right here, right now

“Having your parents in town is all fun and games until you run into someone who won’t shut up about that one time you chugged two fucking liters of vodka without passing out. Thanks a bunch, Craig.” 

“Figures.”

“Russo’s is reopening this Friday. First twenty customers get their entire dinner paid for! Just letting you know – I mean… if you don’t have other plans, we’d love to see you there.”

“We’re getting paid for standing out in the sun and advertising, right?”

“Nope. Not thinking about it,” Jaslyn protested, waving a hand dismissively. “I am enjoying my last few weeks of freedom. College talk will have to wait until term actually starts up.”

“Talking about it isn’t taking away your freedom. C’mon, you can’t avoid it forever.”

“Are you gonna stand there with your mouth hanging open or are you gonna help me lift this?”

“I’m strong but I can’t match a wolf’s strength.” 

“Do I want chocolate ice cream or a coffee milkshake? Seriously, I need help.”

“Uh, are you just hungry or are you thirsty and hungry?”

“ Exactly. And if you break things down into technicalities, my mom and I are partially dead in a way sort of just like ghosts. – Wait… so how do you shower? “

“You have a heartbeat though, right? Oh, no, I can shower. Sea serpents need to try to shift in water. I didn’t actually shift until I was six. It took a lot of trying and failing before I ever shifted. Mermaids, on the other hand, shift when they touch water.”

“No, I meant, you personally.  Do you make the pies?  Or do you mostly just eat them?”

“Oh, definitely not. I’m just a waitress. I can’t bake to save my life.”

“Handing out free food is probably not so good for the business. But, now I’m thinking I should become her best friend. After you, of course. Have you guys known eachother for a long time?”

“Our uncle allows it and brings a lot of customers back. Oh, yeah. Our parents were best friends for years before we were born.”

“To be honest, in an ideal world said sister would be like, four years younger for many reasons this being one of them. Because you know, what I really need is a dwarf slave.”

“That would’ve been a lot more handy growing up.”

“ I mean obviously. If dhampirs and sea serpents and werewolves exist but someone draws the line at ghosts? Ignorant as shit. I believe in ghosts. “

“I definitely believe in ghosts. I mean, my parents have told me stories. And.. never met one, definitely, but I also have scales and turn into a snake in water.”

“If you think I cared what’s ‘best for you’, then you have another thing coming. I don’t need to know you and your dumbass to know what you plan to do is illegal, for example. So I don’t need to know you to disapprove of that. Get over yourself.”

“ Did I startle you? “

“Oh, thanks, that’s sweet of you to ask, but I just have to ride it out.”

“Alright. If you’re sure. But if you need anything, I’m right here.”

“Oh. Alright, uh. Is there something you need me to do to help?”

“That was such a sad thing to happen, I hope you guys are back on your feet soon” she offered a sympathtic smile, placing her hand on her heart. “This is like the third time someone mentions this Ella girl, she’s like a popular person around, isn’t she? Sweet–I guess I shall try this famous place. Better live up to the hype.”

“I do too,” She agreed. “Ella? I mean, I guess you could call her popular. Handing out free food will do that for ya. She’s my best friend, so plenty popular in my world.” Rosaline grinned when she agreed to give the diner a try. “Great. You can ask for Rosaline when you finally check it out. She might be able to get a few discounts on the pies.”

– “ I took a ‘Haunted Halifax’ tour last night and this morning i wake up with a scratch on my arm. Coincidence? Ghosts? “

“Well, I think it’s very possible.”