like it, hate it? say it! i can't read minds
well... it's longer than the last chapter.
as always, leave me feedback on what y'all think and enjoy.
~inudigifan201
Ch, 9. Lunch
"That was intense." Serenity opened the door to the small cafeteria. "Where did you go during the attack? Mr. Cross was looking for you everywhere..." she then gave a mischievous smile. "You and Nick."
Liz shrugged. "I don't know where Nicky went, but I was at the corner store." Why was it so easy to lie like that?
"LIZZY!" A toddler army descended upon them just to hug the brunette.
Yep, best part of Liz's day.
Sophia, a little girl so adorable it should be criminal, jumped into her arms. Her big brown eyes gazed up at her older cousin with innocents, her dimples in full view as she smiled wide, a pink bow kept her thin jet black shoulder length locks out of her face, her cute little pink dress that complimented her mocha skin was clean (she was a clean kid), and her white shoes with frilly white socks completed the outfit. "I learned how to count to ten today." she hugged her older cousin.
"Ten!" Liz smiled wide. "That's a big number!"
"1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10." Sophia recited.
Liz giggled. "You skipped 8 silly."
The toddler pouted as Liz put her back down.
"Why don't you and your friends go eat and I'll see you later, k kiddo?" Liz bent down and tapped the child's nose causing her to giggle.
"Ok." Sophia went back to her seat. Most of her friends fallowed, but a couple stayed back for just one more hug.
Liz, knowing that not every child gets the right amount of love at home, hugged each one and sent them on their way. Besides, how could she say no to such adorable faces?
Serenity giggled. "It's a good thing you're not a super hero, I'm sure the bad guys will pick up on your weakness to babies and use it against you."
Liz giggled as well. Oh how little her best friend knew. "I'd just have to make sure the bad guys never find out my weakness."
Serenity rolled her eyes. "You stop and coo at every baby you see and hug any toddler that crosses you path and asks for a hug. Face it, you have a legit weakness. Babies are your kryptonite."
Liz raised an eyebrow. "Babies don't weaken me and almost kill me." She giggled.
"Oh you know what I mean." Serenity waved it off.
Liz shrugged. "Yeah." They then got into line for the slop of the day.
"Out of the way nerd." Liz was pushed to the side by a girl that looked like an older version of Sophia, but angrier and in a uniform with a layer of dirt all over her. Betty didn't have Sophia's dimples, but they were clearly sisters.
Liz rolled her eyes as she picked herself off the floor and dusted herself off. "It's always nice to see you too Betty." She was glad she generally only saw her at lunch or when she visited her grandparents.
Betty scoffed and crossed her arms as she walked away to the front of the line.
Serenity scowled. "She thinks she something else just because she's captain of the soccer team. I'm still pissed she slammed that door on my foot."
Liz sighed. "as much as I can't stand her either, she's still my blood. Just like Loral."
Serenity raised an eyebrow. "Loral is your sister, Betty is your cousin. They're not the same." she shook her head. "Besides, Loral is a lesbian and I don't think Betty is attracted to anything."
Liz giggled. "I think you're right."
"Why is it the only cute boy around here is Nick... and before you beat me to a pulp I am fully aware he's yours." Serenity sighed.
Liz shrugged. "Because this school sucks. The only reason I'm here is because my parents went here. And so did my brother and sister."
"Let's face it, you stay here for Nicky, and they call me boy crazy." Serenity giggled.
Liz giggled as well as she and her best friend grabbed a plate.
"By the way..." Serenity smiled mischievously. "I'm spending the weekend at your place."
Liz raised an eyebrow as slop that was supposedly chicken casserole was chucked onto her plate. "Your mom will never go for that. And don't even think about sneaking out. You'll get us both in trouble." They walked over to their table.
"Mom's going out of town tomorrow and won't be back till the middle of next week. She's shipping my brother, sisters and myself off to my grandparents. I just have to ask them if I can spend the weekend at your place." Serenity explained.
"Sneaky, yet still by the rules. I like it." Liz used a plastic fork to stir the gruel to make sure it was edible. She had given Plagg a mozzarella stick after the battle and before the class came back. She made sure to put Nick's jacket back in his cubby before anyone saw her. Plagg was currently sleeping in a side pocket to her sweater.
A cold chill went up her spine as she felt a presence behind her. She turned around and locked eyes with the woman in the butterfly pants.
The woman gave the girls a wide, but insincere smile. "Are you girls enjoying your lunch?" Every word sounded like it was dripping with venom.
"It's fine mom."Serenity didn't meet her eyes.
Liz gave her a fake smile of her own. "Could use some cheese, maybe some spices. A pinch of salt and pepper never hurt anyone."
The woman nodded and walked away.
"Is it bad that my own mother gives me the creeps?" Serenity whispered.
Liz's eyes darted around before she whispered back. "Well you are adopted."
"Good point." Serenity nodded as she whispered again.
Liz took a good long look at her best friend. If she hadn't known better, she would have sworn Serenity was Jade Jones' biological daughter. But, she did.
Serenity was a beautiful girl. Long dirty blonde hair that was soft to the touch, mysterious gray eyes, fair clear skin aside from a beauty mark on her cheek, a slim frame and just enough curves to drive boys crazy. Sure, Liz's heart belonged to Nicky, but it would be nice if a boy other than him or her bother paid her some attention like Serenity constantly got. Boys from other schools, grown men, and even young boys who hadn't hit puberty yet were always hitting on her. Liz felt slightly jealous, how Serenity could have any boy she wanted, but then Nicky would hang out with her and she'd forget all about it.
But, as soon as Liz was alone with Serenity, the blonde's overwhelming popularity was blinding. Although, Liz couldn't just stop being her friend. That wouldn't be right. After all, they had been friends since they were three when they first met. And friendships like that lasted.
Serenity's birth mom was found dead in the James River and her dad was in jail, never to see his child again. Jade, whom adopted Serenity, made sure of it. Serenity was basically an orphan too, maybe that's why they got along so well. Both girls lost their parents at a very young age and had no memory of them other than what people told them about them. They also shared their birthday, July 19th. They felt more like sisters than friends.
Nicky grumbled as he heated his lunch in the school's microwave. He kinda wished his mom didn't pack his lunch. He was worried about Liz. She was acting different when everyone made their way back to class. Something was off and he feared the worst. He wished he could be by her side in the small cafeteria instead of having to eat in the gym, but at least this way he could keep an eye on Alison and the other mean girls. He didn't trust them as far as he could throw them. Although, he could probably throw them pretty far considering Victoria hardly ate, all Jolene had for lunch was a fruit smoothie, and Alison was a scrawny vegetarian.
If he needed to, he could beat all three of them up without powers or breaking a sweat. But, his mom would kill him if he did. And he dared not incur his mother's wrath. He still had nightmares from the last time he made her mad... when Katie was a baby. Sometimes, he'd hide down in his dad's basement lab just to avoid her. She'd find him if he was next door with Liz... in fact, that was always the first place she'd look if she needed him for something. Luckily, most of the time she only called him home for dinner or family game night. Both times he just wanted to curl up in a ball and hide. Katie would undeniably bring up something embarrassing he did at dinner and family game night was boring because his dad was always preoccupied with an invention or a formula.
Simon Marcum loved his family, but he worked for the government as a scientist and was often not at home or shut in his home lab. He generally came out when Scarlet dragged him out when she needed him for something. But, if you wanted him, you had to go to him.
Ever since Nick turned 13, he often found himself going down to the lab and asking his dad for advice about something or other. Luckily for him, his dad put everything on hold for his son. They even had The Talk down there. Although Nick would have been fine with the age-old "birds and bees" speech, Simon went into great detail. At least Nick was well informed and hopefully wouldn't screw up his first time. But, he also learned everything about girls' bodies and all their changes in the same conversation. He honestly didn't know how much pain women went through, well, now he did.
"And knowing all that, I still don't understand your mother." His dad often chuckled.
Nick laughed along as well because he felt his father's pain. He knew Liz like the back of his hand, but she still found ways to surprise him. Perhaps it was just a man thing, to not understand the women you're closest to.
He set his plate of meatloaf down and gazed out at all the people he didn't particularly care about. He only stayed at this dump of a school to protect Liz and god knows she needed it. Why was everyone so against her?
When they were little, Liz was popular, but ever since Miss Jones' class for the first grade... everyone turned on her. And it only got worse over the years. The only people in Liz's corner where himself and Serenity. And that wasn't fair. She also had a boy named Marcus Flint, but he now lived in D.C. ... closer to Langley. But, Marcus had a not-so-subtle crush on Liz. Nick couldn't stand him for some odd reason. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he hated the man's guts and it wasn't because he was black.
The day Marcus moved in with his dad, was the day Nick silently celebrated... but he couldn't figure out why. The boys got along, but Nick couldn't stand him. And it bugged him that he didn't understand why. He wasn't racist, or at least he tried not to be. Sure, he spent all day with privileged white kids, went home to his cul-de-sac, lived with his white nuclear family, and hung out with his white best friend... but he wasn't racist. If he was, then Liz wouldn't be his best friend because she was technically half Asian. If he was, then he wouldn't have gotten along so well with Marcus even though he hated him. If he was, then he'd be mean to Jorden... which he could never do because she was a sweet girl... a cinnamon roll.
Red sat down in front of him and blocked his view of the mean girls with his big head on his scrawny body.
"Can I help you?" Nick asked with his fork in his mouth. He was used to eating alone and always having a table to himself at lunch.
"Keep that freak away from Alison." Red scowled.
Nick's blood boiled. He scowled as well. "How about you keep that bitch away from Liz?"
Red's eyes grew in shook. He stood up on the bench and pointed down at Nick. "He just cussed at me!" He called out at the top of his lungs.
Great! Lunch with Mr. Cross and a call to his mother. He wished he could transform and lucky charm a smoke bomb to escape a lecture and his mom. But, he knew he couldn't abuse his new powers like that. He had to face the consequences. 'That little weasel batted me.'
