Chapter
Twenty-Four: High Life:
Five girls hit
Tokyo on Halloween night. They got dressed up for a good time. Vivian shoved her
hands into her pockets. She certainly stood out in their little group. She tried
to ignore the stares locked on her.
I stand out too
much.
She felt a nudge on her arm. Vivian turned her head. Yuuko smiled at her. The
wolf demon began to relax. The leader stretched out her arms.
“Okay, girls!
This is our night!” she shouted. “Let’s live it up like queens!”
“Yeah!” the
other girls cheered. Vivian half-heartedly pumped her fist in the air.
“Just don’t get
into too much trouble,” she mumbled to herself. Yuuko nudged her on the arm.
“Come on,” she
said. “Live a little.” Vivian tried to smile. Maybe this could work out.
The girls made
it to local Starbucks. The patrons were all in costume. Cats, zombies, angels,
demons, schoolkids, clowns, and monsters acted like normal people. Vivian tried
not to look at the clowns.
“You okay?” her
round-faced roommate asked. Vivian clenched her teeth.
“Clowns,” she
whispered. Her roommate looked around.
“Oh…” she said.
“Okay, uh… well just don’t look at them. Here.” She pulled Vivian close.
“Stay by me,
okay?” she said. Vivian nodded. The five girls walked up to the counter. The
barista perked up.
“Welcome to
Starbucks! How can I help you tonight?” she asked. The girls made their orders.
Vivian began to relax. The leader paid for the drinks. The wolf demon took out
her wallet.
“Nah, babe,” the
leader said. “I got this.” Vivian looked at the eyes resting on her.
“Are you sure?”
she asked.
“Yeah,” the
leader said. “It’s fine.” Vivian looked at her friends staring as she put her
wallet away.
“Please take
your seat,” the barista said. “Your drinks will be ready.”
“Thank you,” the
leader said. They bowed at the counter.
“Next, please!”
the barista shouted. The five young ladies took their seat at a table near the
window. One of the other roommates looked around the crowded shop.
“You think I’ll
see Nakamura tonight?” she asked. The leader threw back her head and groaned.
“Shiori
!” she said. “I said no boys tonight. This is just us girls.” Shiori
turned, pouting.
“Aw come on,
Megumi,” she complained. “We can still look, can’t we?”
“No,” Megumi
said. “No men!”
“You’re so
mean!” Shiori wailed. Yuuko laughed, throwing back her head.
“It’s not
funny!” Shiori wailed. The girls broke down laughing. Even Vivian started to
smile.
“Kamiya!” the
barista shouted. Megumi smiled.
“That’s us,
girls,” she said. Shiori sat frowning with her arms across her chest. Megumi got
up and walked over the counter. She came back with their drinks.
“Here you are,”
Megumi said. She gave a cup of coffee to each girl.
“Thanks,” Vivian
said as she took hers. She took a sip of her coffee.
“Mmm,” the wolf
demon said. “This is good!” She noticed everyone staring at her. Vivian’s face
turned bright red as she lowered her head. Yuuko patted her on the shoulder.
“That good,
huh?” she asked.
“Yes,” Vivian
mumbled. She took another sip of her coffee.
“Where are we
going after this?” Vivian asked. Megumi smiled with her drink in her hand.
“Just hanging
around for a bit,” she said. “Maybe join the others on the street.” The other
girls looked confused.
“But we’re not
in costume,” the round-faced girl said.
“Sure we are,”
the leader said. “We’re just five college girls looking for a good night out on
Halloween.” The girls rolled their eyes.
“Sure we are,”
Shiori said. She took another sip of her coffee.
“We sure are,” Megumi said. She took a drink herself. Vivian only shook her head. Her coffee was that good though.