After the events that unfolded in the previous week, the group continued their study sessions like normal. Sent a text or two. Normal stuff. They decided to go out this day just 2 days before school began. George, Mario, Nikos, Piter, Eva, Ann and the newest addition, Bynight, were the ones who went out. They sat around a table in their usual hangout spot at Maki's.
"So..." Piter said smiling. "He is officially on the council?" Pointing at Bynight.
George shrugged. "It could have been worse," he took a bite from his gyros before speaking, "he could have your doubleganger or something."
The rest laughed, teasing Piter, who faked a smile with annoyance in his eyes. "Hilarious as always."
Nikos laughed. "No need to take things to the bone, you are the one who gives us excuses for your childish behavior."
"Not cool man. Not cool at all." He sat back drinking his soda. "I almost got killed by a werewolf, a lion doesn't concern himself with the opinion of a sheep."
"Firstly," Ann said raising her glass full of beer, "you weren't the only one who was about to die. Secondly, and most importantly, YOU ARE NO LION!"
While the rest laughed again, Niko and Bynight looked dumb founded, like a chicken in the middle of the sea. Eva took notice of their expressions, "Oh, right." She turned to Ann, "should we tell them?"
She took a moment to examine the things.
"OOHHH. Yes." She said slamming her beer down. "About the werewolf. The werewolf that almost killed us, which was an experimentation ran by the CIA. When all hope was lost that goatman thing came to our rescue and told me to shoot it's eye while he was holding her down and then was her son came along and grabbed John. But he refused to die. Then the goatman killed him with a spear."
Eva just stared blankly.
"That thing right?"
"YES! WHAT ELSE?"
Niko and Bynight's jaws dropped to the floor.
Piter saw their expressions and tried comforting them. "Don't worry, we survived." He said smiling like a cat.
"WHAT?" Bynight and Nik asked in utter shock. Thinking this was a stupid joke.
"Yeah, it's true." George said taking a sip from his drink. "It probably belongs in one of the worst experiences in my life... But it was quite fun." Piter quickly raised an eyebrow and turned to look at George. "What is it?"
"Fun? You had fun?"
George started rubbing his chin. "Ok... Fun isn't the right word. What I meant to say is that it is fun looking back at it..."
"That makes no sense... You almost killed Emily."
"But I didn't."
They started staring at one another, no words coming in their minds. Just staring into the emptiness of one another's brain.
"Can we PLEASE!" Niko continued the conversation. "Can anyone really, explain WHAT IS ALL OF THIS ABOUT!"
"We... Told you?" Ann asked confused.
"What is this? Is it a stupid prank?"
"Ask my car." She pulled out photos which showed her and John damaged cars.
"Holy shit!" He replied. While Bynight started fixing his glasses, looking closer.
"That's impossible, how can something like this even exist? It surely is a some short of misunderstanding or, as Nik suggested, prank. Right?"
She shrugged. "Believe what you want boys," she laid back in her chair, taking a sip from her coffee. "But that's the truth."
"How did y'all survive?" Nik asked.
"I told you," she smirked, "this goatman thing saved us. Here's the interesting part, he wasn't even human. He was a goat that became a monster because the CIA ran test on animals to make a virus. Or that other dude who he mentioned." She shrugged. "Who knows."
Silence fell in the group, staring at one another in total stillness. Piter punched Mario. He started holding his face.
"Ου ρε μαλάκα (Oh, you asshole), what was that for?"
"It got awkward, had to lighten the-" Before he could finish the sentence Mario punched him in the face. Piter got up, took a tissue, he blew his nose. Took Mario's chair, pulled it back, and took Mario's pants. Inside the restaurant, in middle of January. Mario got pissed and started chasing him throughout the whole port. Some where watching in confusion while some died of laughter. The rest where stunned. They however, digest into other matters. After all making sense of anything is easier and more engaging than making sense of... Whatever they were witnessing.
Nik was still trying to process the information that he received, whereas Bynight was amused by the idea of monsters. He started making multiple questions all at once, such as: "How was it possible they were created?", "That must be a sign of higher being, mustn't it?" Or even "How do they reproduce? As people or animals?"
"I doubt anyone was thinking of the last on." George thought. "Even then," he sighed, "I wouldn't be surprised... Piter would be the kind of creature to ask that."
Eva was interested in those facts. She pulled a whiteboard from her backpack analyzing how a human x monster hybrid be and how it could work. Before getting much deeper, Ann closed her mouth with her right hand. And started mewing. Eva, terrified, sat down. Wondering, where it all went wrong.
"I believe it's best to explain this thing slowly, slowly." George announced. "Next topic. What do we got?" He said rubbing his hands like a fly planning it's attack.
Silence again.
Georged coughed awkwardly.
"I guess that's a no..." Said George between his breath.
"Oh yeah." Nik jumped from a magic hat. "The sport festival starts next week. How are y'all feeling? Do you think we can get this over with?"
"In all categories?" George asked.
"Of course man, what else can I be talking about?"
"Well, you better help the football team win."
Both of them chuckled.
"Man's volleyball... I'd like a win. But I don't really care... Basket, obviously I want a win. Me and Mario are about to pull weights. Finally, women's volleyball... I'd love to see Emily lose to be honestly"
"Dude you're terrible!" Piter said pulling up like a ghost. George, without hesitation, punched him on the face and then a fight broke loose. Maki, who watched everything unfold, didn't intervene. After all the day was pretty boring and there were no costumers, he just shouted: "JUST DON'T BREAK ANYTHING!" Piter and George reduced their full power so they ended up hitting one another slower. The latter looked down and realized he was wearing two pants.
"Dude, did you give Mario's pants back?"
"NO!"
"YOU PIECE OF INSIGNIFICANT EXCUSE OF HUMAN BEING!!!!!!!" They all turned around looking at Mario who was sprinting towards them, his entire body was shivering and his face was pale.
"That's my call." Piter said putting down the chair gently, and approaching the other door. "Arrivederci!"
He left before anyone could stop him. Mario chased him fast, but Piter was faster. Intelligence tried catching up to them, but they were faster.
"That was... Something." Nik said, without any thought in his mind.
"Should we leave now?" Eva asked looking around.
George nodded. "Yeah." He raised his hand. "Check please." One of they waiters approached with his notebook.
"WAIT-" Ann stomped her hand on the table. "Who will pay for Mario and Piter?"
"You're right!" George admitted. "You will, the friend you are." He smiled paying his bill, with Ann looking as if she will kill him.