Normality, Thy Name is Lynette

Chapter Thirty-Two

The next morning we all woke to a very awkward silence. That night I had learned way too much about everyone and their sex lives. And so I knew my brother was kind of a man-whore but I honestly didn’t think Cassidy and he would ever be together. At least it wasn’t Enide is all I can say. Cassidy is at least a relatively sane person.

          Slade came up to me and kind of teased, “You really had to shine a light in my eyes?”

          I joked, “You really had to be making out with my friend in a corner in the middle of the night?”

          “Yes.”

          “The yes I did.”

          He laughed at my reasoning. “Why did everyone flip out last night though?”

          “Not entirely sure. Let’s just hope it doesn’t happen again.” He didn’t respond so I asked him a question. “Have you learned your lesson or are you going to date other girls besides Cassidy?”

          “I think I’m going to try a monogamous relationship this time. Besides, I think Cassidy could easily kill me if she found me with another girl.” He grinned.

          “That she could.” I agreed.

          Everyone ate a little something that Rita had packed us before we moved on to the next base. Huey immediately stepped outside saying, “Home sweet home.” The stepped backed in complaining, “That ain’t the Emerald Isle.”

          “No Huey, it isn’t. We are in Norway.” Ace said.

          “Why in blue blazes are we in Norway?”

          “It was closer to the island than Ireland geographically. I don’t pick where we go, it just sends me to the closest one. I’ll have to make sure to program it to take us to Scotland instead of taking us to Sweden.”

          “Why didn’t you do that on the last trip?”

          “Because I wasn’t thinking about it, Huey.”

          Huey growled and went to check the refrigerator for some booze. There wasn’t any so he slumped at the table, for this base had actual furnisher.

          I was tired of being cooped up in these bases so I grabbed Keegan’s hand and led him outside with me. We say on a fallen tree and just stared into the forest. I leaned my head on his shoulder. “Keegan…” I said shyly.

          “Yeah?” he asked.

          “We’re the only ones who aren’t physical, aren’t we?”

          He laughed awkwardly at first. “I suppose we are, but that means we actually have something in common. I mean, what do Jamie and Thom talk about? How beautiful Thom is?”

          I chuckled thinking about that. “He probably tells her to tell him he’s pretty.”

          He mimicked and mocked Thom’s voice, “Jamie, my hair is absolutely radiant today, isn’t it?” And then he burst out laughing.

          I giggled along with him, but on the inside I was wondering if we really did have more in common than Thom and Jamie did. All we talk about is Darian or the Cloister.

          “Wanna play Twenty Questions?”

          “Where you think of an object and have to guess it by asking twenty questions about it, or where we ask each other twenty questions to learn more about one another?”

          “I was thinking that latter but if you prefer the first than that works too.”

          “The latter is fine by me.” He replied.

          “Favorite color?” I asked.

          “Green. You?”

          “Orange. Favorite band or artist?”

          “Three Days Grace. Favorite Song?”

          I answered, “Hold Me Twice – FM Static. First kiss?”

          “Cassidy…” He replied unsurely and then elaborated. “So, Cassidy was drunk once last year and randomly kissed me. Then she kissed Thom and threw up on his fancy new clothes. He was pissed; it was hilarious.” I had to laugh at that. “And yours?” He asked.

          I was quiet for a moment before telling him, “Darian.”

          I waited for a snide comment, or a fit, but instead he just said, “Oh.”

          “Yeah…”

          “First animal you ever owned?” he continued.

          “A dog. His name was Rex because I was a terribly creative child. First thing you shifted into?”

          “Actually,” He chuckled to himself, “It was a dog. Your best friend from home?”

          “Fairuza Ormond and Zeke Xavier. Favorite subject in school?”

          “Math. There’s always a logical answer. Favorite soda?”

          “Cherry Coke.” I was about to ask him another question but someone tickled my sides. I immediately assumed Keegan and started yelling, “Stop it Keegan.”

          Slade appeared from behind me and said, “Me, not your boyfriend.”

          “Jerk.” I replied as he kept tickling me.

          He stopped and then just walked away into the woods.

          “He’s an odd fellow.” Keegan said.

          “Try living with him.”

          He grinned, “I am. He’s kind of been with us for a couple days now Lynette.”

          “Shush.”