A scream jolted me from sleep and I sat up to Penny playing a zombie video game. “Oh, hey, Sunshine. Sorry, Tyler’s having a meltdown about some shit.” I nodded and watched her shoot someone in the head. After a few minutes, I got up and walked to the bathroom, I jumped in the shower and changed into my clothes from yesterday. 

I can out drying my hair with the towel. “Hey, can your mom wash these after I get back?” Penny nodded as she crept along the wall of a warehouse. I murdered thanks and walked downstairs to see Owen watching cartoons while Shannon yelled upstairs. He stared at his fingers as they circled each other. I squatted down at the end of the couch. “Hey, Owey.” His lips twitched into a smile. 

“Hi, Kitty.” He whispered softly. I smiled as I brushed his light brown hair. 

“What’re you doing?’” 

He shrugged. “Tyler, made a mess and got angry, so mom is mad. She’s yelling at him.” I nodded in understanding. I pulled out my phone and texted Penny. I waited a minute then walked down the hall to her room. 

“Hey, can I take Owen with me on my walk?” Penny looked up and stared blankly.

“I guess..? I don’t get why you’d wanna go walking anyway.” I bit my lip. ‘I don’t know either.’

“So I can run from zombies.” Her eyes widened for a second. 

“Touche.” She wiggled her finger and looked back at the screen. I chuckled, walking back to the living room. 

“Do you wanna go on a walk with me?” I asked softly and his head shot up. 

“Really? Yeah.” I chuckled and told him to put on shoes and a jacket. He came running back with a smile. I grabbed a bottle of water and we left the house. We walked down the street in silence. 

Owen was very quiet, he didn’t like loud noises and having a loud brother didn’t help his shyness. A car drove past and I glanced over my shoulder to see the green toyota. ‘Son of a bitch, I forgot about him.’ We walked to the park and sat on a bench. Owen stared at the restaurant across the street. “Is that your friend? He’s been following us for a while.” His blue eyes looked at me and felt a heat in my chest.  

I rubbed his head and smiled, “I think so. Stay here, I’ll be right back. Just gonna say ‘Hi.’” He nodded and sat back on the bench. I walked over to the Toyota parked not too far away. Smoke wisped through the cracked window, telling me he was smoking again. ‘That’s really bad for his health.’ 

I grabbed the door handle and yanked it open. “Shit!” He jumped dropping his cigarette on the pavement. His feet fell from the dash and his head hit the back window. I pulled him close to my face. ‘Where did this confidence come from?’ He opened his mouth and I raised my hand. 

“Shut up. Stalking me is creepy as fuck, but don’t you dare come near that boy or anyone else in my life.” He stared at me with shocked interest. Goosebumps lit the cindleing of my anger. I pulled him close and growled. “Touch them, and I’ll rip out your throat.” I pushed him back into his truck and slammed the door. As Owen looked up, I smiled and the tingles calmed. ‘What the fuck was that? Where was the confidence from?’ 

“Hey, you wanna get some food?” I pointed to the restaurant and he nodded quickly. We walked inside and ate slowly before stretching and walking back to his house. We walked inside and Owen collapsed on the couch. I patted his chest, “Nice job, Owey.” Shannon came in from the kitchen.

“Why don’t you let me call you Owey?” She pouted. Owen glared at her and ran upstairs. SHannon tisked, drying her hands. “Are you staying the night again?” 

I shook my head, “Yeha, so I’m staying for dinner, if that’s okay.” She burst out laughing.

“Of course. Besides, Penny would chop me into a stew if she heard I turned her best friend away from a good meal.” We both laughed and I walked into Penny’s room where she was still gaming. 

“Hey, loser.” I sat on the end of her bed. 

“Hey, you stank.” I chuckled, shaking my head. “Go shower, grodie.” I rolled my eyes and did as told. After my shower, I put on the mismatched pajamas from last night. “Just give mom your dirty clothes.” I nodded and walked down the hall to fine Shannon on her cell phone in the kitchen. She looked up as I came in and jumped up.

“Oh! Perfect timing I was just throwing in a load.” She took the clothes and walked past the stairs to the washer and dryer, tossing them in and starting it. “So, you like going walks?” 

I nodded. ‘When did I start walking all of a sudden?’ “I just feel the need to move; feeling cramped.” She hummed and nodded.

“I used to walk all the time. I was in track in high school but then I fell behind in my studies and had to quit. Maybe I should get back into it, lose this mama pouch that gives gifted me.” I laughed softly. “Alright, go rest up. I gotta finish dinner soon.“ I walked to Penny’s room and laid in the bed. ‘Why did I confront him?’ I stared at the ceiling as gunshots echoed from the tv. 

‘My blood started boiling when I thought about him touching Owen. I think… I would have hit him. I could have and I would.’ I sighed. ‘When did I get violent? I would have actually ripped his throat out.’ The image of him holding a knife to Owen’s neck made me grind my teeth and tingles to erupt. I growled under my breath. ‘I will do it. Just tempt me.’ 

“Did you hear that?” I jumped and sat up. 

“Hear what?” ‘Did she hear me?’

Penny looked around, confused. “Like a dog growling.” ‘I didn’t sound like a dog…. Did I?’ I shrugged. She turned back to her game and I sighed, laying down again. I grabbed my book and got comfortable, opening the pages. 

~~~~~

“I’m fucking starving!” I looked over the edge of my book to see Penny licking her lips as she shot a zombie. 

“I’m worried about you.” She scoffed and I closed my book using a receipt as a bookmark. “Let’s get some lunch.” The pause screen popped up instantly and Penny bolted out the door. I scrambled off the bed and ran after her, pasting her by the stairs and sliding into the kitchen. “I win.” I stuck my tongue out as she pouted to the fridge. 

She pulled her hair from it’s braid and pulled it into a bun as she listed off food in the fridge. I leaned against the counter. “Mom! What’s for dinner?!” Penny yelled loudly and I cringed, covering my ears. 

“There’s no need to yell, Penelope.” We looked behind us to see Shannon sitting at the table on her laptop. “We are having steak with fried rice and bread rolls.” 

“Oh, nice. What’s for lunch?” 

“Uh…. Feel free to make something. Make a sandwich or something.” She waved her hand and continued typing on her computer. 

“A sandwich doesn’t sound bad.” I said. Penny started pulling out meats, cheeses and other sandwich supplies. I grabbed the bread from the pantry and grabbed a knife. “We can make the boy’s some too.” 

“You can make Owen’s since he likes you so much.” I smiled softly. It wasn’t a secret that Owen liked me more than most of his family. We made the sandwiches and tossed some chips on each plate. Penny yelled for Tyler, threatening to eat his sandwich. Tyler thudded down the stairs and snatched his plate, sitting at the table. 

I ate a chip and walked upstairs to find Owen reading a book in his room. “Hey, Owey.” He looked up and smiled. He stood up and we walked down to the kitchen. We sat at the table and Penny gave me a look. I rolled my eyes and ate my sandwich. I put the plates in the sink and went back to Penny’s room to continue reading. I read until Penny collapsed on the bed next to me.

“I’m bored.” She turned to look at me. “Wanna watch a movie?” When I didn’t answer she hopped off the bed and slid to her movie shelf. “Umm… Gross. Margo left one of her musicals here. This was so boring.” ‘Margo… I hope she’s okay wherever she went. I need to talk to her; apologize.’ “How about we go vintage?” Penny crawled to the tv and put a DVD in before laying next to me again. I put down my book in curiosity. 

“What’re we watching, Penny?” I said, suspiciously. She smiled silently. 

“A classic I know you love.” She smirked. I watched the tv until I heard the sounds of the forest and vocals. I furrowed my brow. Hand prints in a painting and an old woman’s voice. ‘Our world was much larger then. The forest went on forever. We tree spirits nurtured the harmony of all living things, but our closest friends were humans.’ 

“Oh, my gosh! For real!! I haven’t seen FernGully in years.” I exclaimed, laughing. Penny smiled.

“Right?! I almost forgot it existed. I love this movie.” We watched the rest of the movie and dance like fools when Batty sang his song. I jumped up as the credits rolled. 

“My turn. No peeking!” I instantly picked one and put it in. I shoved Penny’s face into a pillow when the main menu showed up. 

“Hey!” 

“I said no peeking.” I pushed play and waited until a dark shadow turned into a woman and walked into the spacey room. 

A sexy voice came from the speakers ‘Wake up, my beauties, Rise and shine. It’s a brand new day and the mortal world is at peace, but not for long.’ Penny looked at me confused and I chuckled. ‘Just look at them, I pull one tiny thread and their whole world unravels into chaos. Glorious chaos. And what could be more perfect than this? A noble prince, a priceless treasure, and a black hearted thief. Oh, this is going to be fun.’ Penny shook her head, not getting it. I waited until a tall, dark, and handsome Sinbad walked across the boat with his trusty dog. As soon as he started talking, Penny squealed. 

“Oh, Sinbad! Ugh, I’m ashamed I didn't get it. He’s so hot, oh my god.” I laughed as she gushed. ‘I don’t blame her, Sinbad is a very hot animated character.’ We finished the movie and continued watching old movies from our childhood until we got called for dinner. I sat at the table and smiled at Owey, his face turned a light pink and he looked down at his lap. Everyone sat down and Jared led the prayer. I drooled at the steak; thick and bloody.

“Some of them are a little rare but they are edible.” Shannon confessed. 

“It’s okay, I like it rare.” I said, reaching for the rare steak. Blood oozed onto my plate asI set it down. I gulped as the scent wafted around me. ‘I want to eat it.’ Penny passed me a bowl of fried rice and I dished some on my plate. 

“I thought you liked it well-done?” Penny said to me, as she dropped four rolls on her plate. I shrugged like it didn’t matter. ‘She’s right though; I don’t like the blood or the chewiness. Weird.’ I grabbed two rolls and dug into my fried rice, saving the steak. I licked my lips as I pressed my knife into the steak, blood pooling around it. I cut it into pieces and put one in my mouth, flavor burst to life on my tongue and a moan slipped out. Everyone looked up at me. 

“This is delicious!” I exclaimed. Shannon brightened and started rambling about what she did to the meat. I quickly finished the steak and bit into a fluffy, buttery roll. ‘Shannon, you are a godsend.’ I leaned back, my stomach full. “You are amazing, Shannon. Everything was delicious. Thank you.” Shannon smiled brightly.

“Awh, thank you, Cat. You’re sweet.” 

Tyler scoffed, “You must have been really starving ‘cause this is nasty.” Shannon snapped at Tyler and he rolled his eyes, stomping away from the table. 

Jared sighed and stood up, “I’ll be back. Wish me luck.” He followed after Tyler. Shannon stood up and started taking dishes to the sink. I grabbed my plate and followed her example. 

She turned to see me and smiled softly. “Oh, thank you. You can just put it in the sink and I’ll wash them later.” I felt bad for making her do dishes, especially since she made dinner and did dishes this morning. “Thank you, Owen, for bringing your plate.” Owen nodded slightly and placed his plate on mine. He smiled up at me and I pet his hair softly. 

“Thank you, Owey.” His smile got bigger and bolted from the kitchen. I watched Shannon clear the table for a minute then opened the dishwasher. Shannon noticed and started to protest. “It’s faster with two people right? And you made dinner, so let me help.” She smiled gratefully and agreed. We did the dishes and Penny disappeared. Shannon thanked me again and I walked to Penny’s room to see her playing a game. “What a traitor.”

She scoffed, “You offered to do dishes, I didn’t.” I rolled my eyes and started reading again. After a while, my eyes started to feel heavy and I dropped the now finished book beside me. I snuggled into the pillow and sighed in bliss.