Chapter Ten

I felt like rolling my eyes as Star applied white foundation to my face, in a vain attempt to cover my black eye. I groaned as she violently brushed powder over my face. It had been over a week since the fight and I'd been kept under a watchful eye ever since. However - tonight I demanded to be taken outside. I needed time away from the suffocation that I'd received for the past week.

"I'm sorry if I'm hurting you. But you were the stubborn one who didn't want treatment." Star said, pulling away to admire her work. I scowled at her and played with my hands as she nodded in satisfaction.

"I guess that'll do. It's lucky it's a dark night." She said and turned to pack up her make-up. I just nodded silently and looked down at my hands. Star turned back to face me and smiled gently, lifting my chin up with her hand.

"Smile dear. At least you didn't end up with a missing tooth." I knew she was referring to one of the girls that had attacked me.

"Whatever. Can I go now?" I begged her.

"Oh, Helena." I heard Paul call from somewhere. He entered the small room and smirked at me. He held out a hand to me. "You'd want to come and see this. I think it will cheer you up." I took his hand and let Paul lead me out to the main cave area.

I stopped and tried not to break into laughter at the sight before my eyes. There was David having a tug of war with Jaws. It looked like Jaws had found David's jacket and had happily taken a few bites out if it. David was swearing and cursing everything from the sky, down to the sea. I also heard a range of new words I'd never heard of before.

"Helena. Tell your damn dog to damn well get off my jacket. Tell it that my jacket is not a chew toy." David said, letting go of the jacket and falling back on top of where Dwayne sat. I smiled and whistled for Jaws to come over to me.

"You're a good dog. Yes you are." Paul cooed as Jaws ran over, still carrying the jacket. "Have I ever mentioned that I adore your dog Helena?" Paul said. I nodded and picked up the golden puppy. I giggled as Jaws dropped the jacket and proceeded to lick my face.

"Hmph." I turned to see David glaring at me and Jaws. I looked down and let the smile drop of my face. I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up to see Paul looking down at me, worried etched in his face.

"Are you okay Lena?" I nodded and motioned to Laddie to bring Jaws' leash. When the young boy returned with it - I turned to Star who nodded and took my hand.

"We'll be back soon." She said to Paul who nodded again. I wrapped the leash around my free hand and watched as Star took Laddie's hand as well. "Come on you two. Let's go get some fresh air."

"Star, I love you. But I feel like I'm being suffocated." I complained as she kept me close to her all night.

"I know. But I'm worried about you. What if friends of hers come looking?" She frowned.

"I'll be fine. My Father raised me tough." I said, sticking my chin out. Star laughed. "I just need time to myself. Look I'll stay in the lights, in the busy areas OK? I'll even hang around the video shop if it makes you happy!"

We stopped outside Max's video store and I followed Star in. I couldn't see Max anywhere - until I saw him appear whilst talking with two boys. I suppressed a groan as I saw who they were. The very last pair of boys I wanted to chat to whist I was in this state. Edgar and Alan. Perfect. Starr smiled and motioned over to Max.

"Oh Helena." Max said, walking over to me and kneeling down to speak to me. "Are you feeling better? I heard what happened. I feel awful that it happened right outside my shop as well. Paul said you were up and about..."

"I'm fine. Relax. Concussion and sprained wrists, plus a few cuts. But I recovered." I smiled at him. "Besides, knocking me down, just made me eager to get back up and fight someone."

"I hope not!" Star said from behind me.

I chuckled and shrugged my shoulders at her. "OK. I'll give it a month." I bargained with her. Star laughed.

"You be OK by here for a minute? I need to check with Max about something. Keep an eye on Laddie please?" I nodded as Star and Max walked off deep in conversation. I tapped my fingers on the desk waiting. I looked for Tina, but she was no where to be found. I saw the box of lollipops, so I reached to grab one.

"Of all the things to steal, you steal a sweet?" I heard Edgar's voice behind me.

"Of course. Sweets over everything else." I said turning and popping the sucker in my mouth with a grin. "Do you want some?"

"No."

"Well - looks like someone finally decided to crawl out of her cave." Alan said, joining his brother.

"Shut up. I was in there for serious reasons." I complained.

"Yeah we heard." Alan said. "You look like shit." Alan said, which got him a clip around the ear from Edgar. "Sorry. It's just - well, we saw what happened and, you got badly beaten."

"I was aware of that." I replied.

"Oh. You are the one who returned Laddie for Lena!" Star said, as she approached us, carrying something under her arm. Edgar went red around the ears and mumbled something. "Sweetie. If you want, I can take Laddie and Jaws for you and you can relax with your friends? At least you will be with someone and you can meet me later?"

"No. It's fine. I'll come with you. I wanna spend time with Laddie anyway."

Star waved me off as she took Jaws' leash from my hands. "No Lena. Go. You complained all this time about freedom, now you're getting it and you don't want it? Go with your friends, here is some money. Have fun. You've been moping around far too long."

Star then turned back to Edgar and Alan. "Keep her safe from anyone. If anything goes wrong, I'll be in the arcade." She then smiled at me and turned on her heels, Laddie and Jaws hot on them. I frowned at her as her brown hair disappeared in the throng of the crowd.

"Bye then!" I shouted after her. I know I said I wanted to be alone. By alone I meant alone. By myself. For five minutes to get some peace.

"Well. She seems nice." Alan commented. I closed my eyes and took a few breaths before opening my eyes to stare back at the Frog brothers.

"I'm tired. I'm just going to head home."

"No you're not." Edgar said, looking at me. "I personally don't want that Hippie after my blood. There are enough Vampires around. You'll stay with us - no arguments.

"Walk me home then." I told them.

"Can't. Got to head back to the shop. So come with us. Now."

I crossed my arms and glared long and hard at the boy. I wondered who on Earth he thought he was bossing me around? But I then realised - I could either stay with these guys - or venture out on the Board walk. Alone. Where there was a possibility that Jennie's friends may be lurking.

"Fine then. What do you two normally do?"

This is not exactly my idea of fun you know." I said through gritted teeth as I sat on the counter in the comic book store.

"Well, sorry we can't cater to the Princess' every need, but some of us have a job to do. So - shut up." Edgar said, leaning on the counter next to me. I turned to give him my filthiest glare - but he did not seem fazed by it. In fact - he just plain ignored it and continued to read his comic.

"You know something? We're in the 1980s. Not the 1950s. So, you can't tell me what to do." I argued. Edgar just looked up and me and raised an eyebrow.

"Oh yeah? Well, seeing as we are in the 1980s you are expected to actually do something other than sit there and look pretty. If you're bored - go find something useful to do."

I didn't respond. I just crossed my arms and turned away from him. I saw Alan a few feet away - writing in some book. I sighed loudly and started swinging my feet back and forth. I felt my feet hit something - but paid it no attention. I kept sighing and humming under my breath.

"Right. Stop kicking me."." Edgar said. I turned to see him rubbing his knee.

"Sorry. But I am bored."

"Be bored somewhere else then." He said, before pulling the comic up in front of his face.

"Lame." I mumbled and hopped down off the counter and over to Alan. "I'm bored. I'm going home."

"OK." Alan said, "Doesn't concern me, wherever you go."

"Fine. Bye then." I said as I walked out of the comic book shop.

"Where are you going?" Edgar popped up beside me. I jumped, as I had not heard him.

"Home. Is that alright with you?"

"On your own?"

"Yes. Gosh. What are you. My Father? You can trust me."

"Sure. Maybe you. Not anyone else."

I huffed at him and crossed my arms. "I'm tired, my arm hurts and I have a really bad headache. Every inch of me still aches. I just want to get home and lay in my bed in peace with a book or something. Not hang around a small comic book shop, kicking things."

Edgar looked at me, before sighing. "OK. We'll do something. You can sort out some comic books for us. That will keep you entertained."

"Doubt it." I said.

So, maybe I was wrong. Sorting out comic books was fun actually. I managed to come across I liked the look of. I pushed them into the pile I put aside for myself. The other comic books, I sorted them according to title and publishing number. Edgar stood against the counter reading his comic book.

"Having fun yet?" He asked.

"Kind of. What do you do with double comics?" I asked him.

"Keep them in storage, until they are needed." Edgar replied.

"Fair." I said, before turning back to my task. However, I eventually got bored and started tapping my fingernails against the counter. "I'm bored again."

Edgar looked at me, before pushing the comic aside and sighing loudly. "Never happy are you?"

"No." I smiled at him. He rolled his eyes.

"Come on. Let's go for a walk somewhere." Edgar pulled my arm to get me to follow him.

"Hey. Sprained wrist!" I moaned. Edgar just switched arms.

"Where are you going?" Alan called, watching as Edgar pulled me outside.

"To stop her from whining." He called back. I glared at him and rubbed my arm from where he'd grabbed it.

"Hey injured person here!" I said. Edgar just looked at me and set off down the Board walk. I rolled my eyes and ran to catch up with him.

"Where are we going?" I asked him, falling into pace next to him.

"I don't know." He responded. Well that helped me a lot.

"Hope it is somewhere fun!"

"Shut up." He replied

"Why?" I asked again. This time he just ignored me and continued to walk. I sighed and walked next to him in silence for a few minutes before asking him again where he was taking me.

"Just shut up. OK? Or I will personally book tickets for your mouth to take a holiday."

I opened my mouth to snap back something insulting - but instead I found I could only giggle. Edgar turned to me and sent me a questioning glare. I just smiled and continued to giggle, which seemed to get on his nerves.

"Alright. It wasn't that funny." Edgar said after about five minutes of my laughter. I just shook my head and started to gasp for air. Eventually I stopped giggling and straightened up.

"Honestly. What was that about? Are you possessed? 'Cause if you are - I won't hesitate to push you off the Board walk..."

"I'm fine. I just remembered my Father saying something similar ages ago. He would threaten to ship me away if I didn't shut up. He was always joking around." I sighed as I recalled the events that me and Parents always did. I missed those days dearly.

"Right. Well, are you quite finished laughing?" I nodded and Edgar turned and headed down the Board walk. I sighed and once again ran to catch up to him.

Updated: 15/07/2015