Theo awoke to another morning in the Chimera Household.
Corey was in the kitchen with Hayden cooking breakfast, Josh and Tracy were bantering, and Donovan was off in his own world thinking to himself. The other chimeras were either still asleep or getting ready for the day in their own personal bathrooms. Theo sat down at the head of the table while Hayden and Corey passing out plates of food with drinks. He watched as the chaos commenced with Tracy complaining about Josh spilling the orange juice, Corey nervously pouring Donovan a cup of coffee, and Beth and Zach arguing about what they were all going to do together this weekend.
Theo ignored them, and took a sip of his own coffee.
"I want to have a game night." Zach said.
"No way!" Beth replies, "we should go bowling instead."
"Bowling?" Josh says, grimacing.
"What's wrong with that?"
"It's boring!"
"What would you want us to do then?"
"Go clubbing, obviously." Tracy remarked, smiling.
"What does that mean?"
"It means you're a party boy, and a slut."
"I am not a slut!"
Josh snatched Tracy's toast.
"Hey! Give that back!"
Josh took a bite, and Tracy's fangs shot out.
"You are so annoying!"
"Just one morning." Hayden replies, sighing, "can't we go one morning without causing another argument?"
"Doubtful." Donovan spoke.
"I think we should let Theo decide," Corey interjects.
The kid nervously looks over at Theo.
"Right, boss?"
Theo didn't respond.
"He doesn't care! He hardly hangs out with us."
Now Theo was paying attention.
"That isn't true." He stated, "we train together and live together."
"Yeah, and that's it. That's hardly enough!"
"Excuse me?"
"You're a loner, dude." Donovan states.
"Says the juvenile delinquent."
Donovan growls.
"I have more important things to do than hang out with you losers."
"Oh really? Like what, exactly?"
Donovan grumbled.
"None of your business."
"Whatever, Donovan."
Suddenly, Maia came downstairs rubbing her eyes. She was the last to wake up, and hadn't realized she was still wearing Donovan's t-shirt from the night before.
"Uh, Maia?"
Maia gazed tiredly over at Theo.
"Not today, okay?"
"No. I'm not upset with you..."
"I have a headache, so you if you could stop talking."
"No, Maia! I was just–"
"UGH! WHAT?"
"It's what you're wearing." Gretta Abernathy replies, smirking.
Maia looks down to realize what she was wearing. Her ears grew warm and her face started turning red.
"Aw! Now she's flushed!"
Josh watched as Maia quickly ran off upstairs, staring at her butt.
"What are you looking at?" Donovan snaps.
Josh shrugged.
"Nothing."
Donovan growls, showing his fangs.
"Nothing, huh?"
"Donovan, please. Not now…"
Suddenly, the two boys started to physically fight with each other. Theo managed to keep the table still to avoid another mess.
"Really? Again?!"
Tracy stood up between the two.
"One more step from either of you, and say goodnight."
Both boys scoff at Tracy.
"I warned you both."
She sighed, slashing them both behind their necks.
"What…?"
"Ugh! Not again!"
They both went down within seconds.
"I didn't give them much. They should be back up in a few minutes."
"Could you also drag Donovan away from Josh?"
"I've got it covered!"
Beth smiled, raising her hand in the air. Theo nodded.
Right then Beth transformed, growing over seven feet tall and using her enlarged supernatural state to drag Donovan upstairs into a bedroom. She slammed him down on the bed while Donovan cursed about Tracy's venom, Josh's laid back attitude, and questioning the fact why he stayed around them. Beth transforms back into her normal self, closing the door behind her and giving him a wink.
"What was that for?"
Suddenly, Maia came out of the shower naked.
"What? Donovan?"
"Hey."
Donovan was paralyzed again. This was no surprise, but Maia wondered who he'd gotten into a fight with. Hopefully, not Theo.
"Why are you in my room?"
"Uh. This is my room."
"No. You share a room with… uh…"
"I don't have a roommate."
Donovan was left laying across Maia's bed, staring at the ceiling.
"It's kind of nice."
"What is?"
"The fact you can't move your body."
"Why's that?"
Maia dropped the towel that was suppose to cover her body, and smiles down at him.
"I could do a lot of terrible things to you."
"Torture's more of my job."
Donovan tried moving his head, but no luck. He growled again.
"Stupid Tracy… Stupid venom…"
"Care to mention why you're stuck like this?"
Donovan sighed.
"Because Josh is aggravating."
"You use to think I was pretty aggravating, too."
"Maia, what are you doing?"
"Oh. You feel that?"
Maia had placed a hand on Donovan's thigh.
"Guess she didn't cut deep."
"I'm not in the mood."
"That's never stopped you before."
"I'm serious. Stop."
Maia crawled on top of Donovan's paralyzed body, and planted a kiss on his lips.
"What about now?"
Donovan's arm began to twitch.
"A little bit…"
Donovan smirks, and kisses Maia back as she lay across his stiffened body. He began feeling his arms again, and wrapped them around her waist. However, his legs and feet were still numb along with other things below his waist, and he started panicking.
"Wait… W-Wait!"
"What's wrong, Donovan?"
"My legs… W-Why can't I feel my legs?"
"Don't worry. It's wearing off…"
"No! I can move my arms. Why can't I move my legs?!"
Maia noticed his chest start to move up and down, and his breathing became erratic.
"Hey, calm down."
"I can't! I can't lose my legs!"
"Breathe…"
Maia placed her hands around his face which was sweating.
"No. My legs… My…"
Donovan balled his hands into fists beside him. He was having a panic attack about his legs being paralyzed which Maia thought was so out of character for him. Normally he wasn't afraid of anything or anyone, but now he looked the complete opposite… almost vulnerable.
"Donovan, breathe. It's okay."
"Get off! GET OFF!"
Donovan finally managed to shove her away.
"I-I'm sorry! I…"
Donovan placed his hands on his legs, and could feel the numbness fading away. He took a sigh of relief, and turned angrily towards Maia.
"I thought I said to stop."
"You're right."
Maia snatched her towel and covers herself up.
"I-It won't happen again."
Donovan stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Josh watched this happen as he was walking back upstairs after regaining feeling in his limbs, and quietly sneaks inside Maia's room to find her staring at herself in the bathroom mirror. She seemed sad.
"Hey, Maia." Josh spoke.
She jumps, turning around to find him at the doorway.
"Oh! God, does anyone knock?!"
"Sorry. May I come in?"
Maia laughs.
"Sure. Why not?"
Josh enters the bathroom causing the lights to flicker.
"Sorry. Maybe I shouldn't?"
"I said you could, so come in."
Maia's eyes flicker now causing Josh's to react, and he reenters the room.
"Did you just finish taking a shower?"
"Not really."
Maia pulled strands of curly hair away from her face, sighing.
"I didn't even get to the conditioner."
"Need any help?"
"No thank you. I'm good."
"Alright, well, if you wanna party come with us tonight."
Maia hesitated, but grew a smile.
"What kind of party?"
"It's a mix of both things. Beth wanted to go bowling, and I wanted to dance. There's this place that offers both services among… other illuminating things."
"It's a blacklight rave, right?"
Josh was surprised she figured it out.
"How'd you…?"
Maia pointed over to her desk, and Josh walks out to find a neon flier.
"Right. These are all over the school."
"And town!"
Maia threw her the towel on the ground, and quickly got back into the shower. Josh cursed at himself for not getting another peek and missing his chance due to Maia distracting him.
"I'll think about it. I have plans."
"Do they involve Donovan? He's an asshole."
Maia remained quiet.
"At least with me you'll have some fun."
Maia stuck her head out of the shower to stare at him.
"Oh. I don't doubt that."
"Then come! Let's make it a date."
"I'm not sure that's smart."
"Why not?"
"I don't wanna hurt you like the others."
Josh could recognize the smell of anxiety coming off of Maia.
"I'm not afraid of getting hurt."
"What about dying? Afraid of that?"
Maia signaled Josh to get out of her room, and he did just that only to run into a stern looking Donovan. He had his arms crossed and his eyes flickered white.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"Nothing."
"Why were you in Maia's room?"
"Chatting. What else?"
"She's naked."
"Was she? I hadn't noticed."
Donovan growls only for Theo to interrupt their conversation from downstairs.
"HEY! Don't make me come up there!"
"I wasn't doing anything!"
"Neither was I!"
"I don't care! I can smell the testosterone from down here!"
Josh gave Donovan a wink, and chuckles.
"Stay away from her."
"You can't tell her what to do."
"What about you?"
Josh didn't respond, and left back downstairs.