“It was so cool, there was this explosion, and it knocked me off the stall door-”
“I had no idea what was going on, one minute, I was running, and the next I was being swallowed-”
“I’ve never seen Troy look so stupid, flailing around like a rag-doll and screaming like a girl-”
“You would’ve screamed, too! Besides...”
“I’m the best because I got my powers first.”
“We all knew you’d be the first to come out, dear,”
Kaine listened to the excited babble with both anxiety and relief. They were ready. Well, not completely, but definitely on their way to being there. The anxiety came from not knowing. Teenagers could be so unstable; he was taking a big risk by giving them access to such immense powers. No telling if one of them might try to destroy themselves, or misuse the potential, but he would have to take the chance.
“Now…” Kaine began, intent on telling them all that he knew about the trials facing them. But they were too excited, rambling on about what they felt and their ideas.
“Hey, guys? Hello? HEY! SHUT THE HELL UP AND LISTEN TO ME!”
That always got their attention.
“Oh, what do you want, now?” Amanda said, placing her hands on her hips.
“Yeah, Kaine. It’s always about you isn’t it? ‘You guys have a responsibility’…. ‘I am the guardian nun’…. ‘I’m so immortal’… ‘I can’t get a manicure scheduled’…” Crystal said, mimicking him.
“I never said that! And its ‘priest’, not ‘nun’,” Kaine said, affronted. Which really sucked because his nostrils flared when he got pissy. “I just want you guys to know what you’re up against, next.”
“What? Hideous creatures that decide to posses my underwear?” Troy asked.
“See? What have I told you about wearing whitie-tighties…” Austin said.
“I do not! It’s boxers all the way, baby,” Troy said, flashing the elastic trim of his boxers through his belted cargo pants.
“Oh, Yellow submarines. How cute,” Amanda said.
“Commando style for me,” Daniel said, proudly. Everyone stepped away in disgust.
Amanda and Crystal looked at each other and rolled their eyes.
“So, Kaine?” Austin asked. “How’s it hanging?”
“Loose, long, and to the left--I mean--Hey! That’s not what we’re talking about here.” Kaine said, turning various shades of red.
“Then what are we talking about?” Crystal asked
“Yeah, spit it out, already,” Daniel said.
“WELL IF YOU GUYS WOULD SHUT UP, I’D BE HAPPY TO TELL YOU!”
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There was complete silence.
“Thank you! Now, from this point on, we’ll be fighting things that actually have brains. They can think fast, and know what affects you. What’s worse is some of these creatures are going to know where to find us and who we’ll be with. Anyone you’re seen with may be in danger. So, until we get this under control, try to stick to hanging out with those gathered here,” Kaine looked them all over.
“What about our parents?” Austin asked.
“Get real, man. How many hours a day do you spend with your mom; I just lock myself in my room,” Troy said.
“You needn’t worry about school and home,” Kaine said, “My power is just strong enough to shield you in isolated areas. Cars, that’s another matter, so buckle your seat belts.”
“Damn,” Troy said.
“Yeah, I could stand to have my brother killed by a demon,” Austin said.
“Oh, that’s real nice, Austin,” Crystal scolded.
“You’ve never met my brother,” Austin said, with a heavy sigh.
“What about teachers?” Amanda asked. “I mean we do go on field trips, dear.”
“Oh, who cares about them?” Kaine said, bitterly. He had a grudge with the history teacher ever since he had stated that Napoleon had been a fine speaker. Kaine maintained that Napoleon had had a lisp.
“What about Sam?” Amanda asked.
“What about him?” Kaine replied.
“Well, he’s Troy’s shadow, and basically, Austin, Troy and I are his only friends,” Amanda reasoned.
Kaine waved his hand, “He’ll get over it.” Amanda scowled, not agreeing.
“So, we have no life, outside each other?” Daniel asked.
“It’s not like you had much of one anyway,” Troy said.
Daniel opened his mouth, but Kaine had heard enough. “Take what risks you will, but I am warning you now. Not every fight will be won by luck. Not every threat will come in a tangible form. You will have to be smarter and stronger. You will have to use common sense.”
“Hey, don’t worry,” Amanda said, “We’re responsible people.”
Samantha stood alone in the center of the darkened movie theater lobby. “Hello?”
“So, we’ve got to start hanging out more, because if the enemy attacks one of us, the others need to be there to help,” Kaine said, “Anyone have any previous engagements that they can’t break off?”
“We’re teenagers; we have no concrete lives,” Crystal said.
“Actually, I have to go to the Duriarb benefit ball,” Amanda said, somewhat abashed.
“Why are you going to that piece of crap?” Austin asked, outraged.
“Student Council,” Amanda muttered.
“NERD!” Troy shouted.
“All right, settle down. We’ll all go to the ball,” Kaine said.
“What? I don’t want to,” Troy whined.
“Get over it,” Kaine ordered.
“What’s the dress style?” Crystal asked.
“Black tie,” Amanda said.
“Cool,” Crystal said. She loved to dress up.
“Hey,” Kaine said. Now they all looked obediently at him. “Lets pick a neutral meeting place from now on, so I can train you guys some more.”
“Can we do that later,” Amanda asked, eyeing her watch, “I have to be home before midnight and its 11:30 now.”
“All right. We’ll decide Monday, at school. Goodbye,” Kaine said.
“See ya,” Amanda said, following Austin to his car. Kaine stared after them, turning a possibility over in his mind.
“Hey, Troy?” Crystal asked. “Where’s Samantha?”
Back at the movie theater. “Hello….”
“…Oh…My…God.”
“Troy?”
“I’ll see you guys Monday!” he shouted, running off towards his car.
Crystal stared after Troy as though she was turning over a possibility as well. “Kaine,” she asked.
“Yes?”
“Does this mean I can’t have a boyfriend?”
The first thought in Kaine’s mind was, Why Troy? The second was, Oh, she means in general. Kaine knew Crystal well enough to know that the tall boy was not her type. Anyone who even tried to be more dramatic than Crystal was just waiting to be killed. There was an uncomfortable pause as Kaine struggled for an actual answer. Fortunately, Daniel chose that moment to do something stupid.
“Don’t touch me Daniel!”
Kaine smiled to himself. She was a teenager, of course. That and she didn’t owe him anything, since they weren’t a couple. Had they ever been? It was forbidden back when they had loved each other, but now…. Now she was so naïve, so vulnerable.
SMACK!
“It was worth it!” Daniel wailed.
Oh who was he kidding, she was a big girl; she could take care of herself.