"Let's go over the situation." Slyder said.
"Cyberspace is under the reign of Hacker. And we have a good hunch that he's behind a lot of stuff" Matt stated.
"So far as we know; we're wanted fugitives if we ever set foot back in Cyberspace." Inez continued.
"Dr. Marbles is held hostage by Hacker." Jackie said.
"And we're the only ones that can do this." Slyder said.
Jackie paced back and forth thinking. "We need a plan on how we're going to survive in Cyberspace if we're wanted...pretty much minced meat."
Matt folded his hands, " We should set a safe house there before we plan on barging anywhere. So we can plan and storage items."
"Good idea Matt." Slyder complimented.
"Hold on guys! We forgot the only one who knows the best hideouts in Cyberspace." Inez said. "Digit."
The rest of the squad flinched at the burst of memories as they remembered their old pal Digit, as well as Dr. Marbles's clumsy but bashful assistant. Matt grimaced at the state of the control room and realizing that he didn't see Digit anywhere and wonder where he could be.
"Problem. We don't know where he is." Jackie raised a brow.
"We'll find him. I say we split up into two teams and search for him incognito." Slyder agreed. "And we'll communicate to one another with the watches and meet up at the rendezvous.
"Slyder. You, are, brilliant." Jackie grinned.
Slyder flashed a grin at Jackie, nearly wanted to lean closer to her and-
"Alright you two." Inez folded her arms. They rolled their eyes as they forced to look away from each other. Matt smirked at Inez. Not changed a bit.
"We'll start the search Friday afterschool. We'll meet up at my place." Matt insisted.
"That's three whole days Matt...what if that's too long in Cyberspace?" Jackie groaned.
"She's right Matt. Time is different in Cyberspace. Anything could happen to Digit if he is hiding from Hacker." Slyder agreed.
Matt folded his arms, not ready to leave just yet.
"We really don't have a choice. We should wait until the weekend." He insisted.
They sighed, Slyder glancing at him, "It's really not wise of you Matt, but whatever." The rest of the gang got up and the meeting adjourned.
/
The C-squad splitted into two as Jackie decided to go home early and work on applications for college. Slyder insisted of walking her home and she didn't dare protest. Matt saw them lock hands and walk lightly by each other down the street. He was left studying a bit, still at Inez place as she fixed some noodles. He was distracted by not her just eating, but how she ate. He realized he was noticing every little detail and movement of her she mades and how it gives him a fluffy feeling in the pits of his stomach; in a good way.
"Kinda tempting huh?" Matt smirked. He recall his growling stomach as Inez heard as well. She looked up and set her bowl aside.
"You're welcome to take some."She offered. He nodded. Matt wanted to finish the bit of studying first before he sat down and relaxed. But he became a bit frustrated with the Stats homework, unsure if he wanted to ask Inez for help. He looked up, staring at her; as well as contemplating.
"Uh,...could you help me,...with this problem?" He asked painfully. A twinge of defeat and surrender masked his voice. Inez stared him down then smiling with triumph.
"You? Asking me?" She shook her head, still smiling as she got up from the couch and sat down next to him at the table. One side of his body became completely warm; an unbearable feeling of nervousness.
"Yep. Completely defeated. Now can you help?" He sighed. Inez leaned closer observing the problem. Matt tried now to shift his eyes her way and focus on the problem; he clutched the table-cloth underneath the table.
"I'll show you how to do one and you can try." As Inez move a strand of hair behind her ear and started on the problem. When she started explaining how to do it, Matt zoned out, watching her eyes carefully. He swallowed, zoning back in reality when Inez asked him if he was okay.
"Matt?" Inez was concerned
I can't do this, not to my friend...what will she think?
Matt pretended his migraine was coming up and held his head, "Just...my head a little. I haven't taken my meds yet."
"They're at home?"
"I only need to take two a day; at the most four. But I kinda forgot...for some reason." He stared at her.
His glance lingered in hers once more as she got up.
"I'll get some painkillers from the bathroom. I think you should eat something." She insisted as she made her way down the hall and turned the corner. Matt got up. He looked down at the book and knelt to finish the other problems. He shoved the book in his bag. He was ready to open the window and climb out; biking down the street without saying goodbye but he didn't have the heart.
More memories came back to him, he held his breath as an agonizing pain in his chest wanted to tear and shred him.
"Inez." He nearly choked when he remembered.
He scrambled to rip out a piece of paper and scribbled a few words. He looked down the hall and heard Inez going in and out the cabinet and out the bathroom. He backed away as he crawled out the window and hitched on his bike; pedalling down hill. He could feel the guilt and horrible sickness in the pit of his stomach as he bit his tongue.
/
Inez came back to the living room, realizing Matt was gone. The window was wide open and his bag was gone. She felt a bit hurt, realizing it was worse that they were the only two left and things would've been anymore awkward. Inez was sure there nothing to fully convince Matt that she cared a lot about him still. She went to close the window when she saw the note on the table. She picked it up.
Her eyes skimmed and realized, "Oh,...Matt."