Chapter 8: Take Me Home Tonight

"I don't want to let you go 'til you see the light."

"Good morning, angel." A faint light was coming through the blinds as Darjeeling started to wake up. She was surrounded by Kay, who had managed to wrap herself around Darjeeling.

"So what do we do today?"

"Well I have to go do my classes today, so I don't know what you're going to do while I'm gone."

"I can't go with you?"

"Maybe tomorrow. I just want to get it over with today so we can do things this afternoon."

"So I'm just going to be left here all alone?" Darjeeling sounded like she was about to cry.

"I don't really have a choice. I promise we'll do some fun stuff tonight." Kay got up and put her uniform back on. "I'll see you later alright?" She planted a kiss on Darjeeling's cheek. Today was going to be awful for the both of them. Darjeeling was without her lover for most of the day, even though they were on the same ship. Kay had to deal with whatever garbage her teachers threw at her.

After what felt like years of doing Japanese, Foods, and Math classes, the lunch period finally started. Kay sat with her usual friends, Naomi and Alisa.

"Man our classes suck." Kay was already tired and yet it wasn't even past noon yet.

"Stop complaining."

"You should probably stop complaining, Kay. You get to go back to your apartment and do whatever you want. The two of us have to go to the track after school." Naomi was being sensible with her explanation, as usual.

"That reminds me. I need to make a phone call really quick."

"Who are you going to call?"

"Not your business, Alisa." Kay typed in Darjeeling phone number and hit the call button. "C'mon please pick up for me."

"Hello Kay." Darjeeling finally picked the other line up. "When are you going to get back?"

"Um… About 2:30-ish."

"It's so quiet here without you. Make sure to bring me something when you come back, alright?"

"Is there something that you want me to pick up for you?"

"Something to eat would be nice."
"Is that it?"

"Maybe some tea if you can get some?"

"Alrighty then. I'll see you around 3pm."

"Aww, Kay has a girlfriend. She wouldn't be that blonde girl from yesterday, would she?" Alisa teased.

"You should probably worry about your own issues." Kay was slightly surprised by Naomi suddenly backing her. "I should probably make a phone call as well."

The lunch bell rang before Alisa could make another remark. The last class of the day was one of Kay's favorites, her foreign language class. After what felt like way shorter of a class compared to her other classes that day, the dismissal bell went off and she went on her way. There was a local diner nearby, so Kay decided to drop by and pick some food up. As an attempt to broaden Darjeeling's appetite, she ordered some burgers for the two of them. Making sure to remember the other part of what Darjeeling wanted, she ordered a Honey Lemon tea. Kay started to get excited as she drove back to the apartment. "What are we going to do tonight? Maybe a movie or a game?"

Kay, wanting to surprise her lover, opened the door quietly and tip-toed down the hallway only to see something she wasn't expecting. Darjeeling was curled up on the living room couch, sleeping. She was still in the shirt Kay had given her last night and had put her hair into the normal style but that wasn't the bit that stood out. The bit that stood out was she was holding Kay's jacket up against herself, kinda using it like a pillow. Kay gently nudged the sleeping girl to help wake her up.

"Hello there."

"Did you bring some food?"

"Yeah, I brought some burgers."

"Did you really have to get food like that?"

"Can you just try it first?"

Kay hands over one of the Styrofoam containers to Darjeeling. "I also got you this." Kay handed over the large cup of tea. "I should probably go get something for me to drink as well." Kay ran back to the kitchen and after some rummaging through the fridge, came back with an orange colored soda in a glass bottle. The front of the bottle had an old-fashioned green diamond logo.

"So are you going to try it or not?" Darjeeling finally opened the container, only to see a sloppy mess. It was a burger alright, covered in some sort of crab mix.

"This is going to go everywhere."

"Just live a little, alright?"

"Here we go." Darjeeling lifted the mess of a burger and took a bite. It slightly spicy and creamy, mixed with the taste of a grilled burger.

"So do you like it?"

"I'm pleasantly surprised. I didn't think I would enjoy it but it's not half bad." Darjeeling took a second bite.

"Good to know." Kay started working on her own burger.

"What do we want to do tonight?"

"I don't feel like leaving the apartment again, so something we could do around the house."

"Another movie?"

"I really don't like that being all we do together, but we don't really have a choice."

"But we can just sit together and enjoy something. Is that not something you want?"

"Fine, I'll go get the movies." Kay walked upstairs to look through her movie collection.

"Make sure to bring your glasses back!"

"Why do you like it when I wear glasses?!"

"Because I uhh… do I need to explain it?!"

"Yes!"

"Because I think your hot when you wear glasses! Is that enough of an answer?" Kay walked back down the staircase and plopped back down on the couch.

"Are you happy now?" Kay had put her shiny blue glasses on, and had brought down two movies.

"Yes." Darjeeling nuzzled up against Kay's shoulder.

"Which one do you want to watch first?" The first one had two excited guys in the center, surrounded by money. The second one had a police officer flashing his badge on the front.

"The first one, please." Kay hopped up without telling Darjeeling, which slightly annoyed her, put the disc in and this time, lied down on the couch. Darjeeling quickly lied down on top of her as the film started.

4 hours later…

"So did you enjoy it?"

"Yes. They were both pretty good. Can we stay like this?"

"What do you mean?"

"Can we just sleep here tonight. I don't feel like getting up and moving upstairs."

"I don't see a problem with that."

"Can you take me with you tomorrow?"

"Why do you want to do that?"

"Because today was super boring with me just being by myself."

"How am I going to explain who you are though?"

"We can figure that out later. Just let me do this please."

"Fine, I'll take you with me."

"Thank you. Can we sleep now?"

"It's a bit early but I'm fine if you want to sleep now."

"Good night."

The next morning…

"Another morning, another day of schoolwork."

"Be happy you get to spend it with me."

"I guess that's true. Do you still have the uniform I gave you?"

"Yes. It should be around here somewhere."

After Darjeeling found the uniform and got into disguise. After a bit of begging, Darjeeling finally convinced Kay to wear her glasses to class. After that, they were on their way, looking for what the day brought for them. Kay was surprised with how little time each class felt, having someone to look over at for most of the classes. Lunch period was a bit of mess after Alisa just kept pestering Darjeeling, trying to figure out who she was. Last period flew by as the minutes started to count down. They both met outside the school building to discuss the afternoon's plans.

"You have an idea of where you want to go?"

"How am I supposed to know? I've been here for two days."

"True. Just give me a second to come up with an idea." Darjeeling being Darjeeling, made this out to be an opportunity snuggle against Kay's arm. "What are you doing that for? I thought you want to keep that a secret."

"But it was just too tempting."

Naomi walked up to the two of them, with a surprising friend.

"Pekoe, why and how are you here?" Darjeeling looked at the little orange-haired girl in front of her.

"Because you never told us that you were going to be gone for the week. It was somewhat hard to track you down, but it looks like you have your own issues."

"How did you get here?" This time it was Kay doing the questions as Darjeeling returned to what she was doing.

"By plane, of course. It would have been impractical to try to reach this ship by a smaller boat." Kay glanced over at Naomi.
"You wouldn't have anything to do with this, right?"

"No ma'am. Why would I do such a brazen thing?"

"What are we going to do with these two?" Kay looked down at the blonde still rubbing her face against the fabric of Kay's uniform. "Did you hear me?"

"Do I have to? I'm a bit busy right now."

"What are we going to do with these two?" Kay points at the other two girls.

"Just let them be. I don't see the issue here."

"You two are hopeless," Naomi and Pekoe said in unison. Kay looked up at the two of them.

"Is that it?"

"Yeah, we'll leave you alone. C'mon Pekoe let's leave these two to sort themselves out." Naomi led the small girl over and around sidewalk, slowly going out of view.

"So now what?"

"Isn't there a park nearby?"

"Sure we could go walk around there."

The park was somewhat large compared to what was around it. It was mostly just concrete paths with trees just around the place. A small pond was near the center.

"Is this what you wanted?" They were locked hand in hand walking down one of the many paths around the park.

"Yes. Isn't it nice to get some fresh air?"

"Yeah, it's nice out here. You wouldn't mind if we sat over there, would you?" Kay pointed over at a large maple tree, a swirl of reds and oranges.

"Oh I see where this is going."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Be honest here." Darjeeling sat down and Kay followed suit. "You know full well which trope it is that we're doing right now. You should plan this better sometimes."

"Fine. I'll take the initiative then." Kay slightly pulled Darjeeling uniform as she brought the two of them close for a kiss. After what felt like forever, Kay broke the embrace.

"Did you enjoy it?"

"Let's do it some more once we get back. I can tell that the rest of this week is going to be special."

End of Chapter 8