14AmyChan: I SHALL WRITE WITH RENEWED VIGOR! *^_^*
Sven: and… why is that?
14AmyChan: I GOT AN ONSLOUGHT OF REVIEWS FOR THIS STORY YESTERDAY SO NOW I AM REALLY PUMPED! *^_^*
Train: *whispers* she's gotta be on a sugar high…
Eve: what's a sugar high?
14AmyChan: I DON'T OWN ANYTHIIIIIIIIIIIIING! *^_^*
Eve woke up first. It was probably six o'clock. Wanting to read someplace that wasn't in the company of sleeping persons, she made her way to the small space that everyone had dubbed the "living room". Eve happily tucked into her book of Jokes and Puns as she sat in what was now her favorite chair.
For about an hour, Eve absorbed the information from the book, never forgetting a syllable. Then Sven walked into the kitchen. Curious as to what he could be doing at five in the morning, Eve followed him in. She sat quietly as Sven pulled out two pans, tied an apron on, and reached for the refrigerator. Sven was making breakfast.
For a little while, Eve simply watched as Sven went about making breakfast. Eve learned from watching how to crack open an egg single-handedly, how to make an omlette, and how to make strawberry pancakes. As Sven was putting away the now half-empty milk jug, he looked over at Eve as if noticing for the first time that she was there. "How long have you been sitting there?" Sven asked, fixing his eye patch and resuming his cooking.
"Since you walked in" Eve said, now taking the opportunity to properly look over Sven's shoulder. The omlette looked fluffy and the pancake looked delicious. Eve remembered her manners and kept herself from drooling. Sven must have seen her expression, though.
"Do you want the pancake?" Sven asked, plopping the said food on a plate. The omlette went onto a separate plate, filled to the brim with ham and cheese and olives and jalapeños. Eve had never tasted any of these, but knew what they looked like because of a cook book she had read a few days before.
"Are you sure?" Eve asked. She loved anything that Sven gave her, but she was always hesitant about taking anything. As if this were only going to be a dream and pushing her luck would result in her waking up. However, yesterday was starting to shift her view on that point.
"Yes, I'm sure" Sven didn't understand why Eve was always thinking twice about receiving anything from him, but he didn't push the issue. It was better for Eve to grow thinking about what consequences her actions may or may not have. Sven deemed it healthy in her growth, thus he let her worry. However, when Eve took the pancake from his hands, Sven could tell that Eve's hands were shaking ever-so-slightly. So he made her eat at the table, where he soon joined her to eat his omlette. He spotted the book on the table. "Is that book funny?" Sven asked, attempting to start a conversation.
Eve nodded, her eyes preoccupied with the strawberry pancake. It looked so good. She took her fork and knife and cut a small piece. Then she ate it. Instantly, she deemed the food good, and had another bite, a smile unconsciously forming on her mouth.
Sven smiled at Eve's blooming happiness, feeling no need to talk anymore and just enjoyed his omlette. He knew that Train and Saya would sleep in until forever, bad habits of theirs. But whenever asked, they would always answer "because we're cats". Honestly, those two were a handful. Like the two buddies from college that you hated and loved at the same time.
"That was delicious" Eve thanked Sven as she got up to wash her dish. Sven, finishing his omlette, followed suit.
"I'm glad you liked it" Sven said as he collected the pans and prepared to wash them. It was then that he noticed that Eve hadn't left after her dish had been washed, dried, and put away. "You know you can read your book if you want to" Sven said, taking her place in front of the sink. He began washing the dishes.
"Can I dry them?" Eve asked. Train and Saya did the dishes together, Eve usually took care of her messes, but she wanted to help Sven with something. As a thank you for the breakfast and an apology for not being able to be of any help yesterday.
"Uh, sure" Sven said as he passed the first pan to Eve to dry. She grabbed a clean dish towel and dried the pan and put it away. Same with the next pan. And the plate. Then everything was done. Sven turned off the water and turned to the living room. "I'm going to watch the news, see if they're broadcasting anything about Gyanza."
"Okay" Eve said as she picked up her book and walked over to her favorite chair. Sven sat down on the couch, picked up the remote, and turned the TV onto the news, which was already showing newscasters and policemen stating that the 'horrifying crisis of mass-murderer Gyanza Rujikke' was over. They were talking about the 'assurance from the mayor' that had come about half-an-hour ago. Eve heard something she had not heard since she got there. People below. In the streets. Hurrying so she wouldn't miss anything, Eve poked her head out the widow and saw that the streets were no longer empty, but now had people. Walking around. The seemed nervous, but they were still laughing. Eve checked around some more. Some shops were open. Businesses were coming back! Based off of what she had read on economics, that was a good thing!
"Wow" Sven said, looking over Eve's shoulder at the new population of people. "Talk about a bounce back. Looks like this town's going to be okay."
Eve smiled. She felt like she did do something to help this happen. She looked closer and saw that people were smiling. Laughing. A few were crying. But there was one that caught her eye in particular.
"Hey, it's the old man from the bar" a voice behind the both of them said. Sven and Eve turned around to see Train and Saya there, also looking down at the crowd and smiling. "After we check out, maybe we should see him."
"That sounds like a good idea" Saya agreed with Train. They were both already packed and ready to go.
"When did you two wake up?" Sven had to ask. He and Eve had been awake awhile, and when he left the boy's room, Train had been contentedly passed out on the couch with some huge grin on his face.
"I woke up about five minutes after you left, I think" Train said, scratching his head. "I always wake up early when we have to leave. That means I can sleep it off on the train."
"I woke up around that time" Saya added on, confused at the look she was receiving from Sven and Eve. "I wanted to pack, so I didn't come out. But since Train and I are already squared away, it looks like we just have to wait on you two." Saya grinned one of those pranksterish grins of hers and Sven and Eve went to go pack up for the road.
Train, Eve, Saya, and Sven walked out of the hotel with their bags packed and intent on leaving the now lively town behind them.
"Train, I'll say this for you" Sven said, taking a serious tone to which Train perked his ears to. "Even when the burst bullets didn't work, you tried to take Gyanza alive. Even when he hurt Eve and Saya, you still kept your cool. Maybe it's just me, but I think you showed a lot of restraint back there."
"Yeah, well…" Train's face went sour like yellow milk. "He still ended up dead…" Saya internally sighed at Train's answer when she heard some footsteps approaching them.
"Hey, old man!" Train's expression brightened as he saw the familiar face, freed from its alcoholic chains.
"You weren't gonna leave without comin' to see me, were you?" the old man asked, new life in his eyes. Eve could tell that he had been crying a little bit, but other than that, he seemed to be doing okay.
"Old man, we kept our end of the deal" Train said, smiling. "So keep your chin up, would you?" The old man looked surprised at that comment, so Train added "The dead would want you to live your life with a smile, wouldn't they?"
The old man looked shocked for a second, then—for the first time since they met him—he smiled. Genuinely and happily, he grinned as he commented "You're some kid…"
"Come on, guys, we've got a train to catch" Train grinned as he walked past the old man, who, in turn, walked away.
"Eve, what Train did back there is called 'grand standing'" Sven told Eve. Eve responded with a "got it" and Train could only complain upon deaf ears. Saya laughed at the scene. It was good to be with her friends.
As they all boarded the train, Saya checked her miniature calendar. It was a day that she marked every year, because every year since they joined up with Sven, they had made this important trip.
14AmyChan: I TOTALLY JUST WROTE A CHAPTER IN ONE SITTING! HUZZAH! *^_^*
Train: can you stop yelling now.
14AmyChan: *O-O* *bouncing up and down, really hyper*
Saya: now she's a bomb. She's gonna go off any-
14AmyChan: I AM SO ! *^_^*
Eve: o.o Train, what did you call this?
Train: a sugar rush?
Eve: so this is a sugar rush?
Sven: she hasn't actually had any sugar, so no. This isn't a sugar rush.
Eve: oh… *takes notes*
Train: well-
14AmyChan: PLEASE R&R YOU KIND PEOPLE! *^_^*
Train: I think everyone should hit the deck
Eve: what?
Sven: *ducks* duck!
Eve, Saya, and Train: *ducks*
14AmyChan: FITZKIDADLE! *explodes of happiness* *^_^*