Marblebay-Chapter Three

I awoke to a loud clang of pans.  As my eyes slowly opened, I saw Rusty banging a pot and a skillet together.

"I could not find an alarm clock to set for four in the morning. This was an equal compromise.  Todays schedule is as follows.  First, we eat.  Then we go to Marblebay and teach you some lessons." Rusty called out, half laughing as if he was enjoying himself.

I groaned.

With that he did his professional move, leaving.

I decided to slowly crawl out of bed after I had a long argument with myself in my head about Rusty.  As my feet touched the cold hardwood floor, I jumped back a little.  But, I slowly made my way to Mugsly and shook the pug gently awake.  Mugsly gave the same look as I was feeling, "It is early."  I spent a little time with Mugsly and finally I fed her so I could go get dressed for the day.  I groaned as I looked at my new wadrobe.  I did not want to get out of my comfy pjs.  A loud knock at the door startled me.

"It has been an hour.  What is keeping you?" Rusty called.

"I wanted to actually wake up.  Like, mentally.  I also wanted to have some time with Mugsly.  You are not the boss of me.  You are only my teacher, protector and so-called friend." I crabbed at him.

I heard him walk away.  I picked out the dark green sporting jacket, and then groaned at the black tshirts and black leather pants.  I did not mind the hunting boots.  They are absolutely gorgeous.  Shiny black leather with fancy shoe laces.  The insides of the boots were luckily padded.  Knock, knock, knock!  I jumped and hit my head on the clothes bar in my closet.

"Hurry up.  Your cereal is going to go for a swim in milk soon without you." Rusty called, clearly enjoying himself a little too much.

After some noise, I saw a note slide underneath my door. I laid the clothes on my bed and put the boots at the foot of the bed and slowly headed over to the note.  When I grabbed the note, I heard him walk away.

The note read "Dear Miss Pient, you have a lot to learn being a young fighter.  Me, Rusty, your keeper friend, would like to get to know you over lunch and icecream when we are done with your lessons at Marblebay.  With care, Rusty."

Well, at least the boy tries.  He sure acts like a boy, anyway.  1596 was it?  Yeah, 1596, my thoughts pounded.  He is an old man.  Over a century.  My head hurt from hitting the clothes bar in my closet.

I opened my door and headed to the bathroom to start my shower.  Mugsly trailed along.  I heard Rusty conversing with my dad and smiled.  My dad has been lonely and even a weirdo like Rusty can help!

When I was done with my shower, I found another note underneath the door.

The note simply read "Hurry up."

The new clothes made me look different.  I put my knee-length hair in a ponytail and felt satisfied.  I did not look as ugly as I thought in this.

Bang, bang, bang!  Knock, knock, knock!

"It is 6 oclock!  Want to wake at 3 tomorrow?" Rusty screamed.

I headed out and gave him another hard slap.

"Still slap like a girl." Rusty called.  

I brushed past him and headed to the kitchen, calling "Did my cereal go for a swim yet?"

"No." Rusty stated.

After eating some Honey Bunches, Rusty drove us in my dad's slim limousine to Marblebay.  The whole way I complained about taking the limo, stating that my small car would be better.  He just kept repeating something about having to stay cool.

We pulled into a bumpy driveway next to the cemetary.  It led to a black parking lot surrounded by trees and autumn colors.

"This way." Rusty said, trying out a British accent.

"Ha-ha.  Very funny." I complained.

Rusty declared "It is only about 7:30.  Get used to it."

I glanced around.  Just asphalt trails leading to God knows where.

Rusty said "Today, you are lucky.  Your first lesson is just learning how to ride a horse."

My heart leaped with happiness.  All my child dreams are coming true.  I used to ride horses when I was very young.

"Glad you think that.  You will need horse riding skills to develop relationships with animals and also to travel faster to where you need to go in Marblebay. After, we will get to know each other better over icecream." Rusty explained.

Finally, Rusty is doing something up my alley.

Clip-clop, clip-clop.  2 black horses came out of a tree.

One neighed "I am Misty. I am not just a normal horse.  I am a shadow horse.  I am your new friend.  Nice to meet you, Mrs. Pient."

I went over and pushed Misty's hair out of her face.

"Get on." Rusty bossed me.

After getting on, I lost time sucking in the beauty of the woods and nature.  Riding horseback was always so peaceful to me.

"Time to head back now.  Before we get company.  Has been half an hour.  8 oclock.  My favorite icecream shop opens at 9.  Let us go." Rusty declared before letting his horse trot.

I trotted up to him in no time.  After seeing a silhouette of a man in the distance on the trails, I drew closer to Rusty.  Something about the silhouette gave me goosebumps.  I muttered something to Rusty about this.  He just halted, making me almost crack into him with Misty.  Misty neighed in annoyance.  Rusty pulled out a tiny door key chain and threw it.  At first I thought what good is that going to do, but then a portal opened and I understood.  

As we dismounted by my dad's limo, I had a hard time saying good bye to Misty.  She also had a hard time saying bye.  She reluctantly went with her friend back in the tree they came from.  I quickly got in the limo, no longer feeling safe.  Rusty was already in, smoothing back his long black locks and putting his detective hat on.  He, then, sped off.  I am glad no cops caught him speeding in my dad's limo.  My dad does not need anymore stress, he got enough with his photo company.

About an hour later, we made it to a mall.  I never personally been to this mall before.  Friends that are no longer friends have talked about it.  Rusty just got out and started walking to the doors of the mall.  I got out and followed.  He seemed awfully silent for Rusty. 

When we finally sat down with our icecream cones, he asked me "What do you do in your free time?"

"I write stories, craft, sew, go to church, and listen to music.  You?" I answered.

"I have been preparing for you."

That made me feel guilty and unfortunately a long silent followed.

"I know everything about you.  A little about me...hmmm...I like to listen to music as well.  I am not that religious, but believe in God, if that makes sense.  I carve cool, interesting designs into wood, make totem poles, and I also build out of wood.  Hmmm...let me see...I write jokes in a journal."  Rusty said, breaking the silence.

"I write about unicorns and rainbows." I said trying to crack a joke because, truthfully, I want to be Rusty's friend. 

I may not always show I want to be his friend, but I want to be.  That joke worked.  He let out his hyena laugh.  Everyone in the restaurant gazed us down like we were zoo animals.