Chapter 4: Getting New Stuff is Fun, Getting New Stuff for Free is Extra Fun

*KELSEY'S POV*

It has not been my morning...

I damn near froze in the shower...yeah...try being the last one in the bathroom when you live in a house with three other women....and by "house" I mean...maybe five walls...not all connected...

Then the sink breaks when I try to wash the breakfast dishes...ugh...great.

...and in case I had forgotten, I am reminded just how broke we are when I go to the junkyard and pilfer through piles of trash looking for anything I might be able to sell.  Yeah, I'm not really in a great mood today.

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*AMY'S POV*

Since Zoey started her work as a self-employed writer, she sold a book and today we got enough money to finish a second room!  Woo-hoo!

It's really sad that I get excited about things like that now...

As excited as I am about our second room, I have also been thinking a lot about that recipe I read about that can make ghosts human again.  I don't even know where to start finding out more information on it...but I feel the need to go out, so I head to the local coffee shop.

This place is called Cafe Express and it's right down the street from our "house"...so I get a cup of coffee, sit at a table, and try to just relax...but I can't stop thinking about Rebecca...I have to make this right...now that I know there is a way...I have to.

Voice: Hey, deep in thought there?

I turn around to see if I can tell where the voice is coming from, but all I see are the guys behind the counter...the baristas?  Baristos?  Who the hell knows...

Amy: Did you say something to me?
Dark Haired Guy: Yeah, you looked like you were thinking really hard about something...

Amy: So you decided it would be a good idea to interrupt me?
D.H.G: You know what they say about an over-contemplated life...
Amy: No, what do they say?
D.H.G: An over contemplated life is a life un-lived.

Amy: Did you see that on a Hallmark card or something?

D.H.G.: Or something...probably from someone just talking out of their ass...but it sounds like good advice.

Amy: *annoyed* Ok, well...when I find someone wanting some advice, I'll make sure and give it to them.

D.H.G: My name's Jessie.

I sigh...am I seriously not going to get out of this without talking to him?  Okay, okay, I get it...I'm kind of being a bitch right now...but still...this guy is getting on my nerves.

But regardless, I walk up to him and give him my nicest smile.

Me: Hey Jessie, my name's Amy.

Jessie: Nice to meet you.  See, that wasn't so hard...
Amy: *smile* Look, I have decided to talk to you, but antagonizing me right now would be a really bad idea.
Jessie: So, what?  Am I lucky?
Amy: Okay, never mind...I'm getting out of here.

Jessie: Wait a minute, I'm sorry...don't leave.  I'll make a deal with you, I'll stop being a dick if you just talk to me...that's all I want...you don't even have to be nice...well, maybe a little nice.
Amy: I'm confused...why do you want to talk to me?
Jessie: You're interesting.

I'm a little uncomfortable at this point...I don't really know how to deal with men that well...and I never know how to act when I think a guy is trying to flirt with me...even if it's in a completely f-ed up way.

Amy: Hmm, well...thanks...I think you're going to be disappointed after you talk to me, but okay.

Jessie: I doubt it.  So tell me, what's on your mind that's got you contemplating it so hard?
Me: You probably wouldn't believe me if I told you.
Jessie: For the sake of continuing this discussion, pretend I would.

Amy: *sigh* Well, I'm just thinking about my sister...she died.

Jessie: Oh shit, I'm sorry...
Amy: Thanks, but that's not the gist of it...she's a ghost now...I took her remains in and she's "here" but she's still a ghost...it's really screwed up, I know.

Jessie: Not really, I've heard a lot about the ghosts and the whole movement to make them leave town.
Amy: Leave town?
Jessie: Yeah...there are some people that don't want them here...they think they'll interfere with tourists, bring in a bad crowd, blah, blah, blah...
Amy: What?  That's crazy...my sister isn't a nuisance to anyone...she just didn't want to die...and if I can turn her human again, I'm going to.

Jessie: Oh wait, I think I've heard about something like that...a recipe or something?

Amy: Yeah...I just read about it, but I don't know anything else about it...I was hoping to find something...somewhere...but I have no idea where to start.

Jessie: Hmm, I know someone that might know.  I could get you in touch with her...if you give me your number...

Amy: *getting excited* Yeah!  Sure!  Wait...this isn't just some plot to get my number is it?

*He gives me a sly, crooked smile*
Jessie: I'll admit that's a plus...but seriously, my friend can help.  I'll get you touch with her.

So I give Jessie my number and hope he's not full of shit.  What else can I do?  This is my only lead.

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*ZOEY'S POV*

Well, we've been in this town for awhile now and we've done nothing but work.  I've written a couple books and I think tonight is the night to cut loose, have a drink and do some dancing.  Unfortunately, the girls are all busy...but I'm not going to let that stop me.  I head to The Pool Club by myself.

I'm naturally pretty shy, and I'm kind of freaked out about trying to get into this club...what if it's restricted?  What if they won't let me in because something is wrong with me?

Yeah, I worry too much...especially since this blonde lady bouncer basically just walks by and doesn't seem to care that I just walked in...okay, fine.  This doesn't say much about the security of this place...

I decide not to think about it and head over to the bar...we have some money right now, so I can buy a drink...which is all I'll need...trust me...

Of course, I could use a drink just watching this bartender make mine...he spills more on the floor than he put in my glass...then he drops the glass and breaks it...

His name is Cletus and it's his first night...
Ha!  Their fault for hiring a bartender named Cletus...how good did they think he would be?

Either way, I finally get my drink, swallow it down and then get to what I really came here for...

Even though I tend to be kind of shy around people, I love dancing.  I can just close my eyes, move to the music, and forget about all the people that surround me.

With all that we've been going through lately, I really need this.

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*REBECCA'S POV*

Remember that stinky, craptastic couch?  Well, we were finally able to save up enough money to restore it, and look at it now!  Isn't it gorgeous?  It's the first piece of furniture we have gotten that wasn't absolutely necessary, so I'm pretty excited.

I have a confession to make...I have a seriously dangerous shopping problem.  Back home when I was in high school, any money I ever got would be spent on clothes, shoes, perfumes, makeup, anything.  When some people have a bad day, they take their mind off of it by doing something relaxing like reading or dancing (Zoey), going home and eating a tub of ice cream (Amy), punching something or making out with something (Kelsey), or drinking (all of us...when we have money).  When I have a bad day, I want to shop...buy myself a little something to make me feel better.

Unfortunately, we have been too broke to buy anything...which is really bumming me out...

But...I have found a light at the end of the tunnel...well, I don't know if I would necessarily call it that, but lately, I have really been getting into going to the junkyard and looking for stuff...it's like buying, but it's free! I can just see something I might want, and take it home...I don't have to buy anything!  How awesome is that?

Okay, so the crap I get is usually dirty and broken, but what can you do?  I have to try to make the best of it.

Also, there's a small junkyard close to our house, but I just found this one that's a lot bigger and has a big building on it.  I can't imagine what all is in there.

  

Just look what I found tonight...a dishwasher!  Eeeeek!  I'm really excited about this find...because Kelsey and I both hate doing dishes, so usually Amy and Zoey get stuck with them...so they will love this.

I even enjoy digging through the piles of scrap to get stuff together to sell...I guess I just like finding diamonds in the rough...or whatever.

After I get done at the junkyard, I head to this little hole-in-the-wall sports bar called Whistler's.  I've been studying up on my bartendering and I think I've developed some mad skills, so I'm going to see if the bartender would hire me every now and then.  I'm sure this won't be a problem, since I am very good at persuading people.

Bartender: Can I help you, miss?
Rebecca: Actually, I'm hoping I can help you.  I was wondering if you need any extra help...I've got a little experience...
Bartender: Hmm, yeah, sure.  Have at it.  I'll see how you do...if you screw up to much, you have to go though.

Wow, that was easy.  So I start tonight.  Awesome!  Maybe I can make some great tips this way.

It's a pretty slow night, but Bill and his roommate did come in for a few drinks, so we talked and laughed until the bar closed...and I made decent tips.

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*KELSEY'S POV*

The next morning is thankfully better...

Zoey and I are talking and we have made a good amount of money this week, so we decide to make a few extravagant purchases.

We buy a TV...it's extremely cheap and it keeps going out, but it's better than the big bunch of nothing we've had to do on this lot before.

And we spring and buy Rebecca a guitar of her own.

Which is for our benefit as well because now she can play for tips and doesn't have to worry about whether or not there is a guitar there.  

Also, Amy and I check out the new junkyard Rebecca found and it has all this crap in it we can use...

It has a computer and a chess table...which we both need.  Amy likes hacking here better because she says she feels dirty hacking at the library...at least here the whole place is dirty, so she's not alone.

Speaking of dirty, the whore found something extra special there one night...this guy...

She didn't get a whole lot of hacking done that night.

Amy: Shut your face, skank!
Kelsey: Whore!
Amy: Bitch!
Kelsey: Cunt!
Amy: Slut!

Kelsey: Hooker!
Amy: Floozy!

Kelsey: Floozy?  Were you born in the 1950's?

Amy: Fuck you.
Kelsey: Nah, I'm good bro.

Amy: You are so weird.
Zoey: Am I going to have to seperate you two?
Amy: She started it.
Kelsey: Please, you were born first slut-bag.
Amy: Kiss my ass scrotum breath.

Kelsey: Wow, scrotum breath?  That's a new one...
Amy: I know, right?  I just came up with...
Rebecca: SHUT THE FUCK UP!

O-kay, geez...anyway...

The last thing we get to build is another room!  It's going to be the kitchen!