The Shrink Program

Chapter 136

"...I've just.... strayed too far away...."

Going very still, Vain slowly raised his head, and just like that, I wasn't on his level any more. He was looking down at me, controlling everything and the expression I saw made my body go numb.

Because Vain only has three expressions.

But this wasn't the usual calm face or even the mildly pissed off face. It wasn't even the so incredibly pissed that he looks calm face.

No, we had somehow crossed the line, and Vain glared down at me with the ultimate So incredibly insanely pissed off that he actually just looks legitimately pissed off face.

And all I could do was sit in frozen horror, waiting for the bomb to drop and kill us all.

"You listen to me Maddison Tramph." He snarled, lowering his hand as he turned on his heal so sharply I had to clutch at his hand for support.

Vain continued to speak, not looking at me as he furiously weaved his way through the crowd.

"Despite the fact that nearly ninety percent of what comes out of your mouth these days is complete nonsense, I've always done you the courtesy of patiently listening to every word, and trust me, I have been patient."

He sent me a sharp look that dared me to argue.

"And now, for the sake of my sanity, you are not going to say another damn word until this entire stupid situation is over. The very moment you are no longer too small to touch, you may resume your speech, in which case, I will proceed to shut you up in the only way appropriate. Understood?"

Touch?.... does that mean.... he's going to punch me...?

Well, I'm pretty sure Vain deserves one free shot at this point... so I guess I'm okay with it...

"Ahh... by not another word, do you mean I literally can't talk until I'm person-sized again... cause I can't really see that happening...."

Vain remained silent as if to say you may be able to talk, but I can still ignore you.

Jeez, he's in a bad mood... must have gotten cooties when Alex's mum smoothed him... does that make him like, a step got-to-first-base-with-ya-mum guy... haha, I think my brain melted.

The first clue that something was wrong was that Alan stood alone where we had left him.

Please tell me he didn't throw Apollo over the edge or something... cause I totally wanted to be here to see that...

As we approached, Alan looked over his shoulder and sent us an ecstatic grin, the most honestly happy expression I had ever seen from the charming boy.

Alan Floid looking like all his Christmases had come at once couldn't be a good thing.... right?

"Where have you guys been? You missed the surprise!"

"Like I need any more surprises," I muttered sourly, earning a wink from the redhead.

"Perhaps, but I never get tired of watching your reactions to them." He explained good-naturedly, turning his gaze back to the floor. "Honestly, it's half the fun."

Warily, I followed Alan gaze down to the commotion below.

The first person my eyes sort out was Nigel, and I found him, still huddled into a painful ball, but no longer making a sound. Grimacing at the sight, I let my gaze wander, eyes widening at the group of teens standing protectively near the tormented boy.

The first thing I noticed was that Robin had a sword. Like a legitimate kick-ass sword she had somehow managed to smuggle into the party.... and she stood next to Artemis, expression calmly determined.

Artemis himself stood rigidly straight, attentive and ready to fight, but also visibly restraining himself from touching the petite girl.

Or the equally petite boy that stood on his other side, glaring threatening up at the crowd.

"No fair... how come Apollo gets to join in on the action...." I began to complain, only to trail off when I saw who else had appeared on the floor.

The person who was currently glaring up at the furious Dr Cassandra Floyd, completely unafraid and prepared to tare the crazy lady a new one was literally the last person I expected to turn up.

"No way." I gaped, voice flat with shock.

"You know him?" Vain asked warily, obviously too curious to stick to his not talking policy.

I blinked up at Vain for a moment, then a grin to match Alan's lit up my face.

"That, Vain, is my lawyer."

Matthew Folics, legal attorney for the Shrink Program, had just crashed the Underground's party.