Luc
I don't know why everyone thought I was a kid, or why Riley kept calling me 'Snake.' Since Xan had dropped off the map, the mission had changed into a field-trip to Rio De Janeiro, with the younger students (Eva and I) getting chaperoned by the older students (Riley and Kylie.)
"What do you guys want to do?" Riley asked as we got out of the vehicle we had been using.
"I dunno." I said. Then, I saw Kid walking towards us, looking exhausted.
"Hey Kid," Kylie said. It was odd that I was older than Kylie by my head and shoulders while I had turned fourteen recently. Really recently.
"Xan didn't do anything." Kid said, sliding down a wall.
"Huh?" Riley asked.
"Xan and I were with each other during the explosions, and helped as many people as we could." Kid said. "He's innocent."
Kylie's face was full of doubt, while Riley's face showed that he believed every word Kid said.
I sighed. "This is the worst birthday ever."
"Huh?" Eva asked.
"Today's my birthday, and I'm missing it." I said, leaning against a wall. "All because of some guy that looks like a cowboy."
"Rye, do you believe that Xan's innocent?" Kylie asked, not listening to Eva and I.
"Aye. If Kid was with Xan, then Xan has to be innocent. Kid wouldn't blow stuff up." Riley said.
I immediately knew what Kylie was thinking, just by the expression on her face.
"You know Xan." I said. "You know he'd do something like this."
"What are you talking about?" Kylie asked.
"You heard me." I said, walking right in front of Kylie. "I can read expressions. For instance, Riley here thinks Xan is innocent. You look a bit guilty, as well as doubtful."
"You need to calm down," Kylie said, like I was some kid misbehaving.
"You need to tell me what's going on." I said. "And treat me as an equal."
"I will when you earn it," Kylie said. I clenched my fists and began walking off.
But, of course, Eva followed me.
"Luc, what was that about?" Eva asked.
"I can read people, okay? Kylie's hiding something." I said.
"But how do you know?" Eva asked.
"I don't. But we never will, unless Kylie tells us." I said. "But she never will, because I'm the only one who realizes anything, and everyone treats me like I'm a kid!"
Eva looked at me. "Why are you so angry?"
"You don't get it, do you? I worked my ass off with my last partner, only for it to blow up in my face. I worked hard with you, too, but it never amounted to anything!" Luc said.
"You had a partner before me?" Eva asked.
"Yeah. She got killed." I said.
"What happened?" Eva asked.
"It was my fault. I didn't act soon enough. I was too busy making plans, like everyone says I should."
"Is that why you stopped making plans?"
"Yes. Now I do whatever my instincts tell me." I said.
Riley
"Are you sure that Eva has a crush on me? I thought she and Luc were together," I said.
"Rye, to be honest, you wouldn't know if a girl had a crush on you if she ran up to you and kissed you." Kylie said. "You'd better tell her you're dating Maka before she gets her hopes up."
"Hey, do you think Luc's okay? He seems really angry." I said.
"He said something about missing something today." Kylie said. "Something ending with day."
"His birthday? He's missing his birthday?" I asked. "That means he'd as old as you. Kylie, do you think we're treating him like a kid?"
"You mean we weren't supposed to?" Kylie asked, and I saw just how far-reaching my actions were. Kylie saw me calling him a kid, and started treating him like a kid, thinking that was what she was supposed to. Now, Luc had blown up, and Eva was the only one trying to help him out.
"I'm a terrible person," I said, sitting down beside Kid.
"It's not your fault. Now come one. We've got to make it up to Luc." Kylie said.
A/N: I reworked this chapter so many times, and I still hate it.
-MN1
