CHAPTER 45: More Moving

“Dad! Dad!” Tom was hollering before he even finished opening the front door. He and Brandon had arrived to tell them about the available apartments at the base.

“DAAAAAAAAAAAAAD!” Tom belted out as loudly as he could, even though his father was at the table right in front of him, shaking his head and wishing he had thought more of celibacy back then.

“I’m here, Tom. What's the matter?”

“Great news, dad! The boss is giving us a place to live. We don’t have to live destitute lives here anymore!” Tom exclaimed.

His father mouthed, “destitute,” while his sisters and mother, also at the table, just stared at him like he was insane. Mr. Rhodes saw all the confusion on everyone’s faces, and felt his own, so he decided to skip a person.

“Brandon, can you please translate the Tom-ese?”

“Yes, sir. The base we took from the Goblins has been changed and there is now a 10-story building for our operations and luxury condos. Each person in the team was allowed to choose a single condo and we were given the option to reserve one for our families. I think Tom is asking if you want to reserve one of the family units for the rest of you,” explained Brandon.

“You and Tom are each getting your own?” Mrs. Rhodes asked.

“I think so,” Brandon said hesitantly. He wasn’t confident in his ability to live on his own or to take care of himself, but since he will be surrounded by friends, he felt comfortable trying.

Mrs. Rhodes stood up and came over to hug him. “Just know that we will always have a room for you, Brandon.”

As Brandon was wrapped up by her, followed by Rosy and Amy hugging him on both sides, he stifled the tears that wanted to fall. Never before had be felt people so genuinely concerned for him.

“Tom, when will you be moving out?” Mr. Rhodes asked.

Tom frowned at him for a moment and then smiled once again. “Tomorrow. Need time for furniture to come in, though some people are moving in tonight. They’re nice places. You really should take the boss up on it.”

“I think we’re quite comfortable here,” Mr. Rhodes said. Then the soft hand of his wife touched him, and their eyes met.

“Honey, I think we should consider it. We don’t know what’s going to happen and if we’re there then we might be able to help if they need it. It doesn’t mean we have to abandon this house.”

“That…that does make sense. How about we let Brandon show us the place tomorrow.”

“I can show it to you,” said Tom.

“Brandon, would you be willing to show us around tomorrow?” Mrs. Rhodes asked him.

“I can do that,” insisted Tom.

“Sure, I’d be happy to, though it’ll have to be early. We’re grouping up with the police tomorrow to check out how the animals have changed and if they’re a threat,” Brandon answered.

“That sounds so brave of you, working to keep us safe. Early is fine,” she said. “Can the girls come?”

“I CAN SHOW THE PLACE!” Tom bellowed.

Mrs. Rhodes patted Tom’s arm. “I’m sure you can, Tom. There’s no need to yell.” Tom’s jaw dropped at the dismissal.

“I think the girls would be welcome,” said Brandon.

“You also really need to get Legolas and Gimli…” Tom started.

“That isn’t their names, Tom.”

“…back. The boss might swing a double unit for them so your place isn’t too crowded,” said Tom.

“I don’t know. Is that really necessary?” asked Mr. Rhodes.

Brandon spoke up, “Better safe than sorry. If the invasion amounts to nothing, then it’s only a few classes missed. But if the invasion is as bad as Adam thinks, then it’s better to have them close.”

“That makes sense, Brandon. Thank you for looking out for us. After we check out the base I’ll get in touch with Philip and Darren and do what is needed to get them home.”

Tom stared at Brandon incredulously. “Dude, I think they replaced me with you.”

***

Abbey snuck into her father’s condo. It always felt too large. He had bought two high up units next to each other, not quite penthouse, and then knocked the wall between them down to make it bigger. Not because he needed the space, just to show off for guests. The whole place was immaculately decorated and Abbey was expected to touch almost nothing. The only other person who lived here was the housekeeper, Madra.

“Good afternoon, Miss Abigail,” Madra said while dusting as Abbey realized how bad her sneaking was. “Your father would like you to call him soon.”

Talking to her father was always a hassle. He expected her to do as he said and expected her to agree with it. There were never really consequences if she didn’t since the man traveled near constantly for work. He didn’t punish, at least in any enforceable way. If he tried and she ignored it, then he just added what she had done to his expectations as if he was the one telling her to. Really the man was her father in name only.

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Entering her sizable room and pulling out her vacation luggage, she began emptying her dressers and closets into them. It might take two or three trips even though there were quite a few luggage pieces, especially if she wanted to keep her stuffed animals.

While she absently decided on the order the clothes would be transported in, she dialed her father on her cell phone.

“Abigail, what have you been doing? Madra says you have only been home once in the last week and that the school is calling regarding absences or police issues. Are you running with a bad crowd?” He immediately took control of the conversation, not even bothering to greet her.

“Hello father. I’m just calling to let you know that I will be moving into an apartment with my friends. You no longer need to take me into consideration in your plans.”

“What? WHAT?! I am your FATHER! You don’t get to decide that. I’ll book a flight back home tomorrow and then you better pray I don’t miss this deal because of it. You are grounded until I return, and I expect you to be there when I arrive! Whatever came over you or caused you to act out is over as of now! ...”

Her father went on and on. Abbey calmly set the phone down without listening to let him continue his rant. A smile crept to her face as she thought of being only a room away from her best friends. Adam would also only be across the hall. It would be nice to cuddle whenever she wanted, even if it ends up being with her friends. So much of her life was lonely and devoid of human contact. Being able to sleep over whenever she wanted got her excited.

She couldn’t stop smiling as she continued to pack, never noticing when her phone went quiet.

***

Andrea crept into her grandmother’s house, where her family lived. Her oldest sister, Jenny, was watching TV while sitting on the couch in the small living room, while Julie, her youngest sister, was playing with Jenny’s baby on the floor with noisy toys. The vacuum was being run by her grandmother in the hallway while her mother was doing the dishes.

There was so much noise and chaos that Andrea was surprised anyone noticed her at all. But she was noticed. The water stopped running, the TV was muted, and the vacuum stopped.

“No Alissa or Abbey today?” her mother asked her pointedly.

“They’re packing. I was going to as well. We’ve decided to get a place together,” said Andrea with hesitation. She figured in this case it was better to just rip off the band aid.

Her mother stared at her with an incredulous look. The woman had taken care of the all female family for a long time. She was short and a bit pudgy, though you could still see the cute base that had been worn down from the years of stress. Long ago she had needed to move in with Andrea’s grandmother, even though the house was too small, with the difficulties of being a single parent. As a partial manager at a local department store, she had perfected her no-nonsense looks.

“This isn’t being paid for by Abbey’s dad, is it?” she asked. “I wouldn’t trust that man to even stir soup with my spoons.”

“No, mom. This has nothing to do with Abbey’s dad.”

“Then how are you paying for it?” demanded her mom, always money conscious. Over the years if Andrea hadn’t wanted to wear hand-me-downs that could even come all the way from Jenny, she earned the money herself. She and Alissa always found ways, often questionable, with the easiest way sneaking it under Abbey’s clothing funds.

“Um, Adam, this boy I hang out with, just built a huge set of condos. He’s letting all his friends live there,” Andrea said uncomfortably.

“A boy.” Her mom gave her a flat stare.

“He’s just giving you a place to live?” asked Jenny. Their grandmother was scowling at Andrea, showing her disapproval.

“Yes, but it’s to all his friends. I said Alissa and Abbey will be living with me,” Andrea said defensively.

“Oh ho, so the boy is gathering a bunch of pretty ones,” said her grandmother with a sneer. “Entrapping you in his place where you won’t have support or the right to say no. There is only one thing a boy would want from you.”

“No! It isn’t like that! He isn’t like that!” Andrea shouted. Even now she could feel the warmth of Adam’s connection and the feelings that came through it.

“Sure, sure,” mocked her grandma. “And Jenny didn’t just have a kid with a guy who said he’d be with her forever and then ran at the first signs of pregnancy.”

“How could a high schooler even afford their own building? What is the real story, Andrea? What are you playing at?” demanded her mom, clearly not believing the explanation.

“I’m not playing at anything,” whined Andrea, while Julie was smiling at the family drama. “Lots of our group are moving into the building. I can even get a big place for the rest of you.”

Even that explanation caused her mother and grandma to frown.

“I’m not willing to owe or be reliant on anyone that isn’t family,” said her mom.

“I told you it isn’t like that,” said Andrea. She remembered how the emotions from the connection felt when Adam got angry, and she felt her own face flushing with frustration and anger. She was never taken seriously in this house.

“Well, I won’t even consider allowing this until I meet this boy and see his ‘building,’” her mother said definitively.

“Oh wait,” Julie squealed, suddenly fixating on the news feed. “They’re doing another report on The General! That guy is so amazing! I wonder if I could meet him.”

Mid-argument, the volume on the TV was turned up. Julie scooted closer to the TV and looked like she wanted to reach out and touch the images of Adam. She bounced on her heels in excitement. After a minute of watching the news stream, she froze. Then, with a look of concentration, paused and rewound the feed, trying to find something.

“Wait a minute! Andrea, isn’t that you in the background?” asked Julie in surprise.

The four of them gathered around the TV to look at the paused image. It wasn’t clear, but with both Alissa and Andrea standing together, everyone was able to make them out.

“Why are you with The General?” asked Jenny in shock.

“Why are you where they’re fighting monsters?” asked her mom.

“He’s the leader of my group,” answered Andrea, with a sigh. It seemed like she would have to tell them more. “Adam is really strong, and we’ve all been hunting invaders together. Look at my tag, I’m a [Volt Mage] now because I got strong enough to evolve my class.”

“He’s the one you want to live with?” asked her grandma, still frowning.

“We’ll be in different condos in the same building. Not living together,” Andrea fibbed, not mentioning how close they’d be.

“And he can afford a whole building?” asked her mom, of course focusing on the money. And sarcasm. “Monster fighting must pay well.”

“It didn’t cost anything to make the building. It’s inside a base we took from the invaders and we used advanced alien tech to build it,” she explained. “The police will get space there too, so it’ll be safe.”

“Andrea…I don’t know if I can allow this,” said her mom.

Julie had been shaking in excitement and it now seemed too much for her to hold in. She sprang to her feet and ran to the hallway, while squealing, “Our family is going to be living with The General! I have to tell Sabrina!”

Then Julie stopped at the doorway after realizing something. She turned back and pointed to Andrea.

“That means you're one of The General’s Wives!” After another squeal she bolted from the room to tell their other sister.

“One of?!” her grandma said while aggressively glaring at Andrea.

“Wives?!” her mother said while increasing the glares focused on her.

Andrea swallowed hard and inched backwards, wondering if she could trigger the [Jolt] paralysis to escape without hurting them. Jenny picked up her baby and sat back on the couch, ready to watch something more interesting than the TV.