That weekend the group were practicing, honing in on some of the inaccuracies they noticed during their performance.

  A string out of place.

  "Take a minute." Ena spoke as the others took a breath.

  Ai held her guitar close. "Sorry - it's harder to play without Triss following."

  Ena took a moment to check her phone before putting it away. "Let's go again."

  Before they could their attention was brought to Haine, who was lying on the floor.

  "Please.... no more...." She cried as she held her right hand up to the ceiling.

  "Should call it for now then."

  As Ai and Ena gathered their things the conversation moved on.

  Ai had her guitar packed away and put the case on her back.

  "I wonder how Triss is doing right now."

  A swift reply from Ena. "No idea."

  Haine, who had suddenly found the energy to get up looked between the two.

  "Well why don't we visit her?"

  A silence.

  Contrary to the lavish route to Haine's, the journey to Triss' took them past many, increasingly smaller and less welcoming buildings. As if they were traversing outside of the proper city into a graveyard of concrete. The address Triss had given lead them down one final dim alley.

  Ena knocked on the faded door.

  Triss was quick to open it and pulled the others in.

  The home was very small, the door leading straight into a medium-sized room that was fairly long. To the right of the door was a table of which one of the legs were too short, being balanced with some books. To the left of this was the kitchen. No wall to separate between them and both shared the same cheap beige carpet that was covered in crumbs and small debris . With only the sink and oven denominating the change of room. Dirty plates and other cutlery were sprawling from it. At the far end from the entrance were four further doors.

  She had directed them to sit at the table where she now paced in the short area in front of it. Noise of two extremely loud children echoed through the thin walls.

  "Hi Triss," Haine waved.

  She continued pacing. "Yeah hi -uh" She placed her hands together as if to pray.

  "I really need your help,"

  Ai's eyes trailed along the mess "This place is-"

  "A disaster, I know, thank you. My Mama's been working herself too hard recently and with all the work we have been doing I've struggled to find time to help her. Just this once, could you give me a hand?"

  The three at the table looked between eachother. As they stood to help Triss spoke again.

  "Ok, Ena your on vacuum duty, Haine stop my brothers from destroying anything and Ai I need help with the kitchen."

  Ena blinked.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Through the furthest of the four doors a very serious debate was being had.

  "No you can't do that! Professor Evilbrain is the smartest supervillain ever!!"One of the boys objected.

  "but Mister Muscleman is the STRONGEST so he can attack him like BOOM."

  The other boy was about to cry foul before their door opened. as they turned in dramatic fashion they heard a sinister laugh.

  "Whilst you two were busy arguing I'm going to take over the world!!" She exclaimed

  The boys quickly played along. "Quick! That's Miss Menacing! We need to team up!"

  The sounds of play had grown louder as Ena now stared at the vacuum she had finally found, stored under a clothes rack next to the table. Turning it on further noise was added to the ruckus - a song of orderly chaos.

  As that scene continued behind them Ai was drying the items Triss washed.

  "If you need help we're always here for you." Ai said as she finished drying a plate.

  Triss shook her head as she vigorously scrubbed another.

  "I didn't want to trouble you."

  She passed it to Ai.

  "Why?"

  Taking another plate Triss continued to work hard.

  "Because a lot of people are relying on me..."

  She paused.

  Quieter this time, Triss answered.

  "...and I want to prove they can."

  Despite the plate being clean, Triss continued to wash it.

  "In a band, one person can't sing, drum and play guitar at the same time."

  Ai put her hand on Triss' arm to stop her, and then took the plate.

  "People still rely on them, but they need a team."

  Triss turned to her, Ai smiled.

  The noise of the vacuum ended and Ena appeared behind them.

  "It's done."

  The two boys were getting sleepy, which to Triss was unheard of though considering the opposition she faced them with was also not suprising.

  Haine held her hands on her hips. "I win again!" She let out another evil laugh.

  As Triss guided her brothers to bed they gave one more reply.

  "This isn't over! Mister Muscle..." A yawn cut the promise short.

  As Triss walked back Ena was giving her a nod of approval, a rare smile appearing.

  The girls sat around the table again. Giving themselves some time to recover.

  A rustling of keys at the door.

  Triss stood up.

  An older lady, with short maintained straight hair matching Triss' in colour entered.

  She was carrying a suitcase and through her eyes they could see a light of compassion, though those same eyes were dreary.

  Her daughter went to take the suitcase from her as early as she could, disappearing further into the house. The lady turned to the guests giving them a warm smile as her eyes wondered across the room.

  "It's.. so..."

  Returning from the unknown Triss spoke.

  "Thanks to my friends I managed to get it done way earlier then I thought."The warm smile returned to them, with an unmistakable glow.

  The lady slightly cupped her left hand over the top of her right in front of her.

  "Thank you all so much - would you like to stay over for dinner?"

  Ai spoke up "We don't want to intru-"

  "No dear you're not, you are welcome here whenever."

  With that she went to the now pristine kitchen.

  Triss took a seat at the table.

  "Yeah good luck getting her to stop now-"

  "I can still hear you young lady."

  Haine snickered.

  Returning after a short wait she placed a bowl in front of each of the girls. A warm tomato soup with a delicate precision of herbs. All except Haine tucked in immediately, though she herself seemed hesitant.

  The lady noticed and approached her. Haine looked up, to see a scolding elderly man.

  He opened his mouth to speak.

  "It's ok dear, you do not need to eat if you don't want to."

  A reassuring hand over her head.

  The man was gone.

  The lady smiled.

  A tear.

  As the others prepared to go home hugs from Triss' mother were impossible to escape.

  From Triss, a thankful wave.

  It was cold that night, but the girls didn't feel it.

  Checking the time, Ai quickly sprung into motion.

  "Aaaaah! I was supposed to be studying tonight sorry I'll catch you later!!"

  Ai disappeared into the metal forest.

  As they walked Haine was bopping her head side to side.

  "We should go to Triss' more often!"

  Ena looked back.

  "Can't disagree."

  Turning back Haine was gone.

  Shaking her head with a small smirk Ena continued on her way.