Twice Awakened

Chapter 9

Walking into the restaurant I noticed outside tables that had grass roofs and cute wooden tables with matching chairs. It had an upbeat vibe and at the same time seemed so comfy.

“Hey Alex how’s business going?” The man behind the counter asked.

“Pretty good, five yards this week and seven next week.” the man nodded with a “not to bad” look.

“Outside table as usual?” Alex turned to me to make sure I was okay with it. I nodded with a smile.

“Yep and can you bring out those bomb nachos and cheese for an appetizer?” The smiled and nodded. Leading us to our table.

“What would you like to drink?” Alex looked at the menu that was stylishly set on the table.”

“I’ll have an iced tea. Anya?”

“Sweet tea, please.” I smiled at the man. He nodded and went on his way.

“So, did you want to go over your ideas?” Alex said breaking the silence. I chuckled and reached into my bag pulling out the papers I had drawn everything on. “Well right off the bat I can tell you with beautiful wood furniture you want to go to Tanasta’s. He is wonderful at woodworking, has a wide selection, and his handy work is one of a kind.” he pointed to the different items I had in each room. “For mattresses, curtains, and fabric items that feel like a cloud Minicelli’s” I nodded taking everything in. “Cookware, appliances, utensils, and other kitchen items we can go to Anita’s.” As he said that, the gentleman returned with our drink’s and a huge platter of nachos and cheese that smelled divine.

“Tortilla chips were freshly made an hour ago, of course our signature five cheese nacho cheese, and sides of jalapenos, sausage, roasted bell peppers, and salsa.” Alex smiled as we shifted the papers to the side and began digging into the nachos. It was heaven in nacho form.

“So, what made you uproot here to Titant?” Alex said in between mouthfuls of nachos. Pausing for a moment, I took in a deep breath, and started biting the corner of my lip. Noticing the shift in my mood, Alex stopped mid ways and c****d his head slightly to the left.

“I decided to move here from Lolip, my birth town. My parents were killed six months ago after a mission. I was ridiculed, mistreated, and outlasted by my peers. I wanted to escape that pain.” I half expected him to just get up and leave, say something foul, or look at me as if I had some deadly disease.

“Well they are absolutely idiotic. You seem like a real sweetheart. You seem very smart, a problem solver, and you’d go out of your way to help someone.” He took a napkin and wiped his mouth. “Some people really piss me off. You lost your world and they treated you like that?” He shook his head. Seeing the anger in his eyes, I tried to change the subject.

“H..How long have you been here in Titant?” I grabbed a nacho trying to shift the mood.

“All my life, I love it here. The beaches, the sound of the waves, and the people here are wonderful."

"Well with the five people I have met four have been absolutely amazing. The fifth was just a stick in the mud and seemed to hate his job." Alex looked at me puzzled.

"Who was the stick in the mud?" He looked at me puzzled.

"The Titant Clerk." Alex busted out laughing.

"That guy defiantly needs to get a hobby or get laid. He definitely is a stick in the mud." I giggled at his spark of enthusiasm. At least I had a friend my age now. "Well, I'll take you to some parties around here. That way you can meet people around your age and see what Titant holds." He smiled and his facial expression changed to a slight pout. "That is if YOU want to."

" I would love that. If they are anything like you, I believe I will have a whole lot of friends." I chuckled. Alex wobbled his head in a cocky manner causing me to laugh again.

“Well, I’ll pay the bill and we can go to Tanasta’s and take a look around. They deliver too so no truck needed.” He smiled. I grabbed my plans and I followed closely behind him as we went to pay the bill. Grabbing a brochure to add into my special drawer in the kitchen, for my favorite restaurants, tucking it neatly away. Alex, had stepped away as I pulled out a twenty and handed it to the gentleman for a tip. He seemed shocked but gladly took it. I walked to Alex’s car and glanced back ‘Bubbling Tikis’ was the name displayed in some funky letters. I smiled and slid into the car. Alex talked about the city on the short drive to Minicelli’s. Talking about the piers, beach sports, best food stands, and different businesses around the beaches.

“Hmmmm, maybe I should open up a candy store across from my house.” I pondered the idea. Thinking of possibilities and all the permits and land needed.

“If you have the money to purchase the lot across from you and then build the store. I will help you set up and be your number one customer, especially if you sell saltwater taffy.” Alex interjected.

“Sounds like I’ll be getting in touch with a few real estate agents.” I liked the idea of making my own money with my own business. Pulling into a lot with different lumbers to the side a large garage looking store laid in front of us. I could see beautiful, hand carved bed frames, tables, and so much more.

“You ready to go in?” He asked calmly looking at me.

“From what I can see, this is going to be amazing! Let’s go!” I smiled with excitement. Opon walking in I saw a beautiful beach colored wood frame, it had shells, starfish, sand dollars, and a few other things carved elegantly into it’s side rails. The head board had dolphins, whales, and even water horses dancing across waves with the foot board carved to match waves at their peak before they crashed. “I want this one for my room.” I had my eyes locked on this magnificent frame, I hardly heard the man standing in front of me before Alex nudged me.

“Well at least I can see someone enjoys true art.” The man was masculine, with arms that could easily throw the lumber I had seen outside. “ Are you interested in purchasing it?”

“This is truly magnificent, I would love to purchase this and quite a bit of other things.” With my statement Alex and the man looked at one another, they seemed to be shocked that an eighteen year old newcomer had money not only to buy the five thousand dollar frame but to purchase a good bit more.

“Well, what are you looking for? Maybe I could help find just the right pieces you are looking for.” He said with a new fire. I pulled out my plans of the house, every note we went over he seemed to find the perfect pieces. One was a coffee table, the base was a scene with a lighthouse on a cliff, it’s light shining over the ocean, which was carved to look as if it had crashed into the cliff, it was truly beautiful. The dining table was the trickiest to pinpoint as it was a more neutral room. He led me to an elegant table, lighthouses carved into the legs. It was long and sturdy but beautiful. The chairs matched with the tops of the lighthouses that had different rods that signified the light beaming from it. He wrote everything down. I even found a breadbox and potato bin for my kitchen.

“Ok, is that everything?” We double checked every piece. He noticed two pieces we had overlooked. “ We have two rocking chairs that I just made not yet out on the floor. I could bring them out if you like to see if they are something that you’d like.” I nodded feeling confident with all the items we had found. He brought out the rocking chairs that were a beautiful grayish wood. The backs had different wands, and books. Thinking back on when I first met Granny Edna she was reading and being a witch witch it fit her perfectly.

“I’ll take them both!” Running my hands over the designs.

“Ok and is this going to be delivery?”

“Yes please.”

“Alright, let’s get this totaled so you can enjoy them in your home.” He seemed hesitant at first, as if I wasn’t going to be able to pay for it. “The grand total is $93,548”

“Do you take card?” I asked sweetly

“Absolutely.” He c****d an eyebrow and pulled the reader in front of me. Pulling out my wallet and grabbing my card I swiped. ‘ACCEPTED’ flashed on the screen. Alex and the man’s mouths were agape with the shock. “Here’s your receipt. When would you like the delivery? We deliver all the way up to ten o’clock.” I glanced at Alex for help on this decision.

“I’ll call up some of the guys and we can help you get them where they need to be in your house.” He reassured me I wasn’t alone on this.” Can you deliver today?”

“It’ll take about two hours to load everything and we can deliver about four o’clock. What’s your address hun?”

“ Two four nine Ocean Way” I smiled, filled with excitement. Alex was on his phone sending out messages, asking for help. Turning to Alex “If it helps any I can order pizza, drinks, and wings.” Alex nodded with a huge smile, apparently food persuades him.

“Seven replies of yes and we are set for five o’clock.” He seemed to glow with that. “Now off to Micilli’s and Anita’s. They are next door to one another and also deliver.” I nodded with excitement. It was a short drive around the bend. They were just as amazing as Tanasta’s. Showing each the plans we set out matching everything on it. Appliances, curtains, comforter sets, mattresses, everything was found. I even found a beautiful Jacuzzi. All set for six and seven o’clock deliveries. Spending another 154,765 dollars Alex was truly amazed at the money I had. On our way back to the car Alex seemed to be in deep thought.

“Anya, I know this is none of my business, but are you rich or something?”

“My parents made sure I was very well taken care of.” I said sadly wishing I could have them instead of the money. “The purchases today which include the house didn’t even dent the account I have.” Alex looked shocked by my last comment but seeing it had depressed me, he poked my side causing me to jump and giggle.

“Hey no frownies in this car. I got your back Anya. You may have just met me but I forsee us having an amazing friendship.” He smiled at me “ BFF’s forever.” He said in a squeaky, feminine voice while flicking his hand causing me to burst out in laughter. “ Do not tell Derek I did that,” he snickered” He would kick my ass.” We both busted out in laughter. Now to head home and order pizza, wings, and drinks and start to final process of making the house my own. 

“Where should I order everything, food wise?” I looked at Alex. I thought for a minute.

“ Call Abigail’s, they make everything from scratch, farm raise all the meat used, and have a garden for the freshest sauce and toppings. “ He stated with a hungry expression on his face.

Pulling out my phone I noticed I missed 2 texts from Liz.

“I am so glad you found a new friend. ‘ was the first message “PS tell him I’ll cut off his balls if he tries any funny business.” was the second. Chuckling to myself I began looking up Abigail's pizzeria and called the number given

“Thank you for calling Abigails’s pizzeria, how may I help you?” A woman on the other side chirped with a peppy tone.

“I would like to order ten pizzas, Eight large fries, five pounds of wings, and si….uh… make that ten two l****s as well.”

“Ok, that will be nintey three dollars and sixteen cents. Would you like to pay over the phone or in person?”

“Over the phone please.”

“Alright I am ready when you are.” Giving her the numbers of my card she punched them in swiftly. “Whats your address hun?” I gave her my address and was told to expect the pizzas in about fifteen minutes. Thanking her I hung up right as we pulled in.

“Fifteen minutes and everything will be here.” Alex’s tummy growl seemed excited with the sound of food. I glanced at the time. “ Four thirty..hmmm… pizza should be here at four forty five and the first delivery at five. That’s excellent timing.” I had Alex park in the yard to leave room for the delivery trucks to pull in and back up as close as they could to the front door. Getting out of the car I stood staring at the front of the house, arms folded, in a puzzled thought. I was thinking about using stone or pavers to make a little barbecue area. I picked out two beautiful, rectangular tables with umbrellas and matching chairs . Alex seeing me lost in thought stood beside me, trying to think of what could possibly be going through my mind.

“Everything ok?” He asked , letting curiosity get the better of him.

“Yeah just thinking about getting pavers or stone and creating a little barbecue area.” Alex made the “Ah’ face and went back to looking at where I had been.

“Well, if you do stone here, you could make an outline with the pavers. If you have a decent sized grill the pavers are smooth and flat versus possibly wavy stones to sit it on.”

“Very good point BFF.” I glanced sideways with a giggle, causing Alex to chuckle. As we stood there, a cool caressing breeze blew. Watching the grass dance and sway with it. Just as I smiled that addictive scent hit me. The smell of clove and cinnamon, this time it was stronger, more intense. My body tensed as I spun trying to locate the scent. Pleading that this time I would find who it was coming from. Just as before, the wind died down and I lost it. I sighed deeply. Feeling defeated once again.

“Anya?” I felt Alex’s hand on my shoulder. “What’s wrong? Is there danger near?”

“No it’s a scent that I keep catching. When I think I am close to finding where it’s coming from, it disappears.” feeling my shoulders slump Alex saw the sorrow that woe me. He spun me to where I was face to face with him. Putting his hands on my shoulders.

“All in good time you will find it. Chin up Anya! You got to stay positive.” Alex shook my shoulders causing me to wiggle. In turn making me giggle. As he pat my shoulder we heard a few car honks. Alex’s friends and the pizzeria driver had shown up. “Now this is a party.” Alex wiggled his eyebrows at the food.