This choice: Jelena's housemates are a great place to start • Go Back...Chapter #40The Cousin Complication by: rugal b.   Nine people for your coven, huh? You feel as though before your choices were nearly unlimited. There were so many directions you could have gone in that it was almost overwhelming; nearly impossible to decide. Now that you've settled on a general direction, now that you have a new identity, it should be easier. Yet Jelena, it seems, has thrown you a curveball. You knew she was at the center of the underground scene but you look at your trio of companions and realize they would all make great additions.
Shayna may be a junior but she's a popular one and would thus make that class more open to you should you want it.
Sienna of course allows you to keep things in Jelena's tightest circle with Fatima Zahedi -- a girl who Sienna shares an almost sisterly bond with -- and, you want to gulp, Andrea Varnsworth. A girl so inscrutable that even Jelena can't help but to some times wonder just how much she truly understands her friend. There's the wider social network Jelena maintains too: Warehouse regulars, Eastman students and even some friendlies amongst the crowd of St. Xavier's mutants.
Nancy herself is an intriguing proposition. Her boyfriend -- Shaynas older brother -- is a junior at Keyserling and so quite a few years older and yet both of them seem devoted to one another. So devoted that they, in fact, live together in a small home not too far from Andrea. So devoted that Nancy's made no secret of potential marriage plans once he's graduated and landed himself employment.
And that throws your mind back to the university and to Jelena's own companions. She lives here in this house with her older sister K.C. -- Katarina-Charlotta is a name she's all but disowned -- as well as Zoe Sabin, K.C.'s lifelong best friend. It's curious, you think, that she'd live on the other side of town in a home out by the university, but from a quick probe you realize that it's a curiosity Jelena herself doesn't like to ponder (only appreciates that it made her bond with her sister stronger) and you decide for now to go with her own proclivities.
Instead you continue to converse with her friends and enjoy things when you hear the door click. All of you turn to see a young woman, thin with short hair dyed a light lavender, come in. "Didn't know you were home," she says to you as she closes the door.
"K.C.!" Shayna exclaims with excitement. "You wanna chill?"
"Nah," she says and her voice is one of exhaustion. "Wouldn't wanna be a bother."
"Are you tired?" you ask with sisterly concern.
"Worn out, Long night at work," she sighs. "And then Charlotte wanted to hang out."
"Is she still trying to sell you on that arts council thing?" you ask.
"Whazzat?" asks Sienna.
"The Keyserling Council of the Arts with support from the Saratoga Falls Chamber of Commerce and Macgregor Media proudly presents the first annual Marla Clayborn Music Festival. A one day event honoring the legendary jazz singer and child of Saratoga Falls by spotlighting the best up and coming musicians in all of Van Dief County."
K.C.'s arms are spread and her smile is forced as she recites a spiel from the festival's website that she's read a dozen times already. Both fall quickly however.
"Charlotte keeps saying it'll be a good opportunity to get noticed and I keep telling her we're not interested," she says as the fake enthusiasm wilts away.
"Any reason why?" Nancy asks.
K.C. simply shrugs. "Just doesn't sit right with me. Feels hokey. And fucking Macgregor Media? They own so many damn stations that their bland, watered down, ultra commercial playlists are forced down half the country's collective throat." She grunts. "I get that Charlotte's trying to look out for us and all but I'm not looking to impress media suits, you know?"
She yawns and reaches up a hand to rub her own head. "Hey Yell? I'm turning in early so just, like, keep it down okay? They've got me working early shift tomorrow."
"She's so cool!" Shayna practically squeals after K.C. has disappeared down the hall.
You make it a point to shush Shayna but you can't really disagree with her almost fangirlish excitement either. K.C. is someone who doesn't care about impressing others nor does she care about going out of her way to win or seek approval. She does what she does in the way that she feels is most true to herself. That's what makes her cool. That's what draws people to her.
That, you decide, is what makes her a perfect member for your.
* * * * *
"You have the stuff?" you ask as you lead Sydney into Jelena's room.
"Right here," she answers as she pulls off the backpack she'd been wearing.
At your direction she places it on the bed. You open it up to see masks, bands, the stuff needed to make pedisequos masks and more. Everything is good to go.
"So where is she anyway?" asks Sydney.
"Work," you answer simply.
"Okay and where would that be?"
"Milagro; assistant manager," you say. "Probably in line for the manager position if the current one ever leaves."
"That's enough for a house out by the university?" she asks.
"Decent enough money and tips since she doesn't neglect her barista work," you answer. "Zoe's waitress work. Plus the band stuff."
"What does Jelena do?"
"Odd things here and there. She's sold some paintings locally. Had a job over the summer and did a good job saving," you shrug. "She doesn't spend much."
"So I can see," she says as she looks at the rather spartanly furnished room. Then she looks at you. "Where are you going?"
"Bathroom," you say as you hold up the stuff. "K.C. won't be back for a few hours but I figure it's best to get treating Jelena's mask out of the way."
Sydney makes a face at that. "So you're going to be this girl's sister?"
"Would that be a problem? You seemed a bit off-put last night." But suddenly you feel a mischievous smirk and you dart in and lean close to Sydney. "Or was I wrong?" you ask as you grasp her hand. "Do you want me to stay as Jelena? Would you like to know what it's like to be Jelena?"
"I'm fine," she says as she pulls back and gently nudges you to the door. "Just go do your thing. I'll be here when you get back."
You're about to enter the bathroom when you hear the chimes of the doorbell. You try to ignore it at first -- probably someone selling home security, you think -- but after a few times and Sydney poking her head out of the room you decide to go and answer it. Sydney follows behind you. You're ready to give a curt "not interested" as you open the door but when you see who's on the other side you very much are interested.
She's slim and petite. Her eyes, though distinctly Asian, are also like large dark pools. Her hair is long and dark and silken in appearance and hangs in straight bangs over her forehead. And the smile she gives you... it's not just Will Prescott's heart that it sends racing.
"Hey Yell," she greets you warmly. "Is K.C. in?"
"She's at work unfortunately," you answer managing to maintain composure. "What brings you over?"
"My clothes," she answers. "I let her borrow some."
You raise an eyebrow at that as K.C.'s style -- rough and tomboyish -- is at odds with this girl's very feminine manner of dress. She seems to pick up on that and lets out a soft, pleasant sounding laugh.
"Yeah, I know, but they're old and she thought maybe she could rework them into a stage outfit," she says answering your unasked question. "I guess she couldn't make it work though so she told me to swing by and grab them."
"That's fine then," you say as you invite her in. "You can just grab them from her room."
"Thanks!" she says cheerily. As she walks by you she takes note of Sydney and gives her a quick look over. Then she looks at you. "Is she..."
"A friend from school," you quickly answer.
"Gotcha."
With that she continues towards K.C.'s room and you exhale deeply. "Shit," you mutter softly. "I didn't realize she was friends with--"
"Who's she?" asks Sydney.
"Huh? Oh, that's Umeko," you answer. "I guess she's friends with Jelena's group here? I didn't know."
"You know her?"
"Yeah," you nod. "Her last name's Prescott. She's my cousin." That gets a raised eyebrow from Sydney. "My aunt and uncle adopted her a long time ago. We're not blood related or anything."
"I see," Sydney says with amusement. "Guess that means it's fine that you have the hots for her then."
"I... what!?" you exclaim trying not to raise your voice.
Sydney snickers. "Please, Will. The way you tensed up? Your body language? It was written all over you."
"Ugh!" you sigh. "Okay yeah I guess I kind of do. Just a bit but..." You pause to make sure Umeko's not coming down the hall. "Well, it's not just me that does. Jelena is crushing on her and crushing hard."
Sydney looks at you for a moment. Her face is thoughtful as she studies you but says nothing.
"Hey Yell," Umeko says as she pokes her head out form K.C.'s room. "I found what I needed so I'm gonna go. Any problem if I use the bathroom before I do?"
"No, that's fine," you answer.
You watch as Umeko, clothes in her arms, disappears into the bathroom that's across from Jelena's room. You then turn back to see that Sydney's expression has gone from thoughtful to absolutely devilish.
"Say Will," she says in something of an amused sing song tone of voice. "Wouldn't your cousin make a great recruit for this coven we're building?"
"What!?" you react with shock.
But Sydney just places a hand on your cheek, leans in and smiles. "Wouldn't she make a great identity for me?"   indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
| Members who added to this interactive story also contributed to these: |
<<-- Previous · Outline  · Recent Additions © Copyright 2025 rugal b. (UN: rugal at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Seuzz has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work within this interactive story. Poster accepts all responsibility, legal and otherwise, for the content uploaded, submitted to and posted on Writing.Com. |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
More by this author