Chapter 7: Teen Monster Problems

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When I got back to the base, my friends greeted me when I got out of the car. "Hey Bat! How was your first day?" asked Susan as she lightly put her huge fingers around my shoulders as her way of giving me a hug.

"It was allright I guess," I said. When Susan let go, I shrugged off my backpack, letting my wings unfurl and stretch out. B.O.B. attacked me by giving me a hug.

"You're back! I knew you couldn't leave forever!" he said happily and hugged me tighter. I held my breath as I started to sink into the blue gel. Doc rubbed his head and sighed at what B.O.B. said.

I guess while I was gone, Doc was trying to explain to B.O.B. that I was going to be going to school from now on till I graduated, but B.O.B. thought I had decided to leave forever.

Then, after suffocating and being upchucked, I slowly got up and wiped the goo off me.
"What happened at school?" asked Link as he watched me wipe the goo off. I shrugged.

"Oh you know, made some enemies, some teachers creep me out, and I guess I made a friend," I said as I took off my beanie, causing my ears to spring up. Susan smiled happily. "Aww that's so nice! What's her name?" she asked.

"His name is Hunter," I responded.

"A boy? You have a friend?" asked Doc.

"Better yet! Batsy has a boyfriend!" said Link laughing.

I turned red from anger and embarrassment.

"Stop it, Fishstick! I don't have a boyfriend!" I snapped at Link, but Link kept laughing. "Batsy and Hunter sitting in a tree…" he started to sing and then laughed again.

My whole face turned red. I turned away, pretending that I was too occupied with the blue gel on my clothes that was starting to congeal. Doc and Susan gave Link a glare before asking other questions about how my classes were. I turned back around and told them about my day. I even told them about Hunter, but not about the photos.

Doc was concerned about me having a male as a friend, but Susan thought it was very cute. Doc shook his head. "Just be careful, Bat. Boys can be very misleading." I gave him a confused look.

"What's that supposed to mean? I don't like Hunter! He likes aliens," I said. Link snorted. "Kid needs to find a better interest. Monsters are way cooler. Have you told him that you are a monster?" He asked. Doc huffed at the hybrid.

"Bat isn't supposed to reveal to anyone what she is, Link! You know that!" Doc snapped. Link ignored the bug scientist and continued looking at me.

"Also made some enemies you said? What did you do to piss them off?" He asked. I shrugged. "Existed?" He laughed. "You dont need to worry about them, you can easily kick their asses," he said. Then he ruffled my hair. Doc glared at him.

"Language, Link" Doc hissed. Link rolled his eyes. "She's seventeen years old, Doc. She's not a baby," the hybrid said. Doc continued to glare at him. "Still. Be a gentleman around a young lady, Link," he said sharply. Link ignored him.

After that we all decided to head inside.

I went to go to my bathroom to wash off all the blue gel and makeup off me. I took a long shower. Afterwards, I changed into clean clothes and continued taking off the rest of the tan make up from my face. Took a while until I could see my true white skin again. After watching all the tan, human skin colored makeup swirl down the drain, I wiped my face with a towel, then walked out of my room to Link's room.

I could hear him lifting weights in his room. I knocked on his door. Minutes later he opened it. "Yeah? Oh. Hey Belfry. How's it going?" He asked. I took a deep breath and exhaled, trying to calm down my racing heart and asked him if I could still work out with him. He shrugged and said I could. He was ok with me using his equipment. I told him how I didn't have P.E. since it required taking off my backpack.

Link smirked. "So what? I'm sure you can take everyone down in P.E. Fly circles around them! Scream at them and knock them on their asses!" He realized that he cursed in front of me and quickly hovered his hand over his mouth. "Oops, I mean..." then he straightened up, and slicked back his head fin. Then he started mocking as a gentleman and said in a bad British accent:

"Pardon my rudeness. I meant to say...Knock them on their behinds." I couldn't help but laugh. Link grinned, revealing his sharp pointy teeth and did a mock bow. "Thank you, Miss Bat." I clapped.

He straightened back up and chuckled. "I dearly wish I could see the looks on that Hunter kid's face when you tell him you're a monster."

"I can't reveal my monster self to anybody," I reminded him.

"I'm sure the government can cover it up. They have to have their own memory wipe-" Link stopped when he realized what he was saying. "Oh...sorry. I forgot," he said rubbing the back of his head. He was quiet for a moment before asking what classes I had. I told him my schedule. Link smiled when he saw me talking about how I was so happy in taking an art class. I went on and on about it. Link grinned.

"That's great. I'm glad you found a class you like," he said. I nodded my head happily. Then Link sighed and leaned against the side of the huge door frame; crossing his muscular arms over his broad chest.

"Sucks you have to go to school, wont be able to fight aliens with us for two whole years," he added. I blinked. "What are you talking about? I'll still be able to fight aliens," I said. Link gave me a confused look and straightened up.

"Will you have time to fight aliens? You'll be in class if the alien tracker goes off. Also isn't there a thing called homework you have to do as well? he asked. I told him I could fight during the weekends and holidays. No school. No homework. No problem. Link shook his head, still not convinced.

"You might have to talk to Monger about that," he said.

I hesitated before nodding. "Yeah, I'll do that," I said.

We stood there in silence for a moment. Link rubbed the back of his head. "Anything else you want to tell me?" He asked, trying to break the awkward silence. I blushed. "Um..." I started. There was a couple things i wanted to tell him, but was too embarrassed to admit.

I also wanted to tell someone about what happened with Hunter and the photos. I wasn't sure about telling Link. I wanted to tell him, but wasn't sure if he would tell the others. I still had no idea what would happen to me or Hunter or even me going to school. I didn't want to become a prisoner again. Not go to school, not fight aliens. Never see anyone again. It was a rising fear that was happening inside me.

"I...n-nevermind..." I finally said. Link nodded. "Ok. See ya later Batsy," he said as he walked back into his room, pushing the button and causing the huge door to come down. My ears went down as I sighed, staring at Link's closed door. I so badly wanted to tell that was on my mind. But something inside me was too scared and embarrassed to do so. Maybe...maybe another time...

I sighed one last time, before lowering my head and walked back to my room. My wings dragging behind me across the cold floor...

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After dinner, Susan asked if we all wanted to watch a movie. I had already contacted Monger to talk to him. He told me to wait. Apparently he was in a meeting. I decided to wait till he was free and went to go watch a movie with my friends.

We decided to watch the movie where Butterflyasaurous and Susan could watch. Susan sat at the table, B watched through her window and the rest of us watched on a couch placed on the surface of the huge table.

We were watching The Invisible Man.

"Oh! I didn't know the Invisible Man was in a movie!" blurted B.O.B.

"Invisible Man?" I asked and turned to Doc, Link, and Susan.

Susan looked at Doc and Link as well, I guess she wasn't told about an Invisible Man. Doc coughed into his fist. "Oh, well…you see…" started Doc rubbing his neck nervously. Link spoke up for them. "We had an Invisible Man here with us when we were in prison," said Link. My eyes widened in surprise. "Really?" I asked. Link nodded. "Yup."

"And then he escaped!" said B.O.B. happily, "and now he is in a movie!"

Doc and Link exchanged nervous glances.

"Uh…sure B.O.B." said Link.

Then Doc whispered in my bat ear, "He died of a heart attack twenty five years ago." I gasped and looked at nodded their heads sadly. I looked over to Susan who gave me a concerned look. I gave her a sad shake of the head. She seemed to understand and nodded.

It was sad they couldn't bring themselves to tell B.O.B… well, maybe it is better if he didn't know. I turned and looked at B.O.B. who was cheering, clapping, and laughing every time the Invisible Man did something crazy. He nudged Link while pointing at the screen. "Classic Invisible Man. He's amazing!" Link just gave him a wide fake grin and nodded. I slowly turned my head and continued watching the movie.

We were halfway through the movie when Monger came up on the table with his jetpack. "Sorry if I'm interrupting anything," he started. Doc paused the movie. Susan smiled. "Not at all Monger, want to watch the movie with us?" asked Susan.

"No, not now, I need to speak with Bat for a minute," said Monger.

My friends exchanged confused glances. I silently got up and walked along the table. When we got to the edge, Monger took off on his jetpack. I spread my wings out and glided after him. We flew off the huge table and to somewhere where the others couldn't hear us.

"Allright, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?"

"I was wondering if I'll still be able to fight aliens," I said. Monger narrowed his eyes a little. "Fight aliens?" He asked. I hesitated, but then he answered for me. "I told you the government sees you as a minor, and that you need to finish school. You can't fight aliens until you graduate."

"But...what about weekends and holidays? I wont have homework on those days and I can fight when the alien tracker goes off-" I started. Monger shook his head. "No can do. You need to focus on school. I cant have you falling behind in classes."

"I wont fall behind in my classes."

"Bat..."

I looked up at him with my ears pointed toward him. "Please Monger." Monger shook his head. "I can't, Bat. I'm sorry," he said. My ears went down. We were quiet for a moment before Monger spoke again. "I thought you would be happy going back to a normal life," he said.

I was. I really was. But, I also wanted to still fight aliens. I have never felt so alive. It was a thrilling feeling. I finally felt like I belonged. I didn't answer him. Monger sighed. "I was able to at least get you to go to a normal high school and not be cooped up in the base."

I still didn't answer.

Monger gave me a pat on my shoulder. "It's only two years, Bat. You'll be graduating in no time." I nodded slightly. Monger straightened up. "Speaking of which...any reports on John?" He asked. I silently shook my head. Monger nodded.

"Allright. Any other questions you want to ask me?"

"Can you get the government to let me still fight aliens?" I asked him.

Monger sighed and turned away. "Have a good night, Bat." With that he activated his jet pack and flew away.