Red Rain

Chapter 23 - American Pie

The text message comes from Steve on Tuesday afternoon at 3:06. After reading it, I close Scarlet and put on my hoodie.

Luca insists on coming along with me to say goodbye to the souls. As promised, they are going to the Second Universe now that the mystery of their deaths has been solved, and he wants to take this last chance to actually meet them.

He follows me to that clearing in the woods where the souls first met me and Fionna. They're already there, all four of them, plus the two Smythe brothers.

"Hey, guys," I say before introducing Luca to the souls - except Steve, the only one he already knew from before.

"Is your brother still coming?" Steve asks.

"I dunno," I say. "Why? You asked him?"

"Pretty much everyone who was at the cabin, yeah," Steve says. "I know Darknell won't be coming - she said she couldn't get away from work."

"Wait, does that mean Dani's coming too?" Luca asks, looking nervous.

"Uh-huh."

Luca swallows, then starts rubbing his neck.

I finally turn to Fionna, who's still wearing my hoodie - it's still torn and stained with her blood. "Is that some fashion in the Second Universe, I wonder?" I ask, pointing at the darkly shiny patches on her chest.

"How would I know?" Fionna laughs. Her laugh is so familiar, so lively, that for a moment I forget she's dead. "I haven't been there to find out."

"Maybe this would be fashionable too," I say, pulling her beanie out of my pocket. "I thought you'd want it back."

Fionna's fingers brush mine as she takes the beanie. "I totally forgot I'd given that to you. Thanks, Feathers."

"Don't mention it."

Gabe is next to arrive, a minute later, followed by Dani. She stands awkwardly to the side, head down, not making eye contact with anyone.

"Is that everyone?" Freddie asks.

"Yeah, except Jeanne," Gabe says, "but she's definitely not gonna make it. She told me to pass along her apologies."

"Um, did anyone get Russell's number?" Penny asks. "Considering we'd never have been able to finish this without him...?"

"I don't think so," Steve says. "Krause? You happen to write it down anywhere?"

"No."

"Hmm. Too bad." Steve sighs. "Okay. Well, Snow bros, if you guys run into him anytime, just tell him we said thanks for the help. All right?"

"Okay," I say, nodding along with Gabe.

At this point, the long process of saying goodbye to the souls for the last time begins. I shake hands with Freddie, and promise to keep coming to Two Guys as often as I can. Steve insists on hugging everyone, even the dudes - which takes me a bit by surprise. Guess hanging out with dead demons does that to you. I even hug Penny, who I never got to know all that well.

Finally, I get to Fionna. With tears in my eyes for what seems like the millionth time in the last three days, I hold her tightly, taking in the moment as long as I can. She kisses my cheek, then turns away and pretends to spit something out.

"Wow," she says. "I didn't know angel tears tasted so bitter."

"Neither did I," I laugh, squeezing her a bit harder.

Oh, and hey, one last thing, Feathers. Don't take forever to start another relationship. I'm only a girl. I clearly wasn't meant to be the special one for you.