Filler chapter (it's actually part of the main plot, but it's more of a connector than anything else).
Enjoy
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With the end of summer vacation, the inevitable and horrifying happened, at least in Gabe's opinion.
The start of the school year.
The first day of classes, a couple of days after Meredith returned to Boston. Early in the morning, after our morning run and each of us taking a shower; Gabe and I were having breakfast with the rest of the family, everyone except Teddy, who strangely wasn't there.
Checking his watch and frowning at the kitchen door. Bob surely thought the same. "She's going to be late" he leaned toward mom, "what is she doing?" he asked.
Keeping her attention on Charlie, whom she was feeding with a bottle. "She's not going to be late" mom said unconcernedly, "and it's normal that today, of all days, she takes a little longer to get ready, after all, not every day is the first day of high school" mom said obviously.
Mom was right about the schedule, since Teddy had graduated from middle school it was natural that she would carpool with me to high school, and with the time it was, even if she had to eat breakfast a bit rushed we would still arrive with plenty of time.
Tilting his head, visibly nervous. "Why would the first day of high school be so important?" Bob asked, obviously knowing the answer to his question, but not any less terrified because of it.
With pity, mom pulled her attention away from Charlie, looking at her husband steadily for a couple of seconds before, finally, pressing her lips in resignation. "She wants to make a good impression on the first day of classes, that's why she takes so long getting ready" she explained slowly.
Even though we knew the answer, both Bob and I, as one, at the same time focused our attention on mom.
Snatching the words from my lips. "Getting ready?" Bob asked, from his expression he looked like he was about to throw up.
Smiling stiffly, mom snorted. "Oh honey, Teddy is a teenager now" she said softly, as if she was afraid of breaking Bob's heart even more, "she's going to be very concerned now with how she is perceived by other people, especially boys" she added, holding Bob's arm with her free hand.
Mom's words were like direct blows with hammers to the brain for both Bob and me.
I knew, from the whole fiasco with McShitface, that Teddy was already old enough to be interested in idiots, but the idea of my little sister surrounded by the same teenagers that plagued my school had never crossed my mind, until that moment.
Pulling Bob and me out of our shock. "I still remember my first day of high school" mom commented nostalgically, smiling into the void, "that day I woke up an hour early just to have my hair perfect" she added raising her eyebrows, "I remember how I was the center of attention of absolutely the-" Interrupting mom, Teddy walked in through the kitchen door.
Wearing a sun dress and with a light layer of makeup on her face she walked in smiling widely, visibly excited. Which, somehow, felt like a dagger in my heart.
Smiling sweetly. "Oh honey you look beautiful" mom said immediately.
"Really?" Teddy asked genuinely interested, "isn't it too much?" she added fixing the hem of her dress.
Shaking her head. "Of course not" mom said, shifting her attention from Teddy to Bob, "tell her Bob" she urged annoyed, nudging the man's side with her free elbow.
Coming out of his stupor. "Ye-yes you look beautiful" Bob replied, choking on his own words.
With a small smile on her face. "Thanks" Teddy said continuing her way to the kitchen table.
Watching my sister calmly serving her breakfast, in secret, Bob and I shared a silent look and a nod of complicity.
I would definitely protect my sister from the monst- teenagers at school.
Having all finished our breakfast, after saying goodbye to mom who would stay at home, Gabe left with Bob and Teddy and I walked out of the house getting into my car. While we waited for 'Debbie's' engine to warm up, Teddy looked through all the CDs in the glove compartment. "You need to buy more" she commented while choosing one of the discs with some reluctance.
Shaking my head immediately, incredulous. "I have more than enough" I defended myself.
Playfully tapping her forehead. "Yeah right, my mistake" Teddy apologized, "what I meant is, you need to buy more, new ones" she corrected emphasizing the last word, and noticing my offended expression she added, "you know there's new music practically every day, right?"
Raising an eyebrow, seeing how proud of herself Teddy looked after her 'smart' comment. "You know you can take the bus in the mornings, right?" I asked, immediately wiping the smile off my sister's face.
Turning up the volume of the still perfect and not at all outdated music, I accelerated, driving us away from the house.
After a pleasant drive, where Teddy took the opportunity to ask about the teachers and a general idea of the school layout, we arrived at the parking lot. Turning off the car engine in the same parking spot I had used all last year, I paused, puzzled to see my Teddy next to me.
Taking a deep breath with her gaze lost on the school entrance, my sister seemed nervous, even reluctant to move from the car. Waiting a couple of seconds in silence, surprised by the sudden change in Teddy's attitude. "Are you okay?" I asked, surprising my sister, snapping her out of her stupor.
Opening her eyes wide, nervous she turned to me abruptly. "Wh-what? Yes" she said choking on her own saliva, starting to cough a moment later, "why wouldn't I be?" she asked after coughing one last time forcefully.
Amused. "No reason at all" I smiled widely, "after all, everything is going to be fine" I assured her.
As much as the idea of my sister growing up was terrifying to me, I knew mom was right, not every day would be her first day of high school. I didn't want Teddy to have a bad memory of that day.
Trying to force a calm smile. "I know" my sister murmured.
Gently pushing her shoulder. "Even if not, I'll be there if you need anything" I reminded her, raising my shoulders.
Tilting her head slightly smiling, this time with a genuine smile. Teddy rolled her eyes and repeated with fake exasperation. "I know."
"Besides, I'm sure most of your middle school classmates, including Bianca and Baja, are here" I stated obviously.
Making an embarrassed face Teddy nodded, for a moment, she seemed to have forgotten.
Snorting amused. "All right, come on" I said stretching to grab my backpack from the back seat before getting out of the car just a couple of seconds before her.
With her own backpack hanging from one of her shoulders, Teddy closed the other door of my car and walked with me toward the school, at least for a couple of steps, because when she raised her gaze. My sister stopped frozen. "What?" I asked puzzled.
Visibly nervous. "Everyone is looking at us" she said through her teeth.
Nodding slowly. "Yeah" I murmured, also returning my attention to the school a few steps away from us.
As always the stairs leading to the school entrance were packed with gossiping teenagers from all social groups, the same ones who surely recognized my car and the oddity of how long it was taking me to get out of it.
That a teenager they didn't recognize came out through the other door, was just the cherry on top.
Apparently unable to look away from all the eyes watching us. "Why is everyone looking at us?" my sister asked anxiously.
Immediately. "Maybe because of the huge booger on your cheek" I replied, lying as naturally as I breathed, pointing at her face.
Covering her face with her free hand. "What!?" Teddy exclaimed, unable to help it in an extremely high-pitched tone, only realizing a second later, because of the absurdity of the lie and my laughter at her reaction, that it had just been a joke.
Shielding myself from my sister's furious, incredibly weak punches. "Sorry, sorry" I apologized, trying to stop my laughter without much success, causing Teddy to just hit me harder. "Just ignore them" I said, completely stopping my sister's attack, forcing her into a one-armed hug, "they'll get bored in a few minutes" I added with false confidence making Teddy remember we had an audience.
I really didn't know how long it would take for them to get bored, knowing the gossiping collective that was the school, their reaction wasn't strange to me at all, in fact I expected it in a way. I just hoped something would happen that would catch their attention more.
Fortunately, remembering that we had an audience and seeing how uninterested I was about it, forcing a natural smile onto her face. "Okay" my sister murmured, beginning to walk with me beside her.
We had only taken a couple more steps when the screech of tires skidding and the music blasting from a car right behind us startled us.
Turning, I saw, just in time, how a red sports car, quite beaten up and old, parked in the spot directly to the left of 'Debbie,' almost going over the yellow front stops and, making me feel the closest to a heart attack, invading the painted line that divided its spot from mine.
Feeling my heart return to beating normally, I sighed in relief... at least until I saw how the passenger door swung open, leaving only a tiny space between the edge of the door and the side of 'Debbie'.
Fortunately the shock prevented me from letting out a terrified high-pitched scream.
Getting out of the car completely carefree, without knowing she had almost sent me to the hospital. "Teddy!" Bianca shouted as she slammed the door of the red car, opening her arms and, practically running, moved toward my sister.
Completely forgetting how nervous she had been just a few seconds ago. "Bianca!" Teddy shouted, imitating the other teenager, running to meet her in a cheerful hug with her friend.
At the same time, on the driver's side of the red car. Kat got out with a frown, staring fixedly at her sister. "Don't slam my door!" she exclaimed annoyed.
Exhaling in frustration seeing that her sister didn't pay attention to her, Kat closed her car door, crossing glances with me, at that moment unable to help it I smiled widely and, as if she could read my mind, Kat shook her head practically pleading silently.
Opening my arms, imitating our sisters. "Kat!" I exclaimed amused, moving toward my friend who closed her eyes tightly for a second.
Hitting my abdomen with a poorly formed jab. "Stop that!" Kat ordered embarrassed.
Despite the technique, thanks to the embarrassment and the surprise of the attack, it made that, for the first time, Kat's punch was actually effective.
Feeling the air escape from my lungs, I held my abdomen, exhaling from the sudden pain, despite that the reaction was completely worth it. "I'm sorry" I said laughing as I caught my breath.
Surprised, Kat looked at her fist with disbelief, surely feeling the power in her hands. "Don't do that again" she warned a moment later, raising her fist threateningly.
Raising my hands, amused. "It was a one time thing" I said innocently.
"It better be" she murmured narrowing her eyes.
Keeping my hands up in surrender, I tilted my head for a second, falsely scared. "How were your vacations?" I asked immediately after.
Returning to her normal attitude. "Great" Kat replied unconcernedly, "I got a job to be able to pay for this baby, do you like it?" she added patting the roof of her car.
"Bab- Yes, yes I like it" I replied quickly, "when did you got it?" I added smiling stiffly.
Like I said, the car was red, old and definitely worn out. It had entire areas with corroded paint, the hood, unlike the entire body of the car, was yellowish white, the interior was so worn that I could see the padding of the seats, the tires were definitely a few potholes away from bursting and the bumper seemed to be barely attached, but I wouldn't be the one to speak badly about other people's cars, at least not out loud.
"I bought it a few days after getting my permit" Kat replied proudly.
Somewhat concerned about my friend's well-being. "Well, it's... definitely something" I murmured. Fortunately Kat, who was busy dusting invisible dust off the hood of her car, didn't seem to notice my true feelings.
Returning her attention to me. "I know right?" my friend asked smiling arrogantly.
Snorting amused, I nodded. "All right, let's go" I checked the time on my watch, "you two need-" I was saying turning on my feet, but I stopped when I discovered that my sister and Kat's sister had disappeared.
Noticing my surprise. "They left immediately after their hug" my friend commented as she came to my side.
Not really knowing how to feel. "Oh, ok" I murmured.
Walking alongside my friend to school, we talked about our summer vacation. Mostly her because, from going out from time to time with Diane, Kat and Mandela knew, obviously, the vast majority of things we had done.
Ignoring as best as I could the stares of the interested teenagers as we passed through the school doors, something I already had good experience with, my wish for the school to find a new piece of gossip to invest their time in came true... Unfortunately I was still involved.
A guy I vaguely recognized, dressed in a button-up shirt and tucked-in pants, came running up to me. "PJ!" he exclaimed trying to catch his breath, "a group of freshmen took Cooper to the bathroom" he added looking at me nervously, he even seemed scared of how I would react.
For a fraction of a second I thought that the Cooper he was referring to was Georgie, but I immediately corrected myself when I saw the anxiety in the guy. Without saying anything, I directly headed to the nearest bathroom with long strides.
When I opened the bathroom door, as always, the first thing that happened was that the concentrated smell of cigarettes hit my face unpleasantly, a moment later I saw Francis Wilkerson, along with two other teenagers with idiot faces smoking at the window and finally my attention went to another group where McShitface along with a couple of idiots were laughing at the door of one of the stalls.
Taking only a second since I opened the door. "Hey!" I exclaimed annoyed, upon hearing Sheldon's muffled screams. It was more than clear what was happening.
As one, surprised, everyone in the bathroom with a direct view of the door turned toward me, only two of them being even more surprised with recognition on their faces when they saw me.
With the few steps it took me to reach the bathroom stall, I couldn't help but notice that the expressions on Francis and McShitface's faces were exactly the same. Absolute terror.
To McShitface's credit, he only showed the expression for a second, controlling it halfway through my walk toward them.
Frowning. "What?" one of the idiots who didn't know me asked.
Pushing him out of my way. "Get the fuck out of here" I said entering the stall, giving my back to both Ryan and the other guy.
Inside the stall there was a third idiot, with one knee on the ground, holding Sheldon face down against the toilet seat. Surprised by the way I entered his personal space, the idiot raised his free hand, which I immediately grabbed with both my hands, separating his index and middle finger in my left hand and the ring and pinky in the right.
"Ah" idiot #3 exclaimed.
Slowly separating the fingers, causing the idiot to contort. "Let him go" I said, although really, the moment he began to feel pain he had already released him.
With his face wet, visibly disgusted. "Oh PJ, thank you" Sheldon said trembling.
Keeping the idiot contorted in pain. "Everything it's all right now Sheldon" I said smiling calmly at my little friend, "go to the sink and wash your face, I'll join you in a moment" I added nodding my head, "you, I said get out of here" I repeated looking at Ryan and idiot #2.
"Ah" the latter exclaimed, as without thinking I twisted even more on my feet.
Staring fixedly at McShitface, who like that day had his face impressively red, I silently challenged him to do something while Sheldon walked past them.
Surely remembering what would happen if he did anything, McShitface walked out of the bathroom hitting his friend with the side of his hand, urging him to follow, idiot #2, surprised, moved, quickly shifting his attention between Ryan and idiot #3 still at my mercy.
Seeing from the stall at Francis, leaving nervously along with his friend. "You! don't move from where you are" I ordered, making him stop abruptly right in front of the bathroom.
Unable to take his eyes off the other teenager kneeling in front of me, Francis swallowed nervously.
Returning my attention to idiot #3, who seemed on the verge of crying holding the wrist of the hand I had grabbed. "Now you" I said threateningly, "looks like you're thirsty" I added pointing at the same toilet where they had been bothering Sheldon.
A few seconds later, with his shirt completely soaked and still holding his hand in pain, idiot #3 ran out of the bathroom, leaving only Sheldon, Francis, his friend and me in the bathroom.
Stopping in front of the teenager I used to babysit, I stretched out my hand. "Cigarettes" I ordered.
Immediately forgetting all the terror he felt from being caught by me. "You're not my boss!" Francis complained angrily.
Taking one more step toward them, causing Francis to awkwardly raise his face so he could see me. "Cigarettes" I repeated in a low, threatening and slow voice.
In two quick movements, immediately losing his nerve. Francis pulled the pack out of his pocket, placing it on my hand. "Yep" he said smiling innocently.
Throwing the pack into the same toilet I had used to hydrate idiot #3. "Get out of here" I said, pointing toward the bathroom door with my head.
Without waiting to hear it twice, Francis ran out, leaving his friend behind, who until that moment I noticed had his own pack out, which he was offering to me with terror in his eyes.
Noticing his friend had been left behind. "Richie!" Francis exclaimed nervously.
Snorting, I repeated the same process with Richie's cigarettes, urging the teenager to go out after Francis, this time he followed my instructions.
With no one else in the bathroom but Sheldon and me. "Better?" I asked my little friend.
With disgust still marked on his face and a little reddened from having scrubbed with soap. "As well as one can be after having their head shoved into a toilet" Sheldon replied.
Holding the boy's shoulder. "I'm sorry I couldn't get here sooner" I said smiling with pity.
"It's all right, I suppose you didn't find out immediately."
Nodding. "Do you want me to take you to your dad?, I'm sure he can take you home" I asked knowing what Sheldon's answer would be.
Snorting with disbelief. "And miss the first day of school?" the boy asked, "I see what you're trying to do, it's not going to work" he added, "our competition starts today."
Amused by Sheldon's resilience when it came to school. "All right" I said, patting his shoulder, "let's go then" I added, gently pushing him toward the bathroom door.
On the other side of the door, forming a semicircle and covering practically all possible exits, dozens of teenagers were waiting for the gossip. For a few seconds I had forgotten where I was, and worst of all, how many people had been near me when the guy told me what was happening. Even Kat, whom I had lost, was there.
Among them, Teddy along with Bianca and Baja, the three of them looking at me completely incredulous.
Great.
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Maybe while I sort out the final plot of the volume there will be a few more filler chapters (maybe not, I don't know).
Meanwhile.
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Author Thoughts:
As always, I'm not American, not a doctor, not a fighter, not Magnus Carlsen, not Michael Phelps, not Arsene Lupin, not McLovin, not Elliot, not Capone, not Tiger Woods and not Sam Fisher.
Another chapter has passed, so new thanks are in order. I would like to especially thank:
11332223
Victor_Venegas
RandomPasserby96
I think that's all. As always, if you find any errors, please let me know, and I'll correct them immediately.
Thank you for reading! :D
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