River Horse

Chapter Six

Breakfast took place in the diner, of course. We all laughed and talked, swapping stories. Well, I stayed mostly quiet, only sharing a few memories. I wasn't so stupid as to say anything that might make Troy suspect me.

I couldn't share stories about my training, like that time that Ty got stuck in the mud and we had to pull him out. I smiled at the memory. Ty had claimed he was the bravest warrior ever, and started prancing around in the river with his head held high. There had been a lot of rain that spring, and the mud on the bank was deep and loose.

He had slipped and sunk halfway in. He had looked so ridiculous, with his shimmering scales covered in river muck, and as soon as he was free, he had refused to come out of an underwater cave, sulking all day. Diana and I hadn't let him forget about it for years. Tyson, the great warrior, defeated by some mud!

"So, Alicia," he said, breaking me out of my reverie, "You go to the same school as these knuckleheads?"

I nodded. "Unfortunately, yes. They're all in my art class. It USED to be my favorite class." There was a minor outburst as all the boys objected.

"Oh, come on! We're not that bad!" Gareth was frowning at me thunderously.

I smirked. "You sure about that? It took a few jabs with a sharpened pencil to straighten you out, if I remember correctly." He glared at me, opened his mouth and shut it again as the food came.

I dug gratefully into my sausage egg and cheese, and raised an eyebrow as Troy frowned at me.

"How do you eat like that and stay so thin?" He groused.

I shrugged. "Fast metabolism?" He snorted and the boys all laughed before returning to our food.

When we finally sat back, completely stuffed, Troy looked at me with a smile.

"So what do you want to do when you're older?"

"Who cares, at this pont," I said. "I'm only in high school."

He looked a little surprised, then smiled seductively and asked, "Have you ever thought of being a model?" All the guys snorted and I glared daggers at them.

"Nope. Too much pressure, too many self-absorbed bitches, and too many dirty old men." I eyed him meanfully at the last bit.

He laughed and said, "Hans, you found a great girl." Hans smiled at him and stroked my hand under the table with his thumb.

"I'm guessing you told her about our... job?" he asked. Hans nodded, and Troy smirked. "Of course. Girls are always attracted to guys who have dangerous lives. How else would you get a girlfriend-"

"OH MY GOSH, HANS GOT A GIRLFRIEND?!" There was suddenly a girl bouncing up and down by our table. Where the heck had she come from? There were hunters popping out of the woodwork! She was striking, with long blond hair, fair skin, and bright green eyes. She wore tight gray jeans and an emerald green sweater. She was slender and short, making her seem fragile and delicate. I wasn't fooled. I could see the pale white scars on her hands and arms from assorted magical creatures. I could also see knives hidden in her clothing.

"HANS, WHY DID YOU NOT TELL ME OR EVEN SEND A TEXT MESSAGE? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU, I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU! WHENEVER I TRIED TO SET YOU UP WITH A GIRL, YOU PRETENDED TO GET SICK AND YOU MADE HILLARY CRY AND SHE HASN'T GOTTEN OVER IT AND I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU DIDN'T TELL ME BECAUSE WE'VE ALWAYS TOLD EACH OTHER EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING LIKE WHEH I HAD MY FIRST PERIOD AND YOU HAD YOUR FIRST YOU KNOW WHAT IN APRIL WHEN YOU WERE ELEVEN AND I HAD MOOD SWINGS AND WE GOT YELLED AT IN TRAINING AND I CRIED TO GET US OUT OF IT AND YOU STILL OWE ME TEN BUCKS BECAUSE YOU SAID I COULDN'T AND OH MY GOODNESS I HAVE BEEN WAITING TO HEAR THIS FOR SO LONG!!" She paused, turned to me, took a breath, and smiled. "Hi, I'm Jenna. I'm Hans' old training partner. What's your name?"