Chapter 4: Annie

"Now, kids, don't get in trouble… I'll be at my workshop if you need me." Cade sternly reminded the two teens as he insisted in dropping them off that morning to their school. Tessa was slightly fine with it, declining the thought of firmly protesting while Reese could only go along with her decision as he seethed at the ridiculousness of their father's sudden decision in reprimanding them like a child in need.

"Okay, dad… Thank you for the lift." Tessa gave the man a kiss on the cheek and a smile while Reese was already turning away slowly to escape the fury of his sister for not bidding the man a proper 'family' goodbye as his eyes were already getting droopy again. He knew that the faster he could get to his first class, the more sleep he can get before the teacher comes. It was as valid reason to just go.

"Reese…" The said teen's movements soon came to a halt as he tensed from the way his ears rung from the sudden deep tone that reached his ears. It was not his sister that called but their father…

Pouting a bit, he masked his face once again with open curiosity and innocence. He didn't really mean to be such a deceptive kid but in times like that, he can play 'good kid' in front of the crowd.

"Yeah…?" He gave the man a side glance but fully turned to give them his full attention and face the other. From his peripheral vision, he can already see Tessa glaring mildly at him, signalling with her eyes to at least give the man a mouthed goodbye. But despite that, he denied the thought and just decided to stand by, waiting for whatever the man wanted to do or say more.

"I'll come and pick you up after lunch… We'll drop by the scrapyard then continue on to my business deal at the theatre." Cade listed off as the young boy only inclined in confirmation. Reese had no words to offer and just waited for the dismissal…

The time lapse between them as the two stuck in silence. Feeling the tension in the air, Tessa diffused all of this by butting in and telling the man that he should get going. Cade wasn't able to say anything more as she closed the truck's door on him and said "See you later…"

The truck was soon out of sight when Tessa decided to whip her head back to her sibling, intent on reprimanding the boy for trying to evade once again. In her mind, she knew that all her effort was going to wither away if he keeps on doing what he does…

To her dismay, the boy was already gone from the spot she had last seen him at. Looking around, there was no speck of the other that indicated it was futile to do what she had intended to do. Mumbling something incomprehensible, she sighed in exasperation and let it go, striding through the throng of early morning students to search for her girlfriends, or better yet… get a signal and call Shane to rant all her worries. Also, there was a possibility that her boyfriend can talk sense once again to her little brother once he comes back from his racing gig in South Dakota. No matter how disconcerting Reese's behaviour is, at least the boy knows when to listen to some sound and logic advices given by the racer.

Tessa huffed and mentally pulled on her hair. She would do anything to get some sort of understanding with her little brother. Anything! But for now, as she looks onwards, she could only hope that her boyfriend could do something because she was already wearing thin from keeping up this hope she tried to reignite within...

At the opposite direction, the one and only missing teen slowly emerge from the back of the bleachers. Reese slowly made his form visible as a depressing sigh left his lips. It was meant to be discreet yet unfortunately; someone heard and decided to address him in a manner of familiarity that was all too common since the past few years. All Reese could do was give the other his attention as he gazed at the other's form.

"Well, that is a new record. Should I set that in one of my mental list of new records, Ree…?" That familiar gentle but yet high pitched voice said as he mentally clicked his tongue from the said pet name given to him.

Subjecting to the scrutiny of the girl and accepting his failure to at least not take his personal matters to school, he greeted the other with a half-smile, not even bothering to hide his own dismay at seeing her. "Hey, Annie… You're here early yet again…"

The petite young girl at the age of 11 with blonde locks falling just below her shoulders in twin tails, stood with a frown marring her face. Reese mentally concluded that she hadn't liked the way he reacted… and so did he. Mentally cringing, he tried to gather his bearings and try to at least be civil despite his inner turmoil.

Meeting her large doe eyes that reflected a sad shade of green and flecks of golden brown while her petite nose and meeting brows were scrunched up in dismay, he silently apologized. The girl just sighed and shook her head before pulling him to walk with her.

Silently trying to be comfortable with the pending doom he was going to be in, Reese distracted his self by noting that the girl was wearing yet again one of her flashy attires as she wore another mix set of colorful clothes. On her feet was a pair of worn out black and white snickers, contrasted by mixed-matched knee high socks and a bright yellow skirt. For a top, she has the odd blue and red checkered button up over that yellow-green spaghetti strap blouse with a print of what he can say was a hospital med sign.

If anyone would ask what kind of mood was the girl in, he would never hesitate to say he doesn't know…

But being the ever so cheerful girl she was, Reese knew that she hadn't once had doubted her sense of fashion. It was the girl's motto that 'Freedom is the right of all sentient beings', which is something he had agreed to even before they could talk about opposing thoughts. It was never a wonder why they are friends.

"Eh? And you're not…? It's practically bouncing quarter till 7 right now, Ree. I have no qualms in getting up early to escape my guardian's piercing scrutiny." The girl gave him a small smile as she look a little lost in thought for a second.

"Everything just keeps getting worse than what we can anticipate…" Reese heard the cryptic words clearly as it left the girl's mouth, revealing much of what the other girl was distressing in.

"There is still no contact with your folks?" He asked with a little resignation marring his tone. In his mind, he can't help repeat all of his secret conversations with the girl about her life controlled by the government. Reese doesn't know how it hurts to be away from your loving parents in the same setting but he could empathize with her about not having your loving parent around.

"I… I did with Mom. I managed to established contact… but only for a few seconds before everything was cut off again." She said in dismay and irritation but there was a hint of gratefulness in her eyes as she shifted her gaze on him.

"Well, the device didn't explode… right?" Reese nodded in understanding and asked, wincing a little at how he sounded quite like a little child given a great Christmas present in advance. The particular device they were talking about was something that the girl had presented to him a couple of weeks ago, all mutilated and unsalvageable, if it weren't for the girl's helpful pointers of what he was looking at.

The girl snickered and shook her head with a small teasing grin. "Wouldn't be here if it did, would I?" She teased but it was no laughing matter for Reese as he could point out to the girl of what could happen if his repairs were not enough.

"Idiot… It was one of my lucky shots… I don't know what I was working with when you presented that messed up contraption, Annie. It was something that I would be reluctant to test since the internal nodes and system of that thing is beyond of what I know. You won't let me ask others what it is but you told me that it was somesort of communicator… You could have fixed it on your own but you refused and decided that I should handle all the repairs under your watchful eye." He pointed out as he gave the easy-go-lucky girl a mild glare.

"You have more experience than me in the field of robotics…" She reasoned as Reese noticed that it was all the answer he would get from her. Annie was secretive like that but Reese wouldn't push for more information that he knows, would jeopardize the girl.

"And, your Uncle Ratchet didn't think you were ready for anything in the field of robotics or tech even when you had clearly shown some professional skills in securing our phone connections when you tampered with mine?" Reese asked in ridicule and disappointment. Ridicule, just because… The girl's talents weren't just in the athletic field but also in the science field. Disappointment, just because when he had asked if he could train under her uncle, she denied him the opportunity… even to the point of denying him the information to know who her uncle is; Annie just said that it was a government thing… which she had repeated many times in different conversations. It was always a 'government thing'.

Before Annie could change the topic, Reese had already diverted his attention to another part of the environment as his gaze became somewhat more like steel.

"They just won't stop…" Reese darkly muttered as the girl beside her followed the other's line of sight. At the far end of the corridor, she saw a few other looking meanies… the same old-same old gang that always was on both of their hit list, huddling near the lockers.

The tallest among the bully group stood over the middle of the circle, all of them staring down at something.

"Oh, common…! It's too early for this!" Annie whined with a scowl as she glared at the lot. Both she and Reese can see a pair of trembling legs from the inner circle of the bullies if they gaze down to the floor.

"Well, maybe their desperate this time for someone's lunch money, seeing that Summer is coming in fast…?" Reese tried to joke but sighed heavily as he started to trudge towards the bully group.

"Yes… And I was supposed to be trying to keep you out of trouble till it comes!" The petite girl shuffled to catch up to Reese who was already lock set on messing his morning with a few bruises if the group was lucky.

"What would your uncles say if you walk away after seeing something like this…?" Reese suddenly asked as the girl pouted but nonetheless, she answered truthfully.

"They would be disappointed since they thought me better morals than that. One of my uncles quotes 'No sacrifice, No victory'…" She seemed uncertain at her last statement as she tugged on Reese's sleeves.

"I think your uncle's motto is good but your understanding is way too simple… Just stand back and don't do anything… I'll be fine…" Reese said as he pushed his bag to the girl.

"I am not a porcelain doll, you know…" The girl muttered but Reese caught it, agreeing silently seeing that she was the reason he was fit, too. She always have the habit to drag him into his late school trainings and make him help in any way he could. The result was good so he didn't complain much, seeing how his body got to its good figure.

"You know, you should just accept the position of moral officer around here…" She muttered dryly as she watched Reese pushed himself into the circle and tapped the tallest of the group. The lanky boy looked down at Reese with a frown and a raised eye brow before he pushed back Reese, scowling in recognition.

For all what Annie could do, she just decided to join in the fray before things could get worse.

Amazing, isn't it? Two updates in one day? XD Well, this goes to saying that I haven't been laying around all the time.

~dreamer