Saturday

 

The school stood eerily silent, devoid of the usual hustle and bustle. All students had left for the weekend, except for the girls. Their punishment - to clean the entire school for the upcoming week.

 

"It's so unfair," Darling protested, her voice echoing through the empty hallways. "Terrance and Jinx only got a warning, and here we are, stuck with this."

 

"True," Marvella chimed in, "although, we did sneak out that one time when we had to hide that body. We got a warning then."

 

"But the principal has always been harder on us girls," Darling countered. "It's like he's got something against us."

 

Pearl nodded in agreement. "I mean, he wouldn't even let me wear pants because it's 'not ladylike'. It's just not right."

 

"He's definitely not your typical principal," Paris added, her voice laced with frustration. 

 

"Ladies!" Robin's voice broke through their conversation. "Time to get moving. We've got a school to clean."

 

Paris took a deep breath, steeling herself for the task ahead. "Alright, let's do this."

 

They met Robin downstairs, cleaning supplies in hand. "This school may not be massive, but it's not small either," Robin said, scanning the area. "I'm glad I've got you girls to help me."

 

"You usually do all this by yourself?" Marvella asked, looking surprised.

 

Robin nodded. "Yep. While Principal Dean prepares for the new week, I clean."

 

She then divided them into teams. "Pearl and Darling, you'll take the upstairs. Marvella and Paris, you're with me on the ground floor. And remember, I'll be checking on your progress!"

 

With their tasks clearly defined, the girls set to work, determined to make their punishment count. The school may have been silent, but their determination filled the space with a newfound energy.

 

"Hey, you okay?" Marvella asked, noticing Paris seemed lost in thought as they cleaned the dining room.

 

Paris sighed, "Just thinking about Morrissa."

 

Marvella paused her cleaning, her curiosity piqued. "What did you and Darling find? You never mentioned anything."

 

"Well, you know how Queen Mary and our parents banished Morrissa, right?" Paris began, her voice soft.

 

"Yeah," Marvella nodded, encouraging Paris to continue.

 

"We found an old letter who she take revenge on next. But looking at the letter it’s all smudged and can’t tell who is on her list next. Paris confessed, her brows furrowed in worry.

 

"Damn! But what's our role in all of this? Why did she send us here? To isolate our parents so she can get to them?" Marvella asked, her confusion apparent.

 

"That part, I'm not sure," Paris admitted, her gaze dropping to the floor.

 

After a moment of silence, Marvella shifted the conversation. "You and Pearl never really talk about your mom. I hope I'm not crossing a line by asking..."

 

Paris quickly reassured her. "It's okay, we're pretty open about it. We can't talk much about someone who hasn't been in our lives for years."

 

"I'm sorry," Marvella apologized, her tone sincere.

 

"It's alright. To be honest, Pearl and I were only three when she left. As young as Sp is now. But whatever her reason for leaving, Pearl and I have been doing just fine without her," Paris said, a note of defiance in her voice.

 

Marvella gave Paris a small, understanding smile. The conversation had taken a deep turn, but it had also brought them closer. With a renewed sense of camaraderie, they moved on to their next cleaning task.

 

As the afternoon sun bore down on the school, Pearl and Darling found themselves upstairs, armed with cleaning supplies. The usually bustling hallways were eerily quiet, the only sounds being their synchronized scrubbing and the distant echoes of Marvella and Paris' cleaning efforts downstairs.

 

Pearl was at one end of the hallway, her tall figure hunched over as she vigorously mopped the stairs. On the other side, Darling was perched precariously on a ladder, a bucket of soapy water and a squeegee in hand, as she tackled the tall windows.

 

Pearl paused her mopping for a moment, unable to resist teasing Darling. "Are you sure you won't fall, D?" she called out, a playful grin on her face.

 

Darling rolled her eyes, but her cheeks turned a shade pinker. "I'm not that clumsy, Pearl," she retorted, even though they both knew that wasn't entirely true. 

 

Pearl chuckled and resumed her task, but her gaze kept drifting towards Darling. She couldn't help but notice how the sunlight streaming through the windows highlighted Darling's features, casting an ethereal glow around her. 

 

On the ladder, Darling was battling her own thoughts. She was well aware of Pearl's occasional glances and the fluttering feeling they induced. She tried to focus on the windows, but her mind kept wandering. She found herself stealing glances at Pearl, noticing how the beads of sweat on Pearl's forehead made her look even more... appealing.

 

Suddenly, Darling's hand slipped, causing a loud squeak as the squeegee slid down the window. She gasped, nearly losing her balance, but managed to regain her footing on the ladder. 

 

Pearl was by her side in an instant, her eyes wide with concern. "Darling, are you okay?" she asked, her hand instinctively reaching out to steady the ladder.

 

Darling's heart pounded in her chest, not from the near fall, but from the closeness of Pearl. "I-I'm fine, Pearl. Just a little slip," she stammered, her cheeks flaming red.

 

Pearl held her gaze for a moment longer than necessary before stepping back, a soft blush creeping onto her own cheeks. "Be careful, Darling," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

 

As Pearl returned to her mopping and Darling to her window cleaning, an unspoken tension hung in the air. The rest of their punishment passed in a buzz of stolen glances and silent blushes, the cleaning tasks forgotten momentarily as they each navigated the unexpected emotions stirring within them.

 

As the afternoon progressed, Pearl and Darling found themselves taking a break from their cleaning duties. They sat on the staircase, their cleaning supplies forgotten for the moment. 

 

Pearl broke the silence first, her voice soft. "You know, Darling, life's a funny thing," she mused, her gaze distant. "I mean, look at us. We're here, cleaning the school as a punishment, while dealing with all this Morrisa chaos."

 

Darling nodded, her gaze following Pearl's. "It's like we're living in two worlds. The normal school life, and then this... secret life we've got going."

 

Pearl sighed, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "I sometimes wonder... if mom hadn't left when Paris and I were three, would things be different?"

 

Darling looked over at Pearl, her heart aching for her friend. She reached out, gently squeezing Pearl's hand. "I'm sorry, Pearl. That's tough."

 

Pearl turned to Darling, offering her a small smile. "Life's tough, D. But it's what shapes us, right?"

 

Darling nodded, feeling a surge of bravery. "You know, my life... it isn't as perfect as I make it out to be," she confessed, her voice barely a whisper. 

 

Pearl looked at Darling, surprise evident on her face. "What do you mean?"

 

Darling took a deep breath, steeling herself. "At home, I'm under constant pressure. My grandma... she wants me to be perfect. To never make a mistake. And it's hard, Pearl. Really hard."

 

Pearl squeezed Darling's hand, her own struggles momentarily forgotten. "I can't imagine how tough that must be, Darling."

 

"And there's more," Darling continued, her eyes glistening. "My dad... he died when my little sister Sunshine was born. I try not to show it, but it hurts, Pearl."

 

Pearl pulled Darling into a gentle hug, a comfort in their shared struggles. "I'm here for you, Darling," she whispered, her heart heavy with empathy.

 

They sat there for a while, the setting sun casting long shadows down the hallway. When they pulled away, they found their faces just inches apart. Their hearts pounded in their chests, and they both blushed deeply.

 

But Darling was quick to pull away, a troubled expression on her face. "I... I can't, Pearl," she stammered. "I'm... I'm dating Xavier."

 

Pearl nodded, her own blush fading slightly. "I understand, Darling," she said softly. But even as they returned to their cleaning tasks, the tension remained, a silent testament to the unspoken feelings between them.

 

After a long afternoon of cleaning downstairs, Marvella and Paris had taken a well-deserved break. They found a cozy spot in the corner of the room, their cleaning tools temporarily abandoned. 

 

Their conversation was light, bouncing from one topic to another. It was a comfortable camaraderie, the kind that develops after spending countless hours working side by side.

 

The conversation took a more personal turn when Marvella started talking about her past. "I was in a long-term relationship once," she confessed, her gaze distant. "With a girl I truly loved."

 

Paris was taken aback by the sudden confession but responded with understanding. "What happened?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

 

Marvella shrugged lightly, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "Life happened, Paris. We grew apart. She wanted to stay in the gang while I didn’t want to. So I just ended things."

 

A comfortable silence fell over them as Paris processed Marvella's words. Then, gathering her courage, she decided to share something about herself. "You know, I've never kissed anyone before," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

 

Marvella looked at Paris, her surprise evident. "Really?" she asked, her eyebrows raised.

 

Paris nodded, a blush creeping up her cheeks. "Yes, really."

 

For a moment, Marvella just studied Paris, her gaze softening. Then, with a gentle smile, she leaned in closer. "May I?" she asked, her voice barely audible.

 

Paris looked at Marvella, her heart pounding in her chest. After a moment of hesitation, she nodded, giving Marvella her consent.

 

Just as their lips were about to touch, the door swung open. Pearl stood in the doorway, a surprised expression on her face. "Am I interrupting something?" she asked, an amused grin playing on her lips.

 

Marvella and Paris quickly pulled away from each other, their faces turning a deep shade of red. "No, not at all," Marvella managed to say, while Paris simply hid her face, too embarrassed to say anything.

 

Pearl chuckled at their reaction, her amusement evident. "Well, I just came to tell you guys that we're done cleaning upstairs."

 

With that, Pearl left, leaving Marvella and Paris in an awkward silence. However, even though their moment was interrupted, the atmosphere between them had changed, charged with a sweet tension that they couldn't ignore.

 

"I'm proud of you girls!" Robin commended them at the end of the day. "Rest well. Tomorrow, we're heading to town for food supplies for the week." The girls headed to their rooms, all of them weary but satisfied with their day's work. Sleep came quickly and deeply.

 

The next day found them in the car with Robin, driving towards town to replenish their food supplies for the upcoming week. Pearl and Darling found themselves seated close together, Pearl's thumb lightly tracing patterns on Darling's thigh. Darling was a whirlwind of emotions, but she managed to maintain her composure.

 

On the other hand, Paris was also in turmoil, her mind constantly replaying the almost-kiss with Marvella. 'If only Pearl hadn't interrupted,' she thought, a small frown on her face.

 

"We're here," Robin announced, pulling into the grocery store parking lot. She handed them the shopping list. "I'm heading to another store for some office supplies. Since you've all behaved well, I'm letting you shop on your own. Don't disappoint me."

 

"We won't, promise," Paris assured Robin, who flashed them a warm smile before leaving.

 

Inside the grocery store, the girls decided to split up to cover more ground. The twins took one half of the list, while Marvella and Darling took the other. As they began their shopping, Pearl confessed to Paris, "My feelings for Darling are getting harder to control. But she's with Xavier! I hate that he's in the picture."

 

Paris looked at her sister, a little surprised. "This is the first time I've seen you actually try to pursue someone. I thought you were just into casual hookups."

 

"I was, at first," Pearl admitted. "But after spending more time with Darling, seeing her soft side... my feelings have grown."

 

"I understand," Paris said, her voice soft. "My crush on Marvella is getting stronger every day."

 

As the sisters bonded over their shared experiences, they finished their shopping and linked back up with Darling and Marvella. Once they checked out, they left the store to find Robin, their hearts heavy but their spirits high.

 

Upon their return to the school, they were greeted by the sight of other students already trickling back. They stepped out of the car, allowing the maids to unload the groceries.

 

"Darling," Pearl began, attempting to reignite her usual playful banter, "Have I ever told you how beautiful you are? You should let me take you out."

 

Darling laughed, rolling her eyes at the familiar tease. However, her laughter was interrupted by a familiar voice. "Darling?"

 

Turning around, she spotted Xavier, her boyfriend, standing a short distance away. "Xavier!" With a bright smile, she quickly closed the distance between them and embraced him.

 

Meanwhile, Pearl watched the scene unfold, her earlier playful demeanor replaced by a wave of frustration. Her feelings for Darling were not a joke, and seeing her with Xavier only served to amplify her feelings of discontent.

Authors note:

Hope you shippers enjoy this chapter! this is one of my favorites from this volume!