The Third War

Chapter Ninety One: Kristy

"And then there were two."

"Plus cats," I held Spottedleaf up to Dustin's face. We had gone upstairs to sit in my room waiting for them to return. We were leaned up against my bed with all the cats laying about us. "Soooo....how's your day been?"

Dustin glanced over at me, "Pretty good, pretty good. How about you?"

"Yeah, it's been alright." Once I answered we fell back into silence. It was getting to me, "Now what?"

"Now...weee..." He glanced around the room, "Oh! We can come up with New Year resolutions?"

"Okay! You first," I threw him under the bus because I needed time to think of one that wouldn't sound stupid.

"I resolute to....teach someone how to control Chloe."

I slightly laughed, "Alright. I resolute to, lessen the amount of times I break Jerry's nose."

Dustin grinned, "That's a good one."

A few moments later he went again, "I will make a new friend."

"I'll do that too," I jumped on with us to avoid making another. "Any others?"

"How about, I make one for you, and you make one for me?"

It seemed like a good idea, "Alright..."

Until he went, "But I went first last time."

"Fine," I sat there for a moment really only thinking of one thing he needed to focus. "This year...don't die, please."

His sadly smiled at me, "I wouldn't dream of it."

"Good," I gave him a stern look, "Cause you better not."

"And yours is...to let people help you."

When I stared at him in confusion he explained. "You're always trying to do things alone, but you don't have to. Zoe, Phoebe, Jeremy, and Chip, even if she won't admit, care about you. You don't always just have to keep everything here."

Dustin tapped the side of my head, "Don't just listen to your head; it's going to go in circles convincing you there's no other way, but there always this. Behind all the pain and suffering you've been thrown into, there's an amazing world out there."

He looked me in the eye determinedly, "And when this is all over, we're going to see it together."

"Dustin...." I left it there caught off guard with no way to respond. His face never faltered as he stared me. I hated to admit it, but when Dustin was serious it always unsettled me.

With no other response I just mumbled, "Fine."

"Good," he finally turned his attention back to the cats. After a few minutes, he gasped in realization. "Hey! I think Zoe and Jeremy were trying to get away from us adults!"

I laughed, "I think you're probably right, kids these days."

"I mean honestly!" He flailed his arm to the side dramatically.

I cringed upon hearing his hand smack against the wooden bedpost.

"Kristy?"

"Yes?" He keeled over onto my lap whining, "I got an owie!"

"Yes, us adults," I shook my head at him. "Whatever would it take to heal you?"

He looked up at me, "Do you have chocolate?"

"Hmmm, wait, you want me to turn you into a sugar fueled, hyperactive kidult?"

He frowned, "I'll just stay here then."