Monsters Are Forever

17. A Backup Option

Saturday morning, Carmine laid down on her bed. The sun was just starting to shine, but she'd been up for hours already. She didn't have anything better to do at the moment, so she'd decided to get started on the next book they were supposed to read in English. She'd already done all of her homework this week – one of the benefits of never really sleeping. And now, she was bored. She figured this would be as good a time as any to get a little bit ahead in English. Besides, they were going to be reading The Canterbury Tales soon, and Carmine figured that might actually take her a little time to get through. And this would give her something to do until Conner actually woke up.

She didn't hear from him until almost eleven.

We still on for today? he texted her.

Yeah. Know what you want to do? she responded. She'd decided to let him pick for once.

Hike? he asked.

Sure. Carmine hadn't done that in a while anyway. She used to go out all the time with her parents when she was younger, but somehow she didn't have a lot of time for that since she started high school. It seemed like every year there was always something that kept her preoccupied. It'd be nice to get outside for once.

Carmine started going through her closet, looking for a pair of decent shoes. She knew she had some hiking boots somewhere, but her closet always seemed to be a bottomless pit of things she never even knew she owned. She'd finally found them hiding under a box of old sweatshirts that didn't fit her anymore when her phone buzzed again.

Ok if Luke comes? Conner asked.

Sure.

Carmine thought it was a little weird, especially since Luke didn't really come with the two of them when they went out together. But he'd been kind of off lately – not down exactly, but Carmine could see that something wasn't quite right. Maybe getting him out would help. Besides, it wasn't like Luke wasn't a friend of hers anyway; there really wasn't any reason why he shouldn't come with them.

K. We'll pick you up. Conner told her.

Carmine sighed to herself. She didn't want to say anything, but that meant they were going to be late for sure. Luke was always terrible about figuring out how long it actually took to get anywhere. Not that Carmine was much better, but she figured if someone made her look punctual, they might need to step it up a little. At least it would give her time to finish the chapter she was on before they actually got here.

Carmine was sitting in the living room, almost finished with the third story in the book when she finally heard a car pull up outside. She looked at the clock and realized Luke and Conner were actually only a minute or so late – on time as far as she was concerned, and practically early for Luke. Carmine had to admit, she was impressed. She put her book down and met them before they even had time to get out of the car.

"See you later!" Carmine called out to her parents as she closed the door.

"You ready?" Conner asked, meeting her halfway up the walkway.

"Of course." she told him. How could she not be ready if she was already outside? They walked back to Luke's car, and Carmine and Conner exchanged a brief look.

"Who gets front seat?" she asked as casually as she could.

Conner stared at her for a minute, eyes narrowed. He looked like he was trying to decide if he could actually force her to sit in the back, or if she'd make an issue out of it.

"...You do, I guess." he said grudgingly. Carmine grinned; at least he'd correctly interpreted the look on her face.

"Thank you." she beamed.