Another update! Woo!
Chapter Eleven
The festival carried on for hours. Alice and I met several Outerrians, who were all nice and welcoming. When the crowd started to lull, and everyone began to clean up, Alice and I retreated to her already built home.
Since Alice lived right in the heart of Islo, the homes closely resembled town houses and apartments. Alice and I had stopped by the embassy and brought our stuff back to her new place.
We dropped everything by the front door to explore her new house. We found two bedrooms and one bathroom. Everything was just big enough to fit stuff in and function. It wasn't bad, but, I knew it wasn't what Alice was used too.
"How are you feeling?" I asked.
"I'm… fine… I definitely need to put my own stuff in it to make it feel like it's mine." She said.
I placed my hand on her back, "It's going to look so beautiful when you're done with it."
She nodded and dug out her stuff from the several suitcases.
"I want… no, need a shower!" She exclaimed.
I chuckled and started digging through my own stuff, "Go take one, I'll take one after you."
She gathered her clothes and headed into the shower. I took time to look around her home; it was simply, just plain cream-colored walls, but, it definitely had so much potential. I knew Alice could make it her own.
I wondered how I'd do my house; I have yet to seen the houses that are located on the outskirts of town, I wondered how they looked.
Alice walked out of the steaming bathroom, her hair wrapped in her reusable plant-made towel. She was dressed in her night clothes.
"That was the most relaxing shower," She sighed as she walked out of the bathroom.
I chuckled, "Can't wait."
I sat in the steaming shower for over an hour. The hot water felt nice; it also felt nice that I wasn't on a time schedule.
I walked out to find Alice unpacking her things. I slid on the floor beside her, looking at the various items.
She sighed, "Maybe I shouldn't have brought so much stuff."
"Why?" I said as I helped unpack things.
"It's just so much stuff, I brought so many materialistic stuff that isn't important."
I chuckled, "It's okay Alice, we'll get it done."
She smiled at me, "I guess I shouldn't be complaining. I'm lucky to have a house already."
I smiled, "Thanks."
"Bella, I wish you'd let me pay someone else to build your house for you."
I shrugged, "I just want to do it myself, but, you know you're more than welcome to help me build it."
She made a face and quickly changed the subject.
A Few Days Later
"Are you sure Bella?" Alice said as we walked to the transit.
"I am Alice. I'll be fine." I smiled reassuringly.
We boarded the transit, my stuff in tow. We were headed to my lot where my future home was to be.
"You don't have to leave, you can stay as long as you'd like." Alice said when the transit stopped in front of a long pathway.
"I know I can, but, it's time for me to start building my home. I'll be starting my new job soon, and I'd like to have it somewhat done." I told her as we walked down the path together.
We passed only two homes on the way to my lot. The path was somewhat long and covered with plants and trees. This was way different from the bustling town of Islo.
There was a sign that said my name placed in the center of my lot. Strips were squared around it to show how big it was.
"Wow," Alice breathed, "It's beautiful."
I nodded, admiring the land that was mine. There was a crystal blue stream right beside my property. There was a very small watermill in front of the house that was my neighbors. The house was small, with a round dome for a roof. I noticed all the roofs of the houses we had passed out here were dome shaped.
I sat the rursus down diagonal from my property. I didn't want it in the way when I started building.
Alice stuck around while my rursus set itself up. It reminded me of an overly large tent. It was sturdy, and would hold its own against the elements.
"Alright, well, I'm all set up," I said when I placed my last bag in the rursus.
She nodded and wrapped her arms around me, "I'll see you soon, come over anytime. And call me!"
I laughed and tightened my arms around her, "Of course, I'll call you and see you all the time Alice. You're my best friend."
She smiled, "Okay, well, I need to go. I have work tomorrow."
"Call me when you're done with work. I want to hear everything." I said.
She waved as she started back down the long path. I looked at my space of land and suddenly felt slightly overwhelmed.
I sighed, placing my hand against my head; this was going to be tough.
I decided that I wasn't going to worry about that right now. I needed to put away the groceries I had bought.
I stepped into the rursus, not needing to duck my head. The rough of this thing was tall, it was just like a little house.
Every room was small, as I expected. The kitchen only had one counter, a stove and a small fridge. It was perfect for me as I built my home. It would keep me safe and warm.
When I finished putting the groceries away, I walked back outside to spread the I.H. onto the ground. This stuff was supposed to cut down the grass and keep it down. I bought it to spread around my land, so, I wouldn't have to cut grass.
The I.H. would take overnight to cut down the grass. So, this was probably the best thing for me to do.
When I finished, I was sweating. My land was larger than I thought. Maybe I should've planned out how big my house was supposed to be before I spread the I.H.
I needed a shower. I walked into my rursus and right into the bathroom. It was small, it was made to only fit a small toilet, a very small sink, and a very small shower. I stepped into the shower and rinsed off.
When I finished, I dressed and put dinner on the stove. I found noodle-like Outerrian substance at the store with pullum seasoning. Now, I've found that pullum is a meat that taste almost like chicken. I was sincerely hoping the food tasted like oodles of noodles back on earth.
I thumped back on my small bed, the only piece of furniture that I could sit on in the rursus. I'd be having many meals in my bed.
As I waited for my water to boil, my front door opened. I sat up quickly in surprise, wondering who would just open my door.
"Hi!" A young Outerrian said as he burst into my rursus.
"Um, hi," I said, throwing my legs over the side of my bed, "Uh, please come in."
"Jacob!" An Outerrian man said as he grabbed his son, "I'm so sorry about that."
"No, no, it's okay," I said as I stood, "He just frightened me is all."
"Sorry about that, he was excited to meet our human neighbor."
"Oh, do you live in the house just over there?" I asked as we moved this little gathering outside. My rursus was too small for more than one person.
A woman walked up behind them, carrying a large basket.
"I hope my son didn't disturb you, he's a very eager child." She chuckled.
"Not at all, I was just fixing dinner." I said.
"Well, we wanted to just stop by and give you a welcoming basket," She handed me the basket.
I looked inside and found a variety of seeds, plus a small packet of fresh dirt.
"Thank you so much." I said, slightly confused by the items.
"It's for your garden!" Jacob said.
"Well, this is a very thoughtful gift. I appreciate it greatly," I smiled at him.
"I got the abiete seeds with my very own money!" He said, "I helped Mr. Edward with his big garden fence and he gave me some currency for it! I had enough to buy your seeds!"
"Aren't you the sweetest!" I gushed, "Thank you so much, I'm definitely going to need some help with my garden. I've never had one before."
His smiled widened, revealing three missing teeth, "I can help! I help my mom all the time in our garden."
"I'm Emily, his mother, and this is Sam, his father," Emily said as she stepped forward, "Our son can be a bit over zealous sometimes."
"Oh no, he's absolutely fine. I'm Bella." I said.
Emily stepped forward and grabbed my hands, pressing her forehead against mine. After a moment she pulled away and Sam did the same. He picked up Jacob and helped him pressed his forehead against mine.
When he sat Jacob on his feet, his small tail wrapped around my leg. I was starting to get the impression that he liked me.
"We should leave you now to have your dinner. We live in the home that's twelve clicks over that way, but the large quercus. Our names are engraved on it. If you ever need anything or just want to come by, you are welcome."
"Thank you, and the same goes for all of you."
Sam picked up his son, Jacob continuously waved until they went out of sight. I smiled as I gazed at the basket. Welp, I guess I'm going to have a garden.
I sat my basket on the bed and started looking through the seed packets. I recognized most of them, but, some I hadn't seen before. I knew they were all edible fruit, in my Outerrian handbook, different edible foods were listed, and all of the names were listed.
I left the welcome basket on my bed as I scooped out my noodles. I didn't realize how many noodles it would make, I'd definitely be eating this stuff for a couple of days, possibly a week.
I sat back on my bed and cautiously took a bit. It wasn't bad, a different taste, nothing like the oodles of noodles back home, but, it was a taste I could become acquired too.
When I finished, I sat my bowl in the sink and started washing the dish. I didn't want to leave any sort of clutter; clutter would just make the rursus seem smaller than it already was.
I decided to call Alice when I finished, there really wasn't much else to do and the sun was beginning to go down.
"Hey Alice." I said when her face appeared.
"Hey Bella," she smiled, "How's it going?"
"It's going fine. I met my neighbors that are twelve clicks away. Really nice people, they brought me a welcome basket of seeds."
"That's nice, now you can make a garden." She said.
"It'll take me a little bit to figure it out, I've never had a garden before." I said.
"Have you met the neighbor that's seven clicks away?" She asked.
"Not yet, though, I do know his name is Edward."
"Hmm, so, I need your help with my outfit for tomorrow. I want to seem really smart, but approachable and friendly at the same time."
She moved so I can see the different item she had laid out.
Sorry we haven't met Edward yet! Mwahaha! Review! Review! Review!