it's in the books now

 

"Well, of course, I called the cops on him," Jay looked at Slater blankly as he held on to the cold bottle of beer that he wasn't sure he could drink.

Slater didn't say much but gave him a nod and told him the place was all his now. He'd moved his things to Misty's.

Jay nodded back, still thinking of Lenny. Why had no one told him?  Lenny was his brother. His mother was still a mystery about it. He finally took a sip of beer.

"You think that was the right thing to do, don't you?" He didn't want to have any doubts about turning his brother in. "Lenny did some terrible things to Ivy and god knows what else..and I was even in jail because of him." He winced, feeling he might as well be a fool's fool. 

Slater didn't say another thing but patted him on the back but then said, "Look, you need to get in the holiday mood. We need a Christmas tree for that baby girl of yours. You want it done right, don't you?" Slater gave him a quick smile as if they needed to move on. After all, it was the holidays.

"You know, our girl Vanna's got a guy staying with her," Slater then shrugged with an easy smile as he took a sip of beer.

"What?" Jay was shocked. "When?"

"Oh, while you were away, you know how it is, some come out and play." Slater bit the corner of his lip to keep from laughing. "I think they might even like each other, but you know Vanna wouldn't dare let it show."

Slater went to get the crunchy nachos out of the oven and put some extra pickled jalapeno slices over the melted cheese and taco meat.

"I have a feeling Koda will be good for her," he sighed. "Even if it is puppy love." Slater served up some nachos for Jay on a paper plate.

"And you and Misty make three." Jay shook his head as he bit into a meaty and cheesy chip. "You know, I could see that coming months ago."

"Yeah," Slater took a bite of messy nachos. It was as if he couldn't talk too much about Misty if she wasn't here.

Vanna and Koda rode the train down to Lincoln to pick up the pink KIA. Of course, she reminded herself that this was the first trip they'd taken together. In fact, there had been a lot of first lately for the two of them. In fact, it surprised her that she'd let this fling come this far.

Well, she wanted to call it that. Although, it wasn't like meeting a boy on spring break. Not that she would mention that to Koda. 

"You're being far too quiet," Koda had said on the way. It was an Amtrack ride so it didn't take long. 

"I'm..I'm just not sure what to say to my sister," she'd shrugged. Why was there always some terrible obstacle to get through to have that sweet happiness? Honestly, she needed the car. It was as if she knew she'd have to do something in return.

But it wasn't that way. Her sister was happy to see her. Hugs and all. They went out to lunch and had a bit of a holiday celebration.

"I should have brought presents, I didn't know," Vanna felt out of her element. Her sister always had nice things. Her place was far better than the basement studio apartment.

"I just wanted to see you," Alison was all smiles and apologized for being so busy at the pharmaceutical company where she worked. "There just aren't enough hours in the day." Perhaps she was too tired to question Vanna's relationship with Koda. Vanna guessed she should be thankful, but still, she wondered if her sister was overworked.

"I hope you have a good holiday," Vanna said with a nod.

"So how's our Slater doing?" She then asked with an open smile.

"Oh." Vanna didn't know what to say.

"He's really busy," Koda chimed in as if he knew exactly what to say. "I think  he's seeing someone."

"Really?" Alison smiled, but Vanna knew her sister was a little sad. "Well, good for him." She then mentioned there was someone she used to go to college with who was in town. They had plans for the new year.

Vanna just smiled thinking her sister was from another world. Here Vanna was just slumming with Koda, evidently. But then again, there was the pink car waiting for her.