Chapter Eighteen

Nigel's POV

It was a friday afternoon and like any other bunch of lazy boys, we went last minute shopping for tuxes for our dance tomorrow. "This is so cruddy." Complained Wally. "Shopping's for cruddy girls..."

"I offered the suggestion of khaki uniform." Said Patton. "So it's either that, Aussie, or tux."

"Can't I just wear my shirt and jeans? geez."

"No." Said Bartie. "Unless you want Kuki to tear you down limb from limb."

We entered the tux store, which was one of the very few that existed in this mall, and an adult with a blue thinly striped shirt with a measuring tape hanging around his neck walked over to us. "Welcome." He said, his voice cheerful and energetic. "How may I help you?"

"Yeah, we're looking for some tuxes for a dance tomorrow." Replied Hoagie.

The adults eyes lit up. "Oh well you came into the right store."

"No shit." Whispered Patton.

"Follow me! My names Rupert by the way"

We followed Rupert towards the back of the room where there seemed to be cubicles of change rooms. "Now what sort of tuxes were you looking for hmm?" He asked.

"Well what do you suggest?" I asked.

"Ugh, this is so cruddy!" Groaned Wally.

Rupert shoved us one by one into the change rooms gave us many styles and outfits to try. Wally was still complaining. I had already decided on my tux along time ago. Simple black jacket, black slacks, white shirt and black bow-tie. But Rupert didn't listen and kept giving me more styles to try.

I eventually managed to get what I wanted.

"Oh now we have to go shoe shopping!" Groaned Wally, as we left the store, carrying our tuxedos that were stored neatly in a plastic protector.

"Um... don't look now but Delightfuls at 3 o'clock." Hoagie mumbled into my ear. So I did the natural thing and looked. There stood five teens, stuck together like glue in matching uniform.

"Well, if it isn't Nigel Uno?" They said in perfect unison. Even if I have heard nearly all my life it still gives me the creeps.

"Delightful Teens." I greeted.

An awkward silence fell around us. Things have changed since we were kids. Because they have no idea I'm part of the Teens Next Door, it's been quite boring between us. We're still enemies but not how we used to be.

"Well I guess we'll be going now." They said. "See you at the dance."

When they turned I placed a microchip on Lenny's helmet. It was clear making it almost invisible, meaning the Delightfuls wouldn't be able to see it. When they were out of sight I got out a mini computer and opened it. I plugged in the earphones and placed them over my ears. On the computer a red dot blinked the Delightfuls current location.

Through the headphones I heard sounds of people talking and feet walking on the floor. I smirked and took of the headphones and put the computer away. "We'll find out their plans soon." I said to the rest of the boys. They smirked too and we continued our shopping.

"Listen well." I called out to my teammates from my podium. "I had an encounter with the Delightfuls today, but little do they know I had planted a tracking chip on them which picks up sound and tracks them to their current location, meaning we'll be able to know where they are and what they're saying."

"So if they're discussing their plan, we'll be able to know?" Asked Kuki.

"Exactly."

I pulled out the computer and they all rushed to my side. "Only I am allowed on the podium." I said. They looked at me with pleading eyes and I gave in. "What the hell."

I put the volume to full blast so that everyone could hear. I switched the computer on and the red dot blinked again. Only this time the dot wasn't blinking in the Delightfuls mansion as I thought it would... it was beeping 2 blocks down from the mall. We listened carefully to any sound. "Abby doesn't hear anythin'." Abby said.

"Shh!" I hissed.

More silence. "Maybe they saw it?" Suggested Hoagie

"Just when we think we're one step ahead of them..." I mumbled.

"Look, if they do have a plan, we're just gonna hafta find out tomorrow." said Abby.

"Yeah... alright." I sigh. "Meeting dismissed."