Chapter 5:
STILL SABRINA POV
We all walk into the room, where I see Tom.
"Tom!" I shout, and he pulls me into a hug.
"Sabrina, dear! How are you? And who are your friends?" He asked, politely.
"I'm great, Tom, thanks. And these are my friends from the orphanage. Before Ferryport Landing, I mean."
All my friends quickly introduce themselves, and Tom and Cindy offer snacks.
"No, thanks. We just visited Sn-Ms. White and she gave us some cookies." I refuse politely.
Cindy nods, "And how is she?"
"Great!" I respond.
"I've been meaning to ask her, Briar and Ra… er anyways… I've been meaning to ask her and the others about Poker Princesses and when the next time we're meeting is."
"Oh, I think it's at Sacred Grounds next week." I inform her, and she smiles gratefully.
"Thanks, Sabrina. Are you and Daphne coming as well?"
"Wouldn't miss it." I say, excited.
"You play poker, 'Brina?" Matt asked, shocked.
"Yeah. Daph, Ms. White, Briar, who is my uncle's girlfriend, and someone else who you guys don't know all play poker together-we call ourselves the Poker Princesses. And instead of using real stuff, we play with potato chips" I say, beaming. That was the only way mom and Granny would let Daphne and me play.
"You know, it's really strange." Jenny interjects after a moment of silence.
"What?" I ask, curiously.
"You. You're so… happy here. It's weird because all I can remember is you being so miserable and angry at the orphanage, but here… You look like you belong here."
I look at my feet awkwardly. "I do belong here." I say
"So, there's no way to convince you and Daph and your family to come back to New York?" Randy asks, disappointedly.
I freeze. "You wanted us to move back?" I ask, freaking out slightly.
"Well… Yeah, why wouldn't we? We missed you a lot, 'Brina."
I can see Puck about to bite his head off.
"That's really sweet, Randy, but I… Ferryport Landing… It's home now." I say in a nonnegotiable tone.
They all nod, but still look disappointed.
We continue to chat with Cindy and Tom for a bit, when I see the time.
"Oh, we should probably head to the diner, now you guys. I'll see you next week at Poker, Cindy! Bye Tom!"
Cindy and Tom wave goodbye to us all, and we begin walking to the diner.
Puck soon falls into step with me. "Are you serious?" He asked, in a tight tone.
"What? Serious about what?" I ask, confused.
"Are you sure you aren't going to leave with your friends back to New York?" He asked persistently.
My eyebrows rise, he actually thought I would? "I would never. Like I said, I belong her now. There are too many people I wouldn't be able to leave. Granny, Uncle Jake, Mr. Canis, Red, Snow, Briar, Cindy, Tom, the pigs… even you, stinkbag." I say, trying not to sound too sappy.
His mouth twitches into a smile-not a smirk-a smile. "I would miss you too, Grimm." He said, and I felt my cheeks heat up.
We arrive at the diner moments later and I walk in, waving hello to Farrah quickly.
"So where are we going to sit?" Kevin asks.
"How about here?" Jenny asks, pointing at the table. The table where Uncle Jake, Daph and I had sat at when the Jabberwocky attacked, and when Puck got his wings ripped off.
Puck could sense my discomfort immediately. "Not there." He said hurriedly.
Everyone looks at him, confusedly. "Why not?" Matt asks.
"It's just… How about over here instead?" He said, rushing to a table on the opposite end of the diner.
I sigh, relieved. I quickly take a seat at the table next to Puck before my friends can protest. "Come one you guys, just sit." I say, waving them over, and they all sit down slowly.
The five of them talk for a few minutes, while I feel myself tense up again.
Puck grabs my hand and squeezes it for a moment. "It's over Grimm. It's all over." He whispered. I was thankful for that, because I was feeling like I was going to have a panic attack with all the memories of the war.
We hear the sound of snapping gum and turn to see that Farrah is waiting patiently with her notepad.
"Hey, Farrah!" I say, trying to snap out of the war memories completely.
"Hey there hun!" She says with a smile. "What do you want today?"
I quickly order a burger with a side of fries, a chocolate milkshake and a piece of blueberry cobbler. She jots down the order, merrily.
"And you, sugar?" She asked Puck. He ordered a burger as well, with a side of mashed potatoes, a large Sprite and told her to 'surprise him' with dessert, like he did every time we come here.
My friends order as well and Farrah puts her notepad away.
"It'll be out in a jiffy," She said, and I nod thankfully.
"Thanks, Farrah!" I tell her.
"Not a problem sweet pea."
As she had predicted, our food came out very quickly and we all dig in.
I nudge Puck. "So what was your dessert for today?"
He opens the box with a flourish, to pull out blueberry cobbler-just like mine.
"Blueberry cobbler." He said, smiling at me.
I smile back at him, and hurry to finish my lunch so that I can eat my dessert.
After we are all completely finished, Farrah comes back with the bill.
"Have a great day, darlings!" She said, snapping her gum again.
"You too!" I call back.
I start to pull out my wallet, to see that money had already been placed next to the bill, with a generous tip.
"Who paid?" I asked, confused.
"I did." Puck said, tucking some stray bills back into his pocket.
"Why? I was going to." I said, tucking my wallet away.
"It's not even my money-it's dad's, so I have no problem with spending it. And the tip? Well… we owe Farrah a lot, so yeah."
I knew what he meant. I'd never tell him, but I did sometimes wake up, sweating, with nightmares that Farrah couldn't reconnect the Vorpal Blade and we couldn't save Puck. Other nightmares, like Daphne dying, her being tortured, my parent's never waking up, us never finding Basil, Mirror still controlling Granny and so many more also tortured me at night.
"Thanks, Puck."
He shrugged. "Let's go see the pi-er… the police officers. And maybe we could stop by Sacred Grounds later?" He asked with an innocent look on his face.
"We just had dessert Puck!" I scold, though I am laughing.
"Just to see Briar!" He says, innocent face still masking his mischievous personality.
"We'll see Puck, but for now, let's go see Boarman and Swineheart."