Story: Middle Part 30
[[Continuity Note: Picking up where we left off... over a week later.]]
Jessica didn't answer the door, but Alf walked in anyway. They'd gotten to that point where they were able to intrude upon each other without feeling guilty although they'd only known each other two months. She was seated at her desk and hadn't even turned around when he entered. He was two steps away from her when she finally acknowledged his presence. He'd thought that she wasn't going to turn and so was ultimately startled when she did look at him.
"Yes?" she quirked an eyebrow at him, looking the picture of someone who did not want to be disturbed.
"I realise you're kind of busy with your homework or whatever it is you're doing," Alf rambled, not quite sure how to explain about Rock to her. "But there's something in the garden I think you'll want to see."
She stood immediately, and Alf wondered what he'd said that made her go along with him so quickly. "What did you do?" she asked.
Oh. Alf realised that she thought he and Damien had done something. "Nothing," he said. And it was the truth, but something about what he said must have made Jessica disbelieve him, because she then stalked out of the room, leaving Alf to follow.
"Did Damien do something, then?" she asks as they head down one of the many staircases in the mansion.
"No," Alf replies honestly again.
Jessica followed Alf downstairs, occasionally shooting Alf worried glances. He didn't appear panicked, or worried in the slightest. And if this was some sort of practical joke then he'd be over-acting. Alf was not good at that. When they got to the garden, nothing was out of place... except for the fact that her cousin seemed to be hugging Damien.
"What's going on?" Jessica asked.
Upon seeing Damien's expression, Alf couldn't help but make it worse. "Have we interrupted something?" he asked.
Finally realising what it might look like, Rock released his grasp on the younger teen. He frowned at Alf, then registered that Jessica was there and smiled. "Good," he said, rubbing his hands together like a man plotting something... or a praying mantis. "You're all here."
"So," Damien frowned at the male Aldus. "What's your big news?"
"Hang on," Jessica held up a hand in the stop motion. "What's going on?"
"Rock has big news and wouldn't spill until all of us were here. So I went to get you," Alf explained.
"That's your big problem?" Jessica looked at him incredulously.
"I never said it was a problem," Alf protested. "I just said you should come downstairs and see for yourself."
If Jessica was the swearing type, that is probably what she would have done at that moment. As she wasn't, she clenched her fists and counted to ten internally. "No," she said finally. "I think I'll just go upstairs." Her cousin was still a lot of a sore point with her. And she didn't appreciate being deceived. She hated that he thought he could just do things and that there were be no consequences. As though he owned people. Sometimes she just hated the sight of him. Jessica could never look at Rock without thinking of what an awful person he'd been.
"Jess wait," Rock implored. His entire demeanour pleading and serious.
And those words made her stop. Because he was family. And didn't family always deserve a second chance? So she turned and faced her cousin with a blank look on her face, keeping her hopeful and curious face to herself.
"Lady and gentlemen," Rock began. "Now that I have your attention, I have an announcement to make."
Three firm glares in his direction made Rock continue one with no further ado. "I'm a freak like you guys!" he exclaimed proudly.
Their reactions were varied. Jessica immediately lost her mask. She leaped forward, throwing her arms around her cousin's neck. She was so happy for him. Rock, for his part, caught her gladly, and hugged her back tightly.
Damien was indifferent. He didn't know Rock very well, and he didn't particularly care for him, even after this revelation. He didn't particularly care for magic either, so he guessed it was a proper fit. There were no feelings of magical brothership in Damien's eyes.
Alf was confused. He was torn between being hopeful that this was what Rock needed to become a decent human being again, but then, this was the third unexplained magical emergence within two months. What did that mean for the magical community? And why did he care? Why did these things concern him now? The only things he could tell you for sure about politics were that John Howard was the Prime Minister of Australia, and that East Hills Primary School had the best election day sausage sizzles in the electorate. The sausages were free, and good quality, too. You could tell they were made from one hundred percent meat.
Rock's enthusiasm was contagious, though, as he swept all three younger teens into a hug and coerced them all into joining him to look for all the adults and tell them the good news.
[[End what I've previously written, and the scene.]]
posted by Cedric @ 11:24 am
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