Suitably Ill – Chapter One: Falling In
Tino walked back and forth in front of his house awaiting the arrival of Tish. He felt like he had been waiting for hours now. Tino checked his watch. It had only been ten minutes. Still Tino was impatient. He wanted to leave as soon as possible.
"Where is she? I told her to meet me here at seven o' clock. I probably should have seen this coming. Something has to go wrong. These things can't ever work out. We'll be late leaving and then by the time we get there the whole place will be crowded. I won't be able to find a parking spot. We'll be like a mile away from the building then we'll have to carry all of our stuff through huge crowds of people. Aww man, I don't like this already. It is gonna be a long day, I know it," Tino mumbled to himself.
It was then that Tish came running up wearing a backpack and carrying a small bag. She looked a little disheveled and was clearly out of breath.
"I'm… so… sorry!" Tish got out in between deep breaths.
She held up her finger to give her some time to catch her breath.
"Okay, I think I'm all right now. Sorry, I guess I forgot to set my alarm. I was too excited last night. I've been a bit scatterbrained these past couple of weeks. But it's okay now."
"All right then. Do you have the last of your things?" Tino asked.
"Yep, I checked and then double checked. Everything is accounted for."
"Great. Then toss your stuff in the back and let's get going."
Tish went threw her two bags into the back and then jumped into the passenger seat next to Tino. Tino started up the car and began to pull out.
"Well, here we go. It's time to ride. See ya around house. I'll be back someday," Tino called out.
He waved to the house and Tish followed suit. The two settled in for the long drive up to their new residence.
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It was late August and that time of year again for Tino and his friends. College was once again starting up. This was going to be their second year at college and they were pretty excited about it. After a bit of a rocky start the first year they had gotten into the swing of things and were eager for things to go smooth right from the very beginning of the school year this time. In addition to that they were excited because they were lucky enough to get a house together. It had previously been used by Moira and her friends but they had gotten a new place and offered this house to Tino and his friends. It took a little bit of pleading on all four fronts but eventually all the parents gave the okay after a group discussion settled the matter. Lor and Carver were driving together up to the house later in the day because both had neglected to pack the night before. The destination was a small town called Eblan. It was about a four hour drive to the North of Bahia Bay. The town basically consisted of just the college, Eblan University, and the surrounding shops and various residences that were primarily built for the school. It was a picturesque town settled in a mountainous region. The four friends all enjoyed the beautiful scenery and liked how it was a nice partner to Bahia Bay's magnificent beach landscape. They all were genuinely excited to be back and couldn't wait to live together.
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"So what do you think this house will be like?" Tish asked.
"I don't really know. Nice, I guess. If Moira stayed there for two years I can't imagine it's a bad place. Plus, she said that Dixon had gone up there and worked on the place a bit, and you and I both know that Dixon does good work," Tino answered.
"Yeah, that's true. I also think the place will be real nice probably real nice furniture thanks to Dixon's carpentery. I gotta admit though, I'm still shocked that our parents let us all live together. I think most parents would have been completely against it."
"Probably, but our parents are cool enough. I mean, c'mon, we've all been friends for years now they trust us."
"I know. I'm just surprised that they trust us this much."
"I guess. I figure it this way, so long as there are no long term consequences to our actions we'll be fine. We have their trust not to create unmanageable situations."
Tish looked at Tino with eyes in shock but a mouth that was grinning like a Cheshire cat.
"I'm surprised to hear you talking like that. You're usually the first one to be express concern."
"Yeah I know. It sounds weird to me too, but ever since it was decided that we would be living together out on our own I've been feeling bolder and less worried. It's really liberating."
"I can imagine. Just don't let yourself get too carried away. We don't want any 'unmanageable situations' now do we?"
"Right, right. I'll try my best, but it may be up to you to make sure it doesn't happen. You'll have to rein me in."
"Won't be the first time," Tish said under her breath.
"Did you just say something?"
"Nope, nothing at all. So do you think that Lor and Carver will make it here all right?"
"I think so. I left them the directions. So long as they have those even Lor will be able to drive here. Plus, they've been up here before. I'm sure they will be fine. Those two are just being their usual selves."
"I hope you're right. Anyway, I brought the new Chum Bukkit CD, want me to put it in?" Tish asked.
"Go for it. It's good to still have those guys around playing music. This sound never gets old," Tino answered.
Tish nodded in reply. She pulled the handle on her seat and leaned it back so she could take a nap. A smile crept across her face before falling asleep thinking of all the things in store for the coming year.
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The peaceful streets of Bahia Bay sat trembling as Lor Macquarrie finished loading her things into the back of her beat up van and got behind the driver's seat. Lor fired up the ignition and the beastly van roared to life and shot out an ugly cloud of smoke.
"Yeah, that's my baby! Let's get this show on the road!" Lor yelled as she tore off down the street.
The alert had gone out earlier that day that Lor would be driving so the streets were clear of people, pets were kept inside, and cars were parked in their garages. There was even a rumor that the word had spread all over the state so traffic was being diverted off the main highways until Lor made it to Eblan. Lor was all over the street making wide exaggerated turns at every corner. Despite having walked these streets thousands of times once Lor was driving a vehicle she could never remember where she was going.
"Okay, now where is Carver's house? I think it's around here somewhere…"
Meanwhile a few blocks away Carver sat out front his house with all of his stuff neatly packed next to him half of the luggage being shoes. He could hear Lor on her way.
"I know it. I just know that today is gonna be the day that she kills me. That van will fall apart or she'll just plow right into a pole or something. Or if that stuff doesn't happen then this time I'll surely die from being in such a beat up, run down, uncool van. I don't understand why she can't at least paint the thing. Nobody finds those rust stains attractive. Hmmm, sounds like a helicopter is landing that must mean Lor is on her way down the street."
Sure enough Carver was right as Lor's van came flying down the street in a blur of rust and smoke. It only made Carver shake his head. Lor slammed on the brakes in front of his house skidding several feet. Even though Carver was standing outside already Lor decided to repeatedly honk the horn anyway.
"Do you really have to do that?" Carver asked a little annoyed.
"Well, yeah, of course. Now get your stuff in the van already. We're late!"
Carver hurried along and loaded his stuff into the back and then hopped into the front.
"All set? Good. It's time to rock and roll!" Lor yelled while honking the horn some more.
Carver winced a little and thought to himself, "Yep, I'm definitely gonna die. No way around it."
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Tino and Tish moved quickly loading their stuff into the house. The place was as nice as they had imagined it would be. All of the furniture was beautifulyl crafted. They knew they would have to thank Dixon later. Tino and Tish decided to claim the two bedrooms next to each other on the first floor. After an hour or so everything from the car had been loaded in and for the most part set up in the rooms. Once things were done Tino laid down on his bed.
"Oh man, I am tired. Driving all that way and then all of this unloading, I think I'm gonna take a nap."
"Are you really that tired?" Tish asked sounding a bit letdown
"Yeah, I'm pretty exhausted. Why?"
"Well I had wanted to go to the bookstore later to get an early start on my books, but I was thinking that since Lor and Carver aren't here right now that we could, you know, take advantage of having the house to ourselves," Tish said twisting her one finger.
Tino took a deep breath. "Looks like I was wrong, I'm not that tired. Something tells me though that I'll need a nap after this though."
Tish smiled. "Yeah, you will."
Tino sighed and then smiled himself.
End of Chapter One
Hey look at this I have yet another story now. I know you might be thinking "Hey wait you already have two other stories going and you've barely been updating those ones. So now with a third one updates will be even slower. You're spreading yourself thin, you fool!" Rest assured that is not the case (I think). The idea is that with three stories going each one completely its own beast that if I tire with one, I have two other options to go with. This way there is something to always hold my interest. Plus, inspiration struck suddenly for this story and if I didn't start it now I probably never would have. Anyway I guarantee that this will be the weirdest of my stories and maybe, just maybe, the weirdest of all Weekenders stories. I know that's a big claim but I'm half willing to make it. So read, review and know that I will continue updating all three stories. Patience is a virtue, they say.