Jerry POV

I strolled through the hallway making quick checks into the future for immediate dangers, of which there were none. At least as I could see.

“Alice, how's your spine doing?” I asked, “I hope Adrian’s attempt at chiropractic wasn't too much for you.”

She chuckled with a roll of her shoulder, “I’ll be fine. Thanks for saving me though.”

“Oh please,” Amanda said, skipping to keep pace, “You could totally take Adrian, easy.”

“I don’t want to fight him,” Alice said, shifting her eyes away.

“Why not? I thought Adrian loved fighting.” Brick asked confused, “That's what Jerry says.”

“But I don't.” Alice snapped back, “I don't like anything about it.”

“Nothing?” Amanda twirled to look at Alice, “Not even the goofy looks on their faces when you win?”

“No.” Alice answered. The rest of us were left with nothing to say at that.

I managed to say, “I find fighting to be good exercise, but I too prefer non-violent approaches when possible.”

Alice managed to get a chuckle with a grin through. “Yeah.”

That was likely all I was going to get from her. So I simply left it there as we headed to class.

Opening the door I was met with my oldest friend who was exiting the room.

“Jerry,” Carl greeted, “I just got a call from my dad. He really is impossible.”

“Oh come now. You manage him well enough,” I said, holding my smile and going into my foresight, “Hopefully you'll be back in time to enjoy the day.”

“Yeah, hopefully.” Carl rubbed his neck and groaned. He straightened up, “That reminds me, we still need to do that rematch tournament. Melissa is up in arms about it. Don't know why.”

“Sounds great, but unfortunately my team needs to get straight to training.” I shrugged hoping that would work, and it likely would have if not for Samantha betraying me.

“Oh no you don't, Jerry!” Samantha jumped up by me and shouted, “We just got back from break. You are not throwing us right back into training. And I want to go to the arcade!”

She stomped her foot and slammed her trident down with a puff of her chest daring me to defy her. Lucky for me that's when Amanda spoke up.

“Sorry, but my grandma is wanting help around the house.” She leaned forward, “She wants to rearrange all the furniture and everything.”

That was an excellent excuse. Much better than training. I decided to capitalize.

Set.

“Yeah, hopefully.” Carl rubbed his neck and groaned. He straightened up, “That reminds me, we still need to do that rematch tournament. Melissa is up in arms about it. Don't know why.”

“I'm so sorry Carl, but I promised Amanda I would help with her grandmother.” I told the not-yet-truth. “She has a whole project.”

“She wants to rearrange the whole house.” Amanda effortlessly slid into place. She was a godsend for any liar to have, “We're lucky the foundation is rooted in the ground.”

“Oh, well… okay then.” Carl knitted his eyebrows in frustration. He likely would have more to say, but this time around Samantha came to my rescue.

“Oh! No training today! Yay!” She leaped forward excitedly with a twirl, “And I would love to go to the arcade!”

“Oh… well…” Carl stammered.

“Oh come on now Mr Star.” Samantha giggled and wiggled. “We can make a date of it and everything.”

Carl was shocked for only a moment. He cleared his throat and recovered, “Ms VonBec, as lovely as you are, I'm afraid I'm not wanting a relationship of a romantic nature.”

Samantha gasped before turning away in a pout, “Oh Sweet Mercy! What is with the boys of this school being so stuffy? I just want to go to the arcade with a pretty boy!”

I could only laugh and slap Carl on the shoulder, “I’ll see you around Carl. Maybe you could talk Argento into taking Samantha out when you get back. I'm sure she and I would both appreciate it.”

“Yeah. Sure.” Carl scowled before turning, saying his goodbyes, and dashing off at super speeds.

Samantha was whining some line about how stuffy Argento was as I headed on in. I whispered to Amanda, “Thanks for the bailout.”

“Thanks for volunteering.” Amanda smiled with all the smugness she had, “I was being honest about my grandma, and I plan to hold you to it.”

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Amanda was a godsend, but also my penance. I had to be careful with her help, and also be mindful of her limits. Such as how she would be little help for the next challenge. Still, Amanda winked well wishes at me as she skipped away. I turned and headed down the rows of desks to my own desk where Melissa sat backward chatting with her friends, “Good morning Ms Odinson.”

Melissa snapped a look at me of vile hatred on par with impoverished peasants looking on to nobility and with a tone more suited for a death threat she asked, “What do you want, Jerry?”

I swallowed before saying, “That's my seat.”

“Yeah, I know. I'm sitting in it.” She said as if it were a dare.

“Well… I was hoping to sit there.” I tried to keep an even voice.

“I bet you would.”

“Well, may I?”

She leaped up and stood on the seat managing to barely meet my height, “You know Jerry, you got some nerve coming in here and trying to boss me around.”

“Please, Melissa, it was only a request.” I didn't even bother using my powers of foresight to weasel my way through this, because my powers of hindsight allowed me to know that it was fruitless. Melissa was out for blood.

“Oh, just a request? I'm sure. I'm just sitting minding my own business, and you come up with your request.” She said the last word like it was bile.

“It's my seat,” I said as timidly as possible.

“And I'm sitting in it talking to my friends, and you think you can just kick me around.” She ranted with her full voice. Whispering was apparently beneath her, “Well you got another thing coming, bucko!”

“Yes, Sister! Slay!” Our robotic classmate, XK-88 cheered, “Kill him in cold blood!”

Melissa narrowed her eyes at me like a predator readying to leap. I had no hope of escaping her if she chose to pounce. I was at the mercy of fate.

“Oh come on Melissa. Have a heart.” Fate saved me through the kindness of Semy who had just entered the room with his big glowing smile, “Cut the guy some slack. He’s just trying to follow the rules.”

She scowled even harder as I smiled, silently pleading mercy, before hopping down to the floor and turning away with a, “Whatever.”

I took my seat and sighed with relief. “I'm fairly certain she'll actually kill me one of these days. Makes me scared to use my power around her.”

Jennifer giggled at that. “You know, she's actually really nice when you get to know her.”

“Then I should consider myself lucky to at least know her name. Less she maul me on the spot.”

Jennifer giggled again, “You're probably not wrong, but I promise you she's sweet.”

“Like a stray alley cat then.” I compared, “Vicious and skittish at first, but then cuddly and trusting when fed.”

“Cuddles may vary, but yeah.” Jennifer once again fell into a fit of giggle. Her spirits were incredibly high, “You know, picking up strays is the only way my family ever gets pets down back in Savannah, Georgia. The first pet I can remember was this mean old gray tom cat. Rough and tough and made of grit. We only had him for about three years before he died.”

“We never had pets back in New Orleans,” I said, “the closest we ever had were local strays that the neighborhood watched out for. The one I remember the most was Le Vicieux.”

“Le Vicieux?” Jennifer repeated, “The Vicious? Sounds dangerous.”

I shook my head, “Not at all. She was the sweetest dog you could ever meet. So long as you weren't a rat. She was a rat hunting dog and single-handedly kept the rat population to a minimum.”

“You mean single-pawedly.” Jennifer corrected and I laughed with her.

The moment ended when I heard the front door open and saw Jennifer's eyes deflect downward. For some reason, Jennifer was very nervous about our homeroom teacher, the world's greatest hero, Mr Galacto.

“Good morning class,” He said as sat at his desk and downed gulps from his flask. We all greeted him back and I noticed Adrian still wasn't in class. That was odd. Adrian always got into class on time, if only just. “Okay, I can see who's here so we can skip attendance and get straight into announcements.”

“Mr Galacto, before you begin,” Semy raised his hand, “can I be allowed to switch seats with my teammate, Melissa. I think it's unfair for me to sit in front of her and block her view.”

“Sure, Mr Largge. You and Ms Odinson may switch assigned seats.”

As they did so Samantha leaped up, “Oh, can I-”

“No Ms VonBec. You are to remain where you are.”

Samantha wasn't pleased with that and decided to rant about it. She was going to complain for a few seconds, which would provide a small window of opportunity to ask just a few questions.

I turned and leaned back to Runesir and asked, “Runesir, do you know why Adrian isn't here? I saw him just earlier with you.”

Runesir tsked, “And what concern is it to you?”

“Nothing much. Just curious.” I said.

“Curiosity is a dangerous virtue, you know.” He furrowed his brow. Runesir's default attitude was sour, but I knew how to sweeten him up in order to extract information out of him. Problem was I didn't have the time. I tried a few more word choices, and some seemed to get better reactions, but ultimately it was fruitless to ask him. I would have to turn my attention elsewhere.

Set.

Samantha wasn’t pleased with Mr Galacto's dismissal and decided to rant about it. As she did I slid over and leaned forward to Mary, “Mary, do you know why Adrian isn't here? I saw him just earlier with you.”

Mary turned and looked at me with confusion, “No. He got called into the Vice Principal's office.”

“What for?” I asked.

“No idea.” Was her answer. I tried to push and dig through various paths of time, but I ultimately concluded she didn't know anything. It would be better not to bother her.

Set.

Samantha wasn't pleased with Mr Galacto's dismissal and decided to rant about it. “Why can't I switch seats around! This is special treatment.”

Mr Galacto sighed, “Mr Largge has a legitimate concern, Ms VonBec.”

“This is so unfair!” Samantha stomped her foot.

“It's not, and if it was, I still wouldn't care. Sit down before I call the disciplinary officer.” Mr Galacto ordered.

Samantha sat down with puffed cheeks to pout. Mumbling under her breath about her injustice.

“Now, continuing with announcements,” Galacto refocused the class, “Our school has been selected to receive the privilege of getting a first tour of the Startouch Labs located here in Virginia. During this autumn term, each class will be shuttled to and escorted through the main Startouch Labs faculties. Starting with the senior classes and going down the line. The school will work on gaining informed consent from your parents and/or guardians. Any questions.”

There were a few, but I didn't listen. Instead, I looked over Adrian's empty desk to the only other empty desk, Carl's. He didn't tell me about Startouch opening its doors to the public. Even if it was a controlled curated piece of the public. Maybe this was a good sign. A sign that Carl was growing away from me, and towards his destiny.