I yawned and stretched my arms outward. My eyes flittered open, revealing my view of plain off-white walls.
Where was I? I was struck with a mini panic attack before I realized I was over at Alli's. They had a spare room, so that was were I would stay
But something else felt off too. Oh yeah. I didn't have a memory dream. Or any dream for that matter. I'd had one just about every night for what seems like forever. Now all I have to do is spend the night at some girl's house and they're gone. Weird.
Now, off to get breakfast. I snapped into my t-shirt and jeans to walk through the town to get to the bar before realizing I was already in them. I sighed and snapped again, this time really changing into them.
And then I realized that I probably wouldn't have to go there, what with Alli's parent's seeming overprotectiveness. So I headed out of my room to find the Schaeffers. But I still should go. I have a reputation to uphold, ya know.
They were in their dining room, with six plates of food around the table. One for Mr. Schaeffer, one for Mrs. Schaeffer, one for Alli, and one for each of Alli's younger twin brothers. And then there was one for me.
But I pretended not to notice that they had an extra breakfast set out. I headed towards the door and opened. "I guess I'll see you lot later today, but I got some things that need to be done right now," I announced, giving a toothless smile.
"Where are you going, young man?" the Missus scolded. What the heck? She literally just met me yesterday, and somehow she feels like she has the right to treat me like her son already! Plus I thought it was mildly amusing to be called 'young man' by someone who was less than a third of my age. "You're not going anywhere just yet."
"Uh, I was, um, just going to the diner for breakfast," I replied.
Mrs. Schaeffer sighed. "Bill, you don't need to do that while you're here. We'll take care of you." As nice as that sounds, I'll have to decline, I thought.
"You liar," Alli said, staring daggers into me. Everybody stared at her. She even earned a "What are you talking about?" from her mom. "He's lying. He's not going to the diner. He's going to the bar."
Mrs. Schaeffer stared bug-eyed at me. "Is that true?"
"Well, it's not exactly... It's more like... I don't really... Define true," I sputtered, which was probably more obvious of an answer than a straight 'yes'.
"But you're only sixteen!" she cried. "He's only sixteen!"
"Ooohhh," I exhaled, pretending that the idea just struck me. "You think I drink!"
"Well what do you do there if you don't?" she challenged.
"I eat food. I'm a terrible cook, and I have no money for ingredients anyway, and a friend of my parents runs the place, so he lets me eat there for free," I retorted. I'm proud of myself because I didn't have to lie.
"Oh, okay. Alli can go down with you after we're all done here if you want to explain why you couldn't make it. But at least eat with us this once," tested Mr. Schaeffer. I closed my eyes, tapping into his thoughts. He just wanted to use Alli as a security camera of sorts.
I couldn't make this look suspicious. I had the threat of child protective services hanging above my head, even though I'm much, much older than anyone who could possibly work there. Which is why "Sure thing" was all I said until I left with Alli.
Breakfast hadn't been completely terrible. I'll just say that Alli's family sure knows how to make scrambled eggs.
"I can't believe they wouldn't just let me go here on my own!" I huffed.
"I can't believe they're letting you go at all," she said.
"They're not," I said, quickening my pace. "And that's supposed to mean that he just wants you to report every single thing I do back to him. So, yeah, I'm going, but I'm not going freely."
"How'd you know I was going to ask what that was supposed to mean?" she questioned as she stopped walking. I stopped too. I have got to stop answering questions that haven't been asked yet.
"I guess I'm psychic or something," I laughed. I turned around to face her. "Now come on."
By the time we made it to the bar, I was exhausted from answering personal questions about sore subjects. My eyepatch, my house, my parents, this alleged friend of my parents, and the likes. Plus she gave me another quiz on demonic trivia that I discovered was from a demon-hunting video game series she was obsessed with.
"Okay, Alli. Can you please please please wait outside while I settle this?" I grimaced.
"Why?" she disputed.
"Uh, for your safety," I told her slowly and almost question-like.
"I'll be just fine, thank you very much," she snapped. She started to push open the door, but I grabbed her wrist before she could open it to it's full extent.
"Please just let me scout it out first," I begged.
She eyed me suspiciously. "Fine."
I walked into the building quietly,but only after snapping after snapping out of my t-shirt and jeans, wincing with every step I took.
"Aw, Cipher! You reek!" Cade vexed. Usually I could take at least five steps before he jumped on me, but he must be feeling abnormally vicious today.
"Same to you," I retaliated, tipping my hat.
"Yeah, but at least I don't smell like a human," he guffawed.
"You're right," I said, which put a smug look on his face. "You smell like a dead human!" I chirped, leaving him fuming.
I made my way over to Oswald. "I missed you in here last night Billy," he smirked, using my childhood nickname.
"Hey, I may or may not be able to make in here for the next two weeks, so-" I was cut off by the door swinging wide open, revealing Alli as she stormed in. "Oh no oh no oh no..." I whispered to myself. I closed my eyes and entered her mind.
I made her turn around and close her mouth, but she was still trying to call my name. It just came out as a bunch of muffled shouts.
"Someone lock the door before she can get back in please," I ordered, waving a freshly poured shot glass of water around in the air before downing it. I heard the click of a lock, and so did Alli. I remembered that I was still mentally linked to her, so I broke the connection.
"Bill!" she screeched from outside. I recoiled.
"Is that...? No," Cade sneered complacently. "Ha ha! So she's the one whose scent rubbed off on you!"
I cringed. If my current situation could possibly get any worse, I wasn't sure I wanted to know how.
A/N: I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaack! And yes, Alli will discover Bill's 'true identity' in the next chapter. So bye now :3
