Chapter 15 #2
“Amazing. Does quiche sound like good writing fuel?” Talula ventured with a wry smile.
“I swear to god, Talula,” Dahlia said, placing a hand on her forehead like a swooning Southern belle. “One day I’m going to just marry the absolute shit out of you.”
I wouldn’t stop you, she wanted to say. But instead, Talula just shook her head with a chuckle, got up, and headed for the quiche.
She set a plate at Dahlia’s new place by the counter.
After Dahlia had taken a few bites and proclaimed the quiche “orgasmic,” Talula plated another slice.
She walked over to a still-sulking Simon and set it down next to his front paw with a whisper: “Sorry for laughing.”
“No need to apologize,” he muttered back, quiet enough so only Talula could hear him. “I realize I haven’t been cultivating a very emotionally supportive learning environment. Perhaps I will undergo that training.”
“I’m not sure that’s necessary.”
Simon looked up at Talula with deep black eyes. “I’d do it if it helped you.”
Touched, Talula lay a hand on Simon’s head. “We can all learn new skills. Plus, training together might be nice.”
“Hrmph,” Simon said thoughtfully. Talula walked back to the counter smiling.
When Dahlia had gobbled her quiche and opened up her laptop, she turned to Talula. “I’m going to try that writing sprint again. Can I have cocoa as a reward?”
You can have anything you want forever! Talula thought, but instead she said, “Absolutely.”
Talula set the timer, watched Dahlia bend her head to work, and nipped to the Voltlette. She only had thirty minutes, after all.
Talula’s timer chirped just as she set down a mug of extra chocolaty cocoa and a plate of treats next to Dahlia’s laptop.
Dahlia gaped. “Churros? You beautiful angel, you didn’t have to do that.”
“I had some stashed in the freezer and added a bit of spice to the double-chocolate cocoa.” Talula smiled with a shrug. “Noosh-eh joon!”
Dahlia took a sip. “It’s got a little more zing to it, for sure. Did you put chili powder in this? And cinnamon?”
“I recently learned you like spicy things.” Talula blushed.
“I do love when you spice things up.” Dahlia grinned over her mug. “What do I get if I do another writing sprint?”
“Um…a star cut out of receipt paper?”
“Fuck yeah.”
Talula restarted the timer.
About ten minutes later, the bell chimed above the door, followed by a sarcastic, saccharine soprano. “Can I speak to your manager?”
Kristen stood in the café entrance, blond hair perfectly tousled, white cashmere sweater sinisterly pristine, smirk gleaming with menace and lip gloss.
Talula felt her muscles tense, her breaths suddenly shallow and uneasy.
Dahlia quickly looked at Kristen, then back to Talula, her eyebrows quirked in a question.
In answer, Talula forced a smile and tapped her watch.
Dahlia bent her head back to her laptop.
Talula knew that Kristen had gotten under her skin when they had run into each other a few nights ago. But this time, Talula would put on her most unflappable face and get her ex out as soon as possible. “Unless you’re here for coffee or occult stuff, I think you should leave.”
Dahlia’s gaze jerked up, eyes wide at Talula’s tone.
“I’d rather drink bleach, thanks,” Kristen said sweetly. She sidled over to the café counter. “I thought I’d tell you the good news.”
“That you’re moving?” Talula asked, just as sweetly.
“Not quite.” Kristen smirked. She pulled a piece of paper out of her purse and slapped it on the counter.
Talula glanced at it. She felt all the air in her lungs vanish.
It was an official town notice. One with a headline so big and horrifying, Talula had to grip the countertop to keep from stumbling.
EMERGENCY TOWN HALL MEETING TO DISCUSS SAMHAIN FESTIVAL
The meeting was scheduled for a little more than a week away. Three days before Samhain.
Mom said it wouldn’t get this far, Talula thought, reading the headline over and over again. She said it was nothing.
“Pine Hollow City Council will vote on revoking your festival permit,” Kristen said smugly, eyeing Talula up and down. “Looks like the town has spoken. We don’t want you here. And if you don’t get the message, then we’ll have to spell it out for you with more extreme measures.”
Talula knew that Sara could magically fix their situation once she came back.
But at that moment, it didn’t matter. Kristen’s contempt, the whole town’s contempt, made her furious.
Rage thundered in Talula’s brain, but she chose her words carefully.
“You have to realize this is discrimination. Small minds hating something because they don’t understand it.
You’re making people think Samhain is some kind of pervert’s Coachella.
But it’s an important holiday for people like me. ”
“That’s exactly the problem. Why would Pine Hollow want anyone like you?” Kristen gave a short, mean laugh.
“Hey! Here’s an idea,” Dahlia said brightly, popping out of her counter seat to face Kristen. “How about you shut the whole fuck up?”
“Do I know you?” Kristen bristled. “Actually, I don’t care.”
“I’m Dahlia, horrible to meet you!” Dahlia’s dimples had never looked so threatening.
“And you should care, because everything you’ve said since you’ve walked in the door qualifies as harassment.
So apologize and promise to get a really—and I mean this sincerely—really fucking good therapist. Or else. ”
Kristen rolled her eyes. “Or else what?”
Dahlia pointed to her computer, where her video camera’s light was blinking merrily. “Or else this entire conversation becomes Exhibit A in a harassment lawsuit. You think we can have a town meeting about that, too?”
“This isn’t harassment!” Kristen snapped, her cheeks pinking.
“No? We can ask social media! Caption: Washed-up prom queen threatens small-town coffee shop manager,” Dahlia narrated.
Kristen lost all composure. “I didn’t threaten her!”
“Let’s check the tape.” Dahlia dragged her mouse along the slider bar of her video app. “…we’ll have to spell it out for you with more extreme measures…”
“What does ‘extreme measures’ mean?” Dahlia asked innocently.
Kristen opened her mouth, but Dahlia interrupted her with another replay.
“…extreme measures…”
“I didn’t—”
“…extreme measures…”
“I don’t have to listen to this!” Kristen turned to go, and in doing so, came dangerously close to Dahlia. In a flash of movement, Dahlia flipped her still-full mug onto Kristen’s cashmere sweater. It was soaked with cocoa.
“Whoops!” Dahlia cried out, with all the subtlety of a sky-writer.
“What’s wrong with you?” Kristen screeched.
Dahlia simply grinned. “Just taking some extreme measures.”
“Hrmph!” Simon growled behind Kristen’s heel. He bared his teeth at her.
“Freaks,” Kristen hissed before storming out the door. The golden bell above the doorframe chimed cheerily at her departure.
Adrenaline and anger buzzed in Talula’s blood. But when she looked at Dahlia, her heart swelled with gratitude. “You’re my hero.”
Dahlia shrugged, plucking napkins from a nearby dispenser. “Sorry about the mess.”
“Worth it.” Talula grabbed paper towels and helped Dahlia mop up the spill.
“She’s your ex, right?”
Talula froze. “How did you—?”
“Even when she was being horrible, she kept checking you out.” Dahlia raised her eyebrows at Talula. “Did you seriously not notice that?”
“I am…” Talula swallowed. “Notoriously oblivious to that stuff.”
Dahlia tipped back her head and let loose a glorious peal of laughter. “No fucking shit, Talula!”
Talula felt the stress of her ex encounter melting away as she laughed along with Dahlia.
“Talula,” Dahlia started; then she paused. “I’m going to say something kind of risky here.”
Talula stilled. “Okay?”
“I can help with the town hall thing. I want to help.” Dahlia looked down at her feet. “I know the last time I offered, we didn’t talk for, like, two weeks. So…”
“I’ll remind you that I was a total rabbit penis at the time.” Talula bumped Dahlia’s shoulder with her own. “It means a lot that you asked. But I need to call my mom and see what she wants to do. She usually has a plan for this kind of stuff.”
“Alright. But my offer stands.” Dahlia peered seriously into Talula’s eyes. “I know Samhain’s important to you, and I want to be there for you, however I can. So if you want me, just let me know.”
“I will. Thank you.” Talula smiled. “You’re a better friend than I deserve.”
“Agree to disagree.” Dahlia got to her feet and dusted off her jeans. “But I do think I earned another double cocoa.”
“Maybe even a triple.”
“Quit saying hot things, woman,” Dahlia said. “You don’t know what you do to me.”
Talula laughed, and Simon groaned. He curled up and went to sleep next to Dahlia’s chair.