Chapter Four

Carter Grant couldn't help but be slightly nervous seated around a family sized table, in a restaurant that he'd never once been to. With people he'd never met before. He wasn't uncomfortable by any means, just overwhelmed in a very small way. The only other person who he knew there, aside from Kara was Winn. He didn't know him well, he'd just had a few random conversations with him at some of his stepfather's parties. Everybody was dressed nicely, so he mentally patted himself on the back for wearing a dress shirt, with black dress pants.

As he reached for his third breadstick, he noticed Kara smirking at him, out of the corner of his eye.

"Alex," she laughed."I think Carter likes the breadsticks here even more than you do, he's over here inhaling them."

"That's just not possible, nobody loves them more than me," the woman defended."Though, they are unlimited so Carter, eat as many as you want."

"She's right about nobody loving the damn things more," nodded James."The other day, she said she would take a person's life for one of those."

"Why does that not surprise me," laughed Lucy."I bet Astra would do the same for a bottle of the dressing?"

"I'd take a life for one cup of this dressing," she smiled, causing everybody to laugh."I'm sure Shadow would easily kill for one bite of the pizza here."

"Easily, yeah" Shadow said, with a smile, who was holding Paisley in her arms.

"What about you, Carter," asked Winn."Would you kill for a Speranza breadstick?"

"Actually….I'd take several lives for just half of one, these are the best breadsticks I've ever had in my life" he smiled, causing even more laughter. He was suddenly feeling less nervous, knowing that he could make them laugh.

As the meal went on, Kara's family grew on Carter. A lot more than he expected them too. With Kara's encouragement, he was able to open up a little, and talk a little about himself. Before he knew it, he was talking about his Summer project he'd planned.

"It's basically a fight club, but with small robots made by students. Whoever wants to join, would have to design and build their own robots, with whatever guidelines are given."

"Whoa," smiled Shadow, looking up at the boy."That sounds like something straight out of the movie, Big Hero Six."

He giggled a little."You want to know why it sounds like that?"

"Because you got the idea from Bi-"

"Because I got the idea from Big Hero Six," he laughed, causing the rest to laugh, once again."Obviously, there's no betting or anything like that, but yeah. There's been other random inspirations too."

"That sounds really cool," said James."Your school approved it?"

"Well, that's why it's a Summer project. The school board wants me to present a few prototypes, and give a demonstration one week before the school year starts. I have to show them that what I'm trying to do, will be educational, and will provide an outlet for students."

"An outlet," asked Astra."What do you mean by that?"

"An outlet for feelings of violence, anger, or sadness. If students are feeling like they want to get violent, and fight other students or they just need to release something...they could channel it into their robot. While learning and working together with others at the same time."

"Wow," smiled Kara, as she listened.

"It sounds really crazy, I know….but there is method to the madness, I swear," he laughed."I still have a lot to figure out."

"That's not crazy at all, I think that's a really good idea. If they approve, they'll make it official," asked Kara.

"Yeah," he smiled."They seemed into the idea, so that makes me happy. They just need to see what I was trying to explain to them, before they agree to it. The fact that they asked for a demonstration means that I've got their attention. Only, I haven't even started anything yet."

"Why haven't you, that seems like something the students will be all about," said Alex."I totally would have signed up for that in school."

"Oh, come on," said Kara, giving her sister an all knowing look."You were all about hanging out with the popular kids at Swan Beach."

"Trust me, I would have made time for a robot fight club any day," the older sister defended."Carter, you better start that project."

"I agree," said Lucy."It sounds like you'd be doing kids at your school a favor."

"I will start eventually. My friends said they'd help, but they're having fun doing their own Summer things. I don't feel like bothering them."

"Ummm...you know what," asked Winn, a huge grin on his face."I think...yeah. I'm totally helping you out with that, it sounds awesome!"

"I knew it," said James, bursting into laughter."Ever since he started talking about robots, you've been hanging on his every word. Carter man, you just pressed Winn's geek button, good luck trying to get him off your back now."

Winn smiled, and shook his head.

"He's right," said Kara."You're ready to geek out, your eyes got wider every time the word...robot...was said."

"I mean, if you feel like helping me out, I won't argue," said Carter, looking at Winn."But, will you even have time? I know your boss….remember? Dirk's needy, I'm pretty sure he'd be totally screwed without you. I don't even get how you're not in Metropolis with him right now."

"Ouch," smiled Lucy."He's got you there, Winn."

"Yeah, I'm just as shocked as you that I'm not on that trip. But honestly, I'll make sure I have time for that project, I'd be more than happy to help you out."

"Thanks," the young boy smiled.

"Actually….that sounds like a project that Shadow could get into," said Alex."What do you say, kid? Do you think you could get into building some robots this Summer?" The young girl hadn't even heard what Alex had said. She was subtly chewing on some of her pizza, and smiling down at the infant that she held in her arms."Earth to Shadow!"

"Yeah...wait, what?"

"Wow, alright," laughed Lucy, reaching for her daughter."Times up, because you've completely checked out."

"My little girl has that effect on people, she gets it from her Dad," smiled James.

"Wait, crap….", said Shadow, as she carefully handed Paisley over to Lucy."What are we talking about?" Once her arms were free, she grabbed a slice of pizza from her plate, and instinctively rested her head on Alex's shoulder."Sorry, I spaced."

"Obviously," smiled Alex, before resting her chin on Shadow's forehead."Carter needs some help with his project, do you feel like helping?"

"Sure," she breathed, taking a large bite from her slice. She glanced over at Carter, and smiled a little."I'll help make some robots."

"Thanks," he smiled, before taking his vibrating phone from his pocket, and looking at it."Oh….I'm sorry, my Mom is calling me, please excuse me for a few minutes?" He was already standing from his chair, as the entire table gave their blessings."Thanks." He quickly moved away from the table, and hurried towards the restaurant exit.

Once he was out of sight, Alex spoke up."Kara, he's a nice kid, I wouldn't hate if you brought him around more often. Especially with his situation being….what it is."

The Hero smiled."Yeah, I knew you guys would like him. Something told me that he'd get along with us." She glanced towards the direction that he had hurried off, and sighed a little."You know, I think I'm going to just...quickly check on him. I'll be right back." Just like that, she was out of her seat, and rushing away from the table.

"Yeah, Carter is an amazing kid," nodded Winn."The first time I met him was at this charity event that Dirk put together."

"So, a charity event that you put together," laughed James."I mean, let's just be real about it, everything that dude puts together is something you organized. Don't even lie, man."

Winn laughed a little and nodded his head."Yeah, alright….but I'm not allowed to admit that, not even when he isn't around. Anyways...Carter was trying so hard to stay near his Mother when the party started. Armstrong actually made it my job for the night to keep Carter away from Cat. It sucked, but I did it. I distracted him, and we talked forever about gaming. The fact that we had that in common was just a happy coincidence."

"Why would the man make a request like that," asked Astra."That doesn't seem right."

"No, that's actually really messed up," said Lucy.

"It wasn't right, it was messed up, but it's my Boss so….I did it anyway," breathed the assistant."What sucks even more….I did all the planning for Dirk's trip to Metropolis. I hate this, but….I know one of the reasons that he's there right now."

Meanwhile, Kara couldn't help but be concerned about Carter's phone conversation with Cat. She headed for the exit, but before she even walked out the doors, she saw that Carter was standing just outside, talking to Cat on a video call. She casually leaned up against the wall, and tuned into what was being said.

"Mom, I'm fine….stop asking about me. What happened," Carter was asking, as he held his phone in front of his face. His voice was soft, yet full of loving concern."You're upset."

"I'm not upset, I'm quite content. I just miss you, sweetheart."

"You've been crying, I can tell" he stated, sadly."Just….talk to me, please. What happened?"

"You look so handsome, my beautiful boy," she deflected, a small smile gracing her lips."You're wearing my favorite blue dress shirt, why are you dressed up, where are you?"

Knowing that she wasn't going to acknowledge his question, he sighed."I'm at Speranza for dinner. Kara didn't want me to be alone, so she invited me out with her family." He didn't want to tell her that, but he couldn't help but be honest in that moment."Are you mad?"

"Well, what a surprise" she said, slight apprehension in her tone."That was very nice of her. No, I'm not mad, but you shouldn't have bothered her, Carter."

"I wasn't trying to bother her, I called her to thank her," he defended."That's when she invited me."

"What did you have to thank her for?"

"Making you smile."

Kara couldn't help but smile herself, from where she was standing. She felt slightly guilty for listening to the conversation, but at the same time, she knew that she probably should. Her only intention being, that she wanted to help the Mother and Son.

"How's your night been so far," asked Carter."Are you in your hotel?"

"Yes, I'll be relaxing for the night. We had dinner with some very nice people that Dirk is doing business with. He's just left, he went to have drinks with some other colleagues of his," she said, taking a huge gulp from a wine glass."I wish you were here, we could have watched The Witches….oh, it's been so long since we've watched that together."

"Mom, I wanted to come with you, I begged you to let me….remember? You were dead set on me staying behind, and I can't lie...it sucks. I don't like when you're alone with him."

"He's my husband, sweetheart."

"He shouldn't be. That monster shouldn't be anybody's husband, much less my Mother's." His tone was leaning dangerously towards the angry side."So, you're really not going to tell me what happened, because we both know that something did happen."

"Carter," she whimpered."Please, calm down, I didn't mean to upset you by calling. I miss you so much, I just….needed to see your face. In fact, now that I know you're out to dinner, it's rude for me to keep you."

Just like that, his anger had vanished."No, no...wait, Mom. I'm sorry for snapping, it wasn't meant towards you, I promise. Please...don't go. Please, don't cry."

"I don't want you to be rude, you were invited somewhere, and you need to be polite. When you get back to the suite, you may call me back, I'll be waiting."

Carter sighed, and leaned his back up against the wall, before lifting his phone a bit higher."You don't have to wait, if you get tired, I want you to sleep."

"I'll try. Don't worry, when I get back, we'll go and see the night sky."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

"I'm holding you to that," he said, with a sad smile.

"Alright," she smiled."I'll speak with you soon, my handsome boy. I love you."

"Love you too, Mom."

As soon as the call ended, he threw his head back, and closed his eyes. He squeezed them as tightly as he could, knowing that it wasn't going to work. It didn't matter how hard he tried, there was no stopping the tears from falling. It wasn't until he felt the soft touch of a hand, wiping his cheeks dry, that his eyes snapped open. There stood Kara, giving him a sympathetic yet very sad smile.

"Don't worry, I wasn't listening...I just...came to check on you, and….you're upset."

"God," he groaned, sniffling a little."I'm so sorry, Kara."

"For what?"

"You invite me out to meet your awesome family, and to be honest...I don't think I can go back to that table right now. It sucks, I know but…"

"No, say no more, buddy. I completely understand, and so will they. If you want me to take you back to your suite, I'll just go tell them that-"

"I'm not going back there right away. You should stay here with them, I don't need a babysitter."

"It's actually getting a bit late, we're all probably leaving here soon anyways. Trust me, I know that you don't need a babysitter, but will you at least tell me where you're going,"she asked nervously."Just so I know that you'll be safe."

Carter wiped away what was left of his tears, and perked up a little."No, I'm not telling you. How about I show you instead?"