246 5 Metamorphosis

There was a knock. "Come in." Rick tilted his head towards the door. Nothing. "Oi, Sena I said come in!" He spoke up louder. The door opened, however to Rick's surprise it wasn't Sena, rather another lady. This lady was tall with broad shoulders. Dressed in a white blouse, with a long blue skirt. She had long red hair tied in a messy bun like ponytail. Rick stared for a solid second. His vision wasn't the best, in fact he probably needed gla.s.ses soon, but this definitely was not his landlady. "Um-" The lady looked around. "Don't mind me, I guess. I'm just here to get a few more of my things." She said as she walked over to the kitchen. Rick was floored. Was she in the right home? Was she an intruder, would she pounce any second? Then it hit him. Before he and Maru moved in, Sena had mentioned a friend who had previously lived in their home. "Are you-" He began. "Did you," He rephrased. "You used to live here?" The lady looked up from her box. "Yea." She looked around. "I see you did some redecorating." She smiled. "How's your dad?" "Sena mentioned you had to leave because he was sick." The lady looked away quickly. "He-" she began. "He pa.s.sed." "Oh I'm s-" "Anyway," The lady began. "Where's Sena?" "She's out with my kid." "Maru?" The lady suddenly smiled. Rick looked up quickly. "I was hoping to meet her today, but I'm afraid I have stuff to get done today." She sighed. "Well they should be coming home soon-" "I really have to get going." She paused, then began again. "I'm glad I didn't come back to an empty house." The lady smiled softly. "By the way, the name's Abbey." "Ah, Rick." He said, smiling as he introducing himself. "Later." Abbey walked out carrying a box. Rick slumped back in his chair. Where the heck are those two. He sighed.

"We're home!" Rick walked out his bedroom greeted by Maru, Sena, and at least a dozen shopping bags. "Ah, welcome home." He said patting Maru's head. "Hey Rick," Sena began. "Hm?" She motioned him towards the kitchenette. "What's up?" He leaned against the counter. "I wanted your permission-" She paused. "Are you ok?" Rick looked at her confused. "Why wouldn't I be?" "Well, you're blinking an awful lot." "Ah." Rick smirked. "What?" Sena asked. "It's nothing." He looked at the floor, then quickly back at Sena. "I just can't see is all." Sena frowned. "Do you think you need gla.s.ses?" "Well-" Rick began. Sena held up her hand. "How many fingers? She asked. Rick sighed. "We're not in kindergarten-" "how many!" Sena asked cutting him off. "Technically four, since your thumb doesn't count." Sena laughed. "I never heard that before." Rick brushed his hair back. "We're getting off topic here, what were you gonna ask earlier?" "Oh!" Sena smiled as he reminded her. "Maru needs a haircut." She smiled. Rick frowned, puzzled. "Why didn't you get one while you were out for all that while?" Sena looked towards Maru. "For starters," she said looking back to him. "I wanted your permission, plus she wants you to be there." Rick sighed. He then thought for a moment. In the chance anyone from Experiment Labs were looking for them, a good hair cut might serve the purpose of a disguise. "Getting a haircut doesn't sound like a bad idea." He smiled over at Maru. She did look like she desperately needed a hair cut. It was all around long, albeit it being straight, it was pretty messy. There was also that one long strand of hair in the middle of her face down to her cheek. "Yay!" Maru beamed, as she grabbed his hand and pulled him out the door. Sena followed behind giggling.

"How does she want it cut?" The barber questioned turning to Sena and Rick. Rick who was nose deep in a magazine looked up. "Tell him what you want Maru." He said looking back down. "Rick-" Sena began. "What? It's her hair!" He let out a sigh. "I don't know, does neck length sound reasonable?" He said looking at a poster that had 'neck length' hairstyles on it. "She just needs it out of her face." Maru nodded. "That's what you want?" Sena questioned the girl. Maru gave a thumbs up. "Ok!" Sena smiled, giving a thumbs up back.

"And done." The barber said, spinning the chair around towards the adults. Rick looked up. She looked like an entirely new kid. Her hair was now neck length, with 'M' shaped bangs. He couldn't help but smile as he saw the girl beaming. "You look so adorable!" Sena cried, hugging her. Rick walked over, giving the girl a pat on the head. "I dig it." He smiled. Maru beamed up at them.

As Rick was paying, Sena looked out the door. "Oh!" Rick grabbed the change, and thanked the barber. "What's up?" He turned towards her. "There's a gla.s.ses shop across the street." She smiled, pointing. "Ah, well-" Rick began hesitantly. "What's wrong?" Sena frowned. "You said you needed gla.s.ses." "I did." He said opening the door. "Just not today." Sena grabbed him by the collar. "You're stretching it, you're stretching my shirt!" He cried out. Sena let go, and let out a sigh. "It's important that you're able to see." Rick sighed. She was right. He really couldn't see well while reading earlier. "Fine." He muttered.

"Try these on." The gla.s.ses specialist said forcing the gla.s.ses on Rick. "Hm." He studied Rick, and the gla.s.ses. "What do you think? There aren't that many pairs with your prescription, but I think they suit you quite nicely." Rick studied himself in the mirror. He never thought of red as his color. Yet he liked it nonetheless. He let out a sigh, smiling. "I'll take them." He then glanced around the shop to see what the girls were up to. "I like these!" Maru smiled as she put on a pair of dark blue circular gla.s.ses. Sena beamed. "They fit you quite nicely!" Rick couldn't help but smile. "Alright Mr. Summers," the specialist began. "Your payment is set, come see us if you ever need an adjustment." Rick steppes out of his chair. "Thank you." He waved goodbye to the specialist.

"What a day!" Sena giggled. Rick nodded. As they got to the door he remembered earlier today about Abbey's visit. "By the way, Sena." He began. "Your friend came over to get some of her belongings." Sena stopped. "She's back?" Sena sounded surprised. "Yeah well," "Why didn't she text or call me?" She frowned looking down at her phone. "Well-" "I'm sorry Rick, Maru." She cut him off. "I have to get home. She turned around. "I hope she's there." She quickly added, as she ran off. Maru turned to Rick, who was watching Sena drive off.

"Rick!" Maru began as she was busy hopping up and down. "Yeah?" He turned to her. "Oi, you'll get a headache if you don't stop." Maru immediately stopped. "We got you a present today!" She beamed. "A present?" Rick repeated as he turned his attention back to his crossword puzzle. "Look!" She said puffing her cheeks. "Huh?" He looked over and saw her holding up a shirt. It was yellow, with two bars at the bottom right, with yellow dots in them. "Try it on!" She exclaimed running over to him. "Oi, Oi easy there bull girl." He laughed. The last thing he needed was her to topple him with her inhuman strength. He noted earlier this week that her powers were now in full swing. She could easily pick him up, however he was hesitant to inform her about her powers. She seemed blissfully unaware. "Do you like it?" She asked with a hint of impatience. "It fits nicely." He said studying the color choice. "We got yellow because Sena said you need to lighten up!" She beamed. "Oh really now?" Rick asked with an annoyed smile. "Well, I like it." He informed her.