"So, tell me, how long have you been living in Middleton?" Drake asked.
"You can try my whole life. I've never been anywhere else" Lexxy replied, smiling. "Middleton is my home and I wouldn't have it any other way"
"Good for you then" Drake said. There was something bitter about his voice, Lexxy noticed.
"What about you?" she questioned curiously.
Drake took his time in answering. "I moved here with my parents two days ago. We're always on the move, actually. I don't think I've ever been in a place for more than half a year"
Lexxy stared at him. "Why not?"
"It's my dad. He just doesn't seem to be happy anywhere" he responded.
Lexxy then smiled. "I'm sure he'll be happy here. Middleton is a really great place"
"I hope so" Drake replied. "Hey, if it's not a problem, do you think you could show me around? I haven't had the time yet to go around the city. How about after school?"
"I'd love to, I can-" she stopped and groaned, smacking her head with a hand as she remembered what she was supposed to do.
"Is something wrong?"
"Kinda. It's Mrs. Bailey, I'm supposed to have detention with her today" she said, staring resentfully at the teacher who was loudly discussing their lesson.
"It's cool" Drake said thoughtfully. "How about tomorrow?"
"Sure, after cheerleading practice. I'll show the best places in the city"
Drake grinned. "I'll be looking forward to it"
---
Lexxy entered her house after an hour and a half with Mrs. Bailey, muttering to herself.
"Lines! Of all the things she could have made us do, it was lines! A hundred sentences, who is she kidding? She's so-"
"Hey Lexxy, you're home late"
Lexxy looked up, it was her dad. He was grinning at her, leaning at the doorway in front of their living room.
"Hey dad. I know, sorry about that. But Bailey thought I needed detention" Lexxy said irritably.
"Well, there's nothing wrong with good old-fashioned detention" Ron replied cheerfully.
Lexxy stared at her dad indignantly. "Dad! I'm a cheerleader. Cheerleaders don't get detention" she said pointedly.
"Not unless they break a rule, they don't" another voice said.
The two turned to see Kim standing a few feet from Ron with her hands on her waist.
"I did not break a rule" Lexxy said crossly.
Kim raised an eyebrow. "So, being on time on classes isn't a rule then?"
Lexxy pouted. "But mom, I was only late for like five seconds and she-"
"Lex, that was the third time in a row. And no matter what you say, late is late" Kim reasoned. "Mrs. Bailey had every right to give you detention"
"I can't believe you're on her side" Lexxy muttered.
Kim smiled as she walked towards her daughter. "Lex, there are times when we have to realize that we were wrong and accept it that way" she said, placing a hand on Lexxy's shoulder.
Lexxy sighed. "Easy for you to say, you probably never got detention when you were my age" she murmured.
Kim raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What about the time when I first met my archenemy, Dr. Drakken?"
"But that was different, you had a small robotic tick with miniature bomb stuck on your nose"
"Actually, I got the detention before the tick got on my nose" Kim responded. "And it was for being late" she added.
Lexxy opened her mouth to reply but Kim had cut her off. "I think we had enough discussions for one day, go upstairs and change. Dinner will be ready in half an hour" she said before pushing her daughter up the stairs. Lexxy pouted for a second before she disappeared into a hallway.
"You were a lot of help" Kim said sarcastically as she and Ron walked into the living room.
"No problem, Kim" Ron replied, not quite getting the sarcasm in his wife's voice.
Kim rolled her eyes as Ron sat on the couch and turned on the television.
"You really are so-" Kim began but stopped when she saw the news.
"- a break-in late last night at the Middleton National Bank. The police are still trying to figure out who these culprits might be and-"
Kim switched off the television. Suddenly, the atmosphere in the room had lost its relaxation and cheerfulness.
Ron stared at her with concern. "Everything alright?" he asked softly.
Kim didn't answer right away but sat beside Ron. "I… I'm just wondering… Do you think it was really a good idea to stop? I mean-"
"But Kim, you were the one who decided on this"
"I know, it's just that-"
"What about Lexxy? And the twins? If we go out crime fighting all the time, who'll take care of them? Not only that, we have no idea what might happen, what if we d-" He broke off, looking apologetically at his wife. "Sorry, Kim, I didn't mean to mention-"
"No, you're right" Kim replied. "We don't know what will happen in our missions, it's too risky for the kids" she said firmly.
Ron nodded and smiled softly, pulling her closer to him. "Look, that was the past. And this is now. We have three wonderful children who need our love and care, they're who we're supposed to worry about"
Kim sighed. "You're right…" she said before smiling as she leaned on his shoulder.