Through the Dark Mirror

Book 1 - Mr. Sam's Shop

As Naomi, Deuce and Grim entered the school store, they were surprised by all the odd items for sale. Naomi had expected a small grocery store, maybe with some potion ingredients or broom care kits. Instead, the shop was filled with antique artifacts, odd crystal balls and books that Naomi wasn't sure were safe to even touch.

Then the shop owner popped up, introducing himself as Sam and calling the store "Mister S' Mystery Shop." Well it was a mystery alright. Deuce gave him the grocery list Trey had put together and Sam disappeared to gather everything. Naomi now wished she had made a list as well, because she wasn't sure what they'd actually need. She quickly took out a notebook and a pen and began writing some stuff down. Grim cried out for tuna, so she guessed that was going on the list. And Serena's sleeping mask, too. They'd also need toast, cold cuts, some canned meals were probably a good idea... Oh, and hygiene products! Crowley gave them a few rolls of toilet paper and a bar of soap, like that was going to cut it.

When Sam returned, Naomi gave him her list, apologizing for having him walk again. Sam assured her it would be fine, also returning with her groceries shortly after. "I'm sorry, little imp, but I'm afraid I can't read the last three things you wrote. Would you tell me what they say?" Sam asked.

Naomi looked at the list again, realizing that while hastily writing it, she slipped into her native writing system. "I'm so sorry about that! The last three things are shampoo, pads and tampons." She said, wondering if he even had pads or tampons given it was an all-boys-school. Then again, the Diasomnia girl needed them too, didn't she?

Sam gathered the last three things, then checked Deuce and Naomi out separately. Her groceries took up half of their allowance... Well, at least it's gonna last them a few days.

They left the store and walked back to school, each carrying two bags, three of them being Trey's stuff.

"Hmph. Naomi, looks like you got the bag with all the cans. That must be heavy." Deuce said. "Let me take that one. I've got a little trick for carrying heavy bags:"

"Is that so?" Naomi asked. "Thanks, but the two bags are actually equally heavy. It makes it easier to carry."

"I see. You know, my mom always used to stock up at sales, and the bags would get ridiculously heavy." Deuce explained. "I was the only man in the house, so I got to do all the heavy lifting, and - Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to monopolize the conversation."

"It's okay! Sounds like you took good care of your mom." Naomi reassured him. Honestly, she'd rather listen to him talk than having to explain her own origins. Deuce told her it wasn't like that, but just as he tried to explain, they collided with the same guys that got angry about the carbonara earlier, which broke six of the eggs.

"What carbonara?" Naomi asked, confused since she wasn't there when it happened. Deuce calmly asked the guys to pay for the eggs and apologize to the chickens. The guys told him he's overreacting because of some eggs, claiming they're still edible since they didn't touch the ground and laughing about it. That made Deuce mad and he yelled at them.

"Those eggs may not have gotten to become chicks, but they were gonna make some amazing tarts!" He exclaimed. "You owe me six eggs. If ya ain't gonna pay me for them, then you're gettin' a bruise for each one!"

"Are you serious?!" One of the guys exclaimed. Deuce was very serious. Naomi tried to calm him down, but in vain. And she wasn't going to put herself in the line of fire, Serena would only get angry with her again. Deuce began throwing fists and the two guys quickly ran away.

Once they were gone, and Deuce regained his composure, he suddenly got very embarrassed. He explained to Naomi and Grim that he was a delinquent back in middle school. He constantly got into fights, skipped school and hung around with bullies. That was until he heard his mum crying to his grandmother what a horrible mom she must've been. Deuce felt bad since it was all him, and when he got accepted into NRC he swore to never make her cry again and become someone she could be proud of. And now he apparently messed it all up since he got into a fight again.

"I don't think you messed it up. You were defending yourself against a couple of bullies. Being an honor student doesn't mean being a pushover." Naomi assured him, and Grim also chimed in, saying he was ready to beat them up, too.

"Heh heh... I guess you're right! I just hope those chicks can rest in peace." Deuce said.

".... You know that these eggs aren't fertilized, right?" Naomi asked. "They're not the type to hatch."

"EEEHH?!"

They walked back to the kitchen, with Naomi having to console poor Deuce, who's worldview was just shattered.