"Who is that?"
"Is she all alone?"
"Let's wake her up."
I opened my eyes to see two strangers staring at me. A pretty blonde woman in her thirties (well, at least it looked like it) was the first to speak.
"Hi hon. You can call me Sherry. What are you doing out here all soaking wet?"
Rasco, you're going to have to stay away for a bit. Stay up in the sky when you find me.
I've already found you. I'm right above you. he replied, clearly unhappy. I focused back in on where I was. They were still waiting for an answer.
"I tried to swim across the channel but the waves got me," I lied. Lying came easily, but I still felt guilty about it.
"Why on earth would you try to swim across?" A man, dark haired, with thick eyebrows over hawk-like eyes, snapped at me like I was stupid. I bit back my temper.
"Umm....forgot a boat?"
The couple looked at each other, and I had the faint feeling that they were sure I had a concussion or something. Who knew? Maybe I did. I tried to move. Ouch. Apparently being slammed against rocks hurt my back. I could feel Rasco gnashing his teeth in frustration as he watched, invisible to all.
"What's your name?" Sherry asked.
"Jessica."
"What's your parents' phone number? We should call them to let them know where you are-I'm sure they're worried."
Not really. They wouldn't really care if I upped and died.
"They went on a year-long business trip." I lied once again.
"Oh you poor dear. Who are you staying with? We'll call them, then."
This lady just wasn't giving up, was she?
"I'm living alone right now, with my pet Rasco."
Rasco snorted, highly offended. A plume of smoke rose from his nostrils into the air. Well, isn't that interesting? I wondered when he was going to breathe fire. Oh god, a fire-breathing Rasco. I don't think the world was ready for that. Rasco snorted again, in amusement.
Okay, back to reality. The couple was murmuring to each other, and I was too tired to try to listen in. The man was shaking his head, while the woman looked like she was about ready to start to beg. After about 10 minutes, the man appeared to give in to whatever Sherry was saying.
"How about you stay with us, Jessica? We could go pick up your pet. What is he, anyway? A dog?"
Say yes. To both.
Why? You can't exactly pull off a dog, Rasco. You kind of have scales and wings, not fur.
Just trust me. I'll be there in a minute. I have an idea.
I sighed.
"Yes, he is a dog. And, sure, why not?" I grinned. Then for good measure, I cupped my hands to my mouth.
"Rasco! Rasco! Here boy! Come!"
A bark was thrown my way, and all of a sudden, a large brown and white cocker spaniel bounded up to me. He jumped into my arms, and I masked my surprise with a "Good boy!"
Rasco? What the heck? How?
Human minds are easy to manipulate.
What? Quit manipulating mine!
But it's fun!
I groaned inwardly.
"Oh! What a cute dog! How old is he?"
I stared at the illusion of 'Rasco'.
"He's two," I replied. Yeah, two days. And already controlling people's minds. Scary.
"Do you have any things you have to bring along?" The man asked.
Oh. Crap. They expected to go to my 'house' to pick up my things. How was I going to get out of this one?
"I'll grab them on my way to school tomorrow."
"Where do you go to school?"
Yikes. I quickly thought up the name of the school I went to before.
"Tiger High."
"Oh, that's all the way on the other side of the city!" Sherry's lips pursed, showing her unhappiness at the made-up dilema. Oh, no, guess I couldn't go with them now. I jumped for joy mentally.
"That's okay, she can transfer. It's illegal for her to live alone at this age." the man said. Darn it.
