Handy Hiding Place (NaNoWriMo 2014)

Chapter 25

When the day came that everyone had time to go to the realm, they met at Zak’s house and used their powers in his backyard. This time, Biscuit was with them. They were relieved to find out that Biscuit could transport with them. Zak held Biscuit’s leash as he and his friends began the walk to the city. At least this time, the four of them knew that they could get a hotel room and relax in a quiet space if they wanted to, assuming Biscuit was allowed to go with them to their room. If not, they would have to think of something else to do, maybe find another place to stay. As they did last time, the kids waited for the bus to come. The same person they had seen last time was there again.

“Hey again, visitors,” the person greeted them. Now that Amelia was seeing this person again, and might see them every time she visited, she took a good look at them. They had short hair, maybe a little shorter than Quinn’s except the bangs. A simple brown hat covered most of it, so it was hard to tell. They wore ripped jeans and a black hoodie with a few small holes in the sleeve. Actually, they dressed a little bit like Quinn, but Quinn’s clothes weren’t ripped and they looked thicker than the things this person would show up to the bus stop wearing. This person had a purple tank top on, and Amelia had never seen Quinn wear a tank top. “Am I gonna be seein’ you here often?” the stranger asked.

“I think so,” Amelia answered, looking back at her friends who nodded in confirmation.

“Well I come here everyday at this time. Suppose I should ask you for your names and pronouns then.”

“Our what?” Amelia asked.

“What’cha name?”

“Amelia.”

“That there’s a pretty name. Real nice sounding. What’re your pronouns?”

“I don’t know what that means.”

“She, her,” Quinn replied, pointing to Amelia. Amelia looked back at them with a questioning stare. “They just asked what pronouns you go by. You go by she, her, herself,” Quinn told her.

“Oh.”

“I’m Quinn,” Quinn told the stranger. “They pronouns.”

“I’m Zak, uh, he pronouns,” Zak spoke up.

“Lexis. Whatever the heck you feel like,” Lexis told them.

“Nice,” the person chuckled. “That’s good, then I can’t get ‘em wrong, now can I? I’m Zaiden. I do she or ve pronouns, whichever you can remember.” Zaiden glanced over at Biscuit. “What a cute li’l creature. What’s its name?”

“Her name’s Biscuit,” Zak told vir.

“Well hi there, Biscuit.”

“Since you’re waiting for the bus, does that mean you don’t have a car?” Amelia asked.

“Oh, I’m not waiting for the bus,” Zaiden clarified.

“What are you waiting for?”