Thanks for reviewing guys! I've gotten nothing but positive feedback, you guys are too sweet!
Chapter Three is about to commence, hope you like it sweet pea :)
"This is our town. This is who we're meant to be. And this is our town where our roots have grown so deep." –This Is Our Town, We The Kings
"Eleanor Jean Covelli! Get down here, now!" Malcolm's powerful voice rang through the hallways of their new box filled home. Ellie could hear it loud and clear from her room upstairs even though he was calling her from the kitchen. She bit her lip, 'There's no way he could have found out about today already.' Ellie thought nervously. Regardless she got to her feet and sped out of her room to the top of the stairs. She got on her knees and peeked through the stair railing, hoping to catch a glimpse of her father's expression. This would help her decide if she wanted to go into the kitchen or start heading for Mexico. Pete, who had also been upstairs, got down on his knees next to her.
"Why's dad middle naming you?" Pete asked.
"Not sure…" Ellie said undecided, she could only see an inch of the kitchen, and her father must have been sitting at the table, away from her sight.
"What shenanigans could you have possibly gotten into already?" Pete questioned.
"You'd be surprised," Ellie got to her feet and slowly started down the stairs awaiting her fate.
"You worry me, little sister." Pete sighed. The blond inched her way to the kitchen, she was moving painfully slow and she hated it. 'What am I worrying about? He can't have found out about this afternoon, he hasn't even left the house today! I'm stressing for nothing… he's probably mad because I forgot to rinse out my cereal bowl or something…' Ellie convinced herself and she entered into the unpacked kitchen.
"What's up dad?" Ellie asked casually. Malcolm sat at the table with a mug of coffee in hand. He pointed to the tiny television set on the kitchen counter. A news report flashed on the screen, the headline at the bottom of the screen read, "Velocity in Dakota?"Ellie winced.
"What is this about?" Malcolm questioned with his arms crossed.
"The cable's up! I thought he wasn't coming until Tuesday…" Ellie observed meekly with a cheesy grin. Her father was un-phased. Ellie resorted to groveling and her tone and face changed as she began to plead, "I'm sorry dad! It was a… moment of weakness?" she tried to convince him.
"What are the rules to living here, oh sweet daughter of mine?" Malcolm asked. Ellie sighed.
"Velocity can't roam the streets until we've been living here for at least two months…"
"And why is that?" Malcolm asked.
"Because it will appear suspicious to the people around us, if a superhero from New York and a student from New York both appear in Dakota at the exact same time." Ellie recited dully.
"And now, I'll ask again," Malcolm pointed back to the television set, "What is this about?" he repeated.
"I'm sorry! I couldn't help it… it's just… my nature!" Ellie defended.
"El! We can't afford slip up's like this! I think two months is still suspicious, I wanted to go for a year until Velocity shows up! But I couldn't do that to you! Two months is a generous deal…"
"Why can't I just run to New York City and be back before curfew every night? It'd only take me like four minutes to run there and back!"
"I don't like the idea of you being so far away by yourself. What happens if you get hurt in the city? What happens if you break your ankle and you can't run back so you're stranded there! What happens if some bozo robber hits you over the head? I don't have super speed Ellie; I can't run and be there right away. You have to stay close…" Malcolm insisted.
"I know… you're right… but I can't just sit at home." Ellie sunk into the chair next to him and cradled her head. Malcolm lifted her chin, hating to see his daughter in such despair.
"We agreed that you could still run around without the mask… just as long as you're discrete and you don't go around trying to fight crime." He reminded her.
"But I wanna help people…" Ellie pouted.
"I know you do… but you can't help people, when everyone knows who you are."
"Rubber Band Man does it!"
"I'm not Rubber Band Man's father…" Malcolm paused and pondered how strange that last statement sounded, he shook it off, "We decided a long time ago, to keep your identity a secret, why are you having doubts now?"
"I know! And I don't really have doubts… but dad, I'm desperate! I screwed up, I know, but the cat's outta the bag, can't I just continue? No one's gonna piece it together." Ellie pleaded.
"Someone could piece it together…" Malcolm stated, the blue eyes kept their plea regardless, he sighed in defeat, "Do what you want."
"You're mad…" Ellie said. Malcolm rolled his eyes.
"No, I'm not. Make something good for dinner tonight and we'll call it even." Malcolm offered.
"Steak and sweet potato pie?" Ellie offered.
"I concur, young Eleanor." Malcolm ruffled her blond hair and stood up from his chair. Ellie sighed, and decided to start with dinner. The kitchen was Ellie's domain. Her father was a scientist, one of the best, but he was too precise for cooking. It took him an hour to make sure the milk was exactly one cup. Peter didn't have the attention span for cooking, he would be in the middle of boiling pasta then he would walk away and play video games for 45 minutes before remembering there was something on the stove. So Ellie was the cook of her family, and she was fairly decent at it, her only problem was patience. She couldn't wait for the food to cook through all the way. But over the years she had grown to master the art of waiting for meat to cook thoroughly after her brother's horrid week of food poisoning. So she prepped for the pity meal she was supposed to cook to alleviate her guilt.
"Ellie… did you know that you my favorite sister?" Peter announced as his spoon clattered against his empty bowl. Ellie grinned, her famous sweet potato pie was the weakness for the men in her family. Her father had taken his meal on the road, the research lab had called him last minute and told him that they needed him to come review the lab before he started in the morning. So Ellie and Peter sat at the table together finishing up their meals.
"Well considering the fact John is my only competition that doesn't say much." Ellie smirked. Peter let out an amused laugh.
"I actually got a call from Jonathan this afternoon, he was talking my ear off, he's confused if Melissa is the right girl for him, he's not sure if he can see them having a future together…" Peter mocked in an overly feminine voice.
"God someone needs to kick him in the ovaries, he's in college! Why's he thinking about settling down?" Ellie said.
"Because Johnny's all work and no play… and it really does make him a dull boy." Her brother responded as he took the last bite of his steak.
"Like really, what kinda guy wants to have a wife, kids, and picket fence by the time he turns 24? He should be enjoying the parties and junk." She asked.
"I don't know…I'll never understand that guy." Peter said from the sink as he rinsed off his plate. He grabbed the remote and turned the small television set on. The news was still on and Velocity was still the headline. Peter rolled his eyes and changed the channel to a violent alien movie on Sci-Fi.
"You know, Ellie, you should be grounded." Peter said.
"Yeah? And you should be in college." Ellie retorted.
"I mean, is it really so hard to lay low for a little while?" Peter asked.
"Yes." She said simply as she scraped the remnants of her plate into the garbage disposal, "Is it so hard for you to get motivated and… work, for once?" The phone rang interrupting their conversation. Peter gave her a glare and answered it.
"Hello?... hey mom." Pete answered. Ellie sighed and exited the kitchen giving Peter his privacy while talking to their mother. And also sometimes Peter liked to attempt to get the two talking. Ellie always managed to get out of it though, either that or her mother would find something to do. As Ellie started to head for her bedroom, she heard a knock at the door. Malcolm had forgotten his wallet on the kitchen counter, so he had probably come back to retrieve it.
"Halt trespasser, state your name!" She ordered.
"Richie Foley and Virgil Hawkins?" the blond said through the door. Ellie tilted her head in curiosity as she unlocked the door and opened. The two teenage boys stood on the small porch wearing friendly smiles.
"Hi…" Ellie returned the friendly smile, "You two know each other?"
"You kidding? Richie's my main man!" Virgil said, "I mentioned how I felt bad about blowing you off and Richie told me you lived right across the street from him."
"It's okay… you don't have to feel bad." Ellie assured him, "Hey, do you guys want something to drink or maybe some sweet potato pie?" she offered.
"Um… yeah, I could go for something to drink." Virgil said. She motioned for them to follow her into the kitchen. Peter was still on the phone so he didn't say hello to the new guests, he only waved briefly. Virgil and Richie took a seat at the kitchen table.
"Orange juice, strawberry milk or water?" Ellie called.
"Just water please." Virgil requested.
"You got it." Ellie poured some water into a pink glass and handed it over to her new friend. She sat up on the counter and looked over at her brother for a moment wondering if the three should switch rooms so they didn't disturb his conversation. But as soon as Pete caught Ellie looking at him he shifted his conversation.
"Hey Ma, do you wanna talk to Ellie?" Peter asked. Ellie motioned to her guests and shook her head wordlessly, but it turned out she didn't have to when she heard him say, "Oh… it's okay that you're busy… I love you too… bye." There was a loud click as Peter hung up the phone.
"Pete, you met Virgil at the community center right? And you know our neighbor Richie." Ellie reminded him.
"Yeah, nice seeing you guys, what's going on?" Peter asked.
"Oh you know, just dropped by." Richie shrugged.
"Okay then. Well, you kids have fun; I'm going to go watch a Spike Lee movie." Peter announced and left the room. Ellie shook her head and turned back to the two boys sitting at the kitchen table.
"You know I have my schedule from when my dad registered me on Friday, maybe I have some classes with you guys." Ellie said grabbing the pink piece of paper from the basket of accumulated important documents her father kept on the kitchen counter. Virgil and Richie looked over the schedule and both made faces like they were in pain.
"Oh man… period one." Richie said.
"You got Goff…" Virgil said sympathetically.
"Who's Goff?" Ellie asked now with concern laced in her voice.
"Only the worst geometry teacher the demonic educational establishment has ever hired." Virgil shook his head.
"He's horribly strict." Richie agreed.
"Well math is one of my strengths… I mean… shouldn't that play a factor…?" Ellie said weakly, but Virgil only gave her a pitiful look.
"Our good friend Daisy has him… she has a B-minus."
"That's not too bad."
"She maintains a 4.0 GPA, and has an A or A-plus in every other class."
"Oh wonderful…" Ellie sighed, "Is there any good news on my schedule?"
"You have lunch with me and Richie that alleviates the new kid pain of where to sit." Virgil announced, "And you have biology with me too."
"You've got U.S. History and English with me." Richie announced.
"Awesome! I have friends in my classes!" Ellie stated excitedly, "I don't have to be all awkward and alone!"
"Well you're still awkward and alone in gym, Spanish, and Art." Richie reminded her. Ellie's smile disappeared from her face and then Richie automatically changed tactics and quickly said, "I mean… I'm sure you'll make friends fast!"
"I'm sure that's what you meant…" Ellie rolled her eyes.
"Just wait until you meet Daisy and Frieda, if anyone's welcoming and intimidating at the same time it's them." Virgil grinned, putting down the schedule, "It's too bad you couldn't check out the school."
"Who says we can't?" Ellie grinned mischievously as a mysterious plot began to fill her vast and notorious mind. Richie was clueless to the girl's forming master plan.
"Well, its nine o clock, the school's closed." Richie said.
"How hard could it be to sneak in?" Ellie suggested, "I mean just to get a look around, it's not like we're vandalizing anything."
"Breaking and entering with the new girl?" Richie pondered for a moment, "I'm game!"
"Sweet! Virgil?" Ellie questioned. Virgil also thought about the concept before finally nodding.
"Sure…why not? This is our town! We should be able to go to school on a Sunday if we really want to!" Virgil said, only after thinking about how strange that statement sounded.
"Awesome, let's go! Lead the way, guys!" Ellie said allowing herself to be guided from her new home into the mysterious dark city by her two new friends.
This concludes Chapter Three, next chapter Static and Velocity are going to have another encounter. And I'm hoping to get a little bit more into the actual plot of the story.
And don't be shy; tell me what you think so far! ;)