Alrighty everyone, Chapter 4 is here! :mrgreen:
This was an extremely enjoyable Chapter to write, but also a very challenging one. ;) (I'll spare you all the details and get right to it. :p ) I hope it gives you as many laughs as I had while writing it. :lol:
It will be broken up into 2 Parts due to it being too long for one post. Enjoy! :mrgreen:
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Chapter 4When Harvey and Maru exited the bedroom, Harvey went straight ahead to round up as many of their hometown friends as he could, while Maru turned toward the living area and found Sebastian sitting on one of the couches. When their eyes met, they both widened in surprise and Sebastian rose from the couch to greet her.
“Maru,” he said, approaching. “Thank goodness you’re here safe, and that it’s really you!”
“I was just about to say the same thing to you,” Maru said.
For a moment, they both hesitated in giving each other a hug. Mostly because of the fact that they didn’t do that...ever, and also because of Sebastian’s sudden change in attitude.
“Maru what were you
thinking heading over to the Wizard’s tower?” he practically yelled at her. “If anything were to have happened to you dad would’ve tanned my hide for sure!”
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49527071818_10b42d6755_c.jpgMaru knew that and wasn’t sure why she found herself responding so defensively. “Hey! I wasn’t the
only one who heeded the call to his tower! You’re here too you know, so don’t lecture me about making the same mistake you did!”
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49527583306_1af6b6c34b_c.jpgHer brother froze for a second with contempt written all over his face.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49527808657_79ee4aea7b_c.jpg“Still,” he responded with, “it’s different with me, and the other guys, going in there. It’s a whole different scenario when he calls a young woman into his tower, let alone my little sister!”
“I knew he wasn’t going to do anything creepy,” she said, arms folded and rolling her eyes. “Besides even if he had, I can take care of myself.”
“Yeah right,” he retorted. “You may think you can, but you’re still young and innocent Maru.”
“Oh so you view me the same way dad does? Like I’m still a child?”
“Hell no!” He took that as an insult. “It’s just the fact is, if anything bad happens to you dad immediately throws the blame on me! I’m the one who gets the flak for it. So why can’t you just think about that for once, before you go gallivanting into some place you shouldn’t be!?”
Maru snapped her mouth shut and just looked down at the floor. Arguing is not what she had in mind when being reunited with her older brother. His reaction was very much justified and in regards to the very concern she addressed with Leah earlier; feeling horrible and worried about it. It was high time things changed between her and her brother. They were no doubt going to need each other now more than ever being stranded in this world for a time.
“You’re right,” she began with, “I should’ve been more thoughtful of you and...I’m sorry I haven’t been.”
Sebastian gave her a surprised and questionable look.
“You think I haven’t noticed the way dad favors me over you? You think that I love the heck out of that? And his doting? Well, I don’t,” she revealed, “in fact his overbearing nature drives me
bonkers sometimes to be honest with you, but more than that...I always wished he would’ve given the same care and attention to you. He really should have.”
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49527071618_886be83f7a_c.jpgSebastian looked down with his hands in his pockets, digging at the floor with the tip of his shoe.
“You want to know the first thing that came into my mind when I arrived here?” Maru continued. “The thought about how much dad was going to kill you for my disappearance when you clearly had nothing to do with it. And I found myself wishing I could tell you how sorry I am about this. About everything, especially when I feared I’d be stuck here for a
long time.” She looked away, batting her eyelids to keep the tears away. “I couldn’t bear the thought of what he was doing to you!”
Sebastian looked up at her, touched by her words. He began to feel a great remorse; mostly for always keeping himself shut away in his room and never properly getting to know his little sister, assuming that she looked down on him the same way his step-father did. “I don’t know what to say,” he quietly said. “I didn’t think you felt that way. I’m...I’m sorry.”
Maru cracked a smile. “Thanks...Sebby.”
“Oh please, don’t you go calling me that too…”
She laughed. “Okay, okay, I won’t. But seriously,” she paused, “I’m really sorry for the way dad has always treated you Sebastian. Hopefully now that we’ve both disappeared he is seeing the error of his ways.”
“Yeah,” he said with a huff. “He’s probably having a freak out and doesn’t know who to let it out on since I’m not there. Take that dad…”
Maru stifled a chuckle, agreeing. “Well...I’m really glad you’re here, and not just because I’m relieved to know dad isn’t clobbering you.”
He smiled. “Truthfully Maru I’d rather you
not be here,” he said, “because we don’t know how dangerous this place might be, but...you’re right in that you aren’t a child anymore. And I heard about how well you took care of Penny in a time of panic so,” he dug at the floor with his shoe again, “I guess I’m glad you’re here too.”
Maru smiled brightly and opened her arms out to him. Sebastian felt a little awkward in doing it, but it seemed like the natural thing to do in this moment. They hugged. For the first time either of them could remember.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49527808212_47fcb668f5_c.jpgMeanwhile upstairs, Elliott and Leah continued to blissfully cuddle in the nude on the bed, until they heard Harvey’s voice call from behind the door.
“Leah? Elliott? You two up here?”
The two lovers instantly pulled the covers over their bodies. “Don’t come in here!” Leah shouted. Elliott gave her a wide eyed look as if to say, “What the heck was that for!?” She just rapidly shook her head and shrugged.
“What are you guys doing?” Harvey casually asked.
There was a long pause as the two tried to think of something believable to say. “Uhh,” Elliott uttered, “Leah found that the shower was dripping so I offered to help her fix it. But we kinda made it worse and got all wet so we're helping to dry each other off.”
“What!?” Leah mouthed to him.
He too responded with a head shake and a shrug.
Harvey raised an eyebrow for a second, but brushed it off by saying, “Okay...well could you two hurry please because I’ve called all of us to a meeting downstairs.”
“Got it!” Leah promptly acknowledged, “We will. Thanks Harvey!” She hoped that would get him out of the way and it worked.
She and Elliott giggled as they worked on getting their clothes back on.
*************************Part 2 in the next post. :)
It's loaded with dialogue and not as many pictures so I hope y'all don't mind. LOTS of important and funny info will be revealed! :lol:
