Chapter 17

Inkopolis Evening…

Where is…there!

"Hey, Guyver?" I called out. "Are you okay?"

"Of course not!" he was freaking out. I just said that…and right in front of Sarah!"

"I'm sure Sarah knows you weren't serious." I assured him. "I mean, you're already dating. I'm pretty sure she won't break up with you because you said something stupid."

"It's not just that." He sighed. "I mean, with all the stuff Sylvia said…is that what most Inklings think of us? That they either don't care or just hate us?"

"I-I'm sure it's not." I said. "I mean, I made a couple friends who know I'm an Octoling. They don't care."

He seemed intrigued by the fact that I have other friends in town. I told him I wanted to get into music and he correctly guessed DJ. Apparently it's pretty common with Octarians.

I soon decided to show him my friends by the Canal. Unfortunately, they were wrapping up, so he didn't get to hear them play. So far, Guyver, George, and Carol and Sheryl seem to get along.

I lamented the fact that I still haven't found a DJ to teach me, but Guyver seems confident he can get Marina, claiming to know her.

Well, guess it's back to the apartment then…

"Where do you live, anyway?" Guyver asked. "If you only started battling recently, how'd you afford to live here?"

"I-I'm staying with some people from who came from Cirrina the same time I did." I told him. "They said I could stay as long as I clean up and don't bug them…"

"So they aren't friends..." He pointed out.

"No…but it's a place to stay until my mom finds a job, packs our stuff, and buys a place so we can move here." I explained.

"I'll walk with ya, little man." George said. "Make sure you don't run into trouble."

"Same here." Guyver said. "I need some time to think of something to say to Sarah."

"I'm not gonna ask…" George wisely decided.

George waved his sisters goodbye for now and we walked towards my apartment. Eventually, we got to Tim's apartment. They waved me goodbye as I went up the stairs.

"I'm back." I announced.

The others were watching TV and barely noticed me. Andrea waved though. That's something I guess…

I just brushed my beak, walked over to my and Ben's room, turned the lights off, and lied down. I was honestly kind of tired.

After a few minutes though, I could hear the door opening. Hopefully it was just Ben going to-

I felt hands quickly swipe my goggles. The culprit quickly ran for the lights. I quickly pulled my hood of my sweatshirt over my head.

"Gotcha-aw, no fair!" Andrea whined.

"Give them back!" I told her.

"Come get them!" She ran out of the room.

Seriously?!

I walked out of the room, my hood pulled over my head. I couldn't see well, but I could tell where she went.

I walked over to the kitchen area towards Andrea. I reached for my goggles, but she had one hand pushing me back and the other keeping the goggles away from me.

"Don't you see this'll help you?" She said. "Come on, kid. Break out of your shell. Don't be a baby!"

"Give them back…" I told her.

"No." She replied.

I was getting frustrated.

"Give them back!" I demanded.

"Mmmmm…no!" She smugly replied.

That's it…

"Give…them…BACK!" I used my free hand to push her.

"Hey, don't push me!" She then pushed me back.

"I SAID GIVE THEM BACK!" My fist went in her stomach.

She then dropped goggles. I quickly grabbed them and put them on.

"Geez, overreact much?" She said.

"Yeah, you didn't have to hit her!" Lisa said as she came over.

"I told her to give them back and she didn't!" I told her. "Why can't you just leave me alone?"

"Wow…" Ben came over. "You're sounding just like your mom…guess crazy is genetic."

"Stop calling my mom crazy!" I told him. "You don't know anything!"

"Everyone knows she's crazy, kid." He stated. "Wonder if that's why there's husband in the picture…?"

My eyes widened when he said that. Then I grit my beak and clenched my fists.

"Woah, is your hair curling?" He noticed. "How're you doing that?"

*POW!*

Ben fell to the floor.

"There's no dad in the picture because he died!" I yelled at him. "I never even got to know him! I barely know a thing about him! I don't even know what he looks like!"

Ben just sat on the ground with a shocked look on his face.

"Okay, Bennie said something bad, but you don't have to hit him!" Lisa pushed me.

"Don't test me, Lisa!" I then turned around. "Same goes for you, Andrea!"

"Okay, that's it!" Lisa grabbed me from behind. "Andrea, open the door!"

Andrea then opened the door and Lisa pushed me out.

"Hey! Let me in!" I was pounding on the door. "Let me in!"

"Not until you cool off!" Lisa said.

I just screeched and kicked the door a few times. Andrea just shut the blinds and Lisa turned the TV up.

"Great…" I started walking down the steps. "Can this get any worse?!"

"Did you have a fight?" A voice asked.

Oh Octo and Cod…

It was him…

"I told you people would mistreat you…" He started walking up the steps. "Let me help you now…"

I ran back up the steps and pounded on the door.

"Let me in!" I begged . PLEASE, LET ME IN!"

It was no use…they couldn't hear me.

The stranger was then right next to me, knife in hand.

Think of something, Tim…think!

…

I immediately kicked him between the legs. His pain was sharp and instant and he tumbled down the steps.

I immediately turned into an Octopus and superjumped out of there.

A few minutes later, I landed a few blocks away.

Okay…where are Guyver and George?

I quickly started running around, turning at every corner.

Come on...come on...where did you guys go...?

Eventually, I found myself near the canals. I could see someone walking down there…Guyver! Yes!

I quickly made my way down to him.

He grabbed a small rock and spun around.

"Tim?" He couldn't believe it. "What are you doing here?"

"W-we got into an argument…then a fight..." I explained. "They locked me out…"

"Wow." He still couldn't believe it. "Some roommates you're staying with…"

"Can I stay at your place until tomorrow?" I asked.

"Sure." He shrugged. "You can crash on the couch."

"It's a shame how people treat you…" A figure above us remarked. It was…him… "But it's a good thing I've found you again…"

"Excuse me, who are you?" Guyver had no idea who this was.

"G-Guyver, we need to run…" I told him.

"What?" He was confused.

The figure hopped down to our level.

"Now, let me help you, child." He pulled out a knife.

"Oh no…"