Chapter twelve; Aftermath
Present…
Robert
I sat back on the picnic chair, sighing. We were all out the back of Amanda's place, all of us relieved. I'd gone home only long enough to have a shower and change, as well as snap up my wallet, then I was gone again. Lucky for me my parents weren't home.
We went and grabbed breakfast, then decided to hang in Amanda's backyard, since no-one else was home. We were either around a small picnic table, swinging and eating our breakfast on the swings, or hanging close by on the extra picnic chairs. I, of course, was on a chair. Tobias was perched on the one beside me. I chucked him one of the patties from the Big Breakfast we'd bought him. He caught it, gobbling it up. Then, the other, before he decided to finally morph human and join us.
Ax and Rtaia… well, they were sitting far away from us. Both human, and both engrossed in their food. And then each other.
I skulled a hash brown, then worked on my own Big Breakfast meal. It felt so good to have something hot to eat!
"So… here's a question" Marco said between bites of his bacon and egg muffin "How do you guys get away with being away from home for so long?"
I smiled. Then looked at Amanda. She put her own food down and sighed.
"When Jade was here, we used to have two elderly Chanaibens fill in for us. But don't get exited. They can't be allies, they're both too old and too stubborn. Today, when Robert really, truly needs it, we get the other one to fill in for him"
"Like I need it" I snorted.
"Yeah, well, better safe than sorry"
"Whatever"
"Aaaanyway" Jade continued "They came here just after our first war. We thought the same thing too, we admit, but then they told us they had come to get away from war. So, we asked them to do this for us. One, they're not getting directly into war, and two, they're doing something good still"
"Think that was luck, or more than?" Marco asked from the swing beside her. She shrugged.
"I don't know, but I'd really like to find out"
"Same" I muttered.
"So… what do we do now? I mean, are we safe here?" Jake asked, lowering his voice. A now human Ithiell nodded, smiling at him. For now, he was Ian.
"Completely. They don't want humans to know they're here, and they know if they did they'd be barbequed within seconds. This community, and in fact a lot of the towns surrounding it, protect their own"
As much as I hated to admit it, Ithiell was right. I'd once seen something that looked like a wolf and a dingo mixed, but that was when I was about six or so. I'd just stood there as it came at me, unable to move. The next thing I remember is being picked up by a concerned neighbour, and given to my terrified mother. Then a couple of the men went running past, and then… well, no more weird wolf/dingo creature.
"That they do" Jade said, smiling.
This was a good town, with good people. And me… well, right now, I was a good guy.
Kind of felt good.
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Past…
Jade
I got in the door that night, feeling like I had a fever. After my mum yelled and grounded me for like… life… she noticed I wasn't looking too well. And why should I? I'd woken up after being scratched by what I was told later was a 'female' Terinan, and then had to go fight some more. We used different tactics, with Ithiell reluctantly leading us, and managed to hold them off until the famous Changeling weirdoes came onto the scene. One was Rtaia's brother, Low or Loi or something.
Rtaia told me I'd have a human fever for a few days, since it would take that long to get over it. Great. One more thing to worry about.
On the plus side… the only plus side… I found out Ithiell was probably 'at the human age of' thirteen. Rtaia, was about seventeen or eighteen, and Low whoever was about twenty-five or something. No, wait, I forgot to put 'at the human age of'
Bleah! Deal with it.
When Monday rolled around, I realised I had one more thing to feel good about. I was sick, so I couldn't do Mrs McKenzie's homework. I lay in bed, tired and still feeling the wound at my side.
My mother took special care of me, and severely warned my brother and sister away from me. But it wasn't just that. I felt… I felt like I'd died. The fear, the fighting for my life…
I'd actually half believed that fighting evil aliens would be like a hero act. You know, fight hard, go in, guns blazing and make it out alive and be praised and worshipped. But no one would worship us. In fact, none of them even knew our names.
Of course, the Chanaibens highly praised our efforts. Not like that meant much. They were aliens for Christs sake! They'd probably praise a tree if it… if they landed in its branches. Probably.
So, on the Monday arvo, when I was still feeling groggy, my mum came in with chicken soup. I almost laughed. But behind her… Amanda stepped into view.
My mum gave me the soup on a tray across my lap, then left Amanda and me alone.
"How are you?"
"Sick. How are you?"
"Sick, but in a different way from you. I don't know how we… you know. And… you were nearly eaten by… you know?"
"Yeah. I know. Come help me eat this soup. I won't be able to finish it all by myself"
Amanda shook her head "No way. That's all yours"
I groaned "Thanks for your support. So… did you get totally busted as well?"
Amanda grinned, and I knew she hadn't "Dad wasn't home, and Connor… well, let's just say I found him doing something he shouldn't have"
"And Matt?"
"Well, they were both doing it" She leaned in close "They were smoking"
"Yuk. I'll never understand how people smoke that disgusting stuff. I guess you got lucky with that one"
"Yeah"
"I wasn't. I'm grounded for two whole weeks. And that doesn't include this time in bed"
"Bummer"
"Uh-huh" I picked up the spoon, putting it in the soup, then taking a small spoonful. Well, I guess it wasn't too bad…
"Hey" At that moment Luke, flanked by the ever popular Connor, came into my room. I groaned and looked at Amanda. She shrugged.
"Well, I didn't say I got off scott-free now, did I?"
'That's right. Everywhere Amanda goes for the week, I'll be going with her. Just to make sure she doesn't get into… trouble"
"What? Even into the girls bathrooms?"
"You know what I-"
"Wait, so let me get this straight. Everywhere? You mean, you're going back to Fifth grade, turning yourself into Cora, and cling to her arm every second of the day?"
I saw Connor's face turn from mocking big-brotherly, to completely embarrassed teen.
Luke laughed "She's got you there"
Connor smirked, and shook his head "You're a little smartass, you know that, right Jade?"
I nodded "Yep. I know. But come on, I couldn't let that one get away now, could I?"
Luke laughed and nodded, and Amanda suppressed a giggle.
"All right then Mandy-Mand, how about you sing us a song?" Connor suggested, sneering at her.
"Why?"
"Show the people how amazingly talented you are"
Amanda shot a look at Luke, then at me. I smiled and nodded, winking at her. Man, was Connor gonna be sorry. Amanda cleared her throat (still managing to look and sound like an angel) then smiled and closed her eyes.
"Look into my eyes, yo-ou will see. What, you mean, to-oo me. Search your heart, search your soul, and when you find me there, you'll se-earch, no more. Don't tell me, it's not worth tryin for, you can't tell me, it's not worth dyin for, You know it's true, everything I do, I do it for you"
Amanda belted out the song like a pro. And as in belted, I mean sung like an angel. Connor, and in fact Luke as well, were absolutely stunned. When Amanda was done, Luke went and gave her a kiss on each cheek. I swear, she nearly fainted, headfirst, into my chicken soup!
"That was amazing Amanda. Now don't you dare give up that wonderful talent of yours, okay?"
"Ooookayy" If Luke didn't move away, she really was going to faint!
"Amanda, how the hell do you do that!"
Thank the amazing Connor for being so blunt and waking Amanda up. She turned to him and smiled.
"I just joined the singing group at school. Not to mention I've listened to singers all my life, and mum…" she stopped talking, and looked over at Connor. I saw him falter a little, but smiled back at her.
"I remember her singing. Luke's right, don't you dare stop singing on the count of annoying older brothers. You'll keep mum alive that way"
"I know"
It was hard on them. Not even four years before, they lost their mother to cancer. For a long time, I lost my best friend. The Amanda that sung then was not the Amanda that was there when her mum died. She was distant, and had such a cold look in her eyes I was afraid to go near her. And when I did… she'd snap at me to go away. I don't know what had happened to get her back then, but after a while I think she just came back to herself. I hated being on the outside of that.
"Yes. Never" I said, patting her on the back. For today, I could just sit here and listen to the beautiful songs my best friend sung. Tomorrow… well, no-one knows that now, do they?
AHHH! WRITERS BLOCK! WRITERS BLOCK! AHHHHH!
HEEEEEELLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPMMMEEEEEEEEEEE!
