Cheer-Stained: One Week In Westbridge

11: Chesslers Roasting On An Open Fire

Nothing looked familiar. Why was everything dark and dreary? And... and what was that awful, awful smell?

Oh, that's right.

The next morning, I awoke to find myself in Miles's room; it was the easiest place to stick me, since the other beds were still occupied. Maybe it was weird, but between an actual bed and the couch, I took the bed. At least there weren't any weird man-products in plain sight - I might have died if I found jock itch powder or something. Trust me, the stuff that WAS in plain sight was weird enough.

As I clawed my way out of his inner sanctum for (I hope) the first, last and only time, the brightness of the rest of his house assaulted me... and about that same time-

"Happy Christmas Eve Day, temporary roomie!" Morgan said cheerfully.

"Coffee," I mumbled.

"Fresh pot brewing now!" she piped as she skipped off toward the stairs. "Time to finish packing!"

"Mmm."

By the time I was stirring an inordinate amount of sugar into my mug, a berobed Sabrina padded into the kitchen, a towel around her head. "Oh, good morning, Libby! Didn't expect you to be up so early."

I took a sip, made a face, and added more coffee to dilute the sugar. "Why not? You are."

"Point taken. Should I whip us up a batch of my famous breakfast cereal? We have a brand new box of Sugar Bombs."

Just as I was making a face, Roxie wandered out of her room, eyes gummed shut. "You guys sure make an unholy racket. Have you no respect for those of us trying to sleep in?"

One of Sabrina's eyebrows went up. "Excuse us, princess."

"Wait a minute," I said as she poured herself a glass of orange juice. "Shouldn't you be off packing up your coffin or whatever?"

"Huh?" I didn't have the heart to tell her she had an orange moustache now. "Oh, right, I guess I should get started on that..."

As we watched her go back to her room, Sabrina leaned over and whispered, "Methinks something is afoot with Miss King."

"Methinks you shouldn't say 'methinks'," I hissed back. "But what do you mean?"

Sabrina thought as she got a bowl down from the cabinet. "Well... I dunno, but it seems to me that she'd already be up before now if she were really going, right? She told us she was leaving yesterday, after all."

"I think that might have been my fault."

Eyes rolling, she walked over and put her hand on my elbow. "Stop doing that to yourself, okay? It was a big stinky accident, nobody's to blame. And if you don't quit it, I'm just going to have to go catch hypothermia myself so we'll be even."

I couldn't help laughing. "Fine, fine. I'll try, okay?"

She scrunched up her face. "Do, or do not - there is no try."

Before I could ask what the hell she was talking about, a series of loud thumps came from the stairs. We turned the corner to investigate and almost had to dive out of the way of Morgan and her huge suitcases.

"OH! Sorry about that!" she yelled as one fell down and popped open at my feet. I used one said foot to try and close it again as she dumped the rest in Sabrina's arms to help me. "Man, it was hard enough closing this one the first time!"

"I see you and half the mall will be enjoying this vacation?" Sabrina's muffled voice asked.

"Hey, a girl's gotta have her essentials," she grunted as she picked the suitcase up again.