CHAPTER 46: The Crush

Brittney arrived home in the late afternoon. She came in and laid on the sofa, just thinking about everything that had happened and whether it was worth it to move into the base. She thought of Adam and the Triple As, considering dropping from the group entirely. She was only a small, plain looking girl, after all. With her stats she could take a hit for others, but she had no practical skills and was easily replaced.

After a few minutes her mother came in and sat at her feet on the couch, since Brittney didn’t take up much of it. Brittney’s dad was in the kitchen making dinner, so her mom sat there quietly for a few minutes, rubbing her legs.

“I know that look, Brittney. You have a problem that you're trying to solve by yourself,” Brittney’s mother said.

“It’s not really a problem. It just bothers me a bit, is all,” responded Brittney without looking up.

“Why don’t you tell me about it. That way you can organize your thoughts.”

“No thanks, mom. If I talk about it, I might cause problems for my friends. I don’t want to rock the boat,” said Brittney.

“I see. These new friends of yours. You’ve been spending all your time with them, but you haven’t told me much about them or what you’ve been doing with them. Can I hear a bit about them?” her mom asked.

“That’s fine,” Brittney acknowledged while her brain still wandered elsewhere. “This classmate of Brandon’s, his name is Adam, beat up the bullies to help Brandon. Then Adam made Brandon and me change our classes. Adam has been showing us how to use the [System] and teaching us to fight. Adam is even strong enough that the bullies now follow him around, along with a few pretty girls from his class. The police even want Adam to work with them.”

“Pretty girls, huh?” asked her mom with emphasis.

“Yeah, they’re pretty. It only makes sense. Adam is so nice and caring, and his muscles look like they were sculpted by the Greek gods…” Brittney’s words drifted off.

“He must be amazing for you to have a crush on him,” said her mom.

“He’s so amazing. The way he looks when he swings that hammer… and the way he makes everyone feel when he really connects with us… There is no one as … wait a minute! Did you say crush?!” Brittney sat up.

“Of course. You have a crush on him. But what about Brandon?” asked her mom.

“What about Brandon?” Brittney repeated with confusion.

“I thought the two of you,” said her mom.

“What? Eww. No. Brandon is so weak. Why would I ever have gotten together with him?”

“Sorry, I just thought that since you were always together…” her mom faded out.

“Not at all. I was just Brandon’s stand in parent. It was always so stressful. Adam solved that though. Now both Brandon and I are freer,” she explained.

“Oh, Adam did, huh? This Adam definitely sounds like quite the catch. What’s the problem then?”

“He just got a big building for all his friends to live in, so we can work together easier. But I think maybe it would be better for me to drop from the group,” said Brittney.

“That isn’t like you. You're usually much more straightforward. Does he already have a girlfriend?”

“He has three,” Brittney said.

“THREE?!” Her mother exclaimed. “Are you sure he’s a good guy? He sounds like a womanizer to be cheating on three girls.”

“He isn’t cheating. They're good friends, closer than I could ever be, and they all flirt and kiss him. Adam’s actually bashful about it all. He just doesn’t push them away. I don’t even know if two of them are serious about him.”

“You don’t think he’d be interested in you?”

“Why would he be? I’m so small and plain. Not special at all,” muttered Brittney.

Her mom grabbed Brittney’s arms and pulled her upright, then wrapped her in a hug.

“Oh, baby. You are so special. I’m sorry the guy you fell for is already taken, and in such…odd…circumstances. Unfortunately, this is how love goes sometimes. Sometimes we love more than the other person. If you want, I can send your brothers after him. I’ve had trouble keeping them from roughing up Brandon since they think he isn’t tough enough for you.”

“Brandon isn’t tough enough for me. Thanks, but don’t. Adam would wipe the floor with them,” Brittney said while looking at her mom.

“The boy is that much tougher than your brothers?” her mom asked, suddenly intrigued.

“After getting levels with Adam and the others, I could wipe the floor with them,” Brittney admitted, pointing to the number above her head. “Adam is without a doubt the strongest man in the world.”

“Oooooh,” her mom said with a bit of excitement. She looked down at her own arm and flexed the not insignificant muscle on it. “Maybe you shouldn’t give up on this Adam. If you have a good relationship with those girls maybe you can talk to them about it. People do break up.”

“Ok mom. After dinner can you give me a ride to the school? We’re going to head to Adam’s new building to pick condos to live in.”

“Sure, my special girl. For now, let’s watch some wrestling while we wait for your dad to finish dinner.”

***

When Brittney arrived at the warehouse, there were already several cars parked there. She assumed that Jordan would be inside playing with the Rift Menu, with maybe Elias. Alissa had texted that she had arrived with her mom, and Andrea was making Carlos drive her and Abbey here.

Lucas was moving in immediately, though his truck was totaled from the elf incident. Adam would probably buy him one to drive with the money they had made. Brittney imaged that Randall and Joseph would already be here too, having hotwired a car and stashed it in a nearby warehouse. That would be just like them.

The Rift sky was dark to reflect the night in the outside world, which felt no less creepy than when the goblins had controlled it. There were sparks of light, shaped like stars in the night sky. Oddly, they provided enough light for it to feel like walking through a park with streetlights. It was difficult to even sense where that extra light was coming from. Otherwise, it would be pitch black in here except for the light given off by the Sentinel building.

In the lobby, Abbey, Alissa, and Andrea were waiting for her. Abbey had a trolley stacked with high end luggage. Alissa carried a large cloth bag, like a sun bag used at the beach. Andrea had a ratty looking, but large, army green backpack. It looked so beat up that it wouldn’t even have been sold at thrift shops.

“Then what happened?” Alissa asked Andrea while they chatted.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Grandma chased me around outside the house with a broom while my mom sprayed me with the hose. Dinner overcooked and was completely ruined. Which they also blamed on me,” complained Andrea. Alissa burst out laughing while even Abbey grabbed her trolley to stay upright from laughing so hard. “I could’ve easily outrun them, but it didn’t hurt at all, so I let them get a few hits on me.”

“Oh gosh, I love your granny!” gasped Alissa. The laughing continued as Brittney walked over to them and they all smiled at her warmly.

“Any issues with your parents?” Andrea asked Brittney, waiting for the other two to get over their laughing fit.

“I didn’t tell them much about the building yet. How’d it go with you?” Brittney asked back.

“Honestly, it was going poorly even before my younger sister made it ten times worse,” answered Andrea with a frown.

“Aw, leave Julie alone. She’s a cutie,” said Alissa, finally breathing normally.

“You always take her side. Maybe you should just take her instead,” Andrea replied snarkily.

“You know I would,” nodded Alissa. “I never had family. I have to live vicariously through my girls.”

“You only think that because they aren’t your family,” Andrea moped.

Then the much taller Alissa hugged Brittney from the side and held on to her as they walked to the elevator. Brittney was strong enough to shake her off if she wanted, even with Alissa having put some stats into strength, but she was feeling uncertain with how everything would go. Her nerves were getting to her.

“How about you, Brittney?” Alissa asked. “Any siblings I can steal?”

“Two meathead older brothers. I doubt you’d want them. Though it might be funny watching them fall in love with your model looks while you use your stats to beat them back.”

“Aww, that’s sweet of you,” smiled Alissa. “Model looks, huh?”

“You're all better looking than me,” Brittney criticized herself. Alissa and Andrea both frowned at her, while Abbey gave her a sympathetic smile.

“Nonsense, honey,” said Andrea. “You’re quite cute. Those clothes just need to be replaced by something more flattering. You dress like a librarian. Maybe some hair styling and a touch of makeup. Even Abbey had to take lessons on how to dress, style, and use makeup. Then you could get any guy you wanted.”

“Not any guy,” mumbled Brittney with her head down. Alissa just squeezed her tighter.

Andrea pushed the button for the 10th floor.

“I need the 8th floor,” said Brittney. “I need to pick my unit.”

Smiling at her, Andrea said, “Yes, we’re all going to pick our rooms.”

Brittney stared at her as the elevator went up without the slightest sensation of movement. They arrived near instantly and Alissa dragged her out of the elevator. The hallway had a door on the right and a door on the left. One had a placard that said, “The General,” while the other had a placard with “General’s Wives.” Abbey giggled at that, and Alissa outright laughed. Andrea had no hesitation as she walked to the Wives door and opened it.

“That idiot Tom,” started Andrea. “He might not have planned it, but he got us something good with this General’s Wives stuff.”

“Definitely,” agreed Alissa.

“What do you mean?” asked Brittney.

“With people thinking we are in a relationship with Adam, less people will hassle us or go against us. It also means that we can get away with more,” said Andrea shamelessly. “For example, I made Jordan Lane buy us all comfy mattresses for today. The guy is so scared of losing access to the Rift that he wouldn’t dare to go against someone related to Adam. By the way, he only got the other guys sleeping bags for tonight, so we’ll have a nicer time than them.”

“As it should be,” agreed Alissa.

“Doesn’t that just ruin Adam’s reputation?” asked Brittney, feeling it was wrong to take advantage of him.

“How much can his reputation really matter when he is known for being able to punch holes in people he doesn’t like?” responded Andrea.

“That doesn’t feel right. It sounds like you're just using him,” insisted Brittney.

Alissa stepped back and looked at Brittney with her arms crossed.

“Why shouldn’t we use him?” she asked.

Brittney started to get angry. She though of Adam as this nice and caring guy. Completely harmless. Being able to punch through people was besides the fact.

“Adam is worth more than that!” She shouted. “Adam should be loved and supported, not used. If you don’t love him then what are you doing flirting with him and kissing him. Isn’t that just deceiving him?”

Brittney felt the jealousy in her words. She felt the heat. These two were taking for granted who Adam was, just looking at the what. Adam needed to know what they really thought of him.

Then a light hand touched her own. Abbey held her hand and smiled at her. Warmth like from an angel came out of Abbey. It felt like there was no deception there, only genuine caring.

“It’s ok, Brittney,” she said gently.

“It’s not ok if it’s going to hurt Adam when he finds out,” she pleaded with Abbey, voice quivering on the edge of tears.

“He already knows how they feel,” said Abbey.

“What?” Brittney asked, stupefied. “Then why does he accept it?”

“Because that isn’t all they feel towards him,” Abbey explained. “The connections Adam keeps open allows us to feel his feelings and for him to feel ours. He isn’t being deceived. They do care for him in their way, but not everyone understands relationships the same way.”

“Yeah,” said Andrea. “My father left when I was 5. He sends minimal child support. My mom has had to bust her butt since, to make sure we had food on the table and a place to live. Her life became stressful while he remarried and took on another family. I don’t need a relationship like that. It’s more important to me to be able to stay with my girls, Abbey and Alissa. I’m not going to let a man take them from me.”

Alissa nodded along while Andrea spoke before added her own opinion. “My mama had me young and gave up her life to keep me. Her parents wanted to get rid me or give me up for adoption or something, then kicked her out of the house when she wouldn’t. Mama had to date scummy guys just to make sure there was enough money to take care of me, and then had to find ways to keep me safe from those boyfriends. I’m so happy that she’ll be able to live here safely without sucking up to some lowlife. That’s thanks to Adam.”

“Is Greg coming with her?” Andrea asked as an aside.

“Hell no. I castrated that ass,” said Alissa. Andrea smiled proudly before they turned back to Brittney.

Alissa continued, “You heard me before. I’ve never had a family. Adam’s family is the nicest one I’ve ever seen. I want to be a part of that. I want to know what it is like to have kids without being scared of getting kicked out or having people abandon me. Having people who will love those kids as much as I will. Mama and Papa Clemens will be so great to our kids. So will Adam. He’d never abandon us.”

“See,” insisted Abbey. “They both have loving reasons for being with Adam. Our connections also allow us to know him better than we might even know ourselves. With our own emotions, we can deny them or lie to ourselves. With Adam, we can feel what he feels and know it’s the truth.”

“Yeah, he’s no scumbag,” insisted Alissa. “Even when he gets horny while looking at or kissing me he doesn’t push, instead respecting my own feelings. And when I decide to throw him down, he’ll accept that too.”

“I’m never going to throw myself at a guy. Screw that. We’re willing to get what we can from him, but we’ll also give what we can to Adam too. The connections make it easy to know what that is,” explained Andrea.

“That’s how it is,” said Abbey, patting her hand reassuringly. “No one is hurting Adam.”

Listening to them, Brittney’s eyes had teared up and she started to cry.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t want to be mean, I’m just feeling so frustrated. Jealous too. Adam is the only person outside of my family that hasn’t been turned off by my personality. He even encouraged me to be a warrior. If I want to hit something, he would just ask me how big instead of telling me girls should be dainty.”

“We know you like Adam too,” comforted Abbey.

Alissa once more hugged her side, “Don’t sweat it, shortcake. We girls all need to stick together.”

Andrea gave her a peck on the cheek. “For now, let’s pick which rooms we each want, and then tomorrow we can get hubby dear to give you a connection and a kiss too. Maybe followed by getting you a new wardrobe and having Alissa’s mom style your hair. After we hunt the changed animals of course.”

Brittney calmed down from all the acceptance. She nodded for a moment before thinking something else. “Aren’t you scared of other women coming along?”

Andrea’s hand was raised while electricity crackled around it. “Not at all, darling.”

***

Later that night, in a small basement room covered in darkness except for the flicker of weak candles, sat a man as he schemed. He wrote names on paper before cutting them out, sorted through pictures of people, and wrote down points to his plans. Occasionally a cackle would come out of him.

Next to the folding table and chair that he used was a large corkboard. Those names and pictures all ended up pinned to that board. Colored string connected the pinned items, much like detectives use in police dramas, or more accurately criminals. Emails that had been sent to the Sentinel Army’s addresses were reviewed for the best way to make use of them. The man malevolently muttered to himself while he plotted.

“…if the invaders are released and they…”

“…we just need to target the appropriate authorities…”

“…need the most influential people to seduce…”

“…we could use this as blackmail for those who won’t follow properly…”

“…if we get them on board then by the time they realize…”

“…optimize the merchandizing…”

“…and then, there will be no one to stop up. He will rule the world.”

The man looked over his scheme, knowing that it would need to change as events did, but satisfied with it for now. Then he smiled and laughed wickedly. Everything was coming together.

The door to the room opened as a woman put her head in, looking at the man, the board, and the burned down candles.

“If you wanted light, just use the light switch. Don’t waste the birthday cake candles. I guess I should be grateful you didn’t use my good candles. Anyway, go to bed soon. Brandon said you guys have a big day tomorrow. At least there will be police with you.”

“Yes, mom. I’ll be right up,” Tom said.