Where The Heart Is

Close Encounters

Note: Prototypeshard prompt: I was thinking it would take place after WtD…I think Lewis would still hang in Arthur’s body sometimes, and another ghost hunting team kinda gets suspicious of them. Have no idea what they would do to get out of it, but probably some shenanigans. Child: I’ll say this is just before they move, and it speeds their move a bit.

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            Arthur’s eye twitched slightly as the waitress set the steak in front of him. “I hope you enjoy eating shoe leather, Lew.” He grumbled, cutting into the steak. “Seriously, you can’t even compromise on a tiny bit of pink?”

            “I don’t know how you can stomach bloody meat.” Lewis’ voice came out of his mouth.

            Arthur rolled his eyes, but took a bite anyway. He could force his way through a terrible tasting meal on occasion for Lewis, it was the least he could do. At least Lewis’ enjoyment lifted his mood. He adjusted his sunglasses, pushing them higher. This pair tended to slip a bit.

            Arthur’s phone vibrated, and he pulled it out, opening the text.

            Callie and Mystery in a snit over spell lesson. Gonna be late. Don’t wait. --Vivi

            Arthur groaned, shoving the phone in his pocket. “What am I gonna do with them, Lewis?”

            “Well Callie’s an unknown right now. I’d work on getting to know her a lot better, then maybe you can start working things out.” Lewis shoveled more steak in their mouth, mumbling around it, “If you don’t know, you’ll step on her toes saying stupid stuff.”

            “Heyyyy, Artie buddy. That you?”

            Arthur choked on his steak, coughing hard as he grabbed for a glass of water. Gulping it down, he wiped his mouth and took a breath, pushing up his shades before he lifted his head.

            Eddie Pecksmart hadn’t changed much since highschool. Same sneering grin, same wandering eyes, same cruel streak. The only thing Arthur had always found ironic was how he and his group had gotten into the same field as his own group. And there, not far behind Eddie slouched Jenkins and Marie, his loyal lackeys.

            Arthur felt a slow burn build in his stomach but jerked his head hard. Don’t you dare. He coughed to cover the twitch, and tried again. “Eddie. Hey. What brings you here?”

            “Well funny thing Artie,” Arthur twitched slightly. He’d always hated that name. “We were just tracking some ghost trails the last few days. It’s pretty weird, ever since your place burned down, there’s been all kinds of activity leading to you.” Eddie tossed a small cannister up and down, and Arthur set his fork down slowly, already calculating the distance to the door. “And you really picked up some off habits buddy. Sunglasses indoors? Talking to yourself?” Eddie shook his head slowly. “I don’t like you much pal, definitely a nerd’s nerd, but I think we’ve got ourselves a bonified haunting. Maybe even possession.” He leaned into Arthur’s space, his breath washing rancid over his face. “Am I even talking to Arthur right now?”

            Arthur kept himself at the forefront, all but pleading with Lewis to stay put. “Yeah, Eddie, and I’ll thank you to stay out of my face.” He pushed his plate away, pulling out a twenty and laying it by the plate. “You made me lose my appetite.”

            Eddie’s meaty fist wrapped around the front of his shirt, pulling him out of his booth. “See now, there, Artie wouldn’t ever say that. Artie would be sniveling right now.”