Hunting the Fairy Tale

Chapter 60 - House of the Living

Now, I want to be Frankie.

"I didn't know you were going to pick him up today," Willow giggles, running her fingers through my brother's soft, curly hair.

"Neither did I, but I missed him."

"So did I," she smiles and hugs the little boy tightly. "I missed you, Frankie."

"Miss Willllow!" Frankie agrees, wrapping his arms strangulation tightly around her neck, making grunting sounds to indicate that he is hugging her as hard as he can. My heart is suddenly doing weird shit in my chest, and I think I might actually cry.

What the hell? I need a beer... or something. Maybe I should go kick my dummy!

"Hey! What have you been up to today?! Where were you?!" I pretty much shout at Willow because I'm apparently losing control of all my normal human functions, such as speech. Willow gives me a startled look and transfers Frankie to one hip so that she can grab her bag and purse again. 

Does she think I'm scolding her? She seems nervous now. I try to smile, but she still looks at me as if she thinks I'm about to tell her to go get a whip or something to beat her with.

"I'm sorry..." Oh, hell no! Now she's apologising! She did nothing wrong. "Paisley is having a severe costume catastrophe, we went into town to buy some things so that I can fix it..." she trails off, leaning her head on top of Frankie's when he pushes his face into her neck.

"Where is Paise now?"

"She got off the bus at her stop; she said it was about a block from her house."

"Oh! You took the bus!" 

The situation must be really desperate; Paisley hates taking the bus. I'm really trying to look less threatening and more like I'm just asking casual questions because I'm interested. It might be working because Willow's face is relaxing now. 

"Hey, don't apologise, you're allowed to come and go as you please. I was just baffled," I try to help her relaxation along a bit.

"Why don't you just put me on the bus on the days we can't come home together, Hunter?"

"Well, you don't know the area well yet, and I didn't want to lose you in your first week here. I was going to give you a map of all the stops and routes and show you how the buses work if you want to use them sometimes to go places... without me. I could do that now if you want..."

Willow smiles, nodding her head. "Thank you, that will be wonderful. Let me just go put these down," she says, walking past me toward the dining room.

"Missy, do you not like getting lifts with the guys... and me? Would you prefer to take the bus?"

She stops and turns to look at me; her eyes are gentle, and there's a soft smile playing on her lips. 

"I don't like it when people are forced to go out of their way for me, that's all. I do like getting lifts from them and getting to know them... and you."

♫

Paisley

The sky didn't open and try to drown Briar Cove again. I hang the borrowed waterproof jacket on the hooks mounted on the wall next to the front door. The idea is to sneak into my room because I'm suddenly feeling extremely self-conscious.

I don't enjoy the sensation at all.

I wore the first outfit Willow put together out of the shop after I paid for everything. It felt good for a while, but now that I'm in the familiar surroundings of my home, I feel like a freak and a phoney. I'm going to get to my bedroom as fast as I can and take it all off.