Ok, so. I give you almost the whole WH13 gang at B&B, plus Pete's family. Also, there's a glimpse of Helena too. Like literally, a glimpse.
Next chapter is more interesting, but, you know, all in good time. Enjoy anyway.
I own nothing.
Chapter Four
On their way back from the beach they go to pizzeria. It's a choice that makes Myka, who tries to eat healthily, wince, but she's carried unanimously, so she lets it go. And Pete made me eat a burger yesterday… It's just this summer, then everything goes back to normal, she decides. She must admit though, that the Hawaiian pizza they agreed on, is quite delicious.
The bar is relatively empty at this hour. There is a small family of three, an elderly couple by the window, and one group of guys in their early twenties sitting not so quietly in a corner booth. Myka counts five of them. Six, she corrects herself, when a young woman emerges from the bathroom and join them. She looks genteelly, but not in a bad way, just classy. Something about her strikes Myka, she needs a minute to realize what. That woman seems out of place. She doesn't belong with a group of cackling boys, who counts themselves men only because they are of full age. When the woman turns her head to look directly at a tall, thin guy sitting nearest her, Myka sees her dignified profile, chiseled-like features. She laughs at something and her face lights up. Myka spots her mistake; the genteel woman is much younger than she assumed. Twenty at most. And devilishly attractive.
"Myka?!"
"Hmm?" She snaps out of it, meeting Tracy's eyes. Her sister arches her brows. "What? Did you say something?"
"Dude, you totally spaced out," Claudia giggles. "Hey, Josh, fill up my glass." He gives his sister a stern look, but reaches for the bottle of Coca-Cola.
"I was asking," starts Tracy slowly, making sure to maintain eye contact with her sister, and Myka have to stop herself from rolling her eyes, "what do you want to do next? Joshua suggested a walk to market square, but Claudia doesn't want to go."
Oh, I see.
"It's ok," she says. "I promised to show Claudia something, so you two can go your own way." She assures Josh, "I'll bring her home before ten."
Claudia, poker-faced, looks at her brother and slowly nods her head. She's all serious and mysterious, and Myka wants to laugh, but looks away instead. Her sight wanders to that group again, but the person she wanted to see is not there anymore. What a shame.
# # #
Half an hour later Myka and Claudia find themselves at the entrance to Leena's B&B.
"Knock, knock," murmurs the younger girl as she knocks on the door two times.
They wait whole five seconds for the door to open.
"Hey Mykes!" Pete lets them in. "You brought a friend, cool! Hi, I'm Pete."
"Claudia."
"I wasn't sure you'll be here in the middle of a day," Myka says. "Why aren't you out?"
"Oh, you know," he waves his hand, leading them to the living room, "just wanted to spend the day with those lovely ladies."
"He lost a bet," says a middle aged woman sitting on a sofa next to a girl in her twenties, who looks like her younger version. "I'm Jane Lattimer."
"My mom," Pete offers. He smiles at the girl, "that's my sister, Jeannie."
Pete's sister silently smiles at the newcomers as they introduce themselves and sit down across of her. There is a Scrabble board on the coffee table, it looks like they're in the middle of a game.
"What bet?" asks Claudia curiously.
"Jeannie said I couldn't beat Leena at racing. We had to do 3 circles around the B&B and if I won, Leena would have to watch "The Ring" at midnight."
Claudia shivers.
"Oh God, you're terrible." Myka makes a face at him. She exchanges looks with Pete's mom and sister, who are both shaking their heads. "What did her mom say to that?"
Pete shrugs.
"He didn't tell her," Jane says.
"I lost anyway. But it was so close!"
Jeannie raises her hands and starts to gesticulate. Myka realizes she's using sign language. She's surprised Pete didn't mention anything about his sister being deaf. But actually, he didn't talk a lot about his family, except maybe his father.
"Ok, ok, you're right," Pete turns to his sister in defeat. "I didn't stand a chance. A ten year old girl beat me. Damn, she runs fast!"
"Watch your language, young man," Mrs. Lattimer chastens him. She gets up. "I'll go and ask Leena's mom for a cup of coffee. Be nice, kids."
As she walks away Myka catches Jeannie's look. The blonde girl smiles at her and gestures to the board, raising an eyebrow. Myka returns the smile.
"I'd love to play. I love Scrabble," she says.
Pete is whining, but he sits down by his sister and starts to set the game up. "Man, why did I have to lose this bet?"
"Because you ate too many cookies and they slowed you down," Leena says, entering the room. She sits next to Claudia, eyeing her. "You're new."
"Hi," Claudia murmurs.
"I like your hair," Leena says.
Claudia unwittingly runs her fingers through her hair – red with a streak of green.
"Do you wanna play Scrabble with us?"
# # #
It's almost nine when Myka and Claudia finally leave. Both of them were instantly drawn to the family-like atmosphere at Leena's, with all the playfulness and laughter. Seeing Leena's mom asking Claudia to visit anytime she wants, and Claudia promising she would, Myka feels her own heart warming.
"You've been recruited to crazy-town," Pete comments, lacing his shoes. He decided to walk them home and get some air by the by.
They're walking for a few minutes when Myka's sight falls at Artie's antique shop. She takes in well-lit windows and wonders briefly if the man is always at work. Then she smirks, still disbelieving he allowed them to paint the walls in purple.
"Crazy and fun. Good combination," she winks at Pete.
The two of them are walking shoulder to shoulder, following Claudia, who's trying to see if she can guide them to where the Berings and Donovans are staying.
There are many people on the streets. And no wonder – it's a lovely, warm summer evening. After all Myka really is grateful that her mom was so insistent on coming here.
"Look Mykes. That's the infamous MacPherson."
She looks in the direction Pete's pointing and sees a familiar face. Near a newspaper stand there is a tall, thin guy nonchalantly leaning against a wall. Cocky smile on his face, he's talking to some redheaded girl, who seems to be infatuated.
"I saw him today," she says. "In a bar, he was with his friends and… oh."
"What?" asks Pete, curious.
"You said a girl sticks with him. Helena Wells?"
"Yeah, why?"
"What does she look like?" Judging from Pete's growing smile, she might not want to learn his words of choice. "Never mind, I think it was her. How old is she?"
Pete shrugs. "I don't know, 19, 20. Why are you so curious about her?"
Myka scratches her neck before answering. "It's just odd. She doesn't look like she was, you know, one of them."
"I know, right? Uptown girl and a bunch of-"
"Neanderthals?" she interrupts before he can say some colorful words.
"Yeah, that. What do you want me to tell you, Mykes? I really don't know what's going on in that British head of hers."
She's British?
"But um," he casts her a glance. "She may not be such a lady after all."
"What does that mean?" Myka frowns.
"There are rumors about her." At her stern look Pete shrugs. "I'm not sure you want to know."
"You're right, I don't. I'm not one for rumors."
She looks away, checking on Claudia. The girl seems at ease, her posture relaxed. She's walking a few steps in front of them, oblivious to their conversation.
"Just stay away from her, Myka. She's bad news."
Myka wants to ask why, she wants to know the facts, not rumors. But she stops herself, because seriously, this is ridiculous. She has nothing to do with Helena Wells. Probably never will. And somehow, that thought leaves a bitter taste in her mouth.