This Book Doesn't Have a Witty Title

7/27/2019 This Book Doesn't Have a Witty Title

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Chapter OneWe Transformed Seven Creatures

This way! Bring them this way, quicy!"

Two ta men and a woman gripped ong, meta poes in their goved hands# $sing these poes, thegroup prodded and poed at seven strange, foreign creatures# The creatures sputtered and screeched,

%ut stum%ed forwards nonetheess, down the see chrome haways of the a%# & mae scientist ed the

group at the front, his three companions herding the mysterious creatures# 'ere we are," the ead scientist sighed, pushing open a huge set of dou%e doors that ed to the

argest part of the a%# (nside were ten pods ined aong the far wa and mutipe dess scattered with

%uttons and papers# The two ta maes pushed the creatures forwards into seven of the ten pods, thencosed the doors one %y one# The creatures hissed and spat and cawed at the doors#

The ead scientist and the woman were aready sitting in chairs in front of some of the contro pane

dess when the two men )oined them# What do we do with them*" one of the ta men ased his eader#

+irst, ets do that e-periment on them," the man suggested# .uicy, quicy! 'ep me with the

coordinates# Which ones are femae, and which are mae*"

/oes it matter*" the femae scientist urged# 'mm###the two on the ends, put them in femae %odies,and the five in the midde wi %e mae#"

We perform two e-periments in one on this %atch," the ead scientist whispered# 0et them in

human %odies first, and then give them the Sinfu Shot#" Which wi %e which*" the second ta mae ased#

We see," his %oss repied#

The group went sient, eaving the ony sounds %eing the cawing and growing of the creaturesoced in their pods and the quiet %eep"1ing of the machines# The scientists pressed %uttons, fipped

switches, and made ad)ustments, then finay set the e-periment to %egin# The pods fashed with a

%right ight and the creatures inside screeched in pain, faiing a%out and crying out in otherwordy

voices# (nside the pods, their grotesque %odies %egan to tae human form, morphing and twisting andgrowing, unti the ight died down, eaving seven human %eings standing in the pods where the

creatures had once %een# The creatures1that1were1now1human panted and eaned tiredy against the

was of their pods# The scientists watched them for a few minutes %efore %ursting into oud cheers# (t wored!" the woman squeaed# (t reay wored! Oh, this is great!"

Thats odd," one of the ta men o%served# They sti have antennae, see*"

&h, youre right###" The ead scientist stared at the humans# We, whatever, it oos )ust ie hair tome# Besides, its not ie they ever get out# 2ow, Cory, &dam, watch them# 3ustine, %ring me the

Sinfu Shots#"

4es, /r# 3ason#" The two ta men stared at the humans whie the woman husted over to a shef to find the shots in

question# She returned with a tray oaded with seven syringes, each syringe containing a su%stance of a

different coor# The ead scientist, 3ason, too the tray and paced it on the des %efore him#

Than you# Cory, &dam, what are they doing*" The femae a the way on the right is cawing at her pod in the direction of the mae %eside her, as

if she wants to get to him," Cory, one of the ta mae scientists, answered#

The mae ne-t to her is )ust %anging on his pod# 'e oos mad," &dam, the other ta man, added# 3ason nodded sowy# 5ust and wrath," he isted off# 3ustine, go get the eashes#"

4es, /r# 3ason#" 3ustine dipped her head, then returned to the shef to fetch three high1tech ooing

eashes, compete with a meta coar# She %rought them to 3ason, who too them and paced them onthe same tray as the syringes#

The mae in the midde is aseep," Cory stated#

Soth," 3ason decided without a moments hesitation# &dam and 3ustine, tae the eashes and get


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the three weve decided on# Cory, go get them some cothes# ( give them the shots#"

3asons three assistants %ranched off to perform their )o%s# 3ustine gra%%ed two eashes off the tray

and &dam too the third# &dam went to the first pod in from the right to get the mae that woud %e

infused with wrath"# The mae hissed at him as &dam pued open the pod door and quicy snappedthe coar around the maes nec# 'e tugged the human1creature over to 3ason, who chose a syringe

fied with a red iquid from the tray#

'od him sti," he ordered &dam# &dam did as tod, pinning the maes arms to the ground %ehindhim# The mae hissed again#

3ason in)ected the mysterious su%stance into the mae whie 3ustine roused the mae in the midde

and gathered up him and the femae on the rightthe humans that woud %e in)ected with soth" andust", respectfuy#

Tae wrath %ac to his pod %efore his is us a," 3ason instructed &dam# &dam nodded and pued

the writhing mae %ac to his pod %efore shoving him inside and ocing the door# The mae roared and%anged on the gass with more ferocity than %efore#

3ason directed his attention to the femae and the smaer mae in front of him# The soth" mae

stared at him %any, and the femae ga6ed ongingy at the maes %ac at the pods# 3ason chose the

syringes fied with dar and ight %ue su%stances# &right, here we go###"

'e handed the dar %ue syringe to 3ustine# 0ive that one to ust#"

4es sir#" 3ason reached over and in)ected the ight %ue su%stance into the maes eft shouder# The mae )ust

continued to stare# Whie 3ason cared for the mae, 3ustine in)ected the dar %ue su%stance into the

femaes right arm# The femae yeped, %ut didnt seem too %otheredunie her wrath" companion,who was sti having an uncontroa%e rage fest inside his pod#

Tae those two %ac," 3ason ordered 3ustine# &dam* &nything ese*"

The mae first in from the eft# (s he###is he ooing at his own refection###*"

3ason o%served the human in question and aughed# That he is, &dam# 5oos ie we found whosgoing to %e pride# (s that a we now for now*"

The mae ne-t to him is staring at us ongingy#"

7nvy it is# Bring them here#" &dam nodded and too the eash that had %een used for wrath"# 3ustine herded soth" and ust"

into their respective pods and gave their eashes to &dam# &dam opened the pods of the maes that

woud %ecome pride" and envy" and fastened a coar around each of their necs# 'e had to dragpride" to 3ason, %ut envy" neary ran over, as if e-cited to %ecome a part of the e-periment#

3ason smied and reached out to tae the green and purpe syringes# 'e %econed &dam to hat the

two maes in front of 3ason# &dam o%eyed, eeping the two in front of the ead scientist# 3ason handedthe green syringe to &dam and instructed him to in)ect it into the mae who woud %e envy"# &dam

did, finding a spot %y the %ase of the maes nec and in)ecting the mysterious green su%stance# 3ason

foowed suit on the mae who woud %e pride"# 2either of them seemed fa6ed, %ut they did wince in

pain and seemed to %e reacting to the su%stances# 3ason waved his hand at &dam as a signa to returnthe two to their pods#

&dam o%eyed, )ust as Cory re1entered the room with a %asetfu of cothes#

(ve found a few things# Some of it is that weird futuristic stuff we found at that crash site# ( found afew norma mens cothes in the %ac, %ut as for ust, um###"

What is it*" 3ason urged#

Cory put the %aset down and ru%%ed the %ac of his nec# & ( found was a pair of ingerie#" Shes going to %e ust8 she pro%a%y ie it," 3ustine pointed out#

Shes right," 3ason agreed# 5eave the cothes there for now# Coud you go get me a sandwich*"

Cory seemed pu66ed, %ut he turned and eft the room again, eaving the %aset of cothes on the


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foor# 3ason fished around in his %ac pocet unti he found what he was ooing forhis waet#

Casuay, he tossed it to the ground %efore the pods# The femae on the eft instanty snapped to

attention and eyed it curiousy, whie the ast unnamed mae simpy ooed a%out %any#

3ason waed over to his waet, piced it up, and pued a twenty1doar %i out of it# The femaewatched it cosey as he moved it a%out8 up, down, eft, right, it didnt matter# The femaes eyes aways

foowed the %i#

3ason nodded, satisfied, and put his money %ac in his waet# That one is greed," he announced#3ustine, get her out for me#"

On it#" 3ustine too a eash and headed for the femae, cracing the door open# The femae instanty

reached for the eash as though shed try to tae it# 3ustine moved it out of her reach# The femaefoowed it#

3ustine aughed# 3ason, oo# She ies the eash," she caed over her shouder, %acing up a few

steps# The femae emerged out of her pod and moved towards the eash# 3ason watched# So she does," he agreed with a chuce# We, ead her over here#"

3ustine nodded and used the eash to guide the femae over to the ta%e# She et the femae pay with

the eash whie 3ason chose a syringe fied with a yeow su%stance and reached out, in)ecting it into

the femaes %ac, )ust eft of her shouder %ade# The femae winced and hissed, cinging tighter to theeash#

5et her eep it# $se it to %ring her %ac to her pod," 3ason instructed# 3ustine nodded and gra%%ed

hod of the edge of the eash# The femae cung to the coar and was pued aong to her pod# 3ustineushered her in and shut the door, eaving the eash inside with the femae#

&s soon as she had, Cory returned with the sandwich 3ason had requested# 3ason thaned him, too

the food, and carried over to where the ast unnamed mae sat# The maes eyes oced on the sandwichand his tongue %riefy swiped across his ips#

4up, hes guttony, aright," 3ason confirmed# &dam, %ring me the guttony shot#"

4es, sir#" &dam went to the tray and too the ast syringe, one fied with orange iquid# 'e %rought

it to 3ason# Open the pod, pease," 3ason said#

&dam o%eyed#

3ason gave the mae the sandwich and et him pay around with it and sniff it %efore taing a %ig %ite#3ason used the distraction as an opportunity to reach across and in)ect the orange su%stance into the

maes shouder# The mae ony %ined, then returned to eating# 3ason smied and drew %ac, ocing

the maeand the sandwichinto the pod# &nd thats the end," he said to himsef# 2ow# Shoud we name them*"

Why not*" 3ustine urged, sitting hersef in front of the pod hoding envy"# The now1green1eyed

mae pawed at the gass that separated them, an e-pression of onging fro6en on his face# What are wegoing to ca them if we dont*"

Their sin*" &dam suggested#

(d rather we named them# (t wi mae them seem more###human# ( mean, oo what we did! We

transformed seven hideous aiens into human %eings!" 2ames it is," 3ason decided# &nyone have any suggestions*"

( want to name this one 9organ," 3ustine decared, pacing her hand on the gass separating her

from the envy" mae# 'e paced his hand where hers was, etting a sma smie oose# But thats a womans name," &dam protested# We cant give him a womans name#"

Can it %e a midde name*"

What*" 3ason shrugged, smiing# Sure, why not# &nything ese*" 'ow a%out 7nide*" Cory suggested# That was my grandfathers name#"

7nide 9organ*" 3ason tried#

'e needs a ast name too," 3ustine pouted#


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&nyone*"

0ive me an origin and a etter," &dam ordered# ( oo something up on my phone#"

+rench, etter :," Cory %urted out#

5etter C," 3ustine corrected# &dam nodded# 'e caed up a we%site on his phone to search for surnames# Caron, Cavey, Chaput,

Chevaier, Char%onneau, Cha%ert"

( ie that one," 3ustine interrupted# Cha%ert#" 7nide 9organ Cha%ert* /oesnt sound too horri%e," 3ason mused# &right, hes got a name# Onto

the ne-t one#"

9y great1grandfathers name was ;arun, so to honor him ( want to use that for someone," Cory putin#

Which one*"

'm###" Cory e-amined the group# 4ou now, pride ind of oos ie him#" Then pride wi %e ;arun# Surname* 9idde name*"

2o midde name, surname Caaway," &dam isted off#

&ny specia reasoning*"

( want to get this done#" &dam wined at his superior# 3ason chuced# &right, onto the ne-t one# 'ow a%out guttony*"

5oos ie a 9ichae to me," &dam muttered#

5oos more ie a 9itche to me," Cory added# ( ie 9itche," 3ustine agreed# Surname*"

&nderson*" &dam tried# 5ie our %oss, :evin &nderson, %efore /r# 3ason too over#"

9itche &nderson," 3ustine said to hersef# What do you thin, 7nide*" 7nide ony stared at 3ustine wistfuy# She smied#

Whos ne-t*"

5ets give the adies a turn," 3ason suggested# 5ust* 0reed* What are we naming you*"

( thin###5ucy, for ust," 3ustine said# That sounds so###%asic," &dam admitted# We can do %etter than that!"

5ucie*" 3ustine tried#

Sti %and," &dam sighed# 5ucine*"

4oure reay stuc on 5ucy, arent you###*"

'ow a%out###(ustria*" 3ustine fung up her hands# ( dont now where that came from#" But ( ie it," &dam stated# (ustria###and we give her the same ast name as /r# 3ason

0aagher#"

(ustria 0aagher* Catchy," 3ustine mum%ed# Wraths turn# ( thin he oos ie a 5eo#" ( cant argue with that," Cory said#

9e neither," &dam agreed# 5eo it is# Surname*"

/r# 3ason* What do you thin*" Cory ooed to his superior, who thought for a moment#

( had a cousin who married a man with the ast name 3avier# ( ie it," 3ason concuded after amoment# 5eo 3avier*"


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Tae mine# 3aco%y," 3ustine said matter1of1facty# 2oah 5ucius 3aco%y###yes, that wor#"

( want to name greed something 3apanese," &dam decided# 9y famiy is part 3apanese and ( grew

up on 'awaii, so the cuture has some significance to me#"

&nything in particuar you ie*" 3ason pressed# &dam thought for a moment# &oi," he decided after a minute# &oi###4amada*" 'e sighed,

puing out his phone and searching up, 3apanese surnames"# The scientists and the human1creatures in

the pods were quiet as he searched around, then finay %roe into a grin# &oi 9oshihara# ( ie it#" 9oshihara*" 3ason nodded# Then its setted# 7nide 9organ Cha%ert, ;arun Caaway, (ustria

0aagher, 5eo 3avier, 2oah 5ucius 3aco%y, and &oi 9oshihara#"

( ie the sound of that," Cory sighed wistfuy# 2ow what do we do, /r# 3ason*" 3ason rose from his chair# We teach them how to %e human, of course# Cory, youre in charge of

teaching them proper 7ngish# &dam, you teach them how to %ehave ie a human# 3ustine, you feed

them and %ring them anything they need# &nd ( hande the supervision and any fine1tuning#" 4es, sir," 3asons three underings recited#

=>=

&%out a year had passed since the e-periment had %een performed# 3ustine had heped the group

cee%rate their first %irthday, and &dam had taught them a a%out the tradition of %irthdays# But the

seven e-periments were getting restess8 everyone coud te# &nd it was a wee after the one1year marpassed that they made their escape#

5eo!" &oi hissed from her pod# 4ouve %een practicing, right* Brea down the gass aready!"

( %rea down the gass when (m good and ready!" 5eo snapped %ac# 0ee6###women###" ?ight*" ;arun aughed, eaning %ac against the %ac wa of his pod# 4now, ( coud totay

noc down the was %etter than him#"

0reat! Show us %y doing it," &oi ordered, her voice siceningy sweet#

5eave them %e," (ustria, or 5ucy as she had taen to %eing caed, chided genty# 5eo, we have togo quicy# Soon, the others wi arrive and we %e forced to stay here for another year#"

5eo grum%ed to himsef, then drew in a quic deep %reath and pounded his fists against the gass

furiousy, %anging against it unti it craced and %roe down# 'e smied %riefy in triumph, then went togo unoc the other pods# ;arun and 7nide ooed at the ground, the former nowing he coud have

done %etter and the atter wishing he coud %e stronger#

7ventuay, 5eo managed to get a of the pods open, and he quicy ed the group outside# The sevene-periments sid past the rooms where the scientists were seeping# Si- of them made it outside, 2oah

%eing carried over 5eos shouder since he had apparenty decided it was a good idea to tae a nap in

the midde of the haway# They waited around unti 7nide )oined them outside# Where were you*!" &oi demanded#

We dont have a day!" 5eo added#

( had something to tae care of," 7nide muttered quiety# ###are we going, or what*"

Were going," 5ucy whispered# ( thin were ready# 5ets do it, iddos#" The group hurried away from the %uiding, 9itche constanty compaining a%out his hunger and

2oah constanty tossing in his seep @which reay didnt hep 5eos anger issuesA# They headed for the

near%y city, to do what they had %een sent to this panet to dowrea havoc, and generay run aroundcausing chaos# They dou%ted the seven deady sins" in)ections theyd %een given woud hinder their

quest#

When the scientists at ast awoe that morning, they found that their %eoved e-periments were

nowhere to %e seen# The fren6ied group ran a%out, %a%%ing to each other a%out what possi%y coud

have happened and trying to thin a%out how to get them %ac# Whie they were searching around,


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3ustine found the ony sign they had eft of the group, a singe piece of paper with ony three words

written on it and a singe name

I love you. Enide


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Chapter Two( +ound Seven Strangers On 9y /oorstep

Bernard ;on ;ita, or ;innie as his friends caed him, was awae far earier than he shoud have

%een# This was iey due to the fact that he seemed to have partia insomnia, %ut it coud have aso%een the oud screaming and %anging coming from his front stoop#

'e groaned, hoisting himsef out of %ed and heading down the ha to where his girfriend, 5inda

?utherford, was pro%a%y sti aseep# To his surprise, )ust as he turned the hande to her room, her doorswung open#

9orning, 5in," Bernard greeted# /id that noise outside wae you up too*"

5inda nodded, yawning# 4es# What on earth is going on###*" ( was going to get you up so we coud go see# 4ou wiing*"

Of course (m wiing," 5inda whispered# (m going to ean on you on the way down the stairs#"

&right, thats fine with me#" Together, the coupe made their way down Bernards ong, winding staircase, and craced open the

door to e-pore what was happening outside#

What they found was a poor, iey traumati6ed woman ying on the stoop, surrounded %y seven

strangers# & muscuar man was angriy yeing things at the others and pounding his fists on the side ofBernards arge house# & vouptuous woman was %eside him, stroing his arms with one hand and

genty %rushing the poor traumati6ed womans %angs out of her face with the other# & young gir had

stoen the womans waet and was emptying it of its contents, pawing a the money into a itte pieand hissing at anyone who so much as ooed at it# There was a sighty overweight %oy gnawing on the

poor womans arm, though he didnt seem to %e %iting down hard enough to %rea her sin#

& young man was positioned with his head resting on the womans stomach and appeared to %easeep# & second young man was chattering endessy with the woman, mosty things a%out himsef

from what Bernard coud te# The ast stranger was a third young man, who was e-amining the young

girs pie of money and Bernards house ongingy#

Bernard and 5inda stared at the strange sight# The seven strangers and the traumati6ed womanooed at them# Bernard and 5inda %ined#

The young gir hissed oudy# The muscuar man started screaming something at them# The

vouptuous woman practicay fung hersef at Bernard and cudded with his egs# The seeping %oysnorted and woe up, then apparenty decided whatever was happening wasnt worth waing up over

and went %ac to seep# The overweight %oy stared at Bernard and 5inda for a second, %ut didnt stop

gnawing on the poor womans arm# The chatty %oy )ust waved# The ast %oy ooed past the duo intotheir house#

The woman mouthed, 'ep me#"

What on earth is going on here*" Bernard demanded# (ts, ie###three in the morning!" 9ine!" the young gir snapped, pawing the womans money coser to her#

Who the hec are you peope, and what are you doing on my porch*!"

4oure handsome," the vouptuous woman purred, traiing her hand up Bernards eg# Bernard

smaced it away and moved coser to 5inda# 5inda ooed very uncomforta%e# Who are you*" Bernard repeated#


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We, youre not getting one!" the muscuar man snapped#

The vouptuous woman gigged and finay stood up# See, were aiens from a foreign panet who

were caught and apprehended a%out a year ago# The scientists who captured us turned us into human

%eings through some sort of machine that aters moecuar structure and /2&, or something ie that#" Bernard said nothing# 5inda and the woman were sient as we#

We were in)ected with strange su%stances that caused us to %e overcome %y one of the seven deady

sins each# &nd then we %roe out of the a% and came here!" Bernard )ust stared# ###youre aiens#"

$h1huh!"

###and you came to my house*" (ts a sign," the vouptuous woman decared, eaning against Bernards arm and ru%%ing his chest

with one hand# 'e quicy moved away, %eyond uncomforta%e with the whoe occurrence#

5in, tae this poor woman home, wi you* (m going to sort these guys out," he instructed# 5indanodded and %egan eading the woman away#

They sti have my money!" the woman whined#

( pay you %ac," 5inda assured# This way###"

Bernard watched her go for a minute, then sighed# &right, you ot# (nside#" +OO/!" The overweight %oy %arreed into the house with surprising speed and went straight for

Bernards fridge, finging the door open and yaning out amost anything he coud find to munch on#

W1wait a minute!" Bernard ran after him and paced everything he coud %ac into the fridge# The%oy ignored his e-istence and pued everything right %ac out# 'ey! 4ou cant )ust"

0ive it up," the muscuar man muttered# Once 9itch has food in his sight, nothing stop him from

getting it#" 9itch*" Bernard echoed#

Thats what ( )ust said, isnt it*!"

Sorry," Bernard muttered# O:, O:# Wait# So what are you a doing here, e-acty*"

Were going to cause chaos and wrea havoc on the word unti it %ecomes so dysfunctiona, humanife can no onger %e supported and our ind can tae over the panet," the young gir stated matter1of1

facty# She had gathered up the womans money and stuffed it into her shirt, apparenty not having any

pocets to spea of# Bernard stared# ###you were serious a%out that*"

The group of seven nodded#

Bernard sighed heaviy and ran a hand through his dar %rown hair# O:, O:# So, youre a aienswho escaped from a secret a%###and came to my house#"

4eah, thats pretty much it," the young gir said#

4ou have anywhere to go*" 2ope#" The young gir ooed over at a decorative vase sitting on Bernards ta%e# She too it#

5ets stay here," the vouptuous woman suggested# ( can share a %ed with this guy!" She attached

hersef to Bernard again# Bernard shoved her off and hid %ehind the ta%e#

Wait a minute# ( cant have nine peope iving in one house," he insisted# 4ou cant stay here#" 'ow many rooms are in the house*" the young gir demanded# She spotted a dime on Bernards

foor and piced it up, dropping it into the vase#

We, theres two %edrooms, three couches, and a room in the %asement that we turn into a guestroom sometimes#"

Whos we*"

9y girfriend and me#" 4ou ive together*"

We attend coege together#" Bernard ru%%ed the %ac of his nec# (ts not a%norma, you now# (t

maes arrangements easier for %oth of us, and its not ie we seep in the same room#"


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4ou wi from now on#" The young gir nodded seriousy# 4ou two share one room, you give the

other room to two of us, we send two more to the %asement, two on the couches, and###2oah can

iteray seep anywhere, so ets not worry a%out him#"

Whoa, hang on#" Bernard emerged from %ehind the ta%e# Thats not for you to decide#" 4es it is," the gir said#

(m pretty sure its not#"

The dudes right," the chatty %oy from earier spoe up# ###its my decision to mae#" 2ot true! 7verything is mine!" the gir insisted#

( deserve to have everything! ( mean, look at me! (m gorgeous!"

The gir stuc her tongue out at her %onde companion and net down to search for more sparechange on Bernards foor#

Bernard groaned# This is exhausting! he thought misera%y#How are Linda and I supposed to

support these guys? There's no other way, they have to...

Bernards thoughts ended a%rupty as he remem%ered what the young gir had said Were going to

cause chaos and wrea havoc on the word###"

I I let these guys go ree without some sort o supervision, who knows what they'll do to poor

Earth...? ugh... &right, aright#"

The group turned to face Bernard#

###if 5inda is O: with it, you a can ive here# /o you have anything you need to go get*" ?eay*" The vouptuous woman neary taced Bernard# Oh, thats so wonderfu! /ont you worry

a%out a thing, %a%y# & ( need is you#"


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The gir smaced him in the side# Shut up," she snapped, rising to her feet and e-amining her hau,

a of which she had neaty deposited into the decorative vase shed stoen# (m &oi# These guys ie

to ca me 9oii#"

Wheres that come from*" Bernard ased curiousy# &oi 9oshihara# 9o# :ii#"

&h#"

The vouptuous woman went ne-t# (m (ustria, %ut they a ca me 5ucy# 4ou can ca me dearie,daring, ove, or anything you can thin of#"

Bernard resisted the urge to ro his eyes#

(m 9itche, %ut they ca me 9itch," the %oy at Bernards fridge caed over a mouthfu of food# (ie eating#"

5eo," the muscuar man grum%ed# 7veryone cas me 5eo# (f you coudnt figure that out, youre

an even %igger moron than ( thought# &so, this is 2oah#" 'e gestured to the seeping %oy, who was stisum%ering away, hoisted over 5eos shouder#

& eyes turned to the ast new guestthe dar1sinned %runette was sti wandering around

aimessy, e-amining Bernards rather nice home#

&nd you are*" Bernard caed, hoping to catch the %oys attention# 'e ganced over at Bernard, his eyes %arey visi%e past his %angs# The two stared at each other#

&oi roed her eyes# ( fi- him#" She wandered over to the %oy, reached into her shirt, and pued

out a penny# The %oy ooed at her# She handed him the penny# 'ere# This is for %eing so incredi%ywonderfu#"

The %oy smied sighty and too the penny# (m 7nide# ( was mad %ecause ( wanted to go first, %ut

;arun %eat me# &gain#" ;arun chuced#

Bernard nodded sighty# 4ou said you had %een in)ected with su%stances that made you ie

personifications of the seven deady sins, right*"

Something ie that," &oi confirmed# 5et me see if ( get this right#" 'e pointed at &oi# 4oure greed#"

4ep#" &oi reached over and snatched her" penny %ac from 7nide# She dropped it into her"

vase# Bernard pointed at 9itche# 'es guttony#"

(n the fesh," 9itche mum%ed over a mouthfu of cheese#

Wrath*" Bernard tried, pointing at 5eo# 4eah, you gotta pro%em with that*!" 5eo gared at Bernard#

2oah is soth, (m guessing," Bernard continued, ignoring 5eo#

Sure is," &oi agreed# That means ;arun is pride, 5ucy is ust, and###7nide is envy*"

4ou got it," ;arun agreed# (t was %ecause ( eft great hints, wasnt it*"

Sure#" Bernard sighed# &right, come with me# ( show you where you a seep for now#"

The seven custered together, gathering up 9itche from his pace %y the fridge# Bernard gra%%edonto 5indas hand and ed her upstairs# Their new housemates foowed, some more sowy than others#

Though none of them new it then, from that moment on, none of their ives woud ever %e the same#


11/142

Chapter Three9y Boyfriend Too (n Seven Strangers

5inda yawned and ganced down to the eft of her @or BernardsA %ed# 'er %oyfriend was sum%ering

peacefuy, cured around a piow hed taen to seep on# 5inda new how much a good seep matteredto him @she was sti rather tired hersefA, so she decided not to wae him# Briefy, she wondered if the

seven strangers from the ast night were even reait had seemed ie a dream%ut she figured shed

find out soon enough anyways# The pae %onde wandered downstairs and into the itchen to get something to eat# To her surprise,

a seven of the strangers were aready there#

What are you a doing here*" 5inda ased curiousy# ( aways wae up first %ecause doing things first is what ( do," ;arun answered casuay#

( tried to wae up first %ecause ( wanted to %e first at something for once, %ut ( woe up second,"

7nide repied# These two idiots made so much noise, ( foowed them downstairs )ust to te them to shut up," 5eo

grum%ed#

( foowed him %ecause ( didnt want to ie in %ed aone," (ustria pouted#

( needed to get here fast so ( coud caim everything as my own," &oi said, shrugging# ( was hungry," 9itch stated simpy#

( sept on the ta%e," 2oah yawned#

5inda %ined# ##so what are you doing up*" &oi ased#

5inda shrugged# ( )ust woe up, ( guess# ( wish ( coud get more seep###"

Sorry," (ustria put in# (t wasnt you#" 5inda smied# So what did you eat for %reafast*"

5eo," (ustria answered immediatey, icing her ips#

5eo grunted# /oes it matter*!"

( didnt eat yet %ecause no one has served me# &s if (d get my own food!" ;arun scoffed# (ve spent a morning trying to find the food that wi mae me %etter than the others for once,"

7nide said honesty#

( had cerea, more cerea, a %age, and (ve crammed a few do6en muffins and donuts into my newvase for ater," &oi repied#

7verything," 9itche stated#

2oah )ust made a grunting noise# 5inda %ined again# 4ou certainy are different###"

(ts in our nature," ;arun said, shrugging# Ony one can stand at the top, and the rest are mere

maggots in comparison to the perfection that is mysef#" &oi stuc her tongue out at him#

4ou are awfuy gorgeous," (ustria admitted#

;arun chuced# 7nide pursed his ips and starting pouting#

5inda wandered over to the fridge and opened it# (t was neary empty# W1where is a our food* This was fu )ust yesterday!"

7veryone pointed at 9itche, with the e-ception of &oi, who raised her hand#

( stoe it," she repied# ( ate it," 9itche admitted#

5inda tried not to facepam# (m going to mae some eggs# Woud anyone ie some*"

Serve me!" ;arun demanded, propping his feet on the ta%e# 0et your feet off the ta%e, you itte pun!" 5eo snapped, yaning ;aruns feet off the ta%e# ;arun

gared at him#

( coud go for some eggs," 9itche caed#


12/142

4ou get nothing!" &oi yeed#

(m inda hungry for actua food," (ustria admitted#

Wi you mae my eggs specia*" 7nide ased#

5inda cosed her eyes and counted to ten# &right," she agreed# She gathered up the amount of eggsshe dared to mae and aid them out on the ta%e, then searched for a pan# Whie she made some food,

the seven continued their conversations# 5inda found hersef truy interested in a of them a of a

sudden and tried to isten in# 5oo, dude# (m saying this as someone who hates you," ;arun was saying# Cing to the past and

%e upset forever#"

( pro%a%y wi, at this rate!" 7nide countered# 4ou vountariy eft with us!" &oi snapped# (f you ied 3ustine so much, why didnt you stay with

her*"

"ustine? #ho's that? 5inda wondered# She ept istening# There was sience for a minute# 5inda had given up on any more conversation when 7nide spoe

again#

( didnt want to %e eft aone," he whispered# ( )ust wanted to %e ie you guys and run away# (f (

didnt, ( woud sti %e sitting there in that pod envying your freedom#" 4ou aways %e envious of something," &oi hissed# (ts part of your nature now# +rom now on,

everything you see wi mae you envious#"

( hate it," 5eo muttered# Why coudnt we )ust %e norma*" 4ou hate everything," (ustria pointed out# 7nide, honey, isten# (f it maes you that upset, why

dont you )ust go %ac to her*"

( dont want to go %ac to that pod!" 7nide ashed# 5inda finched sighty8 7nide was quiet usuay,so she hadnt e-pected him to ye# (###( want to %e free# Sitting in that pod a day, ( ept istening to

the things they tod us, and thining###why* Why cant ( go out there ie them* They turned us into

humans, %ut they treated us ie animas#"

7-acty," &oi said quiety# ###( dont want to go %ac# ( want to stay out here# ( want to %e human#" 9e too," (ustria sighed wistfuy# ( eep ooing at a the things humans have, and do, and ( want

to have them too#"

This sucs," ;arun groaned# ( was going to %e the most impressive human %eing aive# 'ow am (supposed to do that when we reay dont have the sightest idea how to %e human*"

Thats rare, to come from you"

7-cept for me, (m perfect#" ###( e-pected that#" (ustria sighed# This isnt going to hep us, iving with these two# They dont

even ie us#"

&oi snorted# We, duh# Woudyou ie us*" she scoffed# (ustria chuced#


13/142

( dont now if it was worth it or not," 7nide said# Coming out here, that is# (###( now we were sent

to destroy 7arth, %ut###so far, its %een pretty good to us, hasnt it* ###its %etter to you guys than me,

though, so may%e we shoud destroy it#"

What do we do*" (ustria sighed heaviy# ( dont now any more than you do#" This woud %e so much easier if it werent for those stupid shots!" 5eo shouted# Wed %e a%e to

agree on something, wed %e a%e to get our )o%s done###"

0ee6###" 5inda peeed over her shouder again and saw ;arun sump %ac into his chair# ( say westay, and since (m the %est, isten to me#"

( say we go, and since no one ever istens to me, you shoud do it this time," 7nide countered#

( say ( hate everything," 5eo muttered# 5inda ooed down at her pan and noticed the scram%ed eggs shed made were done# She turned the

stove off and moved the pan to a different %urner# 2o one moved for a ong time#

(m hungry," 9itche whined, %reaing the sience# 'ere#" 5inda got out five pates and oaded them with eggs# She %rought two to the ta%e and gave

one to 9itche and one to ;arun, then went to get the others some food as we# ###um, ( coudnt hep

%ut overhear###"

2one of the seven guests said a word# The ony sound was that of 9itche shoveing eggs into hismouth#

5inda returned to the ta%e with two more pates# She paced one in front of (ustria and one in front

of 7nide, then went to go get them some fors to eat with# ###1isten, um###;innie e-pained everythingto me ast night"

Whos ;innie*" &oi cut in#

Bernard," 5inda corrected# (f###if you dont mind###" What*"

( woud ie to hep you %ecome truy human#" 5indas face was serious as she passed out the fors#

The seven guests were sient again# ( dont now if ( can do it aone, %ut (m sure ;innie fees the same

way# Together, we can hep you#" 4ou mean that*" (ustria smied and too a for# 5inda, was it* Thats sweet of you#"

( want to now a a%out you#" 5inda smied sighty# tch if you reay want to," ;arun decided# 'e added a chuce# &oi iced him in

the shin from across the ta%e# Ow! She started it!"

( ie these eggs," 9itche announced#

7nide was quiet# 5inda sowy eaned over to whisper in his ear# /ont te the others, %ut ( made yours with e-tra sat#"

7nide smied sighty# (f you promise not to spend too much time with the others, ( guess ( can et

you %efriend me#" 5inda smied# 0ood, then# We start now#"

W1wait, what*"

The rest of the %reafast period was spent with conversations and aughter# 5inda earned that 3ustinehad %een a femae scientist who wored with three other men to transform and in)ect the group# She

had %een the caretaer of the group and seemed to ie 7nide the most# 7nide eventuay fe in ove

with her#


14/142

She aso earned that, as far as human years went, 7nide, ;arun, and 2oah were seventeen# 5eo was

twenty1three# (ustria was twenty1seven# 9itche was fourteen, and &oi was tweve#

There were many other things she earned as we, and the gir found hersef getting coser and coser

to unocing a the secrets the group had# She earned the %est way to dea with each ones particuarsin, how to address them in the %est order, and what inds of things they en)oyed# (n fact, 5inda earned

so many things a%out her new friends that she had to go upstairs and get a )ourna so she coud write it

a down# But there was aways somethingsomething in the %ac of 5indas mind that made her thin that a

her efforts woud one day go to waste# There was something she recogni6ed a%out this group,

something shed seen %efore, %ut she coudnt remem%er what it was# (t upset her greaty# (t was three in the afternoon when Bernard finay wandered down the stairs, ooing fuy rested and

wide1awae# 'e entered the itchen to aughter and gee @e-cept from the seeping 2oah8 and 5eo, who

was never happyA# What happened in here*" he ased curiousy#

3ust %reafast," 5inda repied innocenty#

Bernard ooed ie he woud argue, %ut apparenty decided against it# 'e went to get his own

%reafast @or unch, at this pointA and )oin the others at the ta%e# &nd as 5inda ooed around at theseven humans who had once %een strangers, she coudnt hep %ut fee that something was missing#

The thought ony served to further upset her# She went %ac to her )ourna#


15/142

Chapter +our9y 0irfriend is Best +riends with the Strangers

So et me get this straight# 4ouve %efriended a seven of them in the course of a morning and now

you want me to hep them %e human*" 5inda nodded enthusiasticay, seated on Bernards ap# Bernard sighed heaviy, smiing awwardy

at his girfriend#

( cant %eieve you sometimes# 4ou now that*" he ased# 5inda )ust shrugged and eaned against him#

So whats our step one*" Bernard questioned, reaching his arms around 5indas waist#

5inda smied# Theyre a quite taented at something# & we have to do is find the perfect )o% forthem# ( thin ( can do it if ( have a chance#"

( ie that idea# They can hep pay for everything they %rea, stea, or eat#"

Stop that#" 5inda whaced Bernards chest payfuy# 'e chuced# (ts true, though," he sighed# Theyre going to %e a ot of trou%e#"

5et me hande them," 5inda %egged# ( can do it#"

O:, O:# (f you say so, ( trust you," Bernard decided#

5inda grinned# Than you# &h, Bernard###" 4eah*"

(ve figured it out#"

+igured what out*" The %est way to address them#" 5inda nodded# 4ouve noticed that sometimes, if we ta to them in

a specific order, some of them get upset, right*"

Bernard %ined# We, ( guess#" Theres a very specia order you have to spea to them in so they dont get upset," 5inda e-pained#

( now what it is#"

&re you going to te me*" Bernard )oed#

5inda smied# ;arun and 7nide have to %e addressed first, at the same time# 5ist ;aruns name firstand 7nides second# (f you dont, ;aruns pride wi %e %ruised and he get mad that you put the others

%efore him, or 7nide wi get )eaous that you put the others first again# (f you group them together %ut

say ;aruns name first, 7nide wi %e so e-cited that he was actuay grouped with ;arun for once thathe wont even notice he was isted second, %ut ;arun wi notice he was isted first and he %e happy

you acnowedged his e-ceence#"

Bernard nodded sowy# (nteresting," he muttered# 2e-t*" 2e-t varies for %oth of us# +or you, its 5ucy# +or me, its 5eo#"

Why*"

We, when it comes to you, 5ucy reay wants to %e acnowedged# She %e happy if you spea toher as soon as possi%e, %ut it wont upset her if she goes second# (f you mae 5eo wait too ong he

get reay mad, though, so mae sure he goes third# +or me, 5ucy can go third and 5eo second#"

(mpressive," Bernard praised# Who goes after that*"

+rom then on, the order is 2oah, &oi, then 9itch#" 2oah* Why not 2oah ast*"

4ou have to catch him %efore he do6es off, %ut he wont mind %eing put off for a whie," 5inda

answered immediatey# &oi ies %eing paid attention to and isnt prone to en)oying a ong wait, %utshes one of the more mature of the group despite her age and nows she cant %e paced %efore the

others# &nd 9itch###we, 9itch reay doesnt care no matter what you do#"

O:, (m officiay impressed#" Bernard aughed# 'owd you figure a that out*" They reay arent that hard to figure out once you get to now them," 5inda said honesty#

&ctuay, theyre reay fun to %e around#"

That so*"


16/142

( now what inds of things they ie# ( can hep them get )o%s#"

0ood#"

5inda sid off of Bernards ap and hed out her hand to pu him off the couch# 'e accepted it# The

coupe e-changed a smie# Ca them in, aright*" Bernard prompted, ushering 5inda towards the itchen, where the group of

seven was sti chatting @or rather, arguingA#

O:#" 5inda emerged into the room# 0uys! ###and girs#" The seven ooed over at her# 5inda waved# 9ost of them waved %ac, aside from 2oah and 9itche,

who were too %usy seeping and eating, respectivey#

(m going to hep you find some )o%s," 5inda announced# ( thin ( now something each of youcan do# &re you wiing to isten*"

Of course!" (ustria caed# Wheres ;innie* (s he coming too*"


17/142

Thats###thats actuay a %riiant idea," 5eo admitted# ###%ut ( sti hate you!"

5inda grinned# 5ucy, you need to %e a mode#"

Oh, yay!" (ustria cheered# ( was hoping youd say that!"

2oah, may%e you can %e a mattress tester*" 2oah %ined# ###thats###thats a thing*"

Sure it is# Someone needs to mae sure the mattresses are fit for seeping on#"

&ctuay, we ive two %ocs away from a giant mattress1factory1sash1department1store," Bernardreai6ed# ( thin ( saw a hep wanted sign in their window ast time ( drove %y, %ut is that what they

were ooing for*"

Who nows, may%e it is," 5inda repied# 2oah %ined a coupe more times# ###so###( get to seep for a )o%*"

4eah, thats pretty much it," Bernard agreed#

2oah smied# 2e-t, 9oii#" 5inda fashed &oi a win# &oi smied %ac at her# &ny )o% you do wi mae you

money, %ut we cant put you in a store or you tae everything#"

This is true," &oi admitted#

So, ( was thining, may%e you coud %e an artist or an author or something*" Or an actress!" &oi gasped e-citedy#

(t wont %e easy, %ut you get paid a ot," 5inda said#

&oi squeaed# That sounds ama6ing! ( wanna get paid for maing %eautifu pictures!" &rtist it is!"

Or may%e photographer* Or %oth! That means dou%e the money!"

5inda ooed at Bernard again, feeing proud# Bernard aughed, honesty ama6ed at his girfriends )o%1assigning sis#

&nd 9itch, you can %e a food tester#"

9itche ooed up from his mea of Styrofoam pates, a napin or two, and three %ows of fruit saad#

Wait, ( can get paid for eating*!" Of course# Sometimes chefs need specia peope to taste their food for them and te them if they

thin peope can eat it# We ive in an area with a ot of restaurants, so theres %ound to %e something!"

9itche squeaed# ( wanna eat for a iving!" Then its setted#" 5inda grinned# ;arun and 7nide, ( can set you two up at our oca taior shop

tomorrow# See how you ie it#"

(m so gonna do %etter than you," ;arun muttered, garing at 7nide# 2ot this time, youre not," 7nide snapped %ac#

5inda smied nervousy# ###we anyways###5eo, ( show you where the poice station is# 4ou have

to go through forma training, %ut that shoud ony tae a%out a month# 5ucy, Bernard wi drive youdown to the studio downtown# 2oah, ( wa you down to the mattress factory#"

/o ( have to wa*" 2oah whined#

###O:, ( drive you once Bernard gets home with the car," 5inda corrected# 9oii*"

4ou can )ust ca me &oi, you now#" 9oii is reay fun to say#"

###we, aright#"

Tomorrow, ( get you a camera and some pencis and specia paper# &nd as for 9itch, we can wadown to a restaurant#"

4ay!" 9itche cheered, capping in deight# &oi gigged#

5inda put her hands on her hips# We*" Bernard appauded her# O:, that was ama6ing," he aughed# 4oure pretty good#"

5inda smied confidenty# Than you#"

Then, tomorrow we get you ot to the )o% of your choice and see how you do#


18/142

mess up your interview too %ady#"

We try," (ustria promised#

&nd ( get to my own )o% too#"

Where do you wor*" &oi ased# /o you mae a ot of money*!" Bernard chuced and ru%%ed his nec awwardy# ( ony get paid minimum wage, %ut ( guess ( get

a ot of tips#"

Tips###*!" ( wor as a waiter at a famiy restaurant a few %ocs down," Bernard continued# (ts not great, %ut

it pays the %is# &nd the interest ( coect %y shoving it a in the %an goes a ong way towards tuition

fees# ( sti have a coupe years of coege, after a#" Both of us do," 5inda added# 'opefuy, having you seven get )o%s too wi hep us pay foroh

my gosh!"

What*" ;innie, what a%out schoo*"

Bernard %ined# 'ow od are they*"

;arun, 7nide, and 2oah are seventeen, 5ucys twenty1seven, 5eos twenty1three, &ois tweve,

9itch is fourteen," 5inda isted off# ?ight*" ?ight," &oi confirmed#

So thatd %e###four in high schoo, one in coege, one in midde schoo, and one out of schoo#

?ight*" (f their ages correspond with their grades, yes," 5inda agreed# 4ou a are pretty inteigent, right*"

We earned a ot in one year," &oi said# ( guess you coud say we were homeschooed# We got

te-t%oos and everything# ###of course, our aien race was pretty inteigent to %egin with#" (t might %e tricy to %aance wor with schoo," 5inda muttered# 9ay%e we can get you some

%oos so you can continue homeschooing#"

That woudnt %other me, e-cept for the fact that ( reay dont trust them aone with my house a

day," Bernard admitted# They might %e at wor whie were at cass," 5inda tried#

'opefuy#" Bernard sighed# &right# We try to get out and get you a some te-t%oos for

studying so you dont get stupid# (d tae you with me, %ut my car ony fits five# That reminds me;arun, 7nide, 5ucy, 5eo, and 2oah can a, theoreticay, get their earners permit# Then its )ust a hop,

sip, and three1hundred hours of driving away from your icense#"

( wanna drive!" ;arun gasped# Then ( coud show off my awesome car and mae peope )eaous!" +irst you have to $uy an awesome car," &oi reminded him# So dont mess up this )o%!"

;arun stuc his tongue out at her# She returned the gesture#

Bernard nodded# Then its setted# Tomorrow you a get )o%s and %oos# &nd may%e permits#" (m so e-cited!" 5inda cheered#

The seven et oose their own itte cheers @e-cept 5eo, who sti hated everythingA# & nine mem%ers

of the househod new that soon, these seven strangers woud %e one step coser to %eing seven human

%eings#


19/142

Chapter +iveWe 0ot Seven 'umans 3o%s

5inda, 5inda! 5isten!"

5inda turned around )ust in time for 9itche to come crashing into her# She squeaed and stum%ed%ac, crashing against 5eo# 5eo grunted and hed her upright unti she got her %aance %ac#

What is it*"

( got the )o%! ( get paid to eat now!" 9itche squeaed happiy# (ts true! They ied that ( was a%eto %e honest with my opinions#"

(ts strange# ( amost thought any food was fine with you," 5inda admitted#

9itche shrugged# We###( ie a foods, %ut some of them are )ust %etter than others, you now*5ie at the restaurant# They had this new %acon %urger that was good, %ut the appewood smoed %acon

reay conficted with the taste of the di)onnaise# But then they had this stea, and the seasoning had

)ust the right %aance of chives and rosemary# 4ou now*" 4ou now a ot a%out food," 5inda commented#

9itche nodded enthusiasticay# +ood is the greatest thing in the word!"

We*" 5inda turned to face 5eo# 'ow a%out you*"

( was amost turned down for %eing too vioent, %ut ( managed to tone down enough to get them toconsider me," 5eo muttered# ( start training tomorrow at si-#"

(n the morning*"

/uh, in the morning! Who trains at si- at night*!" 5in!" (ustria fung open the door and stroed inside# (ts officia, (m a mode!"

Thats great!" 5inda gasped, e-cited#

( now! ( even get to pose naed sometimes!" Thats###great###*"

(snt it*!"

5inda gigged# 4ou a seem reay happy," she o%served# 7ven 5eo!"

Shut up," 5eo mum%ed, admittedy a %it em%arrassed that he was caught %eing sightyenthusiastic#

5inda chatted with the three a%out their new )o%s unti Bernard arrived home with 2oah, 7nide, and

;arun# The group wandered into the house, 2oah suspended %etween 7nide and Bernard# 5inda waved# 'owd it go*"

( e-pain in a minute," Bernard promised# ( have to go out and get the %oos, then ( come %ac

out# 'ey, did you finish your notes from psychoogy*" 4es# /id you need to %orrow them*"

4eah# 9r# :ar%owsi moved too fast# ( coudnt catch everything#"


20/142

Bernard sid over to her, sowy, and eaned in to her ear# /ont te ;arun ( said this, %ut in terms of

the interview, 7nide did way %etter#"

5inda gigged# That so*"

;arun pretty much taed a%out himsef the whoe time# Which, thanfuy, is inda what youresupposed to do in a )o% interview# 7nide was reay quiet, %ut he answered any questions pretty we#

The ony sign ( saw of his envy acting up was when he ept frowning at a the coo stuff and

mentioning how %ady he wanted to do as we as ;arun did#" (mpressive#" 5inda smied and nodded# &nd 2oah*"

They didnt need a mattress tester, %ut when ( mentioned how %ady we needed him to get this )o%,

they agreed to et him try it#" 0reat!" 5inda cheered# 0o get the %oos# When you come %ac, we can ta a%out how these three

did#"

On it#" Bernard handed 2oah over to ;arun and went outside to get the te-t%oos# /o you thin you got the )o%*" 5inda ased, going to sette down on the couch#

/uh," ;arun scoffed# ( mean, look at me# Theyd %e stupid not to give me the )o%#"

( hope ( did, %ecause ( reay want to crush ;arun into the dust," 7nide said simpy#

&s if! 4ou coudnt %eat me at anything even with hep from the gods! & of them!" Thats what you thin! (m determined! ( wi destroy you one day!"

4ou wish!"

2oah suddeny woe up, groaned, and whaced ;arun in the stomach# Shut up, (m trying to seep!" Ow!" ;arun frowned# Why didnt you hit him*!"

4oure right#" 2oah whaced 7nide in the stomach# 2ow shut up, %oth of you#"

;arun sniffed haughtiy# 7nide muttered something to himsef# Satisfied, 2oah setted %ac intoseep#

There was sience for a few minutes unti someone noced on the door# 5inda quicy went to go

answer it# Bernard was there, hoding armfus of paper %ags stuffed to the %rim with assorted te-t%oos#

5inda too a coupe out of his arms and %aced up to give him room to get in# 'e smied gratefuy ather, then headed inside and paced the %ags on the itchen ta%e# 5inda put the %ags shed taen ne-t to

them#

&right, did ( miss anything criticay important*" Bernard ased# Besides 2oah teing ;arun and 7nide to shut up* 2ot reay," 5inda repied# &ny

announcements*"

3ust a few# Wheres &oi*"


21/142

Speaing of )o%s," 5inda %egan, 5ucy, 5eo, and 9itch got some#"

So it wored* 0reat," Bernard sighed# 'ey, 5in, (m e-hausted# 9ind ooing after these guys

whie ( try to get some seep*"

Sure# &h, aso, my notes are in my %inder in our room# (t shoud %e under our te-t%oos, %ut on topof your %inder#"

0reat, thans#" Bernard yawned# &right# 4ou ot, dont i each other, dont %rea my house, and

pease mae some money# With that said, (m gonna go get some seep#" &oi, 5inda, and 9itche waved good%ye# (ustria %ew a iss# 5eo )ust grunted# ;arun, 7nide, and

2oah were quiet#

When Bernard had gone, 5inda sat down at the ta%e and heped the group go through their %oos#They ept up casua conversations @for the most partA, and not for the first time, 5inda found hersef

immensey gratefu that she had met these seven humans#


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Chapter Si-This Chapter is Better than 4ours

5in! 5in, guess what*! 3ust idding, (m )ust gonna te you since you coud never figure it out on

your own#" 5inda ooed up from reading her %oo# ;arun was rocing e-citedy from hee to toe in front of her,

7nide hurrying to catch up# 5inda smied at them#

4es*" ( got the )o%! ( mean, (m pretty sure you guessed that since (m me, and"

( got the )o% too," 7nide cut in# 'e managed a sma smie at 5inda, one of the first times 5inda had

ever seen him do anything other than sit around moping# ;arun gared at 7nide# Truthfuy, hed never %een a fan of the dar1sinned %oy###who did 7nide

thin he was, anyway* 'e coud never %eat ;arun at what ;arun did, that much was o%vious, %ut he

ept trying for some reason# (t was quite o%no-ious# Oi, ( wasnt done taing#" The frustrated %onde )a%%ed his finger into 7nides side# 7nide ooed

down sighty at him8 ;arun a%soutey despised that e-tra two inches of height 7nide had on him#

Were you saying something*" 7nide ased innocenty#

$m, yeah! &nd when (m taing, youre supposed to isten!" Oops#"

;arun wored hard at resisting the very strong urge to punch 7nide in the face# &nd if it werent for

5inda, who quicy started taing to sice through the tension, he pro%a%y woud have faied# (ts great to hear you got the )o%s, you two," she said e-citedy# 2ow )ust###try to eep them,

aright*"

Wi do#" 7nide smied at her again, a %it %igger this time, and she smied %ac# /uh, ( eep the )o%# What ind of moron woud fire me*" ;arun aughed, competey forgetting

his quarre with 7nide#

&t the very east, (m going to try to do %etter than ;arun for once so peope wi stop putting him

%efore me# That gets reay o%no-ious#" 5ie that happen!" ;arun snapped#

( %eieve in you, so do your %est!" 5inda encouraged him#

'ey, wait a second! What a%out me*!" Thans, 5inda# That means a ot#"

/ont ignore me!" ;arun e%owed 7nide out of the way ess1then1genty# ( wanna get praised too!"

Wait, reay*" 5inda ooed genuiney surprised# ( thought your own ego was praise enough foryou#"

What* We, ( aready now (m %etter than the others, %ut that doesnt mean###" ;arun suddeny

traied off# &dmittedy, he was a %it hurt %y 5indas statementhad she reay thought he wasinvinci%e and didnt need acnowedgment )ust %ecause he had such an infated ego*

Of course, ;arun aready new he was heads1and1shouders a%ove everyone ese @he was pride, after

aA, %ut he sti appreciated %eing praised#

5inda seemed to sense that something was wrong# &re you O:, ;arun*" 'uh*" ;arun mentay cursed himsef for sounding ie a moron# (f he didnt hurry, hed ose his

coo id" credit# O1of course (m O:! Who do you thin youre taing to* Something ie that wont

get me down#" &rap. I still sounded like a moron.

;arun shoo his head quicy to cear his thoughts and pastered a cocy grin on his face# 'ey, no

worries, 5in# (m gorgeous, ( have a )o%, and (m gorgeous# 2othing can possi%y go wrong!" 5inda seemed reieved, and when ;arun ganced at 7nide to see if he had caught ;aruns %rief

dispay of stupidity, it ooed ie 7nide had %een too wrapped up in staring at the cover of a maga6ine

to notice# ;arun admittedy et oose a sigh of reief#


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(m gad to hear that," 5inda e-caimed# When do you start woring*"

( go in tomorrow at eight," 7nide answered %efore ;arun had a chance# 'e )oins me around noon#"

4ou %e woring together*"

;arun opened his mouth to answer, %ut 7nide %eat him to it# &gain# Ony for a few hours# Then ;arun %e on his own for a whie#"

&h, that ought to %e interesting#"

Interesting? #hat does she mean $y that? ;arun frowned# 7-cuse me*" 2o, um, ( didnt mean anything %y it," 5inda insisted, her voice eve# ;arun raised an eye%row# (

was )ust thining, (ve never seen you go anywhere without 7nide %efore# (n fact, ( dont thin (ve ever

seen you %y yoursef period#" ;arun %ined# 5inda was right8 he had a ha%it of hanging around at east one of the other sins" as

often as possi%e# &t first gance, it woud seem that he ony did so %ecause the group had grown up

together and was used to one another, %ut ;arun new the truth# 'e ied %eing around the others %ecause they paid attention to him8 whether positive or negative

didnt matter, he )ust needed someone to %e focused on him#


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So, (m inherenty %etter than everyone#"

'ow so*"

4ou as too many questions, dude," ;arun groaned#

( mean it#" 7nide shrugged# What maes you so much %etter than everyone ese*" The very fact that (m me#"

So if ( were you, (d %e %etter than everyone#"

4es, %ut youre not me# ( am# 9eaning (m the greatest human %eing aive#" But were not human %eings# 2ot yet#"

4ou )ust want to disagree with me," ;arun grum%ed# Why are you here, anyways*"

7ven if ( eft, youd foow me#" ;arun wanted to argue, %ut he new 7nide was right, and 7nide new he was right too# So the

ponytaied %onde )ust ooed away and muttered angriy to himsef# The two continued to sit in

awward sience for a whie unti 5inda returned# She passed off ;aruns coffee, greeted 7nide, andthen headed off to chat with &oi# The two %oys remained in sience for at east fifteen more minutes#

+inay, 7nide stood to head off#

Thin ( go upstairs and do something," 7nide sighed#

2ot wanting to %e eft aone, ;arun quicy said, ( go with you# ###31)ust %ecause ( figure youwant me around, since###you now# (m me#"

7nide ooed ie he new it was reay ;arun that didnt want to get eft %ehind, %ut he wisey

decided not to say anything# 5eft in sience once again, the %oys headed upstairs, ;arun eaving hisempty coffee mug on the ta%e for someone ese to cean up ater#

=>=

;arun foowed his %oss through the store, e-amining everything she pointed out or mentioned#

There were sheves staced to the %rim with ros of different coored fa%rics of assorted shapes and

si6es, with garments hanging on racs %eow every second shef# ;aruns %oss was currenty doing outinstructions to the young %onde on his first day of wor, maing sure he new e-acty what was going

on# Though to any onooers it woud seem ie ;arun reay wasnt paying attention, he was istening

quite coseyhe needed to mae an ama6ing first impression, after a, and he new @however muchhe hated to admit itA that he needed this womans instructions to reay understand what he needed to %e

doing#

###and you )ust stac the pains with the pains# Try to eep the same coors ne-t to each other# &norgani6ed shop is a professiona shop, after a###9r# Caaway, are you istening to me*" The oder

woman paced her hand on her hip and turned to face ;arun, ooing a %it frustrated#

4eah, yeah, eep the coors together, pains with pains# Whym ( stuc doing the ceaning*" ;arunwhined# 7nide got to spend his worday at the register heping customers, so ;arun didnt understand

why he had to %e stuc organi6ing everything# 'ed %e way %etter on customer service than 7nide,

anyways#

'is %oss seemed very unamused# 3ust %e sure everything is in order, 9r# Caaway# &nd pease,dont goof off!"

( got it, rea-," ;arun aughed# (m the greatest human aive, remem%er* 2o sweat, ( can hande

ceaning#" 'is %oss ony sighed# &right###( %e in my office, then# Start in the front and wor your way %ac,

pease# ( want the customers to see a cean store#"

4eah, (m on it# 0o have fun in your office#" She frowned, %ut she seemed to accept that ;arun was )ust one of thosepeope, and she eft him to

spend time in her office# ;arun watched her go %efore heading to the front of the store to get started,

admittedy very happy shed sent him to the front# This way, he was in the same worspace as 7nide#


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2ot ony coud he spy on how his coworer was doing, %ut he coud aso hod up conversations with

7nide when a customer wasnt in sight#

'ow come you get to wor the register*"

7nide %ined, turned around, and noticed ;arun waing through the door that %oced off theempoyees ony" %ac storeroom from the rest of the shop# The %runette shrugged#

( got here first," he stated simpy#

But (m the %etter###we, person#" ;arun sighed# This %ites# (m stuc on organi6ation duty whieyou get to %e with the peope# /oes this ady have no taste*"

/oes it mae you%ealous*" 7nide %urst into a wide grin# ;arun coud ony guess it was %ecause

7nide was used to %eing the )eaous oneit was part of his natureso the idea of ;arun himsef %eingenvious of 7nide was e-citing#

(t maes me mad, %ut (m not )eaous# 2ot ofyou," ;arun scoffed# 7nides grin instanty

disappeared# ;arun smired# (f there was one person he oved irritating more than anyone ese, it was7nide#

4oure reay mean, you now# 9ay%e if you werent such a )er, youd mae friends easier," 7nide

muttered#

What was that* ( coudnt hear you, (m too %usy not caring#" ;arun paused to stic his tongue out at7nide %efore finay getting to wor# The fa%rics seemed to %e a over the pace, which made ;arun

%oth angry and happy at the same time# 'e was angry that whatever idiotpro%a%y 7nide, he reai6ed

had put the fa%rics %ac coudnt have done it right8 and he was happy that the e-tra wor meant hewoud get to stay in the open onger#

& %e rang from the front of the store as ;arun pued the first unraveed fa%ric off its shef,

signifying the arriva of a customer# ;arun turned to watch and reai6ed it was a young gir, hoding adress in her arms# She approached the des, and 7nide smied at her# ;arun stared at them, curious to

see how this woud go#

'eo there# /id you need something*" 7nide greeted# (t was, perhaps, an odd way to greet a

customer8 you were supposed to say something ie, 'ow may ( hep you*" ;arun roed his eyes,nowing 7nide sti had a ong way to go %efore he was at ;aruns eve#

'i, thans# &ctuay, ( had a question," the gir answered quiety, gancing down at the dress in her

arms to avoid ooing at 7nide# (t was o%vious she was an awward type of gir# Sure# 0o ahead and te me what it is, and ( answer it as %est as ( can," 7nide prompted %righty#

;arun coudnt resist the urge to )ump in# (f you need hep, et me now, dude#"

( dont need your hep, than you," 7nide snapped, forgetting he was deaing with a fragie teenagegir# She shrun %ac a %it, %ut seemed to guess that the two had some sort of rivary and didnt seem to

thin too much of it#

$m###you do do aterations here, right* 9y mom says she had a dress hemmed here once###" the girsaid under her %reath#

7nide seemed to have heard her# 'e ganced over his shouder at a ist of services hanging on the far

wa to mae sure he was answering correcty %efore turning %ac to face the gir#

4es, it oos ie it# /id you need something done*" 4es, pease#" The gir paced her dress on the counter# ;arun stood on his toes to get a %etter oo at

it8 it was pretty, %ut there was a ong rip aong the right side# /o you see this tear*"

/uh," ;arun muttered under his %reath# Thanfuy, the gir didnt seem to hear him# This one here*" 7nide pointed at the tear in question# ( see it# /id you want someone to patch that

up for you*"

4es, pease," the gir repeated# This time, she managed a wide smie# Than you very much! ###oh,right! That costs money, doesnt it###*"

;arun snorted and roed his eyes#How dum$ is this )hi)k, anyhow?

This time, the gir did notice and ooed over at him, %ushing mady# She ooed down and shuffed


26/142

her feet, o%viousy very em%arrassed#

/ont mind that idiot# 'es )ust%ealous," 7nide said simpy, oud enough that ;arun coud hear him

ceary# The %runette ceared his throat to mas the sounds of ;aruns indignant sputtering# 4es, there

wi %e a cost assigned to the )o%, %ut you have to pay after the )o% is done when we have a cearunderstanding of the fa%rics and eve of difficuty invoved# We give you a ca when its done, so

whats the %est phone num%er to reach you at*"

;arun fet himsef impressed %y 7nides a%iity to communicate with the customers in a way that wasprofessiona, %ut sti made them fee comforta%e# Of course, ;arun coud do %etter, %ut 7nide was

doing we in his own right#

The gir smied# Than you very much! $m, its 1DEF" 'ang on," 7nide cut in quicy# The gir nodded# ;arun finished re1winding his ro of fa%ric and

paced it %ac on the appropriate shef %efore moving on to the ne-t one# O:, got it# ###what was

the ne-t part*" ;arun snorted again# 7nide shot him a gare#

DEF###"

DEF, got it# &nd then*"

GE###HI#" O:, good# Than you# &nd is that your cephone num%er, or your home phone*"

9y cephone#"

Who gives out their home phone num%er for these inds of things*" ;arun muttered#


27/142

4ou too!"

7nide and ;arun watched Susanna disappear out the door# When she had gone, 7nide ooed over at

;arun, o%viousy very dispeased#

Stay out of my wor, aright*" he ordered# 4ou scared the customer#" I scared her*! 4oure the one that threatened to hit me over the head with a cash register!"

4ou caed her a moron! 9ore than once!"

She was a moron!" 7ven if she was, you dont tellpeope that#" 7nide sighed, gathered up Susannas dress from the

counter, and carried it over to a pie of cothes %eow a sign mared To /o"#

4oure the one that gave terri%e service," ;arun stated# ( mean, ( coud have done way %etter#" Oh* 7ven without the training*"

'ow much training do you need* 4ou )ust ta to peope and tae their money!"

+ine! Thenyou hande the ne-t customer!" ;arun %ined# ###wait, seriousy*"

Thats right#" 7nide nodded and went to the sheves to start organi6ing# ;arun put away his second

ro of fa%ric#

&right, then ( wi!" ;arun huffed# Tossing his ponytai over his shouder, ;arun sashayed over tothe counter, grum%ing to himsef a%out how stupid a other peope were and how may%e it was a good

thing they were sent to destroy humanity#

Ten minutes passed %efore the ne-t customer @or, customersA entered the store# (t was a group ofthree teenage girs, gigging and aughing amongst themseves# & three of them wore sungasses, a

three of them were in tan tops and short sirts, and a three of them were quite attractive# ;arun

smired# 'e new e-acty how to dea with teenage girs# 7nide put away his fifth ro of fa%ric and eaned against the wa to watch the fun#

4o, %>tches#"

The girs a%rupty stopped taing and gigging at the sound of ;aruns voice# 'e eaned over the

counter, watching them# The gir who seemed to %e in the ead gaped at him past her sungasses# Were you taing to us*" she ased#

(m pretty sure youre the ony girs in the room, sweetheart," ;arun sighed# *h $oy, another group

o morons. The gir raised her eye%row# One of her friends scowed# The other one gigged#

Sowy, the gir in front made her way to the des# /id you seriousy ca me a %>tch*"

$m, yeah#" ;arun %ined at her# She gared at him#

One of her friends, the ony one that was sti gigging, %urst into a augh# Oh, come on, Bree# (m

sure he was )ust idding# Besides, hes cute#" ;arun chuced and ooed over at 7nide to see his response# 7nide ooed away, o%viousy at east a

%it upset#

The angry gir, Bree, )ust sighed# 4eah, whatever# So, were here to pic up some dresses we

dropped off a%out a month ago#" O:#" ;arun )ust stared at them# 'e heard 7nide stifing a chuce and wondered what was so funny#

2o one at the counter moved for what seemed ie ages# Bree paced a hand on her hip#

$m, are you going to as us for our names*" she questioned, as if this shoud have %een o%vious#&nd to any empoyee other than ;arun, it woud have %een#

Why woud (*"

So you can get our stuff#" ###why woud (*"

Brees two friends gigged# Bree ooed e-tremey frustrated#

$m, thats inda your )o%," she said, sowy, ie she was speaing to a chid# 'er companions %urst


28/142

out aughing# 7nide seemed amused#

;arun suddeny fet quite fusteredmay%e %ecause he new he was %eing aughed at, and may%e

%ecause he fet stupid for not having reai6ed he was actuay supposed to wor at his )o%#

( new that," he insisted casuay, trying to %rush it off# ( mean, (m perfect, so of course ( newthat#"

We had to get the guy with a 0od compe-," Bree muttered under her %reath#

?ea-, hes cute," Brees other friend gigged# Then you dea with him, 7mma# (m done," Bree groaned, going to stand %ehind her friends#

O:#" 7mma stepped coser# 'i, so, (m 7mma Crawford# 9y friends, Bree :nowes and 3essie

Sanders, and ( dropped off some prom dresses a%out a month ago# Our proms in three days so we cameto pic them up# &pparenty they were done yesterday###*"

( didnt hear a%out that," ;arun stated %any#

We didnt wor here yesterday, genius," 7nide caed from the other side of the room# 'ey, shut up!" ;arun snapped# What did you need*"

We need you to get our dresses," 3essie put in, trying not to %urst out aughing again at the e-pense

of this %onde empoyee who seemed to have no idea what was going on# ;arun suddeny regretted not

having 7nide )ust hande the counter# So###where are they*"

We dont now, thats your )o%," 7mma stated camy, though ;arun coud te even she was getting

annoyed# ;arun was quiet# 'e needed to prove he coud hande customers, %ut truthfuy, he had no idea what

was going on, and he reay did not want to get aughed at again# But when the girs caught on to he fact

that he had no cue what to do, they started to augh again# ;arun %ushed, admittedy veryem%arrassed# 'e was used to %eing the %est at things, not %eing ridicued#

W1wait a second, ("

&right, aright, ( thin thats enough," 7nide sighed, hurrying up to the counter and ushering ;arun

%ac to the sighty1more1organi6ed sheves of fa%ric# The dar1sinned %runette fashed ;arun a quicsmie %efore returning to the counter# ( get the dresses for you# What were the names again*"

Bree was the first one to recover from aughing# (m Bree :nowes, and these two are 7mma

Crawford and 3essie Sanders# The dresses shoud )ust %e under our first names," she repeated# 7nide nodded# Than you#


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The group thaned him, paid, and then husted out of the %uiding, gigging amongst themseves# ;arun

didnt try to go %ac to the counter, and instead spent the rest of he and 7nides shared wor1time

competing his assigned tas of organi6ing the room in sience#

=>=

;arun! &re you sti in the %athroom*! ( have to pee!" 0o away#" ;arun sniffed and wiped his eyes for what seemed ie the eightieth time# The second he

got home, he had made a mad dash for the %athroompartiay %ecause he actuay needed it, %ut

mosty %ecause he coudnt forget the incident with Bree and her friends, and, despite how unmany andwea it was, reay wanted to cry#

&oi had frequenty rapped on the door and insisted she %e et in, %ut no one ese had %othered to

drop %y, and no one had %othered asing ;arun if he was aright# This ony served to further upset him# ###;arun*"

This time, it was (ustrias voice# ;arun sniffed and dropped his most recenty used tissue into the

waste%in, waiting for her to continue#

Can ( come in, honey%unch*" 2o#" ;arun sat down on on the toiet id, %ringing his nees to his chest# 'e woudnt open the door

)ust %ecause (ustria ased#

;arun, sweetie, whats wrong*" +inally! ee-, what's with these guys?! ren't I important enough or them to ask what's wrong?

m, yes. I am.

tches and ept caing me stupid and stuff# &nd (

new they were right#"


30/142

&nd it hurt," (ustria guessed, trying to mae it seem ie she was fuy focused on ;aruns

pro%ems whie her hands wandered around#

###yeah#" ;arun groaned# (ve never %een fat1out insuted ie that! ( mean, who did they thin they

were, anyways*!" Oh, honey, (m sorry," (ustria cooed# (ve never heard you this upset#"

( miss the a%# 7veryone was nice at the a%," ;arun muttered# 'umans can %e rea )ers#"

(ts not nice to have your ego %ruised, is it*" 2o# (t sucs#" ;arun sighed, then finay seemed to notice what (ustria was doing when she gave

his inner thigh a quic squee6e# &re you even istening to me*!"

( was distracted! ( havent had an opportunity to touch %oys in###since yesterday!" (m trying to rant to you a%out my feeings! 9y feeings are more important then you!"

(ustria pursed her ips, %ut she seemed to understand# (t didnt mae her move her hands, %ut at east

she seemed to %e paying coser attention# +ine# What ese*" ;arun seemed satisfied# ###( get oney reay easiy, you now# 7speciay when ( fee ie none of

you are even paying attention to me# Thats why (m so cingy#"

7ven %efore we were human, you were ie that," (ustria remem%ered, smiing# (m sorry# (

promise ( pay more attention to you from now on, O:, sweetie*" 0ood#" ;arun smied# ###and dont te anyone ( said this, O:* ( dont need them nowing ( actuay

ie you peope#"

4our secret is safe with me# ###now, since were here###" /ont you ie 5eo*!"

$n%enownst to the pair, 5inda and Bernard were )ust outside the door, istening in @at east unti it

seemed things coud get dirty, at which point %oth of them quicy fed %ac to their roomA# The twocoege1goers suddeny understood ;arun a ot %etter#

So he was ie that %efore %ecoming pride, huh*" Bernard sighed# ( guess it maes sense, they

woud have piced him for a reason#"

( fee %ad," 5inda admitted# ( was ignoring him the other day %ecause ( thought he woud %e O: if( did# (ve aways thought he was the type that ony needed himsef#"

( thin we a did," Bernard said# /ont fee %ad, (m even worse#"

But you can get %etter#" 5inda grinned# We %oth can# Were one step coser to truy understandingthem a#"

( guess#" Bernard grinned %ac at her# (m gonna tae a nap# Care to )oin me*"

5inda whaced him on the chest# Thats not what ( meant! ( )ust meant we can %oth nap in the same room! (m not a pervert!"

( now#" 5inda waited for Bernard to sette down on his %ed %efore curing up %eside him# She

panted a ight iss on his chee, then snugged into his nec# Bernard chuced# 2ight, 5in#"

( pro%a%y %e gone when you wae up#"

Thats aright# 2ap we#"

4ou too!"


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Chapter Seven( 0reaty /esire This Chapter

That oos nice, 5ucy! 0ood posing, good! &right, now show me###fierce! 0ood, good, now youre

pouty# 0reat!" (ustria coudnt %e happier with her )o% of choice# 2ot ony did she get to faunt her %ody to mae

men want her, %ut she got to stare at a the mae modes hersef to scout out for a nice man# Sti, no

matter how many %oys (ustria found hersef getting wrapped up with, she coudnt hep %ut awaysfee drawn to her roommate, the man of wrath himsef# (ustria et out a sigh and et hersef ean a the

way off the edge of her chair, feeing oney#

Thats great, right there!" her photographer gasped# 'od it, hod it###good! Whats that face,fororn*"

9ore ie onging," (ustria corrected# She sat up on the chair, stood up, turned it around, and sat

down again, stradding the %ac of the chair and etting her arms hang oosey over the edge# (money# &ny of the %oys %acstage free for a whie*"

3uans free unti after Oiver finishes# Wait, %ring your arms up# ?est your e%ows on the top," the

photographer ordered# (ustria o%eyed, pastering a seductive smir on her face# 0reat! Thats perfect!

Stay right there#" The photographer snapped a few more pictures# O:, ( want to see happy! 7-cited!" (ustria did try to seem e-cited, %ut she simpy coudnt manage a rea smie# 'er thoughts were too

wrapped up on her oneiness#

'ey, come on, %igger smie!" 'er photographer owered his camera %riefy# 5ucy* 4ou O:*" (m )ust fine," (ustria insisted#I'm pro$a$ly still thinking a$out what /arun said yesterday evening,

that's all. I'm %ust worried a$out the poor $oy, she assured hersef# But this assurance did nothing to

soothe her# ( guess (m distracted#" We, ( guess thats enough for today," her photographer agreed# &right# 0o ahead and go get

changed# 4ou can go hang out with 3uan unti its his turn# Send Oiver in whie youre %ac there,

O:*"

4es, sir!" (ustria gigged, standing and moving away from the chairand as she did, she happenedto notice 5eo for the first time# She gasped# 5eo, %a%y! What are you doing here*!"

The gruff man grunted# ( )ust came to pic you up# Bernard was too freaing %usy with his ife or

whatever, so he made me do it# 5a6y %um#" (ustria didnt reay care why 5eo was there# She was )ust gad he was# 5et me go get changed, and

then ( head on %ac with you# 4ou can come watch if you want#"

( reay dont# Who do you thin ( am, anyways*!" ( figured youd say something ie that#" (ustria sighed# 4oure aways so crue, 5eo#"

'owd you figure that one out, genius*!"

(ustria )ust gigged# Shed aways nown 5eo was crueeven %efore theyd %een transformed,shed %een desperatey in ove with him# (n her opinion, his gruff e-terior was what made him so

charming#

( %e %ac in a few minutes, %a%y# ( ove you#"

4oure sti weird#" 9eanie#" (ustria stuc her tongue out at 5eo, then turned with a huff and staed off to her

dressing room# 5eo watched her#

The ta woman emerged in her casua attire @which reay wasnt a that casua for anyone %ut 5ucy,considering how incredi%y reveaing it wasA and headed over to )oin up with 5eo# 'e )ust grunted at

her and ed her out# (ustria foowed, desperate for conversation#

'ows training going*" +ine# ( %eat a guy to a pup the other day and they amost fired me#"

Oh*" (ustria pursed her ips# 4oure going to have to stop %eing so mean if you want to eep this

)o%#"


32/142

(m trying!" 5eo snapped# (ts not as easy as you thin! 7speciay after those shots###"

0unshots###*"

The sin shots, stupid! What the h>*!"

(ustria frowned# 5eo stopped waing and sighed####sorry, 5ucy," he muttered, pausing to oo over at his chidhood friend# She smied at him# (m

reay trying, %ut those guys didnt mae it easy#"

(ts aright#" (ustria waed up %eside him and gra%%ed onto his hand, sti feeing quite oneydespite the fact that another person was standing iteray right ne-t to her# ###5eo*"

What*"

(ustria made a sma, otherwordy, guttura moan# 5eo stared at her for a few minutes# To anyonooers, the sight was very strange, %ut 5eo understood# (ustria had chosen to spea in the aiens

native anguage, was a# 'e responded with a soft growing sound of his own# (ustria smied#

Been a whie since we spoe ie that, huh*" (ustria sighed# ( inda miss it#" (ts famiiar, at the very east#" 5eo frowned# &re we going to eep waing, or what*!"

Oh, right! ( amost forgot we actuay had somewhere to go#"

4ou reay are a moron, you now that*!"

So crue###" Together, the two headed %ac towards the home they shared with Bernard and 5inda, (ustria

gripping 5eos hand as tighty as she coud#

0...Leo? I miss you.1 02e too.1

=>=

5inda ooed over as the door opened, seated on her white sofa# (ustria and 5eo waed in, chatting

in a strange tongue that consisted mosty of sounds that made no sense# 5inda raised an eye%row#

Wecome home," she caed# Whats going on*" (ustria %roe off mid1screech and ooed over at 5inda# 5in, honey! Oh, sorry# 5eo and ( were

speaing in our native tongue# (ts %een a whie, so we missed it#"

Oh," 5inda said simpy# ( forgot you werent human for a minute#" ?eay* Thats promising," (ustria squeaed, e-cited# She truy did want to %ecome human8 and not

)ust %ecause wanting things was in her nature, %ut %ecause she en)oyed the idea of eaving her od aien

ways %ehind and truy )oining the word of humans# Besides, perhaps if she were fuy human, shewoud %e a%e to conquer that ust that was aways acting up and deiver hersef fuy to 5eo# Where is

everyone* (m %ored#"

;innie is at wor and the others are in 9oii and 9itchs room downstairs, studying," 5indae-pained# ( %e down here reading this %oo for a whie, so you guys have the whoe upstairs to

yoursef#"

Ooh, yay!" (ustria gigged# Come on, 5eo! 5ets go to our room!"

W1wait a minute, dont ( get a say in this*!" 5eo snapped# 2o#" (ustria gra%%ed on to one of 5eos arms and dragged him up the stairs, squeaing e-citedy#

5eo stum%ed %ehind her, sputtering in frustration#

5inda watched them, considering foowing after them and seeing what woud happen# (n the end,despite her %etter )udgment, she decided she woud, gra%%ing her )ourna and a penci )ust in case#

=>=

/espite his compaining, 5eo had compied to actuay ying down with (ustria quite easiy, though

he made her promise ying down woud %e as far as it went# (ustria agreed# She )ust needed a chance


33/142

to %e with 5eo aone for a whie#

She sighed, ru%%ing his chest sady# 5eo grunted at her and peered at her past his eyeids# She

understood and stopped#

5eo*" What*"

/o you hate me*"

5eo paused# 5ucy, (m wrath# ( hate everything#" But do you want to hate me*" (ustria continued# She wished desperatey that 5eo woud say, 2o#"

Sti, she new not to get her hopes up too much# 2o matter how much she hated it, the shots theyd

received had changed their personaities forever# There was sience, as anticipated, for a ong time, %efore 5eo finay responded#

###2o# 2ot reay#"

(ustria grinned# (m gad," she %reathed, snugging against him# 5eo grunted again# (ustriaignored him# /o you want me to apoogi6e*"

&poogi6e for what, %eing annoying*" 5eo sighed# Thats part of your nature, youve aways %een

annoying#"

4oure sti on that*" (ustria pursed her ips, annoyed# ( meant apoogi6e for not paying attentionto ony you, stupid#"

5eo %ined, not used to hearing (ustria get annoyed# Why shoud ( care*"

9ay%e you dont, %ut (m reay trying," (ustria muttered# She started ru%%ing 5eos chest again#'e didnt grunt at her# 4ouve nown from the %eginning, havent you* Weve nown each other amost

our whoe ives, so its ony natura#"

( have no idea what youre taing a%out# 4ou now ( dont get hints!" (ustria shot up, suddeny ooing quite angry# (m trying to te you ( ove you, dum%>ss!" she

ashed# She was garing %y now, her hand was tightening to a fist on 5eos chest, and that was iey the

first time she had ever uttered a singe curse word in a her @technicay thousandsA of years of ife#

5eo stared at her# She gared %ac at him# ###( am so turned on right now#"

(ustria sapped him# 5eo ru%%ed his face#

Whats wrong with you*! 4ou )ust tod me you ied me! That was supposed to mae you happy!"the %ac1haired man snapped#

4ou have no respect for a womans feeings, you now that*!" 'uffing oudy, (ustria roed off the

%ed and moved towards the door, crossing her arms# 4ou were supposed to say something sweet, ie,( ove you too, or even, Than you!"

She heard 5eo sit up %ehind her# 'ow was ( supposed to now that*! (m not a woman!"

(ts inda a given, isnt it*!" 4ou woud have done the same thing!"

( have an e-cuse! (m lust! 4ou coud have at east yeed at me to show you care or something!"

( tod you ( was attracted to you, and now youre yeing at me#" 5eo roed his eyes# ( never

understand you, you now that*!" (ustria )ust huffed# 5eo stared at her for a whie#

Thats another thing," he %egan, how am ( supposed to %eieve you when ( see you with a new man

every day*!" (m trying," (ustria said quiety# ###( wish ( hadnt gotten this shot# They gave it to me %ecause (

was trying to get to you, %ut what they didnt reai6e was that###"

4ou now ( hate it when peope start sentences and then dont finish them#" (ustria fet a hand onher shouder and smied sighty, trying to convince hersef not to cry#

( wasnt drawn to every man on the panet# ( was drawn to you, and ony to you#" (ustria sighed#

$nti the shot#"


34/142

( reay want to punch them," 5eo muttered#

(ustria gigged# ( dont thin my feeings have changed, though," she admitted# ( dont ove any of

them# ( ony ove you#"

5eo was quiet, as was (ustria# The sience seemed to stretch on forever# 5eos grip tightened around(ustrias shouder and he too a step %ac# She was dragged aong with him, then a coupe more steps#

5eo paced his other hand on her other shouder and dragged her %ac another two steps# She coud fee

hersef getting coser to 5eo# 5eo*" she whispered, sighty curious# She coud fee her heart pounding, %ut she wecomed the

feeing# What are you doing*"

Shut up#" (ustria fet 5eos hands reease her shouders and side around her waist# She smied,maing a sma sound of approva#

(f youre going to iss me, )ust do it," she murmured, etting her arms drop to her sides# 5eo grunted

%ehind her, and in one fuid motion, she was yaned off her feet and tossed onto the %ed# (ustriagrinned, ad)usting hersef to mae sure she was comforta%e# 5eo cim%ed over her, his e-pression )ust

as sour as aways# There, this is %etter# ( ie it when ( dont have to do a the wor#"

( tod you to shut up," 5eo grum%ed, starting to seem very em%arrassed#

(ustria coudnt re

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