Disclaimer: If you had been paying attention during the previous chapters,
you would already
know this.
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"Will you please tell me what we're having?" Delicious smells were wafting through the house. It was driving Josh crazy.
"No," called Mindy from the kitchen. "Are you done setting the table?"
"Yeah."
The doorbell rang. Josh went to answer it. He found Pete and Laura standing on the porch. Josh swallowed hard. Even in a simple blue t-shirt and form-fitting jeans, Laura looked beautiful to him. He plastered a smile on his face and stepped aside so they could come in. "Hi."
"Hi," they both replied.
"Morgan, they're here," he called.
"Hi guys," she called from the kitchen. "Perfect timing. I just finished up in here."
"*Now* will you tell me what's for dinner?" asked Josh.
"No, but you can come in here and help me get it to the table."
Josh's shoulders slumped. "Why do I like her so much?" he asked his friends. They shrugged.
"I heard that, Josh. Now get in here and help me."
Josh walked into the kitchen grumbling to himself. Laura couldn't understand most of it, but she heard something like, "it's my house, yet *she* orders *me* around," and, "why do I put up with this?" Laura had to fight the urge to say, "Because she's got you trained," knowing the respose would be a look that could kill.
After dinner, which had consisted of salad, fresh breadsticks and fettucini alfredo with brocolli and grilled chicken, Josh leaned back in his chair. Laura helped Mindy to clear the dishes since they both knew if they left it up to the boys, it would never get done. It wouldn't take long to get them done anyway. Josh had a dishwasher.
"Where did you learn to cook like that?" asked Josh as the girls cleared the table.
"I took a home-ec class a couple of years ago. My teacher thought I had a lot of talent and started giving me free lessons after school."
Josh and Pete looked surprised. "*You* took a home-ec class?" asked Pete.
Mindy looked over at him. "The class I wanted was full and there weren't a lot of other choices left."
"Still, home-ec?"
She looked indignant. "I do have *some* girl-like qualities." She went into the kitchen.
"You sure do," he mumbled as he watched her walk away.
Josh scowled. He whacked Pete upside the head.
"Ow! What?"
"Stop oggling my baby cousin!" He glared at his best friend.
In the kitchen, Laura and Mindy were rinsing the dishes so they could put them in the dishwasher. Well, Mindy was rinsing dishes. Laura was getting some tupperware out of the cabinet to put the leftovers in.
"So," said Laura casually, "how's Josh been these days?"
"Fine, as far as I can tell from the time I've been here."
"When did you get here?"
"Tommorow it'll be a week."
"How long are you staying?"
"I'm going back to North Carolina the day before my birthday so I can spend it with my mom. Then I'm going to come back here just before school starts."
Laura looked confused. "You're coming back?"
"Yeah. I'm going to be going to Del Oro U this year."
"Oh. That's great. Are you going to be staying with Josh?"
"Oh, no. I'm going to be staying in the dorms. Unless, of course, I can find a place I can afford before class starts."
"An affordable place? In *Del Oro*?" Laura snorted. "Well good luck to you. If there were any affordable places around here, I would be there instead of living with my parents this year."
"Don't you usually stay in the dorms?"
"Yeah, but when the research trip got cancelled, I had to apply late. There aren't enough dorms and there's already a waiting list for them. I'm *way* at the end of the list. And I went through the paper today. I can't find anything that I can afford."
"Ugh. I know what you mean. I can't find anything livable that I can afford. Heck I'm having trouble finding a dump that I can afford." She sighed. "I don't know, maybe if I had a roommate I could afford it, but so far it looks like I'm dorm bound." She finished loading the dishwasher and closed it.
"Yeah, I know what you mean. If I had a roommate, I could probably move out of my parents house. But I'd have to put out an ad for one. I just hate the idea of living with someone I don't know, you know?"
"Why do you think I'm so against the dorms? If I stay there, I get stuck with someone I don't know for nine months, whether I like it or not, whether I like *them* or not. If I put an ad in the paper, it's pretty much the same thing."
Both girls were suddenly silent. They looked at each other. Neither wanted to stay where they had to this year. The only way out was a roommate, but neither wanted to be stuck with someone they didn't know and they couldn't afford to get out of staying someplace they didn't want to without a roommate. They were in the same boat. They knew each other pretty well and got along.
"Did you find a place you like?" asked Laura.
"Yeah. It's close to the college and it's really nice. The problem is it's $575 a month. I can afford $300, maybe $400 if I really scrape. It's got two bedrooms."
"Hmm, so split in half the rent would be about," she did a quick calculation in her head, "$287.50."
"Yeah. I could swing that easy."
"When did you find this place?"
"Yesterday."
"Would you mind me living with you?"
"You read my mind. I hope the place is still availabe." She dried her hands and went to the phone. A pad of paper sat on the table next to the phone. On it were scribbled some phone numbers from the classified ads. It took Mindy only a moment to locate the number and dial. "Oh," she turned to Laura as the line rang, "it's not actually available for a couple of weeks. That ok?"
"Yeah."
Ten minutes later, the girls exited the kitchen to find the boys engaged in a video game showdown. There was yelling and noise that goes on when boys play violent video games. They were so pre-occupied with the game that they didn't notice they had an audience.
Laura didn't know whether to be amuzed at their antics or disgusted with their immaturity. "What is it with boys, video games and explosions?"
"Beats me," answered Mindy. "I have yet to figure out why they spell rejection D-E-N-I-A-L when in actuallity it's spelled R-E-J-E-C-T-I-O-N. Well, I should be fair. *Some* boys are like that."
"Any guy in particular?" She knew very well who Mindy was talking about right now.
"Any guy I wouldn't touch with a 50 foot pole."
Laura smiled. After a minute of watching the two play, she turned back to Mindy. "Want to go in the backyard and see how long it takes them to notice we're gone?"
"Sounds good to me."
As they had predicted, it took almost 20 minutes for Pete and Josh to realize they weren't in the house. For a second, Josh had panicked. Then he glanced out the back door and saw them looking at their watches. It didn't take him long to figure out what was going on. Oh, that's cute, he thought sarcastically.
When Josh and Pete walked outside, Mindy glanced at her watch again. "Hmm, 18 minutes and 57 seconds. I win." She held out her hand and Laura grudgingly dug a $5 bill out of her pocket and handed it over.
The look Josh sent them could have wilted flowers, but had no effect on them whatsoever. They both knew that, no matter how mad he was, he would never physically hurt them.
The next few hours were spent talking and basically just hanging out. It was almost 11:00 when the two cousins walked their friends to the door. "Well, that was fun," said Josh. "We should do it again some time."
The others nodded in agreement.
"Oh, there's an air show the day after tomorrow. And there's supposed to be a fair being held in the same place to raise money for some kind of charity fund. Uh, for homeless veterans I think. We should go."
Josh stiffened slightly at his cousins suggestion. She wanted to go out in public to hang out? *Now*? When she *knew* that someone was after her? He tried to think of a way to veto the idea, but couldn't come up with one good reason why they should not go.
"That sounds fun," said Laura.
"Yeah," agreed Pete.
Josh mentally cursed as all eyes turned on him to confirm the outing. Damn it! Mindy had done that on purpose! She knew if the others thought it was a good idea he wouldn't be able to object. "Uh, sounds great." He plastered a fake smile on.
"Great. So we'll see you guys later," said Laura.
She and Pete walked out the door to Pete's car. Josh watched as they climbed in before he shut the door. He stayed facing the door. He took a few deep breaths to calm himself a little and listened to the car start. As soon as it was out of the driveway, he turned to Mindy, who had been patiently awaiting his response.
"Are you out of your freaking mind!?" he demanded. "There is a terrorist group after you and you want to go to an air show?!"
"Josh, calm down," she said quietly.
"I will *not* calm down! Why did you do that?"
Knowing he was referring to the sneaky way she'd roped him into this, she turned wearily away from him. "You never would've agreed if I hadn't done it," she said simply.
"Damn right I wouldn't have. Right now you should be laying low. Don't you remember what Max said?"
She remembered alright. "He said to make sure people know where I am at all times and to not go anywhere alone. Laura, Pete and you will be with me."
He let out a frusterated sigh. "Alright. But, don't you think it would be safer to stay indoors for a while? I know I would feel a whole lot better knowing you were safe at home. And I'm sure Max would agree with me."
She whirled around and looked him straight in the eye. "What am I supposed to do Josh?" she demanded. "Just sit here and wait for them to come get me? Sit here and *hope* that you and Max can protect me? Is that what you want, for me to sit locked up in this house forever? I can't do that! I'd go crazy and you know it, because so would you in my position!"
Josh ran a hand over his face. She was right. He couldn't force her to stay in the house. She was having a rough enough time trying to understand what was going on. He couldn't just deny her her freedom so he could feel better. There was a pleading look in her eyes now, and he didn't have the heart to make this any harder for her. Besides, there was no way to fight a look like that. He sighed in defeat. "Alright. You win. We can go."
She stepped closer to him.
"But," he added, "you have to promise me you won't go anywhere alone and you have to have that radio on you at all times, even if I'm only 5 feet away. Agreed?"
She nodded. She stepped forward and hugged him. He was only trying to protect her, she knew. At this point though, no one, not even him, could protect her from the confusion and frusteration that was slowly eating away at her. If she didn't find away to forget everything that was going on, even for a little while, it would eat her from the inside out.
Josh hugged his cousin back. He'd told her they would go, and they would. But maybe, he thought as a plan began to formulate in his head, he could make it just a little safer for her.
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To anyone whose been following the story, my sincerest apologies for taking so long. Anyone whose ever written before should know all about writers block. And the fact that I'm working on another fanfic and a novel ain't helping much. And I did warn you earlier that this might happen. I am doing my best and will try to get the next chapter done as soon as possible.
Rhiannon Faylinn
"Will you please tell me what we're having?" Delicious smells were wafting through the house. It was driving Josh crazy.
"No," called Mindy from the kitchen. "Are you done setting the table?"
"Yeah."
The doorbell rang. Josh went to answer it. He found Pete and Laura standing on the porch. Josh swallowed hard. Even in a simple blue t-shirt and form-fitting jeans, Laura looked beautiful to him. He plastered a smile on his face and stepped aside so they could come in. "Hi."
"Hi," they both replied.
"Morgan, they're here," he called.
"Hi guys," she called from the kitchen. "Perfect timing. I just finished up in here."
"*Now* will you tell me what's for dinner?" asked Josh.
"No, but you can come in here and help me get it to the table."
Josh's shoulders slumped. "Why do I like her so much?" he asked his friends. They shrugged.
"I heard that, Josh. Now get in here and help me."
Josh walked into the kitchen grumbling to himself. Laura couldn't understand most of it, but she heard something like, "it's my house, yet *she* orders *me* around," and, "why do I put up with this?" Laura had to fight the urge to say, "Because she's got you trained," knowing the respose would be a look that could kill.
After dinner, which had consisted of salad, fresh breadsticks and fettucini alfredo with brocolli and grilled chicken, Josh leaned back in his chair. Laura helped Mindy to clear the dishes since they both knew if they left it up to the boys, it would never get done. It wouldn't take long to get them done anyway. Josh had a dishwasher.
"Where did you learn to cook like that?" asked Josh as the girls cleared the table.
"I took a home-ec class a couple of years ago. My teacher thought I had a lot of talent and started giving me free lessons after school."
Josh and Pete looked surprised. "*You* took a home-ec class?" asked Pete.
Mindy looked over at him. "The class I wanted was full and there weren't a lot of other choices left."
"Still, home-ec?"
She looked indignant. "I do have *some* girl-like qualities." She went into the kitchen.
"You sure do," he mumbled as he watched her walk away.
Josh scowled. He whacked Pete upside the head.
"Ow! What?"
"Stop oggling my baby cousin!" He glared at his best friend.
In the kitchen, Laura and Mindy were rinsing the dishes so they could put them in the dishwasher. Well, Mindy was rinsing dishes. Laura was getting some tupperware out of the cabinet to put the leftovers in.
"So," said Laura casually, "how's Josh been these days?"
"Fine, as far as I can tell from the time I've been here."
"When did you get here?"
"Tommorow it'll be a week."
"How long are you staying?"
"I'm going back to North Carolina the day before my birthday so I can spend it with my mom. Then I'm going to come back here just before school starts."
Laura looked confused. "You're coming back?"
"Yeah. I'm going to be going to Del Oro U this year."
"Oh. That's great. Are you going to be staying with Josh?"
"Oh, no. I'm going to be staying in the dorms. Unless, of course, I can find a place I can afford before class starts."
"An affordable place? In *Del Oro*?" Laura snorted. "Well good luck to you. If there were any affordable places around here, I would be there instead of living with my parents this year."
"Don't you usually stay in the dorms?"
"Yeah, but when the research trip got cancelled, I had to apply late. There aren't enough dorms and there's already a waiting list for them. I'm *way* at the end of the list. And I went through the paper today. I can't find anything that I can afford."
"Ugh. I know what you mean. I can't find anything livable that I can afford. Heck I'm having trouble finding a dump that I can afford." She sighed. "I don't know, maybe if I had a roommate I could afford it, but so far it looks like I'm dorm bound." She finished loading the dishwasher and closed it.
"Yeah, I know what you mean. If I had a roommate, I could probably move out of my parents house. But I'd have to put out an ad for one. I just hate the idea of living with someone I don't know, you know?"
"Why do you think I'm so against the dorms? If I stay there, I get stuck with someone I don't know for nine months, whether I like it or not, whether I like *them* or not. If I put an ad in the paper, it's pretty much the same thing."
Both girls were suddenly silent. They looked at each other. Neither wanted to stay where they had to this year. The only way out was a roommate, but neither wanted to be stuck with someone they didn't know and they couldn't afford to get out of staying someplace they didn't want to without a roommate. They were in the same boat. They knew each other pretty well and got along.
"Did you find a place you like?" asked Laura.
"Yeah. It's close to the college and it's really nice. The problem is it's $575 a month. I can afford $300, maybe $400 if I really scrape. It's got two bedrooms."
"Hmm, so split in half the rent would be about," she did a quick calculation in her head, "$287.50."
"Yeah. I could swing that easy."
"When did you find this place?"
"Yesterday."
"Would you mind me living with you?"
"You read my mind. I hope the place is still availabe." She dried her hands and went to the phone. A pad of paper sat on the table next to the phone. On it were scribbled some phone numbers from the classified ads. It took Mindy only a moment to locate the number and dial. "Oh," she turned to Laura as the line rang, "it's not actually available for a couple of weeks. That ok?"
"Yeah."
Ten minutes later, the girls exited the kitchen to find the boys engaged in a video game showdown. There was yelling and noise that goes on when boys play violent video games. They were so pre-occupied with the game that they didn't notice they had an audience.
Laura didn't know whether to be amuzed at their antics or disgusted with their immaturity. "What is it with boys, video games and explosions?"
"Beats me," answered Mindy. "I have yet to figure out why they spell rejection D-E-N-I-A-L when in actuallity it's spelled R-E-J-E-C-T-I-O-N. Well, I should be fair. *Some* boys are like that."
"Any guy in particular?" She knew very well who Mindy was talking about right now.
"Any guy I wouldn't touch with a 50 foot pole."
Laura smiled. After a minute of watching the two play, she turned back to Mindy. "Want to go in the backyard and see how long it takes them to notice we're gone?"
"Sounds good to me."
As they had predicted, it took almost 20 minutes for Pete and Josh to realize they weren't in the house. For a second, Josh had panicked. Then he glanced out the back door and saw them looking at their watches. It didn't take him long to figure out what was going on. Oh, that's cute, he thought sarcastically.
When Josh and Pete walked outside, Mindy glanced at her watch again. "Hmm, 18 minutes and 57 seconds. I win." She held out her hand and Laura grudgingly dug a $5 bill out of her pocket and handed it over.
The look Josh sent them could have wilted flowers, but had no effect on them whatsoever. They both knew that, no matter how mad he was, he would never physically hurt them.
The next few hours were spent talking and basically just hanging out. It was almost 11:00 when the two cousins walked their friends to the door. "Well, that was fun," said Josh. "We should do it again some time."
The others nodded in agreement.
"Oh, there's an air show the day after tomorrow. And there's supposed to be a fair being held in the same place to raise money for some kind of charity fund. Uh, for homeless veterans I think. We should go."
Josh stiffened slightly at his cousins suggestion. She wanted to go out in public to hang out? *Now*? When she *knew* that someone was after her? He tried to think of a way to veto the idea, but couldn't come up with one good reason why they should not go.
"That sounds fun," said Laura.
"Yeah," agreed Pete.
Josh mentally cursed as all eyes turned on him to confirm the outing. Damn it! Mindy had done that on purpose! She knew if the others thought it was a good idea he wouldn't be able to object. "Uh, sounds great." He plastered a fake smile on.
"Great. So we'll see you guys later," said Laura.
She and Pete walked out the door to Pete's car. Josh watched as they climbed in before he shut the door. He stayed facing the door. He took a few deep breaths to calm himself a little and listened to the car start. As soon as it was out of the driveway, he turned to Mindy, who had been patiently awaiting his response.
"Are you out of your freaking mind!?" he demanded. "There is a terrorist group after you and you want to go to an air show?!"
"Josh, calm down," she said quietly.
"I will *not* calm down! Why did you do that?"
Knowing he was referring to the sneaky way she'd roped him into this, she turned wearily away from him. "You never would've agreed if I hadn't done it," she said simply.
"Damn right I wouldn't have. Right now you should be laying low. Don't you remember what Max said?"
She remembered alright. "He said to make sure people know where I am at all times and to not go anywhere alone. Laura, Pete and you will be with me."
He let out a frusterated sigh. "Alright. But, don't you think it would be safer to stay indoors for a while? I know I would feel a whole lot better knowing you were safe at home. And I'm sure Max would agree with me."
She whirled around and looked him straight in the eye. "What am I supposed to do Josh?" she demanded. "Just sit here and wait for them to come get me? Sit here and *hope* that you and Max can protect me? Is that what you want, for me to sit locked up in this house forever? I can't do that! I'd go crazy and you know it, because so would you in my position!"
Josh ran a hand over his face. She was right. He couldn't force her to stay in the house. She was having a rough enough time trying to understand what was going on. He couldn't just deny her her freedom so he could feel better. There was a pleading look in her eyes now, and he didn't have the heart to make this any harder for her. Besides, there was no way to fight a look like that. He sighed in defeat. "Alright. You win. We can go."
She stepped closer to him.
"But," he added, "you have to promise me you won't go anywhere alone and you have to have that radio on you at all times, even if I'm only 5 feet away. Agreed?"
She nodded. She stepped forward and hugged him. He was only trying to protect her, she knew. At this point though, no one, not even him, could protect her from the confusion and frusteration that was slowly eating away at her. If she didn't find away to forget everything that was going on, even for a little while, it would eat her from the inside out.
Josh hugged his cousin back. He'd told her they would go, and they would. But maybe, he thought as a plan began to formulate in his head, he could make it just a little safer for her.
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To anyone whose been following the story, my sincerest apologies for taking so long. Anyone whose ever written before should know all about writers block. And the fact that I'm working on another fanfic and a novel ain't helping much. And I did warn you earlier that this might happen. I am doing my best and will try to get the next chapter done as soon as possible.
Rhiannon Faylinn