Path to Starry Pool (MAJOR EDITING)

Chapter Four: The Dinner

"Just listen!" Piper whined, this time knocking Astoria's elbow down. The impact forced her arm to lower, low enough to be in Piper's reach. "See!?"

Piper didn't know what she was doing, but as she grabbed it, her thumb pressed down on the locket. The locket closed, Piper's and Astoria's visions blurred. They stumbled around blindly as their vision turned black, and stars sprang into their vision. Their vision came back suddenly, Astoria looking down at Piper while holding the closed locket. Piper still had her eyes fixed on Astoria wonderingly. Feeling slowly went back into Astoria's fingers.

Piper's pupils dilated and began shifting around chaotically, then her eyes locked into Astoria's.

"Huh?" Astoria and Piper broke out of their frozen stance. "Was it all a daydream?"

"No..." Piper shook her head. "Unless you aren't thinking what I am."

"That this thing is weird?" Astoria said, glancing down. "And it takes you somewhere when... I don't know... you open it?"

"Yeah! What was that? Are we both going crazy?"Piper gasped, holding a hand over her mouth dramatically.

There was a moment of silence.

"Stop being such a drama queen," Astoria sighed, tapping her chin. "We still need to figure this out. Were we seeing things?"

"Drama queen?" Piper snorted, then dropped her voice as low as she could to imitate Astoria. "Why, Piper, why? WHY?!"

"Okay, shush," Astoria replied sourly, covering a hand over Piper's mouth. "We still need to figure this out."

"How? That's the question." Piper said matter-of-a-factly.

"Yeah. That's just what I was asking." Astoria nodded.

Just then, a large crash was heard from down the stairway. Their heads slowly turned, and Astoria's face paled as she heard the angry hiss she knew by heart. She grabbed Piper by the hand and began running down the stairs, then stopped in her tracks as the dining room came into view. A white blur darted around the living room, sliding across the table and knocking food off the table. Sidney (Astoria's mother) frantically tried to catch the chaotic cat, but it was no use. A person in a black suit and black sunglasses was covered in shredded turkey, mashed potatoes, chocolate pudding, a variety of pies, and tea.

"Mr. Whiskers!" Astoria shouted, rushing down the stairs.

Mr. Whiskers's ears perked up at the sound of Astoria's voice. He rushed down to Astoria, looking up at her with an innocent purr and large blue eyes. Astoria stared down at her for a split second, until the man cleared his throat.

"It's been great, Miss Beaufort, but I must really be on my way. Goodbye!" With that, he hurriedly grabbed his coat and rushed out the door before Sidney could say a word.

With a beet red face, Sidney looked over at Astoria. Astoria was holding up Mr. Whiskers, scolding him quietly. She noticed her mother staring at her and slowly smiled nervously.

"Mr. Whiskers is cute, right?" Astoria laughed nervously and held up Mr. Whiskers, who was purring loudly and rubbing his head against Astoria's hand. (Her hand was now white because of the mashed potatoes smeared on Mr. Whiskers's face.

"Get. That. Cat. Out of my sight!" Sidney whispered through her gritted teeth, shaking with rage.

"Yes, dearest mother, I will now leave! With the cat, heh." The second her sentence ended, Astoria practically flew up the stairs and ran into her room.

Mr. Whiskers wriggled out of her grip and walked into his cat bed, now smudged brown and yellow. Astoria sighed miserably and sank into her chair, not aware of Piper calling her name. Neither did Astoria seem to notice Piper was even there anymore. With dull eyes, she looked down as Mr. Whiskers settled into his bed, purring softly until his breathing became a gentle hum.