Chapter 3

Kelly pulled into the parking lot and parked well away from the front entrance of the restaurant where there were a number of open parking spaces. There was less chance of Baby getting scratched in the back.

When she stepped around to the side of the lot she noticed Trav and Kyle's monstrosity of a jeep looming over Megan's little red VW Bug, Xan's Ducati was sitting next to it. Even though he lived further away, it didn't surprise her he was already here, the guy was always driving at Mach 10.

She should encourage him to keep a vial of Troll bile on hand in case of a spill. Crashes at those speeds could be a real spine crusher. Lord knows the horrible tasting magical concoction had saved their derrieres a time or two.

As she made her way to the front entrance her red D&C pumps clicked resoundingly on the still hot pavement of the lot. The heat of the day hadn't dissipated even though it was nearly 9pm. Which was a godsend; she would have definitely gotten a chill in the outfit she'd chosen. She paired her red hot pumps up with a barely there tight fitting grey mini skirt and a skin tight peekaboo top. It had been difficult driving with the ridiculously high heels but they made her already impossibly long legs seem even longer, and you know what they say, we all make sacrifices for fashion.

Once in front of the restaurant, she took a deep breath as she let her features settle into her notorious resting bitchface before she swung open the door to enter the dining room.

As she made her way inside, she was met by two guys on their way out at the same time, the one in the front stopped short when she came through the door, while his friend who hadn't seen her yet rammed right into the back of him, but before the guy at the back could complain nosily he looked up and spotted her. His mouth formed a perfect 'O' as he swept her from head to toe with his eyes.

The other guy let out a low whistle and used the old one-liner, "If I told you, you have a beautiful body would you hold it against me?"

She cocked an eyebrow in his direction and thought if she had a score card he'd get zero points for originality -- that was for damn sure.

When she looked him up and down with a deadpan stare and said, "Not even in your wildest dreams Sugah," in her rich southern drawl. She could swear she saw his knees buckle. He caught himself quickly though -- while she tried not to smile – it only encouraged the plebs.

Her eyes searched the restaurant for Xan hoping he was witnessing this exchange; it would only serve to show him how lucky he was, but although he was within ear shot and sight of the guys at the door he was totally oblivious to it.

He was currently showing everyone pictures on his phone, no doubt, the villa they'd stayed in and the white sandy beach they'd made love on. She growled under her breath and ground her teeth a little which she quickly stopped. She had her smile insured for thousands no use risking it over an angry moment.

She should have known better anyway, Xan was totally not the jealous type. She'd flaunted other guys at him in the past and it had garnered no response then, and there was no logical reason that should change now. However, as her eyes left the top of Xan's head they were caught by another pair of eyes.

Donovan Alfero was staring at her like she was a tall class of sweet lemon iced tea on the hottest day in Georgia. Obviously he appreciated the time she'd taken to get ready. When she caught herself wishing Xan was more like him she had to check herself. But when she saw her admirer shoot the guys at the door a menacing stare with his chocolate brown eyes, she couldn't help but get a thrill at the look on his face. It promised violence if they didn't back off.

And as it turned out the guys were smarter than they looked, because they wasted no time in skedaddling. Which was interesting: Donnie wasn't bigger than them, sure he was a respectable six feet tall, but he wasn't built like Travis or buff and broad shouldered like a lot of the other guys in their group. He was more long and lean, and built like an Olympic gymnast or swimmer – of the tall dark and handsome variety.

His outward appearance certainly did not denote violence, but she had to admit there was something feral about the Cait Sith. He exude a promise of danger if crossed, he actually prowled and stalked like a cat. And out of every one of them she liked dueling with him the most. They were similar in their fighting styles. He wielded dueling Italian daggers with the speed and accuracy of . . . well . . . a cat, and right now he had her in his sights.

She had to suppress a smile as she made her way to the crowded table.

She noticed everyone had waited for her to arrive to order, which was kind of them, but actually put her on the spot a little, she normally wouldn't eat at this hour but she could always order a water as long as they had bottled and a salad to pick at. She had already concluded if she was going to lose the muscle she would have to reduce her caloric intake by two or three hundred calories a day and either cut out meat entirely or only have it a couple of time a week.

She was disappointed to find that the remaining vacant seat was well away from Xan, and thought was that by accident or design. He still hadn't acknowledged her. What the heck had she done? Had she offended him by leaving? Had he met someone after she'd left? If so, she could forgive him for his dalliances, she had in the past, as long as it was over now. This Southern Bell doesn't share. And frankly she was getting a little annoyed at his hot and cold attitude as of late.

When she realized she was actively staring at Xan she fixed her eyes on the menu in front of her, but couldn't stop the surreptitious looks she kept darting his way. Kelly also tried not to notice the awkward looks that the rest of the dweebs were sending her and Xan's way. And if they didn't stop soon she wouldn't be able to stop herself from standing up and yelling: I know its awkward get over it!

Then Xan apparently said something funny making everyone laugh aside from Donnie. She watched as he rolled his eyes hard enough to break his back and she nearly snorted out a mouth full of water all over the table. She had to dab at her mouth with her napkin to hide her smile from his keen sight, but she couldn't keep her smile from reaching her eyes, and she watched as a satisfied grin spread across his face.

What was happening here? She was beginning to wonder who was flirting with whom – him or her?

When the waiter swung by the table to take their order she was not surprised to see that everyone ordered a high caloric meal, lots of carbs and fat. After all they had the metabolism of teenagers, add to that the magical being thing, and it was no wonder there wasn't an ounce of fat to spare among them, but there was no use in taking any chances, so she ordered a leafy green salad with balsamic vinaigrette dressing -- on the side.

When the food came she was more than a little envious. The heaping plates that were passed around, she had to admit were more than a little tempting. She couldn't remember the last time she had a juicy burger. Food was a scarcity when she was growing up. She ate only the simplest fair. Things she could buy and easily prepare herself, and be the time she was older and little more dexterous in the kitchen she'd launched her modeling career and now her diet consisted mostly of grilled, broiled, and poached meat and fish and steamed vegetables. Loads of vegetables and fruit — sometimes she felt like a darn rabbit -- and of course it goes without saying absolutely no fat, sugar, carbs, gluten or dairy and of course chocolate was right off the menu.

Xan had complained once over her dietary restrictions. Pointing out that once everything was said and done the only thing left was cardboard.

She had just joked back, and said, "Nope too much fiber. "

When she caught herself drooling over Lauren's Jumbo burger she stuffed a forkful of salad in her mouth dejectedly. The one thing she missed the most was chocolate. Chocolate cake to be exact. She was a chocoholic. Every once and awhile she tried to reduce the craving by munching on a piece of 100% dark chocolate but that was about as satisfying as relaxing in a cold tub.

She was picking at her salad when out of nowhere Kyle elbowed her. She hadn't realized she'd zoned out the dweebs. When she looked up Lauren asked her question again, while the rest of the gang stared at her like idiots.

"How was your summer vacation Kelly?"

Kelly rolled her eyes. What? Were they in grade school again? But she swallowed her mouthful of salad before responding," Fine."

And went right back to pushing her food around on the plate, but before she did she spared Xan a look. He was still consulting his phone, which made her think great buffer Xander. The coward was going to ignore her through the entire meal. Well you didn't have to hit her over the head with an anvil for her to get the picture. He didn't even have the guts to tell her it was over.

Suddenly her lackluster meal became even more tasteless and hard to swallow judging by the lump that was building in the back of her throat. She wouldn't leave first and give everyone the impression that she was hurt by his callousness, but toughing out the dweebs boring conversation was getting monotonous.

It was a relief when the first of the crew got up to go. It wasn't surprising that it was Travis and Kyle they normally hoovered their food, but they hadn't finished it all they were leaving with a doggie bag for their rescue hound.

She'd seen him once, and nothing about him made you want to run up and hug his neck. He was definitely a scary mutt, but when he smiled at her it was almost like he was saying: don't let that scar across my blind eye or my missing ear fool you I'm really a big softy, and come to think of it he did look really happy. Like he'd finally found a home.

Cam called out to them before they left, "Let me know if he has an appetite for mice. I'd gladly feed him ours. One of the girls let Phineas and Ferb out the other day and they tore up my secret cupboard. Thank God the menagerie has reopened. I have to resupply half my stock."

Most of the gang cracked up over that. She fixed a polite smile on her face, and thought finally, with that exchange she could cut into the conversation say her goodbyes and beat a quick and dignified retreat.

She stood up to go and said, "Later gators." Before pulling her skirt down on her legs, but it was only an excuse not to look up and see Xan's relieved face.

When she finally did look up Donnie was standing in front of her with his mouth working like a fish out of water. She was about to say spit it out when he smiled. And she had to give it to the boy he did have a killer smile, but he'd need more than that to be on her radar.

"Is there something I can do for you?" She fixed him with a sardonic stare.

"Si, I am wondering if I can . . . how you say it . . . bum a ride? We live close, no?"

She had to hand it to the guy he had guts asking her for a ride, right on the heels of her being publically rejected. Or did he think her feelings were hurt and she would need a shoulder to cry on, which would be a real creep move? She had news for him though -- if he thought he was going to be able to move in on her -- because she was now in a vulnerable state, he was completely barking up the wrong demigoddess.

She was still trying to puzzle out his game when she realized the entire remaining occupants of the table where watching them, including Xander.

For a moment she didn't know what to say, but then finally she huffed, "Fine, but hands off my dials," and gave everyone a hard stare when they started to snicker.

"What are ya'll twelve?" she scoffed.

She looked Donnie up and down and said caustically, "I hope you're ready to go now, I got to get out of here before their immature sense of humor rubs off on me?" She cocked a thumb over her shoulder at the still snickering table.

Flicking her ponytail off her shoulder she spun on a very expensive heel as Donnie fell in to step behind her, but just as she went to swing open the door, he ran ahead and swung it wide and with a gesture of his hand, said, "After you."

Wow she thought, how do you explain to a boy who spent most of his childhood in an all boy's Roman Catholic School that not only was he not even on the same playing field as you, he wasn't even in the same ballparks?

Her heels clicked loudly as they made their way quietly to Baby. The silence was a bit awkward she never really knew what to say to Xan's friends. She couldn't wait to get into the car and blast Country Time 99. Then she wouldn't have to worry about the awkward silence.

They turned the corner to head behind the building and were confronted with a big black hole the size of a human just hovering in mid air. It looked like the shadows of the parking lot had gathered into a big circle an inch or two off the ground.

Dang this couldn't be good. As she started to back up she bumped into to Donnie with a thud. He hadn't seen the magical rift. There was no way he could have missed it if he'd been looking ahead, which only left her guessing as to what had distracted him.

When three full grown Female Cait Sith in Human sized catform leaped out of the hole towards them, and unsheathed their killer claws. She thought here we go again. She had spent the entire summer with no sign of trouble and only one meal with the misfits and here she was. But what did she expect? Kelly darling, she scoffed, you have just gotta face it; these dweebs are a magnet for trouble.

What the heck! Can't these guys stay out trouble for five seconds?

I wonder what this is about? If you're wondering too.

Tune in tomorrow to find out.

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