Page 19 of The Nowhere Witch

“Fine. That one was my fault. I didn’t mean to startle you with a couch. I won’t take the cocoa back.”

It appeared a few feet away from me and was staring at the couch, as if it wanted it gone.

“I need furniture. I’m a person.”

Its ears went back and a little puff of dust went up.

“If we’re going to be living together, I’m sure there are things you would like that I could do for you—like maybe a blanket and little bed of your own? That sounds nice, right?”

The bunny sat up on its hind legs, one ear going up as if it knew what I was saying.

“I could do these things for you, if maybe you could limit the amount of dust you put out just because I need furniture?”

Ear went down and then back, flat against its head. It disappeared. A second later, there was a huge dust cloud in front of me.

“We’re going to have to come to a compromise.”

More dust clouds. This place was going to look like the Dust Bowl again soon. Hopefully the bunny would calm down by the time my shift was over.

I grabbed my bag. “You just remember that they don’t serve dust bunnies cocoa before you get out of hand.”

It didn’t respond, but it also didn’t puff up any more dust.

I patted the dust off my jacket as I headed out. Zark’s was across town from here, but the extra time in the fifth wind might be a good thing today.

The sun was setting, but it was still light enough to see the alternating nods and sneers as I made my way down the street. Eventually this would feel normal, as all things did, but it might take a tad longer than my typical adjustment period. I’d had no idea that I’d be such a polarizing person when I came back, not that it made me want to go jump in any puddles. I’d get used to the sneers, and they’d adjust to the fact that I wasn’t leaving. But perhaps I’d stay to the main roads until a little more adjusting had been done.

I was so busy staring down the alleys I was avoiding that I ran right into a brick wall. Or Oscar, to put a name to him.

“Sorry. Didn’t see you there.”

“Yeah, I noticed you were preoccupied.” He glanced down the alley himself, as if expecting to see a monster. “Something down there?”

“No. Just a shadow.”

“Heading to work?” he asked as he fell into step with me.

“Yep. Thanks again for that. I owe you one.” I owed him big. Without him, I wasn’t sure anyone would’ve hired me, ever. Hawk had some serious pull in this place, even with the people who didn’t like him.

“Not a problem.” He was smiling a little too wide.

Was this a “stick it to your friend”-type deal? Was that why he was helping me stay? Didn’t matter. Him sticking it to Hawk definitely helped me.

“Where were you heading?” I asked.

“Just happen to have some affairs that need to be handled down this way.”

He didn’t offer any more details, and I didn’t press, not wanting to scare off my only jovial company. The amount of sneers heading my way this last leg of the journey was astounding. People didn’t always cross the street for Oscar, but they didn’t exactly get in his way, either, and I was enjoying the sneer buffer.

“Okay, well, I’ll be off. Things to do and other debts to collect.”

Zark’s was only a few doors down as Oscar nodded and continued along. It might’ve been a coincidence, or had Oscar purposely walked me to work? I glance around, wondering if other people might’ve gotten the same impression. Would they all think I’d wanted protection? Well, Ihadliked it, but would they know? Or worse, would they think I sought it out? That wouldn’t do at all. I’d leave fifteen minutes earlier tomorrow, just in case. I’d rather take a beating than look like I was afraid of them.

I walked into Zark’s, and the place was busier than I’d ever seen. They all turned and looked at me nearly at the same time. At least here there was a room full of nods.

“Ah, Tippi, my dear!” Zark was waiting by the bar beside a young man with sandy-brown hair and big hazel eyes. I was pretty sure I recognized him from being out and about and not from getting sneered at. “This is Gregor, my son. It’s been so busy in here lately that I figured he could help you out when you work.”

Gregor smiled. I tried to smile back even as the truth hit me. That was it. Gregor was proof. I was here for the crowds. I was afakebartender.

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