Chapter Eight : Bonding

As the afternoon passed, Timothy's condition has gotten way better. The wounds were almost healed completed, but please, can someone do something with that mouth? He's been talking a lot recently and I can't seem to find an off button.

Cassius left to bring us some food and has agreed to take Dante with him on a walk. My dog seemed more than happy to explore the world (only for about five streets, to be precisely) with his new founded best friend.

As I tried to take in everything Timothy's been telling me for the past half an hour, I came to the conclusion that I must've hit myself extremely hard in the head a couple days ago. This whole story gave a new meaning to the word 'weird'. Still, it kinda makes sense that I could have a top secret life, so secret that even I hadn't had a clue about it. Well, I've been pretty busy lately, truth be told.

After my mom's death, I was forced to find a job to make a living. I had a scholarship that helped me a bit, but the money weren't enough, so I got a job at Mrs Muffin's Delight, a little bakery a couple of blocks away from my apartment. It's part-time and I only work three days a week, usually in the weekends. It's not much, but I'm mananging and the ambient is cozy, constantly reminding me of Christmas.

While me and Timothy were catching up, he started telling me everything I've been missing all my life. Still, there was a subject that he hasn't brought up, so I decided to take my shot.

"Timothy, I have a question." I told him after he took a pause to sip his tea.

"Sure, shoot!" he responded, now looking at me.

"What happened to my mother, was it connected to this world you've been filling me in with?" I ask and try to seem as nonchalantly as possible.

"The truth is, I don't know much about it either. There's been a lot of stories going around, but I've never understood which one was true." Timothy said and gave me a sympathetic look. "Still, don't give up just yet. We have soo many places to go and soo many people to see, one of them must know something." he assured me and I just faintly smiled at him.

"What about school? I'll be able to finish it, right?" I blurted out.

"Well..." he trailed off, but I cut him off.

"Well what? It's the last year of highschool. I'm not about to give up every morning I woke up early and every night full of stress I've had while studying." I voice out and realize that this particular issue may not have any importance at this time, but I'm soo close to finally closing this chapter for good.

"You could always take your SAT's earlier, you know? That's what I did." Timothy reassured me and even though I've fought the urge to make a sarcastic remark, I failed nonetheless.

"And they've let you? Never mind taking the exams, but passing? It's a kind of mojo we have? Compelling people for our own sake?" I shot, fully aware that Timothy was in fact very bright. His mind was a jewel and he knows it, but I still can't help myself.

"Soo funny, Cathia! Stop making me laugh, my wounds may open up again, jeez I'm enjoying your jokes!" he said while giving me the deadest, coldest stare ever.

"Lighten up, Shrek! Don't get your panties in a twist, you know I'm only making fun for saving my sanity here." I say while he rolls his eyes soo hard that I'm afraid he might actually trap them inside his brain.

"I know. And in all reality, if you are a good student, you can ask for an earlier exam. Yes, you'll have to come up with a great reason, and yes, you'll perhaps have to pay a fee to take it in December. But as far as I'm concerned, it's actually possible." he enlightens me. I wasn't aware that this was a possibility, but it's still better than not finishing my year. I'll have to study intensively until then, but I think I'll manage.

Just as we were in the middle of a guessing game called "Who lost who?" regarding our dear friend and Cassius, the front door opens and in walks a very happy Dante and a very tired Cassius.

As I'm about to ask, he beats me to it. "Cathia, your dog contains the energy of the whole town. He chased a squirrel for three blocks with me chasing him, he approached an old lady with cookies and begged her with his pleading eyes for one - actually that was impressive, I'm wondering if I'll ever be able to pull that off - but on top of it all, he jumped in the biggest puddle ever seen by mankind and rolled in it like a little pig, splashing me all over in the process." Cassius rambles everything, not stopping to breathe for one second. "Anyhow, he's your sunshine." he says and manages to pass me Dante's leash, which is now dripping mud onto my floor.

I only burst out laughing, taking in the appearance of these two : both full of mud, with cookie crumbles everywhere. At least the bag with our food looks decent, even though the rest of the attire screams bloody murder.

"It sure looks like he's the one who's walked you, not the other way around." Timothy says laughing and I can't unsee it now.

I advise Cassius to go change, because there's no way in Hell I'll let him paint my chairs that color, while I take Dante to the bathroom to wash him without any questions.

As I do so, Timothy offers to set the table for us and I don't refuse.

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"That was amazing!" I say. "Best burgers from McDonald's ever!" I continue, while stuffing my face with sweet chilly and cheese fries.

After Dante's bath was done and Cassius came back, we put on "How I met your mother" on the TV while eating. It was now kinda late for a girl to have two males with her in the house. It was about ten pm when I finished cleaning the house from our dinner and the boys' escapade.

Cassius excused himself, saying he's gotta go home, because Sylvia is waiting for him. I thank him for the meal and agree to see each other in the morning to go to school.

I decided to let Timothy sleep on my couch, seeing as he has to fully recover. Also, I have a whole bunch of other questions I want to ask him, so I thought I was going to have that sleepover after all.