• Eric


    “What you did today was completely unacceptable, Toby.” I said handing him a bottle of water. We sat on the couch facing the Tv that had a blanket thrown over it. “I know, I’m sorry, it’s just i’ve never been here before. This place is New York right?” Toby asked taking his shoes off and pulling his knees to his small chest. “Yea, it is. And i understand your excitement, but never do that again. We don’t have many rules here in this apartment, but one of them is don’t run off with out letting someone know where you’re going first.” Toby nodded. “So, Toby…” I started. Toby looked at me with his bronze eyes. “Why didn’t you want to stay on the Island?” Toby put his head on his knees, and looked at me sideways. “The Rat, is a mean man.” And thats all he had to say. I patted his back. “Well, we have an extra room. I’m sure Anaya wouldn’t mind you taking it. In exchange you become a house maid.” I said gesturing to the piles of trash everywhere. “Anaya and i suck at keeping the place clean. So we’ve been looking for a live in maid. That will be you.” I bopped Toby on the nose. He smiled. “Of course you’ll still need money from the main house, or do like i and Anaya do get a job here in the real world.” I said casually. “Anaya has a job?” Toby asked seeming surprised. “Yeah, well it’s not one she has to leave the house for. She's a video editor and a photoshop artist and a visual effects artist.” I said, Toby seemed lost. Unlike everyone else Toby isn’t let off the island often, he has no way to get off on his own, and thus is always there with the Rat. This also means he’s a little dumb when it comes to anything modern. “She’ll show you later.” I said. “So what do you say?” I asked. Toby smiled and hugged me tightly. “Thank you!” He gushed. I patted his head. “Yeah, yeah don’t mention it.” I laughed. He let go and we just sat in silence together for a while, i could hear the water running in the bathroom and knew Anaya would be there for a while.

    “Eric i have a question.” Toby said, he was hugging a pillow and stared at the blanket TV. “We cover it because Anaya doesn’t like seeing herself.” I said casually. Toby sat up a little. “What do you mean?” He asked. “Well,” I began and thought about if it was a good idea to try to explain Anaya’s don’t look at me thing. “Is she afraid of her self?” He asked i shook my head. “Anaya just doesn’t like seeing her self, or being seen by other people.” I said scratching my chin. I realized i didn’t even really know why Anaya hid herself the way she does. In fact, I have never seen Anaya’s face. Never. “If you wanna know ask Anaya, she never gives me a straight answer. She jokes and says she's a monster, but i know that’s not it.” I got up and threw the blanket back. “Wanna watch TV?” Toby nodded.

    Toby had never seen The Walking Dead, or the Avengers, or Thor, or Captain America, or honestly anything other than early 90’s shows. I watched him as he got excited, sad, happy, angry along with the Characters on the TV. He loved it. And i was finding it entertaining watching him freak out. I heard the water finally shut off after about an hour. And Anaya came back into he living room wearing a red hoodie, and black shorts. I was reminded of how incredibly fair, Anaya’s skin tone actually was. “Hey Toby’s living with us.” I said tossing her a pack of chips i had hidden in the couch. She tore it open and ate the whole family sized bag. “Fine.” She mumbled. “How’s your head?” Toby asked. I didn’t know Anaya even hurt her head. “I stitched it up, should be fine for now.” She said casually and wondered into the kitchen, kicking a stack of books on her way. When she came back she had an entire cheesecake with her. “You gonna share?” I asked. She shook her head and sat in the love seat with her legs crossed under her and began to eat that to. I sighed and picked up the phone. “Ill order a few pizzas, you two must be starving.” Toby nodded. “Ooo, I’ve heard of pizza, can i have chicken on it?” Toby asked and i swear if he had a tail he’d wag it. I nodded and ended up ordering 3 large pizzas one with pepperoni and chicken, one with sausage, and one with several types of meat and honey Sriracha. Anaya sighed heavily as she placed the empty cake tray on the table. “When will the pizza be here?” She asked licking the fork. “30 minutes.” I said placing the old school house phone on the receiver.
    “I hope you ordered something with vegetables!” Toka Chirped as she hopped out of Anaya’s hoodie. “Toka!” I stumbled as Manson leaped from my finger into his physical form. Slithering across the floor to Toka. His silver scales shimmering in the dim lap light. Manson wrapped himself around Toka and licked her. Toka giggled. “If you want veggies, we got carrots in the fridge.” Anaya said. “Oh wow! I’ve never seen the actually physical forms of the other Zodiacs.” Toby said looking down on Toka and Manson. “Well thats because everyone else stays with the tradition to keep them in pendent form when ever they’re all together formally. They’re not suppose to be out like this.” I explained. “But here we do what we like the place is a mess anyway.” Anaya said as she leaned down to pet Manson. “Really!” Toby said, we nodded. “Alright! Come on Hachiko!” In a flash of shimmering blue light came forth a golden brown Akita like the original Hachiko. “Hello?” Hachiko said tilting his head to the side. “Aww your cute!” Anaya said petting him. “Hello I am Hachiko! Who are you?” Hachi asked. “Im Anaya, and this is Toka.” Anaya held Toka out to Hachiko to sniff. “Pleasure to met you will you be my friends? Can we play!” Hachi asked wagging his tail furiously. “Of course!” Toka said. “And I’m Eric and thats Manson.” I said walking over and lifting Manson’s small Rat-snake body from the ground. “Hellooo, Hachikooo.” Manson said, as he slithered up my arm, shivering. “You cold?” i asked him, he nodded. “Hey Hachiko mind sharing body heat with this cold blooded simpleton?” I asked Hachiko, he barked a little and let Manson slither around his shoulders the three of them lay not he floor chatting and warming each other. “Cute.” Anaya said as she stood up and stretched her arms up, the sleeves of her hoodie fell below her wrists, revealing faint scars that ran criss-cross down her arm disappearing into the rest of her sleeve. She must have felt me looking at her, because she instantly let her arms drop to her side. Even though i couldn’t see her eyes, i knew they where giving me a terrible look. “Hey Eric who is that man?” Toby asked pointing to the TV, A re-run of Thor was playing and it was at the part where Thor was being all tough against his dad. “The characters name is Thor, though the actual man’s name is Chris Hemsworth.” I said, picking up the stack of books Anaya knocked over. “He’s very attractive.” Toby said his eyes widening. “Yes he is.” Anaya agreed she left the room and came back with her laptop. I just shrugged and took my place next to Toby. “Do you think this man is attractive?” Anaya asked after a few minutes, she turned the computer screen to show a picture of Andy Biersack from Black Veil Brides. I heard Toby’s breath catch in his throat. “That… Is a beautiful man.” He whispered, Anaya giggled. They spent 15 minutes doing that, looking at different pictures of men. Arguing on who was more “Sexy.” and who was a total “Bad boy”. It was nice to see Anaya be less of a recluse.

    There was a knock on the door and i handed Toby some money. “Go open the door, give the pizza guy the money.” I said. Toby nodded and did as i said. I waited then i heard the small gasp as Toby opened the door. Anaya scrambled to her feet and i saw her and toby standing with the door wide open.