Big boy

Bree and Katkin walked along the side of the road. They had just jumped off the bus, and Bree lead the way home. The road was empty as they heard the motor of the bus disappear around a bend. There was no sidewalk, and the small graveled path they walked on was uneven, as it followed the edge of the asphalt. Katkin looked around, and listened to Bree talking about how long they had lived here, and how moving here felt. There was not a lot to look at, mostly trees. The forest went down to the roadside on both sides, and only stopped just a few meters from where they were walking. She was used to being in the forest, from when she rode the horses, but this was a thicker kind. More pines and firs, rather than leafy trees. They took a right and started walking up an actual gravel road. They could see the house up ahead, and Katkin commented on that it looked pretty.

Bree held the door open, and let Katkin walk in first. They hung off their jackets and bags, and Bree showed Katkin around. The bottom floor was an open spaced living room and kitchen. A wooden stair lead up, to a small landing, from where you could reach the two bedrooms and a toilet.

"Well yeah so that's it." Bree said and sat down on her bed.

Katkin looked around her room, and sat down on an armchair facing the bed.

"I think it's just enough. Perfect for two people." She said.

"I didn't expect guest though." Said Bree and gathered some clothes lying on the bed.

She balled them together and threw them across the room into a laundry basket.

"Impressive." Katkin raised an eyebrow.

"Hardly." Bree laughed. "Do you want something to drink? I'll go down to get some water?"

"Sure. You don't want help?"

"No stay here, I can carry two glasses on my own."

Bree got up and Katkin heard her walk down the stairs.

As Bree stood by the counter, filling the glasses with water, she looked over to the front door. She realised that they had just left their shoes and bags on the floor, and knew that it would be the first thing Irma would comment on when she got home. She put the glasses down and walked over to fix it. She put the shoes in the shoe stand, and picked up one bag on each arm. As she did, something fell from Katkins bag, and it just caught her eye as it landed on the floor. She froze for a moment, and blinked to make sure she saw right. She bent down to pick it up, and held it close to her face. It was another one of the small notes. Had it really fallen from Katkins bag, or had it just come from her shirt or hair? She tried to think of several reasons but one major thought got stuck. Was it Katkin who had put the notes in her locker?

Katkin was still sat in the armchair. She had pulled up her feet and sat in some kind of lotus pose. She had been looking around, finding details about the room. The bed was built in between the inclined roof and a wardrobe, which made it look a bit cozy, like a pillow fort. Along the longest wall stood a desk, that reached almost as long as the wall itself. On it stood boxes of different ammunition, neatly sorted, and some toolkits. At the end of the table was a tall safe, which really interested her, but she didn't want to stand up and look closer, in case Bree would come back and think that she was snooping around. She did think that Bree seemed to have been away a bit too long to just get water though, and was just thinking about whether she should go down and check on her or not, when she heard light footsteps on the stair again. Bree entered the room, and offered Katkin the water. She put the bags down beside the door.

"Everything alright?" Katkin asked as Bree sat down again.

"Yep. Wouldn't it be?" Bree asked back and drank her water.

"I just thought it took you awhile, but it's alright, just asking."

"I just had to move the bags and shoes from the door." Bree drank again to try to hide that she was a bit nervous.

"Oh damn, sorry for just dumping my stuff. Should have thought of that."

"No no problem, I could have told you." Bree was really trying to make everything seem okay. "Irma will be home any minute, and we usually hang out when she cooks dinner. Would you want to do that or do you want to hang out up here?"

"Yeah no we can absolutely be downstairs. Sounds nice to spend time together like that." Katkin smiled softly.

They sat in silence for a moment. Bree tried to keep her face, and drank water repeatedly for her glass, to hide her nervousness. If anything it just made her seem more nervous. Katkin looked at her, and thought that maybe she was just not used to visitors.

"So, what's with the safe?" Katkin finally asked.

"Hm?" Bree looked at her properly for the first time since she got up.

Katkin was happy with having got contact with her again, and pointed to the safe in the corner.

"What's in there?" She asked again.

"Oh, my weapons."

"Weapons?"

"Well, a soft air gun, a rifle, and my crossbow."

"Right. The homemade one?"

"Yes exactly. You need to keep your weapons like that, it's like both shooter-rules and the law. After I built Big Boy, I thought I might as well put it in there as well, since it's technically lethal as well, even if it isn't registered."

"Big boy?" Katkin smirked.

"Heh… Yeah that's what I named it… A bit silly maybe…" Bree drew her hand through her hair, a bit unsure.

"Not at all, I think it's pretty cool. I mean I spend my days talking to horses. A crossbow with a name is not that out of this world." Katkin reassured. "May I see it?"

"Sure." Bree got up and walked over to the safe.

Katkin watched as she unlocked it, and pulled out a big wooden construct. She lifted it up on her shoulder to show how she held it when using it. It was made of dark wood, probably picked from the forest just outside. Bree hade put a lot of work into it, and it had a shiny and polished finish to it. And it was big, it almost looked to heavy for the girl, but she lifted it as if it was nothing, with much experience.

"Do you wanna hold it?" Bree asked and held out the crossbow to Katkin.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes of course, try it."

Katkin stood up and took the weapon in her hands. It felt balanced, and she lifted it and aimed through the window. Bree walked up behind her and put a hand on her elbow, pushing it slightly higher.

"Like that, and straighten your back." She said and put a hand on Katkins back.

Katkin did as she said, and felt the difference in her grip.

"Maybe we can go outside later and you can show me how to actually shoot it?" Katkin said and turned her head towards Bree.

Bree was surprised as to how close they had ended up. The thought was still circling her brain, was Katkin her secret admirer?

"Uhm.. Sure, if there is still some light out we can try it."

Before Bree needed to make any more smalltalk, she heard the front door open and close.

"Bree? I'll start the dinner!" They heard Irma call from downstairs.

"We'll be right down!" Bree called back, and put Big Boy back in the safe.