CHAPTER 4
The next morning DG slowly opened her eyes. Yep, still in Kansas. She looked up at the low ceiling. She could hear the light breathing of her sister beside her. She felt so peaceful and relaxed. It was good to wake up in a bed that was comfortable. It was hard to sleep in the bed at the palace, what with the thick mattress and the feather pillows. The quilt in her room always felt like it was strangling her. Most nights she ended up in the chair in her sitting area, a blanket wrapped around her. She wondered if there was a way for her to take this bed back with them.
She sat up quietly and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. Putting her feet on the wooden planks, she walked across the , hunting for something to wear. She found a shirt and jeans and slipped them on quietly. Afterwards, she headed towards the stairs and climbed down into the lower level. The living area was quiet. She tiptoed across the old floor towards the kitchen. She searched the pantry and discovered a can of unopened coffee. Checking the experation date, she nodded and smiled. It was still good. As she hunted for a can opener a sound from behind startled her. She dropped the heavy can on her foot.
"SON OF A BEES KNEE!" She screamed. She grabbed her foot and hopped up and down. Cain rushed forward, worry on his face. DG put a hand up to stop him. "I'm fine." she let out a rush of air. "Wouldn't be the first time I hurt my foot, won't be the last time." She gave it a rub. Cain bent down to pick up the can, handing it up to her. DG let out a long sigh and looked up at Cain.
"Don't sneak up on people." She said.
"I'm sorry," he said holding up his hands in defeat. "Next time I won't say or do anything." DG ignored him and went about trying to find the can opener. She could hear the house coming alive with bodies moving around. She watched as Raw and Glitch walked into the kitchen, Az closed behind them.
"What's with all the yelling?" Glitch yawned.
"Glitch scared by noise. He squeal like girl. Raw very happy and humored" Raw pulled out a chair at the table and plopped himself down. Everyone turned to Glitch. He shook his head profusely.
"I-I d-d-did no such t-thing," He studered. Raw patted him on the back. "Really, I was just worried for DG. I'm hungry," He said quickly changing the subjet.
DG looked around the kitchen at everyone. She could faintly hear stomachs rumble. She sighed. Coffee would have to wait.
"Ok um, I'll find clothes for everyone and then we can go from there." She walked around the house, trying to come up with reasonable fixes. She thought about Glitch and how big Henry's clothes would be on him. She then thought about her clothes from when she had a dark spell in high school. The black, goth clothes. She weighed a little more then so they might just work. She rushed up stairs and grabbed a top and pair of pants from the back of her closet. She also set a pair of jeans and a top on the bed for Az.
"Here, try these on." she said handing them over to Glitch. As she waited for Glitch to try those on in the bathroom, she told Az about the clothes up on her bed. Az turned to leave and Glitch came out of the bathroom, spinning around and stopping in a pose. DG's face fell.
"You look like you walked out of a My Chemical Romance video," DG sighed. Glitch cocked his head to the side, unsure of what that meant. She looked at him for a second, contemplating what to add. She reached behind her and pulled out a beret. "Can you say Oui Oui? She asked.
"Oui oui?" Glitch repeated. DG nodded and threw him the hat.
"Good, today you are french." She watched as he put the had on his head, fully covering his zipper. She turned to Cain, her face deep in thought. She ran back to Henry's closet and pulled out a flannel shirt and a pair of jeans.
"Here" she said as she walked back into the room. She eyed Cain up and down and frowned. "Um the pants might be a little big because you're a little bigger, TALLER!" she corrected herself. "than Henry. So these might be a bit tighter, and oh, um yeah, just go" DG said awkwardly averting her eyes. Cain smiled, the corner of his eyes crinkled.
"I'm good with what I'm wearing." he admitted. DG nodded and wiped her forehead. She looked over at Raw, who took a step back.
"Raw happy himself. No need to change." DG nodded and smiled sweetly at her friend.
"Does it look ok?" DG heard Az ask from the stairs. Everyone looked over to see Az walking down the stairs from DG's room. Her dress had been replaced with some tight fitting jeans and a green top. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail. Everyone nodded, Glitch looking over in her direction.
"Of course anything is better than the dominatrix outfits you wore when you were trying to take of the kingdom." Everyone looked over at him, Raw shook his head. "Oui, Oui?" Glitch muttered. DG looked up at her sister.
"You look great Az." Her sister smiled down and nodded. "Now I have to go into town and see about getting money for some food." DG said looking around the room. Her guests stared back at her, expecting something else. "Would you like to come with me?" she asked hesitantly. Everyone nodded in agreement. DG sighed. "Yeah, what could possibly go wrong?" She grabbed the keys to Henry's old truck. "File out!" she called over her shoulder. She looked somberly at her old bike as they walked into the garage. She missed it. As she walked passed, she slid a hand over the slick paint.
"We'll be taking the truck," she muttered. Henry's brown pick up truck sat quietly idle. "Three of you will have to set in the bed of the truck, unless you want to try to squeeze three in the front."
"You and Azkadillia can set up front, we'll set in the back," Cain said. Az turned to look at him.
"Don't be silly, you can set in the front with us. I can sit in your lap!" Azkadillia beamed. Cain looked from her to DG.
"I'll be fine in the back." He pulled himself up into the bed, helping Glitch and Raw as they pulled themselves up. Az frowned and went to open the door to the truck.
"Give it up Az," DG said as she put the key in the ignition. "Cain doesn't really go for our type." She looked over at her sister. Azkadillia crossed her arms and pouted. "Believe me, I know!" She started the ignition and backed slowly out of the garage and then pulled out onto the road.
DG parked in the back of Hilltop Café. Turning the engine off she sat there for a few minutes, trying to gather her thoughts.
"Stay here, and I'll be right back." She told her sister. Az nodded as she watched her sister open the door. DG heard the boys move around and she walked over to the side of the truck. "I just have to go in for a second. You guys stay here." She could see Cain give her a look. "Really I'll be fine, stay here and get your hand off the gun." She shook her head as she turned to walk towards the café. She entered the back door, the smell of smoke and grease immediately filling her nose.
"Hey Carter," she said when she saw her old boss. Carter turned towards her, his hand holding a spatula. Grease and sweat covered his apron and DG knew this might not be as easy as she once thought. She attempted a smile as she glared over at her.
"Well if it isn't my missing waitress. Back from her whirlwind adventure. How's the new family?" he asked in a mocking tone. DG ignored the humor and answered his question as honestly as possible.
"Wonderful," she smiled. Carter grunted and turned back to the grill. DG took a deep breath. "Carter, I have a huge favor to ask of you." Carter turned back around.
"Ha! You have a favor to ask of me." He laughed. "This should be good." He crossed his arms and gave his full attention to DG. DG looked over at the sizzling grill. The grease popped off the surface, spitting into the air. DG asked herself if she really wanted to be back here, but then she thought about those in the truck and sighed.
"I'll be in town for a few days. My parents aren't here anymore and I just need to earn some money for food and stuff while I'm here. Do you think I could work a couple shifts?" DG asked. Carter contemplated the request. DG could see his foot tapping, the gears in his brain clicking.
"Ok," he finally said. "Phoebe is having trouble at home again and she requested a few days off. You can fill in her missing shifts. Do you mind working the lunch rush and afternoon shifts?" he asked. DG shook her head.
"Not all. I'll be here," she said eagerly. Carter nodded and turned his attention back to the popping burgers and dogs. DG turned around to leave but then spun around, her feet slipping in grease.
"Careful!" Carter yelled at her. "This is why you waitresses are not allowed back here. You'll burn the place down!" DG ignored the fact that he didn't really care about her well being and cleared her throat. "What?"
"Do you think I can borrow some money?" she asked. Carter eyed her carefully. "I need to buy some groceries. I can pay you back with my tips or you can take it out of my wages. Either way, I will get you your money back." She pouted and frowned. Carter rolled his eyes and reached into his back pocket. He handed her two twenty dollar bills. DG carefully took them, avoiding the grease on his hands. "Thank you Carter." She turned and walked towards the door.
"Be back here by noon!" he yelled. DG waved over her shoulder. She reached over and grabbed a bag of bagels as she slipped out. She ran out to the truck, happy to see everyone still waiting for her. Cain looked up from the brim of his hat.
"What happened?" he asked sitting up. DG waved the money at him. She tossed three of the bagels up to them.
"We can eat!" she said happily as she pulled open the door and piled into the driver's seat. She looked over at her sister, a happy expression on her face. Azkadillia looked over at her, her nose turned up.
"You smell like grease." She muttered. DG laughed, she didn't care what her sister said anymore. She was finally doing something again. She wasn't being waited on hand and foot, and she wasn't waiting around for someone to help her. She was actually helping herself and everyone else and she loved it. She started the car and backed out of the parking lot and onto the road. She tossed a bagel over to here sister. "What this?"
"Glue for your intestines. You'll love it," DG smiled over at her sister. The drive to the store didn't take too long. They pulled into a spot in the tiny parking lot. DG thought of a way to keep everyone in the car, but she didn't want to be rude. She opened the door to the truck and slid out.
"Ok rules." She leaned against the truck as she waited for everyone to get out and walk over. The stood around her in a semi-circle. She eyed them all very carefully. Ticking off with her fingers, she started to go down the list.
"No running, no yelling, no fighting, no doing anything remotely weird." She eyed Glitch. "No breaking anything, no saying 'what is this odd, yucky looking thing', and no threatening anyone with a fist and/or gun," she said eyeing Cain.
"What can we do?" Azkedillia asked. DG looked carefully at her sister.
"Just behave," she sighed. She walked up the sidewalk to the store, the group followed cautiously. Once inside she handed them each a basket and told them to just grab a few things they found interesting. Everyone nodded and split up. She grabbed a basket and started walking around throwing useful items like milk, eggs, and bread into the basket. She was rounding the when she heard something crash. She pretended to ignore it and carried on with her shopping.
"DG, is that you!" a voice called from behind her. DG shut her eyes and wished herself away. She slowly turned around and looked at Minnie Banks. The class president, prom queen, and cheerleading captain herself. "I knew it was you. I told Michael that it was you, but he said no it wasn't. I said yes it was and he said it couldn't be, you were out of town. And I said that she could come ba-"
"How are you Minnie?" DG asked, shutting up the brunette. Minnie smiled and nodded.
"I'm great!" The young woman gushed. "A beautiful husband, one beautiful child and another on the way." She pointed back to Michael Hickory. The captain of the football team, debate team captain and generally nice man smiled over and waved. DG felt instantly worse than she did before and turned to leave but stopped when she saw Glitch walk up, hands full of cookies and ice cream. Her eyes grew wide and she whispered loudly,
"Go away, shoo!" Glitch looked at her funny.
"Did you just shoo me?" He asked walking up. DG wanted to melt into a puddle right then and there. "Well, hello!" He said holding out a hand. "Are you a friend of DG's?" he asked. Minnie nodded.
"We were friends in high school," she smiled.
Hardly Dg thought to herself. She pulled on Glitch's shirt, looking for an out. She spotted Cain with a shop attendant that was flirting with him down the aisle. Well that wouldn't help. She turned back to Minnie.
"So who are you?" Minnie asked curiously.
"He's my co," DG started.
"I'm her boyfriend." Glitch smiled proudly. He had been reading tabloid magazines at the front of the store and there was no other way to make a person more interested in you than by making yourself a boyfriend. DG clamped her eyes shut. He didn't just do that. "I'm Glitch!" he smiled. DG heard a tiny squeak escape from the back of her throat.
"Ohhh" Minnie said. "Are you from France?" She asked, eyeing the hat. DG's body tightened, she could not even imagine what would come next.
"I'm from the O.Z, the Outer Zone." Glitch slowly sounded out each word. DG just wanted to cry, die or shoot something. She needed Cain's gun.
"Ohhh" Minnie said, suddenly not so curious anymore. She turned to DG. "Well I have to go finish my shopping. I'll see you around. Tell your parents I said hi." She said turning around.
"Which ones?" Glitch asked innocently. Minnie turned back around, a confused expression on her face. DG just laughed and pushed Glitch down the aisle towards the registers. Cain eyed her carefully as she and Glitch walked up.
"Don't even think about asking, Romeo," she said as she threw the groceries on the belt.
The group helped DG with the bags when the arrived back at the house. Each person grabbed a bag and carried them into the house. Setting the bags down on the counters, everyone began taking things out, looking at what incredible things they'd discovered. DG sighed and turned to leave the kitchen, heading up to her room. She was almost glad now to be leaving the house. It didn't take long to find her old uniform. It lay folded up in a chair. She didn't think she'd ever see it again, let a lone actually use. She picked it up, holding it close to her chest. She turned around and saw Cain looking over at her. Her heart stopped again and she jumped a little.
"Ok, making noise behind someone is a lot better than not saying or doing anything. It's called sneaking up, and it's not nice." She waited for her heart to return to a normal pace. "What's wrong?" she asked him. Cain shook his head.
"Nothing. I just wanted to make sure you" DG eyed him carefully. "your house. I wanted to make sure your house was structurally sound." He hoped that worked, but the with the look on DG's face he was sure it hadn't. This was getting hard. With no one wanting to ask DG what was wrong, it made things rough.
"Just be happy you never had to worry about cheerleaders and football players in high school. Nothing could be more mortifying, even after a few years." She laughed. Cain could sense something sad through the laugh. "I have to go to work." She said as she pushed past him. Cain looked over at her.
"I'm coming with you," he said. DG shook her head.
"No, you have to stay here and watch everyone. That's how you can help me." she patted him on the arm. She climbed down the stairs and he could hear her cross the house and head outside. He walked over to the window and peered out towards the garage. She pushed her old bike out and climbed on. He watched as she revved up the engine and take off down the road.
Thank you for taking the time to read this chapter! I know you guys are reading this, so please leave feedback. Good/Bad/nitpicky!