Revival

13. She Knows

~~She Knows~~

Thankfully, Yemi and David took Jesse's surprise invite to dinner better than she expected. So good, Stella was suspicious. They weren't pleased that she and Jesse were talking alone in Luke's room, but she did her best to assure her parents without lying. It didn't mean that her father was any more lenient on Jesse, and he grilled him on the sofa while Yemi prepared dinner in the kitchen.

Stella fielded David's invasive questions, especially when Jesse revealed that he was adopted. Stella was angry at her Dad, but Jesse handled the pressure well. She wasn't surprised, handling unfriendly fathers was probably a pastime for Jesse. David seemed impressed too, and by the time dinner was ready, he mentioned appreciating the effort to meet them after the previous weekend, which was pretty much his blessing.

Yemi served the family's favorite; ayamase stew and rice. Jesse loved it and was bold enough to ask for seconds. Yemi obliged happily, and Stella could tell that, that was all it took to win her over. Yemi spent the better half of her life watching people enjoy her cooking, but she was always happy when someone new appreciated her food. She even went as far as writing out a recipe for Jesse to take home for his mother, which Stella thought was overkill. She was being extra friendly for some reason. Stella wasn't even sure she'd seen her be this nice to Carter, and Stella had known him for half her life. Stella tried to reel her back in, but Jesse seemed happy to take it, scarfing down his food, and even stealing some of the meat from Stella's plate.

Even Tito liked Jesse, planting himself between him and Stella on the sofa whilst they ate nuzzling against his leg as he ate from his own bowl. Stella felt betrayed, and Jesse took every opportunity to rub it in her face, making her want to punch him.

Lucas suggested they watch something, and he reached from the armchair, balancing his plate on one hand, and grabbed the remote from the coffee table with the other. He turned the TV on, and a news broadcast played on the screen about the recent string of murders in New York City.

David clicked his tongue and shook his head. "Terrible," he grumbled, and he shifted in his seat, trying to appear grave. But Stella thought he looked like King Trident. She wished sometimes he'd be the big softy they all knew he was, but she knew that would never happen in front of company, "They played this earlier today and revealed the identities of the victims."

Yemi gasped as side-by-side photos of two young girls were displayed on the screen; one girl was black with a big smile with braces and a pink bow headband over her weave, and the other had deep bronze skin and her hair in inky black twists like vines. They were both at least Stella's age and could have maybe been mistaken for her if paired with poor vision. It was only bad though, when Stella's mother glanced in her direction quickly before sealing her face behind her mask.

Lucas pointed at their mother. "Why'd you look at Star like that, mum?" He said brusquely. Yemi's eyes were wide and dry as she stared back at her son.

Yemi shook her head. "No reason," she answered, getting up from the sofa to collect all the dinner plates. When she took Stella and Jesse's dishes from the coffee table, she smiled pleasantly at Jesse, "Did you like dinner, Jesse? Not many people are strong enough to handle ayamase their first time."

Jesse's grin was electric, picking up Tito from under his arms. Tito didn't even fight it, and just curled comfortably into his lap, Stella met his flat eyes with a glare. "Most people don't have the pleasure of you cooking for them, Mrs. Roberts."

Yemi laughed from behind the kitchen counter but didn't reply. David didn't seem impressed by that, and neither was Stella. All night, Jesse charmed Yemi, and usually, such obvious attempts wouldn't work. Yemi loved to serve people in her restaurant, but she didn't much like those same people in her house, yet here she was eating up all of Jesse's lines. "Your mother's right to be worried, Luke," David said, glancing at Stella with a hard look, "These aren't regular city deaths. Someone is going out to target these girls and investigators are sure they're not finished. And Stella matches the description of the last two victims."