“Mina?” I asked.
Marie nodded. “Nice of her to give us a headsup. We’ve got a cleanup crew working right now to make this place look like a slightly less raucous party went down.”
“You’re part of the cleanup too,” I said.
Marie smiled, “Oh yeah. Can’t have anyone remembering this bash, can we? Speaking of which…”
With a crackling pop, she contorted her body enough to slip between two of the stalks of bamboo, expanding back to normal in front of Patrick.
Even in his fear, I could see he was a bit enamored of her.
“Marie’s gonna make this all go away,” she started.
Kevin, Haley, and I all stepped between Marie and Patrick.
“He stays,” I said before I’d fully thought this plan through.
“He’s got our protection,” Kevin added.
“He’s a jackass, but he’s kind of our friend,” Haley said.
