The next day, Elliot invited Tiggy to take part in his group game of Caverns and Creatures. The group had a room reserved just off the library. Tiggy had to stand outside the door while the boys inside discussed them. Probably they didn’t realise how clearly she could hear them. Her hearing was super-human, after all.

“What in the world do you want her for?” Demanded Jez.

“Her eating habits are kind of cool,” said Edd.

“Cool? They disgust me.”

“That’s why they’re cool,” said Edd sniggering. “Because they make you sick. What a wimp you are!”

Jez made an angry retort.

“I wonder if Elliot has noticed she has giant boobies as well as giant everything else?” said Doug.

Tiggy blinked. That made her feel awkward. It wasn’t polite to Elliot either, when he was only trying to be nice.

“Just stop being twats, can you?” grumbled Elliot.

On entering the room, Tiggy determinedly acted like she had not heard their banter and smiled around at them all as she seated herself on the floor while the rest of them sat at a low table. Elliot was biting his nails and Tiggy thought he looked nervous. She remembered how he had felt faint in Biology and hoped he was alright now. She peered into his grey eyes. “Are you OK?” She really hoped her breath didn’t smell too bad, although that was hard when your diet consisted entirely of raw meat. Elliot was sweating slightly. Tiggy thought human sweat was a nice smell. It was weird how people were rude to each other about it. She and Elliot looked into each other’s eyes for a moment. Tiggy smiled and Elliot blushed pinkly.

“Alright, Creatures and Caverns…” Jez announced loudly.

Tiggy and Elliot broke eye contact and Tiggy turned to look at Jez.

“Tiggy, you don’t know how to play, but it’s really easy,” said Jez. “Basically, we’re all different characters, and we’re on a campaign. I get to be Chad Darkmane. Veteran adventurer and unbeatable warrior.”

“It’s his fantasy self, you see,” said Edd. “The only way he could be unbeatable.”

“Shut up!” snapped Jez.

“Guys, please don’t fight,” said Tiggy. “That sounds really cool, Jez.”

“Darkmane!” said Jez.

“Yes, Darkmane,” said Tiggy smiling at him.

“Jez is Darkmane. Elliot is Zalder the halfling… You gotta name a character for yourself, so you can play,” Edd told her.

Tiggy nodded. “I’m Antigone, but I prefer Tiggy…”

“No, you gotta design a super tough new character,” said Edd. “And give her special abilities. Use some imagination.”

He paused. “I couldn’t help noticing your funky boots.”

“They’re special fighting boots,” said Tiggy.

“Ooh! Awesome!” said Edd. “I bet they’re lethal weapons. Legs like yours could do serious damage.”

“That’s like bringing weapons into school,” said Jez. “Shouldn’t be allowed.”

“It’s cos I was attacked last weekend,” said Tiggy. She shuddered as she remembered it. “It was a Giant Slayer. Mum says I have to wear the boots in case the Giant Slayers attack again.”

“You were attacked?” Elliot sounded indignant. “I’m sorry.” He tried to put his arm around her shoulders, but his arm wasn’t long enough. Tiggy was touched by the gesture. Emotion welled up in her and she felt a lump in her throat and blinked so her eyes wouldn’t tear up. She put her arm around Elliot – and his chair. Elliot withdrew his arm from trying to reach around her shoulders and gingerly touched her cheek. “I’d like to sort the Giant Slayers out.”

“You!” jeered Jez. “What a joke! You couldn’t ‘sort out’ a fly!”

“I must admit, it seems very unlikely,” said Doug. “I think you don’t know what you’re talking about. The Giant Slayers are dangerous.”

“Yeah, you mustn’t ever get involved with ‘em,” said Tiggy firmly, gazing steadily into Elliot’s eyes. “Much too dangerous.”

She was thankful that he didn’t argue the point. He just gazed back at her. Good. She hated the thought of a Giant Slayer hurting him.

“Yeah, he can’t do anything about Giant Slayers, but you could!” said Edd. “What you want is revenge. You want to kill them. You want to stamp them to pulp.”

“Nooo… I don’t,” Tiggy told him.

“What sort of ogre are you?” scoffed Jez.

“Dunno,” said Tiggy.

“The very best sort,” said Elliot firmly. He and Tiggy looked into each other’s eyes again. Tiggy felt a warm glow and wished she could hug him. Hugs are important.

“Never mind your weird questions, Jez,” said Edd. “Let’s get started on the game. Tiggy, you can be Griena, the Warrior Queen. A lean green fighting machine. With extra stomping power. This campaign is the Caves of the Snow Witch.”

“How Freudian,” sniggered Doug.

“Right. How mature. You’re really straining yourself to find obscure Freudian references there,” said Edd. “Tiggy – the story is that the Snow Witch is an evil enchantress in the far north who wants to start a new ice age with her magic. We’re going to stop her. We’re sneaking into the Crystal Caves…”

Edd was the game master and narrated how they found a kitchen with a little gnome as the chef. The gnome told them it was not time for lunch, but they could have the stale cakes if they wished.

“Darkmane smashes the shelves in a fit of rage!” cries Jez. “He yells ‘get me bread, ale and a joint of roasted mutton!’”

Jez was really getting into his role.

“Great. The gnome runs off. He may raise the alarm,” grumbled Edd.

Later Edd announced that they came across a Frost Ogre barring the way.

“The joke is on you, ogre of the frost!” cried Jez. “We have our own flesh-eater. Griena! You can’t measure up to her. Just look! Her green skin is an outward manifestation of her ferocity…”

“Steady on…” murmured Elliot.

“Oh, Zalder the half-ling’s crushing on Griena,” sneered Jez, remaining in the character of Darkmane. “Will the little guy pop the question…?”

“Mr Frosty the ogre needs to chill,” said Edd. “Griena – kick him, or he’ll bite us!”

As long as it was just storytelling make-believe, Tiggy didn’t mind. But it was weird and a bit uncomfortable.

“Don’t bite, Mr Frosty,” said Tiggy. “Uh. Sorry, gotta kick you…”

The adventure culminated in the cave of the Snow Witch. It turned out that the enchantress existed in spirit form, in her magic mirror. She appeared as an evil vision to point and cackle at them and then shoot lightening. This was the weirdest thing yet, or so Tiggy thought. Doug’s dwarf character had a sling with iron balls, and three good shots cracked the Snow Witch’s mirror, defeating her.

“Thanks so much for letting me play, guys,” Tiggy said, smiling round at them.

“It’s alright, we’re outcasts anyway,” said Jez.

“Hey! Speak for yourself, buster!” said Edd.

Tiggy stood, but Elliot caught he arm. “I – I wish I could invite you to my house… Uh…” He was blushing as Jez pointed and sniggered.

“Come to my house!” said Tiggy, smiling down at him.

00O00

The next day, the sisters lingered after school so that Verena could hand out invitations to her sleepover. Specially written on pink parchment with a perfume fragrance, they were for Verena’s all girl slumber party.

Hunter, Verena’s on and off again boyfriend, gave a wry smile. “I don’t get an invite?”

Tiggy thought Hunter was very handsome, like human sunshine, with golden hair, sky blue eyes, and vibrant freckles. And he looked so strong and athletic. He and Verena were perfect – and perfect together.

“Sorry, love.” Verena made a kissy face at him. “It’s an all-girl slumber party. For the cool girls!”

“Woo-hoo!” said Kimmy. “Uh… is Tiggy coming to this one?”

Tiggy had already thought of that – to avoid putting Verena in the awkward position of either having to include her and aggravating the other popular girls, or else getting into an argument with the other popular girls and becoming agitated. Tiggy would hold her own sleepover to coincide with Verena’s and have it on the ground floor in the West Wing at home.

“My sister’s hosting her own Slumber Party. With her friends,” said Verena, narrowing her eyes at Kimmy.

“Wonderful. I mean… Glad Tiggy’s making friends,” said Kimmy hastily.

00O00

The evening of the Slumber Parties arrived.

Edd and Elliot came up to the girls.

“Hey hey hey! The coolness crew has arrived!” Edd declared. Tiggy had given out invitations to anyone she thought might accept. At Crystal Valley High, three boys - Elliot, Edd and Dom - had accepted. Tiggy’s old friend Jax would be coming too.

Nadine helped arrange the sleeping bags into a circle in the pink rec room on the first floor. “Great work girls!” said Nadine, beaming around at them. “Now who wants chips and pretzels?” Verena and Nadine went downstairs to bring up refreshments. Corey was in the kitchen. Tiggy’s refreshments were in a sideroom – they included raw meat on a platter for Tiggy.

“You won’t need to check on us all the time, Mum,” Verena advised.

“I can supervise you if you like,” said Corey. “I’d take part in Truth or Dare. I’m brave.”

“No!” Verena stamped her foot. “Do you want to embarrass me? Is that it?”

“Verena…” said Nadine in her stern tone. “You know very well your father only wants to help.”

Corey felt indignant. Verena thought he would embarrass her?

Nadine sensed his upset and touched his arm. “Honey…”

“I’ll supervise Tiggy’s,” said Corey, determinedly keeping his cool. “You mind Verena’s.”

Tiggy’s sleepover was in the cave – the large room near the pool house. Corey brought a tray of nibbles, while Tiggy came to pick up her enormous meat platter.

Tiggy’s guests turned out to be Jax, and three boys from Crystal Valley as well. Three friends from school? Was Corey’s sweet girl becoming popular? Corey knew she deserved to be.

“Thank you boys, for being my daughter’s friends,” said Corey, opening his arms wide in a gesture of welcome. “She deserves more friends.”

One of Tiggy’s guests, a lad with an eczema marked face, put his fist to his mouth and made a stifled sound. Jax smirked. He was always a cheeky one, that boy.

Tiggy’s dark green lips twitched to form a smile as she gazed down at Corey. Her big brown eyes twinkled. She lightly touched Corey’s shoulder with her huge fingers. A gesture of her affection.

“Love you, Dad.”

Corey felt himself swell with gratification. His elder daughter was such a delightful girl. It was weird to think that an obnoxious and disgusting ogre had sired her. Corey was about to open his mouth to say this, but thought better of it. He didn’t want to embarrass Tiggy, after all...

One of the lads, a youth with orange hair and a confident look stepped forward. “The pleasure is all mine, Sir. I’m Edd. Edd Horton.”

“How do you do, Edd?”

The other two strangers introduced themselves as Don and Elliot.

Corey’s list of ideas for sleepover games was limited, but he did know a good one. A game named ‘Pass it on.’ The six of them sat in a circle while music played. As long as the music played, they passed around a pillow. When it stopped, the one holding the pillow had to tell a joke or suggest a fun activity.

When the music stopped the first time, Tiggy had the pillow. The ogre-girl grinned. “Group hug!” she said. “I c’n do it. My arms are big enough.”

Tiggy held out her arms. Elliot immediately scrambled forward to sit on her lap and put his arms around her.

“Wait… is eczema catching or not?” asked Jax uncomfortably, looking at Dom.

“No, no, it’s not. Jax, please…” said Tiggy.

“Of course it’s not catching,” said Edd smoothly. “I know about these things. I know everything.”

Just to make his daughter happy, Corey squeezed together with the four guests so she could wrap her great arms around all five of them.

“Hugs for al!” said Tiggy, her deep, throaty voice rumbling with her happiness.

For Tiggy, Corey could tolerate being squeezed together with this bunch of lads. Would he tolerate it for anyone else in the world? That was a good question.

Tiggy released them, but Elliot did not sit back on the floor. He stood up on her lap and put his hands on her shoulders to make eye contact with Tiggy who smiled at him. The lad was blushing for some reason Corey could not guess.

“You give the best hugs” said Elliot.

Tiggy grinned. “Aww, thank you!” She put her brawny arms around Elliot. Elliot put his arms around her as far as he could and squeezed her tight.

Edd narrowed his eyes. “Let’s get on with the game.”

The music played again. This time Elliot got the pillow.

“I’d like to tell you something interesting that’s relevant to your adventure, Mr Harris,” said Elliot. “I’ve read all about it.”

“Oh yes?” said Corey.

“You took a trip to Firestorm Isle and the underground complex there,” said Elliot. “The Warlock’s underworld. You and Mrs Harris proved to be real heroic adventurers.”

“Oh, we did,” said Corey airily.

“You founded your family’s fortune,” Elliot continued.

“The Warlock was grateful to Nadine for saving his life,” said Corey.

“Well before the Dark Moon institute, adventuring used to be really informal, like in Creatures and Caverns,” said Elliot. He looked up at Tiggy and touched her large green hand. She smiled down at him. “Remember our game, Tiggy? We made our own adventure story.”

“Yes, an’ I’m Griena the warrior,” said Tiggy with a rumbling chuckle.

“You two are making stories together?” interrupted Jax. “What about our stories?” He sounded a bit tetchy, although Corey did not know why.

“You c’n play Creatures and Caverns with us, dear,” said Tiggy gazing down at Jax fondly with her big brown eyes.

“Here, have a pretzel.” She picked up the large bowl in one hand and held it out to him.

“Well Jezza’s character, Chad Darkmane, was the typical sort of Adventurer hero,” said Elliot. “But in the old days, not every Adventurer was a hero. There was rumoured to be one who was a villain. A disgrace.”

“What’s this got to do with the Harris family?” demanded Jax.

“Let him finish,” said Corey.

“It’s really to do with the Warlock’s Underworld,” said Elliot. “An evil Adventurer might seek to take control of there. Who knows what he would be capable of then?”

“An evil Adventurer might rule the Warlock’s Underworld now, you say?” said Corey. “An intriguing thought there, Elliot, but the point is moot. None of my family is going back there. I can’t tell you how glad I was to retire from Dark Moon. Having to share a dorm with the other rookies… ugh! The first evening I was hazed. That means the guys grabbed me, tape me up, covered me in talcum powder and shaving cream and dragged me to one end of the hall. That was their idea of a welcome.”

Tiggy grimaced. “I really don’t like that anyone did that to you. It wasn’t hazing, it was just bullying.”

Jax’s lip twitched. “Not surprised you prefer being a family man, Corey. Now you have everything. But I’m still an Adventurer. I saved Tiggy from a psycho in a mask! I was her champion.”

Corey was aware that wasn’t precisely how things had happened – the kids had needed Nadine to save them. But Tiggy grinned at Jax. “You’re my handsome champion.”

Elliot coloured visibly. “You’re a champion? And what plan do you have if the stupid Giant Slayers come back might I ask?”

Corey thought Elliot said that unnecessarily loudly. Was he upset about something?

Tiggy looked at him anxiously. “Are you alright?” She put her huge arm around him. “How ‘bout some crisps?” She offered him the bowl.

“The Giant Slayers… they’re targeting Tiggy?” Said Edd.

“Yeah. They’re nutters who think they’re in a fairy tale. They don’t care about collateral damage either,” said Dom.

Corey thought it important that he show the kids how strong he was. “We can handle them. I’ve handled so much worse than feeble lunatics.”

Tiggy put a hand to her head and ran her fingers through her flaming red hair, her mouth opening slightly. “If the Giant Slayers’re after me …” she said slowly, “they’re dangerous to everyone I love.”

“You got that right, sister,” said Edd.

“I don’t want any of you to be in danger,” said Tiggy, her brows drawing together.

“Don’t overthink things, daughter dearest,” said Corey. “We can handle the Giant Slayers.”

“But – But… if I they’re so dangerous… I just can’t put you in danger. I feel so bad.” Tiggy’s low, scratchy voice quivered and she stuck out her blackish bottom lip.

Corey could tell when Tiggy was distressed, even if he was less astute at reading other people. Tiggy was such an open book. He knelt beside her and cupped her face in his hands, getting the oily feel of her skin on his fingers. Tiggy stuck out her lips in a pout.

“Let’s change that pout into a smile,” said Corey.

Jax and Edd stifled sniggers by putting their fists over their mouths, but Corey didn’t care.

“This calls for a hug?” said Elliot, sounding hopeful. “Tiggy, I’ll hug it out.”

“No. I’ll tell you something fun,” said Corey, having a bright idea. He picked up the pillow and sat back down in the circle. “When Tiggy was born, she was a baby I could bounce on my knee. But as soon as she could walk, she grew so fast… When she sat on her first potty, she was already too big, and it broke. I still have the crushed potty.”

Corey thought the smashed potty was an item to be treasured just as much as Tiggy’s baby pictures.

The boys laughed out loud and Tiggy looked at the floor. “Thanks for sharing that, Dad,” she muttered.

“Don’t mention it,” said Corey. Tiggy’s party was going so well – it was amazing to think that Verena said Corey would have embarrassed her!

00O00

Later, Corey supervised the kids as they played in the large pool. The little pool, the one where Tiggy and Verena usually took their evening bath, was reserved for Verena’s party. Jax and Dom played around, chucking a beach ball to one another in the shallow end. Edd seemed to have slipped off somewhere. Elliot hung around in the deep end where Tiggy showed off her whale impression, on her back and keeping herself afloat by churning the water with her powerful limbs. “Look, Elliot, ‘m a whale!” She spewed a jet of water high in the air.

“Thar she blows!” said Elliot.

She was so magnificent. Her custom-made bathing costume hugged her form tight, showing off all the curves of her massive body. Elliot really didn’t know how to tell her his real feelings, and he wasn’t even sure if he should.

“Tiggy, uh… Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.” The ogre-girl stood in the deep end, her feet resting on the bottom, while Elliot trod water. The water only came up to Tiggy’s shoulders.

Elliot gazed into her soft brown eyes. “If I liked a girl, should I tell her? I’d be embarrassed, cos I’m a nerd.”

“Don’t say that about yourself,” said Tiggy softly. “You’re a great guy. You’re kind.”

“The circumstances are a bit weird though,” said Elliot. “I still don’t know if I should say anything.”

“Use your best judgement,” said Tiggy. “I believe in you.”

But Elliot still could not decide.

00O00

Edd thought it worth coming to Tiggy’s slumber party, because of his real agenda. He had given Tiggy and the guys the slip and was going to sneak into Verena’s exclusive, popular girl only slumber party. He’d do if for all the times girls whispered in hallways behind a guy’s back and smirked at him or passed notes. He’d show them. Popular girls didn’t know he existed, so he would do a quick change using dramatic props he’d pinched from the Drama society and smuggled in. Putting on a dress, a blond wig and some lipstick completed the effect.

He slipped into the pink room on the first floor. The girls had clearly just been having a pillow fight, but now they were dropping them.

Kimmy saw Edd and raised an eyebrow.

“I’m Edwina,” he squeaked. “I’m new at Crystal Valley.”

“Oh. Welcome Edwina,” said Kimmy.

Verena was clapping her hands together.

“That’s enough pillow fighting. Now it’s Truth or Dare!” said Verena. “Kimmy, you spin!”

Edd slipped into the circle of girls. None of them seemed to notice anything amiss.

They were sitting around a little table with a bottle on it. Kimmy span the bottle around and it pointed at Verena.

“Truth, Cap’n!” said Kimmy grinning.

“Alright,” said Verena with a sigh.

“Tell us… who do you love most in the world?” asked Kimmy. “And how do you show it? Can you overlook their faults.”

“This is an easy one. I love my sister most,” said Verena.

The girls looked at each other. Interesting. They hadn’t expected this.

“Not Hunter?” teased Kimmy.

“I’m afraid not,” said Verena. “You really know you love someone when it’s been tested very hard and you love them anyway. So, when Tiggy snores and it sounds like thunder, I won’t cream her with a pillow, because I love her. When she catches a cold and sneezes ten times as much snot as a regular girl, I can put up with it.”

“Ewww.” The other girls giggled.

“And if anyone has a problem with her, they’re going to have me to deal with,” said Verena grimly.

Edd privately agreed that such self-restraint on Verena’s part showed a lot of love. Perhaps love was a powerful motivator.

Kimmy spun the bottle again. “Amber! Truth!”

The bottle was pointing at a platinum blond girl Edd didn’t know.

“Alright,” said Amber. “You know my ex-boyfriend, stupid Jake? When we broke up, I smacked the big baby around the face.”

A few girls giggled, but Verena scowled. “You’re proud of that? Really? A civilised person wouldn’t be.”

Amber scowled back, but clearly didn’t dare make a rejoinder.

Kimmy spun the bottle again. “New girl. Edwina. I dare you…”

“Wait…” Verena gazed at Edd, her blue eyes narrowed. “Edd… why are you here and why do you have a wig on?” She breathed through her nose and her cheeks began to flush with a rosy pink glow. “Are you spying on us?”

Uh oh… Edd realised too late that Verena was too astute for flimsy disguises to fool her.

At that moment, Verena clapped her hands to her ears and gritted her teeth. She rounded on the mirror! “Shut up!”

Why was Verena yelling at the mirror to shut up?