Chapter #5Blending In by: Rita   "Look to your right," read the mysterious text from an unlisted number. Pete, did as he was told and looked over to a house on his right. Waiting in the house's doorway was Ms. Toffee, the local recluse, beckoning Pete. Pete was slightly surprised, seeing as Ms. Toffee never really talked to anyone. People across town came up with these wild rumors why Ms. Toffee never showed her face, some say she was a vampire and was avoiding sunlight, while others said she was deformed and avoided public ridicule. Pete could debunk both of those rumors, as he once saw Ms. Toffee take out her trash during the day. He could clearly see that nothing was wrong with her, at least physically. The only strange thing he noticed about her was the long awkward eye contact they had made while he walked passed her house.
Cautiously, Pete made his way up Ms. Toffee's driveway and headed towards the front door. Ms. Toffee held the door open for him to enter, but Pete was going to ask some questions first. "Did you just text me?" Pete asked, to which Ms. Toffee nodded quickly, "How did you get my number?"
"Oh, I got from your mother," Ms. Toffee quickly responded, her eyes darting back and forth, like she was scanning the neighborhood, "I met her at the grocery store the other day. Nice women, very funny. I told her I've been having some trouble with manual labor around the house and she gave me your number. She said you would be happy to help out,"
"Oh," Pete's said, wondering why his mother would just presume that he would love to help a strange woman, "Well it looks like she signed me up for it. Do you need any help right now, Ms. Toffee?"
"Well that's why I called you over here, Pete," She said, "Now follow me. And please close the door behind you." Pete did as he was commanded and went into the strange woman's home. At first glance, it looked like Ms. Toffee had moved into the house that day. Unopened boxes and bags were laid all across the entrance and following hallway. That's strange, Pete thought the obvious, as he looked over the unopened luggage, I thought Ms. Toffee moved in a month ago...
"Um, hello?" Ms. Toffee interrupted Pete's thoughts, "I'm in the kitchen, Pete." Pete followed the sound of thervoice to find Ms. Toffee waiting patiently by her kitchen counter. "Do you see that up that there?" She pointed towards a cookie jar placed precariously on a high shelf, "Could you get that for me? It's just out of my reach."
"Alright," Pete, being considerably taller than Ms. Toffee, had no trouble getting the jar, "Got it. How'd you even get it up there in the first place?"
"You know what? I actually have no idea," Ms. Toffee said, putting the jar on the counter, then grabbing two glasses of lemonade, "Did you want some lemonade, Pete? Made it myself." Pete happily accepted and took big sip of the refreshing drink. A odd smile appeared on Ms. Toffee's face.
"You know what you are, Pete?" Ms. Toffee said rather enthusiastically, "You are perfect,"
"Perfect?" Pete chuckled, "Ms. Toffee, all I did was get a jar for you. It's really no big deal."
"Do you have any idea what it's like not to fit in, Pete?" Ms. Toffee asked out of the blue, making Pete raise an eyebrow, "When I was your age, I felt like I didn't belong. I couldn't really make any friends and was usually the butt of everyone's jokes. My parents assured me that was just how high school was and afterwards it would be much easier for me. But it wasn't. I've lived in 20 towns now and I still haven't found my place. Do you have any idea what that's like?"
"Uh, I guess so. I don't really have that many friends either," Pete said apprehensively, starting to realize coming into Ms. Toffee's house was a mistake. Pete was going to bring up an excuse to leave, but suddenly felt very dizzy, "Hey..." Pete said drowsily, "I'm not feeling so good..."
"I knew it!" Ms. Toffee ignored Pete and continued to ramble on, "I knew from the moment I saw you that you would understand. I could feel this connection, this universal bond connecting the two of us! That's why you're are going to help me."
"Help you with what..." Pete quickly caught himself on the kitchen counter before he fell to the ground, the dizziness making it hard to stand, "What are you gonna do, Ms. Toffee?"
"I'm going to blend in, Pete," Ms. Toffee said, as she put her on Pete's cheek, "I figured, if you can't beat them, join them, right? In order for everyone to treat me normally, I need to act like them. And I have been, I really have. But it doesn't seem to be enough. I need something more, something that will make me look like another regular middle class citizen. That's why I need you Pete. I need you to...
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