Chapter 37: Stanford

For going in with no expectations, Stanford was amazing, which I guess I should've expected from a top rated school. Since we had different career interests, Ko and Mrs. Togchi had one guide and I had another. We got a generic tour of the school together before lunch.

"So is there a specific kind of robotics you're looking into?" Cati, my guide, asked as we ate lunch.

"Not really. It's more of a general interest," I shrugged and bit into my sandwich. Ko snorted next to me.

"What?" I asked.

"Please. You should go into medical robotics. Or security. That seems to be in your specialty," She was so lucky I didn't have a batarang with me. I already regretted her knowing, if she was just going to make sly comments.

"Dr. Harris used to work for MedCorp. I'm sure he would love to talk to you about his experiences," Cati suggested. Ko was struggling not to burst out laughing.

"Kohana, control yourself," her mom scolded.

"Sorry."

"Evan, after lunch, I'd like to meet with the head of biology, or sit in on a class. If that is possible?" Mrs. Togchi turned to their guide.

"Of course!" Evan looked at his watch, "A class starts in fifteen minutes across campus. If we leave now, we can maybe talk to Dr. Puri before class."

"Let's go," Mrs. Togchi said, standing up.

"You coming Jay?" Ko asked as she stood.

"Nah, I want to see the robotics building."

"Twip."

"Love you too Ko."

Cati and I finished our lunch and she showed me the robotics building. If I thought Wayne-Powers had amazing equipment, Stanford was another level entirely. I was awestruck. I could've spent days in there and not even touched half of the equipment.

I had been messing with a really nice circuitry solder, when that watched feeling hit me again. I looked around the lab, but none of the students where paying attention to the lowly high schooler. Maybe I had been around Bruce too long. My paranoia wasn't helped when I saw the Wayne logo on a piece of equipment across the room. Of course, even on the other side of the damn country I couldn't get away from Bruce.

"Cati, can we check out the library again before we go see Dr. Harris?" I had a very strong need to get of of the lab.

"Sure! The library is closer to his office anyway. I'll show you the best study spots and secret make-out corners!"

"So Jamie, what did you think of Stanford?" Mrs. Togchi asked me as we drove back to the hotel.

"I want to live in the library."

Ko laughed at that, "Of course you would. I bet you breezed through the books worth reading at the manor in like, a week."

"Despite what you think, I do have a social life in Gotham. It took two weeks," I teased. Ko snorted.

"I agree the library is..."Mrs. Togchi hunted for the word. English was her fourth or fifth language. Even though she had went to college in the US, she didn't use English much outside of business meetings according to Ko. "...is shway, as you Americans say."

Ko snorted again, "Mama, please don't ever use that word again. It sounds wrong coming from you."

I couldn't help but giggle too. Mrs. Togchi sighed and muttered something in Japanese.

"Was there anything else you liked about the school?" She tried again.

"I did like the robotics lab a lot. I could definitely see myself spending hours in there, just experimenting. I've seen the equipment at my grandfather's company, and the Stanford stuff is the same or even better. What about you Ko?"

"Oh. My. God! I loved it! I have so much to learn!" She bounced in the front seat, "We sat in on a bio-engineering class and I got to ask questions after the class! It was amazing! College is going to be soooo much better than high school!" She gushed.

"There's still time for you to apply for next January," her mom said. Next January? We still had another year of high school left?

"Mama, shhh!" Ko glanced back at me in panic.

"What do you mean 'Next January'?"

"Hang on," Ko told me, then proceeded to have a heated argument with her mom in Japanese. They argued most of way back. Once they seemed done with it, the car was filled with a very awkward silence. I decided to leave that particular issue alone. Besides, I had my own mother to deal with.

"So. Slight snag in the plan for San Francisco," Ko said sheepishly once we were back at the hotel.

"Okay," I raised an eyebrow at her.

"I asked Mama this afternoon, and at first she agreed..."

"But now?"

"She said I have to make a decision today about my future. She said I've been too indecisive. But I have to choose, otherwise, we're not going to Frisco."

"Would this have something to do with next January?"

"Yes," she cringed, "Don't get mad at me."

"Ko, at this point, you couldn't do much to make me hate you. Whats going on?"

"I'mgraudatingayearearly!" She rushed.

"What?" She could've been speaking Japanese for all I understood.

"I'm graduating a year early!" She squeaked.

"What? How?" I knew she was smart, but not skip a grade level smart.

"Mama insisted I test out of classes I thought would be too easy. Which for me, was most of them. I'm only taking four required classes this semester. After that, I'll have enough credits to graduate."

"Why didn't you tell me? And after you got all mad at me for Shadow!" I threw my arms up in exasperation.

"I know! I know! I'm a hypocritical ass, and you have every right to hate me for not telling you!" She sank onto one of the beds, "I wanted to tell you a Thanksgiving when I found out, and then when I came for Christmas, but I still don't know what I'm gonna do in the fall. That's what Mama wants me to decide."

"Can't you just take electives next year?"

"I thought about it, but whats the point? Anni's gone and you're in Gotham. There's no reason for me to prolong it."

"So will you just start college without me?" I asked. Ko, Anni, and I had always planned on going to college together, wherever that ended up being.

She laughed. "God no. High school sucks enough without you, I couldn't do college alone. I think I'm going to spend a year back home. I haven't spent more than a month there since I was twelve. It'll be good for me to get reacquainted with the 'homeland'" she joked.

"A whole year without you around?" I contemplated. I really didn't like the idea. Terrible as it was, Anni's death had brought us closer. Misery loves company and what not. What if San Francisco wasn't the end of things with Victoria? Ko's help (along with Max and Terry of course) was immeasurable.

"You managed to do okay this year. I wasn't around that much."

"Ko, I'm a vigilante trying to incarcerate my criminal mother. I'm probably about to make one of the biggest mistakes of my life in San Francisco, and I'm pretty sure some has been following me since we got here. Does any of that sound okay to you?"

"Well not the paranoia thing, but I think you're justified in what you want to do in Frisco. You're stronger than you give yourself credit for." She fell back onto the bed and sighed, "What should I do, Jay?"

"What do you want to do?"

She was quiet for a few minutes, debating whatever options she seemed to have.

"I want to go home. I want to see my cousins and other friends, maybe laugh at them while they all rush around in cram school and I do nothing. But, I don't want to leave Sobo behind. I love her more than anyone. She getting older, and even the idea of coming to California makes me worried for her."

"Your grandma is the toughest old lady I know. She'll be fine," I reassured her, "You need to make decision based on what you want. Not what you think others need."

"Maybe someone should take her own advice," Ko flipped on her stomach and smirked at me, "Miss. 'I need to fix my mom's screw ups'."

"You're a part of this now too!" I countered.

"Yeah, but I don't take responsibility on myself for the actions of a grown ass woman who made poor choices."

I swung a pillow at her. It hit her face and she just laughed.

Mrs. Togchi was pleased Ko had made a decision, and was all too happy to show us around San Francisco. We spent most of our first day doing the usual touristy things, like seeing the Golden Gate Bridge, what was left of Alcatraz, and ate at a place on Pier 39. Mrs. T had a business call that evening, so Ko and I were left to wander the hotel. At least, that what we told Mrs. T. In reality, I was going to be making a run as Shadow.

"But why confront her as Shadow at all? She already knows it's you. You could probably walk into her office and do the same thing as Jamie," Ko questioned as I was suiting up.

"Because I want to make a point to her."

"Which is?"

"Despite her efforts, she has no influence in my life."

"She says, while putting on a suit she made solely to fight Victoria, in a city we're only in so you can face her."

"Its an efficient way to get information!"

"I did it without a suit."

"Slag off," I told her, and jumped out the window. She was starting to sound like everyone else, and I didn't need to hear it, again.

It seems like Jamie is ignoring reason at this point. Girl is too stubborn sometimes.

Fun Fact: Jamie has had 2 boyfriends. Neither lasted longer than a few months because she's sometimes too independent.

Happy Valentine's Day!