Mako's Message: 3,366. That's the word count for this chapter. That's three times the length of chapter eight, my, now, second longest chapter. Holy. Shit. I knew this one was going to be long, but I really didn't think it'd reach this proportion. Hell, the fight scene is about as long as my shorter chapters.
Oh yeah, -SPOILER- there's a fight scene.
Anyway, sorry about the long wait. (Haha. I called a week "long". That's funny.) It's been a rough week so I hope this triple length chapter makes up for it.
Also, you've all been great. I really mean that. I've never gotten such helpful or encouraging reviews before in my life. Hell, a couple of the reviews actually made me start worrying that I'd let you down if I didn't make it perfect. That said, I don't think this chapter is perfect. There are spots that I think could be better, I just don't know how and that disappoints me.
But that's where you come in. Let me know what you liked, what you didn't, what you think could improve the story. Especially the fight scene and the end. Thanks again and enjoy the chapter.
Oh. There is an intentional typo in there, "What's you" so no need to point that one out.
Okay. Lot's of stuff happened. So, let' just go in order.
The day after Dave helped me put the finishing touches on my costume I went to talk to the girl who invited me. Angela. Thank god it was on the invitation because the last thing I needed was to look stupid trying to find out her name.
Anyway, I wanted to find out a little more about the party. Specifically, if it was a Halloween party, would we be wearing costumes at any point? The answer was, yes, we would. Apparently it was just going to be a normal birthday party(not that that helps me know what to expect)during the day and then that night we'd be going trick or treating. So cake, costumes, and candy. Should be fun.
Todd and Marty were disappointed to hear that I wouldn't be going with them on Halloween, especially Todd. I guess they felt like going out was loosing it's appeal if we weren't going as a group. Don't know why though, aren't Dave and Katie going as well?
Anyway, Marcus practically crapped a rainbow when I told him I was going to a birthday party. He started asking me if I wanted to go shopping for new clothes. I told him, "Hell no" as politely as I could before going up to my room.
I'll confess that after sitting up there for a few minutes I started going through my clothes, looking for something to wear. Marcus was so happy to hear about this, and I did need to try and create a new life for myself. I couldn't dwell on a past story that was over. So I wanted to make a good impression.
I started to feel stupid about it soon after I started though. I mean, they invited me without me trying to impress them. Why should I start now? Still, I wanted to pick something I'd feel comfortable in. No need to walk into her house feeling like a tool. I needed something that said, "This is me. Don't like? Fuck off."
It took a couple hours for me to finally bite the bullet and go down to Marcus and say, "Alright. Let's go to the mall."
Turns out it was actually kinda fun. Not the actual shopping, but just going out. We bought giant pretzels and smoothies, got some passable Chinese afterwards, and while we shopped we talked about how school was going and what friends I was making (he wasn't happy that my circle of friends was pretty much Dave's circle of friends).
I even talked him into buying some action movies for our weekly movie night. I can't wait to see The Expendables. I don't care if it's good or bad. It's going to be BAD-ASS!
It did remind me that he is trying to stamp out Hit Girl though. Trying to make me into just another junior-highschool girl. But I'm not just another school girl. I AM Hit Girl. For better or worse that's what Daddy made me and I can't just be UNMADE.
It's part of why I like Dave so much. He accepts me for who I am. Completely and without reservation.
I ended up picking out these form-fit jeans with Hello Kitty on my ass, a t-shirt with some anime chick cutting a dude in half with a katana(Marcus wasn't happy about that one, but he can blow me if he thought I was passing that one up), and a black hoodie with a skull wearing a pink bow on it to go over it.
Dave was glad I'd still be going trick-or-treating after all the work we put into the costume, and he said he was still going out, not wanting to let his costume go to waste either, even if it was just for him and Katie.
Ew.
So the day came and I went over with the gift card we got her since I really had no fucking clue as to what she likes.
She opened the door and she actually seemed excited to see me. I really have no idea why, but okay. When I saw the other girls I finally realized why I had no clue who Angela was. They were all eighth graders. Every single one of these girls was a year ahead of me.
Was this good? Bad? I had no idea. I just knew that all of these girls were older than me, most were taller than me, and I was the flattest chest in the room. Why did I notice this? I really have no fucking idea. If I had to guess it's that for the first time in my life, when I was trying to be equals with someone, I felt like a child.
I got over that though, as they didn't treat me like they thought they were better than me because they were older, and I could tell I was more mature than most of them in other ways.
We spent the first hour or two sprawling across the living room couches and chairs listening to music and talking. I didn't have much to say since it was mostly about boys and television shows I didn't watch. When the time came for a CD switch, one of the girls got up and started looking through the pile on the floor and asked, "Hey, how about some Justin Bieber?"
I grunted, rolled over and said, "I'll listen to Bieber when his balls drop."
There was absolute silence for five seconds. Exactly. I counted. And for those five seconds I thought I'd fucked up and they were going to turn into a lynch mob.
Then they started laughing.
The birthday girl stopped laughing long enough to point at the CD and say, "You heard her. No more of him until he pubatizes."
The girl holding the CD saluted, said, "Yes ma'am" and threw it away like a Frisbee.
And that was how I suddenly fit into the group; vulgarily mocking things for their amusement.
Hey, it could be worse, and it'll be fun coming up with creative ways to tear things apart. I'm sure that even if they like what I'm riffing on I can make it funny enough that they won't care enough to get butthurt over it. And if they do they can go suck a cock, after all, it's all in fun.
We had pizza soon after that and we started watching movies. The first one was a romcom. It was okay, I laughed a few times, but not nearly as much as everybody else. When it was over Angela went over to pick another one. I looked at the DVD rack from the couch to see if there was anything I'd like to see and spotted one almost immediately, "Can we watch The Matrix?"
She stopped and looked at for a second, "That's my brothers."
"So?"
She seemed to think about it for a second before saying, "Your right. Anybody else for it?"
Two of the other five girls raised their hands and Angela said, "four to three, the motion passes."
When we get to the corridor scene, which is my favorite part(I just love the sight of Keanu strapped to the gills with firepower), one of the girls said, "I wish I could move like that. Imagine being able to take down a whole troop of guards all by yourself like that."
"Yeah," I said, trying to keep the smirk off my face as I popped some popcorn my mouth, "Must be awesome."
"Oh hey!" Angela said, "Check it out. I can do a cartwheel" and she did. A wobbly cartwheel, but it was still a cartwheel.
"I can do a split," one of the other girls said and almost did a split. She came close, but she just couldn't get her legs straight.
"You call that a split?" I said and put the popcorn bowl I'd been hoarding(I like popcorn. What of it?) next to the arm chair I was sitting in, put my hands on the cushion between my thighs pushed down and swung my legs out and suspended myself between the arms of the chair. I put my hands up, palms together, in front of my chest to mass applause.
"How did you do that?" one of them asked.
I figured the answer was safe enough, "I've been training since I was five."
"Wow. Really?"
"Are you going to try out for cheer squad next year?"
"Fuck no."
"If she's been training since five it's probably for something bigger than cheerleading you derp. Are you trying for the Olympics?"
"No."
"Then for what?"
It took me a second to answer as I thought about just why I'd been training. I shrugged and said, "Just because."
When the movie ended it was time for us to change into our costumes and head out. While I was changing my phone dropped out my pocket and I saw a text I'd missed from Dave: "Hey. Are you still going out tonight? Maybe we could join up."
I was shocked, but I couldn't help but feel happy that Dave was willing to give up alone time with Katie.
I knew I didn't really have a right to ask, but I decided to go see if Angela minded Dave joining us. When I walked in to the bathroom where she was putting on her make-up, the first thing I asked was "What the fuck are you?"
Not to Angela, she was a pretty cool looking gothic fairy sorta thing. I was talking to her friend.
"What?" she said
"You look like a whore," I said.
Her face fell as she said, "I'm Snooki."
One of the girls across the hall yelled over, "So she's right then?"
Angela had fallen against the wall laughing, "Oh man. I like you more and more all the time Mindy," she said.
"I know! And she's always so straight when she says it!" the same girl called from the other room.
"Yeah, you did good inviting her!" another called.
"Snooki" didn't seem as amused though, "And what are you supposed to be? Gumby?"
I unrolled the mask I had in my hand, ducked my head down, pulled it on, pulled my hair through and looked up saying, "I'm Kick-Ass!"
"What? Lemme see!" the girl called and came hopping out of the room, trying to get a shoe on.
"Wow. That's a really nice costume!"
"Yeah, it looks just like the real thing."
"Where did you get it?"
"I ordered it online."
"Wow. It must have been expensive."
"Not really." It wasn't. Well, not compared to a jetpack.
So I finally got to ask Angela and she just asked if he was bringing anyone else. I asked him and he said Katie(Damnit), Marty, and Todd.
I don't know if she cared either way about the rest of them, but her eyes lit up at Katies name.
So I told Dave to come on over and he said he'd be there in a few minutes.
We ended up not waiting for them because it took that long for everyone else to get ready.
Dave looked really good in his costume. He also looked really comfortable in it. I guess he would. Katie was with him, and she was dressed as a girl version of The Gaurdian. It wasn't that creative though. It looked like she just bought the same sort of motorcycle jumpsuit he wears and cut the middle out of it.
I introduced Dave and Katie and we headed off. Dave held me back though, pressing something hard into my hip, "Something to add a little authenticity to your costume, "He whispered into my ear. I reached down and grabbed was he was pressing against me; his batons.
I took them and was surprised by their heft. I'd always thought they were just sawed off broom handles or something but they were really solid and heavy. These things could really fuck somebody up.
"Now you're costume is complete" he said and turned to catch up with Katie.
I said thanks as he ran off. I don't think he heard me. I'm not gonna ask if he did.
After a couple blocks I finally decided to ask Dave were Todd and Marty were. He said that we'd be meeting up with them later.
Dave hung back on the sidewalk with Katie while we went up to the houses. Each time I came back he'd ask what we got and if he thought it was a good haul he'd go knock on the door himself.
While he and Katie where up at a house that was giving out king size candy bars instead of those pussy little "fun" size ones, these two dick-heads came up to us. I don't know how old they were, I just know they were taller than any of us and they were asking about our candy. One took Snooki's bag, and shoved her to the ground when she tried to take it back and the other guy grabbed another of our bags.
Stealing candy? Really? I couldn't believe I was seeing this. It was just too pathetic. People really did this? It didn't matter, I grabbed the batons and was about to see how good they worked as nut crackers when I felt a hand squeeze my shoulder.
I looked up expecting a third douche-bag but it was Dave. He looked at me and gave a barely noticeable shake of his head. He squeezed my shoulder again and stepped forward, "Hey, come on guys. Leave the kids alone. Give them back their candy."
"What's you say faggot?"
I sorta edged around so I could see things better if Dave needed my help as he said, "I said give the kids their candy back. It's Halloween, all these houses are giving it away for free. Go get your own."
"And what are you going to do if we decided not to, huh? Faggot?"
Dave's eyes changed then. They suddenly hardened, like a switch had been flipped, he said, "Then I'll kick your ass."
The one on Dave's left threw a punch at him and Dave's arm came up and brushed it aside while his right came up and punched the guy clean in the face in one fluid motion.
The guy stumbled back as his hand went up to his face and yelled, "AH! FUCKER!"
The guy on Dave's right tried to kick him in the knee then but Dave hoped back and the kick missed by a mile. The first guy came back swinging one of the candy bags at him. Dave blocked but it didn't do much good as it wrapped around his arm and hit him in the face anyway. It didn't even look like it hurt, but it did make him flinch back. It was enough for the second guy to punch Dave in the side of the head. Dave stumbled towards the first guy who tried to knee him in the stomach. Dave caught his leg though. He used his left arm to push the guy's leg left, while swinging his right arm up and catching the guy in the throat with his forearm knocking him to the ground. Dave spun while bringing up a block, but he wasn't fast enough and caught another fist to the face. He wasn't fazed though and threw one right back. He hit the guy, but at the same time the one on the ground kicked him in his knee so the punch glanced off and did jack shit. The guy hammered Dave in the face again sending him to the ground. He tried to stomp on Dave's face but he rolled to the side letting the stomp come down just past his shoulder and Dave punch the guy in nuts. The guy started to collapse, and almost fell face first into Dave, but Dave caught him by the head and punched him in the face before shoving him off to the side and quickly getting up. The other guy was on his feet and coming at Dave before he was even on his feet and kicked him in the head. Dave saw it coming and tried to roll with it. I don't know how well it worked but I don't think it was very well. Dave hit the ground and managed to get up pretty quickly but not quickly enough to avoid a punch to the gut. Dave woofed as the wind got knocked out of him, but he didn't even try to get it back before hitting the guy with a rising uppercut, a couple of jabs to the face, and then a front kick to the chest.
The guy who'd had his balls busted managed to pick himself up and run off, the coward. The second guy took the hint and crawled to his feet holding his stomach and limped off as well.
Dave was bleeding from his mouth and his temple. He was breathing heavily, but steadily. And I looked into his eyes as he watched the two run away…and, as stupid as this sounds, there was a fire in his eyes. I'd seen it twice before, but tonight, it sent shivers down my spine.
I went over and touched Dave's shoulder, "You okay?"
"Yeah. Eighty percent sensitivity, remember?"
"Dave?" That was Katie, she looked like she was in both shock and awe.
"I'm okay. I've taken worse beatings."
He must be okay if he can make jokes.
And that must have broken the spell that had been holding Angela, Snooki, and the rest of them still, because one threw both her fists into the air, yelling, "That was FUCKING awesome!" And they all rushed forward to thank him.
I heard running feet getting closer and turned to see Todd and Marty. They were winded as hell and they were wearing a pair of superhero costumes that were just kind of sad looking. "What happened?" they asked.
"Dave kicked two candy thieves asses."
"No way."
"Yeah. He was pretty awesome."
"Mindy. Hey, Mindy!" Dave yelled over, "Katie and I are heading home early. Do you want a ride?"
I didn't know what to say, but Angela told me I should go, and if she didn't mind me leaving early to be with Dave than I sure as shit wasn't going to stay.
"What about you two?"
"Oh. Yeah. Might as well." Marty said.
So the five of us headed back to Dave's car, Dave kind of limping a bit but not too much. Dave let Katie drive and he sort of slumped into the passenger seat and pulled off his wig and mask.
Todd offered to let me in first, but I passed. I wanted to be last in so I could sit behind Dave and talk him into coming into the house to get cleaned up. He of course didn't want to freak out Marcus, but I convinced him it was better to freak out Marcus than his Dad.
When we got there Dave asked Katie to take Marty and Todd home, adding that his dad said he didn't need the car tomorrow so he'd come get it from her house tomorrow.
She agreed, gave him a goodbye kiss that was a lot longer than necessary, and we got out of the car. Before she drove off, Todd stuck his head out the window and said, "Hey Mindy! Your costume is sweet."
All I could think of to say was, "uh. Thanks" and walk away.
The first thing Marcus said when he saw Dave was, "Please tell me that's part of the costume."
I sat and watched as Marcus cleaned the cuts on Dave's head. I know he has fucked up nerves, but it still surprised me that he didn't flinch at all, to any of it. After Marcus finished up, Dave asked if it would be alright for him to take a shower.
He said sure and that he'd find him some old clothes to lend him.
While Dave was showering I went up to my room to wait for him. I wanted to talk to him about some things.
