Sorry, I was on a video game binge.
Chapter Fourteen: Beat It
Dec. 3rd, 1988 - 8:14 PM - Angel's Italian Restaurant
Jerrica's P.O.V.
Jerrica and Rio sat at a table for two near the windows.
"I'm so glad we could finally take some time out for us." the blond beamed across the table.
"The holidays have been weighing heavily on our shoulders." he replied.
"I hope I can get all my shopping down before the week is over." Jerrica sighed wistfully. "Kimber's new album will be out on the 16th and half of the money she makes from it, the proceeds will go to the Christmas drive."
"That's great Jer, you guys are always doing so much for others."
"We had a privileged life growing up." the blond shrugged. "Others aren't so lucky, but that doesn't mean they don't deserve a chance at happiness."
"I get it, the more you help the more kids you can save."
"Right. So many kids are dying and loosing out on chances to be great and if I can do something to help them, I will."
"I think you'd be a great mom Jerrica." Rio smiled softly.
"I just hope my future kids think that too." She laughed.
Dec. 5th, 1988 - 5:54 AM - LAX Airport
Stormer's P.O.V.
Stormer smiled at her band mates with a tired smile. "Thanks for seeing me off you guys."
"Why do you have to go so damn early?" Roxy groaned.
"I want to get there as soon as possible and get back home before Craig gets back. He'd follow me and hunt me down then probably toss me over his knee." Stormer sighed. "He doesn't like it when I get put in danger."
"Maybe he won't be as upset as your makin it seem love, you are an adult and you can handle yourself." Jetta shrugged.
"Your probably right, the worst I'd get is a tongue lashing then the silent treatment."
"Just make sure you get back before that Christmas thing, we can't have our lyricist M.I.A." Pizzazz drawled, her voice croaking with sleep.
"Thanks again, girls."
"Yeah, yeah." Roxy grumbled. "Get your mushy ass on that plane."
Stormer smiled at her best friends one last time before heading to her plane terminal. Taking a deep breath she boarded the plane with excited trepidation, normally she wouldn't go on such a trip by herself. She just didn't feel right asking her friends to put their lives on the line just so she could find her wayward parents.
Dec. 5th, 1988 - 12:46 PM - Los Angeles, California
Shana's P.O.V.
Shana Elmsford woke with a wide sleepy yawn and a deep stretch. Glancing over at the clock she was startled to see that it was almost one in the afternoon.
She had practically slept the whole day away!
She slipped from the bed and made her way to her closet, throwing the doors open she glanced over her large selection of clothes. Finally settling on a flowy light blue blouse, a pair of jeans, and a pair of black heels.
She did her make up and combed her hair back sliding in a purple and yellow butterfly clip. She floated down the stairs with an easy smile and she was greeted by Anthony, who she thought was still overseas filming his new movie.
"Anthony, what are you doing back so early? Did you get everything finished up?" He turned around and smiled at her.
"Sweetie, I'm glad you're here I needed to talk to you." He grabbed her hand and suddenly they were outside on the patio.
"Oh? What is it?" He sat them at the patio table.
"Shana, darling... I'm quitting my career as a successful American writer, producer, and director to pursue my lifelong dream of being a seal."
"...What?"
"The perks of a seal's life is idyllic! They are so talented and the most beautiful creatures in the world, I want to leave that life to feel that freedom!"
"I-I-I'm not understanding this... Anthony what on earth are you talking about?!"
"Anthony, come on!"
Shana looked behind them to see Rio, Sean, Jeff, Craig and Riot all lounging by the pool... dressed as white seals.
"Hang on guys!" Shana looked back to see Anthony dressed as a seal.
"Wh-when did you change? How is that even possible, no one can change that fast!"
"I was always dressed as seal, darling." He shrugged his seal shoulders and waddled off.
"I... can't believe this."
"Well believe it babes." Shana whirled around to see her sisters standing on the patio, thankfully dressed like people.
"This is the life of a seal and as the wives of our hardworking seal husbands we must support them." Jerrica smiled serenely.
"And look at these cute baby seal onesies!" Kimber squealed.
"No... no." Shana stumbled away from the flubbery monstrosity.
"Join us Shay." Aja slid forward.
"It's not so bad when you get used to it." Jem chirped.
Shana kept moving back until she was stopped by a pair of hands. "Don't tell me you're scared."
She stiffened and glanced on either side of her to see The Misfits surrounding her.
"What in the...?"
She made eye contact with Jetta and she saw the English woman smirk. "Wake up, It's time to open you're eyes Shay-Shay."
"Wake up? B-but I' am awake."
"Are you?" Jerrica tilted her head to the side.
"I... I think-"
"If you're awake then why are you falling?" Roxy asked.
"What?"
"Look down." Stormer pointed to the ground.
She did.
Shana screamed as she fell.
"Shana! Are you okay?"
Her vision cleared and she was met with Kimber's worried blue eyes.
"I... y-yeah, I was having a really... weird dream." Shana held her head in her hands.
"What was it about?"
"It... I had woken up and I saw on my clock that it was one o'clock in the afternoon, so I had gotten up and dressed then went downstairs..."
"Then what happened?" She prompted.
"Anthony was downstairs... waiting for me, he said that there was something he needed to tell me."
Kimber leaned forward with wide eyes. It was nice seeing them clear instead of the red they would be after a particular nasty hangover.
Shana looked her in the eye. "He told me he was giving up his career to pursue being a... a... seal!"
"A... seal?" Kimber's red hair tumbled over her shoulder when she tilted her head to the right. "Like... the animal?"
"Yes." Shana groaned.
"Pft." Was the dreaded sound that slipped past Kimber Benton's lips.
"It's not funny! It was the most excruciating thing my mind has ever conjured up." She looked through her fingers and glared at her youngest sister. "I don't see why you're laughing, Rio, Sean, Jeff, Craig, and even Riot was there dressed like seals by the pool!"
"Snrk!" Kimber held her mouth in her hands. "What?!"
"That is hilarious! I have to tell everyone!"
Shana shook her head as Kimber quickly skipped out the room.
Might as well get up and get dressed.
...
When she finally got downstairs and into the kitchen in a nice red sweater, jeans, and flats she was pleasantly surprised to see Maeve Eldritch there, or as she was commonly known;
"Astral! What a surprise!" The young paranormal investigator/magician turned around and smiled at her. She was rocking a pageboy cut, her pink,blue, and purple highlights coloring her bangs. She wore an all white button up with a knee length skirt, and a pair of black heels. "You look toned down today."
"I had to go speak in front of a bunch of detectives in suits about what Paranormal investigations are, why and how they are real, and what you can do in such a situation. There were a lot of skeptics there, but no one interrupted my speech and were actually really polite."
"I'm glad to here. So, that's what brought you all the way over here?"
She nodded. "I was in China beforehand, The villages there tend to be peaceful and I like to go exploring around as much as I can. I also do yoga and meditate in the mountains, the sights are beautiful and aesthetically pleasing. "
"Where in China did you stay?" She asked.
"In Fenghuang County, right on the foot of the mountains and also home to the Huang Si Qiao castle, It was built in the year 687 and is China's best preserved stone castle. It was beautiful, I also got to try some of the delicacies like; ginger candy, which was pretty good and spicy pickled red peppers, I wasn't too fond of those."
"The reason I stayed in California was because I heard about the Christmas drive you all were holding and I wanted to help anyway I can."
"That's wonderful! You're magic acts would really cheer up the kids."
"You think so?"
"Of course Astral!" Jerrica cut in. "You're so talented and have a warm personality, the adults would really enjoy you're charm."
"I would be honored, If you'll have me."
"That would be lovely."
Jerrica then turned to me. "Kimber had come down earlier and told us about you're dream Shana."
Shana smiled wryly. "That girl can hold a secret about as long as a paper bag holds water."
"If I may Shana, When it comes to dream interpretation I' am very knowledgeable in it, I can help you understand you're dream."
"Really? It wasn't just some wacky dream?"
"Dreams aren't 'wacky' or 'weird' or even 'strange', they are meaning and can be telling you something that you might need to pay attention to. We dream every night."
"Are you sure?" Jerrica asked. "Sometimes I don't dream of anything."
"You are dreaming, sometimes you remember other dreams more often than not. Like the dreams you have a feeling you've had before, those are the ones you forget after you wake up."
"That's so fascinating."
"Why do we forget them?" Shana asked this time.
"No one knows as of yet." Astral shrugged. "But there are some people who remember better than others."
"Well, my dream was about Anthony and the boys dressing up as seals and my sisters and even The Misfits were talking about how wonderful it is to be a seal's wife!"
"I was a seals wife?" Jerrica squawked.
"To Rio."
Jerrica's jaw snapped closed while her cheeks reddened. "Rio in seal costume?! That's hilarious!"
"What color were the 'seals'."
"They were all white, I believe. Ah, I also remember Pizzazz asking me if 'I was scared', then Jetta told me to wake up and Roxy told me I was falling and I didn't believe her until Stormer told me to look down." Shana grimaced. "I did."
Astral smiled. "Well, you're in luck because seals are a good omen."
"Really?" Shana felt a weight fall off her chest.
Astral hummed. "White seals are a sign of an upcoming wedding, a peaceful family life, and even could mean a good budding relationship with your loved ones parents."
"Anthony's parents?" Shana bit her lip. "So, the dream is assuring me that Anthony and I will be happy?"
"Yes."
"That's wonderful Shana."
"Thanks Jerri, but I want to see this for myself."
"It pays to be cautious, but be confident and don't hold back from you're relationship with this Anthony."
"But what about the other things with the Misfits?"
"Well, this 'Jetta' said to 'wake up', it might be a reference to you facing something that you have been avoiding, which is probably why 'Pizzazz' asked if you were afraid. Then the suddenly falling, it doesn't mean death, but you're insecurities, anxieties, or instabilities you may have in the waking world."
"So, I'm just feeling edgy about life?" Shana started messing with the sleeve of her sweater.
"I believe so."
"Thanks Astral."
"Of course, anytime."
"I'm glad that's all resolved." Jerrica smiled. "Now that you'll be hanging around you can meet all of our other friends at the Christmas Drive!"
"It would be nice to get to know more people here in California."
"You can stay at Starlight Mansion while you're here." Shana suggested.
"That's a great idea!" Jerrica nodded.
"I don't want to impose-"
"You won't be. Everyone will be happy to have you."
"As long as you all are fine with it, I'll be happy to."
"Then it's settled." The blond chirped happily.
Well that was a doozy!