Chapter 69
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Eve and Zack arrived home around 3pm. They'd eaten lunch on the road and Eve assumed they'd just be having pizza or fast food for dinner. The Ravenwood orientation program was sometime next week. Nadia was also coming back and Eve looked forward to seeing him again. She didn't know if Adam was returning. His sentance was likely up, but Zack said he might stay in West Virginia working on an Ark. When they got home Karen was there, making dinner. They were evidently still together, this would definitely be awkward.
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Karen: Hey Eve, it's good to see you again.
Eve: Yeah, it's good to be home. So, what's for dinner?
Karen: Meatloaf and mashed potatoes. I promise the meat's halal. You're still a muslim right?
Eve: Yeah, still pray towards Mecca.
Karen: So, did your dad tell you?
Eve: About school, or my new part-time job at Ravenwood?
Karen: I actually meant the other thing.
Eve: What other thing?
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Eve saw the looks between her dad and Karen. It was clear he was suppossed to have told her something else. Then Eve noticed something she hadn't before, the ring on Karen's finger.
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Eve: You guys are engaged?
Zack: Not exactly.
Karen: We're already married. Last month, we went to city hall.
Eve: Are you kidding me? You and I are in the same highschool, and aren't you still underage.
Karen: My parents signed the permission slips.
Eve: This is perverted. Dad, you've known Karen since she was eight. She cannot be my step-mother.
Zack: Noone is trying to replace your mother. Karen and I are trying to get through these next few years with as much happiness as we can.
Eve: Fine, take your comfort in this. I'd prefer Cujo.
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The mention of her dog's name caused more looks from Zack and Karen. Eve then realized that she hadn't seen or heard Cujo since she got home.
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Eve: Where is my dog?
Zack: He ran off, about three weeks ago. We haven't seen him since.
Eve: I need to call the Ark. He might've gone looking for me.
Zack: Eve I'm sorry. I think, he was old. Cujo knew he was dying, he didn't want you to see him like that.
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Eve realized they were probably lying. They didn't want Cujo eating up what was about to become limited food supplies. It was almost certain that Cujo was gone forever.