Early the next morning, Edgar awoke to the mental equivalent of a shove.
"What do you want?" he muttered, not bothering to open his eyes.
"We need to get the first shower. You smell."
"And whose fault might that be?"
Another shove, this time physical, and Edgar tumbled out of bed. With a groan, he stood up and started walking to the bathroom. He continued talking to Gary under his breath.
"You've been up all night, haven't you?"
"Maybe. There was a lot to think about." Gary was silent for a moment. "Look out."
"What?" asked Eddie. A second later, he stumbled against the wall as an invisible body elbowed its way past him into the bathroom. But before Veronica could close the door, Edgar's arm shot inside and flipped on the light. Eddie could feel Gary's sadistic satisfaction as Veronica yelped at the pain of the sudden light.
"What use are transparent eyelids?" Gary chuckled. "Pity she keeps her door locked, or I could wake her up like that."
"I wouldn't do things like that anymore if I were you." said Eddie.
"Oh? Why not?"
"Two words: Mr. Hyde."
"Ha! I wouldn't mind meeting him for real. Imagine the things he could teach me…"
"That's not what you were thinking when you saw him yesterday. To me, it seemed like you were scared of him."
"…Are you calling me a coward?" Gary's voice was dangerously soft.
Suddenly, Edgar was tackled by Allan, who was quickly joined by James and Timmy.
"What the—" Edgar began.
"Jeez, Edgar, keep track of your own body parts, will you?" said Allan, getting up. "He was about to strangle you."
"Gary," said Timmy. "Why do you even try? You do realize that if you kill Eddie, you'll kill yourself, too?"
That shut Gary up for the time being.
"Thanks," said Eddie. "He's just mad that there's something bigger than him out there."
"No problem," Allan shrugged, then frowned at the bathroom door. "She's going to use up all the hot water, isn't she?"
"Most likely," said James.
Allan pounded on the door. "Hurry up in there!" he shouted.
"Allan!" The boys whirled around to see Mary emerging groggily from her room. "Is it necessary to shout this early in the morning?"
"Actually," said Timmy. "It's almost seven."
"Lovely," Mary grumbled, going back into her room.
"In that case," said James. "We should probably start getting ready. Showers, I think, will be the least of our problems today." he added, seeing Allan scowl again at the bathroom door.
"You're right," said Edgar with a grimace. "I hope history doesn't start repeating itself."
As they went off to their rooms to get dressed, no one saw Timmy's pale face. He knew that history had a habit of doing just that, setting up the same situations, but with variations. The odds of a second face-off between M, Dorian and the League may be great, bit the odds of the League winning again were very slim. And even if they did win, one of the League had been killed, another seriously wounded. Would it happen again?
Pushing these disconcerting thoughts aside, Timmy glanced at the objects on his dresser, things he had invented throughout the years. He remembered people being doubtful as to whether or not they would work, then being amazed when they did. He and his brothers and sister had won plenty of bets that way. Timmy frowned. Edgar, James, Allan and Veronica weren't his brothers and sister; they had always known they weren't really related. But all the same, thought Timmy, yanking a shirt over his head, the five of them were closer than any league ever would be. Perhaps, with that as a secret weapon, they might actually win the upcoming and inevitable battle.
"Timmy, come on!" said Edgar, disturbing Timmy's thoughts. "You of all people should know we're going to be late!"
"Is Veronica out of the shower yet?" asked Timmy, a mischievous plan forming in his mind.
"No, why?"
"Go get Allan and James. I think the plumbing may need a little adjusting." Timmy grinned.
Edgar looked confused for a second, and then his face broke into a grin as well.
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Fifteen minutes later, the five were on their way to school, the boys smirking, and Veronica glowering.
"You guys suck." she said, her makeup-smearing features set in a scowl. The boys had turned off the hot water valve, cutting her shower short.
"You have to admit, it was pretty funny." Allan said, suppressing another laugh.
"You want funny?" Veronica held up a piece of paper. "Dear Elizabeth, I hope that you will understand why I couldn't meet you last night. I was on my way, when I was attacked by a pack of stray dogs…" she read, before Allan tore the paper out of her hands. The others burst out laughing again, as he shoved it back into his pocket.
"You know," said James. "Instead of making up a ridiculous story that will just make her break up with you faster, you could try telling her the truth."
"That would work even better," Allan replied. He started speaking to an imaginary Elizabeth. "Sorry I missed the date, but I was meeting my father. Well, he's not really my father, see, I'm a clone of him. And he came forward in time 100 years to meet me…" Allan pantomimed getting slapped in the face.
"It is pretty far-fetched." said Veronica. "Then again, everything about us is far-fetched."
"Everything from genius genes to button-less bellies." agreed Timmy.
"It was nice to have that little mystery solved," said Allan, pulling up his shirt to reveal his stomach, which, just like all his siblings, lacked a bellybutton. "I'm guessing it's a side-effect of being created, not born?"
"I should think so," said Edgar. He shuddered. "But please don't say 'created'. It's like we're part of a sci-fi movie or something."
"Edgar," said James, throwing on arm over Edgar's shoulder. "Our whole lives have been the stuff of science fiction."
"Hey, if you think about it, that could be deep." Allan said, raising his eyebrows as though impressed. As they turned the corner and the school came into view, he added, "And speaking of deep, we're going to be in deep shitake mushrooms if Dana and Elle get a hold of any of us, so we should all be careful."
"Aye aye, Captain," said Veronica with a mock salute. "On second thought, I guess I should call you Captain now, eh, James?"
"Skinner, shut up."
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Tolly: I realize that I have a bad habit of making chapters merely for fun, but some things need to be said, you know? For those of you out there saying "Wtf is up with the bellybuttons?" consider this: test tube babies wouldn't have an umbilical cord, now would they? It's just one of those things that needed to be brought up. Please R&R.
