The next day Inez realized she wasn't in her house and had a minor panic attack by rolling off the bed. She hit her head against the desk; rubbing it. Then memories came back to her.
We stayed over...and I overslept.
She looked around, realizing that it had to be Matt's room. Filled with sci-fi and crime merchandise from action figures, posters, souvenirs, and a messy desk along with a baseball bat, a skateboard, and his old yo-yo. She smiled.
"What are you doing down there?" The voice made her jump. She whirled around to face an observant Matt; head handing from the side with a hand tucked under his chin.
"I fell." Inez stated. "What does it look like?"
Matt scoffed, "Doing push-ups."
Inez puffed as she got up. She observed the stripe-patterned sheet and the fact that Matt was in the same bed she slept in. He disposed of his shirt, revealing a snug black tank top that showed his more built upper body. She expected him to be way more skinnier, as she blushed.
"I should head back now and get ready. Unless you have clothes I can use." She raised a brow.
Matt slyly grinned, "I might have an over-sized jersey somewhere..."
"MATT!" Inez shook her head in disgust, picturing the horrid portrait of a nonchalant self wearing a Maverick jersey.
"Just kidding. It's just me living here mostly Inez. No siblings." Matt emphasized.
"Sorry Matt..." Realizing how he was mostly alone when his Mom was always out for business and his dad always worked overseas since he was in the 7th grade.
He's been on his own since freshman year.
"What?" Matt caught Inez staring. She shook her head.
"Nothing. Could you...walk me back home and maybe we can stop by Petey's Diner?" Inez asked.
Matt nodded, "I was going to make breakfast but ok."
Inez froze as she was halfway down the stairs, "You can cook? You?"
"When a lone wolf cub has no mother he survives on his own. I've been cooking my own meals since 8th grade Inez. Whenever I want to; I make a pretty good dinner." Matt explained as he slipped on a gray-striped hoodie, boots, his house keys, and a spare wooden bat by the door. Inez pulled on her jacket, her boots and her bag and went ahead of Matt as he locked the door.
"The bat?"
"Security." Matt eyed the rising sun. He checked the time; 6:48 AM. Inez smiled.
"Thanks Matt." She thanked him.
"No need. We're friends-" Matt stopped as the last string of letter clutched his voice box and gave him an awful feeling in his stomach.
That's right. You didn't ask her out yet. We're probably playing the same game at the same time. One of us is going to get out...
"Matt?" Inez asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." He lied. He trudged ahead, "Your house."
/
Inez opened the door to her house, where her dog Tracey was wagging away barking.
"Hey there boy." She knelt cooing the dog and rubbing his fluffy ears. He barked Matt, who stared back at the dog.
"Matt, Tracey. Tracey...Matt." Inez introduced as she made her way around the corner to get properly ready. For the meanwhile, Matt had an interesting conversation with Tracey about life.
"You lucky dog you." Matt said. "You eat, sleep, play, wag a tail and please your owner. Me? I'm having a fit with myself to ask her out."
Tracey barked in reply. Matt raised a brow. He started to pour a bit of dog food for Tracey.
"You're right; I'm a coward." He groaned.
Tracey barked a few times and whimper which made Matt almost perk his own ears as well.
"Tracey. You're a genius, my dog." He knelt and rubbed the dog's ears as Inez came back wearing a deep purple cashmere sweater with khaki pants. Matt grinned.
"I wish you would wear more light outfits. I'd whistle for ya." He joked.
"Matthew I'm going to kill you!" As she charged for Matt, they fell back on top of each other on the carpet floor. Matt barely attempted to fight her back as they were nose-to-nose. He stared right at her, seconds flying away and he almost lost count of the time; he could see her ears turning pink and he raised a brow.
"I was kidding." You're good just the way you are. He helped lifting her up. "Let's go?"
She checked the time; it was 7:06. "Yeah." As they headed out to Matt's bike; he hopped on the seat with Inez gripping his waist from behind him. They headed steadily downhill; heading to school. Something about today made Matt seem more aware around him. He wasn't sure if it was Inez, or was the general plan that the gang was heading down to Cyberspace. It was a mixture of anxiousness and nervousness.
We got time; and it's going to be a piece of cake.
/
At school Matt feared the worse when he saw Max walking in his path. Though his buddies weren't around, him being a bit bulkier and more smug made him look like a true evil "twin". Matt slightly step ahead in a protective way for Inez, and he shrugged past him, both giving dark glares.
"Seriously, can't that guy just let go already?" Jackie scoffed as she leaned on the lockers beside Slyder by their Stats class. They smirked at Matt and Inez as they walked to them.
"I have a feeling he doesn't want to just ruin me." Matt gritted.
"Just let this day be over soon. So that Matt won't end up pounding the guy right?" Slyder grinned. Matt fist pumped him.
"Exactly." Matt snickered. The bell rang, as the gang headed to their first class.
/
Matt and Inez headed out to the U at lunch; talking about grades.
"I'm almost at all A pluses...glad I decide to go for three AP classes this year. I'll be doing my best." Inez bragged. Matt scoffed; seeing that his grades were all A's but a C in Stats. He had to admit Inez was more dedicated to her work that he was.
"You'll do good." He said as he stared at the SWAK watch. As usual, they would find Slyder and Jackie at the staircase snuggled up against each other. Thankfully; they were making out or anything. Matt shivered at the thought.
"Alright lovebirds break it up." Inez timed-out the couple. "Time to talk business."
Jackie took a bite out of her sub and she leaned on Slyder. "And eat?"
Slyder and Matt chuckled as they drank their soft drinks and ate junk food. As the squad sat together, eating and enjoying themselves, Matt's hair stood at the back of his neck. He dropped everything and stood up as he heard footsteps approach the stairway.
"Max." He sneered as Matt looked up the stairway to see the vile teenager staring him down.
"Back up man." Slyder warned him as he pulled a fist back; putting Jackie behind him. Matt mimicked him; stepping in front of Inez. Though he knew that it would be embarrassing to bring up his bold action later; he felt it was only natural and necessary since Slyder had someone of his own to keep behind him.
Max sat at the top of the stairwell, his pale hands folded over his dark blue jeans and his black leather jacket hinting his bulkier figure underneath. His green eyes matching Matt's seem fiercer and darker as his scarlet hair appear a darker shade. Max could might as well hid a gun behind his back.
"Shouldn't you be in the hospital?" Matt gritted. "I could've sworn I broke your arm." And then Max chuckled as he stood up and waved his arm freely. It was like it was never broken.
"Matt..." Slyder said suddenly like something hit him. "There's something you should know about Max."
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Matt had the faintest idea.
"Because I just found out 20 minutes ago." Slyder eyed at Max, studying any movements. He stood still.
"Slyder thinks Max is a cross-universe doppelgänger hunter." Jackie said.
"A WHAT?" Matt stopped. Max took a step. And another. The gang moved backwards; aware they were going to get chased by this inhumane person. And then Max spoke; in a more filtered voice.
"It's exactly what you think it is." Max's hand started to form into a metallic fist. The doors behind the gang slammed shut and locked. They were trapped. "Sit down."
They didn't comply until Max's voice grew fiercer and his eyes seem to glow. "I said SIT DOWN!"
Hesitantly, the squad sat on the floor with discontent. And Max sneered as he took a breath.
"Don't even think about doing anything. You might as well listen."