CHAPTER 4: GUILT

Three Years Ago

The box of Numbuh 362's belongings was his primary reason for visiting, but naturally, Numbuh 9 also felt the need to apologize for the events of the previous week.

Her hospital room was private and was beginning to be illuminated from the rising sun. It was probably the best her parents' money could provide. Security and medical staff were a bit difficult to bypass, but fortunately enough, doable.

At first, Maurice just stared at her comatose figure for a few moments. He had no words as he tried to make peace with her body, with himself.

His attention eventually drifted to the colorful get well soon cards, the balloons, and the flowers, probably sent in by operatives. If anything, he was the only being in the room emitting a bad energy, full of melancholy and full of guilt.

"I'm so sorry this happened to you, sir," he started. "I heard from Abby what Dr. Lincoln thinks could happen once you wake up. Your little bro is also busy getting those scans read. We all know you can make it."

No response, as expected. All he heard was the continuous beeping of her vitals monitor.

Maurice saluted her for one last time, needing to leave before the nurse in charge made her early morning rounds.

"I promise you, Rachel. I'll take care of everything so you don't have to worry anymore. That includes Numbuh 274."

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Present Day

The party was reaching its peak by the time the three made their way back to the Cavallero residence. Rachel admitted to herself that the car ride was a bit awkward and tense, but she didn't want to tell Chad that Maurice was giving her side eye. That was his best friend, after all.

Instead, she focused on taking in the atmosphere of the casual teenage get together. While some danced to the thundering beat of the bass, others were too busy making games out of their drinks and ping pong balls. Maybe she could even learn how to play Flip Cup at one point tonight or another. The cheers associated with those games attempted to overpower the music, but it just wasn't enough. The smell of beer mixed with fading air freshener also invaded her nose.

There must have been at least a two hundred McClintock High School students currently littering around the house; that was precisely the number of the entire student body at Vanderbilt. Rachel was pretty sure this was a fire hazard, but she was no firefighter.

Another thing she took note of was that a handful of the guests were in some sort of full body armor, from head to toe. Anime and gaming nerds? Cosplayers? No one at her school ever wore anything besides their standard uniform, so what an interesting sight it was for nerds to be included in the festivity. It was wholesome of a public school to bring people of different interests together.

For now, she allowed Chad and Maurice (who was still very odd, despite no longer being behind the wheel) to show her around when the host himself approached them.

"Hey! I know you," Justin enthusiastically greeted, no longer agitated like an hour prior. He noticed the jacket on her shoulders, the sign of a football player being off the dating market. He turned to Chad, with a heavy grin. "Dude, you're such a liar. I knew she was your girlfriend. Rachel, right?"

Chad answered first, placing his right arm around her shoulders. "Yep, she's mine starting tonight."

"Thanks for having me, Justin." Rachel smiled at him, not seeing what caused Chad to express such wariness before.

"No problem at all," he replied, winking at the couple. "Rules for the Cavallero household though: no hooking up in the bedroom at the end of the hall upstairs and if you can break it, just don't touch it. Otherwise, just let loose and have fun."

"Don't worry. She's really good at following rules. Practically an expert," Chad added, earning him a smack on the arm, but also getting her to laugh.

"Are you jealous, Maurice?" Justin wiggled his eyebrows at the boy, whose silence was no longer appreciated.

"Jealous of what?"

"I met Chad's girlfriend first. I'm definitely his best friend," Justin attempted to boast, alcohol absolutely running through his body and affecting his brain. Regardless, he already had a pre-existing inferiority complex when it came to being the blond boy's right hand.

Maurice rolled his eyes, not particularly caring for Cavallero's heightened sense of emotions. "Yup. Definitely. So jealous."

Someone get this drunk fool away from him.

"Let's do a round of shots, you guys. You have to. I just made the rule up right now." He ushered the group to his kitchen, where dozens of clear and colorful bottles were on the counter. Rachel had never seen these types of drinks before and tried not to exhibit any intimidation.

Chad leaned down to speak softly in her ear. "You up for this? If not, just tell me. I'll take care of you either way, you know that."

"I've had a glass of wine before. I'm not completely in the dark," she said. "I'll try whatever he's offering, as long as I don't get too crazy. I don't plan on climbing back up my balcony plastered."

Cute.

She looked up at his familiar smirk. "This isn't that five percent stuff, McKenzie. Just warning you."

"Like you said, you'll take care of me. I trust you."

When Justin finished pouring the funky colored liquid into four disposable plastic shot glasses, he pushed three towards them and kept one for himself. He raised his own and made a roast. "You'll like this one, Rach. All the girls, they say it tastes like blue. Anyways, to new friendship!"

In contrast to the three boys who ingested their shots like they had been doing so professionally for years, her expression soured at the taste and the burn at the back of her throat. Rachel felt the warm sensation spread down to her stomach. Chad found himself charmed by her reaction.

"Oh wow, tastes like a color, alright."

"Good stuff, am I right? I'm gonna get back to my other party guests, do some rounds upstairs, and make sure everything is okay," Justin announced, suddenly in a hyperactive state and put his hand on the quietest one of the group. "And Maurice, lighten up and turn that frown upside down. You look like you need three more. Of the stronger stuff. I give you my blessing of cracking the tequila open."

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Chad found himself smiling for the hundredth time that night, this time at the shock her friends had for seeing her tonight. Rachel told him she thought she wouldn't see them until late November, but no. He didn't want that for her.

She laughed and socialized with Virginia, Fanny, and Patton, feeling a pleasant buzz take over her being after another shot of something red and a glass of punch. It was a sufficient amount of beverage for the night if she wanted to return home without her judgment completely impaired.

As for him, it would sadly just have to be soda and water if he wanted both of them safe. It was worth having her with him tonight and for as long as they weren't sick of each other. Chad also had to keep himself sober to be the overprotective boyfriend if someone disrespected her. The poor bastard who would dare hit on her would be sorry until the day he graduated.

Rachel handled herself well, and he made sure she was under the care of her friends.

Considering other matters, Chad had to investigate why Maurice was acting unusual after he and Rachel got inside the car. He found his friend leaning on the wall by the entrance of the kitchen, tapping busily on his phone.

"Hey," he greeted, taking a swig of his generic cola.

Maurice looked up at him and put his device away. "Hey. We need to talk."

"Obviously. Why are you being so weird? You were fine before we left. Do you have a problem with Rachel?"

He looked down at the buttons of his green jacket, unsure how to explain what the exact issue was. Abby hadn't responded to his SOS yet. Maybe this conversation would get the job done.

"Look, don't take this the wrong way. I just feel a really bad energy from her, man."

"Of course I'm going to take what you're saying the wrong way," Chad argued, a mixture of extreme confusion and irritation building up within him. He furrowed his eyebrows. "You encouraged me to go after her. You even hyped me up on the way. And I'm glad I did. Bad energy? You hung out with Cree and her mom too much."

"Don't recruit her, Chad. I'm serious," Maurice warned. "Don't even let her know what we do."

"I told you I wasn't anymore. And why? You think she's a threat to the Teen Ninjas? To Father? To me?"

Not quite… maybe the other way around.

He didn't disclose this. A sigh escaped his lips. "Well, no."

Chad felt his annoyance and anger grow, at the end of his tolerance with how his friend was acting. Even Cavallero, at times obnoxious, was the better friend tonight. At least he respected Rachel. Maurice had secrets, sure, but he was usually honest when it involved him or some girl he was seeing. He scoffed.

"Of course Rachel's not a threat. She's perfect. Her record is clean. I've searched her name on every database there is at least a dozen times. Did you know she saved a cat from a tree when she was ten? How freaking scandalous. Sorry that I'm not sorry, but I'm going to have to pass on your sad excuses."

Maurice decided to try and knock some sense into Chad's head using his earlier concerns to his advantage, and the fact that the blonde girl in question just arrived to listen in from the corner of the hall. Maybe she would walk away and end their budding relationship.

"Let me be honest then. Now that I've met her, she's a plain Jane, private school goody two shoes. Rachel has nothing to offer you. Why did you decide on her of all people to go steady with? You've hooked up with better and you can do better. I don't get why you're wasting your time with some prudish virgin. You have too much on your plate to play games."

"Why do you suddenly care who I'm involved with? What the actual hell is wrong with you?" Chad's blood boiled.

The girl finally peeked her head from the corner fully, looking Maurice in the face. The blond boy turned around.

Rachel was offended and stung by those words, and that was a fact. She tried not to look so hurt; after all, she was used to criticism from classmates, her parents, and her parents' friends. Hearing that she wasn't good enough was always upsetting, regardless of who said it. She always took the high road and ignored it. The alcohol she ingested almost made her emotional, but no. She would stand her ground and act as if it didn't affect her.

"Am… am I interrupting something important here?"

Maurice knew what he was doing, but that didn't change the fact that the current situation was making him grimace and cringe on the inside. Rachel was someone very dear to him one point in his life and he didn't want to be a reason for her being upset. He wanted to cut their ties clean, but that wasn't in the cosmos for them. The guilt he once thought he buried long ago had resurfaced.

He needed Abby to intervene however she could.

"I'm sorry you had to hear that. I also apologize you had to experience my bizarre behavior tonight, but I don't think you guys are right for each other. I'm not sure what Chad told you about certain topics, but I don't think you would fit in with us. It doesn't look like it right now, but I am his friend and I'm just looking out for his best interests."

"Screw you, Maurice," Chad said, walking over to Rachel to grab her hand and leave the scene. He crossed the line, insult after insult. Those digs were unnecessary. "You never even gave her a chance and the only thing she's done is try to talk to you. I'm not sure what someone put in your drink, so talk to me when you're not spewing nonsense. Let's go, Rach."

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"I really have no idea what's gotten into him," he tried to reason. They lounged in Cavallero's bedroom, thankful that the host kicked out whoever was there previously. "He's the one who wanted me to patch things up with you. I don't regret anything but letting you walk into that."

"You don't have to try and justify Maurice's words and actions." She gave him a small smile, feeling light and pausing to watch his schoolmates outside drink something questionable from a kiddie pool by the window. "I'm used to mean words. You've known him for years. You've only known me for a couple of months. I trust that he's a good guy from all the stories you've told me. Please don't be mad at him for too long, especially not over a girl."

"But–"

Rachel sat across from him and put a finger to his lips.

"Don't try to reassure me, boy scout. I heard what you said and I appreciate you so much. Maybe there's some truth to his words. It sucks, but it's true. I'm working on being a better version of myself."

"I like you the way you are now."

She lazily smiled at him, her fingers now playing with the frayed ends of her skirt.

"I like the person I become when you're around. I didn't care about any of this before, y'know, going out and dating around. As long as I had Fanny and Virginia on a group chat, I was fine listening to my parents. School has been my life for years. Then you come along, act like you've known me my whole life, and make me want to be part of your world." Rachel hiccupped. "I can't tell what being drunk is like, so please stop me if I'm being messy right now. Ginny gave me something purple before I went off to find you and I don't even know…"

Chad chuckled at her last few sentences. Pigtails was double the bad influence than he was, trying to get Rachel inebriated. "I don't think you're drunk… yet, anyway. I think you were about to confess how much you like me."

She opened her mouth to indulge him, but her attention went to the vibration of the room and the loud crashes and bangs. The music suddenly stopped and the only thing they could hear was muffled yelling from downstairs.

"KIDS NEXT DOOR! Battle stations!"

Rachel wished she was fully sober and alert. "What… what was that?"

"STAY HERE!" Chad demanded, before jumping off from Cavallero's bed to rush to the situation at hand. She freaked out only because she had never seen him so tense before. "I'm not joking around right now, Rachel. Stay. Here. I'll come back for you."

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There was a standstill between the members of Sector W and half the guests in attendance by the time the leader of the ninjas made his way down the stairs. Activating his own armor, he was immediately encased, ready to fire his gauntlets.

"Hey, KNDorks! Don't you know you have at least five more years before you get invited to a high school party? If you're lucky enough to see the day, that is!"

Numbuh 83 held up a shiny, updated, and modified G.U.M.Z.O.O.K.A. toward the boy in the air. "We're not here to fight, promise! You shouldn't have yelled, Lee!"

"We're here to escort someone home," Numbuh 84 announced sternly. His yoyos were ready for use, once a teenage scumbag attacked first. "Back away and lower your weapons!"

Numbuh 85 and Numbuh 87 steadied their S.P.L.A.N.K.E.R.s. The younger of the siblings is the first to speak and try to appeal to the older crowd. "We're looking for our sister, alright? Our dad is gonna kill us if she doesn't come home with us within the next twenty minutes!"

Chad, unamused, glared at the four who had their backs to each other. "Get out of here, you dumb kids! If you know what's good for you, you'll do what I say!"

He aimed and charged his gauntlets, awaiting a violet and blue gleam, but halted at the sound of a screech.

"PADDY? SHAUNIE?"

He really should have known. They were Red's kid brothers. Fanny continued to yell at the top of her lungs.

"THIS IS SO EMBARRASSING! Ye and yer dumb friends and yer dumb toys are gonna be the reason I won't be invited to any more parties! GET OUT OF HERE YE STUPID BOYS! YE TOO, SONIA, BEFORE I TURN THE LIGHTS OUT IN HERE."

"But dad really wants you home right now, sis!" Paddy said in defense, lowering his weapon. "We swear! It's not our fault! We didn't wanna come here!"

Shaunie nodded in agreement. "He said he would've done it himself, but you know he hates teenagers as much as he hates kids."

"UGH! FINE! Tell him I'm coming! I'm not walking with ye idiots though. Just leave!" Fanny growled. The anger dissipated to transform into pure shame. She giggled nervously at her peers. "Sorry everyone! Please carry on."

It didn't really look like the party could continue, however. With soured moods at 1 am, people grumbled and started to leave. The party was officially crashed.

Chad rolled his eyes. What a waste of time and energy. Landing his feet down on the floor of the dining room, his eyes find Maurice aloof, not even trying to defend the party.

"Wha– what just happened here?" He heard Rachel's small voice ask behind him. "And what are you wearing? You didn't tell me you cosplayed too?"

This was ridiculous.

"I thought I told you to stay upstairs!"

Rachel was so damn stubborn. He was beginning to realize this was a pain in the ass thing about her.

"I heard Fanny screaming! Of course I had to come downstairs, you idiot!"

He cursed under his breath. "I'm taking you home now. If you want me to explain, I will."

As they left with the huge crowd, Cavallero sobbed hysterically about the hole on his roof.