(Ryans POV)
Harris called early on a Sunday morning saying scanners had picked up the mosquito monster that was still out there and called the team to the robot, an hour later we were running down the side of the river in the robot chasing after the monster all of us were there even Dakota.
While we both said the words 'I like you' to each other, we haven't spoken much since then. It has been a few weeks and I don't really think either of us know where to go from here. I'm not really doing my self any favors, because after Dakota left that night, Spyder, Harris and Mark met me in the X-deck and asked what happened and I didn't want to tell them, so I lied and said I told her, but she needed time to think about it, and I have been giving her the benefit of the doubt that she wanted some time away from the robot but I do often wonder where we would be right now if I hadn't blew off the team that day.
"Oh no son you're not going anywhere." Harris said as we caught up with the monster.
"We gotta finish him off." I stated.
"Boss level missiles coming right up." Spyder smacks his hand on the launch button.
"It's moving to fast and dodging all our missiles." Harris added.
"Right that's how Ryan blew up the school." Spyder said.
"Me?" I asked. "Really."
"Really, was it not you because I'm pretty sure it wasn't me." Dakota stated sarcastically in her chair behind me.
"It's ghosting." Harris said as the monster disappeared. "We need our new weapon that can blanket the area." We took a hit out of no where and I said,
"D, would you check on Mark and see what is taking him so long!" I asked.
"Way ahead of you." She said, sticking her head down the hatch door and yelling "Mark! Whatever your doing hurry up!" I could hear Mark yell something back but couldn't tell what he said. Dakota closed the hatch and walked back to her chair. "Mark says, 'I'm done! I remain awesome!'" She scoffed, mocking Mark at the same time. We took another hit as Harris said,
"Bringing the new tech on line. Rerouting power."
"Sweet!" Spyder cheered, "arming cold cannon."
"I did not agree to call in that." Harris protests,
"Set the cold cannon to wide spectrum beam." I interrupt.
"I never get to name the weapons." Harris complains
"Hey, you got to admit cold cannons a little cool." Dakota said looking over her shoulder at Spyder who burst out laughing at the pun as he helped me fire the cannon.
"Really? Just couldn't help yourself?" I asked, As Mark came out of the elevator and the now frozen wasp fell to our feet.
"Okay, he's frozen!" Mark said. "Finish it bro" all I had to do was stomp right through the center with the robots boot and the wasp was just more history we could hopefully put behind us.
—
"All right, after weeks of hunting we finally crushed that thing." I said as Harris, Spyder Mark and I all began to unwind in the X-deck. "The last loose end from Harpers plan. It's over, it's finally over."
"The guy who tried to destroy the city, and waste us is gone." Mark smiled next to me on the couch as Harris stood up standing in front of us,
"And best of all tomorrows our first day at a new school!" He said overly excited. No one said anything until Harris spoke again. "I mean uh, party bot y'all!" He clapped his hands twice and a disco ball and lights fell from the ceiling and this electric, techno music started playing.
"Why is that there?" I asked as Harris started dancing and Dakota entered the room behind us,
"Oh! That's awesome." she said jumping on the table, and joined Harris in dancing. She turned to the three of us, who had not moved. "Oh come on guys, don't be lame!"
"Harris is dancing because we are starting school tomorrow." Spyder said as we all watched the joy drain from her face and Harris continued to dance. She slowly stepped of the table and said,
"My bad."
"Kota!" Harris whined,
"Sorry Harris, I don't dance for school." She said as Harris clapped his hands again and the ball disappeared. "Anyway, just popping in to say see y'all later."
"Your leaving?" I asked.
"Yeah sorry, I kind of ditched my sister this morning and I really should get back, but I'll see you guys tomorrow." She waved to all of us and walking to the elevator. I watched her go before turning back around to the silent room.
"Alright if no ones going to ask, I will." Spyder eventually said. "What is this? What's going on here?"
"What?" I asked even though I already new the answer. "Me and D? Spyder I wish I knew. I really don't know."
"Well, she knows right?" Mark asked. "You did tell her."
"Yeah, yeah she knows." I sighed, "I just wish I knew what she wanted, you know?"
"You know Ryan, she actually admitted to me that she likes you to." Mark said, I tried to act surprised but I was honestly appalled at one, the fact that Mark would spill Dakotas 'secrets' like that, and two that my own brother knew before me.
"Dude what the hell!" Spyder yelled as Harris punched Marks arm. "You promised her you wouldn't say anything!"
"Relax guys," Mark said, not even phased by the three of our reactions, "I only say that because I have a feeling, you already knew." Spyder and Harris looked at me anxious for my response. "Am I wrong?"
"Ry?" Harris said.
"Yeah, Mark's right" I admitted. "I did know." Spyder's jaw dropped just a bit while looking at Harris who was shocked as well and Mark just shook his head. "I'm sorry guys, I just wasn't ready to talk about it, so I lied."
"So, did you tell her or not?" Mark asked.
"No, no, that's not what I lied about, I did actually tell her but, thats not all." I corrected. The three of them all looked at me as I continued, "I told her everything, including what I told you Mark about the day we rescued Leo, I was just holding her hand, and when I was done she didn't say anything, so I went to walk away but she never really let go, and she told me how she felt. Told me that, she didn't tell me because she didn't want to ruin what we already have as friends, and didn't want to hurt me and Yasmin. She just like seeing me happy."
"Is that all?" Mark asked, still skeptical. I nodded. "Really? So what happened after that she just walked out on you." I looked around at all three of them before resting my head on the back of the couch, sighing and giving in.
"Okay, I kissed her."
"There it is." Mark said under his breath as Harris was stunned, and Spyder shot to his feet and yelled,
"Yes!" The three of us looked to him as he slowly sat back down. "Wait, you, kissed her?"
"Yeah, maybe, I don't know, she kissed me, I kissed her, can it be both?" I rambled.
"Why didn't you just tell us?" Mark asked.
"Guys, I'm sorry but I just, I don't know why I didn't say anything." I said. "I wasn't ready, I guess."
"Well you should talk to her." Harris suggested. "This awkward but not awkward, flirtatious but not flirtatious, think you guys got going on is weird."
"Yes." Mark quickly said. "It is weird."
"Alright guys." I started. "I get the message, I'm going to talk to her, I swear."
"You better."
—————
The next day, Monday morning was all of Bay City Highs students first day joining Bay City East. It was definitely going to be an interesting day that's for sure. Harris, Spyder and I were outside in the courtyard before school waiting on two others.
"What's the point of blowing up your school if they're just going to send you to a new one?" Spyder asked out loud. We watched as a kid in a varsity letterman jacket changed the 'Welcome Bay City High Llamas' Sign to say Rodents instead.
"That's an auspicious beginning." Harris said.
"Guys, we saved the city, we can handle a new school." I said as Mark joined one side of us and Dakota came up just after on the other side. And then Mark started rambling.
"It's different this time, sure you guys are freshman having another first day at a new school. Where you're probably not going to have any new friends..."
"Is this going anywhere?" I asked.
"Yes, but this time. We go in together. So you guys will have Mark Walker with you!" He said, feeding his ego.
"Which means we are Mark Walker by association." Harris said excitedly. "I feel taller already."
"Okay seriously!" Dakota asks. "Anyone in this school, I'm willing to bet would rather walk in with me than with you."
"You can't measure up to me!" Mark stated.
"Mark, for the 700th time, I am more popular and famous than you are! Not to mention almost every athlete at this school hates you!" Dakota said.
"Okay would you both relax!" I said stepping between the both of them. "We saved the city, I think I got this." I turned and walked towards the school as the four of them followed me, a few kids waving at Dakota as we walked in.