Chapter 1 - Misunderstood
They'd finally made it to summer. Spring semester was nothing less than a slog to get through. No electives. Only seventeen units worth of core classes and a part time job that often became more than part-time. Still, Lane was thankful both he and Luna had survived long enough to settle into a mostly ordinary life. University courses, a customer service job, and a quiet studio apartment to come home to at the end of a long day. It didn't hurt either that the University of Irvine in sunny Southern California was a stone's throw away from the beach, mountains, and a fist full of national and state parks. There were ample places outside to relax, if Lane ever got the time to do so.
"You need to get out," Lane pleaded as he knocked on the shower door once again. The faucet was going full blast, but that didn't muffle the soft squeals and occasional explosive moan from making their way into the kitchen room. "Luna, please, Becca is gonna be here in ten minutes. We talked about this two days ago-!"
The rushing water cut off abruptly.
The door flew open and a wall of steam hit Lane in the face. Stepping out wrapped in a purple linen towel, Luna licked her fingers and smiled, "Finished. Okay? I'm going. I wouldn't want to intrude on you and your... Girlfriend? This is the volleyball one, right?"
Lane stepped aside to allow Luna room to saunter over to the dresser. She unwrapped the towel and tossed it over her shoulder at Lane. He caught it in his off hand and threw it onto the towel rack before addressing his naked sister determined to take her sweet time to get dressed. She could be a real pain if she wanted to.
"She's a friend. Possibly girlfriend material. Could you hurry up?" Lane replied exasperated. Not necessarily because his sister was deliberately stalling, but he honestly didn't know where things stood with Becca. It was unlike him to leave things so ambiguous in any kind of relationship. For the last two semesters, Lane hadn't been on any supernatural quests or dangerous missions overseas. He had been simply a college undergrad slinging coffee on the side. Becca was a nice classmate, coworker, friend? Life was simple for once, but that surprising lack of otherworldly tension or impending doom left Lane... On edge.
"Here, how's this one?" Luna had stepped into a cowl neck, thigh length, satin slip. At first glance, Lane thought the cowled neck line made it appear as if she were wearing the dress backwards, but there was no back. Wearing it the other way around would have only been slightly more revealing than Luna's typical garb. The marbled green satin hugged her slim, athletic frame, but left just enough to the imagination. Luna gave a quick twirl and threw a mischievous smile at her brother.
"Looks great. Where are you going, exactly?" He asked while stepping from the bedroom through the living space, and back into the kitchen; a whole fifteen feet.
"Bowling," Luna shouted. "Some kind of fundraiser for the National Parks."
"Don't think that's the sort of dress that goes well with socks, or bowling shoes... Or, Bowling," Lane considered while dicing mushrooms.
"I appreciate your concern for my wardrobe. I've got it handled," Luna had followed Lane out into the kitchen holding a pair of black Spanish Heels. She lifted her right leg up and set it gently on the kitchen counter top like a barre, "See? Stockings. Perfectly acceptable bowling attire."
"If you say so. Leave now. Begone," Lane pointed a spatula toward the door.
Luna remained, smiling, raising her leg off the kitchen counter and bringing it around perfectly at a ninety degree angle before bending the knee, and sliding it back to the floor. She'd only trained as a dancer for a year, mostly as cover for one of their misadventures. She still had that same ballet grace. But, Lane kept his focus on adding the finishing touches on the toasted ravioli he'd prepared.
"So," Luna said, leaning over the counter, "You're gonna ask her out then? In the afternoon? In the apartment? Super romantic." She rolled her eyes and leaned back on the counter top.
"I'm cooking an early dinner and we're going to the beach. That's all we have on the agenda today," Lane replied and added the diced mushrooms to the sauce simmering.
"No sex then?" Luna asked with a pout.
"Out," Lane huffed again, a little more forcefully conducting his sister once more with the spatula and unwittingly sent a few flecks of the marinara sauce arcing across the room.
"Oh, no," Luna exclaimed in a mock whine.
Lane's patience was running thin, "What now?"
Luna pointed to nothing in particular on her chest, "You got sauce on my dress. Going to have to change now and it's all your fault. Thanks."
Lane was a hair-trigger away from throwing his sister in the garbage, "Fine, go change! If you want to meet Becca so bad, then you can stick around when she shows up. But you gotta-" Luna had already stripped down in the living room and wandered into the bedroom. Keeping his eyes on the green peppers he shouted, "Get dressed, Ursa Minor!"
"Fine," She chuckled.
Lane could practically hear Luna's eyes rolling to the back of her head. She was in a mood. Unfortunately, Lane was not in a state of mind to do anything about it.
Tapping her brother's shoulder, Luna asked, "I don't know which one goes better with the heels, now that you've ruined my dress. You pick."
Lane spun around and nearly knocked the saucepan over, "Damn it, Luna, what part of, 'Get dressed,' don't you understand?"
Standing in the buff, her honey brown skin shone in the afternoon sun coming through the blinds. She feigned innocence, "Just pick one."
Lane growled, "Black dress, white waist belt, switch to the white heels and put some underwear on for once in your life, please!"
Lane's phone rang on the countertop, nearly vibrating off the edge and onto the floor. He reached out to answer, but Luna was quicker. She answered and stepped back just before Lane could tackle her; "Good Afternoon, Lane's phone, how may I direct your call... Oh, of course, glad you called! One moment please." Luna pressed the mute button while practically jumping up and down with excitement, "You have to take this call."
Ordinarily, Lane would find a way to calm himself and center his mind. Instead he tackled Luna into the couch. She barely resisted, flailing her legs and arms wildly all while happily screaming, "Take the call, take the call, take the call!"
Sitting on his sister's stomach, pinning her on the couch, Lane swiped the phone out of her hand. He took a breath and calmly answered, "Good afternoon?"
Half expecting a crank call or telemarketer, an overly enthusiastic voice answered, "Lane Guster Woods, how are you, bud?"
Lane checked the number. It wasn't logged, but his caller ID App pinged from somewhere way outside Seattle, Washington; "How can I help you?"
"Jude Abidalli, Trillion Pines Youth Camp. I was looking over your resume and wanted to reach out to you. Do you have a minute?" Spoke the giddy voice over the phone.
Lane pressed the mute button, "Luna, what the fuck is Trillion Pines Youth Camp?"
