"I don't get it, Crocker. Why do I have to carry this thing?"
You glare at the red haired boy walking beside you and wave the ripped straps of your backpack at him. "Because, you're the idiot who broke it, numbnits. Hopefully this will teach you not to commandeer other peoples' things for a backpack wrecking ball. And Doc said you have to or you'll get ISS again." You look ahead. "And I will tell him if you don't."
Cal huffs but doesn't offer any more commentary. He grips your backpack in both arms, a top-heavy balance to the tiny one on his own back. You're surprised he even bothers to keep one around. He never goes to class.
"This is it." You point to your house. A pang of sympathy runs through you against your better judgment. It was quite a long walk from the school, and it's very hot. "Would you... Like to come in for a minute?" you grit out. "I could get you some lemonade." You know dad won't mind.
"Well aren't you just a proper southern lady," he grumbles. But his look isn't malicious when he nods at you. If this weren't Cal, you'd be sure he looked grateful. "Sure. I could go for some of that."
You nod and lead him up the driveway. When you reach the porch, you turn to tell Cal to leave the bag on the porch, but he's got a glint in his eye again.
"Catch, piggy!" He swings the pack at you and it collides with your chest. You're knocked clean off the porch, landing on your back in the grass.
Cal's laughter is cut off in a scream. You push your backpack off of you and scramble up to find Li'l Sebastian clobbering Cal.
"Shootfudgingchristonastickwhatisitgetitoff!"
"Little Sebastian!" you screech, using his full name to make him know you're serious. "Get off of Cal this instant!"
Your robot freezes, one hand still clenched in his shirt collar. He's got Cal pinned to the ground; no small feat considering he's six foot, bulky, and no stranger to fights.
You put your hands on your hips and tap your feet. The grass of your front lawn muffled the sound, but Seb follows the motion. "I mean it, buster. Now."
He still hesitates, looking between you, and you sigh. "Defense bot prototype: release."
Seb springs away from Cal and disappears in the blink of an eye. You offer a hand to him. "I am so sorry about that! He's never met you before, you see, and he's careful around strangers."
Cal grumbles but accepts your hand, dusting himself off. "What do have a- an attack rabbit-droid thing for anyway, Crocker?"
You grimace. "Well, he doesn't normally just jump people like that, I promise! But you did aggress me, so it really is your own fault. You'll remember what I told you about my family?"
"Yeah, your aunt's the cake lady."
"Right. Well, there are actually a surprising lot of people who dislike her, especially since the company's big expansion last year." You shuffle your feet, unable to look him in the eye. No matter how many times you have to explain this, it never gets easier. "And by extension, they don't... Like... Me."
"... So you got a rabbit to save your keister when you're in mortal peril?"
"Shut up," you snap, ready with a comeback. It's always like this, people don't understand, they always treat it like a stupid, stupid joke!
But when you look at Cal at last, he's not laughing. His eyes are searching for Seb. He gives a low whistle of appreciation when he sees the blur of shadow watching from a safe distance. "That's frickin' awesome! Not the people-trying-to-kill-you thing, but come on! It's like something out of a book."
You chuckle at that. "I... I guess it is. Like a mystery," you suggest.
"Or a time-traveling action movie!" he laughs. "Wish you'd told me you were this interesting before, Crocker."
"I've always been interesting," you retort. "Well, you seem to think so, anyway."
He raises his eyebrows at you and gives you a rare begrudging grin. "Heh. You're alright, Cr- Jane."
"You're pretty alright yourself, Cal." You smile. "See you tomorrow?"
He nods, backing slowly down your driveway. "Yeah. I'll call you?"
Your heart near stops in your chest before you find the air to make it beat again. "Sure."
"Great."
His cool exit is ruined when he has to come back and ask for your number, but it's a moment of laughter for the both of you.
You wander into the house and poke around. "Li'l Seb?" you call. "Come on out. It's okay now!"
A quick breeze stirs against the backs of your legs and you turn to find Seb hiding behind the couch, his pointy shades and ears the only parts of him visible. You frown. If he was really trying to hide from you, you'd never be able to see him. "Hey, little guy. What is it?" You walk over and get on your knees to look him in the eyes. He doesn't move. "Dirk? Do you have any idea what's wrong?"
After a moment Li'l Seb peeks out from behind the couch- you know he's reluctant, Dirk probably had to make him do it so you could read the message.
TT: He thinks you're mad at him.
"Why?" you wonder out loud. "Wait, not because of... Oh, Seb!" You scoop him into your arms. "Nonono, sweetie, I'm not mad! You were just doing what you thought was best to protect me, right?"
TT: Um.
You gape at the words as they start coming in rapid fire.
TT: Look I know it's none of my business, but from Seb's sensors it looked like he was hurting you, ok? He probably knew better but I put in the command and I've been trying to calm him down for like 10 minutes so if you're gonna yell, yell at me. It's not his fault.
"He's just a guy from school," you tell him, stroking Seb's back to calm him down. "He did something stupid with my backpack and a teacher made him carry it home for me." It's not like Dirk to be so rash… Although you have to admit, if your dad had seen Cal throw your bag at you like that he would have done the same thing. "Cal's actually pretty harmless, and nowhere near mature enough to know how to act," you continue, rolling your eyes. "But I suppose he's not all bad."
There's a pause before another message comes through.
TT: Is that why you gave him your home number?
Your cheeks burn. "You heard that?"
TT: Seb's ears are good. Don't change the subject.
Well, that's embarrassing. You never wanted any of your friends to see you attempt to flirt. Which is not what you were doing, but who knows, you might have to someday. You'll have to remember that. "Goodness, Dirk. He's just a friend."
TT: We don't like him, Jane.
It takes longer than it should for you to figure out that he's talking about both himself and Li'l Sebastian. You can almost understand it, but something about the way he words it makes you angry. What does that matter? Dirk is a thousand miles away from here. What say does he have in who you choose to befriend? "I'll take that into account, but to be honest I'm not sure I like your tone, mister. I'm sixteen years old. I can choose my own friends."
Seb starts shaking again and crawls out of your lap, forced to stay close enough for you to read his shades.
TT: Are you serious?
TT: The guy just called you fat and knocked you on your butt. That's not a friend, Jane. He's bad news.
"Well how would you know?" you shout. "Your friends are either half a world away or made of metal! Jiminy Christmas, just drop it!"
Seb finally gets the go-ahead to abscond, leaving you panting in the middle of the living room. You regret the words as soon as your brain catches up with your big mouth. You slump against the couch. That was a terrible thing to say! DIrk has confided in you about how much he misses school and having friends his age. Dirk probably hates you now, and Seb is terrified. You're afraid that he won't come to you again if you call.
You crouch there until the phone rings on the table beside you. You reach up without looking and answer. "Crocker residence," you sigh, internally cursing when your breath hitches.
"Whoa. Crocker, you okay?" Cal's voice sounds different over the phone. It's softer, less obnoxious. "Hey, you there?"
You smile lightly and curl your hands around the receiver. "Y-Yeah. I'm fine. How are you doing?"
