Who's ready for class?
Present
Ready to fly
Here.
Howdy y'all.
Hello hello.
You all have gathered at a local diner the Pizza Barn. Its been a couple weeks since orientation and while most groups have left their predetermined "freshman" groups, you all have stuck around for one reason or another. Though, admittedly, there has been some strangeness about that none of you are quite sure of.
Between the ice cold soda, and greasy strips of heavenly goodness, you all seem to be enjoying youselves, chatting about classes, activities, and even yourselves.
Catalina steps through the door. She had been out at the stables and lost track of time. She stands for a moment, looking for the others she was supposed to meet. At seeing nobody, she pulls out her phone and scrolls through the messages. There's a decided slump as she realizes she's messing up already.
Bryce comes in late, looks around and finds the group in a large corner booth in the back, and slides in, saying "Sorry, guys, my replacement at the computer lab was late, and I had to stay until she showed up."
Looking at the pizza, he says in mock derision "What, pepperoni *again*? Don't you guys ever want to try something different? I keep telling you, don't knock ham and pineapple until you've tried it..."
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Matt smiled as Bryce mentioned trying new things "Well Bryce, my income comes from people not trying new things... so guys and gals, don't listen to him, he lies." he joked before picking a slice of extra greasy pizza to chew on.
"Plus pepperoni's great here, always have, always will. And there was that time a huge guy knocked out thirteen bikers that were bothering his girlfriend. Didn't I tell you that one?" the young man smells his slice thoroughly before biting it again.
Buck smiled as he entered, swinging the door wide and strutting as if he were still wearing spurs. He approaches Catalina, smile widening as his eyes narrow in on her. "Day-umm girl, you smell like home. Anyone sittin with you?" he says, sitting down next to her. "Looks like some of our classmates are chowin on a pie, maybe we should invite ourselves to join they-um?" He winks, trying his best to break her away from her phone and out of her slump, pointing at the small group gathering nearby.
She looks over at him, wondering if he was saying she stank. then she remembered that these chaps were still a little new and she had oiled them help break them in. "Sounds good. Though it looks like the pepperoni's almost dead." She catches the waitress as they come over, "One large Hawaiian-style, please."
As they approach the table, she waves, "Hi, I'm Catalina. I think I recognize a few of you from Intro to Western Civ."
Buck follows her, holding up two fingers when she orders the Hawaiian, to indicate they should make two, smiling all the way.
"Y'all got room for two more, right? I got the bill, as long as we don't go too wild." Buck sits down, his massive frame moving with more grace than it probably should.
"I'm good with anything," James says, absently picking out a couple of breadsticks and munching on the garlicy deliciousness. He swallows and absently wipes his mouth as a couple more freshmen join them. "Don't know if that's where I know you from, but I think we met at orientation at least once. Probably at one of those rallies or something." He wipes his hands and offers one to the cowgirl. "I'm James, nice to meet you."
Zhihao comes in shortly after Buck. He'd gotten a bit lost on his way ovr, still not quite used to the wide-open streets and vast layouts of Texas towns. As he comes in, he looks around for a moment before his eyes settle on the group, and a relieved smile spreads on his face as he finds the new friends who'd invited him out for a slice. He walks over and takes a seat, sliding easily into the booth.
"Hi. Sorry I'm late." His smile turns a little sheepish and reserved as he looks around the table. Although he has a noticeable accent, Zhihao is quite fluent in English--if it weren't for the occasional difference in pronunciation or hesitation when speaking, you'd swear he was American born and raised. He turns to anyone he doesn't know and offers a warm smile and a hand in greeting. "Hi, nice to meet you. I'm Zhihao."
"Hey Zhi, good to see you." Katrina takes a bite of the pizza and chews it slowly, before nodding. "It's not New York pizza, but it's pretty good. She recoils with fake horror when someone orders Hawaiian. [b]"Ugh, God. I thought you guys were our classmates. To think, I go to school with people who put pineapple on pizza..." She goes to grab the last slice of pizza but realized Zhihao hasn't had any; she just flags a waiter down instead. "Hey, another pepperoni please." She watches James scarf down a couple of breadsticks and elbows him in the ribs. "And some more breadsticks, I guess." She nabs two of the last remaining breadsticks and hands one to Zhihao before munching on the other.
"I'm just glad orientation's over and done with. I can't stand those stupid team building exercises. If I hear the joke about how much a polar bear weighs one more time, I swear to God..."
"What?" James says through a half-full mouth. "You know that I'm addicted to garlic butter." He swallows hard to get the rest of the food down. "And yeah, nice to see you Zhi. We were partners in that stupid trust exercise thing right? The falling one?"
Her eyebrows twist as she hears this negative on pizza, "Fine, more for those of us who appreciate the pine. And pizza with enough backbone to hold a real amount of toppings." She says this as a mock challenge to Katrina and those who champion New York "Pizza". But you can tell she's having fun.
The conversation is interrupted as your waitress comes by the hodgepodge of tables you pushed together to seat your large group.A few of you recognize Brittany Poe, a fellow freshman and a longtime server at the Pizza Barn.
"Here you go ya'll. Just make sure to tip nicely, kay Bryce?" She says, smirking in Bryce's direction. She has a short bob of bright red hair tied back for work, and as she sets down your new trays of pizza you can see the small bits of grease staining her work apron. though, instead of dissapearing off into the kitchen, she hangs around a bit, and adresses the group.
"So...I know you all have heard about some of the strange going-ons around town right? I don't really got any close friends, but I'm hoping you all can do me a favor, as your favorite Pizza Barn girl. Free dinner for a night if you agree."
She looks hopeful, though a bit nervous as anyone might requesting a favor to a large group of students.
"You had me at 'strange'," James says, snagging two more breadsticks before anyone else. "What's going on?"
"Of course she did." Katrina just smirks at James, finishing off her first breadstick just as he starts to shovel down two more. "I'll do just about anything for free food, and last time James ran off to check out something 'strange' he nearly got mugged. Someone has to watch out for him. What's up?"
"Hey, that one wasn't my fault. Everyone was talking about the ghost in that old apartment. How was I supposed to know that some ganger guys were using it to hang out?"
"Gee, I almost remember someone saying 'James, that old apartment is probably a drug den. James, someone is going to stab you.' If only you had listened to that mystery person who isn't sitting next to you right now, watching you dump breadsticks down your gullet."
James finishes his snack and rolls his eyes. "You say something like that every time I want to explore something. If it's not a drug den, it's that the building is going to collapse, or that I'm going to get arrest for trespassing."
"I had a ghost cat sleep in my room for two years," she quips. "Nobody believed me, but she was real. I'm game to check things out."
"She-yoot, wouldn't be a Texan if'n I didn't answer the call of a lady in distress." Buck says, smiling and winking at Brittany. "So, what can we do for you, Miss Poe?"
Zhihao nods at Brittany and takes a slice of pizza. "I'm happy to help. And if the last two weeks showed anything, James here needs at least two people watching his back."
Waiting for the others' banter to die down, Bryce turns to the waitress and says "I think that means we're all willing to help you, if we can. What's the problem?"
Brittany kinda gives James a sideways look, as if she was reconsidering asking you all for a favor. She thinks only for a couple seconds though and resumes.
"Well..." she begins, leaning against an empty chair behind her, "it all started as I went to visit my MeMaw up at her place, Quiet Rest Villas. It's a trailer park just outside the Pinebox City limits. Anyhow, last week I found her sprawled out and the park manager was kneeling over her. He had me call 911 as fast I could and while he was performing CPR, I went to flag down the ambulance when it came."
Brittany bites her lip and starts to look unsure of herself.
"But when me and the medics get back to her place, MeMaw was weeding the garden like nothing was wrong! I mean, Jimmy Buck the manager said he was fixing the toilet when she collapsed so he could get to her on time, but yeah, she was totally fine. The thing is MeMaw don't act the same as she used to, she don't hardly talk to me no more and doesn't seem to remember anyone she should. I tried to convince to go to the hospital, get her head checked, but she told me off and forbid be from visiting."
"Think you guys could help a girl out?"
"That's weird," James says after Brittany finishes her story. "Doesn't really sound like just hitting her head either. She wouldn't be so militantly against going to the hospital if it was just a blow to the head. Maybe she's possessed or something. That would be right up my alley."
"Let's check it out before we start the exorcism. It could be all sorts of things." She turns back, "Did the medics examine her at all? They're usually pretty persistent about getting at least a base examination. When people refuse, they generally fine people for abuse of 911."
As the group starts to chime in their support for the cause, Brittany's smile widens.
"Great! I get off work in an hour or so, but if you're determined to get investigating quickly, I can tell you where MeMaw keeps the spare key."
"Maybe if we're going to be trespassing on her property, it'd be better if you were with us...trust me guys, I know a thing or two about the law - at least, about breaking it."
"That's not really what worries me. Mostly, I just want to finish my food..." Katrina takes another bite out of the fresh pizza. "In all seriousness, it's probably better if you're with us. We'll finish eating and wait for you here."
"I do try not to get arrested for breaking and entering, no matter what Kat tells you. If you're willing to take us down to see her, then we might as well wait."
"Yeah, waiting seems like the smart option," Zhi puts in. He also reaches for another slice of pizza, which only adds in favor of waiting.
While she was going to recommend at least driving by, she sees that she is outnumbered and she will instead turn to savoring the savory/sweetness of the Hawaiian pizza.
Buck fidgets a bit while eating a few slices. He is clearly having trouble siting around while there was something to be done, but had long ago learned to be a team player. His smile had disappeared, though.
Brittany nods.
"Right y'all, I'll see you up front at closing. I'll send an advance on your payment in a few."
And indeed she does, as several fresh pizzas arrive at your table, free of charge. There's an extra cheesy, meat lovers, and even a taco pizza. Greasy and delightful.
An hour later, you all hop into your respective rides (or car share) and follow Brittany's car out of town. As weird as the city was, it was always nice to get out for a few hours. A breath away from all the craziness.
You all arrive at Quiet Rest Villas, a retirement trailer park made up of several FEMA trailers the owner got at a cheap government auction. The lawns are all immaculately kept, and it seems that many of the residents are out gardening. As you arrive at MeeMaw's trailer, she appears to be inside, and the door is unlocked.
There are several large speakers wired up around the area.
The trailer park is unusually quiet. You notice that you don't hear the usual hum of air conditioners from many of the trailers.
James stops his bike and kicks the stand down to balance it before climbing off. "Huh. Classier than you usually think a trailer park would be. Kind nice even." He hangs the helmet off the handle bars and heads toward the right trailer with the rest of the group.
Katrina gets out of her car and takes a look around, walking up beside James as they wait for Brittany to get out and meet them. Katrina looks around and folds her arms across her chest. "What's up with all these speakers?" She looks over at Brittany. "What, do they have concerts for the old folk's home?" She chuckles at her own joke before she fans herself once or twice with the bottom of her shirt. "It seems pretty quite. Do these units not have air conditioning or something? I'd think that'd be a little dangerous, what with all the old people living here..."
Bryce gets out of his beat-up, old car and looks around...
= 10, a Raise
"Yeah, that *is* kind of strange that none of the AC's are running..."
Zhihao steps out of Katrina's car--rolling up on a muscle bike isn't usually a good first impression, especially for a 'MeeMaw'--and glances around.
"Maybe some sort of outdoor party?" Zhi shrugs as he notices the speakers, but he doesn't notice the lack of air conditioning until someone points it out. "Do they have those here? Parties, I mean. Outside ones."
"Maybe some people would have fans going, but I'd expect at least one of the to be noisy. I don't see these people buying those crazy Dyson loop fans." she says.
"Way too quiet and mysterious speakers set up for no discernible reason? Oh man, now I'm really starting to get interested. Let's go inside and see what's happening." He moves to open the door to the trailer and see what's inside.
"Well, sometimes Jimmy has some music playing over the speakers for the elders who are gardening. The old country stuff, but he told me the other day that they were fritzing or summit." Brittany explains as she approaches the door of her MeMaw's trailer.
"MeeMaw?" she calls out, hesitantly. "You in here?"
She is indeed. MeeMaw sits in her flower print recliner, seemingly watching the infomercial playing on the television. Oddly though, she has a pair of sunglasses on as well. And she makes no move to respond to her relative's calling.
Catalina will step up closer, "Ma'am, are you all right?"
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"Ohhh, I bet its the Plain's Bodysnatchers or the Chotacabras..." mutters Matt, mostly to himself because even he can realise it isn't the time for a local tale.
"Hello Ma'am, we are Britt's friends. She's here with us, a tad worried about your silence... and so I am. Are you alright Ma'am?" asks Mattbas he approaches the elderly woman with an ample smile, yet he adds with a whisper "Are you a manitou?..."
His own mention of indian spirits sent a shiver through his spine. Matthew might love tall tales, spinned stories and absurd legends... but he deeply respected -read: feared- the indian ones, an ingrained fear that he couldn't understand nor explain.
The local student stopped in his tracks, not willing to be the first to approach.