Chapter 6

Brick's POV

'For some reason, I feel like I have been noticing those people lately, by those people I mean by the group that I met during the Ice shirt game.' I thought to myself as I look around to see Buttercup around the corner talking to her friends. She also noticed me so I just gave her a nodded and she just nodded back. After walking down passing two classes, I look through one class to see Boomer is talking to group girls. Boomer looks at my way h wave, which I just wave back.

'This is an odd feeling.' I thought carefully.

"BRICK!" Butch suddenly called me, I also have notice that Butch has been sticking close to me as well. I just turn around to see that Butch is catching up to me, so I decide to wait patiently for a moment.

"Thanks for waiting," Butch said as he finally catches up to me and we both starts to walk down the hallway together. For once, I wasn't annoyed to walk with someone, also Butch is as tall as me so it's made me feel like we are equal. Since most of the people that I walk with are shorter than me for some reason. The tallest person that I have walked with other than Butch would be Dexter, but he is still shorter than me.

"Come on Brick! Tell me what's going to happen on Halloween. There are rumors about Special X are going to be at the party as well." Butch said which I feel a little bit taken aback a little bit. I didn't know that Dexter has approved of this, I thought that he was better than that.

"That is weird? I didn't hear anything about this in the student council meeting?" I said as think carefully.

"Really? It thinks they decided when they saw the giant robot." Butch said.

"The school sure is getting busier and busier," I comment just in time the bell ring.

We both part way and I walk down the hallway alone. This made me start to daydream about how I have joined the Special X.

Six Years Ago…

I was alone and by myself. I don't have friends because I am anti-social. Also, most of my classmate sees me as a smarty pant and all they know about me is that I don't listen in class.

'School is boring.' I thought to myself as I am walking around the school playground. It is during class time and most students are already in class but today I decide to ditch. I walk toward a large tree which would provide a nice shade for me to have my nice nap. I don't really care if the teacher found me since none of them are as smart as me anyway.

I let my body flop down on to the nice soft grass as the cool breeze pass by. Slowly my eyelid starts to fall down as I sing a lullaby in my head as my mind starts to doze off but…

*VVVVRRROOOOM*

I open my eyes as I hear the sound of the car has been pulled to a stop. I turn around to see someone got out of a motorcycle wearing a white mask and black cloak. I quickly climb up the tree to hide and I eyed those people suspiciously.

'Are those…Special X?' I question myself as two more motorcycles start to park after the first one.

"Hahaha! I won!" The Motorcycle A said as he cheers happily.

"You cheated!" Motorcycle B groans.

"This is just ridiculous." Motorcycle C just comments.

'They are playing around?' I continue to question since the Special X that I heard off does not do something this ridiculous kind of game.

"I will beat you next time! I can't wait for us to graduate so that I can see all of your faces." Motorcycle B said as he neatly hides the motorcycle around the bushes.

I jump down from the tree as I have too many questions in my head already and decided to just ask them myself.

"What are you all talking about?" I asked and starts to climb over the fences that are a wall between the playground and the parking lot.

The three white masks look at me surprised at my sudden approach.

"Wait… why didn't we see him?" White masked A asked in surprise and looks at his two members.

"Maybe…" White masked C trail off as he is not sure what to say.

"Maybe what?" I asked and look irritate at how slow these people are.

The three just remain quiet and I felt like my respect for Special X has dropped.

"If you guys don't answer me, then I will show you that I can be a better Special X member that you guys," I said causing the three of them to be stunned in surprise.

"So do you think you can a better Special X member that us?" Suddenly a fourth white mask came from behind me.

"Yep!" I didn't hesitate and look at the white mask D.

"Let's have a race, three of us will compete against you. If you can get to the finish line before at least one of us. You can join the Special X and we will respect you." The white mask D said.

"Deal!" I quickly agree since I will show them that I am better than them and will be able to take on all of them.

"Come on guys, let's show this boy what we got." The white mask D commands. The other two nods and everyone take positions. The white mask A just standby, to be the judge.

"Ready… Set… GO!" The white mask A shout and everyone quickly sprint.

I quickly run as fast as possible while observing my opponent. I have to say, all of them are a fast runner but I wouldn't let them beat me that easily. I push myself a little bit and I am already ahead of them. I can feel myself smiling as the finish line is closer.

Then out of nowhere one of the white mask pass by me at ease, which in the end title that person as the winner while I am in second place. I was stunned for a moment since I didn't expect to loose someone that easily. Even though I may beat two of the Special X member but… none of them look tired at all. I am the only one that is actually breathing very hard. Right now I felt like my lung is going to burst at any moment.

"You did good for someone your age, we actually never expect you to win two of our member." The white mask D said as he pats my shoulder.

"I want to join Special X," I said and look at the white mask D.

"The deal is the deal, I will tell HIM about you and expect HIM to come and meet you soon." He said and wave me a goodbye.

That day was the last time that I ditch class and from then on I continue to attend class. Even though it may be boring but I have learned that if I slack off someone would move a step ahead of me without warning.

End of Flashback…

*BUZZ*

My phone vibrate, which is odd to me. This vibrate is only meant that a message from the Special X group. I look to my left and right slowly to check for anyone suspicious then I check my phone.

HIM: It is time

HIM: Meeting this after school

'What?' I think carefully as I sit at my seat.

No One's POV

"Hello Everyone, since I think that this message has made everyone anxious all day. I will make it quick." HIM said as he looks at everyone, "So since you all have been at the school for a month now, I think it is time to decrease your workload. Since all of you are going to go to university soon. Also, I have already train new Special X too."

Everyone nodded at HIM's statement as they understand the situation.

"Also you all know that the duration of time in school for Grade 12 is shorter right?" HIM looks at everyone as they just nodded, "All of you will be graduating in May and this is already October… It's almost the end of October approaching November already. You all will have 6 to 7 months."

Everyone was a little bit confuse about only having half a year left which everyone was a little bit happy and sad at the same time.

"This tradition has been carrying out every time when some or all of the Special X member graduate. So I would like all of you to try to discover each other identity before the end of the school year. You are all not allowed to ask or answer each other when wearing a cloak or not wearing a cloak since this will be your test to be able to graduate from this club. Good luck." HIM ends the statement and got up from his chair and walk out the room.

"Well, that was short." Number 10 sarcastically said.

"I hope to see all of you in person soon." Number 8 said a little bit timid.

"Oh yeah! I almost want you all to try to guess who is which number also, then at the end of the year you all will write a paper to me." HIM suddenly pop up and disappear again.

"…"

"That is one creepy thing to do." Number 6 said to break the silence.

"See you all soon…" Number 1 said to leave the room, which everyone follows only having what left in their mind is about the other identity.

Bubble's POV

'I can't believe that HIM wants us to figure out the each other's identity, by using our skill from the Special X. This is going to be hard.' I sigh as I think carefully as look at the ground.

"Bubble?"

I look up to see Boomer is looking at me, I immediately blush a little since I have been having a tiny crush on him after the Ice shirt game event. And I went back looking at the ground.

"H-Hey Boomer!" I stutter as awkwardly said hello to Boomer, I really hope that he wouldn't notice it.

"You wouldn't mind if I sit next to you would you?" Boomer asked politely.

"No! Not at all!" I spoke up and couldn't help feeling how I sound a little bit weird.

Boomer just smiles and sit down on the ground beside me. I took a quick glance at Boomer to see that he is looking up the sky. Then I quickly look down on the ground again as we both just stay quiet.

Boomer's POV

I look up the sky as I can sometimes feel Bubble looking at my direction which I couldn't help but smile.

'This surely bring back some good memories…' I closed my eyes and starts to wonder off into a flashback.

Six Years Ago…

It was already late afternoon, students are already going home and I happen to be stuck with an unfinished assignment. My assignment was to draw a picture of the tree but it took my quite some time to be able to draw properly.

"Boomer? I think you should rest and come back tomorrow." My art teacher suggests.

I just shake my head and continue drawing, my art teacher could only sigh at my stubbornness.

"Boomer, you have been drawing for three hours already. You won't draw any better without resting." My art teacher continues to try to persuade me.

I just shake my head in respond and ignore her later on. I can hear my art teacher sighs and her footstep starts to fade away. After a moment of silent, I went back to drawing the tree again. For some reason, this tree seems to change everyone single hour. Since I have been drawing for three hours, the tree seems to change three times.

I actually finish during the first hour already but I notice that it changed that is why I decide to stop a draw again. During the end of the second hour, I notice that it changes again so that is why I decided to stay behind. It almost four hours pass so I am prepared to draw the changes.

Funny how every time it changes, the ground would be a little bit hot.

"Are you by chance Boomer?"

I sigh since I can't believe that my art teacher would call the Principal MoJo to come and get me home.

"Yes, yes I am," I answer while ignoring the Principal and look carefully at the watch.

"Hmmm…?" Principal MoJo seems to be interested in my action so he decides to just sit down and look at my drawing.

'5:30pm!' The long hand place nicely in the middle of the watch and I look up to see the tree changes again.

I quickly draw down the changes, it took me about 15 minutes to finish drawing. Then I look up at the Principal MoJo since now I will just wait another 45 minutes for the changes.

"The tree change Principal MoJo, that is why I want to stay," I answer Principal MoJo since I think that was his question.

"The tree changes?" Principal MoJo questions.

"Yep…Hmm…? Weird… Why does the ground feel much hotter than before?" I question as I place my hand on the ground. Principal MoJo's eyes grow wide and quickly take me away from the ground. In about five more minutes a beam of laser shot up from the ground as it flies straight up to the sky.

"I think the tree that you are looking at isn't a tree." Principal MoJo mumbles which I can hear clearly, but still I was speechless since I could have died a minute ago.

"I see you must be scared and confuse. I think the answer to that is joining the Special X. As I can see you have a special talent, in observing thing. I am impressed since even I haven't noticed the tree change." Principal MoJo looks at me proudly.

"Special X?" I question again.

"Yes, I think you should join, it will be fun for you and you will be able to understand why the tree change." Principal MoJo explains excitedly to me.

My eyes grow wide and start to become interested.

"I want to join!" I quickly say and I shake hand with Principal MoJo.

Flashback End…

'I feel like I am so naive…' I open my eyes to see that Bubble is drawing a tree next to me which I just smile brightly while admiring her drawing skill.