Chapter 19
In seemingly minutes, Huggie transformed the cafeteria.
While it was just about dinner time, the staff of WANC didn’t seem to mind.
Brightly colored balloons and streamers decorated the doorways and walls.
With what helpful supplies Huggie could find in the cafeteria cooler, she threw together a refreshing punch.
Slices of oranges and lemons floated on the surface like life preservers.
Huggie even pulled out the chocolate fountain and created a dessert table with an assortment of cheese and fruit.
She was currently in the kitchen baking a few cakes for the occasion.
They all decided that Grimm finally being apprehended was reason for the whole campus to celebrate.
Even Ariel couldn’t help but smile.
“How does it feel to be responsible for nabbing the man who’d been escaping FUC for years?
” Anson asked before putting his arm around the waist of ASS Agent Nari Lee.
Ariel had missed so much while working for Grimm, it felt like she’d never catch up.
It was great to see her brother happy, and dare she say it, relaxed.
Nari helped to center him. Ariel was pleased; if one good thing could come out of Grimm, it was Anson working with Nari and later finding love.
In fact, Ariel assumed she wouldn’t have met Joline if it weren’t for Grimm. She hated to admit that. Even to herself.
Gabby walked over with Lyla. The only thing in the cafeteria that was brighter than Huggie’s decorations was Lyla’s pink hair.
Ariel beamed at them. She’d thought Gabby would never forgive her for her past. She was glad she was wrong.
“W-we make a g-g-good…team,” Gabby said, squinting her eyes as she concentrated on speaking.
Her blue eyes seemed even brighter with her eyes being lined with black, winged liner.
Ariel nodded. “We did a good thing today. You probably saved our asses.” Ariel still couldn’t believe Gabby divebombed Grimm.
Gabby shrugged before wincing in pain. “She has a minor sprain in her wing,” Lyla explained. “It shouldn’t take too long to heal.” Ariel assumed the crow shifter was lucky to have only a minor injury after coming in that fast and slamming into Grimm the way she had.
“We did make a good team,” Joline agreed. The golden flecks sparkled in her brown eyes as she looked to Ariel. Ariel nearly melted under the porcupine shifter’s gaze. Joline was probably one of the best things that ever happened to her.
Jennifer and the rest of the club milled in. They all helped Huggie set up the party, but wanted to get changed after their ordeal earlier that day. They collectively came over to Ariel to say hi.
Jennifer tucked some of her dark hair behind her ear. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but thank you.”
“For what?” Ariel was beginning to understand her role in creating the plan to get rid of Grimm, but she didn’t think she deserved any thanks.
“Because of you, I’ll be able to sleep soundly at night,” Simon explained.
“I always feared he’d come back for me,” Arty said softly. His round, yellow eyes appeared to turn down at the outer corners, giving his ostrich face a worried look.
“I think we all did,” Jennifer said, glancing around at the group members. She put a reassuring hand on Arty’s shoulder. He gave her what Ariel assumed was a smile.
“You guys don’t have to thank me. It was a group effort.” Ariel was bursting with pride, for herself and her friends. They made a big difference today. “He’ll never hurt anyone ever again.”
Before their moment of happiness could culminate in a group hug, Agents Stone and Sparks entered the room.
For the first time in her life, Ariel saw the pair smile.
For once, they weren’t frustrated with her.
Agent Sparks’ stiletto heels clacked on the tiled floor as the agents made their way across the cafeteria.
Oddly enough, Agent Stone’s brown cowboy boots seemed to complement the other agent’s heels nicely.
Agent Stone took the group in, a wide smile spreading across his face. “I’m sorry I doubted you. But you and your friends did great.”
“You did what you had to. If you had given us more agents than you did, maybe Grimm wouldn’t have changed his plans and not come here.
” Ariel didn’t want to think about the what ifs.
They finally won against Grimm, and that was all that mattered to her.
And no one but the bad guys got hurt. That was another win.
“Besides, we had enough help with Agents Talbot and Quackenbush.”
Agent Sparks raised a dark eyebrow. “Do we want to know how the hippos escaped?”
Joline shook her head. “I don’t think that needs to go in the official report.”
“But it sure was funny watching the cronies run,” Trina said before barking a laugh. If the agents knew Trina was the one herding the hippos along, they didn’t let on. She did have an agent with her, so Ariel doubted they didn’t know.
“Are all the kids okay?” Ariel asked the agents. She remembered when they were first missing. Grimm had plenty of time to do God knows what to them. She’d never forgive herself if any of them got hurt.
“Grimm was captured before following through with his plan to hit up a daycare,” Agent Stone explained.
Without warning, Agent Talbot appeared out of thin air.
Ariel jumped. She still wasn’t used to the cat shifter disappearing and reappearing at will.
“I just came to enjoy the festivities for a moment.” Her blond hair floated about her shoulders as she shook her head.
She looked to the door as a tall man with wavy, brown hair walked in.
He smiled at Agent Talbot. “I have dinner plans with Brett, but I wanted to enjoy this moment with everyone!” She smiled before walking over the man, giving him a big hug.
Her shadows swirled around him, as if joining in the embrace.
Ariel put her arm around Joline, pulling her close. She reveled in her warmth, taking in her sweet scent. “I can’t wait to put Grimm behind me and move on.”
“Which reminds me,” Agent Stone started, his voice a dry drawl. He held up a strange tool. “We’re going to remove your ankle monitor.”
Ariel couldn’t believe it. She’d thought they’d never trust her. “You’ve more than proven yourself to us,” Agent Sparks said with a smile, her bright, red lipstick sparkling.
“What are you going to do now that you can go anywhere?” Jennifer asked, seeming genuinely interested. Areil never imagined she’d ever get more than a snarky remark out of her.
Ariel turned to Joline. “I believe we have a sunset to watch.”
Joline leaned her head against Ariel’s shoulder as she watched the cotton-candy sky.
Sometimes she wondered how the world could hold so much beauty.
Ariel stroked Joline’s hair before rubbing her shoulder.
Goosebumps that had nothing to do with the cooling air prickled Joline’s flesh down her arms. While she didn’t know what tomorrow held, she’d be quite happy spending the foreseeable future with Ariel.
“You know what?” Joline asked, breaking the silence.
“What?”
“You’d make a pretty good cadet. If that’s what you wanted, of course.
” Joline wanted Ariel to be happy. She’d been through so much.
And Joline could tell that Ariel was capable of so much, yet her past led her to get behind in life.
It was hard to work on starting your career while employed by an evil scientist. Ariel was so smart.
Joline wished she was capable of seeing her own potential.
Ariel nodded. “I’ve been thinking a lot about that, actually.”
“You have?” Joline didn’t mean to sound so surprised.
She hated to admit that she imagined that cozying up with FUC was the last thing on Ariel’s mind.
While Joline knew Ariel was one of the good guys, she wasn’t sure how well she’d do with following a chain of command.
Although, Ariel did work pretty well with the agents after she explained her plan to them.
“I learned a lot of…” she paused before continuing. “I picked up skills while working with Grimm.” Ariel brushed a lock of auburn hair out of her eyes. The grey streaks glittered like silver in the setting sun. “I think I could put them to good use as a private investigator.”
Joline bit her lip, wondering if it was safe for Ariel to continue to change her age.
As if reading her mind, Ariel said, “I can do more than shift my age. But maybe FUC would be willing to give me the serum… or whatever it was Grimm was using that helped me turn back without side effects. I hate to admit it, but I miss the thrill of changing my appearance. And I hate even more to say that I was good at tricking people. So why not use that for good? I could be a great P.I.. Or…” Ariel’s face lit up with the new idea.
“I could help rehabilitate other shifters who used to be like me. Since I’ve been through it myself, I could create a program that supports ex-experiments in their healing journey. Just think of the possibilities!”
Joline smiled, just thinking about it. “Maybe you could do both! Why not start a hospital for all the shifters you rescue at a P.I.?” She beamed at Ariel, admiring the way the setting sun lit up her delicate features. “I may know a guy who’d be willing to invest in that idea.”
“You… you’d do that for me?” Ariel brushed a lock of curly hair out of Joline’s eyes.
“Of course I would.”
Ariel gave Joline a soft smile. Joline felt her very soul buzz with excitement. It felt good to have the woman she cared about believe in her.
Joline leaned forward, pressing her lips to Ariel’s. She melted under Ariel’s touch. Ariel tasted so good. Joline let her senses take Ariel in, every aspect of her. She wanted this moment to last forever, to savor every second of it. Soon, they forgot all about the sunset.
The End…