This is just a little filler chapter. The Pirates seperate and Reanna struggles slightly. The timeline of this spans over a week.
I sat up, crying out. My chest heaved and I whimpered, trying to slow my breathing down. Suddenly, a zipper sounded and I whirled, holding the blanket up to my chest.
"Reanna? You okay?" Natalie asked. I swallowed and shrugged.
"Been better. Where are you going?" I asked, standing up and wrapping my blanket around me. Natalie stiffened and whirled on me.
"None of your business." She snapped. I snarled and straightened up.
"It is my business when one of my friends is packing up in the middle of the goddamn night." I said furiously. She faltered.
"Your friend?" She asked quietly. I nodded and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Yes. You're my friend. Why would you think differently?" I asked. Tears gathered in her eyes and she lunged for me, wrapping her arms around me in a vice grip. I choked but hugged her back.
"I don't deserve this." She whispered. I pulled her back and sat her on the bed.
"Why not?" I asked gently. She looked away. "Nat, I won't judge you." She looked back.
"Yes you will." She said. I shook my head.
"Did I judge the Twins when I first met them? No. Did I judge Moose when I first met him? Yes, but that's because he's family. Did I judge The Ticks when I first met them? No." I said. She sighed and muttered something so fast I missed it.
"I missed that Nat." She sighed.
"Julian is my brother." She said, looking at the ground. I blinked.
"Wow. I was expecting something like you're gay but that works as well." I said, chuckling. She looked up.
"Aren't you disgusted?" She asked. "Scared, shocked?" I shrugged.
"I guess you can say shocked but that's because you don't look like or act like him." I said. She smiled and stood up, hugging me tightly. I hugged her back before pulling away.
"I think I might go sleep with the Ticks since you won't be here." I said. She grabbed my arm.
"Promise you won't say anything?" She asked. I smiled.
"You don't even have to ask." I said. She beamed and picked up her bag as tears started to gather.
"You're a really good person. Luke's lucky to have you on his side." She said, walking away.
"Natalie." I called. She stopped but didn't turn around. "You can choose one of two things. Your heart or your head." I said before slipping past her.
I knocked on the door before slipping in. Aja was fast asleep on the top bunk, snoring his head off. Shonnie was in the middle, half on and half off. And Terence was awake on the bottom bunk, staring at me. He grinned and rubbed his eyes.
"Shonnie's asleep but I can tell him you called." He whispered cheekily. I flipped him off and settled down by the door.
"I'm sorry but I just had a nightmare. I needed someone to…just be with." I said tiredly. Terence shrugged and laid back down.
"We're here but if we're asleep, it probably won't do much." He said, chuckling. I smiled and nodded sleepily.
"Good night." I whispered.
"Hey Rea. Wake up." I groaned and rolled over, covering my head. A familiar chuckled sounded near my ear and I jumped, hitting my head against something hard.
"Owww." I groaned, sitting up, and cupping my head. A face swam before my eyes and I rubbed them, getting rid of the blurriness. Shonnie sat back.
"And Sleeping Beauty wakes, ladies and gentlemen." He said. I snorted and stood up, staggering as my neck cracked and the room spun before my eyes. Hands steadied me and helped me up. I blinked and looked up before moaning and falling back down.
"Uh uh Princess." Shonnie said, picking me up. I yelped and clutched his neck as he walked out the room and into the kitchen. As soon as I appeared, it burst into noise.
"Where's our food?" Vladd asked. At least, it sounded like that. His head was in its customary position on the table like he just woke up. I yawned widely and rested my head on Shonnie's shoulder. Anala aww-ed at me and I flipped her off. She chuckled
as Shonnie set me down. I instantly copied Vladd and put my head on the table.
"Someone else cook breakfast for a change." I mumbled. Aja cleared his throat.
"Actually, it's lunch. Jacob cooked for breakfast." He said. I moaned and started to hit my head on the table repeatedly.
"Can't. Believe. I. Missed. Breakfast." I said between hits. The room erupted into laughter and I sat up, fixing them with a sour look. "So not funny." I said flatly. Aja shook his head.
"So is funny." He said. Suddenly I leapt up.
"Oh my god. Did you say lunch?" I asked. I hurried out of the kitchen and up to my tent. I quickly pulled on a pair of pants and a blue blouse before grabbing my apron and plaiting my hair. I shoved my feet into some ballet flats and grabbed my handbag.
I raced downstairs.
"I'm so late." I moaned, tugging one shoe on. "Is anyone able to drive me to Abigail's?" I asked. Anala nodded and got up, grabbing a helmet before chucking another at me. I pulled it on and followed her out to a shiny red scooter.
"Wow." I said, sliding on. I wrapped my arms around Anala's waist as she took off.
"Do I need to direct you?" I asked. She shook her head.
"No. I know where it is. I might buy something as well." She said, turning into the employee car park. I got off and gave the helmet to Anala before running inside.
"I know I'm late." I said as I entered the café. Abigail turned and grinned.
"It's okay. Your cousin rang and told me about your grandmother. How're you doing?" She asked, hugging me. I blinked and hugged her back while mentally cursing Moose.
"I'm fine and she's fine. She's in a normal room now, not Intensive Care." I said, tying my apron on. She beamed and handed me a pen and notepad.
"Go get 'em then." She said, shooing me off to a table.
I sighed, sitting down on a table as the last customer left. Abigail came up to me and handed me a few bills.
"Here ya go sweet heart." She said. "It's your due." I grinned and pocketed it before untying my apron and placing it on the counter.
"Thanks so much Abby." I called as I left. It was about five in the afternoon so I decided to walk home. My phone buzzed and I slid it open, reading the text. I swore and started to run, rounding the corner and pelting down the alleyway. I stopped five
metres away as, one by one, the Pirates came out. I gasped and knelt down as Bubby ran towards me, limping. I lifted her up, cradling her, as the Pirates looked up at me.
"What happened?" I asked. "And what happened to Bubs?" I was starting to get hysterical. Suddenly, I was enveloped by warmth and I broke down, sobbing and clutching Shonnie's jacket. He swallowed and turned around, handing Bubby to one of the others,
before wrapping both arms around me.
"Why?" I asked. I heard Shonnie shush me as footsteps sounded. Jacob started.
"Luke, wait, Luke." He failed to get Luke's attention. I turned around, resting my head against Shonnie's shoulder. Luke ripped the property seizure notice off the door and slammed it with his hand.
"We gotta get in there. They can't do this to us." He cried, hitting the door. Jacob grabbed his arms.
"Luke, hey." He turned him around, handing him a bag. "I grabbed as much as I could." I swallowed and picked up my bags, letting them dangle from my fingers.
"It's Julian." Jacob said. "Julian's trying to buy the house." I growled and Shonnie tightened his grip on my shoulder.
"What are we gonna do now?" I asked quietly. Carlos scoffed.
"Don't you see?" He asked. "We're finished." I shook my head.
"But the World Jam…" I trailed off. Jacob nodded.
"It's right around the corner." He said. Anala shrugged.
"But, if we have nowhere to rehearse." She shook her head as Carlos scoffed again.
"We have nowhere to sleep yo. We were foolin' ourselves, thinking this place was gonna last." He looked around the group. "I'm out man." He said before walking off. I gasped and shook my head. Jacob looked around.
"Anyone else?" He asked. It was quiet for a minute before Olga picked up her bag and walked off after Carlos. I bit my lip and scooped up Bubby as Anala grabbed Luke's arm.
"Hey, it's not your fault. Julian started this." She said. Luke shook her off.
"You guys deserve better than this." He snapped. "There's nothing more I can do. I screwed up. The Pirates are done!" His voice got louder with each sentence. A tear made its way down my cheek and I did nothing to stop it. The Twins picked up their bags
and the Ticks followed. I watched as they made their way up the alleyway as a choked sob made its way up my throat. Shonnie froze and looked back. I grabbed my bag and ran, catching up to my three closest friends. They hugged me as soon as I was
within reach and we stayed like that for a minute. I swallowed and pulled back.
"I'll miss you guys." I said thickly. They nodded and we separated. They watched as I walked away, sobs wracking my body.
I smiled mechanically at the old couple sitting in the booth.
"Hi there. My name's Reanna. What can I get you?" I asked. Internally, I cringed at the sound of my hollow voice and I could tell they picked up on it. The old woman smiled and patted my hand.
"First of all, I would like you to feel better dear. And second of all I would like a simple muffin." Her eyes danced with laughter and I smiled sadly.
"Of course. And for you sir?" I asked, turning to her husband. His eyes crinkled and he pointed to the woman.
"Same thank you." I nodded and wrote their table number down before walking back and pinning it on the rack.
"Two chocolate muffins." I called before heading back to the old guy with his order. He was a special old guy, always sitting in the back and demanding black coffee, not regular. He was slightly rude but Abby treasured him for some reason. I placed the cup
on the table and gave him a napkin. He nodded and tested it. I waited until he smiled.
"Perfect, as always Miss Cook." He said. I nodded and hurried back. Suddenly, the door opened and hit my back, sending me forward. I yelped and crashed into the divider before hitting the floor. Abigail poked her head out and gasped, hurrying to my side.
"Oh dear. What happened?" She asked, helping me up and brushing me off. I shook myself and turned to the door. My breath caught and my nostrils flared. Abby looked up and beamed.
"Oh Luke. Nice to see you. Here's your apron." She said, handing one Luke Katcher a small apron with the Abigail's logo on it. I gritted my teeth and turned, walking to the employee exit.
"Abby!" I called. "I'm taking my break." I slammed the door shut and stepped out into the car park. I sat down on an empty crate and put my head in my hands. I seem to be doing that a lot lately. I swallowed but the lump in my throat kept rising. I finally
gave up and started to cry. One of the crates moved and Bubby trotted out. I simply sobbed more, remembering the note I'd attached to her collar and given to Shonnie. I scooped her up and held her close as she licked my chin. I giggled.
"At least I still have you huh Bubs?" I asked. I started as the door opened and I stood up. Luke stood there, watching me. I carefully put Bubby down before eyeing him. He sighed and jumped over the railing before holding his arms out. I sobbed before
launching myself at him, wrapping my arms around him and crying.
"Stupid Julian." I said. "Stupid bank, stupid me, stupid everything." Luke chuckled and held me at arm's length.
"I'm sorry. I really am." He said. I chuckled dryly and pulled myself away. I wiped my eyes and smiled slightly.
"Okay, I'm fine. I won't cry now." I said, more to myself than him. I tucked Bubby back under the crate and hurried inside.
XxXxX
"What does a guy have to do to get a menu around here?" I jumped and poked my head around the door. I squealed and jumped over the counter, launching myself towards Moose. He grinned and hugged me while looking at Luke over the top of my head.
"You're out of your mind." Luke said, walking off. Moose stood up, still holding me.
"I thought that's why you liked me." He said, tracing a pattern on my shoulder. Luke walked behind the counter and we followed.
"Yeah well, you're still crazy and there's no one left." He said.
"I'm here and Moose is here." I said. "That makes three of us." Moose nodded.
"You're the only one who can get everyone back together." He said. "The Pirates just need your leadership."
Luke shook his head.
"They don't need me. I took what my parents gave me and threw it away for some girl." He said. I snapped. I untied my apron and threw it in his face.
"Natalie is not some girl." I said furiously. "She tried to protect you and you throw it back in her face. You judge her." I spat, spinning on my heel and walking to the counter.
"Abby. I'm leaving." I called. The blonde popped her head out the door.
"As in forever or just for break?" She asked. I shook my head.
"The first one. Thank you so much Abby. I really appreciate it." I said, walking toward the back door. She nodded and went back into the kitchen. I opened the door and jumped over the railing, heading for the crate with all my belongings. I lifted it up, snapped
the leash on Bubby, before slinging my bag over my shoulders. I headed around the corner and stopped cold.
"I'm dreaming." I said faintly. "Tell me I'm dreaming." Jacob turned around and jumped at the sight of me. He reached behind him and tapped Shonnie, without turning away from me. Shonnie turned around and froze. I dropped my bag and ran toward him.
He opened his arms and I launched myself into him, hugging him hard. I laughed and the world spun around as he hugged me tight. I kissed him on the cheek and moved onto the other two. As soon as I let go Terence pulled me into a tug of war with Aja.
I laughed again and pulled them both forward.
"Oh my god, I missed you guys so much!" I said. I let them go and retreated to Shonnie's side just as the door opened.
"That's cool but how are we gonna get everyone together…." Luke trailed off, looking up, and seeing almost all of the Pirates.
"Well, I had to get everybody here somehow." Moose said sheepishly. I laughed and hurried to pick up my bag. I got back just as the Twins started another discussion in Spanish. I went straight to Shonnie's side and tuned back in.
"Look, I know the odds are against us." Luke said. "We have no house, no routine. Hell, I don't even know how we're gonna do this." He said. "But I believe in us. And I know you do too." I nodded my head, muttering consent. "But we've come way too far
to stop now. I know we can win this." I nodded and started bobbing.
"That's coz we're the Pirates." I said. They all nodded.
"Cause we're the Pirates, we're the Pirates." We all started chanting. I grinned and hugged Anala and Jason.
That's right! They're the Pirates, they're the Pirates! How was this chappie?
