Chapter 13 - Nettle Leaf Tea
Poor Snot Rod didn't know how to say no to the sweetest girl ever, so he was helplessly dragged by the sky blue Chevrolet Camaro all the way to Ramone's House of Body Art.
But upon entering the paint-reeking building, one terrifying thought stuck with Snot Rod…
"I-is your dad here?"
"Oh, no, he's out buying new paint, but you really don't have to be scared of him. I talked to him the other day, and he understands it was just an accident," Charlotte reassured with a sweet smile, and then she finally let go of Snot Rod's tire, "ok, just wait here. I'll be right back."
Charlotte then disappeared into the back room without another word, leaving Snot Rod alone to think to himself…what's this girl planning? What's she REALLY gonna do ta me? …Man, I hope ta God Ramone's not here, Snot Rod rambled on worriedly in his head, actually quivering in fear on the outside.
"Ok, I'm ba—are you ok, Snot Rod? You're shivering," Charlotte called while driving back out of the back room, but she paused and checked over Snot Rod when she saw him shaking.
"W-what? U-uh, yeah, n-no…I-I'm fine, it's just…guess it's just a-a draft, o-or somethin'," Snot Rod lied while stuttering pathetically, but Charlotte didn't buy the adorable sheepish grin he was giving her.
"Calm down, Snot Rod, it'll be ok. Just look." Charlotte then held up a silver tray with a single coffee mug, where steam rose up from a transparent, dark yellow liquid.
"U-uh…what is that?" Snot Rod asked in disgust while taking a whiff, and he cringed when it was something he has certainly never smelled before.
"It's nettle leaf tea," Charlotte chuckled at his reaction, "they grow out here in the western parts of the country, and when made into tea, they help relieve allergies."
"Really? I've never heard of that. My doctor definitely never told me that," Snot Rod pointed out in surprise.
"Well, you're from Drag City, right?"
"Yeah…how'd you know?"
"It says 'Drag City' on your license plate. But anyway, the point is, Drag City is in the east, and nettles don't grow there, which means your doctor probably hasn't heard of it either."
"Huh…ok, so…what now?" Snot Rod questioned awkwardly.
"Well, you drink it. Go on," Charlotte simply replied, and gave Snot Rod the cup before he could say anything else. But Snot Rod just stared down into the cup in disbelief, and then back up into Charlotte's expectant eyes.
And being unable to resist her eyes, Snot Rod eventually sighed and gave in, lifting the cup to his lips and taking the tiniest taste testing sip.
"Well…?" Charlotte tried.
"It's…whoo, it's fresh! What's in it?" Snot Rod asked with a smile, as he took a deep breath in and out from the sudden freshness on his breath.
"Well, I always mix the nettle leaves with red raspberry leaves and peppermint leaves, so I'm guessing it's the peppermint, but that's just how I make it," Charlotte replied with a cheeky smile.
"Well, it's good. You cook?" Snot Rod mused before taking another larger sip, making Charlotte blush.
"N-not really…my dad's teaching me about body art."
"So, medical stuff?"
"More or less. I guess you could say I'm training to be a doctor."
"Really? 'Cause you'd make an adorable nurse."
"What was that?"
"Nothing!" Snot Rod snapped while blushing even darker than Charlotte, and he quickly chugged down the rest of the tea and set it back on the tray, "well, thanks for the tea, Charlie!"
With that, Snot Rod clinched his teeth together in embarrassment towards himself, and he quickly turned around and sped out of the shop, leaving behind a surprised Charlotte.
But as sudden as Snot Rod's actions were, Charlotte couldn't help but eventually smile and blush while staring in the direction that he drove off, even though he was no longer visible.
He's so sweet, she blushed even more at that thought.
"Hey, Charlie!"
"Oh, uh…h-hi, Dad," Charlotte greeted back, as she practically jumped when Ramone's loud voice startled her, and her dad then drove into the shop.
"What'cha doin', Charlie?"
"Oh, I was just helping out a patient with some allergies."
"Oh, yeah? What'd ya give 'em?"
"Some nettle leaf tea."
"Aww, that's my baby girl, helpin' people feel better!" Ramone cheered and pecked his daughter's fender with a little kiss.
"Daddy, I'm not a baby anymore!" Charlotte sheepishly argued while somehow blushing even more.
"Not physically, but you'll always be my baby," Ramone informed with a chuckle, "hey, you remember Flo, right?"
"Yeah, you married about ten years ago, right?"
"Yup! And she's been dyin' ta meet you these past few weeks—really, you just need ta get outta the house more, and meet the whole town."
"I guess so…"
"Well, c'mon, then Flo's waitin' for us at the diner, and she's got someone she wants you to meet."
DJ and Eleanor casually drove up to Flo's V8 Café together, as nearly half of the town was already there for breakfast.
"Wow, it's a bit busy this morning. What day is it?" Eleanor asked out of curiosity upon seeing Mia and Tia dash back and forth with everyone's orders.
"I…think it's Friday," DJ slowly replied.
"That explains the crowd. Friday's breakfast special is always pancakes—at least, that's what Mum said…wait! Oh, no!"
"What's wrong?"
"I'm late for work!"
"Actually, honey, you get the day off!" a familiar voice called, as Flo herself drove up to her daughter.
"W-what? I don't understand," Eleanor informed, dumbfounded.
"I got some people I want 'cha ta meet, honey, so I want you ta take the day off ta spend time with 'em."
"Really? Who?"
"Hey, Flo, baby!"
"Oh, hi, Ramone! Great timin', honey!" DJ and Eleanor were both surprised when they saw Ramone, from the body art shop, drive up to Flo and kiss her passionately on the lips.
"Um…" Eleanor piped up with wide eyes after Ramone and Flo broke apart.
"Eleanor, this is my husband, Ramone, and his daughter, Charlotte," Flo introduced with a smirk.
"Hey," Ramone greeted nonchalantly.
"O-ok…b-but where is this 'Charlotte'?" Eleanor questioned nervously.
"Wha-? Oh, quit hidin', Charlotte! Come meet your new sister!" Ramone called while scanning behind him with his rearview mirrors, until he saw Charlotte hiding behind a gas pump. And she could see her own reflection in his mirrors, so she knew there was no sense in hiding anymore, and so she slowly drove out from behind the pump.
"H-hi…" she greeted sheepishly.
"H-hello…so, um…we're sisters, huh? That's very neat…I-I'm Eleanor, by the way," Eleanor began softly.
"Nice to meet you, Eleanor…I'm Charlotte, but you can call me Charlie," Charlotte gently informed, as to not be rude.
"But I still have one question. Why didn't you tell me sooner that you re-married, Mum?" Eleanor asked while glancing at her mom with a cocked brow.
"Yeah, and why didn't you tell me you married someone else too, Dad?" Charlotte added, and she looked at her dad with expectancy.
"We wanted it to be a surprise," Flo informed with a smirk.
"Surprise!" Ramone jokingly cheered.
"That, I didn't know you'd be comin' out here; haven't heard from ya in a while before then. You never even called me," Flo pointed out dramatically.
"Sorry, Mum. I guess I just didn't know how else to tell you other than in person," Eleanor sighed in shame.
"It's alright, honey," Flo chuckled, but then she noticed DJ, and smiled when she noticed he'd just been standing behind Eleanor silently the whole time, "who's your friend, Eleanor?"
"Oh! Mum, this is DJ, he's been my best friend since kindergarten," Eleanor happily introduced while backing up beside DJ's side.
"Hey, more than just friends, and you know it," DJ chuckled quietly.
"Yes, I know," Eleanor giggled while giving his fender a little kiss.
"Hey, now! When'd this happen? And why wasn't I made aware sooner, huh?" Flo joked, but she couldn't help but smile at the couple. But just then, Ramone drove up right in front of DJ, and he rose on his hydraulics, easily towering over the Reko-Do Spinner.
"Hey, I may not be her real father, but you better treat her nicely, man—or else you'll feel the REAL rage of an overprotective dad. Got it, man?" Ramone growled, glaring daggers down at poor DJ.
"Y-yes, Sir!" DJ quickly replied while rapidly nodding.
"Hey, I'm just kiddin'. We've cool man," Ramone joked while lowering back down, but then he leaned in and lowered his voice, almost threateningly, "but seriously, you better be respectful to your woman."
"Ok, please, don't scare him, Ramone," Eleanor pleaded while driving between the two boys to put some space between them.
"Hey, ya know you can call me 'Dad' now. I don't mind," Ramone informed sincerely.
"That may take some getting used to…n-not to be rude, but I think I'll just call you 'Ramone' for now," Eleanor chuckled with a blush.
"Hey, whatever floats your boat, man," Ramone admitted with a shrug.
Yay, new family, Eleanor and Charlotte are sisters, and DJ and Eleanor are officially together! What could be better than that?!
Oh, that's right: progression. But we will continue to progress through the story in the next chapter, and the chapter after that, and the chapter after that, and so on...
Until the next chapter, I'm TRikiD, bye-bye!