Chapter six: Ava's evil twin
It was a wonderful night. Even though they didn't sleep at their own places. But the hotel was nice enough. Lori and Marisa woke up. Lori stretched out her arms.
"Good morning." Lori said.
Marisa got up.
"Good morning. Did you sleep well?" Marisa asked with a tired voice.
"Very."
Lori got up. They looked at Tatiana. She was still asleep. Her right leg hung out of the bed, and her arms were stretched out. Her hair was messy, and she was kinda sideways in the bed.
"That's kinda funny." Marisa said.
"Oh yes." Lori said.
"We should wake her up, don't you think Lori?"
"Yes."
Lori and Marisa sneaked up at Tatiana. They looked at each other, and nodded. Then they both yelled.
"Boooh!!!"
Tatiana twitched, and her hands went to her chest, holding her heart. She looked with widened, shocked eyes at Lori and Marisa.
"Why did you do that?" Tatiana said, panting loudly.
"Sorry. We couldn't resist doing that." Marisa said.
"We both thought it was funny. And it was." Lori said.
Tatiana got up.
"Well, I don't think it was funny." Tatiana said, and went into the bathroom.
Lori and Marisa giggled softly.
"Oh it was fun." Lori said.
"A lot of fun." Marisa said.
"It wasn't!" Tatiana said from inside the bathroom.
Lori and Marisa stopped giggling and looked at each other.
"I think we went too far." Lori said.
"We did." Marisa said.
They both sighed.
"I think we will invite her to breakfast." Lori said.
"As an apology?" Marisa asked.
"Yes."
"I think that's only fair."
"McDonald's with their breakfast buffet?"
"Yes." Marisa said and nodded.
Lori and Marisa changed their clothes. Tatiana left the bathroom, and changed her clothes. The girls put their stuff in their backpacks.
"So Tatiana… We're sorry for what we did to you." Lori said.
"We didn't want to upset you." Marisa said.
"But you did." Tatiana said.
"Yes. And we're really sorry for that." Lori said.
"We want to invite you for breakfast. As an apology." Marisa said.
"Fine. I accept it." Tatiana said.
"Okay." Marisa said.
"Where do we go?" Tatiana asked.
"We go to McDonalds and get something from their breakfast buffet." Lori said.
"Hmm. Okay. I'm not a huge McDonalds fan, but this is fine."
"Alright. Then let's go."
Lori, Marisa and Tatiana looked around if they left anything, and then they left the room. The girls went through the lobby of the hotel, and went to Lori's car. They got in, and drove off. Some minutes later they reached a McDonalds. Lori parked her car on a parking lot, and got out with her friends. They entered the McDonalds and went to the ordering machine with the big display.
"So. What will we take?" Lori asked.
Tatiana tapped on the screen and navigated through the menu. She tapped on the Bacon and egg McMuffin, and took two of them.
"Two of them." Tatiana said.
"Alright. And then three of those McGriddles." Lori said and put three on the ordering list.
"Why three?" Tatiana asked.
"One is for you."
"Okay."
"Coffee anyone?" Marisa asked.
"Yes." Lori and Tatiana said at the same time.
"Alright."
Marisa took three McCafés on the order.
"Is that all or anything else?" Lori asked.
Tatiana and Marisa shook their heads. Lori paid with her bank card, and went to a table. They sat down and waited.
"Do you really think that treating me to breakfast is gonna make me feel better?" Tatiana asked.
"No. But we wanted to apologize to you." Lori said.
"We're sorry for waking you up like that." Marisa said.
"This shock I had took five years of my lifetime." Tatiana said quietly.
Lori and Marisa looked shocked at Tatiana.
"Wow. We're sorry." Marisa said, shocked.
"We really didn't want to take these five years from you." Lori said.
Tatiana rolled her eyes.
"Not actual years. I meant that you really scared me." Tatiana said.
They sat silent at the table. Some minutes later, their breakfast was served. A McDonald's worker held two tablets in her hands, and laid them on the table.
"So. Good appetite."
She went away. Lori, Marisa and Tatiana looked at their breakfast.
"Not bad." Tatiana said with a smile.
Tatiana took one of the coffees and her bacon and egg McMuffins. Lori and Marisa took a McGriddle and a coffee each. They started to eat.
"This is good." Lori said.
"Yeah." Marisa said.
"Not bad. But I will cook this myself tomorrow." Tatiana said.
"It seems like you love cooking." Marisa said and bit in her McGriddle.
"I do."
"Can we help you with that?" Marisa asked.
"We really want to make up for the prank today." Lori said.
"Okay. Fine. You can." Tatiana said.
"I can make them better than here." Tatiana said.
Lori and Marisa looked kinda hurt at Tatiana. Tatiana looked confused at them.
"What? I can make it better than a McDonalds, which is not a hard task." Tatiana said.
"Can you prove it?" Lori asked.
"Proof that I can cook better than a fast food restaurant? Are you trying to insult me?" Tatiana said and got mad.
"No, of course not." Marisa said.
"We just want to see if you're right." Lori said.
"There's a rule. If I say that I can cook it better, ask if I mean food from McDonalds. If the answer to that question is yes, then it's also a yes that I can cook it better." Tatiana said.
They continued to eat. Ten minutes later, they got in Lori's car, and went to the house of the Louds. The girls got out. Lori rang the doorbell. Rita opened the door.
"Welcome back." Rita said.
"Hi mom." Lori said.
They entered the house. Rita closed the door. The girls went to the kitchen.
"Where are you going?" Rita asked.
"Cooking." Lori said.
"I will prove to them that I can cook better than a McDonalds." Tatiana said.
"That's not hard." Rita said.
"That's what I said."
They entered the kitchen. Lori, Marisa and Tatiana got all the ingredients together and put them on the kitchen table.
"The ingredients look good." Tatiana said.
"You can tell that to my dad. He only gets the best ones." Lori said.
"Your father makes good decisions. Okay. Let's start with… the bacon."
Tatiana took the bacon, and a pan. She put the pan on the stove, and put the bacon in it. Then she turned on the heat.
"So, after the bacon I will make the eggs." Tatiana said.
"And what do you do now?" Marisa asked.
Tatiana took a knife and started to cut the burger buns.
"Preparing the bread."
Lori and Marisa watched her preparing three burger buns. Tatiana turned the bacon. After two minutes, she took the bacon out of the pan and put it on a plate. Then Tatiana took the burger buns and put them for a minute onto the pan. Then she took them out, and opened the eggs, which started to get fried.
"Last part started." Tatiana said.
Tatiana finished frying the eggs some minutes later, and put them on the burger buns. Then she put the bacon into the eggs and closed the burger buns.
"So. It's done. Does it look better than at McDonald's?" Tatiana asked.
"It looks much better." Lori said.
"Much better." Marisa said.
Tatiana nodded.
"Now try it." Tatiana said.
Lori and Marisa took the food, and bit in it.
"Better than McDonald's?" Tatiana asked.
"Better than McDonald's." Lori said.
"Much better." Marisa said.
"Exactly. That's why I go to McDonald's like, almost never." Tatiana said.
"Because you make it better?" Lori asked.
"Yes. And because it isn't high quality. You eat and get hungry an hour later again."
Lori, Marisa and Tatiana finished their second breakfast. They put their dishes into the dishwasher and went to the living room. Rita was there, holding Lily, and Lana and Lola were playing together.
"Ah, could you girls be so nice and go for a walk with Lily, Lisa and the twins?" Rita asked.
"Sure." Lori said.
"Perfect." Rita said and handed Lily over to Lori.
"Lisa! Come here!" Rita said loudly.
Lisa came downstairs with a book in her hands."
"What is your screaming about?" Lisa asked.
"Out the book away, and go with Lori and her friends." Rita said.
"Why?"
"You need to get some fresh air and some sun."
"I have enough vitamin D and the right nitrogen and oxygen mix, also know as air." Lisa said.
"Fresh air is better. You go with Lori, her friends and your sisters." Rita said.
Rita turned to Lola and Lana.
"Girls, put on your shoes, you go for a walk."
"Do we need to?" Lana asked.
"Yes."
"And we just had a good time here!" Lola said with an upset voice.
"You need fresh air too." Rita said.
"Ugh! Fine!" Lola said annoyed.
Lola and Lana went to the door and put in their shoes. Lisa put on her shoes too.
"See you later mom." Lori said.
"See you." Rita answered.
Lori, with Lily in her arms, Lola and Lana, Lisa, Marisa and Tatiana left the house. They walked through Royal Woods. Marisa and Tatiana played with Lily, who was in Lori's arms. They tickled Lily. Tatiana tickled Lily at her left ear and Marisa tickled Lily's belly. Lily was laughing.
"You think that's funny." Marisa said and tickled Lily again.
"No!" Lily said, laughing.
"She doesn't always like to admit that she liked to get tickled." Lori said.
"I wouldn't either." Marisa said.
"I don't like to get tickled." Tatiana said.
"I remember well. You hate it." Lori said.
"Exactly."
They walked on. Eventually they turned into a street, and walked past a house.
"Hold on a moment." Tatiana said.
Tatiana looked at the mailbox that was in front of the big house. The name sign on the mailbox read the name „Smith". Tatiana turned around and looked sad at Lori.
"They don't live here anymore."
Lori got sad.
"She moved away at the same time like you. I never saw them ever again." Lori said.
"Who lived there?" Marisa asked.
"Jane and Betty." Lori said.
"They were two of your friends in middle school?"
"Yes. Don't you remember? The twins. Jane and her twin sister Betty who wasn't able to hear." Tatiana said.
"Oh right. Sorry. It's just, I have to remember so many names." Marisa said.
"It's alright." Lori said.
"We stood here some years ago. Remember?" Tatiana said.
"When Betty left again for her school?" Lori asked.
"Yes."
Sunday, October 20th 2013:
Jane and Betty stood in front of their house. Betty already said goodbye to her parents, who were inside the house. Jane looked at Betty and moved her hands.
(Jane)
«Did you pack your toothbrush?»
Betty nodded. Lori, Ava and Quinn approached them fast.
"Sorry. We wanted to be here earlier." Lori said.
"We're really sorry." Quinn said.
"It's okay. The taxi isn't here yet." Jane said quietly.
"Are you okay?" Quinn asked.
Jane wrapped her arms around Betty.
"No. Betty will leave again and I'm alone again for a month." Jane said with a sad voice.
They all hugged Jane and Betty.
"We will make her feel welcome when she comes back." Quinn said.
"She always is." Jane said.
A silver colored van approached. It had a label on it. „Greenwood Special School for disabled". It stopped in front of them. The girls broke the hug. Betty opened the door of the van, and got in it with her suitcase. She looked at her friends and waved at them. Lori, Ava, Quinn and Jane waved back at them. She closed the door, and the van drove off, with the girls watching it disappearing into another street. Quinn was surprised by the label on the van.
"School for disabled?" Quinn asked, confused.
"Betty can't hear." Jane said.
"She is disabled." Ava said.
"I have to see how I get through the day by myself." Jane said.
"You don't need to." Quinn said.
"You have us." Lori said.
"Thank you girls." Jane said.
Jane looked at her home.
"Wanna come in?" Jane asked.
"Yes." Lori said.
"For sure." Quinn said joyfully.
"Okay. But please take off your shoes right behind the door, and don't touch anything. My mother gets a heart attack." Jane said.
"Why does she get a heart attack?" Lori asked.
"She hates everything that gets in her order. And if she sees a fingerprint on something she doesn't want them, she looses her mind." Jane said.
"Really?" Quinn asked.
"I once had a small stain on one of my dresses, and she threw it away and bought a new one. The stain was as big as the tip of my finger."
The girls went to the front door and entered. They took off their shoes. Everyone except Ava was wearing socks.
"Still not wearing socks?" Jane asked.
"Socks are a piece of clothing you put on and then your wear shoes. Where is the use?" Ava said.
"Fine." Jane said.
They walked to the stairs in the hallway. Lori, Quinn and Ava noticed the giant fish tank in the hall.
"Wow." Lori said.
"Awesome." Quinn said.
"My father loves fish. He especially like the blue and red neons. Sometimes I look at them for hours." Jane said.
The girls went upstairs, and entered Jane's room. It had a big bed in it, the floor was covered with a red carpet, and on a table was a mirror with a lot of jewelry. It looked like a Royal would live there.
"Wow!" Quinn said.
"You live like a princess." Lori said amazed.
"I agree." Ava said.
"It's nothing special." Jane said.
"Wanna play something?" Quinn asked.
"I have nothing here to play." Jane said.
"Let's play truth or dare." Lori said.
"Alright." Jane said.
The girls sat down.
"Who starts?" Lori asked.
"I do." Quinn said.
"Alright. Truth or dare?" Jane asked.
"Truth."
"Is it true that you used to be thin?" Lori asked.
Quinn sighed.
"Yes. And I miss being thin." Quinn said.
Quinn looked at Ava next to her.
"Ava, truth or dare?"
"Truth." Ava said.
"Is there anything except goth stuff you like?"
Ava thought for a moment.
"I guess reptiles." Ava said.
The girls felt awkward.
"And which reptiles do you like?" Lori asked.
"Vicki is a Bismarck ringed python. They are beautiful. Or the Amazon tree boa. They have long teeth and are really aggressive. But very beautiful." Ava said.
"And lizards?" Quinn asked.
"I like lizards. But some of them throw their tails off when they get scared."
"And…" Jane asked.
"My fear is that I mess something up, the lizard gets scared, and throws off its tail." Ava said.
Quinn and Jane started to feel sick.
"Oh my god." Jane said and held her hand over her mouth.
"I'm about to throw up." Quinn said.
"It's supposed to be. If a cat catches the lizard, it does it and the cat gets distracted. The lizard can run away." Ava said.
"That's smart." Lori said. Ava looked at Jane and Quinn.
"Do you feel better now?" Ava asked.
Ava looked at Lori.
"Truth or dare?" Ava asked.
"Dare." Lori said.
"Hold your head under an ice cold shower for two seconds."
Lori got upset.
"You… Fine." Lori said with a tense tone.
She got upset and left the room.
"Why did I choose to dare? I'm such an idiot!"
Jane, Quinn and Ava heard the shower getting turned on, and then they heard Lori screaming.
"Ieeck!"
The shower got turned off a few seconds later, and Lori came back. She looked mad at her friends, with dripping wet hair. Jane and Quinn giggled.
"This was the last time I took a dare. Jane, truth or dare?" Lori asked, and sat down.
"Truth." Jane said.
"Betty told me some weird stuff after the day Bobby hit you with a Tennis Ball. Something after school happened between you. What exactly happened?"
Jane blushed.
"Uh… oh…"
Lori, Quinn and Ava looked closely at Jane.
"What happened?" Quinn asked.
"So… He came here with Dana… holding a bunch of roses. He talked to Betty. He probably mistook her for me. I told him to go away. He apologized and gave me the roses… And I might have kissed his cheek…"
Jane blushed even more.
The girls looked at Jane with widened eyes. Jane laid her hands over her face.
"I'm so sorry." Jane said with an embarrassed voice.
"I can't believe you did that." Quinn said.
"Me neither." Lori said.
"Did it feel good?" Ava asked.
Jane looked at Ava, and nodded slowly. Lori, Quinn and Ava started to feel excited.
"That's wonderful." Quinn said.
"I'm happy for you Jane." Lori said.
Jane looked at Quinn.
"Truth of dare?" Jane asked.
"Dare." Quinn said.
"We have a whole fruit cake in the kitchen. You eat it."
"Oh god…" Quinn said with a stressed expression.
"I said, you do."
Quinn got up.
"This is embarrassing." Quinn said with a quiet voice.
The girls followed her. On their way downstairs, Ava grabbed Jane's upper right arm, and whispered in her ear.
"I know the question Lori asked was embarrassing. But you don't need to let your anger out at Quinn. Especially not in that way."
"I'm not making her eat because of that." Jane said.
"Then why? You know that she has a big problem."
"Quinn has clearly enough room in her belly for a whole fruit cake."
"You know it isn't good for her."
"I hope you pick dare and Quinn makes your wear socks." Jane said.
Ava looked at her feet, and followed her friends. They all entered the kitchen. On the counter was a whole loaf of fruit cake. Jane took the loaf and put it in front of Quinn, on the counter. Quinn looked desperately at her friends, and then at the fruit cake. She started to eat. And it looked like she didn't enjoy it at all. She finished it. The last bits didn't taste good at all anymore. Quinn looked at the empty plate. Then she put her hands over her face, and started to sob. Lori, Jane and Ava looked shocked at this. Ava turned around, grabbed Jane at her upper arms, and stared into Jane's eyes.
"I knew it would happen." Ava said with a tense voice.
Quinn felt big for Ava. Lori went to Quinn and Ava, and patted Quinn's shoulder.
"You did good girl." Lori said.
"No." Quinn said with a crying voice.
"I'm sorry." Lori said.
Lori looked at Jane.
"You messed up big time." Lori said.
Jane chuckled nervously. Lori got mad.
"Did you see what you have done!? And then you chuckle like that!" Lori said loudly.
Jane snapped.
"I just tried to play a game here!" Jane yelled.
"And you had to let Quinn do the worst you could have chosen!?" Lori yelled.
Ava and Quinn left the kitchen. Lori and Jane looked how they went into the hall, and then they looked at each other.
"Why? Why did you do something like that to her? You know how big that problem is for her." Lori said with a tense voice.
"I… I… I thought it wouldn't be that bad for her. And…"
"Don't apologize to me. Apologize to Quinn." Lori said, and took some steps away from Jane.
Jane looked at Quinn who was with Ava in the hall. She felt nervous. She went to Quinn, followed by Lori. Jane looked at Quinn. Ava looked suspiciously at Jane.
"Uh… Quinn… I'm really sorry." Jane said.
Quinn looked at her.
"I felt like being humiliated by Alex and victor." Quinn said.
Jane felt a shock in her body. Her head felt cold and then hot.
"Oh my god… What have I done? I'm sorry sorry."
Jane held her hands in front of her face.
"This was like when they called me a piggy and you a clown."
"I'm so sorry."
Jane wrapped her arms around Quinn.
"I'm so sorry Quinn."
Jane started to sob. Quinn laid her hand on Jane's back.
"Don't hurt me again please." Quinn said.
"I will do better. I promise."
"Okay. Can we continue the game now?" Quinn asked.
Ava whispered something into Quinn's ear.
"I'm sure about it." Quinn said.
Ava whispered again into Quinn's ear.
"Okay. I will."
The girls went upstairs, and sat down again in Jane's bedroom.
"Truth or dare Ava?" Quinn asked.
"Dare."
"Let us tickle your feet."
Ava rolled her eyes and stretched out her feet. Jane and Quinn started tickling her. Ava's facial expression changed. It looked like she was holding something back.
"Are you even ticklish?" Jane asked.
"Not… sure…" Ava said.
"Oh she is. Look how she looks." Quinn said and giggled.
Ava burst into laughing.
"Oh my. Stop this is too much!" Ava said and laughed.
"It works." Quinn said and smiled.
"I never saw her laughing so much." Lori said.
Jane and Quinn continued tickling Ava. Eventually they stopped. Quinn and Jane went back on their places. Ava pulled her legs back.
"How are you feeling?" Jane asked.
"Like always." Ava said.
"What does that mean?" Quinn asked.
"My life has no meaning. Nothing we do has an effect on the universe. All will go on and nothing changes, and as always, we're tiny creatures living on a rock in cold space, that circles around a star called sun."
Lori, Jane and Quinn looked with blank looks at Ava. Ava looked at Lori.
"Truth or dare?"
"Uh… Truth." Lori said.
"Do you have a crush on someone?"
"Uh…" Lori said and blushed slightly.
"That's the girliest thing I could have imagined what she would ask." Jane said.
"Well… No. I don't have one." Lori said.
Jane and Quinn got shocked.
"Oh I would never answer if I don't have a crush." Quinn said.
"Sorry for ruining the moment." Lori said.
"You didn't." Jane said.
"No. You didn't. I just wouldn't feel comfortable enough to tell that I don't have anyone." Quinn said.
"I feel sorry for you Lori. I hope you find one soon." Quinn said.
"No. No crush." Ava said.
"You really just confirmed that you don't have a crush, Quinn." Jane said. Lori looked at Jane.
"Truth or dare?" Lori asked.
"Uh, dare I guess." Jane said.
"Okay. I want you to dye your hair."
Jane looked shocked at Lori.
"Dye? My hair?" Jane said and held her hands on her hair.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"You deserve it."
"Because of the thing with Quinn?"
Lori nodded slowly. Jane looked at Quinn and sighed.
"Fine. I really deserve it."
"Then let's go buy some dye." Lori said.
"No. My mom has some."
Jane got up and left the room. Twenty minutes later, Jane entered the room. Her hair was pitch black.
"I thought you were dyeing your hair in front of us." Quinn said.
"Hair dyeing is something you need to do in the bathroom. And if my mother sees a small stain in this room, it will be hell on earth." Jane said.
"Right… Your mother." Lori said.
Jane sat down. Lori, Quinn and Ava looked at her hair.
"It looks better than I though." Quinn said.
Jane felt a little surprised.
"Really?"
"Yes. It fits your face." Quinn said.
Jane held her hair and looked at it.
"I miss the red already." Jane said.
"You deserve it." Lori said. Jane looked to Quinn.
"Truth or dare?"
"Truth." Quinn said.
"Your brother Tom, does he have a girlfriend?"
Quinn, Ava and Lori looked suspiciously at Jane.
"No. Why do you ask?"
"I… I was just asking." Jane said.
"Do you have a crush on Tom?" Lori asked.
"No!"
"Your question makes you look like you have one." Ava said.
"This game isn't fun anymore." Jane said.
"It was a bad idea to play it." Quinn said.
"Let's just stop it." Lori said.
"Alright. And what will we do now?" Jane asked.
"We show Carol how you look." Quinn said.
"Good idea." Lori said.
"Really?" Jane asked with an annoyed and surprised voice.
"Yes. Come."
The girls got up and went downstairs. They put on their shoes in the hall and left Jane's home. They walked on the sidewalk through the streets.
"Will Carol take my new hair color well?" Jane asked.
"She surely will." Lori said.
"That's what we think at least." Quinn said.
"Don't push me!" Jane said.
"I'm sorry." Quinn said.
"This color will be away in a month or two." Lori said.
"That is so long. And I wanted to have a partner costume with Betty." Jane said.
"What costume did you want to wear with her?" Quinn asked.
"I dress up as her and she dresses up as me. She can't talk and I wouldn't talk then. No one would distinguish between us." Jane said.
"Wow." Quinn said surprised.
"That's a kinda diabolic plan." Lori said.
"Yes. It was a perfect plan." Jane said.
"It is brilliant." Ava said.
"It was. And now I can throw this idea away." Jane said.
"We're sorry for that." Quinn said.
"But you did that to yourself." Lori said.
Jane got mad at herself. The girls walked on. Eventually they reached the House of the Pringreys. It was two floors high, had a white facade and a red roof. Around it were many purple flowers.
"Nice flowers." Lori said.
"I like purple." Quinn said.
"Purple fits with black." Ava said.
"And you love black." Jane said.
"I do." Ava said.
"A vampire like from a movie…" Lori said.
Lori, Quinn, Jane and Ava went to the front door. Lori rang the doorbell. A few seconds later, Carol opened the door.
"Hi Carol. We wanted to show you something." Lori said.
Carol noticed Jane's hair and got shocked.
"Why… Why does Jane look like Ava's evil twin?" Carol asked shocked and flabbergasted.
"Hey! Don't mess with me about my hair!" Jane said upset.
"Okay. But you should really borrow some of Ava's clothes." Carol said.
Lori and Quinn giggled.
"Why even is your hair like that?" Carol asked.
"We played truth or dare. And I messed around too much with Quinn." Jane said.
"What did you do?"
"She let Quinn eat a whole loaf of fruitcake until she cried." Lori said.
Carol looked shocked and angry at Jane.
"You really are Ava's evil twin." Carol said.
"I feel bad about it at least. Okay?" Jane said.
"You should." Carol said.
"Ava's evil twin regrets what she did." Lori said.
"I can borrow her some clothes." Ava said.
"Wanna come in?" Carol asked.
"That's why we're here." Lori said.
"Alright. Come in."
The girls entered the house of the Pringreys. They took off their shoes and went into the living room. Mrs Pringrey was ironing fresh clothes. She was wearing a purple dress and black slippers. Her hair was as blonde as Carol's hair, and she wore it free. It was slightly wavy and hung over her shoulder.
"Hello Mrs Pringrey." Lori said.
"Hello." Jane said.
Mrs Pringrey looked at them and smiled.
"Ah look. It's always a pleasure to see you kids. How are you?"
"We're good." Lori said.
"Yes. Kinda good." Quinn said.
"I guess…" Jane said.
"We would go outside again." Carol said.
"We do?" Lori asked.
"Yes."
"Okay. Take care of you girls." Mrs Pringrey said.
"Yes mom." Carol said and went upstairs.
Carol went downstairs again one minute later. She held her handheld radio in her hand, set something up, and then clipped it at the belt of her dress.
"Ready." Carol said.
The girls put on their shoes again and went outside again. They walked in the direction of the forest, where the giant TV broadcast tower was rising from the trees.
"What is the radio for?" Quinn asked.
"If Tatiana tries to call one of us, I could answer." Carol said.
"Ah. Right."
"The question is if she hears us. She transmits stronger than allowed. We will hear her for sure. But she might not hear us." Lori said.
"Yes. That happen already one time." Carol said.
"I can do the same." Ava said.
"Transmitting way too strong?" Jane asked.
"Yes. I found an amplifier at a flea market."
"How strong?" Lori asked.
"Hundred watts."
"Even worse than Tatiana." Carol said.
"I hope you don't use that thing." Quinn said.
"We don't want you to land in jail." Jane said.
"I tried it once. It works. It is now in my tech stuff drawer." Ava said.
"Okay. Don't use it." Carol said.
They reached the forest, and walked past the TV broadcast tower. Eventually they reached the creek. The dam was standing how they built it.
"Nice." Lori said.
"It's still standing." Carol said.
"Tatiana planned this dam like an expert." Jane said.
"Next summer will be awesome." Quinn said.
"Oh yes. How much did it fill up?" Lori asked.
"Let's see."
The girls walked to the dam. The girls walked to the dam. They felt their feet stepping in the mud of the creek floor.
"Wasn't water flowing here when we were here the last time?" Jane said.
"Yes. But now it's much less." Carol said, and pointed to the mid of the creek floor.
A small amount of water was flowing from the dam. The girls walked up the slope next to the creek and looked onto the water in the dam. The dam was filled. The creek became a mid-sized pond.
The girls looked amazed at the pond of the dam.
"Oh god." Lori said.
"I didn't think it would become that big." Quinn said.
"And the dam holds it." Jane said.
"Just wow." Carol said.
"We reshaped a part of the forest. Impressive." Ava said.
"Can't wait to jump into it next summer." Quinn said.
"Me neither. This will be so much fun." Lori said.
Lori pulled back her jacket sleeve and put her hand into the water. It was really cold.
"Uh. Cold." Lori said.
Jane and Ava held their hands into the water.
"Oh yes. It's really cold." Jane said.
"That bad?" Quinn asked and held her hand into the water.
She pulled her hand out pretty fast.
"No. You're right."
Carol held her hand into the water.
"Cold. But it looks clean." Carol said.
"And it is calm. Frogs will like that." Ava said.
"You mean we will have frogs in this pond?" Quinn asked.
"If the frogs like it they even lay eggs here."
"That's nice." Quinn said.
"Lots of little frogs that jump around here." Carol said with a smile.
"That's great. But do we need to be extra careful then?" Lori asked.
"Yes." Ava said. "Especially with such little creatures." Jane said.
"Yes. Anyway, it is soon dinner time. Do you want to eat dinner at my home?" Carol asked.
"Yes." Jane said.
"But you have enough for dinner for all of us?" Lori asked.
"My mother always makes enough food for dinner." Carol said.
"Alright. Let's go then." Quinn said.
The girls walked away from the dam, and walked again to the TV broadcast tower. Eventually they reached the home of the Pringreys. They entered and took off their shoes. The girls went into the dining room. The table was already prepared for many people. As if Carol's mother knew they all would eat here.
"Mom! Why are so many plates on the table?" Carol asked with a loud voice.
Mrs Pringrey's voice came from the kitchen.
"Yes sweetie. I know that your friends eat often here so I prepared for the case." The girls got impressed.
"Your mom is really good." Lori said.
"Really good." Quinn said.
"I wonder how mom did that." Carol said.
Carols father entered the room. He had blonde hair and a blonde mustache, was wearing a red shirt and blue jeans.
"Hello everyone." Mr Pringrey said.
"Hello Mr Pringrey." Jane said.
"Hi dad." Carol said.
"How was your day little one?" Mr Pringrey asked and patted Carols head.
Carol got embarrassed and blushed.
"Dad… This is…" Carol got silent.
Lori, Jane and Quinn Giggled.
"This is… so embarrassing." Carol whispered to herself.
Mrs Pringrey entered the living room with a cooking pot.
"Ah honey you're back. How was the fishing?" Mrs Pringrey asked.
"The fish bite the bait but I never catch them." Mr Pringrey said.
Mrs Pringrey put the cooking pot on the table.
"Ah soon you catch one. Dinner is ready."
"Thank you." Mr Pringrey said.
He sat on the table. Lori, Carol, Jane, Quinn and Ava sat on the chairs at the table. Mrs Pringrey came to them with a bowl of salad, and put some of the salad on the plate of everyone. It was a classic green salad with French dressing. Mrs Pringrey sat down. They all started to eat.
"The salad is very good." Lori said.
"Thank you." Mrs Pringrey said.
"You cook as good as always." Mr Pringrey said.
"Thank you honey."
Carol blushed again with embarrassment.
"It is sour." Ava said.
"Do you want another dressing darling?" Mrs Pringrey asked.
"I didn't say that it's bad." Ava said.
"She loves it." Carol said quietly.
"Does it have eggs in it?" Quinn asked.
"Yes. Do you like it?" Mrs Pringrey asked.
"I love it. You have talent ma'am."
"Thank you."
Then Mrs Pringrey gave them all macaroni and cheese. They started to eat the macaroni and cheese. It was even better than the salad.
"Oh this is wonderful." Jane said.
"You used the cheese I love so much." Carol said.
"Yes. I mixed it into the cheese I usually use." Mrs Pringrey said.
"Thank you mom." Carol said with a happy voice.
"It tastes really good." Quinn said and ate a full fork of the macaroni and cheese.
They continued the dinner. It ended with chocolate muffins, made by Mrs Pringrey. They were really delicious. After the dinner, Carol, Lori, Quinn, Jane and Ava went upstairs to Carols bedroom. She sat at a desk with some sewing equipment.
"I need to show you something I've made. I sat the whole day at this project." Carol said.
Carol started to sew a button on a pair of pants.
"You sewed buttons on jeans?" Jane asked.
"No. Something better. But I need to repair these jeans. Those are the best ones I have."
"I would do the same if I had that talent." Lori said.
"I would make small jackets for my bunnies." Quinn said.
"Leni is into fashion. And she is trying to make her own clothes. Maybe you could show her how to make it." Lori said.
"Yeah…" Carol said.
"Something wrong?"
"Well… How should I put it? It's really exhausting to hang out with your sister."
"Whats that supposed to mean?" Lori asked.
"Well… When we hang out with her, and we try to explain something to her… she doesn't get it. Like you tell her something and she says okay, and doesn't get it at all."
"She is not smart." Quinn said.
"Concerningly not smart." Jane said.
"Don't insult Leni like that! She didn't do anything to you!" Lori said with an angry voice.
"We didn't want to insult Leni." Jane said.
"Not at all." Quinn said.
"Leni is nice. She is cool. But it is just exhausting sometimes." Carol said.
"So… Wanna see my newest project?" Carol asked.
"Yes." Lori, Quinn and Jane said at the same time.
Carol got up and went to her wardrobe. She took out a purple dress with long sleeves and a long skirt.
"What do you think?" Carol asked.
"It is wonderful." Lori said.
"Very cute." Quinn said.
"I ask my mom to put something like that on our shopping list." Jane said.
"Good work." Ava said. Carol smiled.
"Thank you."
"You made that by yourself?" Jane asked.
"Yes. But my mom helped me a lot with the hard parts. Which were a lot." Carol said.
"Do you need our help with the dress?" Ava asked.
"Hmm? No. The dress is done. I'm just so happy it's finally done. I feel like a princess wearing it." Carol said.
"You should wear it." Jane said.
"Okay. Oh this will be so great." Carol said, and went out of the room.
The girls looked after her.
"She loves this dress." Quinn said.
"I love it too." Jane said.
"She will look beautiful." Quinn said.
"Like a Princess." Lori said.
"If she looks like a princess in that dress, then I have to get one." Jane said.
"First you have to wear Ava's clothes." Lori said.
"Hey!" Jane said upset.
"What? It would fit you." Lori said.
"It would fit you really well." Quinn said.
"I don't look like Ava's evil twin!"
"Ava, does she look like your evil twin?" Lori asked.
Ava didn't move her head. Her eyes looked at Jane though, before she looked away. She remained silent. Lori, Jane and Quinn looked confused at Ava.
"Okay…" Quinn said.
"Can you tell us please if she looked like your evil twin?" Lori asked.
Ava remained silent.
"I don't think she says anything for today anymore. And I was hoping she would say no." Jane said.
"Ava. Can you answer to our question please?" Quinn asked.
Ava remained silent and looked at Carol's bed.
"Do you know what she is trying to say?" Lori asked and looked at Jane.
"She doesn't use sign language. But I think she doesn't want to answer." Jane said.
Lori and Quinn felt slightly worried.
"Are you okay Ava?" Lori asked.
Ava looked at her and made an expression that meant something like, „I guess".
"She is just being herself." Jane said.
"I guess. Silent like a bat." Lori said.
Carol entered the room. She was wearing her purple dress. Lori, Quinn, Jane and Ava got stunned.
"What do you think?" Carol asked overjoyed.
"It's wonderful." Lori said stunned.
"I love it!" Quinn said.
"I need such a dress…" Jane said with a stunned voice.
"You look very good in this dress." Ava said.
"Thank you." Carol said, and went briefly in her knees, holding the dress with the tips of her fingers.
"You look like a princess." Quinn said.
"For real." Lori said and nodded.
Jane went to Carol and touched her dress.
"It feels so soft." Jane said.
"My mom ordered the best fabric." Carol said with a smile.
"It is the best one…"
"Ahem. When do we meet next?" Lori asked.
"We can meet after school. We finally don't need to do this stupid work anymore." Carol said.
"Yes. Finally." Quinn said.
"I won't miss cleaning trash off of the ground." Jane said.
"Me neither." Ava said.
"So we meet after school?" Lori asked.
"Yes. At the old hunter hut." Carol said.
"The entrance is so tight there." Quinn said.
"You got in last time." Jane said.
"It still is unnecessarily narrow."
"But the hut is nice. And it is very cozy." Lori said.
"It is. Fine. We will meet there." Quinn said.
"Alright. On Tuesday?" Carol asked.
"That seems to be okay." Jane said.
"We can discuss more at the break at school." Lori said.
"Right." Quinn said.
Lori saw the alarm clock on Carols bedside table. It showed 7:24 p.m..
"Oh. It's getting late." Lori said.
"We should go home." Quinn said.
"My mother will scream when she sees my hair…" Jane said.
"Your fault." Lori said.
"You shouldn't have messed with Quinn." Carol said.
Jane sighed.
"See you tomorrow Carol." Lori said.
"See you." Carol said.
"Good night." Quinn said.
"Bye…" Jane said.
Lori, Quinn and Jane walked to the door. Ava went to Carol and briefly went into her knees.
"Good night your majesty."
"Thank you great witch of my kingdom." Carol said.
Ava followed Lori, Quinn and Jane, who went downstairs. They girls left the house and stood on the sidewalk.
"Was somehow nice today." Lori said.
"Somehow yes." Quinn said.
"Hmm…" Jane said.
"Don't worry it's just a month." Lori said.
"Next weekend you will wear Ava's clothes." Quinn said and giggled.
Jane sighed again.
"Alright. See you Tomorrow." Lori said.
"Bye. Good night girls." Quinn said.
"Bye…" Jane said.
"Goodbye." Ava said.
"Take care of you." Lori said.
The girls went on their own ways home.
Sunday, April the fifth 2020:
Lori, Marisa, Tatiana, with Lily, Lisa and the twins were walking through the streets of Royal Woods. Marisa was laughing hard.
"Oh that's genius." Marisa said.
"It was the best idea I had to punish Jane." Lori said.
"And she really looked like Ava's evil twin?" Marisa asked and wiped a tear off.
"Yes. We clothed her in Ava's clothes once. She really did." Tatiana said.
"Betty was mad though." Lori said.
"Because of Halloween?" Marisa asked.
"Yes." Tatiana said.
"But they still got a partner outfit. Lana and Lola did the same." Lori said.
"What did they do at Halloween?" Marisa asked.
"Salt and pepper. Lana was a pepper shaker and Lola a salt shaker." Lori said.
"Cute!" Marisa said.
"I dressed up as a vampire. That was… two years ago." Lori said.
"Ah. You must have looked good." Marisa said.
"Thanks. I did. What did you dress up for on Halloween?" Lori asked.
"A princess. With a blue dress like Cinderella." Marisa said.
Lola looked at Marisa with widened eyes.
"A princess?" Lola asked.
"Yes. A princess."
"I'm a princess. A real one." Lola said. "You're not a real princess." Lana said.
"Hey! I am!" Lola said with a mad voice.
"You aren't." Lana said.
"I am!" Lola yelled. Lola and Lana grabbed each other and started to fight.
"Alright." Lori said and gave Lily in Tatiana's hands.
Tatiana looked with widened eyes at Lily, who giggled. Lori grabbed Lola and Lana by their collars and lifted them up.
"What are you thinking you are doing right now?"
"Defending my empire!" Lola said.
"Bringing Lola back to reality." Lana said.
"What you just said was stupid." Lori said.
"You laugh until they build a statue of me made of gold." Lola said.
"Stop trying to make yourself the center of attention!" Lori said sternly.
"Yeah! Lola!" Lana said.
The twins blew raspberries at each other. Lori put them on the ground and held them at their hands. They looked with threatening intensity at each other.
"I better keep eyes on you before you do something stupid!" Lori said.
Tatiana and Marisa looked with widened eyes at the twins.
"What a powerful packet." Tatiana said.
"For real…" Marisa said.
Lily laughed and leaned her head against Tatiana.
"The reactivity between them is comparable to potassium and water." Lisa said.
"Does someone understand what she just said?" Marisa asked with a slightly panicky laugh.
"Hmm… I think I had that at school." Tatiana said.
"Okay. And what does it mean?"
"Potassium in water equals boom."
"Makes sense." Marisa said.
They walked on. Then, the moment they wanted to turn into another street, they met Carol. Carol was walking in the opposite direction. Lori and Carol saw each other, and hugged immediately.
"Carol!"
"Lori! I missed you so much!" Carol said.
"I missed you too bestie."
"How is the college going?"
"Wonderful."
"That's great to hear Lori."
They broke the hug.
"I found someone you know."
Lori pointed at Tatiana.
"Remember Tatiana?"
Carol nodded with an awkward smile.
"Yeah… Hi…"
"Hi…" Tatiana said with an awkward tone.
"What's wrong?" Lori asked worried.
"Yeah… What's wrong Tatiana?" Carol said with an awkward voice.
"I don't know… What's wrong Carol?" Tatiana asked.
"Seriously what's wrong?" Lori asked.
Carol and Tatiana looked at Lori.
"You know why." Carol said.
"We all had reasons to end the group." Tatiana said.
"We all became enemies."
"And never saw each other again."
The twins, Lisa and Lily looked shocked at Lori, Carol and Tatiana.
"And it was good that we never saw each other again." Carol said.
"Yes!" Tatiana said.
"How can you say such things?" Lori asked shocked.
Carol looked at Lori.
"You do your part to that. Ask yourself, then you know why."
"It was a mistake to come here." Tatiana said.
Lori got really upset.
"That was a long time ago! We shouldn't have to talk about that right now!" Lori said.
"Would be better!" Carol said.
"Yes!" Tatiana said.
"Stop!" Lori grumbled.
"We stop now!" Tatiana said.
"We do!" Carol said.
"Okay. Where were you going to?" Lori asked.
"I was going for a walk. At the river. It was nice. Like it actually has fume hovering over the river." Carol said.
"Ah nice." Lori said.
"It looked like I was in a movie." Carol said and smiled.
Carol smiled and showed Lori a photo on her phone. It showed the river, upstream of the nuclear power plant, with fume hovering over the surface. Like in a fantasy movie.
"It was wonderful." Carol said.
"It really was." Lori said. Lola peeked at Carol's phone.
"A movie set worthy for a princess."
"Can we join you?" Lori asked.
"I was just there. But I can go there for sure again." Carol said.
They walked together to the river. The path next to the river was made of gravel. The fumes that hovered over the water weren't around anymore. Yet some ducks were swimming and diving under the water. They were disappointed.
"It's not around anymore." Lori said.
"I think that's something that is just a morning thing." Carol said.
"No set for my movie." Lola said.
"Shut up!" Lana said.
"Hey! Show respect to your queen!" Lola said with an angry tone.
Lori grabbed them at their hands again.
"I end this here!" Lori said.
"They really hate each other." Tatiana said.
"I don't want to know how it is with them every day." Marisa said.
"That has to be a war zone." Tatiana said.
They walked on. Eventually they saw someone at the other side of the river. He was hard to recognize, but he was a man. He dumped a brown liquid into the river from a metal barrel. Lori, Marisa, Carol and Tatiana looked shocked at this.
"Does he dump something into the river?" Lori asked.
"He does." Carol said.
"Is that oil?" Marisa asked.
"Oh yes. That's oil." Tatiana said.
"Let's catch him." Lori said.
The girls went up a path on the side of the big river, near a bridge. They entered the big and high bridge. Tatiana gave Lily into Carol's hand.
"Take her. I need to make a call." Tatiana said.
Carol looked at Lily. Tatiana took out her phone and dialed 911.
«Nine one one what's your emergency?»
"Hello. My name is Tatiana Jaruzelski. I am with some friends on the bridge at the river. We saw someone dumping oil into the river."
«Where did this happen? Can you give me a place?»
"It's upstream of the nuclear power plant. On the opposite side of Royal Woods, on the side on the power plant."
«We will send someone there.»
Tatiana looked down at the river. A brown carpet formed on the surface.
"Also the fire brigade please. There is a ton of oil."
«Yes ma'am. They're already on their way.»
"Thank you a lot."
«You're welcome. Goodbye.»
"Goodbye."
The call ended. They reached the other end of the bridge and walked down to the riverside. They approached the man. He was wearing dark clothes, a black cap, and had cloth over his nose and mouth. Only his eyes were visible.
"Stop doing that!" Lori yelled.
"I have a license for that!" The man said.
The girls got angrier.
"There is no license for that!" Tatiana said angrily.
"You pollute the river!" Lana said.
"Stop it!" Marisa said.
The man opened another barrel. He pushed it into the water.
"Now I stop. Only had too. And I'm licensed!" He looked at them.
"That's my license!"
He showed them the middle finger and ran away.
The girls stood there with their jaws dropped.
"Jesus…" Marisa said.
"What a jerk…" Tatiana said.
The girls heard something big coming to a halt on the bridge. It was the fire brigade and a police car.
"Ah they're here." Marisa said.
"I'm glad they're here." Lori said.
"They have to do it fast now." Tatiana said.
The girls went up to the bridge and approached the fire truck. Two firefighters were looking downstream at the water. One of them had a red mustache on his upper lip.
"Hello. We called you." Lori said.
"Good you did. My god that's a ton of oil." The firefighter with the mustache said.
"I think two barrels." Tatiana said.
"Uh. That's really bad." The second firefighter said.
"The guy who did that ran down the river bank. I mean upstream." Lori said.
The firefighter with the mustache whistled loudly. Two cops came from behind the fire truck. One was a man, and the other a woman.
"Yes?" The male officer asked.
"The pig who poured the oil in ran away upstream." The firefighter with the mustache said.
"Are the barrels still there?" The female officer asked.
"Yes. One. He threw the other one into the river." Carol said.
"Thank you ma'am." The male officer said.
"We go down?" The female officer asked.
"Yes."
The police officers went to the river bank.
"Thanks for your call ma'am. We go downstream to the other units. We catch the oil some kilometers downstream."
"Thank your for your work." Tatiana said.
The firefighters raised their thumbs. They got into the fire truck, and drove away.
"Will they ever catch the guy who poured the oil into the river?" Lana asked.
"If they find any traces of him, yes." Lori said.
"What kind of traces?" Lola asked.
"A hair." Lori said.
"Or a bit of blood if he injured himself handling the barrel he didn't threw in." Carol said.
"Or fingerprints." Marisa said.
"Yes. But he was wearing gloves." Tatiana said.
"Everyone leaves some kind of trace. They will find him for sure." Lisa said.
They walked away. After twenty minutes they reached the house of the Louds.
"That was the craziest wall I've ever been on." Lola said.
"Yes." Lana said.
"What a pig! I hope he gets caught." Lori said.
"Me too." Carol said.
"Tatiana, you know something about car, right? They have oil too right? How bad is oil?" Marisa asked.
"Uhm, really bad. It is poisonous in the first place, and it forms a kind of carpet on the water because it doesn't mix with water. Which is bad and good. It's easier to get it out." Tatiana said. The girls felt disgusted.
"Iech!" Lola said.
"Sounds gross." Marisa said.
"It is. Before we throw the cars into the press on the scrapyard we have to take the oil out. And we have some nasty oil tank wagons for the little train. Really disgusting." Tatiana said.
"You work on a scrapyard? Fits to you." Carol said.
"I don't work on a scrapyard. I own it."
Carol looked surprised at Tatiana.
"Wow. That's pretty much what you always wanted." Carol said.
"Yes. I'm pretty happy." Tatiana said.
Carol laid her hand on Tatiana's shoulder.
"Congrats. Made realized your dream."
"Thank you." Tatiana said.
"And? You do the things you like? Like dancing washing machines?" Carol asked.
"Yes. Sometimes."
"It was fun back then. On Clark's scrapyard."
Tatiana nodded.
"It was."
"Can I see the scrapyard?" Lana asked.
"I also have an interest to visit this place." Lisa said.
"Uhm, I can. But you have to ask your mother." Tatiana said.
Lana and Lisa went fast into the house. Lori, Tatiana, Marisa, Carol, Lola and Lily looked with widened eyes after Lana and Lisa.
"They really seem to visit your place." Marisa said.
"Looks like." Tatiana said.
Carol looked at them.
"I need to go. Lori, was nice to meet you." Carol said.
"Thanks." Lori said.
Carol looked at Tatiana.
"Bye I guess."
"Bye."
Carol waved at Lori and left.
"You are good friends… again…" Tatiana said.
"It took a while." Lori said.
"Good…"
They went to the door and entered the house of the Louds.
"Was nice." Lori said.
"Yes. But this jerk who dumped oil into the river was unnecessary." Tatiana said.
"I hope they catch him." Lana said.
Lincoln came downstairs.
"Hi Lori. Tatiana…"
They looked at Lincoln.
"Everything alright?" Lori asked.
"Yes. I just wanted to ask Tatiana if she wants to model for me. To improve my art skills of course." Lincoln said and scratched the back of his head with slight embarrassment.
They all looked with widened eyes at Lincoln. Except Tatiana. She raised her thumb.
"Sure thing. Just draw me looking good." Tatiana said.
"Yes. Of course." Lincoln said.
Lincoln went upstairs. Tatiana followed him. Lori, Marisa and Lana looked at each other.
"Did that just happen for real?" Marisa asked.
"Yeah…" Lori said.
"He never asked anyone of us to model for his drawings. Not Leni, not even Lola or Lucy." Lana said.
"I think he thinks she's pretty…" Marisa said.
Lincoln and Tatiana entered his room.
"Sit on the bed." Lincoln said.
Tatiana took her shoes off and sat on his bed. Lincoln took a paper pad and a pen in his hands, and started to draw. Tatiana looked around.
"Nice room you have here. It's small but actually nice." Tatiana said.
"Thank you. Yeah it is small but I still like it. And with some comics and video games, the size of the room doesn't matter." Lincoln said.
"I believe that. I had a bigger room when I lived in this town some years ago."
"Where did you live?"
"In the monolith street. In these giant concrete buildings."
"Oh. These buildings? I always get depressed there." Lincoln said.
"They remind me of my home country. A lot of cities look like this. Was fun living in a building with many people and not in a lonely mansion like before." Tatiana said.
"You lived in a mansion?!" Lincoln asked shocked.
"Yes. My family is one of the richest in Poland. We have a big mansion in Warsaw. Currently my cousins family lives there but, the mansion is on my name."
"You own a mansion?!" Lincoln asked with widened eyes.
"Yes."
"Wow… Just wow…"
"You don't need to be afraid of me." Tatiana said.
"I'm not. Just flabbergasted."
Tatiana nodded. Lincoln continued to draw.
"I have a coin collection. And there is a polish coin."
"You mean a Złoty?"
Lincoln looked surprised at Tatiana.
"I thought it is pronounced Zloty."
"No. You make a uo sound after the z and then a strange sound from your throat."
"Wow. But the L? I am sure there is a L in the name."
"Yes. But this special L is pronounced differently."
"Can you say something?"
"In polish?"
"Yes."
"Okay. Nie mogę się doczekać rysunku Lincolna."
Lincoln looked at her with widened eyes.
"That sounds strange. Like Russian."
"I spoke with a strong accent some years ago. A lot of people, also Lori when we met the first time, thought that I was Russian."
Lincoln laughed. Tatiana also laughed.
"Can you speak with accent?"
Tatiana answered with her thick accent.
"Tak. I can speak with my accent but then people think I'm Russian and not Polski."
They both laughed at that.
"Sounds good." Lincoln said.
"Thanks."
"And you write this language in the same alphabet like we have? Or in that one like the Russian one?"
"You mean the Cyrillic alphabet. Can you take a secret?"
Lincoln looked at Tatiana.
"Sure."
"I have a girlfriend. Lori doesn't know."
"Ah. I won't tell."
"Thanks. So, her name is Madina. And she speaks a language with that alphabet."
"What language?"
"Kazakh. Sounds like Turkish."
"Like Turkish? But written with the Russian alphabet? That's strange." Lincoln said.
"Maybe. I love hearing her talk in that language." Tatiana said.
"She surely loved to hear you speaking your language too."
"I think."
Lincoln continued to draw. Eventually he was done. Lincoln carefully took the paper he drew on out of the pad, and gave it to Tatiana. The drawing showed Tatiana, very realistic and with grey colors. Tatiana was surprised and felt really honored.
"Wow. How are you able to draw that well?" Tatiana asked.
"I practice often. And I really put effort into this drawing because I wanted to make you look as beautiful as you are." Lincoln said and looked embarrassed at the floor.
"Aww thank you."
Tatiana gave him a kiss on the forehead. Lincoln blushed. Tatiana took out her wallet and gave Lincoln 20 dollars.
"Such art is wonderful. Keep going." Tatiana said.
"Thanks…" Lincoln said and scratched embarrassed his head.
"All okay?"
"Yes…"
Tatiana giggled.
"You think I'm pretty don't you?"
"Yes…" Lincoln said and blushed even more.
"I understand it. I can't help myself either when I see a pretty girl or pretty boy."
"Yes…" Lincoln said and scratched his head again.
"Don't worry. You can think of me during fun time." Tatiana said and blinked.
Lincoln blushed even more. Tatiana opened the door.
"I'm downstairs. Thank you for the drawing. I will put it in a frame at home. Keep up your talent."
Tatiana went downstairs.
Tatiana entered the living room. Lori and Marisa sat on the couch, and had some drinks on the table in front of them, while the TV was on.
"How did it go?" Lori asked.
"Very good." Tatiana said, and showed them the drawing.
Lori and Marisa were awestruck by it.
"How… When did he learn to draw that well?!" Lori asked surprised.
"Jesus that's good!" Marisa said.
"I look beautiful here." Tatiana said and smiled.
"You do!" Lori said.
"I need to make him draw me like this." Lori said.
"Oh you will love it. He draws so well." Tatiana said.
She sat down next to her friends. Three hours later, they were in front of the loud house. They were about to leave. Rita, Lynn senior, Leni, Lincoln, Lola and Lana, and Lucy were standing outside.
"It was so nice of you to visit us. Please come back soon." Rita said.
"Sure mom." Lori said.
"I hope it will be soon." Lynn senior said.
"Don't worry dad."
Rita went to Tatiana.
"It was so nice to see you again Tatiana. You became a beautiful young lady." Rita said.
"Thank you Mrs Loud. It was very nice to meet you too." Tatiana said.
Tatiana felt something holding her legs. She looked down and saw Lily hugging her legs.
"I didn't know she was here. Lola also did the same with me when she was that little." Tatiana said.
"You are good at handling children. Back then and now. Enjoy that affection." Rita said.
Tatiana took Lily.
"Goodbye cutie. You really remind me of Lola and Lana."
"Goodbye you all." Lori said.
"Goodbye Lori. Take care." Rita said.
"Bye. I love you." Lynn senior said.
"Goodbye Mrs and Mr Loud." Marisa said.
"Take care." Rita said.
"Goodbye." Tatiana said.
Lori, Tatiana, and Marisa got into Lori's car. Lori started the engine. And drove backwards. They all waved at the Louds. They waved back. Lori turned her car, and drove away.