Zuri, Abby, Strips ~ Private

[petdr89]

Abby wasn't paying much attention while the cashier was ringing up the items, told Zuri the cost, and then Zuri paid; her eyes just drifted around the room, looking at the shelves and other people. Then when all the items were bagged and Zuri grabbed them, she looked toward him again and followed him out.

"Why thank you, kind sir." She bowed her head as she walked past Zuri, who was holding the door. Once outside, she stretched her wings in preparation for flight.

[zash]

As Zuri stepped outside he did the same as Abby; he prepared himself for the flight home. He put all the bags in a safe position. He stretched out his wings and prepared to take off. "Alright then. Off to Strips' house where you should probably rest up. We can listen to the new CD and lay around or watch TV, which ever, but you should sit back until you feel better or know whats up." Zuri was pretty much telling Abby what she should do. He wasn't sure if she'd actually do it or not but he hoped she would. "So lets go then." Zuri smiled at Abby and gave a nudge with his head and he took off into the sky.

[petdr89]

Abby smiled, "Yeah, alright." She would probably be forced to 'rest up', honestly; there wasn't much to do back at the house rather than sit around and watch TV. Of course, she did want to cook Zuri and Strips a nice meal, now that everything had cooled down between them.

Which reminded her; there was still that tournament tomorrow. Now that everything was okay between her and Zuri, she didn't want to fight him tomorrow; she had no reason to anymore. She didn't want Zuri and Strips fighting each other either, and didn't understand what they had to prove between them. To her, they both seemed strong and able to fight, so did they have to prove it to each other? Of course, she really couldn't stop them. But, maybe she would go down there tomorrow and tell the people running the tournament that she was dropping out, and then she'd stick around and watch.

Smiling first, she flapped her wings and took off into the air, headed back to Strips's house.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jaz had already left; Strips had gotten in some good practice while he was there. Strips had also taken a shower while Zuri and Abby were gone. And hey! He had a shirt on this time! And some blue jeans.

[zash]

Zuri just kept flying and turning back to look at Abby with a smile. Eventually they got to the house and Zuri opened the door. He walked in and said "Hey Strips we're back. We got a new CD while we were out." Zuri set down the stuff near the door and pulled out the sweatshirt he got Abby, which she apparently didn't notice that he got her. "Oh, and here you go Abby, I went ahead and got it for you." Zuri smiled as he faced Abby and had the sweatshirt held out.

[petdr89]

Abby followed closely behind Zuri, landing when he landed, and walking inside right after him.

Strips was sitting on the couch watching the TV. Like I said, there wasn't much else to do in the house. At first, he didn't pay Abby and Zuri much attention. He merely muttered, "Good for you," at Zuri's statement. Then, when Zuri said he had something for Abby, his ears perked and he looked over at them. He scowled, narrowing his eyes. It seemed they were back on good terms; he didn't like it. And of course Zuri had to give Abby a gift right in front of him; he felt like Zuri was rubbing his nose in the fact that he and Abby were buddy-buddy again.

Abby grinned with delight, wagging her tail happily. "Awww! You shouldn't have!," she squealed. "But I'm glad you did," she added, taking the sweatshirt in her arms. She kissed Zuri on the cheek before looking at him bright-eyed.

Strips narrowed his eyes more, snorting in disdain, before he looked back at the TV without saying anything.

[zash]

If only Zuri would of seen, he would of been laughing so hard internally that you'd be able to hear it echoeing in his chest. But for now Zuri just gave a big grin and stared at Abby all happy and bright eyed. "Awww, your welcome Abby. It's nothin really." Zuri just continued to smile. Now what to do? With Strips staring at them, he couldn't move nicely, plus he wanted to give Abby a hug but that would be awkward as well. "Well I'm gonna go change then." Zuri gave Abby one last smile before picked up his bags and headed for the bathroom.

[petdr89]

Abby returned Zuri's smile, "Alright." She watched him all the way down the hallway until he was in the bathroom, and then looked at Strips.

Strips was giving the TV a death glare, trying his best to ignore Abby and Zuri. "So I take it you two are friends again?" He asked, trying to make his voice sound uninterested.

Abby continued to smile, looking very much like a little kid. "Yeah, I guess we are." She gave a happy sigh as her eye rolled upward; she looked rather gleeful. She snapped out of it though, and looked back at Strips. "And I was thinking I'd cook you both a hot meal."

"Good luck findin' anything; all we got were easy to cook stuff."

"Well then, I'll make you Macaroni and Cheese and hotdogs," Abby replied, turning and walking into the kitchen.

[zash]

Zuri walked into the bathroom. He took off his old stinky clothes and decided to take another quick shower, that way he was all nice and clean and wearing clean clothes. When he was done scrubbing down in the bathroom and stepped out and dried off. Zuri realized he hadn't brushed his teeth in a while and his breath probably reaked. So he found some mouth wash from who know when, it could be knew or not. But Zuri poured some of it into the cap and then threw it into his mouth. He swished it around for about a minute and spit it out and rinsed out his mouth with water. Either way it burned like crazy. When Zuri was done with that he finished drying off and then pulled off all the tags to his knew pants, shirt, and sweatshirt. He then put it all on and looked at himself in the mirror, he looked nice. "Haha, that is pretty cool. I really like this shirt and these pants and this sweatshirt." It all did look really well together. Zuri then put his old clothes in one bag and then grabbed the bag of clean clothes and walked out and just put them at the end of the hall, he really didn't have anywhere else to put them so he just put them there. He then started for the living room.

[petdr89]

While Zuri was in the shower and changing clothes and whatnot, Abby was in the kitchen making Mac-n-cheese. She had two pots on the stove, one for the noodles, and the other for the hotdogs. This was a pretty simple meal to make, simpler than she would have liked, but she still hoped the guys would appreciate it.

"Is there anything I can help you with?" Strips had walked into the kitchen; he had his fingers inter-locked behind his back, looking like he was uncomfortable.

"Uh, no, I think I'm just about done here, unless you want to set out some plates and forks." Strips had startled Abby slightly, but it didn't show.

And, Strips nodded his head once and did what he was asked. He set the forks, plates, and glasses on the counter. Well, he set two plates, two forks, and three glasses on the counter. That way everyone, mostly he and Zuri, could grab their food and eat in the living room.

It was six in the evening now, the perfect time to be eating dinner.

[zash]

When Zuri got out he could smell the well smell of the food cooking. "Mmmmm." Zuri said as he licked his lips. "Smells like, mmmmm mac and cheese, and something else." If the hot dogs were being cooked over a fire he could tell what they were but they were being boiled so he couldn't. He walked into the living room to find it empty with the TV on. "Hmm." He then walked into the kitchen to find Strips setting the table and Abby cooking. "Mmm, smells pretty good. Whatchya makin there Abby?" Zuri asked as he took in a big whiff.

[petdr89]

Abby greeted Zuri with a smile. "Macaroni and Cheese and hotdogs," she replied. "And, it's done, or will be as soon as he stir in the cheese. Here Strips, stir." She handed Strips the large wooden spoon while she drained the water from the pot of hotdogs. She made three hotdogs for each guy, six total; in addition to two boxes of Mac-n-Cheese. She wasn't sure how hunger they were, but she wanted to make sure she had cooked enough, and if she hadn't cooked enough there was something seriously wrong with those boys.

Strips raised an eyebrow, but took the spoon and stirred in the cheese real well.

"Okay, we're all ready. Dig in, boys."

[zash]

"Alright." Zuri had already grabbed his plate and had slid by everyone. He would of let Strips go first but he had to stir in the cheese and was to slow. Zuri went over and just grabbed two buns and then two hot dogs. He then walked over and made sure all the condements were out and he made his hot dogs first. He had ketchup, mustard, some cheese, and relish. It was good. After that he walked over and got some mac & cheese and sat the plate down on the table, then walked back over with his glass and filled it about a 1/4 way up and then filled the rest up with some soda and walked back over to the table. He wasn't entirely sure where to go so he figured he'd wait just a sec while everyone else got done, well Strips.

[petdr89]

Strips stood back while Zuri was getting his food, afraid he might get mowed down if he didn't move. But after Zuri had moved out of his way, Strips grabbed a fork and a plate. He filled his plate with the Mac-n-cheese and took half of the hotdogs. He was pretty hungry and had every intention of eating it all. After his plate was full, he thought about grabbing a beer, but then decided against it. With the tournament being tomorrow, he didn't want to take any chances. So, like Zuri, he filled his glass with soda. Zuri was just standing there, so he walked past him into the living room, sitting down on the couch.

Abby waited for both guys to get done getting their food before she did anything, and all she did was grab the remaining glass and also fill it with soda. The wine was tempting because she needed the blood, but after the last time she wasn't sure it was a good idea. "Shall we sit?" She asked Zuri.

[zash]

"Uh, yeah. Lets go into the living room and relax and watch some TV." Zuri then just walked into the living room and sat on the couch. He sat near an arm and put his drink down on a table. He then started at the mac & cheese. It was good, it was real good. "Oh, man. This is really good." Zuri said as he swallowed and took a bite of his hot dog. It may of been a simple meal but dang, after eating berries in the woods and just snack food, it was really good. Even though he did have a nice breakfast, it wasn't as good as a nice dinner. "Thanks Abby." Zuri was really getting into his meal. He then looked up at the TV to see what was on. He wasn't entirely sure what Strips had been watching, or if he was even watching anything at the moment.

[petdr89]

Strips was sitting at the other end of the couch, leaving Abby to sit in the middle. Don't tell Strips, but she was sitting closer to Zuri than she was to him. Strips was practically inhaling his food; he wasn't even chewing the Mac-c-cheese, he was swallowing it whole. He used the end of his hotdogs to scoop up the extra cheese on his plate. "S'is 'eally good," he said with a full mouth.

As far as the TV went, Strips didn't even know what he was watching. It was some weird show that had come on while everyone was busy, and he had no idea what was going on. The remote was laying beside him, so he curled his tail around it, lifted it up, and placed it on Abby's leg.

"Erm, thanks," Abby said, looking at the remote. She didn't really know what was on, but she took it anyway and flipped through the channels. She stopped on The Reaper, thinking it looked interesting, though she had never seen it before. "This work for you guys?"