he let me set fire to a fleet of ships when no-one else would

[Pippi]

((Katie Agustien continued from Flames on the Blue))

As far as she could tell, the park was empty. Still, she needed to be absolutely certain of that. She looked around herself, making sure there was nobody in eyeshot, earshot, not a soul she could see or that could see her. She looked up in the trees, just to make triple sure there weren't any kids climbing up there.

Coast looked clear. Katie breathed out, eyes gently resting closed. Then, they suddenly snapped open, a grin as wide as the moon on her face.

"Holy shit, hahahaha, yes!!! Eat a dick, dad, I can't believe that… Fuck! Holy fuck!!!"

She jumped in the air, fistpumping like she'd just won by knockout, phone and lighter and cigarettes threatening to fly out of her pockets again. Oh man. Oh fucking man, she felt lightheaded. If there was a better way of raising your mood after a shitty day, she didn't wanna know about it.

Katie breathed out, still giddy, and turned in the direction of home.

There had been someone there, all this time. A guy walking his dog, standing transfixed on the path ahead, watching her. His face suggested ‘bemusement' more than ‘anger', but still. She had no idea how long he'd been standing there. The entire time, most likely.

She muttered a quick apology and then ran past him, face an even brighter shade of red than before.

((Katie Agustien continued in Monachopsis))