Riding on a Lamb: Part 2
+0+0+0+0+0+
Alexandra was half-sunk in the seat of a beat-up, green Suburu that belonged to the youngest of the group of men, Aden. Sebastian looked equally mournful slumped in her lap. Meanwhile, Melody was looking out the backseat windows excitedly.
"Wow! Look at all the farms!" Melody cheered, gawking at the farms lining the dirt road, all complete with solar panels and large greenhouses.
Aden's father, Henry, the straw hat man, was seated in the passenger seat. "Yup! And look there!"
Alexandra and Sebastian weakly looked to where Henry was pointing to. A huge, ancient-looking tree sat in an open area, currently surrounded by many of the residents. Some were hugging the tree, others were playing instruments or dancing, and others looked to be in deep meditative states, arms raised to the heavens. Alexandra looked away, feeling sick to her stomach.
"That's Big Bertha – she's the symbol of our community," Henry explained.
Melody cranked her head to watch the tree disappear from their sight as the car kept moving. She turned back to the almost green-looking Alexandra. "We should stop by and say hi!"
Alexandra groaned weakly. Melody had found her paradise; there was no way she would ever agree to return home. Meanwhile, Alexandra, someone who was more than use to all the comforts and material possessions in life, felt a sense of dread of living amongst nature and living "organically." But what could she do? Wait for her car to be fixed and leave Melody behind? She couldn't even imagine her own parents forgiving her for that. Plus… Alexandra looked at Melody who was now staring out the other window at a horse ranch. The millionairess smiled weakly at how excited her lover was, feeling her heart swell. She couldn't think of life without her, even a rich, luxurious one.
The car pulled up to a large piece of property infront of a giant, red barn. The barn doors were open, revealing a large, dark interior filled with random car parts and other mechanical-looking accessories. There were several more barns, trailers, and dilapidated storehouses scattered on the property as well. Alexandra suddenly found herself and Sebastian alone in the car. She snapped out of her thoughts, quickly opened her door and stepped out to join Melody and the men already standing infront of the barn. She looked at all of them and suddenly felt alien and silly, wearing an expensive yellow dress and designer black high heels. Alexandra never expected their "running away" would last more than an hour. Luckily, she packed two more dresses, jeans and a tanktop as well.
"Look Alexandra! They have pretty cars too!" Melody cheered, waving Alexandra over.
Alexandra leaned over, scooped up Sebastian into her arms, and walked to where Melody and the others were waiting. She entered the barn, grimacing slightly at the dirt and grease everywhere until she saw them – cars from all time periods, lined up in the back of the barn. Most of the cars were in rough shape, with entire parts missing or badly rusted, but it only took one glance of a knowledgeable eye to know what they were. That's when she saw it: it was a bright, red-orange, wide, and gorgeous.
"Is that a Thunderbird?!" Alexandra could barely keep back her excitement as she dashed over to the large, classic convertible car. "…No, it's not just that, it's a 1957 'E' Bird Roadster!" She reached out to touch the car, but stopped and turned to the grinning men. "…Can I touch it?"
Henry laughed. "It's not holy, go on and run your hand along it!" Alexandra turned and happily did so. "All original parts, but repainted, and the original interior had to be ripped out and replaced. I also added seatbelts, because times have changed."
Melody was beaming, watching her girlfriend fawn all over the car. It was a pretty car, and the widest car Melody has ever seen…also the shiniest. Everything else in the barn looked old, dirty, and broken, but the car stood out like a bright light in the darkness. She looked at Alexandra, stifling laughter at how child-like she seemed, peering into the matching red-orange interior. It was rare to see Alexandra this emotional, and Melody decided to enjoy the moment.
"Daddy, did you kidnap more strangers while you were out?" teased a female voice from behind them.
Melody turned and did a double-take at two young women standing just outside the barn, grinning at them. The owner of the voice was a redheaded girl wearing a blue shirt and a short, blue skirt. She was very feminine-looking and stood with her legs crossed and hands intermingling infront of her in a sweet pose. Her friend was a tall, dark-skinned girl with flowing black hair. The girl wore a shirt with a picture of an excited-looking grey cat on it and baggy jeans with her hands buried deep in each pocket. Melody shook her head and looked over the girls again.
"…Alternate Josie and Val…" Melody whispered to herself, eyes widening.
Henry approached the girls with a laugh and wrapped his arms around them. "Melody, Alexandra – this is my daughter, Jessica." He motioned his head to the red-headed girl who smiled and waved. "And this is her friend, Vanessa."
Vanessa nodded and motioned to the busted red convertible on the tow truck. "Did your car break down from Aden slobbering all over it? He's always been sweet for modern convertibles."
Aden blushed visibly and ran a hand through his short, messy blonde hair. "I-I figured I would help them fix it…if I could."
Henry shook his head at his son. "You and your modern cars! Bah! At least Alexandra here appreciates my classic Thunderbird."
Aden frowned at the Thunderbird which was still being looked over by Alexandra and Sebastian. "It looks and drives like a tank. Now that beauty out there, that's smooth driving."
Vanessa eyed Alexandra's car, and then Alexandra, seemingly looking over her garb. "…And it looks very expensive too."
Alexandra perked up, turning to the others proudly. She placed a hand on her puffed out chest and stood straight up. "Well, that's because my family-" She paused when she noticed Melody shaking her head with pleading eyes. Alexandra cocked her head, confused, but then got the message. "-W-won it from a talk show host! We got a car…everyone got a car…ha, ha…"
Melody breathed a silent breath of relief when the townspeople appeared to be convinced by that story.
"Where did you get your Thunderbird from?" Alexandra asked, for once purposely driving the conversation away from herself.
Henry smiled. "I come from a family of junk pickers, and one day, while picking through an old barn, we found it and fixed it up."
Alexandra peered around the room, lips twitching. "But why would you want the rest of this useless, broken stuff?"
Jessica laughed, "Daddy says some objects have a history worth preserving, or a purpose for the future. Nothing is junk." She nodded to an old car door so rusty it looked as if it was being eaten away. "Even stuff like that."
Henry walked over and touched the car door. "This is the only piece remaining from my first car. You would've liked it, Alexandra."
Alexandra was confused. "But why keep it? You have the memory of it, why keep this rotten piece of metal?"
"You kids are young and your memories are probably very good, but as you get older, you forget things. Touching and seeing this car door gives me much clearer pictures of those precious memories. And here…" Henry motioned to a giant, antique store sign that read 'Norma's' and continued, "This was a sign from a famous bakery in my hometown. During the Great Depression, the bakery would feed hundreds of people every week with their leftovers. Our state senator commended the bakery and it became a stop for many politicians, celebrities, and big business men. But now it's gone, and this is all that there is left. Seeing the store in pictures and reading about its history is one thing, but actually seeing a piece of it, it connects people more than pictures or words could ever do. I think of us junk pickers as people who are preserving American history, and its people's personal histories."
Alexandra stared at the sign quietly. Growing up, her father always preached to her and Alexander that things are things and could easily be replaced when you had their money. Things always had to be thrown out and replaced with bigger, better things – that was how you kept up with elite society. The only reason they had anything personal in the attic was because of their mother, who was less pragmatic than Mr. Cabot. Of course, they kept their ancestors' things left behind to remind them of their family history, and where they came from. Mr. Cabot collected other historical things such as marble statues and lavish antiques as a bragging right. Alexandra guessed that in their own way, they were sort of like junk pickers, preserving the Cabots' extensive and lavish history. Still, she had a hard time grasping what good collecting rusted, dirty, junk was instead of collecting polished historical pieces, but decided to drop the subject completely. She looked back at the Thunderbird. Right now, she decided, that's the one piece of Henry's collection she cared about.
Henry noticed Alexandra's intent stare. "I was hoping to pass it down to Aden, but he clearly isn't interested. And neither is my daughter, Jessica."
Jessica shrugged and looked down with a grin. "I'd rather have a boyfriend with a nice car."
Melody couldn't help but think Jessica and Josie were separated at birth. Meanwhile, Alexandra couldn't believe what she was hearing and found her family's business senses taking over.
"Then how about I trade my car for this car?" Alexandra suggested. She paused. "…If my car can be fixed, at least."
Aden shook his head, eyes wide as saucers. "You'd do that?!"
Melody gasped and looked at the unflinching Alexandra. "B-but, that's your baby!"
Alexandra shrugged. "Well, you know how I am, Darling – if I see something better and shinier, I want it. And I want this car."
Henry took off his straw hat and ran his hand through his thinning red hair. He nodded several times, glancing at Aden who could hardly keep still, face red with excitement. "Aw, what the heck, if we can fix your car, you can take this mechanical baby with you on the road."
Sebastian perked up excitedly and then zipped into the front seat, grabbing the steering wheel with his two front paws and mimicking car sounds. Alexandra looked equally excited, but quickly attempted to mask it by closing her eyes and putting a hand to her hair while the other one rested on her swung out hip. "Then it's a deal."
Suddenly, there was a loud roaring noise. Everyone jumped with surprise and then turned to the source: Sebastian's stomach. Sebastian looked down at his stomach and then clutched it, meowing pathetically and stumbling face-first onto the seat.
"I think your cat is hungry!" Jessica laughed.
"Ooh, he's just being over-dramatic," Alexandra grumbled, watching Sebastian roll around pathetically, clutching his furry stomach.
Aden laughed, "Hey, I know, girls – why don't you take him fishing?"
Sebastian shot up, blue eyes wide as saucers. "Mrowyr?!"
Melody perked up. "That sounds like a great idea! I'll come with you!"
Jessica and Vanessa exchanged unsure glances. Vanessa raised her eyebrows at Jessica who shrugged meekly.
"Sure," Vanessa offered lowly.
Melody beamed and scooped up Sebastian. She paused and turned to Alexandra. "Are you coming, Alexandra?"
Alexandra climbed into the Thunderbird's driver seat and took the steering wheel. "I think I will stay here, maybe learn a thing or two about car repairs after I change. You go ahead and have fun, Darling…oh, and make sure Sebastian doesn't drown."
Sebastian snickered. Melody nodded and hurried off to catch up to Jessica and Vanessa who were walking ahead, whispering amongst themselves.
"Why do we have to take the city girl?" Vanessa grumbled.
Jessica asked, "How do you know she's from the city?"
Vanessa glared at Alexandra and then at Melody. "Look at their outfits, and their hair. I bet their hands are smooth too – never seen a day's hard work."
Jessica rolled her eyes at her friend and playfully shoved her shoulder. "Oh, come on, Vanessa. She seems nice enough, what's the harm?"
Soon, the three girls and Sebastian sat by a lake. Sebastian held a fishing pole, staring at the fishing bob floating in the water intensely as he licked his furry lips.
"Gee, this is nice! My dad and I use to fish all the time at home. Too bad I'll never see him again," Melody sang as she sat on a log, watching Sebastian fish.
Jessica and Vanessa exchanged surprised glances from sitting on a blanket on the ground.
"What do you mean? Are you two running away or something?" Vanessa asked. She peered at Melody suspiciously. "…Are you two criminals?"
"No, we're bag-of-buns on the road! Nobody takes me seriously, like I'm some dumb blonde! Well, I showed them this time!" Melody sang.
Vanessa looked at Jessica, completely confused. Jessica somehow understood what the blonde had just said. "So you two did run away from home…why? Aren't you two scared? Don't you miss your families?"
Melody put a finger to her chin. "Hm…maybe a little…but back at home Alexandra and I couldn't be together. Everyone just sees what Alexandra wants them to see about herself, but I know what she's really like. And Alexandra's family is more worried about their name than whether Alexandra is happy or not in that ol' mansion!"
Vanessa squinted. "Their name? Mansion?"
Melody jumped a little, and then quickly waved her hands, laughing nervously. "O-oh, well, their house is bigger than mine so I call it a mansion! It's joke we have between us!" She looked at the girls who were now staring at her with questioning expressions. "…Not that it would matter if she was rich or not! I mean, I'm sure you all love everybody! It looks like it! Right?"
Jessica's mouth was hanging open, but she shook her head. "Right…well…our community is very welcoming as long as everyone does their part!"
Melody was happy with that answer. "That's good! I like this place! I get a real good feeling from all of you!"
Vanessa smirked. "Well, it sounds like you're the type who will fit right in." She looked at Jessica. "Uh, Jessica? Don't we have to go help get dinner ready?"
Jessica looked confused, but quickly got what Vanessa was trying to do. "Oh! Right!"
The two girls got up, gathering the blanket. Melody stood up with them, beaming. "Why don't we go out to eat? I'll treat!"
Vanessa scoffed, "Where do you think you are?"
Jessica quickly added, "Our community does everything together, we make our own food, and do everything else needed together. We're one big family, living outside the rest of the world."
Melody blinked. "Golly! That sounds nice."
Vanessa led Jessica away. "Well, it is. …See you at dinner, Melody."
Melody watched them walk away, and then turned to Sebastian who was still fishing. "Gosh, what a nice place! I think we'll like it here, Sebastian!"
Sebastian pulled out a fish from the water and licked his lips. He turned to Melody and excitedly nodded several dozen times.
+0+0+0+0+0+
Alexandra was once again covered in sweat and car grease, wearing her tanktop and jeans. Another thing she was covered in was…
"Ow!" she yelped, slapping her arm.
…Bug bites.
Henry laughed as Alexandra glared down at the squashed mosquito on her palm. "Yeah, we have a lot of those are here, but they seem to really like you!"
The darker skinned man from the gas station said mysteriously, "It must be your intense energy."
Alexandra wiped the dead bug onto the ground. "Well, isn't there a bottle of bug spray in this place?"
Aden looked up from fixing the engine of Alexandra's convertible. "Oh! Jake has something like that! Why don't you spray it on her like you did for us this morning?"
The darker skinned man, Jake, nodded and disappeared behind a large, vintage Coca-Cola sign. He returned with a bottle of foul-smelling liquid.
"Ugh!" Alexandra gasped, holding her nose. "I can smell it from here! What is that?!"
Jake held the bottle up proudly. "My special bug-begone mix: Vegetable oil and old pig urine!"
Alexandra backed far away from the bottle. "I-I'll take the bug bites, thanks…"
Jake shrugged and sprayed his mix on his own body.
"Henry! What's that girl doing in the barn?!" a female voice called out.
They turned to see a short, older woman wearing a blue and pink polka-dot dress. She walked into the barn, barefoot, and wagged her finger at Henry.
"A girl doesn't tinker with cars – that's a man's job!" the older woman chided.
Aden interrupted. "But mom! She's helping me fix her car so we can trade it for the Thunderbird you hate so much."
Henry's wife peered at Alexandra over her thick-framed glasses. "Hmph… Well, if she's making Aden happy, fine. But afterwards, she has to help the other women milk the goats!"
Alexandra stared at her. "…Milk the whats?"
Henry's wife ignored her, walking out of the barn. "We won't give her any other chores for another day since she's new to the community. But after that she has to get up at four in the morning and cook and clean and tend to the gardens like the rest of us!"
Alexandra turned white. "…F-four o'clock in the morning…? That's…unholy…"
Henry turned to her, confused. "What's the matter, Alexandra? You look ill."
Jake held up the bottle to Henry. "Would you like another spray, Henry?"
Henry nodded and stretched out his arms, closing his eyes. "I do feel the bugs nipping again, so why not?"
Alexandra turned green as Jake generously sprayed Henry with copious amounts of the foul mixture. She rushed out of the barn, covering her mouth.
+0+0+0+0+0+
Later that night, Alexandra slapped her neck. "Ow! Stupid bugs! Ruining my delicate skin!"
She growled at the squashed mosquito in her hand before wiping it off on a closeby tree. She was standing in a field, her new Thunderbird parked next to her. She and Aden were testing the cars in the field a few minutes ago, and Alexandra declined to go back to the barn now that her now ex-baby was fixed…for real this time. All she wanted to do was to call home, and of course, she had to do it away from the others…and Melody. With a quick check around the area, Alexandra pulled out her phone and dialed home.
Back at the Cabot mansion, Mrs. Cabot lied sprawled on one of the couches in the living room. She looked sick and pale. Mr. Cabot sat in his chair, puffing on his pipe, creating clouds of smoke around him. Josie, Alan, and Alexander sat on the other pieces of furniture, also looking worried while Valerie paced up and down the entire length of the living room. She quit for a moment and turned on her heel to face the others.
"It's been hours! Let's just go!" Valerie proclaimed.
"We don't even know where she is," Josie reasoned, staring down at her phone. "Her text just said she was running away, remember?"
Alan agreed. "And we don't even know if Alexandra is with her or not. For all we know she can just be out with Sebastian."
Mr. Cabot took his pipe out of his mouth to speak. "Well I hope that's just the case! Running away! Bah!"
Suddenly, Darla ran into the room, holding the wireless house phone. "It's Alexandra!"
Mrs. Cabot flew off the couch and grabbed the phone. The others dashed so quickly to her side that they almost knocked her over. "Alexandra! Dear! Baby! Where are you?!"
Alexandra sighed and rubbed the back of her head. "In hippy HELL! We were…" She paused, quickly coming up with a story. "…Melody came leaping out of my closet proclaiming she was running away and needed me to drive her to the bus stop! I took her, thinking she wasn't serious, but she was! I followed her all the way out here and my stupid car broke down! Now I'm stuck in some backwards dump with Melody who refuses to come home! Do you know what I ate tonight? Goat cheese! Squeezed fresh BY ME from a dirty goat nipple!"
"So Melody did run away?!" Mrs. Cabot gasped.
"Did she just say nipple?" Alexander asked.
Josie looked ill. "I don't understand! Ask her if she's okay!"
Alexandra's face twisted. "I hear her just fine – Melody is in heaven here. The only good thing I've found was a new car! A Thunderbird 'E' Roadster, by the way."
Mr. Cabot slapped the side of his head. "Egad! That car is worth money! A lot of money! What else are they hiding there?!"
"Not important!" Mrs. Cabot snapped, causing Mr. Cabot shrink back. "Alexandra Cabot, you have a car, come right home this instant! We'll get Josie and the others to pick-up Melody later!"
Alexandra went quiet, face contorting painfully. "I…I can't…"
Valerie's eyebrows lifted. "She can't?"
Alexandra's face turned red. "I-I mean…I was following her bus and…it stopped at a gas station…and she got off to use the restroom. I followed her in but my car broke down and a bunch of men offered to take me back to their community to fix the car. They started blabbing about Mother Nature and other hippy stuff so Melody came with us. So I really don't know where I am!"
"Sis, all you have to do is drive out and look for a few landmarks or streets or something, then we can figure out where she is!" Alexander objected.
"WELL I STILL CAN'T JUST LEAVE HER!" Alexandra accidentally exploded.
She slapped her free hand over her mouth, feeling sweat begin to form as a long, painful, extended silence came over the phone.
Alexandra quickly began to backpedal. "I mean – for all we know this can be some crazy cult waiting for us to go to sleep so they can sacrifice us to Mother Nature or something! I can't just leave her here! We Cabots always help people in need!"
Alan looked down thoughtfully, and then looked back up. "It sounds like Melody isn't ready to come home yet…and I think we can trust Alexandra to look out for her until Melody decides she wants to come home…or not."
Josie looked up at Alan, warmth in her eyes. "I trust her too. Melody won't listen to us because we were making fun of her even fantasizing about life on the run, and Alexandra actually followed her to wherever they are now."
Alexander agreed. "I know Sis comes off as cold and uncaring, but I think deep down she likes us. …Or at the very least, Melody."
They looked at the baffled Valerie expectantly. The girl sighed and hung her head. "…I reluctantly agree."
Mrs. Cabot looked at everyone as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing. Finally, she sighed and spoke into the phone. "Did you hear that, Alexandra? We all trust you to decide when is the best time to come home…with or without Melody."
Alexandra's lips were sucked in her mouth, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to flood down her face. "W-w-well…if she doesn't decide to come home soon…I'm going to leave that b-blonde dumbie behind for good! J-just you watch!"
Meanwhile, Melody spotted Alexandra and her car in the distance. She hadn't seen her girlfriend all day thanks to her being holed up in the garage and Melody helping set-up dinner on a long table under Big Bertha. She began to creep over to her lover, quickly noticing she was back in that tight tanktop and jeans from that morning. Melody bit her lip, eyes gleaming as she got closer and closer.
Alexandra was still talking with her concerned parents who were now questioning her about everything and everyone in the community. With her back turned to Melody, she didn't see or hear the blonde approach. Suddenly, a pair of hands reached out and took each side of her hips into its palms. Alexandra jumped and turned, receiving several kisses on her neck by Melody.
"We can send the army, you know," Mr. Cabot spoke. "The President owes me a favor or two."
Melody's hands wandered to Alexandra's thin stomach, peeling up her tight tanktop, her mouth gently biting down on Alexandra's neckbone.
"U-u-uh, no thanks, Daddy…t-that's a little much," Alexandra replied, trying to keep her voice steady as the hands wandered back down towards the button on her jeans.
"I missed you at dinner," Melody purred into Alexandra's skin.
Alexandra lost her breath as the blonde's lithe fingers unbuttoned and unzipped the jeans.
"I thought I heard Melody just now!" Josie gasped.
Alexandra panted, "I-I think she's coming! I have to go now bye!" She hung up the phone and practically threw it aside, arching her back to encourage Melody's exploration. "You know I really hate when you do this when I'm on the phone…"
Melody grinned naughtily and ran her hands back up Alexandra's now visibly heaving stomach. "You don't."
Her eyes brightened with an idea and she opened the Thunderbird's car door, dropping backwards inside of it and out of sight. Alexandra turned, grinning ear to ear. "Really? In there?" Melody's shirt sailed past her face. "…I'll take that as a yes."
Melody's bare arm reached out from inside the car, grabbed Alexandra's jeans by the open fly, and pulled her inside the car.
+0+0+0+0+0+
"Well, that was different."
Melody grinned up at Alexandra from resting her head on the brunette's shoulder. They were bundled up in a blanket Alexandra found in the trunk of the car, wearing nothing else underneath. The Thunderbird only had front row seats which could fit three people comfortably, so they were seated together, legs stretched out and their entangled feet resting underneath the dashboard.
"I thought it was exciting," Melody giggled. "Just like our new life!"
Alexandra suddenly slapped the side of her own neck, and then looked down at yet another squashed bug on her palm. "Aagh! They're after my rich blood! They've never tasted such pure blood before in this place, and now they're after me!"
Melody laughed, "You can say that they are really…bugging…you?"
Alexandra groaned with a smirk and a roll of her eyes. "Uck! That was awful!"
They sat in silence for awhile, staring up at the stars and the moon. Alexandra thought back to the phone conversation, how she told everyone how much she hated this place…and she did, but, when Melody was next to her, those feelings didn't seem to matter. She was happy with Melody, wherever they were.
"Alexandra? What were you and your parents talking about on the phone?" Melody asked, as if she was reading Alexandra's thoughts.
Alexandra took a moment to figure out what she was going to tell Melody. Finally, she decided to tell the truth…but not the whole truth. "Josie and the others are worried about you, Mel. They were at the mansion because my family told them I was gone too."
Melody huffed, brushing a loose strand of blonde hair off her face. "They miss me, but they're always laughing at me…especially when I stick up for you and Alex."
Alexandra shrugged. "You know I don't care what they think."
Melody pushed herself up on her elbows, looking into Alexandra's eyes. "I think you do, Alexandra Cabot." Alexandra looked away from the blue eyes, lips pursed together. "If they can't accept the fact that I like you, then I don't want to go home."
Alexandra reached out and brushed Melody's hair over her ear. "I appreciate that, but is this the life you really want?"
Melody smiled warmly, eyes shining like the stars in the night sky. "Yup!"
Alexandra shrugged coolly and turned over, letting Melody's arms wrap around her neck. "Then I guess I'll have to get use to the bugs trying to eat me alive."
Melody laughed, pressing against Alexandra's back, "I won't let them."
Alexandra chuckled, but then pushed herself up on one arm, looking around. "Speaking of eating…is my dumb cat still fishing?"
Much further away, Sebastian, his body now three times larger than it was that afternoon, continued fishing and eating any fish he pulled up in one gulp, pulling out a full skeleton of bones from his mouth once he was swallowed the rest.
+0+0+0+0+0+
The next morning, Melody and Alexandra found Vanessa and Jessica huddled under Big Bertha. Vanessa was holding a tambourine while Jessica held a violin.
"Good morning!" Melody sang.
Vanessa and Jessica jumped a little, and then turned to the two outsiders. "…Good morning."
Melody walked over to Big Bertha, staring up into its branches high above her head. The morning sun glittered between its green leaves. Alexandra looked up at the tree disinterestedly and then looked around at some of the locals bowing or meditating under the tree.
"Why don't you us for morning meditations?" Jessica suggested.
Melody perked up. "Gee, what a great idea! C'mon Alexandra!"
Alexandra held back a groan and watched as the three girls sat down in the grass, facing the tree. Alexandra reluctantly followed, now wishing she had packed more pants because the grass stains would never come out of her red and black dress. She watched the three girls expertly close their eyes and lose their thoughts. Alexandra grimaced and shut her eyes. She opened them after about fifteen seconds, already losing her patience, and looked at her peaceful companions. Alexandra screwed her eyes shut again, but this time kept them closed for even less because yet another bug flew onto her face, attaching itself to her lips.
"AAGH! LEAVE ME ALONE!" Alexandra shrieked, shooting up and waving her arms angrily.
She stopped when she realized everyone was now staring at her.
"…Uh…I'm going to check on Sebastian," she told Melody a bit meekly.
Jessica laughed. "I checked on him this morning, he's still fishing!"
Alexandra rolled her eyes and marched away. "That crazy cat! Hasn't he ever heard of mercury poisoning?! Ooo…!"
Vanessa watched Alexandra stomp off before laughing, turning to Melody, "Are you sure she'll be all-right here?"
Melody waved her off. "Oh sure! She loves it here!"
Vanessa chuckled and shook her head. "Somehow I doubt that, considering…" She cut herself off when Jessica shook her head. Melody looked between them, confused. "…Connnsiderrriiing the bugs really like her?"
Melody giggled, "Oh, she'll be fine." She looked down at the instruments Jessica and Vanessa were holding. "Hey! You two play instruments? So do I – I play the drums!"
Jessica looked at Vanessa nervously. A slow smirk spread across Vanessa's face. "Oh really? We had no idea. What kind of music do you play?"
Melody beamed. "Rock n' roll music! Hey! Why don't we play a song at dinner tonight? It'll be fun!"
Vanessa scoffed, "No thanks, that's not our kind of music."
Melody looked disappointed. "Golly, I've never heard of anybody who doesn't like rock n' roll…"
Vanessa took Jessica's shoulder as the shorter girl stood up. "Well, now you have. Come on, Jessica, let's go practice somewhere else."
Melody watched them leave, dumbfounded. "Oh…okay! See you later?"
Melody looked down, suddenly feeling very dejected. The moment passed though when she thought about all the other people in the town. Just because alternate Josie and Val didn't like her, didn't mean no one else would. Melody nodded and smiled to herself – she didn't need an alternate Josie and Val, she was starting life fresh. Her face sunk a little, thinking about all the fun she use to have at home with her friends. She began to miss them and the things they did together, especially the band.
Melody stomped her foot. "No! Don't even think about them! Alexandra is happy here, so I will be too!"
+0+0+0+0+0+
Alexandra looked down at the ground. "…You deserve it."
Sebastian was on his back, clutching his now enormous stomach and moaning in discomfort. He stretched out his paws, indicating he wanted Alexandra to carry him.
"You dumb furball! How many fish did you eat?! Walk it off!" Alexandra yelled. She paused, looking down at Sebastian's now enormous eyes. "Oooo… You're lucky you're cute."
Sebastian snickered weakly, then let out another moan and held his stomach. Alexandra, with much effort, lifted Sebastian into her arms, grunting as she almost tipped over from his weight.
"At least you're having fun," Alexandra sighed to her cat. "We need to think of a way to convince Melody to go home…with us!"
Sebastian meowed in response.
"…I know, I know. She's happy here," Alexandra sighed.
Sebastian meowed again, his stomach rumbling.
"And I know I'm her girlfriend and I can't be selfish," Alexandra sighed again.
Suddenly, Sebastian gagged, holding his mouth as his cheeks puffed out.
"…Wait! Sebastian! No!" Alexandra yelped, trying to hold Sebastian away from her.
Too late.
"MeooBLAAAGHHH!"
"SEBASTIAN! MY DRESS! I'M GOING TO SINK YOU TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LAKE!"
"Meeeoowwyr!"
+0+0+0+0+0+
Melody spent the rest of the day attempting to help with the chores. She was told to milk the cows, but apparently that didn't mean to pour milk on the cows. Then she was told to weed the garden, and when she planted more cute weeds in the garden, the women became very upset with her. The women then brought her into the kitchen and told her to help them cook. After a small fire broke out and a pressure cooker crashed through the ceiling, Melody was just told to wait in a room until dinner was set-up under Big Bertha. Outside, she heard Jessica and Vanessa playing their instruments and singing.
Melody put her head in her hands, elbows resting on her knees as she sat on the bed. "…I sure miss everyone. I thought running away would be good for us." She looked out the window. "Maybe we have to go somewhere else to be happy."
"I SAID I DON'T WANT IT!" Alexandra's voice pierced the air. "GET AWAY FROM ME YOU HIPPY FREAK OF NATURE!"
Melody stood up and looked out the window, just catching Alexandra bolt across the field a distance away, clutching her red and black dress. Jake soon followed, waving a bottle in the air.
"BUT GOAT URINE IS A NATURAL STAIN FIGHTER!" he hollered after her.
Melody sighed, "But Alexandra looks like she's having so much fun. I'll talk to her tonight."
+0+0+0+0+0+
That night, a large, straight table was setup under Big Bertha. A spread of food, mostly vegan, stretched across its length. The entire community gathered close to the table, talking and laughing amongst themselves. On one of the protruding roots of Big Bertha, a very haggard Alexandra sat holding a still very large and ill-looking Sebastian in her arms. She changed into her yellow dress, her red and black one now burning in a firepit outside thanks to Jake's "treatment." It had gotten the stain out as he promised, but Alexandra could not bear the thought of wearing goat pee.
"I want to go home…" Alexandra moaned to herself.
Sebastian moaned in agreement.
"Alexandra?"
Alexandra jumped and looked to see Melody standing near her, looking sad. Her heart skipped, worried about her girlfriend's unnatural sadness. "Darling, what's wrong? You look so sad!"
Melody rubbed her arm. "W-well…I…"
"Attention everyone!" Henry's voice called out. Everyone turned to him in silence, waiting expectantly. Henry smiled warmly at everyone, looking proud. "Before we have our ritual dinner, my daughter Jessica and Vanessa would like to play a song!"
The community buzzed happily, looking excited.
Alexandra turned back to Melody, gasping quietly to herself when she saw big streams of tears rolling down the blonde's cheeks. She reached out to wipe them away, but was interrupted by Vanessa's voice.
"Before we play our song, we want to point out two liars in the audience right now!" Vanessa announced loudly.
Alexandra jumped and turned to see everyone now staring at them. Jessica and Vanessa were pointing at them accusingly.
"The brunette with the skunk hair is Alexandra Cabot. The skunk stripe suits you, heiress to the billions of dollars the Cabots greedily took from the poor!" Vanessa barked.
Alexandra paled as the community gasped, looking horrified.
"And the blonde is Melody Valentine – the famous drummer from the band called Josie and the Pussycats," Jessica announced more shakily than her friend. "…Who wear the most scandalous cat suits I have ever seen."
"No pants!" Vanessa emphasized loudly.
The community gasped, though the men in a more excited tone than the women.
Henry slowly rose from his seat, staring down at the two girls and their cat angrily. "You people! You rich and famous are always coming down to our community! You laugh at us, calling us quaint! You treat us like a bunch of zoo animals, watching and laughing at how we live! You march around the community like it's yours! Making plans to put a store here, or sell this or that, or turn us into a tourist attraction! I bet you don't even like my Thunderbird! I bet you just want to resell it for lots of dirty money for your filthy rich family!"
"Hey! That's not true at all!" Alexandra barked, unconsciously protecting Melody by moving infront of her. "You can insult me, but don't you insult the Cabots and especially not my lover!"
Henry scoffed. "I bet you two aren't even 'lovers.' It was just a ruse to make us feel sorry for you!"
Henry's wife agreed, laughing. "I believe it! A mean snob and a dumb blonde! Getting along! In love! Right! When pigs fly!"
The community exploded into laughter and other mocking noises.
"STOP IT!" Melody suddenly exploded as well.
Everyone froze, including Alexandra. Melody pushed her stunned girlfriend aside and began waving her finger angrily in the air, face a hot red.
"All of you told us how 'open' and nice this community is when we first came here! You all think you're better than everyone outside your community and that you're the best, but you're just as mean and closed-off as everyone else we know! That's why I wanted to run away with Alexandra in the first place! I wanted us to be in a place where no one already thought they knew who we were! That Alexandra and her family are not just evil rich people! Having a lot of green paper with dead people's faces on them doesn't mean you're evil! The Cabots are nice too: before we left, the Cabots were gathering things for charity! Alexandra may yell a lot, but she's really sweet with me and her family! You have to walk the Nile in someone else's sandals before you can judge them! And me!" Melody's eyes brimmed with tears. "Your best friend, Josie! Valerie, Alan, Alex, and you laugh at me like I'm just a dumb blonde! Like I don't understand anything! Well, I understand things! I might not know the state capitals or the difference between a country and a continent, but I do know that as friends, you all should understand me not laugh at me! I shouldn't be afraid to tell you that I love Alexandra and we're together and we're happy!"
With that, Melody turned and dashed away to Henry's barn. The community stared after her in stunned silence. Alexandra shook herself out of her own stunned silence and rushed after Melody, holding Sebastian in her arms. When she found the blonde, she was sitting on the hood of Alexandra's ex-car, looking down at her lap while sniffling. Alexandra placed Sebastian down in an old shopping cart quietly rusting away by the car, and then sat down next to Melody. For Alexandra, it was still difficult and awkward to comfort a sad Melody. Even before getting together, Alexandra, or anyone for that matter, never knew what to do for Melody when she was sad, because seeing her sad made them sad. After much over-thinking and inner debate, Alexandra decided a gentle hand on the shoulder would be enough to express her desire to comfort Melody.
Melody looked up at Alexandra when she felt her gentle hand rest on her shoulder. "…I made a fool out of myself out there, didn't I?"
"You didn't. You were angry, Darling, everyone knew. Now, if it was me, I would've said a lot worse and then flipped a table for emphasis," Alexandra chuckled. "…And punched someone."
Melody weakly laughed. "You're all talk, Alexandra Cabot."
Melody sniffed again and looked back down at her lap. Alexandra kneaded Melody's thin shoulder in thought.
"You know…the last part of your little speech sounded like it was addressed to Josie and the others, rather than these peasants," Alexandra said.
Melody's face turned red. "…Yeah. I've wanted to say those things for awhile. But I'm too scared, unlike you. You're so brave and don't care what anyone thinks of you."
Alexandra smirked. "Yeah, well… But you know, they have to know about us before you can yell at them for not accepting us together." She paused and looked away thoughtfully. After a minute, she turned back to Melody. "…Maybe…it's time to tell them."
Melody's eyes went wide. "B-but what about you and your family? They'll get mad, right? And disbone you!"
"Being disboned does sound a lot more terrifying than disowned," Alexandra replied. She shrugged coolly and got up, putting a hand on her hip as she took a few steps away. "But if I learned anything from this experience, it's that if I can survive a few nights in this dump, I'll be okay, especially if I'm with you." She paused thoughtfully. "…But the next time we run away, let's chose a place with a shopping mall in it."
Melody perked up. "And a diner too!"
Alexandra grinned. "Deal." When Melody smiled and looked back down at her lap, Alexandra asked, "So, are you ready to go home now?"
Melody looked back up bashfully. "…Can we go visit the Rocks that look like Celebrities Museum on the way home?"
Alexandra, all too pleased to hear that Melody wanted to go home, readily agreed. "Of course, Darling."
Melody stood up and slowly wrapped her arms around Alexandra, burying her head into Alexandra's chest bone. Alexandra wordlessly responded by putting her own arms around Melody's neck, nuzzling her nose and mouth into the thick blonde hair to give the top of her head a kiss.
"Myrrowwwrrr," Sebastian complained impatiently.
Alexandra snapped her head up in his direction. "Hold your horses, Garfield!"
Sebastian made an offended noise and attempted to cross his arms over his huge stomach, but failed and toppled off the car with a surprised screech.
+0+0+0+0+0+
Alexandra shut the trunk of her new Firebird, looking over the car to see Melody seated in the passenger's seat and Sebastian in the middle of the seats, his seatbelt barely fitting around his stomach. She smirked triumphantly and began walking briskly to the driver's side door. Just as she lifted the door handle, a familiar voice called out to her.
"Hey, uh, Alexandra?"
Alexandra turned to see Aden, looking down bashfully at his feet. She noticed Henry at watching them further away. Alexandra's face twisted and she looked back at Aden, snarling, "Don't worry. We're leaving now."
Aden looked up and pled, "I'm sorry about what my dad said! …And my mom…and the rest of the community… But, I liked you both and I'm really grateful for the dream car you gave me! And for a fair trade too – I know you're not a bad person. And you, Melody, it was so much fun watching you happily go about your day, trying your best to fit in…" He paused and looked back down. "…I'm really, really sorry for what my sister and her friend did."
Melody got out of the car and joined Alexandra's side. Alexandra was standing straight up, back arched slightly with her hands on her hips, as if attempting to literally look down on Aden. Melody took her hand with hers, making the millionairess relax her stance. Henry walked over, wringing his straw hat in his hands. Jake was close behind him with Henry's wife.
"And I'm sorry too…making judgments like that even though I knew in my heart you two were never being dishonest with us. …Could you ever forgive us?" Henry asked with a hung head.
Melody looked at Alexandra with a happy smile. The millionairess looked back into her eyes for a moment before lifting her chin and looking down at Henry. "Well, you did give me something rather important to you, so I think we're even. Maybe there's even a little room left to call me a snob a few more times."
Henry looked up with bright eyes, laughing as he put his straw hat back on. "I'll take you up on that next time you girls come by. …You will come by, won't you? I've got some more things in the barn you would be interested in. Maybe you can bring the rest of the Cabots, or those Pussycats."
Alexandra snorted. "My father would try to buy out your land as soon as he put one foot on the ground, and I don't think my mom and my brother could survive this sort of life even for half a day. But…maybe Melody and I will come back to visit with our friends. What do you think, Melody?"
Melody nodded happily. "Sure! I can introduce them to the goats!"
Henry laughed and jumped, reaching into his pocket. "Oh, and, one more thing…" He pulled out a hood ornament shaped into a 'C.' Alexandra's eyes widened as he gently pressed it into her palm. "That was the hood ornament of your sports car you gave Aden."
Aden nodded. "It's pretty, but, I don't have any connection to that letter."
Alexandra squeezed it in her hand as Melody watched with a soft smile. "It's just…it's just a hood ornament. I'll lose it and forget about it, you know."
Henry smiled knowingly. "Maybe, but, don't your memories of that car seem clearer when you hold that in your hand? This is why my barn is full of 'junk,' Alexandra. Things are things, but some things are more to people, to their history, to history of places they've lived or been too. Things can be important too, and worth keeping, even if they do get dirty and outdated."
Alexandra squeezed the ornament several more times, eyes glazing over as she stared at the ground.
"Do you remember the time we made out in that car in Veronica Lodge's driveway during the Halloween party?" Melody asked loudly.
Alexandra turned a bright red, snapping her head to the innocent blonde. "Melody! Don't say that outloud! That's embarrassing!"
Melody laughed with the other men. "I knew it! Your face is turning red!"
Alexandra rolled her eyes with a smirk and took Melody's hand. Melody grinned and began leading Alexandra back to the car. Once Alexandra climbed into the driver's seat and Melody in the passenger seat, Jake came running up to the car, holding a jar full of liquid.
"Wait! I also have a present for you two! This is a lovely fragrance for lovebirds like yourselves," he explained, circling around the car to present the jug to Melody.
Melody took the jar. "Golly! How thoughtful! Thank you!"
Alexandra frantically reached for the jug, her straining hand just out of reach. "No, Melody! Give it back!"
Melody held the jar away from Alexandra, frowning at the frantic girl. "Alexandra! That's not very nice! It's a gift and we can't give it back!"
Alexandra clasped her hands together while she pled, "But Melody! It's urine!"
Melody blinked. "You're in what?"
"Pee!" Alexandra whispered.
"I thought we were in the town of 'X'," Melody replied, puzzled.
Alexandra slapped her hand over her own face and groaned, "I swear you do this on purpose!"
Melody cocked her head, even more puzzled. "Do what?"
Jake looked over at Alexandra, astonished. "You think I would put urine in a fragrance?! Who do you think I am?"
Alexandra let her head drop face-first onto her steering wheel. Suddenly, Jessica and Vanessa ran over and scrambled up to Melody.
"H-hey, Melody… Look, we're really sorry about what we did and said. We were just trying to protect the community," Jessica said.
Vanessa added, "How about next time we can play a song together? You can teach us how to play rock n' roll!"
Melody giggled and looked ahead. "Maybe, but I'm in a band already."
With that, Alexandra turned the key and the car purred to life. She grinned to herself – it was a beautiful sound and a beautiful thing. Sebastian perked up as well and meowed happily, putting his front paws in the air.
Melody joined him, throwing her arms into the air. "Let's go! Home is where the hearth is!" She quickly turned to Alexandra. "But we're still going to the museum, right?"
Alexandra laughed, "Don't worry, this car wants to go sight-seeing."
Alexandra put the car in gear and slowly began pulling away onto the dirt road stretching between the fields and barns. Melody stood up in her seat and turned to Henry and his family, waving with both arms. They waved back and once Melody was satisfied, she sat down and buckled her seatbelt as they sped away.
+0+0+0+0+0+
Josie paced outside the Cabot mansion several hours later. She received a text from Alexandra saying that Melody finally decided to come home, but didn't reply when Josie began frantically texting back about details and when they were coming back. Typical Alexandra, Josie thought with a shake of her head. But still, she was very grateful and happy for getting her friend back.
"Should I text her again?" Josie asked Valerie who sat on the steps with Alan.
"Josie, I think forty-fives times is enough," Valerie replied with a smirk.
Alan laughed, "I'm sure they'll be back soon. Alexandra really sounded like she hated wherever they were."
Alexander scoffed from standing at the end of the walkway. He proclaimed several times he wasn't worried about his sister, but his pacing and intense staring down the long stretch of their driveway said differently. "Hard work?! Milking goats?! …I didn't even know goats could be milked! I don't blame her!"
Mrs. Cabot sat on a white metal bench she had the servants drag from the backyard, surrounded by small green leaves scattered on the bench and around her feet. She pulled off another branch of a now half-bare bush and began plucking the leaves off of it while her foot tapped on the ground. "There's absolutely nothing to worry about."
Mr. Cabot turned his head to her from his seat on the bench, newspaper open in his hands. "Is that why you ruined the bush?"
Mrs. Cabot dropped the branch, face flushing, before turning to cock an eyebrow at his hands. "Is that why you're reading the newspaper upside down?"
Mr. Cabot did a double-take at the upside down newspaper in his hands before crumpling it up with a low, embarrassed growl. Suddenly, the familiar sound of a sports car zooming up into the driveway pierced the air. Everyone stood up expectantly and rushed towards Alexandra's garage. Just as they approached, Alexandra peeled up to the front of the garage and pulled over. Melody was already half-out of her seat before Alexandra could brake.
"Melody!" Josie shrieked happily, running towards the car with open arms.
Melody leaped out of the car and hugged her friend, both jumping up and down and making girlishly enthusiastic noises. Valerie ran up to the two and grabbed them both in a hug, laughing as they tried to make her join in on their hopping. Alan rushed over with Alexander and gathered everyone in his arms, lifting them all several inches off the ground. Alexandra stepped out of the car, attempting to look as cool as possible with a lifted chin and a hand to her hip. It was quickly ended by her parents charging at her, grabbing her into their arms.
"Oh Baby! Mommy was so worried!" Mrs. Cabot sobbed. "Did those dirty hippies hurt you girls?!"
Alexandra shook her head, face bright red as she tried to squirm out of their death grips. "N-no, they were just…quaint, that's all."
Mr. Cabot broke away and stared down at the Thunderbird. "Wow! What a beauty! Who would've thought this goldmine would be inside a barn?" He looked up at his daughter excitedly. "Where was that place?! I'll send my people there and buy out that entire barn!"
Alexandra's smile broke and she nervously put her fingernail in her mouth. "Uh, well, this was the only car he had, actually! Everything else was just dirty junk he picked up from the side of the road!"
Mr. Cabot sniffed. "A hoarder, eh? Well, I'm sure everything he has is useless and worthless."
"Of course, I mean, they were just a bunch of hippies," Alexandra fibbed.
Josie walked over to Alexandra and hugged her. Alexandra leaned a little backwards. "…What's happening here, Josie?" Valerie smirked and joined her, just to annoy Alexandra who became even more nervous. "Uh…" Alexander and Alan joined in, both grinning devilishly. "…Okay, okay! Let go of me!" Sebastian leapt out of the car, now back to a normal weight, and attached himself to Alexandra's face. Alexandra shook before she threw her fists in the air, knocking everyone backwards. "ALL-RIGHT YOU CLOWNS, GET OFF OF ME!"
Josie and the others laughed at Alexandra's red face, twisted in embarrassment.
Josie approached Alexandra again, this time sure to keep a few steps away from the heiress. "But, for real Alexandra, thank you for staying with Melody."
Valerie agreed. "Yeah, you sure surprised us! You even milked a goat so you could keep an eye on her!"
Mrs. Cabot's expression, to the paranoid Alexandra, seemed all too knowing, but, Alexandra convinced herself, it was just a happy expression. "Yes, you and Melody are a lot closer than I thought."
Alexandra was now completely convinced in her own mind that her mother knew. Maybe the others knew too. She looked around at her happy friends and family, feeling her heartbeat in her ears. Even if they didn't know, they would figure it out eventually. Why not just tell them while they're happy you're home and alive? This is the best opportunity, isn't it? A Cabot always takes the best opportunities. Alexandra gulped audibly and shook her head, determination appearing in her eyes. What's the worst that could happen? You survived in hippy-ville, you can survive anywhere. Alexandra looked at Melody who was watching her with her normal blank but warm expression. As long as you're with Melody, you'll be okay.
"…Actually, there's something that Melody and I…" Alexandra began.
"…Got for you all!" Melody ended loudly and happily. Alexandra watched in confusion as her girlfriend ran to the car and leaned over into it, digging around in her bags she had left on the floor of the car. "We went to a rock museum and got something!"
Josie's face brightened. "Wow! A rock museum?! Where was that?!"
Melody ran over and dropped a rock in Josie's hand. Josie stared down at it with the others, dumbfounded.
"It looks like Cheryl Ladd!" Melody proclaimed happily.
Josie blinked and looked back up. "…A rock…?"
Valerie groaned and facepalmed. "We thought you meant a rock music museum!"
Melody exclaimed, "Gee! That sounds fun! Do you know where one is?"
Alexandra burst into laughter, and the others quickly joined in. Josie held the rock in her hand and hugged Valerie, shaking and tearing from laughing so much.
"Welcome back, Melody!" Alan laughed.
Alexander interrupted. "Did you bring back my book?!"
Mr. Cabot clearly looked annoyed, scowling down at his son. "Didn't I tell you to throw those books away?! They're old and dirty! I can buy you the complete collection that came out a few years ago if you really want to read those books!"
Alexander shrunk back from his father. "B-but, Dad!"
"I say let him keep them," Alexandra declared. The others turned to her, baffled. "Those books hold his memories of his childhood or whatever, and they are collectible, as he says."
Alexander looked at his sister gratefully as Mr. Cabot shook his head and turned around, throwing his arms in the air. He marched back towards the mansion, proclaiming, "Fine, but don't let anyone see you with those books in your room! Childish fantasies, bah!"
Valerie's mouth hung open, looking at Josie who looked equally astonished. "Wow! Did you bring back the real Alexandra, Melody?"
Melody giggled. "Yup, I checked. …Several times."
Alexandra turned red, almost tripping over herself as she circled around the car. "S-stop being a weirdo and unpack your bags from my car! Your things will ruin the interior!"
Melody giggled as she opened the car door and gathered her bags. "Oh, don't worry. I think we already did that."
Alexandra turned even redder as the others exchanged confused glances. "Y-yeah! With your rocks in my car! Get them out!"
Melody held up a rock. "They told me this one looks like Tara Reid! She kind of looks like me, don't you think?"
Alan laughed and joined them, gathering up Melody's bags. "All-right, Melody." He began walking towards the mansion with Josie and Valerie. "Stop annoying Alexandra and let's get you both inside to the modern world!"
Melody looked up after him curiously. "But I thought that was the Cabot mansion!" She hurried after him, holding a bunch of rocks in her arms. "Wait! Will I need a spacesuit to go to this world?"
Alexandra let out a long sigh of relief as her mother joined her side, watching Alexander run after Melody, still demanding his book back. "I'm so glad that's over. I need ten showers and a lot of bug bite cream!"
Mrs. Cabot laughed lightly. "I'll bet." She leaned over to pet Sebastian who was now rubbing himself on her legs. "Poor kitty, did you miss us?"
Sebastian meowed over-dramatically as Mrs. Cabot gathered him into her arms. Alexandra scoffed and rolled her eyes at him. She grabbed her own bag and the bag she packed for Sebastian and began to walk towards the mansion.
"Oh, Alexandra," Mrs. Cabot called. Alexandra froze and then turned to her mother. Mrs. Cabot smiled that smile again. "I'm so glad you finally opened up to somebody your age."
Alexandra breathed out a sigh of relief. "Yeah, well… I-I need to go inside now!"
Mrs. Cabot and Sebastian watched the now red-faced heiress scurry hurriedly into the mansion. She looked down at Sebastian with a smirk, and the cat responded with an extended, sneaky snicker.
