The next chapter is up! Enjoy :)
Both divers gradually made their way back to the surface. When they did, they pulled out their apparatuses and had big smiles on their faces.
"Damn, talk about up close and personal." Eve said, as her and Matt swam back to the boat.
"Yeah, don't know how you didn't shit yourself when that one large male blue shark was getting quite close to you." Matt replied.
"That's what this is for." She said, as she waved her chainmail covered arm.
"Though I thought I heard you scream like a girl when one of the sharks made a go to bite at your calf." Eve added.
He gave her a look.
"You don't know what you're talking about, Eve. I was perfectly composed and managed to get good footage of those pearly whites." Matt retorted.
They both made it to the back of the transom and climbed the ladder. Where Drew and Lina were waiting to assist them in taking off the heavy equipment.
"So, how was it down there? Judging from what we saw on the feed it looked a little hairy a couple times. Some of the blue sharks were definitely curious about you two." Lina said, as she helped Eve get the air tank off.
"Ehh, a few curious younger sharks. The mature adults were of course leerier around us. One six-foot female got a little frisky with Matt. Tried to give him a little love bite on his calf." Eve joked.
"Laugh it up, things could've still gotten a little risky down there. Even with the chainmail suits." Matt says.
"Alright, next time we can use the cage then." Eve replied.
"Probably a good idea, judging by what we saw on the Go-Pro feed a couple individual sharks did look like they came a little too close for comfort." Drew agreed.
Eve had a lopsided grin on her face as she pulled off the gloves. Then her and Matt went into the cabin of the boat where it was warmer to pull off the rest of the chainmail suits. She then proceeded to pull down the thermal insulated wet suit that she wore beneath the chainmail. She shivered when the air hit her bare skin. Now she was in nothing but her bikini while Matt was down to his swim trunks.
"Let me use the bathroom first to change into warm dry clothes and I'll pay for lunch tomorrow." Matt says.
She rolls her eyes, "Fine, but be quick. It may be warmer in here but there is still a slight chill to the air."
He quickly looks her bikini clad body up and down.
"Yeah, I can tell. I can just about see your nips peeking through the material of your bathing suit." Matt jokes.
Eve chucks her towel at him as he quickly closes the bathroom door while laughing. She pulls out another dry towel from her duffel bag and begins drying her hair. The door to the cabin opens and Drew walks in. He crosses his arms and studies her. She notices this and gives him a questioning look.
"What?" She asks.
He shrugs, "Nothing, it's just...are you ok? You seem a little off these last couple weeks. Getting the holiday blues or something? I know that sometimes happens with you."
"I'm fine. You know me, was never really crazy about the winter." Eve replies.
"This is true. I hope we can cheer you up on Christmas Eve and Christmas. Mom's making our favorites. Lasagna for you and Honey Ham for me. Just like always. And then we get to have fun watching Dad and Uncle Rory get plastered and fight over dumb shit again." Drew tells her.
She chuckles remembering how his family can get around the holidays. How can she not, when she grew up with Drew and his family. And for their love and kindness, Eve will always be grateful to them. She never missed any special events and holidays. Though, she's conflicted about plans this year. Especially, since she's been housing her injured alien house guest.
It's been a couple weeks now since they came to her reality. Things started out pretty rocky at first. But Eve feels like things are slowly getting better and easier. He also seems to be healing nicely and getting stronger each day. Some of the right side of his body is still a bit sore. But then when you get hit by a car, of course it will take some time to fully heal. His fractured tibia will be the last thing to heal. In which he still has a ways to go before it does.
Still, coming back to her current predicament. Should she really chance going to Christmas Eve and Christmas at Drew's Parents? Sure, she leaves him alone during the day while she works. But no one should really be alone around the holidays. Only she knows how truly lonely and heartbreaking it can be. And she knows that this adjustment is still pretty hard for him.
"Yeah, it's free live entertainment each time. Fingers crossed no one pukes this time. I don't think your mom ever forgave your uncle for tossing his cookies on her a couple years back on Easter. And pretty certain she won't let him touch Jack Daniel's again while he's at their house." Eve says, with some laughter in her voice.
Drew got a good laugh out of that statement. He remembers that clear as day. His mom was pissed, and he thought for sure his dad would have to hold her back because she looked like she was going to slap his uncle silly. To be fair, it was a rather humiliating moment for the older woman, and he did ruin her new blouse when he upchucked all over it.
"Is that already only three days away?" She added.
"Yeah, we can take the 4:45pm ferry there like always on Christmas Eve. Are you sleeping over there this year or taking the last ferry at 9:45pm that night?" He asks.
"I'll most likely be taking the ferry back again this time around. And I'll obviously do the usual noon ferry ride there back on Christmas." Eve confirmed.
"Cool." He says.
Eve gives him a small smile as she finishes drying herself off.
"You sure it's not just a case of the winter blues for you, Eve?" Drew asks.
They known each other for years and he always knew how to read her. It's been that way since she came to live with them. At first, Eve was very closed off but eventually she began to open up to him and his parents. It took a while, but they were all very patient and understanding. Something she really appreciated. Seeing as it's not easy learning how to trust others.
"Yeah, really I'm fine. You know if there was something really bugging me, I'd tell you." Eve replied.
In a way, it hurt a little to say this to him. Because by doing so, she felt like she was lying to him. And Drew and his family were people she'd never lie to. Though there is a very good reason behind it. It was for her guest's safety. Why Eve still cares for Frieza's safety, is still a mystery for her. Probably, because despite how much of a monster he is, she still can't imagine what kind of torturous hell people will put him through if he were caught.
'He'd get a one-way ticket to Area 51 and that would be the end of the road for the infamous Galactic Emperor.' She thought.
They weren't talking for much longer when Matt came out of the bathroom. Still rather cold, Eve pulled out her warm dry clothes and made a B-Line for the now open bathroom. She quickly stripped out of the damp bathing suit and pulled on her baggy thick clothes. Then she was out after a couple minutes.
The boat ride back to port was a bit of a choppy one. Not surprising, since the news report stated a storm was coming. Snow was to be expected soon. Eve hopes she can be back home before it starts. It seems like ever since she had that crazy accident that brought her to another reality, a part of her worried it happen like that again or worse, she'd actually die in an accident this time.
She shivered at the thought. The accident in itself did traumatize her to an extent as well as being mysteriously transported to a world that was not her own. Eve still couldn't get over how the time there seems to work differently there then here. While she was in Frieza's reality, her estimated stay there was around six months. While here, it appears she wasn't gone for no more than several hours.
They soon made it back to the marina and helped her colleagues tie it down securely for the night. Before she headed to her car. The drive was thankfully uneventful, and it hadn't started snowing just yet. But you can tell it was coming. The sky was completely overcast with bright white clouds that appeared to have a glow to them from the moon concealed behind them.
It was completely dark by the time she pulled into her driveway. Eve pulled out her small duffel bag and headed inside. She found Frieza sitting on the couch in the living room. He briefly looked up when she came in. That's when she noticed something in his hands. On closer inspection it looked to be one of her books from the bookcase in the living room.
Eve furrowed her brows.
"Thought you couldn't read English." She said.
Frieza closes the book with a sigh if frustration.
"I can't. Was just trying to familiarize with the words though." He replied.
His crimson gaze slowly shifter to Eve.
"Another good day at the office?" He sarcastically quipped.
She went over and sat down on the couch not far from him.
"It was productively, like always. Got to get close and personal with some blue sharks. Got some great footage." Eve explained.
"As I recall, aren't those animals in particular dangerous to humans?" He inquires.
"How would you know that? Though you didn't know anything about Earth's marine life." She replied.
"There was some documentary on those animals on the other day." Was his reply.
She had to hold back a laugh at his reply.
"You're really becoming quite the alien couch potato, aren't you?" Eve teases.
Instead, the tyrant was rather annoyed by that remark.
"What else you expect me to do while I'm holed up here. Not like there is much else to do." He snapped.
She bit her lip and looked away briefly. Eve doesn't blame him for being upset. Of course, he wasn't used to being cooped up in one place like this. He probably was starting to feel like a prisoner. But what can they do? Frieza simply can't go out for a stroll, at least not without being seen.
"I'm sorry. I can imagine that this is still all very hard for you." She said.
Eve eyed the book that was still lying limp in his grip.
"I can take the time to teach you how to read English if you'd like in the meantime." She added.
Frieza lets out a bitter laugh.
"And then what? Not like it will benefit me in any way. It's still humiliating that I have regressed to such a pathetic state and that it's taking this long for me to heal. And on top of that, I feel as if I may as well be living in a cage." He spat.
"Again, I'm sorry. I get that this is rough for you. But staying here guarantee's your safety. If there is a way, I can bring you out without being seen and being safe about it, I would. But right now, it's not a possibility. Not when your still injured and can't walk on that leg at least. Still, I'll try and see what I can do. In the meantime, try and bear with me here. I really am trying to help in any way I can. And even then, I can only do so much. Still, try to look to a lighter page, you're not alone in all this." Eve explained.
He looks away and stares down at the floor momentarily. A slight smile appears on his face.
"I still don't understand why you're entertaining the idea of helping me. But nonetheless..." Frieza pauses for a moment and turns his attention back to her.
"I am grateful." He finally finishes.
Eve could tell he's not used to thanking others. So, she couldn't resist teasing him on the matter.
"You're welcome, but I must ask; Did that hurt?"" She says, with a smirk.
At first, he didn't know what she meant. Then it clicked and he gave her an accusing look.
"Maybe I shall rephrase that last remark. I am grateful, despite the fact I think you're a nauseating pain in my side." Frieza quipped.
"Yeah, I tend to have that effect on most people. Though they tend to use more choice words." She said.
He snorts, "I can't say I'm surprised."
Eve scoots over a little closer.
"Either way eventually it gets easier." She assured him.
There was an awkward silence afterwards. Until Eve broke the silence again.
"So, you still want me to teach you to read in my language?" Eve asks.
Frieza leans back into the couch with a slight shrug.
"Why not, after all I have all the time in the world at this point. And I'm getting a little tired of your t.v." He says.
She laughs a little at his remark. It was a rather funny remark coming from the likes of him. He didn't get annoyed this time when she laughs at his quips. Instead, a faint smile decorated his face. Perhaps it will get a little easier from here on out. He just needs to have a little more patience and just like he said from the start, he needed to focus on recovering first and foremost.
Until Next Time ;)