"Okay…I'll wait for you…geek for brains." Zoey mutters almost sounding as if she is a mix of shy, annoyed and excited, annoyed at me butting into her case, while being shy and excited about finally meeting me in person as we've talked…okay flirted quite a bit over the phone, and though I probably shouldn't, I find myself smirking at her rather dated and juvenile insult.
'Come on you stole that from Casey Jones, Zoe-Zoe, I expect better from you.' My thoughts turn joking even as I speak seriously into the phone even if my initial words aren't all that serious.
"Thanks Babealicious, I gotta go head up and pack a bag but I should be on the road tonight, I've got your cell number in case I get delayed, stay as safe as any hunter can Zoe…"
I receive a small laugh in return, "I knew you liked Ninja Turtles, this is my win!" Zoey snarks on the other end of the line.
"You have one this round, Milady but the next round will end in my victory!" I joke back with a posh English accent and suddenly feel two very intense gazes on me and phone while Enid starts to growl.
'Ooo, they're rather possessive of me aren't they?!' My brain unhelpfully cheers, 'Hot Werewolf girl and a hot goth Loli…being possessive of me, I can think of worse things one of them being a Demon possession, but this fancy tattoo I have over my heart in ultraviolet ink should make sure that doesn't happen.
"You're a total dork!" Zoey laughs through the other end of the line, "Alright, Matty…I'm gonna hang up now and go get something to eat, talk to you later." Zoey manages to tame her laughter while I stare into the rather irate glowing green orbs of Enid and the black frigid pits of Wednesday's eyes and feel a sense of profound danger as I hang-up the phone an uncertain laugh on my lips.
Enid lets out an all too sweet fake laugh and skips over to me grabs my right arm and pins it against herself while Wednesday who has picked up Mr.Stabby or should it be Mrs.Slit-ur-throat from Bobby's coffee table, while keeping the Hunter's Handbook clutched to her chest with the opposite arm.
"So Matthew, who is Zoe-Zoe?" Enid asks in a way too sweet sounding sing-songy voice, while Wednesday stares deeply into my eyes asking the same question only silently.
"She's a friend I've made over the phone during the last week or so in this world. We both like a lot of the same movies and cartoons and have really hit it off." I explain as I rapidly collect myself, not an ounce of the uncertainty I feel inside is conveyed outwards.
"Oh, well okay!" Enid suddenly says and her voice is back to normal, the wolf no longer lingering in her eyes or on her face as she shoots me a dazzling smile, looking back to Wednesday she gives me an almost uncertain nod of acceptance and the matter seems dropped.
"Enid and I aren't allowed to join you on this extracurricular activity…are we?" Wednesday suddenly asks and I catch the faintest hint of an understanding pout in her voice.
"Not until we take care of a few things, you'll see them in the book but there are tattoos that will make it so you can't be possessed by demons or spirits, along with a couple of things to ward against the mental effects some monsters are able to inflict on their victims." I explain and when I go to reach for it my wallet is in my pocket taking all the cash out I set it down on the table.
"This is all the cash I have on me right now, tomorrow the Sheriff of Sioux Falls will stop in to talk to you Enid and make sure everything is on the up and up I'll stop by the station on my way out of town and tell her I've got to go see a lawyer who called about my parents estate…maybe it'll get Jody to push the home visit out, but it probably won't she's a good person and a good cop, be honest with her except for the being from another world, and the dead werewolf actually Wednesday it best you make yourself scarce there's a panic room in the basement hide out there until Jody leaves." I offer and Wednesday nods in agreement while Enid vibrates with nervous energy, while still hugging my arm.
'Pack, shouldn't be away from, Pack…it doesn't feel right." Enid whimpers softly and the watery look in her big puppy dog eyes nearly makes me cave but I firm up my spine, tilt my head downwards and place a kiss against her forehead.
"Everything will be fine Enid I promise, but until we all get a good feel for what each of us is capable of we but all of us in danger, we will train, we will become not only a pack but a skilled Monster hunting unit…but until then it's better that I operate on my own or with other skilled hunters, and yes I know you and Wednesday are skilled and you know of each other's capabilities in the field. But I also know that you both recently lost a fight that's how you ended up here the next fight you lose could kill you and I'm an uncounted for factor in your team work, trust me when I say this I would much prefer going on this hunt with you and Wednesday but the chances of one of us or all of us getting killed or seriously and permanently injured are just too high." Enid starts to openly cry and I can tell that she wants to stubbornly argue her counterpoint up my entire point of view but Wednesday walks around me setting down both the handbook and her knife and pulls Enid into a hug.
"Though I am loath to admit it, I agree with Matthew's points that we need to learn everything we can about what we will run into out there and train as a three man squad before going into the field." Wednesday says in a matter of fact but gentle way that makes me find her so incredibly adorable, while Enid lets out a soft whimper, sniffles and snuggles her face into the crook of Wednesday's left shoulder while returning the hug.
'It's still a little jarring to see Wednesday initiate hugs, but damn it shows depths of her I wish were explored of her in the various series back home.' I can't help but think as I wrap my arms around both girls and catch the smallest of smirks and flushes on Wednesday's face when I press a kiss against her cheek.
With Wednesday and Enid seemingly squared away I head upstairs and pack away some clothes, returning downstairs I grab the Equalizer and harness from the top drawer along with a silver bladed Bowie knife/sheathe.
Giving both Enid and Wednesday a hug and a kiss goodbye loving that shy blush that appears on Wednesday's face, but the teary eyed looks Enid gives me are so hard to resist, but I force myself to leave Bobby's heading out to the she were I left the Ford Pickup with the truck camper, changing the New York plates for a set of California plates.
Hopping into the truck I drive through the yard spotting Enid and Wednesday at the doorway watching me leave with sad looks on their faces I blow them a kiss while shooting them a cheesy grin getting a reluctant giggle out of Enid and a slight rolling of the eyes from Wednesday, pulling onto the main road I begin driving to the Sheriff's station.
My heart pounds as I remember this truck has an APB out on it with a possible Amber Alert, but a deputy pulls right out of the sheriff's station and doesn't even give the truck more than a passing glance, pulling up and parking out in front of the station.
'Better tuck these underneath the seat.' my brain supplies helpfully and I leave my gun and Bobby's knife in the truck underneath the seat and head inside.
Coming to a stop at the front desk a bored looking cop who's about one donut away from a heart attack yawns and looks up at me.
"Can I help you with something, kid?" He asks in a rather rude tone.
"Yeah, I'm here to see Jody…I mean Sheriff Mills, she's a friend of my mom's." I offer lying slightly which makes this cop whose name tags read Paul Blart, at reading the name tag and giving him a better look over I nearly get consumed by laughter.
'Oh God this is rich, fuck Chuck had a sense of humor that's for sure!' Keeping my mental chuckles mental as the Kevin James look-alike asks for my name and then radios Jody, less than three seconds later Jody speed walks into the front area of the station and waves for me to follow her a look of concern on her face.
Once we enter her office and she closes the door behind her she starts doing her mothering thing looking me over for injuries, "I just wanted to tell you that I won't be at Uncle Bobby's tomorrow when you come to talk to Enid, I have to go meet with the lawyer over seeing my parents estate." I explain and Jody makes a noise in the back of her throat as she rests her hands against my biceps and gives them a comforting squeeze.
"Are you sure you're ready for that?" Jody asks me and I shrug because honestly I don't know them at all.
"Probably." I offer and roll my shoulders, while shooting Jody an uncertain expression, Jody removes her hands from my arms and walks over to her desk and begins writing something out on a sticky note, brings it over to me and places it in my right hand as I extend it towards her.
Looking down at it I see two phone numbers, "They're my personal home and cellphone numbers call them if you need someone to talk to." Jody says to me and unconsciously reaches up and runs her right hand through my hair, I feel my ears burn.
'God Damnit woman…the things you do to me unintentionally!' I complain in my head, and try to act like a teenage boy by rolling my eyes and backing away from her as my cheeks burn with heat.
And Jody has the gall to smirk at me like she just won something, "Drive safely Matthew, if you get in an accident I'll lock you up until you're twenty one." Jody says to me in a mix of seriousness and playfulness and I make a bit of a retreat, while waving over my shoulder, "Bye Jody, love you!" I shout out in what I hope is petty revenge.
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