[Luke goes into the parking lot! The sun's just starting to set, and there are no vampires out and about to greet him!] * Luke heads for his SUV. [He sees Sunny and Tabby, as luck would have it. The girls are walking to Portillo's and, astonishingly, Tabby's arms are not filled with books.] [Though she still has the overstuffed backpack.] [She spots the teacher and waves. Sunny looks that way at the wave and blinks.] * Luke waves back. (How far away are they?) (Quarter a block, about, so not all that far.) * Luke continues going to his SUV. [Tabby notices that and she starts running. Sunny says something to her, but it's sort of lost and then she's jogging after her, too.] * Luke stops short when they start running toward him. He waits to see what they want. [Tabby approaches Luke fairly quickly. Those long legs and arms must be good for something; she's breathing a little heavily, but isn't about to collapse. "Mr. Mendel!"] "Good evening, Tabby." [Tabby stops and takes a few breaths as Sunny catches up. She pushes her glasses higher on her nose. "I just wanted to say, um... thanks for helping. With the whole..." She makes a vague gesture. "I think Sunny said so, but I don't know if I did."] * Luke smiles. "I'm glad I could be of help." [She smiles back, showing her braces, then hesitates a moment before she says, "So, uh. Does Sunny still have detention?" The girl in question looks surprised.] * Luke hesitates for a second. "Yes." He looks a bit apologetic. "The rule against students attacking other students doesn't have an exception for when ancient Chinese gods have kidnapped your uncle. Or, if they do, I'd be pretty surprised." ["... Oh." Tabby looks disappointed. "Because I was thinking- you know."] "You were thinking what?" Luke asks gently. ["I mean, it was an accident, sort of. And it's not like I'm hurt or anything."] ("Plus, we fell in love. Doesn't that count for something?") (SHUT UP YOU MANIPULATOR.) ( :P ) "You have an unusual definition of accident," Luke says with a grin. [Tabitha shrugs with a little grin herself, looking away. Right about now, the shorter girl cuts in: "I wouldn't have ended up doing that if Uncle wasn't an idiot. I mean, a *meatbun*? Who doesn't pay that back right away!"] "I know that you had a reason to be upset, Sun. But you can't go attacking other people just because you're upset. You have to talk to them, right?" [Sun sighs and nods. "Yeah, I know." Pause. "He was still stupid."] * Luke grins. "So how about you get him to come serve detention with you?" ["He didn't beat anybody up?"] "No, but he did welsh on a debt. That's not a good thing either." ["Can that work?" Tabby puts in. "I don't think Rat falls under school code. ... Or something."] * Luke switches his briefcase to his right hand. "Maybe not, but considering you helped get him out of an eternity trapped in another dimension, I think he can spare a couple of hours for you." [Sunny makes a face. "Rather die. He'd do it just to embarrass me."] * Luke nods. "And we wouldn't want you to have to switch to another school to escape your shame." ["Nah. Detention's not that bad. It's just really boring."] "You're allowed to read during it." ["I guess." Sunny doesn't look pleased at the prospect.] "Tabby, do you have any books you can lend Sun that she might like?" [Tabby blinks a few times. "I... think so?" Pause. "Sure."] * Luke waits for Sun's reaction. [Sun still looks not too keen on the whole reading thing, but she nods. Why not.] ( What the? Reading books she suggests?) (Reading books at all!) "Why don't you go over some suggestions with her while you eat?" ["Um, sure," Tabby says. "I just wanted to say thanks."] * Luke smiles. "You're welcome." [Sunny nods at that, then grins at Mr. Mendel and waves. "You're not too bad for a teacher."] "But I make a terrible rodeo clown." ["Good thing you're not one!" Sunny replies as she heads for Portillo's. Tabby waves a little, too, then hurries after her.] * Luke switches his briefcase back to his left hand so he can get his keys out of his pocket. [The girls enter the den of fries and hot dogs! And Luke succeeds in getting his keys. Score.] * Luke gets in his car and drives off, leaving the restaurant where so many of his students seem to eat behind. [Yay for Luke!] [Session End.]