Chapter 7: Tenuous Relations
Disclaimer: I own nothing except for my OC
After spending a short hour at Mount Vernon, which Lauren and Tug particularly enjoyed as any good Hamilton High student would, they made their way to Washington D.C. where they would spend the night before exploring the city during the entirety of the next. So that they could all be up early tomorrow, they went to bed as soon as the bus was parked. They couldn't find free parking so they had to use a parking meter. And given they would be in that parking spot for nearly ten hours, they had to exchange cash for quarters at the nearest business, a slightly awkward conversation when twelve kids and teens asked to exchange a twenty dollar bill for eighty quarters. In the end, they had to hit up seventeen different stores before they had the proper amount of quarters required to pay off the parking meter.
As they all filed inside, Tug playfully nudged Lauren in the ribs and said "I'm surprised you didn't have the proper amount of quarters somewhere in your bag."
"Do excuse me if I don't carry around over a pound of quarters with me wherever I go. I'll be sure to do so during our next trip. Besides, I don't usually carry around paper human money. However, if you need to borrow any Transylvanian dollars or rare gemstones, I've got my fair share of both." Lauren replied helpfully.
Tug pulled her close and said "Hopefully our next trip will be just between the two of us, that way we can simply teleport wherever and not worry about parking meters and quarters."
"I'd like that very much." Lauren replied, completely closing the difference between herself and Tug, placing her palms against his chest.
"Ahem," Roger coughed softly, interrupting the mood. "I'd say get a room, but since we're on a bus you two are out of luck."
"Leave them alone. It's sweet." Sibella snapped before sighing dreamily in Lauren and Tug's direction.
"Don't be such a girl. It's disgusting." Grunt said in agreement.
"You're just jealous because you know you'll never have a girlfriend who's as amazing and wonderful as Lauren!" Tanis snapped in his direction.
"Settle down, everyone. We're through. And it's getting late so we should all go to bed." Lauren suggested, attempting to settle the tension.
She had worked so hard to secure good relations between the ghouls and the cadets and for the most part everyone got along. However, there were some instances, such as just now, when the two groups argued with each other. It was a tenuous relation at best, and took a serious effort to keep that relationship healthy. She let out a sigh of relief as everyone prepared for bed.
It wasn't long before everyone was asleep. Lauren, as well as Sibella and Phantasma, had each been granted top bunk due to their ability to fly. If they fell, they'd be fine as opposed to the other ghouls. Tug, Jamal, and Roger had also been given top bunk, the other three cadets sleeping bottom bunk.
Before either of the two could fall asleep, Tug reached out for Lauren's hand and loosely held it. Given how close all six bunk beds, this wasn't a difficult task to accomplish. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it lightly.
'I love you.' Lauren mouthed.
Tug looked at her lovingly and slowly lowered her hand from his lips. 'I love you, too.' he mouthed in reply.
Smiling sweetly, she added 'Good night and sweet dreams.'
'I will as long as you're around.' Tug told her with an easy grin.
Dang, that boy was smooth, Lauren thought to herself as she gently shut her eyes. Their hands still intertwined, the two fell asleep.
