Chapter 13 Dates

Sunday

Quincy stood inside Janice Kind's den.

Zeda dragged bean bag chairs from a closet for them to sit across while they ate sandwiches and homemade chicken nuggets Quincy cooked. She provided spiced honey soda.

The TV played in the background. An actor appeared on the screen in green surgical scrubs. "We offer the best plastic surgery in town. Now with a 79% survival rate at Mr. Magic's Tuck and Go. The first drive-through Plastic Surgery Palace that gives you a free Magic Joy Meal with every butt-lift, tuck, lip infection, or filler."

Quincy turned off the screen and plopped back on the beanbag chair. "Patients will ever receive good bargain plastic surgery."

She munched on a nugget. "You are ruining it for every other guy who comes after you." The oven beeped, and Zeda removed the steamy cookies from the teal-colored oven. "We will hand these out after they cool."

"Why don't we walk to the school and hand them out there?" Quincy asked.

*

At the Quad Two Hours Later

Zeda and Quincy handed out cookies to students studying in the quad.

A short, green, and muscular, Half-Elf and Half-Troll teenager waved at them. "Hi, Professor Quincy."

Zeda handed him the last two cookies.

"Thanks, Professor." He ate them.

"Keep the plate, too." Zeda handed it to the eighteen-year-old.

Quincy held her hand, and they glanced at a beauty parlor. Two back-alley plastic surgeons fired at each other with mini laser guns. Zeda and Quincy didn't have time to act. The nail technician ran out and shot both the back-alley plastic surgeons with a laser gun. She tore off her dust mask. "You are lucky, my weapon is set to stun."

The shorter man raised his fist. "We have a right to enter your shop."

The nail technician aimed her laser gun at them and fired into their sides. "Leave, or I'm calling the Mark Authority Squad."

"What we are doing is legal." The taller back-alley surgeon lobbed a roll of surgical bandages at her head.

"Shooting at each other isn't. My customers want the calluses on their feet removed, their hair dyed, or their nails polished. They don't need you to sell them lip fillers that are mostly wax, glue, and cement. Your at-home chemical peels caused permanent scarring and my customers were Marked." She pointed to the sign-in on her shop, Marked Women Welcome. Plastic surgeons, Beauty Drug sellers, and competing cosmetologists are not permitted within thirty feet of my shop. You will be shot, maimed, or given a makeover. Stay on your turf!

The men shook off the stun and fled.

Zeda waved at the nail technician.

"You snagged the cute Writing Professor."

She glanced at Quincy. "I guess I did."

Monday at Zeda and Ella's apartment

Zeda couldn't speak in her apartment because Laura's two creepy sisters sat in the dining room and stared at the rainbow-colored walls.

"Zeda, will you hurry, Alana-Hope is waiting," Ella said.

"Sorry." Zeda placed a necklace on.

Laura sat at the dining room table with her sisters.

Meringue and Sandra threw crumpled pieces of candy wrappers and other garbage at Laura and Zeda.

"If the board created a Mark Badge for awful personalities, you two would have five each." Laura picked a brown banana peel from the table and hit her sister in the face with it.

"You are the worst." Meringue tossed the trash can at Laura. "Those with Marks shouldn't have boyfriends."

"Neither Zeda nor I should have received Marks. I'm going to hang out with George." Laura stormed out of the apartment flat and slammed the door.

Ella turned to Zeda. "I'll drop you off at your mom's house. Quincy will meet you there."

As they walked out and headed towards the stairs, Ella handed Zeda a note on rice paper.

*

Have you told Quincy the truth concerning my past?

*

Zeda ate the note and shook her head, 'no.'

They rushed to the car and hopped inside. Professor Alana-Hope sat in the back. "Why did you two take so long?"

"Zeda was trying to dress nice for Quincy, and our roommates work for the Mark Board. They're jerks." Ella started the car.

"Is that why you look Mopey?" Alana-Hope stared at Zeda.

"No, I'm upset at Ella," Zeda said.

"What did she do?" Alana-Hope asked.

"Ella, why did you invite a guy you knew would be attracted to me? Did you have to pick the hottest nerd on the planet? You know how much I love sweet, well-read men." Zeda hugged herself.

"You saved me, and now I need to save you. I brought you a backup boyfriend. He was broken."

"And I will break him again." Zeda stared outside the window at the trees.

"He might be worth the wait. If you marry him, you might not have to run. Quincy didn't take the money," Ella said.

Zeda closed her eyes. "I don't want to risk his life."

Alana-Hope latched her seat belt. "Oh, come on. You two are flirting with each other, and he is already risking his life. Zeda, grab him and kiss him!"

"What do you mean, he is risking his life?" Zeda asked.

"Never mind," Alana-Hope said.

*

An hour Later at The Garden

Roses bloomed in dozens of colors. Picnickers sat at dark wooden tables eating diet bars, cheese, and Crystal Alpha fruit.

They walked by a sign, The garden will only be open for five hours during the rainy season.

A man sold peach roses by the gate, so Quincy bought one for Zeda.

"You remembered." Zeda clutched the rose.

"I write about your favorite things in my notebook and how adorable you are with little hearts in case anyone finds it. You love spiced honey soda and water, but hate bubble gum, mushroom, and pickle sodas," Quincy said.

Dr. Bloodstone walked and dragged a metal wagon behind her. She sold butt plumpers in the garden, made from pillows and duct tape.

Quincy and Zeda tried to avoid her, but she stomped after them. "We have a special buy one and get one free offer for couples."

He pushed his hand in a stop position. "Please, go away."

"Why?" Dr. Bloodstone asked.

"I'm on a date with a beautiful woman, and you are ruining it." Quincy winked at Zeda.

"Well, sorry." Dr. Bloodstone turned to leave, but she stopped and stared at Zeda. "Wait, you're the woman who suggested that I wash. Your advice lowered my infection rate to 1%. I can give you a freebie for the tip."

"No thank you," Zeda said.

A husky man in scrubs rushed to Dr. Bloodstone and whipped out a switchblade. "Dr. Bloodstone, you're on my turf. Your turf is the library, the park, and behind the dumpster."

"This isn't your turf, either." Dr. Bloodstone slugged him. "Your turf is in the prep school, but they kicked you out for having an 82% scarring rate."

"My rate is 45%, you quack." He dropped his micro switchblade.

"Fine, I'll leave." Dr. Bloodstone snatched his weapon. "Thanks for the shiny gift."

The man turned to Zeda. "I want a hundred alpha bills to fix your face."

"No!" Zeda stepped away from him.

"Lady, I could lower my price to fifty." He pointed to her purse.

Zeda grasped Quincy's hand and walked off with him. "They are annoying, but the garden is lovely."

"Let's change the subject. I finished the third draft of the charitable service article and sent it off for proofreading." Quincy ran his fingers through his hair. "Since our dates are an open campaign. Let's perform good works publicly and secretly. I love secret acts of charity better than public ones, but at least we can give charitable causes some press."

Zeda nodded in agreement.

"Giving cookies felt good to me. Next Friday, We're reading from the Christmas Carol to children at the Library."

"Quincy, it is nowhere near Christmas and I never heard of the story."

"After the book's publication, charitable giving jumped. One story changed how Earth celebrated Christmas. We can change one board member. I thought Brill had changed, but she told me off the last time I texted her," Quincy said.

Zeda stopped walking for a moment. "I'll miss you."

Quincy shrunk back and winced. "I understand."