This is a little phrase that my younger sister thought of. What do you think of it?
Old MacDonald had a farm...and he lost it due to foreclosure.
Remember, I didn't come up with this. My sister did.
Chapter 7
Okay, I have a week till Christmas and I still didn't get squat for anyone. Not to mention that bet Rex and Noah made with me was still on. I have a very small idea of what I want to get Six. Something to get him to relax. Luckily Holiday is making Six go to the mall with us. We pulled up to the mall in some guy's (Holiday said it was a dude named Callan) minivan. I think it was more to look normal than anything. I have the strange feeling Holiday didn't exactly ask for it. Inside the mall, we split up, going our seperate ways.
Oh choices, choices...I remember I used to get allowance, but when the economy crashed, out the window it goes! When I had my weekly allowance, I would spend it all at one place, then be upset if I see something I really like somewhere else. I passed by a Christian store. I stopped, backed up, and went inside. They had alot of stuff in here. From bread baskets to wooden crosses. Crosses...
I picked up a small silver cross necklace. It looks exactly like the one I'm wearing now. I know who I'll give this to. I went up to the register and bought it.
Twenty more minutes before we hit the ground.
...Sorry. I feel random. I do, too! XD
There was a Hallmark store just ahead. Inside I looked at the cards, hand-made figurines, and things of that nature. Then I saw it. A small red felt bag of coal. On the front of it were golden letters stitched into it. It read 'You've been naughty' . I know exactly who I'll give ths to for Christmas *evil grin*. After buying it, I wondered out of the store and deeper into the mall.
Hey, Teavana! I hurried over to the small store, my usual excitement getting the best of me. Their teas are always good and even better that the people here are very nice. And that they always have good samples of tea. My absolute favorite tea is Youthberry. Nice and fruity. Look for a Teavana close to you!
I have to get someone something here. I looked at the Samurai Mate Chai tea. Another perfect gift. I got 5 ounces of the tea (You don't need very much to make a decent cup of tea) and bought myself a cup of hot Youthberry tea. That guy behind the counter did it just the way I like it, too.
I dropped by the food court and the others just happened to be there. Holiday was doing something on a clipboard, Six just looked plain pissed, and I couldn't see Rex be I could smell him. Remember the heightened sense of smell. I walked over and sat down without Holiday or Rex noticing. We all know Six knew I was looking at them.
"So. What are all sitting here for?"
"Ack!" Rex yelped in surprise. Lord help him.
"Are you oblivious of your surroundings or are you just plain dumb?"
"I wonder about that all the time." Six said. We both looked at him. Holiday hadn't even looked up from that clipboard.
"Was that...sarcasm?" Rex questioned, purely amazed. I oughtta throw a book at him.
"So, what have you been doing?" I half yelled over the noise. Rex thought about it for a minute.
"Nothing really. I looked in GameStop but the only thing I wanted was too expensive. And I did a bit of Christmas shopping. What did you get?"
"Stuff."
"...Stuff like what?"
"Stuff stuff."
"Oookaaay...what's in the cup?"
"Youthberry tea. You like tea?"
"Nah."
"Why not?"
"I burned myself last time."
"You know...you're not supposed to drink the tea as soon as you pour out of the pot, right?"
"Hey, I wasn't the one that made it. Holiday did."
"Hm?" Holiday looked up, a little bit out of character.
"...Eve says that you aren't supposed to drink tea as soon as you put it in the cup."
"I know. You chose to do that while it was still hot."
"..."
"..." I just sat there. Such small talk. I stood up and walked away with my new belongings. Rex didn't bother to ask me where I was going. It wouldn't do any good for him to know where I'm headed, anyway.
The sign for the ladies' room came in sight. Good. I've been holding it all day.
...
I was washing my hands when I felt a tremor in the ground. It was violent enough to put me balancing on one foot. Luckily no one else was in there. The quaking stopped. I looked around. Then there was an ear-splitting crash almost boom sound just outside of the bathroom door. I ran over to it and pushed on it with all the strength I had.
Great. I'm trapped in the bathroom.
I walked over to the wall and knocked on it. Pretty solid sound. I walked over to another spot. Another solid sound. I shifted to my EVO form. Scales washed over my knuckles as I knocked in another spot. Yes! A hollow sound! I backed up from that spot in the wall. I stretched the handles to my bag and put it around my neck. I concentrated, sending power into my back legs. I closed my eyes as I sprang forward. I sharp pain was sent through my head and I felt a draft coming in. I opened my eyes. The food court was nothing but rubble. chairs were in all in the wrong places. Shattered glass was all over the place. The legs to the tables were either broken or missing completely.
What unnerved me the most is that no one was there. There was nothing but debris and silence. A chill went down my scaly black spine. I walked out of the hole I made in the wall. I walked through the halls. I flicked my snake-like tongue out. Nothing. It seems no one is here. I looked around at the stores I passed. It looks more like a battle field than a mall. I caught sight of what looked like a crumpled orange sheet of metal. I lowered my head and sniffed it, hoping to get a familiar scent.
Rex.
I followed his scent to a gigantic hole in the wall. I poked my head out and looked around. His scent is getting stronger. And I caught Six's scent as well. I heard a dep loud growl. I brought my head up from the ground, cat-like ears perked.
I raced towards the source of the noise. I zoomed around the corner to see Rex fighting with a blueish-green pigeon-like EVO.
And it looked like he was losing.
Rex turned his head just enough to see me.
"Eva! So glad to see you. Would you mind *grunt* giving me a hand?" The bird's claws raked across Rex's torso, making him yell out in pain. Ink colored acid poured between the bird's anglerfish-like teeth. Alright, bird brain, you took it to another level! I leaped forward, roaring with all my might. Wait something is missing...Six! Where the heck is he? Not to mention Holiday! Where the h*ll is everybody?
I landed on the creature's back. It let go of Rex and thrashed about trying to throw me off. Acid flew all over the place. I dodged every last drop and clawed at its back, making it bleed. It screeched in pain. I quickly lowered my head. I closed my jaws around the thing's neck.
All movment and noises ceased.
I walked over to Rex, who was unconscious. I opened my mouth to speak but sensed my vocal cords had changed. I lowered my head and necked his face. The humilation will hit later.
His eyes fluttered and he blinked. Then I noticed something very strange. The cuts on his face were closing up where ever I licked him! I continued to do so when Rex spoke.
"Uh...what are you doing?"
Healing you, goofy. I thought sarcastically.
"...Did you say something or did I just hear that in my head?"
This is very...weird. You heard it in your head. I sort of told you without saying anything at all. Where's Six?
"Flew off to get Doc back to the base. Just so happened he had a jet parked at the back of the mall. He should be here right...about...now." The engines of a jet sounded over us. I looked up to the sky to see a Providence jet land almost directly over us. The hatch opened and Six, along with several other nameless soldiers, came out of it.
Six looked long and hard at me. I licked my chops. Oh. It was Rex's blood on my wolf-like face.
"Six, chill. She didn't hurt me. Heck, she saved my life!"
Ya got that right. I stood beside him, letting him drape his arm around my neck. I walked slowly, for Rex's sake, up the hatch and into it.
...
"So, you managed to take down that Level 3 EVO with getting a scratch on you?" Holiday questioned me.
"Yep."
"Rex, in a sense, is one of the most powerful EVOs on Earth. That makes you..."
"Nah. I was more agility and quick thinking than anything."
"There was probably more to it than you think. Rex told me you discovered several new abilities."
"They just keep coming up." I, in a more human form, fiddled with the handle of my shopping bag.
"I'll run some more tests on your nanites. Rex wanted to talk with you."
...
I walked into the room and saw that Rex was there, along with Bobo.
"-Callan is going to be pretty mad-Hi Eva!" Rex said, realizing I was there too.
"Whaddya want, King?"
"King?"
"Rex means king."
"Cool. Now, what was I going to say? Oh, yeah-can you help me with something?"
"Sure." I sat down on the bed next to Rex.
"I don't have the slightest idea of what to get Six for Christmas and I think if I pick anything out, he won't like it. You got any ideas?"
"Well...Do you know the kind of things he likes?"
"Nope."
"Can you take a guess...?"
"Nuh uh."
"Jesus, and I thought you knew him well. Okay...maybe the gift I'm getting him can be from the both of us. You have to go get it, though."
"Great! What is it?"
I leaned over to whisper it in his ear. I just happened to look over and see Bobo trying to listen in.
"Hey, am I talking to you?"
"That don't mean I can't listen."
"Bobo, this is supposed to be a surprise."
"Alright, alright." Bobo went up to his own bunk. I continued telling Rex my idea. His eyes lit up.
"And I know just the place to get it, too!"
"I'll help you with the money."
...
It was Christmas Eve and I needed to wrap everyone's gift. I bought a million and one rolls of wrapping paper so it should be enough. Not to mention lots of tape. For the time being, I put Rex and Bobo out of the room. I'm glad I kept those old boxes.
When I was done wrapping, I put them all (except one which I couldn't wrap at all) in a really big bag and headed for the lab. Holiday said that the tree was going to be in there this morning. As I went into the lab I caught sight of the tree. It had a red theme and ornaments that went from a foggy red to a bright glittery red. They were all different sizes and the white garland winded its way up to the angel with gold wings.
I walked over to the tree and crouched down. Hm. There were already presents under there. And there was one really big one addressed to me! I wonder what it is...bah. Enough of that. Let's do what I came here for. I took each present out of the bag and placed them gently underneath the tree. I stood up, squeezed the air out of the bag and folded it up. I went back to our room to hide that last remaining present.
I'm gonna wear my best pajamas tonight.
...
I woke up to Rex shaking my shoulder excitedly.
"Eva! Eve, c'mon! It's Christmas!" He sounded like 6 year old rather than a 15 year old. I sat up and rubbed my eyes. The lights were still out in the room. Maybe they forgot to turn it on. I looked at my iPod. 8:40 am. I put on my gray house shoes that matched my gray and red pajamas. Rex was in some pale blue pjs and barefoot. Bobo was nowhere to be seen. I grabbed my santa hat and put it on.
I followed Rex out the lab. Six, Bobo and Holiday were already there. Holiday was in an elf hat and Six was...well, green.
"Merry Christmas everyone!" Rex and I said in unison. I watched him run over to the tree and snatch gifts out from underneath it. Soon wrapping paper was flying everywhere. Rex looked at the Bible he had unwrapped and looked at us.
"It's about time you learn what Christmas is really all about." Six said, announcing that he had given it to him. I can't resist it at anymore. I speed walked over to the tree and dragged out that really big present I saw last night. I grabbed at the paper and pulled it away.
It was the latest Yamaha keyboard with the stand, seat, everything. I just sat there, staring at it.
"So, you like it? It's from all of us." Rex asked, sort of appearing behind me.
"H-How did you know I love to play the piano?"
"Bobo told me." No wonder.
I gave Bobo a deadly look. "I could hurt you for reading my journal again." He gulped.
"But, since it's Christmas, I'll let you off." He sighed in relief.
"Well? Let's see how it does." Holiday said.
"I'm already on it." I ripped the box open and pulled the keyboard out. I plugged the cord into a nearby outlet, no tbothering with putting batteries in it. The little screen lit up, giving off a comforting blue glow. I pressed middle C a couple of times. Ah...perfect.
I set the seat up and adjusted it to the right level. the environment around me faded out of existence as I began to play.
Ode to Joy.
E, E, F, G, G, F, E, D,
C,C, D, E, E, D,D...
The notes continued to flow from the speakers and I moved along with the notes. Now I can get out that sheet music. Ode to Joy ended, snapping back into reality. All were looking at me with amazement. Even Six's face showed a bit of emotion.
"Jeez, I knew you could play but not that well!" Rex said. I'll take that as a compliment.
I went over to him and gave him a hug. I could tell he was shocked by the sudden gesture but he played along with it and returned the hug.
I heard a camera flash. I looked over and say Bobo with a huge smile on his face and a small black camera in hand.
My blackmail sense is tingling.
I shifted into my EVO form and snarled, making Rex and Holiday jump. Bobo just smiled even wider and bolted for the door.
Sh*t
Let's not ruin Christmas, shall we? I didn't even bother going after him. HOPEFULLY, he doesn't show that pic to the whole d*mn world. I reached for my gift to Rex, which was in a small box near the back of the tree. I handed it to him and he ripped the paper off the box.
He opened it to reveal a silver cross necklace resting in a bed of white tissue paper.
"Wow...thanks." Rex told me, making it obvious that he didn't get why I gave it to him. I sighed, smiling.
"Rex, being amnesiac and having to go through hardships I'm sure any other would've rather die...it gives you something to believe in. Here." I took it out of his hand and put it on him from behind. While rex was busy admiring the cross, I grabbed Holiday's gift and gave it to her.
I didn't wait for her to open her gift. I headed out towards our room to get Six's gift. You know, the one I couldn't wrap. I carryed the box out back to the lab. I set box down in front of Six. Rex realized what I was doing and scrambled to get off the floor. he fell on face once before coming over here.
"Fail. Six, this is from me and Rex. I'm sure you'll like it." He arched an eyebrow at the both of us. I motioned towards the box. Rex had an excited look in his eye. Six slowly opened the box as if a bomb or something was in it.
A small black kitten with bright green eyes hopped out of the box and onto Six's shoulder. It sat there like a little lion with a royal look on her face.
I looked into his sunglasses, hoping to catch a glimpse of emotion. I could feel my sense of vision getting stronger.
Suddenly I could see Six's eyes. They were so dark...black, even. I watched them go soft then hard then soft again like there was some sort of conflict going on inside of him.
oh yeah. He likes his new companion.
"So, what are you gonna name her?" Rex asked anxiously.
"...Puma." He reached up to stroke her head. Puma purred like a motorboat.
"Eva, thanks for the tea. By the way, how did you know I like that kind of tea?" Holiday asked me.
"Everybody likes some kind of tea in this world. It was just a lucky guess as to which tea you really liked." I watched her turn the tea container around to see the brewing instructions.
Hey, what did I miss?" Bobo. I threw the gift-I want to give him-at him. The small box landed on his face. he grabbed it and ripped it open.
"...Why the heck did you give me this?" He looked at the small bag of coal. "And I am not a bad person!"
"Yeah, yeah, Bobo. You would've gotten it anyway if I didn't." Rex laughed. A piece of coal went flying towards my head. I dodged it and it flew towards Six. His katana came out of nowhere and cut the coal in half before it could hit his cat.
"You're pushing it, bud. And if I don't kill you, Six will. And I know you don't want that." He gulped for the second time that day.
After all the gift giving, I went to our room again. I opened up my burned wooden chest. I grabbed the mistletoe. Heh heh, this is gonna be good.
...
I directly above Six and Holiday in the air vent. My houseshoes silenced most of my movement. I gave an evil grin and tied a long string to the mistletoe. I slid it between the bars and lowered it down over them.
"Hey, Six and Holiday are under the mistletoe!" Rex exclaimed.
I covered my eyes so Six won't get the feeling I'm watching them. When I worked up the nerve to, I cracked open my eyes and saw Six slightly red and Holiday red completely. Hm. I missed it. I heard Rex cheerng in the background.
I'm gettin' 50 bucks in total from Rex and Noah! Yes!
Then, I suddenly fell out of the vent and nearly on those two!
"Eva, what were you doing in there?" Holiday asked calmly.
"Oh, nothing."
A/N: I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas and has an awesome New Year! And don't forget to review!
My account isn't letting me put that in bold and I'm too lazy to try and find out what the problem is.