Chap. 13
School Dazed
The bell rang, signaling the end of the classes. As the doors opened, countless numbers of kids surged out, eager to shove their books and what not in their lockers and get the hell out of the building. The main exit doors practically burst open from the mass of kids pushing them back. But after the main surge had ended and the wave of kids began to trickle down, three kids walked out with less speed and enthusiasm then those who had come before. Of course, the fact they were carrying a load of books and sports equipment did do a lot to kill both their speed and enthusiasm.
"Jesus, how many classes do you take?" Bart gasped, as he readjusted the large pack of books on his back. "It's not my fault I take a couple of early morning classes." Rivers answered, as he walked by with some more books in his arms. "A couple? Dude there have to be like, twelve books here!" Bart shot back. "Geometry's complicated." Rivers answered simply. "Aww, too heavy for you little boy?" Martin asked mockingly as he walked by carrying a few bags of softballs, bats, and the like. "Maybe if I gave them to your sister to carry for you?" "Hey Martin, " Bart wheezed. "Why don't you stick to sports, and I'll stick to developing the mind I actually have?" "Oooh, I'm hurt. But I guess you need all the development you can get." Martin sneered back. But sadly, Martin didn't see who was in front of him when he said that. "Actually, I think you can afford to hold a few more things. Why don't you help him?" Cyborg said as he stood in front of the boys, his holo-image reapplied to his form.
"What? Dad come on, I've got all this stuff for the softball team to drop off!" Martin complained. "And won't they be impressed when they see all the books you read? Now you take that pack and drop that stuff off. I'll be waiting here when you get back." Muttering angrily, Martin grabbed the pack of books from Bart's back, threw it over his shoulder and began to walk over to the softball field. "Thanks Mr. Stone." Bart said, as he lay back against the former Titans' car. The parents had worked out the night before that Cy would drive the kids to training each day, since he needed to re-build the Towers circuitry anyway. And since Cy owned his own business, leaving this early wasn't too much of a problem for him. "No problem Bart. But don't you think you're a bit young to be having all those classes?" "Hey it's not me." Bart said, pointing to Rivers. "You?" Cyborg said with some surprise. "I like to learn sir." Rivers said, a bit stiffly. Cy just smiled and said, "Just like your mom. Star was always trying to learn everything she could about the world. But still, even she knew when to stop. You've gotta be taking early morning classes to need all those books, how early do you get up?" "About five-thirty sir." Rivers answered. At that, both Bart and Cy's eyes popped. The bionic Titan just shook his head and said, "You are gonna be wasted from all this training boy." "We'll see sir." Rivers said. "I suppose so. Now then, where are the rest of you? We need to get to the Tower soon."
"I think Lisa's over at the softball field, working on getting back on the team this season." Rivers said. "That's a problem?" Cy asked. "It is when you attack the umpire and break his nose." "That was her I read about in the paper?" Cy said in disbelief. "Yeah. They said that she's gonna be suspended for the season, but Mom and Dad have been working with the school to try to get her back on. Supposed to find out for sure today." "Hmm. What about Katie?" Cy asked, looking at Bart. But the young boy just shrugged. "I dunno. She was kinda weird this morning, and I haven't really seen her all day." "She did seem a bit distant in class today." Rivers agreed. "Do you think she's still mad about yesterday?" "That mess with the bomb? Wouldn't surprise me." Cyborg said. "Brett had a good idea, but he did it way too soon. I don't get what's with him lately. He used to be a lot more easy-going, but since this started, he's way more aloof."
"What do you think it is, Mr. Stone?" Bart asked. "I don't know. Maybe he's just worried about whatever's coming. I suppose if it was strong enough to throw most of the Elementals into limbo, I'd be worried too. I'm just glad he's got Sara and the others to keep him in line." "You think that she can?" Rivers asked. "She's his wife. If she can't, he really has gone over the deep end." Suddenly, Cy turned to the left, and seemed to focus on something in the distance. "Hey Bart, I think I see Katie over by that tree. Why don't you go get her?" "Aww, but I'm tire…. Wait what tree?" "The one by the side of the school. The oak." "But that's more then thirty feet away! How can you…." "Cybernetic eye. Now go get your sister." But Bart maintained his tired excuse. "It's ok. I'll get her." Rivers said, as he began to run for the tree.
The shade from the oak was cool and comforting, a nice respite form the blazing sunlight. As Katie lay down underneath it, she reveled in its simple comfort. She could have stayed here for hours, just relaxing underneath it's cool gaze without a care. But nothing that simple ever lasts, and a moment later it ended with four words; "What are you doing?" "Relaxing, now go awa.. oh." Katie said, as she looked up and saw Rivers. "You know we have to get going." The young boy said. "I'm not coming." Katie replied, as she leaned back under the tree. "Huh? Did I hear that right?" Rivers asked. "Not if it implied that I'm not coming." Was her answer. "Katie you have to come. We need this training." "Maybe you do, but not me. My mom can show me how to control my powers. I don't need him." "Look, I don't agree with what he did, but…" "Don't try to convince me ok? I've thought about this and I've made my decision. He lied to me and made me think you were all in danger, and didn't care about it. If he can act like he doesn't need me, then I don't need him."
"What about what we need?" Rivers asked. "Have you thought about that?" Katie looked up, but before she could finish, Rivers pressed on. "You say that he didn't care about you before, I can't say you're wrong. He hasn't really done much to show he cares about any of us. But if you give up on us like this, then you're not much better. At least what Brett does, he does because he wants us to be ready to fight for the world. You're just doing this because you're mad. And frankly that's a lot more selfish then what he did. Because you're giving up on your brother and your friends because you had go through something you didn't like. " He finished and looked at Katie, waiting for a response. But what he got was a bit different then what he expected. "We're friends?" Katie asked, a bit shakily. "Sure, why wouldn't we be?" Rivers asked. "I mean, if we weren't, would I be unhappy enough at the prospect of you leaving to beg like this?" Rivers said some more after this, but Katie had stopped listening after that. Her eyes wide, she got up. "OK, let's go." She said, and then quickly walked off in the direction of the others. Rivers watched her walk by, a look of total surprise on his face. "What did I say?" he wondered aloud, as he slowly began to follow.
"There they are." Bart said, as he saw Katie and Rivers walking up to the car. "I was starting to wonder what was going on with you two." Cyborg said. Katie quickly moved her head down, letting her long hair hide her blush, but Rivers, in total obliviousness, said, "Well, I just had to talk a little bit is all. Where are the others?" Cy opened his mouth to answer but before he could, a softball flew over his head at what seemed like light speed and some extremely angry muttering could be heard. The group turned to see Lisa angrily stomping her way to the car and Martin trailing behind, keeping his distance as best he could. Without a word to anyone, she threw open the door to the car, got inside, and shut it with a slam. "I take it things didn't go well?" Rivers asked Martin. "Hey, all I know is that she stormed out of the dugout, slammed every locker on her way down the hallway, and hasn't said two words since." Martin replied. "So who gets to sit next to her?"