The Puppet Assassin [TTR sequel]

The Puppet Assassin - Ch 19 [continued...]

"In a confronting manner," Kay added.

"Sorry I can't help the way I sound, or come across. I didn't mean to..." She looked at me. "I didn't mean to sound confronting, sorry."

"Oh, you spout such bullshit," Kayli laughed. "What she means, Dizelde, is that she was confronting you but she doesn't want you to take any offense. Watch out for this one, if you're not careful she can put enough pressure on you to tell your life's secrets."

Bianca scoffed, "You're making me sound like some sort of witch."

"Ah ha ha..." Kayli laughed awkwardly and made a face at me when B's back was turned. I guess she didn't know about witches and stuff like that. Luke would either have to be very careful not to reveal himself or have guts to tell her and risk being called mental.

"Anyway! Going back to my dilemma here guys!" Bianca snapped her fingers. "What do I wear? What do I talk about? What does Luke like? Is he gallant or should I fend for myself? Is he a rake? Should I bring some mace? Is he into politics? Should I quickly Google politics? Help me out!"

Kayli and I looked at each other. I didn't know that much about Luke, despite spending several days with him, so I hoped Kayli had a bit of an idea. I gave her a helpless look. She gave me the same look back.

"Ah, well, let's start with what to wear... Where are you guys going?" Kayli asked.

Bianca put her head in her hands. "I don't even know!"

** **

Time passed so quickly and as I grew more comfortable with Kayli and Bianca, I also got more and more giddy. These were friends, female friends. Friends you could tell secrets to. Friends you could tell meaningless nothings to. Never before had I felt this, never. I felt like going out and introducing myself to everyone, I wanted more friends, more kinship. Now I understood why most of the girls at the training compound had banded together. I might have been able to get through the whole assassination problem if I'd had a friend to support me, and go through the same things. Or maybe I'd have left the place earlier, on my own terms, if I'd had someone to encourage me.

"Oh, shit, shit, shit!" Bianca pushed herself upright and pulled her legs back from the edge of the couch. "The footy game's probably over, right? The guys will be back any minute and I still have to get over to yours, Kayli, to get ready!"

"Hey, cool it, B. Liam and Garth will probably gradually be getting drunk during the game so Luke will have to get them here safely and then head to his house to prepare."

Bianca ran a hand through her vividly blonde hair. "Argh, but... I take so damn long to prepare for anything!" She stood up, pulling out a small tele-wire from her pocket. "I'll just call a taxi and go there now."

"You got the cab-charge Liam gave you?" Kayli, lying next to the table holding the popcorn, looked like she was about to fall asleep.

"Yeah. I'll see you later, okay?" Bianca grabbed all her things hurriedly, gave us both thumbs up, blushed and raced to the door.

"Go-od Lu-uck!" Kayli shouted after her, drawing out non-existent syllables.

The front door creaked open and slammed closed and I rested my head against the back of the couch. I nearly forgot Kayli was nearby until I heard her groan.

"What is it?" I asked.

"The guys are back," she moaned. "I was about to fall asleep."

Just as she finished the sentence I heard the faint sound of car doors thudding and then a loud, barking laugh. Someone fumbled around with the front door lock before I heard it open.

"...but it's just so hard to keep a straight face around him. I mean, I'd be more inclined to take him seriously if he had his dick out twenty-four seven." I heard the relatively unfamiliar voice of Liam join in Luke's laughter and Garth's chuckling.

"Kayli?!" Liam called out.

"In the lounge room." She slapped a hand over her face and turned her head towards me. "I'm warning you beforehand, Liam is not a pretty drunk."

"I'm a fucking hot drunk," Liam shouted.

He entered the room, followed by a slightly dazed looking Garth. Luke trailed in behind them, rolling his eyes at me.

"Lark's coming over with a few mates from his team, be prepared." Luke pushed Garth towards the couch next to me and sat him down. "They won today's match so they will be celebrating rather fiercely."

"Tawney will be pissed though. That bench would've been kept pretty warm under his massive ass." Garth snorted.

Luke pointed at Garth and gave me a stern look. "This guy is upset about something, something more than a shit referee, so you're gonna need to watch him tonight."

I widened my eyes and felt like pointing to myself with a quizzical look. Me? I looked at Garth who was mock pouting. What was I supposed to do if he got out of hand? Knock him out?

"Hold on a second. Lark's having a little party here?" Kayli sat up. "But Dizelde's here. If everyone's distracted, someone might enter without anyone knowing and do something to her."

"It's okay, okay?" Liam smiled, very nicely actually. He looked a lot less frightening when he smiled. "You will be sober and Lark will be sober and Lark is like a watch-dog, right Garth?"

Garth nodded slowly. "Yeah but... his bite is worse than his bark..."

I choked on a breath as my throat closed up and fire sprinted through my fingertips and toes. Bite. Bite. Bite. Bite. I grimaced. I was not looking forward to seeing Larkin again. Garth lolled his head to face me and narrowed his eyes. Then burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?" Liam was grinning now.

"It's-it's nothing, man." Garth tried to straighten his expression but his lips trembled and the laugh came spurting out again.

Luke smiled exasperatedly and shook his head. "I have to go now, girls. I wish you luck."

Luck. Luck. Luck. Oh god, I hope I didn't blush.

"Yeah, run away and leave us with these overgrown kids. I don't know how we're gonna handle them and the excited jocks that are coming soon." Kayli folded her arms.

Liam came over and gripped her hips, pulling her up to stand in front of him. "I'll help. I'm good at... handling." He sniggered and Garth joined in. Soon they were both dissolved into laughter, Liam wrapping his arms around Kayli and leaning on her shoulder, gasping in between bouts of chortling.

She grimaced at me and elbowed Liam in the gut. "Gerroff you drunken idiot. Damn, how could you have had so much beer at the match?!"

Liam grinned sheepishly. "Garth kept giving me refills."

"He had twice as much as me and Luke," Garth said proudly. "And we finished everything in the Esky so I would say Liam had a bit too much."

"We can leave the party before it even arrives and..." Liam whispered something, something obviously suggestive, into Kayli's ear. She blushed instantly, a really bright red and beside me Garth blew out his cheeks and started hissing with laughter.

Kayli whacked Liam on the stomach. "I'm not leaving Diz here with a load of strange, excited men. If you were in your right senses you wouldn't even think of it either! Bah! Sober up already. It's no fun being sober while you're trashed."

I suddenly heard a thundering motorcycle motor coming from the drive. Larkin. Oh boy, what was I supposed to do? Or say? Or think?

How was I supposed to face HIM?