all smiles, table set and ready and tidy except for the lettuce-shrewn corner that Toby typically resided in. He'd obviously come and gone already. "Toby already ate, so help yourself... I think he picked most of the meats out, unfortunately. I hope you don't mind too much."



Ugh. Sarah was going to strangle him. "No problem." Right after she drowned this salad in cheese and dressing.

 

 

"Hoggle...?" Sarah whispered that night, because Toby had thrown a fit over his bedtime and was likely still awake and sulking down the hall. She lay with her head on Hoggle's chest this time, fiddling absently with the growing strings of beads and trinkets she had been adding to over the years that now looped around his neck and waist. She had one that stretched from his shoulder to belt rolled between her fingers now.



He grunted back at her, arms flat at his sides as if touching her with any part of his hands would encourage her behavior. The old grump.



Sarah grinned and bumped his chin with the top of her head. "Do goblins eat salad?"



"That's a dumb question."



She gave his arm a smack this time. "Who cares? Just answer it."



"Who's tellin' you anything? Hittin' at me and all that," Hoggle grouched and tried to shove her off, starting a brief but furious tussle that ended in Sarah giggling too loud for the time of night and her arms locked around his waist so she could keep her spot. "Quit!"



"Hush- you'll get me in trouble!" Sarah shushed like he started it, cheeks pink from the minor exersion of fending off an ornery little dwarf's flailing limbs. When he'd settled back down enough to just glare at her she slid her arms free so she could fold them on him and look down at his face. "So?"



"So what?" He tossed back.



"Salad?" She prompted with raised brows and a mock serious line made of her lips. Her hair was tousled, a little frizzed from too much brushing after her shower, and she looked pretty with it falling in her face like that.



"Damnit-- I'll eat whatever. I don't care, quit botherin' me."



 

 

<sub>Author Notes: I know. Slowass start and this is a short one, but I swear I have a plot coming. I've got a plan of sorts. I just gotta fiddle about and tickle it into being bit by bit.

Until then, Let me know how you're liking it so far and keep being awesome!</sub>