Layla helped you adapt to Hawaii. She taught you parts of the language and bought you clothing, even though you implored that you didn't need it. The academy had crossed your mind often, but you liked the secrecy. You relished the peacefulness, and waking up and hearing the sound of waves just outside your window. Being able to dip your feet in the water and never have to worry about missions, saving the world, or being kidnapped.
One morning, Layla entered your room (her mother's office that doubled as a guest room) as you read a book and dropped a brick on you.
"Hey, (Y/n), can I come in?" she asked, sticking her head in the doorway.
"Yeah, sure," you answered, closing your book and sitting on the futon. "What about?"
Layla sat down on the edge of your bed. "My aunt just died, so we have to go back to Mission Creek for her funeral. We all love having you here, but we can't trust you to be here alone. My mom bought you a plane ticket. Congratulations, you're going to Mission Creek with us!"
Your smile dropped like a light.
"Wh-when?"
"Tomorrow. Pack a bag."
And with those words, Layla exited your room.
And just like that, your dreams of a peaceful life were dashed.
~~~
After dinner that night, you sat in the surf, the water lapping at your ankles. By then the following day, you'd be back at the academy. When Adam, Bree, and Chase had come out as bionic, the world was against them strongly.
"Hey," Layla said, sitting next to you as your eyes stared at the sea. "You okay?"
You took a deep breath in. "I'm bionic," you said in one go.
Layla felt like someone punched her gut... hard.
"You're bionic? Just like Chase?!" Her voice rose. "This whole time, my family and I have been caring for you because you didn't want to go home?!"
You let a deep breath in. Then out. "Home isn't even home anymore! It's Hell!" You tore off one of your bandages, reopening the wound. "This was what I got because of my home. It's why I love being here. It's away from Hell."
Layla, despite her anger, shoved her hands into her pockets and retrieved an extra bandage. "You're an idiot, you know that right?!"
Layla patched your arm back up.
"I know, and I can't go through airport security metal detectors without being sent back to the hell-hole of an academy." You tucked your legs up to your chest and rested your chin on your knees.
"Why is the academy Hell?" asked Layla, furrowing her eyebrows.
"There's the constant kidnapping, occasional murder, memory loss, old enemies coming and going, and it's just... Hell. The only thing that makes it worth it is that I'm not considered a monster. To the people back at my home, I'm just (Y/n). That's all I need to be." You counted off the reasons on your fingers.
What you forgot was that the other thing making it worth something was Chase, but you couldn't tell Layla that. Not after Chase dumped her, and how temperamental she became.
"If you're bionic, is there any way you can just super speed to Mission Creek?"
Layla was onto something, but...
ENTER: YOUR BASHFULNESS AND HOW MUCH YOU HATE PEOPLE SPENDING COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF MONEY ON YOU.
"But your parents spent-"
Layla cut you off. "Don't get started on what my parents have done. It's all perfectly fine because I can invite my current boyfriend instead."
"Ooh, who's the lucky man?" you asked, a small smile on your face.
As though on cue, a sickeningly familiar voice filled your ears. "Layla, who's this?"
Layla turned around to look at the brown-haired boy. "My friend. (Y/n), this is my boyfriend, Sebastian."
You could have sworn you felt every last milliliter of blood leave your face as white spots clouded your vision and your breathing sped up.
There, sitting next to Layla in all of his shirtless glory, was Sebastian. His head of brown hair was styled in his normal quiff and his brown eyes weren't angry or full of malice. They looked... kind.
You shook your head. He betrayed you- betrayed Adam, Bree, and Chase. There's no reason to believe that he is capable of any positive emotion anymore.
"You should be in prison," you say, almost maliciously, to Sebastian.
"(Y/n)-" Layla's eyebrows furrowed. "-what are you talking about? Sebastian doesn't belong in prison."
Sebastian seemed to recognize you. "If it isn't my old friend, (Y/n)!" Sebastian's grin looked strained and it probably was.
He reached a hand out for you to shake but you sprung up, a strong battle stance in your muscles and bones. Your Laser Bo appeared in your hand, the same shade of orange as the rays of a setting sun on a country road.
"Keep your hands off of me," you growled. "I should report you, Sebbie, but I'm not going to... yet. Just know that the second you lay a harming hand upon Layla, you will have to answer to me."
And with those words, you dissolved your Laser Bo and reentered the house.
~~~
You weren't back by the time Chase woke up.
Chase just went through his days feeling numb. He knew you were alive; you had to be. If you had been dead, he would have known. He just would have.
"I don't think Chase is in his right mind," Spin murmured to Bob and Adam as they sat at lunch. They watched Chase poke at his sandwich and make and remake the combination of ham, cheddar cheese, turkey, pickles, lettuce, and tomato.
"No, he's in his right mind," said Adam, taking a bite of his salad. "He just doesn't know how sandwiches work anymore."
"Like I said: He's not in his right mind."
Spin stood up, his full 4'9'' height walking toward Chase. He slid into the seat beside him as Chase moved his pickles onto the turkey on the opposite side of the re-re-re-remade sandwich.
"Hey," Spin said, trying to make his childish voice cheerful. "What's wrong?"
Chase dropped his lettuce and looked at Spin. The young boy was startled at what he saw.
Chase's hair was a mess and rested just beyond his ears without any gel or spikiness. His eyes were bloodshot red and a 5 o'clock shadow in the form of a goatee danced on his face. His clothes were messed up and he reeked of... a mix of tears and B.O.?
"Do I look okay?" he asked, staring at Spin.
"No," he replied honestly. "But I think that you need to stop throwing away this life you have and get yourself together. It's what... she would have wanted."
It was an unwritten rule around Chase. If anyone were to address you, it had to be used in pronouns.
"It's all my fault," said Chase. "If I was stronger, I could have fought Mason. I could have saved her, Spin!"
"And it's okay that you didn't-"
Chase cut Spin off by shoving his sandwich off the table and standing up. The ingredients sprawled on the ground, landing under another student's foot. "Nothing is okay, Spin! Nothing! Nada! Niente!"
The legs on Chase's body ran off. Adam quickly stood up and followed him, lightly pushing Spin out of the way.
"Chase!" Adam shouted, catching up to Chase, who had been wading waist-deep in the sea outside.
"Let me be alone, Adam," Chase murmured.
"No! End your pity party and open your eyes, Chase. It's my fault, okay?! I admit it. It's my fault she's gone." Adam stared at the ground solemnly.
"No," said Chase. "It's not. It's not your fault!"
"Think about it, Chase, I was the one who worried more about you not killing yourself rather than her safety. I'm the reason she's gone!"
Chase shook his head. "No, you're not," he said again. "You're not because if I wasn't a dumb, idiotic, lovestruck idiot, she wouldn't be gone. You'd've been able to save her rather than hold me back. So, she's gone. And it's my fault."
Adam sighed and waded in with his brother. "It's both of our faults," said Adam.
Chase nodded in agreement. "Both."
~~~
I HAVE RETURN-ETHED FROM THE MAINLANDS!
Jk, I'm home from vacay.
Anyway, it's that time for sleep.
~Kat.