Kagami had an inkling that the Tripp brothers would be a bit strange but tonight would definitely solidify her opinion. The girl sits by in the living room, twiddling the ends of her skirt while the news plays on the TV. After they all witnessed the effects of the earthquake (which for some reason only affected the Tripp's house. The rest of the neighbourhood looked fine.) the brothers quickly sprung to action, making phone calls. Nick said they went to call their parents, but Kagami digressed.
The news on tv stated that there were multiple cracks appearing in Venture Falls, the same as the one outside. Kagami had her suspicions. Could Vestalt have known about this? Or is this somehow connected to Gorm?
The doorbell rings, and Kagami, growing bored of waiting for the brothers, goes to answer the door. It's Lucas, panting heavily, caked in sweat.
"Lucas? What are you doing here? " Kagami asks, perplexed the boy's here. Didn't he hear the news? It's dangerous to go outside.
"I could say the same for yourself."
The brothers rush to the door to greet their friend, leaving Kagami more befuddled.
"Once I got your message, I came as fast as I could," Lucas says, taking a seat by the steps to regain his strength from running.
"I thought you called your parents?" Kagami says. Seriously, what are the brothers planning?
"We did!" Toby answers. "We tried but we can't get a hold of them." Toby's still wary about keeping his distance from Kagami.
"That's why we called Lucas' parents!" Nick adds, trying to fill the holes in Toby's lie. Kagami's smart, she may know a lot about Gorm but she shouldn't get involved in whatever trouble is stirring up there.
Not alleviating her suspicions, Kagami raises an eyebrow, questioning the boy's liability.
"Uh, can I get a glass of water please?" Lucas directs at Kagami, exaggerating his thirst.
Her suspicions still looming, she couldn't deny Lucas was thirsty. So she lets up for now, heading to the kitchen to fetch him a drink.
Waiting for Kagami to be out of hearing range, the boys begin plotting.
"Any luck with Jessica yet?" Lucas starts.
"Nope," Toby says matter of factly, taking a seat beside Lucas on the steps. "We called her a dozen times. All went to voice mail."
They retrieved their orbs from Magor four years ago, but they were damaged thanks to the evil spells Magor cast on them. They're left with their crests however they can't transform into the lords of Nature without Jessica.
Toby grunts. "She's probably with Mark. She should've noticed the cracks from the news by now. Where is she?"
Of course, Jessica would be MIA when Mark's involved. The Gorm's in trouble and she's off sucking tongues with her boyfriend.
"I think I might know where she is," Lucas speaks up.
"Why didn't you tell us on the phone?" Nick asks.
"I was in a hurry and it just popped in my head right now. Gina invited me to this new club opening tonight. If Gina's there, then there's a good chance Jessica is too."
"The echo night club." Nick states. He isn't much of a party guy, but he did hear of his classmates talking about it.
"Then what are we waiting for?" Toby jumps to his feet. "The Gorm needs us and we're wasting enough time as it is. Let's go!"
Toby jumps off the steps, heading off to the kitchen to get his phone. But right there, Kagami appears with a glass of water and the two almost bump into each other. Instead of apologising they stare at each other in silence remembering the awkward conversation back in his room. Kagami lowers her gaze, preferring to face the floor. Toby winces, bypassing her completely. She hands Lucas his drink. He chugs it down in one gulp before handing her the glass, mouthing a thank you and running off in the same direction as Toby. Nick attempts to follow but he's stopped by Kagami's grasp on his arm.
"Don't tell me you're going outside."
"We have to. It's important."
Kagami raises an eyebrow – asking Nick to explain further.
Nick sighs. "It's about Jessica. We need to find her and…bring her back home! Her parents are worried because of the cracks all over Venture Falls."
"Let me guess. You're not letting me come with you?"
Damn, why does she have to be suspicious when it came to Gorm but not when Toby used her to get to him? "We need someone to stay. Our parents, they might come back any second."
"So, you don't trust me."
"I do trust you, Kagami! I really do."
"Then let's start with this. Where did you get those Gorm books?"
He was blinded by how sad she was to the point that he didn't think she'd ask such a blunt question.
"You're hesitating."
The only people who had access to those gorm books where Oji-san, Vestalt and somehow the Tripps. Given that two out of the three know about the Gorm – Vestalt being from Gorm, Kagami wondered, do the Tripps know as well? Their house was on that weird wall of notes.
"Are the books related to this 'primal pad'?"
Nick flinches."What are you talking about?" How does she know about the primal pad?
Kagami, having noticed that flinch, concludes, "Don't lie to me! You are hiding something! Those cracks, they have something to with the Gorm, don't they?"
"Kagami, please calm down-"
"How can I calm down!? You said you were my friend and now you're lying to me and leaving me behind to go and -" Something catches the girl's eye, distracting her. A small green something just passes by her view. On further inspection, it looks like a small green lizard.
"Why is there a green lizard in your house?"
"Green lizard?"
Then it hits Nick just who Kagami was referring to so he hugs her, spinning her around in the opposite direction away from Razzle who's standing on top of the staircase.
"Don't say a word!" Nick instructs Razzle. Kagami's already suspicious of him - if she finds a talking lizard in his home, he'd have to tell her everything.
"What are you on about?" Kagami questions in shock over Nick's gesture.
"I mean, let's just stay like this for a while! Just the two of us!" Nick's quick to rectify. Kagami's going to think of him as a weirdo from now on.
"…what?" Kagami tries to break out of the hug, but Nick basically holds her in an iron grasp – literally. No point in fighting free.
Nick would have to apologise to the girl later.
Razzle could only stare in confusion. It seems like in the past four years, Nick got himself a girlfriend. To Razzle it only felt like yesterday, when Nick would complain about being single. He truly has missed out on a lot. Though in the midst of the silent embrace, Nick gestures to Razzle to head to the back garden. Too bad, he really wanted to get to know this new girl.
Nick breaks the hug. "Whatever you do, don't go outside," Nick instructs. He wouldn't know what to do with himself if Kagami got hurt.
Kagami has all this power but she couldn't bring herself to ask Nick to take her with him. She had trained hard with Vestalt and she's a great mentor but Kagami doesn't feel ready. No, with her around, she could potentially hurt her friends – put them in danger. She couldn't do that to them. Plus, she couldn't face Toby anymore. Just being around him hurt. Her emotions would get in the way.
"…okay. Please, be safe." Nick may be annoying sometimes but the last thing she wants is for him to end up hurt.
Nick leaves to head into the back garden, leaving Kagami alone as she perches up onto the steps.
Kagami cuddled herself to her knees, the tears already following. She chuckles to herself. No wonder nobody would trust her.
Meanwhile back in the Tripp's shed, Toby and Lucas pull out their bikes and gear. Lucas tries to call Gina but like Jessica, the call goes to voice mail. Lucas isn't fazed by the result, but Toby is irritated. The two had to look up the directions of the club on their phones. It's approximately a little over an hour away. Toby curses to himself as the two head to the shed to retrieve their bikes – both not satisfied with the long trip.
"There's gotta be another bike around here," Toby mumbles, searching for another bike for Lucas. If he'd known Jessica would've gone somewhere far, he'd tell Lucas to bring his own bike.
"Don't sweat it, Toby! I can ride with one of you guys."
"That'll slow us down! Gorm needs us and we're wasting time! Who knows how many more cracks are appearing in Venture Falls!" Toby continues rummaging through the shed. "I swear if Jessica's not there -"
"She will be," Lucas says sensing Toby's agitation. "We're the Lords of Nature. We'll put a stop to this, Toby. I know we will."
Toby sighs, giving up his search on an extra bike. He trusts Lucas' words – they've always found a way out of these situations. "Thanks, Lucas."
Nick shows up in the garden with an all too familiar face perched upon his shoulders.
"Is that?" Toby starts, squinting his eyes to make sure he isn't seeing things.
"Razzle!" the two boys say in unison, rushing to their old friend. Toby grabs the dino off Nick's shoulder, hugging the poor fellow for dear life. Razzle reciprocates the hug, holding back a tear at seeing his dear comrades again.
"I didn't think I'd ever see you again!" Toby exclaims, releasing Razzle from his deadly hug.
"Oh my, you guys are so tall!" Razzle comments. They were still the Nick, Toby and Lucas he knew from those years ago, but they've changed a lot since the years. For one, they've all lost the pudginess from their faces – jawlines chiselled and more defined.
Toby poses for the dino, glad puberty was kind to him. "Yeah, we've done some growing while you've been gone."
"If you're here then that means there's trouble in Gorm?" Lucas asks.
"Precisely. The earth gormiti reported an unfamiliar monster terrorising their villages. It headed into the old mines of the earth capital."
"And that's what's causing the earthquakes and cracks in Venture Falls!" Nick finishes.
"Then let's go!"
"What about Kagami?" Lucas asks.
"Don't worry. She's still inside. She didn't see Razzle." Nick says, still guilty over leaving her behind.
Razzle made a mental note of the girl's name. He didn't think the boys would allow another girl in their 'posse' as the humans call it. Thinking about this 'Kagami' Razzle remembered the crew's missing a member. "Where's Jessica?"
Toby mounts onto his bike. "We're heading on over to her right now."
"Great! I can't wait to see her all grown up!" Razzle adds.
The guys hop onto their bikes with Lucas behind Nick and cycled on out of the Tripp residency. It'll be a long hour of catching up for Razzle.
After 1 hour and 14 minutes of endless cycling, sweat and cramps (in the brother's case, even more so for Nick since he's cycling for two. And yes Toby did count. Why did this club have to be so far away?) and the occasionally getting Razzle caught up on things, the boys finally made it to the Echo night club. They secured their bikes somewhere before Nick's legs give out and now resting on the pavement.
However, Toby isn't about to rest. Every minute that goes by, the Gorm's in unrest. Leaving the group behind he reaches the main entrance of the nightclub. To make matters worse, there's a line of night goers heading in. No way Toby's going to wait in line. He strides past the line enduring swears and curses hurled at him – they wouldn't say those things if they knew he's about to save their lives. Right in his view, a huge burly man stands, eyes shielded with thick sunglasses.
"Excuse me, but I can't let you through without an ID." He says with a deep nonchalant tone.
"Sorry sir but my friend's in there. Jessica Herleins? I need to talk to her!"
"No ID. No entry."
"But –"
"You don't want to piss me off, kid. Cause when I get pissed off, I get really pissed off."
And that was Toby's cue to leave.
He meets his friends by the pavement and could only shake his head. Great! If only she'd answer her phone they wouldn't be in this predicament!
Razzle starts pacing back and forth on the pavement. "This is bad. Real bad. You can't transform into the Lords of Nature without Jessica! How will you ever save the Gorm?!"
"Not all hope is lost," Nick says, smirking at the dino with a plan.
Out of sight of the bouncer, the guys send Razzle to scout out the area first. The plan was for him to go in and find Jessica. It wasn't long for the dino to return, reporting back to the boys of his findings.
"Sorry kids, I couldn't find her," Razzle informs them. Toby curses under his breath again. They've wasted an hour and 14 minutes of intense cycling for nothing?
"What about Gina?" Nick prompts.
Razzle cocks his end to the side.
Nick sighs. Has the dino forgotten everything since his 4-year absence? "Jessica's best friend? Tan and has dark hair? She's usually wearing orange?"
"Now that you mention it." Razzle starts. "I did see a girl wearing orange inside. In a room with bright flashing colours. " Razzle snuck into a lot of places but this was a first for him. The bright flashing colours and the huge crowd of people dancing on silver coloured glowing tiles. Is this where the humans go to have fun?
"That's got to be Gina!" Lucas voices. Orange is her favourite color – she must be there. "Razzle, did you see any sort of entrance we can use without getting caught?"
"Woah! You are not suggesting we sneak in?" Nick wasn't about to sneak into an over-aged club. If their parents find out about this or worse, if they get caught, they're screwed. But Kagami's safety is on the line. "There's gotta be guards everywhere! There's no way we can sneak past them."
"Except we are not just anyone! We're the Lords of Nature! We'll use our elements!" Lucas points out.
"Hey! Don't forget about me!" Razzle says.
"...and Razzle," Nick says tightening his hold on his hands. Kagami all alone in that house. Would it be safer if they brought her with them? Then he'd have to tell her everything. For all Nick knows, the crack is growing by the second and soon enough it'll swallow the house alongside Kagami. No, Nick can't let that happen. He'll protect Kagami no matter what.
Toby extends a hand. "What do you say, bro? We really need your earth powers."
Maybe Nick is over-thinking but screw it. He won't let the slightest chance of Kagami getting hurt slide by. He takes Toby's hand. "I'm in."
"Any way for us to sneak in?"
Razzle pauses, scratching his small chin with his claws. "I do recall having seen a window by the right. Big enough for you kids to sneak in." Maybe he should stop calling them kids. They don't look like kids anymore.
"Were there any guards?" Nick asks. If they were to sneak in, they had to make sure everything is successful.
Razzle shakes his head, prompting the group to set their mission in motion. The boys head to the right, led by Razzle to this supposed entrance, hiding in the dark and bushes as to not get caught by the guards. As Razzle reported, there was a window, big enough for them to crawl in.
"It's pretty high up. I doubt we can make it even if we get up on each other's shoulders." Nick says.
"That is if we were a bunch of normal teenage boys." Lucas reminds the group. He kneels down, both hands on the ground before speaking, "Roots, hear my plea. We need your help."
In an instant, vines poke out from the ground, twisting, curling then intertwining together to form a make-shift ladder reaching the open-window.
Lucas lays down for a second to take a breather.
"Dude, are you okay?" Toby says heading over to the boy.
"Yeah, just a little drained that's all."
However, Toby is still concerned that there may be a repeat of the mall fiasco. Nothing happened back in the classroom, but Toby couldn't be too sure. Alleviating his concerns, Lucas got back on his feet, dusting himself off and giving a thumbs up Toby's way. Toby mentally sighs, for once glad his suspicions didn't come to fruition.
Razzle heads up on the makeshift ladder first, scouting the area for a sign of anyone. "It's the bathroom. I don't see anyone around here."
"What if it's the lady's bathroom?" Nick had to voice. He's a gentleman by heart and he's never desired to see what the girls' bathroom looks like. Though in his head, it'd be vastly different from the stink hole that was the boys. He'd never forget the incident back in school when someone left poop in one of the boy's bathroom bins.
Lucas tugs at the ladder, making sure it's steady. "Desperate times call for desperate measures." He says climbing the ladder. He makes it all the way to the top without any hassle, squeezing into the window opening and landing on the steel pavement.
"I'm okay, guys! Like Razzle said there's no-one here!"
"Is it the girl's bathroom?" Nick asks, causing Toby to facepalm.
Lucas spots the boys urinals lined up in the bathroom. "Nope! You're good to go, Nick!"
Praise the orbs. Nick heads up onto the ladder next, taking his time on his climb. For some reason, the ladder didn't feel as sturdy as Lucas said it was. He couldn't risk a broken bone, not today.
"Hurry up Nick! We don't have all day!" Toby shouts from the bottom. Of course, the earth lord had to be the slowest.
"You try climbing an unstable ladder from up here!" Nick retorts back, only for their daily brotherly banter to stop with the flash of a torch.
"HEY! WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU KIDS DOING?" a loud burly voice echoes from the distance.
Busted!
Any doubts Nick had known are washed away as he climbs as if his life depended on it. His brother's ruthless chants to climb faster are already upping the tension. Once he reaches the top, it was already too late for Toby. He'd be caught if he tried to climb.
"Cut the ladder!" Toby roars, getting ready for another workout. All the things he does for the world.
"But Toby how will you get in?"
"Finding Jessica is more important! Just cut the ladder already!" With that, Toby gets his head start dashing off to where ever. All this exercise, Jessica better be in there.
Nick does as he's told. Ripping the ladder off its holds from the window and tossing it to the ground. He then squeezes into the opening and makes a not-so-stellar landing on the pavement.
"OUCH!"
The guard reaches the window, cursing up and down at himself. If he didn't catch those boys it'd show in his payment. He reaches for the ladder only for it to turn into dirt. First crazy drunk people and now stowaway teens. Can his night get any worse?
"Nick! You alright, bro! What's going on up there?" Lucas asks helping his friend up alongside Razzle.
"We've been busted. We have to get out now." Nick winces, mothering his shoulder. So much for no broken bones for tonight. "Toby's okay but we really need to find Gina."
"Can you walk?"
"Yep! It's just my shoulder that's aching." Nick confirms this by standing, showing Lucas he's okay to proceed. "The guards will show up any second now. We gotta work fast."
The DJ does his thing at the booth – hyping the dancers up and switching up the music. Gina had never fathomed spending the night dancing with Ivan of all people. Though she truly wanted Lucas to come, that didn't stop her from having fun thanks to Ivan. It's almost like a modern fairy tale with her as the princess. She always thought of herself as the side character, with Jessica being the princess but it's nice for once to have things switched around – even if it was just for tonight.
"God, I didn't think I'd have so much fun tonight!"
Ivan pulls Gina close before twirling her away to the rhythm of the music. "I'm glad you're enjoying yourself."
Ivan was awfully calm tonight. Usually, he'd rival Jessica in energy, pulling all these crazy stunts whenever he had too much to drink. Even sober, he's a wild party animal. Gina guesses it's because he's worried about her. Oh, but Ivan had other plans tonight.
He's been planning on confessing to Gina for months now – unable to find the strength to do so. Everyone and their mother knew about Gina's obvious crush on Lucas bare the man in question. But Ivan couldn't give up without trying. So, he did for months and failed to utter the words, resorting to a weird joke instead, annoying the girl.
But not this time. This time he'd tell her his feelings.
"Gina! I have something to tell you!" Ivan shouts to outmatch the loud EDM music.
"What is it!" Gina shouts back, her beautiful tanned skin illuminated by the silver lightning makes her appear more stunning than ever. Ivan thanked the creator she couldn't see his blush.
"Gina…I…I lo-" before he could enunciate his sentence Gina's eye's shot wide open.
"LUCAS?"
Ivan doesn't know what Gina is on about until he turns his head to the same direction she's looking. There, running towards them, are Lucas and Nick. May told him Lucas wouldn't show up. What the hell?
In Gina's case, she could feel her feet lift off the air. Lucas – she didn't he'd show up but here he is. This truly is a Cinderella story or some sort of fairy tale. Gina's too busy on cloud 9 to figure out which one.
She rushes up to Lucas, leaving Ivan behind in the dust. "Lucas? I didn't think you'd show up!"
Lucas was seriously fatigued; he didn't know if it was because of the running or back when he used his powers. He accidentally leans into Gina, almost in an embrace as she holds him up.
"Woah! Lucas, are you okay?" Gina voices her concern but also happiness.
Ivan catches up to them and, upon seeing Lucas all over Gina, he rolls his eyes. There goes his moment with Gina.
"Yeah, just a little light-headed," Lucas says, getting off Gina's shoulder.
Nick butts in, already cautious, as he spots three guards convening. "Sorry to break up the reunion but we really need to find Jessica."
"She's out in the back with Mark," Ivan answers coldly.
The three guards throw gazes in the groups direct. Nick makes eye contact with one and the scowl on that guy's face already tells Nick enough that him and Lucas need to get going ASAP. He gestures to Lucas, signalling they've already been found.
"Lucas, I didn't think you'd come here." Ivan starts, scoring one of Gina's looks of disgust.
"Uh, we're not exactly supposed to be here?" Lucas states, occasionally eyeing the guards. Ivan and Gina catch on to Lucas' darting vision, already lining the pieces together.
Gina grabs both guy's arms, pulling them further into the crowd. "In that case, let me help."
"Gina! Wait up!" Ivan follows but he's stopped by the girl.
"I'll need you to distract the guards while I lead the guys away," Gina says.
"You know we have fake IDs. Getting into the club was hard enough, we shouldn't bother them!"
"But Lucas and Nick -"
"Uh, guys-" Nick butts in. "Those guards are coming towards us."
'Shit!' Gina curses under her breath. "We don't have time. Please, Ivan?"
How could he say no to that expression? If this all goes wrong, well at least he got to dance with Gina. "Fine." He says as he heads over to the guards, doing his drunkest expression imaginable.
Gina leads the boys into the crowd to mask themselves. The guards wouldn't be able to follow them afterwards. Whatever the guys had to find Jessica for, Gina doesn't like the eerie chill she feels down her neck. Like something bad was about to happen.
Toby crashes down to the ground, taking huge lumps of air as he removes his jacket, using it as a makeshift towel to clean the sweat off his forehead. He's sure he ran a marathon having to dash away from the vicinity and circle his way back after the guard had given up. Regretting leaving the swim team, he leans back on a tree stump. He's on his own now. Nick, Lucas and Razzle are on their way to finding Jessica, but Toby doesn't like to wait and do nothing. He wasn't a side character no, he fashioned himself the lead.
And the lead is always the one to complete the job. As dumb as it is, he's gotta find a way into the club. He sneaks back in, concealing himself with the dark greens of the bushes. He couldn't use the bathroom entrance, so he heads in the opposite direction. He ducks behind a shielded wall before peeking. There's a spot of light hitting the floor. He stretches his view further a shadow of someone appears on the spot of light. There's just one.
How would Toby get past him?
Remembering Lucas' words, he's filled with an idea.
Toby calms himself. Last time he used his powers, he flooded the entire mall. Should he flood the club then that should at least alert Jessica of his presence. No, he forgot he passed out after he used his powers at the mall. Toby has to make sure that doesn't happen again.
He takes a deep breath before concentrating. No other thoughts, just focus on the task at hand.
The guard standing by the doorway scans through his phone – reading texts from his college girlfriend. He was expecting a photo from her until he felt a certain wetness down there. He drops his phone at the sight below him. He relieved himself. Unable to stand the embarrassment he'd face, he rushes back into the storage room, hoping to find his way into the restrooms without the other guys noticing.
Toby tucked in a laugh watching the guard fumbling with his hands, covering his 'mistake'. He should've done that to Mark instead of trying to spill his drink. No – Toby rids his mind of thoughts of the mall. The Gorm – he should be focused on saving the Gorm. He runs to the open door peeking left and right to check if anyone is inside.
Empty.
Time to find Jessica.
Almost like electricity Jessica jolts forward, squealing at the new sensation. Mark whispers sweet nothings to her ear whilst nipping, licking, devouring her outer ear like it were candy. Jessica holds in a shriek, surprised at the unfamiliar sounds vibrating from her vocal chords.
Mark stops giving attention to Jessica's ear, finding another prey to sink his lips too. He tilts his head, dotting her neck with short kisses before drawing his lustful gaze to her face.
"Is this okay?" He whispers.
Jessica nods, unable to find the strength to say yes. God, why does he make her feel so…lost inside?
Mark immediately sinks his lips to the skin of her flesh, like a vampire addicted to her. He sucks on her skin, prompting another round of Jessica's whimpers. That proves to Mark he's doing a fine job, lightly biting her flesh making her flinch.
Jessica cocks her head to the side, exposing her neck to more of Mark's handiwork. She breathes in deeply, her mind in disarray. What was she worried about a couple of minutes ago? She couldn't remember only thinking of how ravishing it feels to have Mark on her.
Too bad this moment couldn't last forever.
The door cocks open slightly, and a blonde hair peeks out at the small opening.
"JESSIC-OH GOD!" Toby wishes he packed holy water instead. He's seen this before in his mom's rom coms but to see Jessica all breathless as Mark sucks the living crap out of her neck and collarbone. He was right about Jessica screwing Mark all this time but for once, he wishes he wasn't right.
"TOBY?" the blonde's appearance killed the mood as Jessica pushes Mark away from her neck, a perplexed Mark registers Toby in his view.
Not that she wants anyone to see her lost and aroused but if anyone was to catch her in that state, she wouldn't want it to be Toby. In fact, he's the last person she'd choose to see her like that. Her mother would be a better option.
Too overcome with embarrassment, no words came out of Jessica's mouth. Instead, she diverts her gaze. Toby's look of disgust made her feel dirty.
"I didn't think of you as the type to party, Toby," Mark says with a certain callousness in his voice.
"I'm not here to party. I'm here for Jess." Toby spits, not hiding the fact he had no interest in talking to Mark.
Jessica fights the embarrassment, "Toby, please whatever it is this time, can't you save it for tomorrow?"
"I can't with the Gor- " Toby cuts himself off. How can he tell her the Gorm's in trouble with Mark in the way? "Look, can I talk to you in private?"
"If you have anything to say to her then say it right now." It's not that Mark doesn't trust Jessica. She can talk to Toby all she wants but tonight Jessica is his. He may be acting like a spoiled child, but he's intoxicated by the girl. He isn't thinking straight.
"I'd rather hear that from Jessica. Not you."
"Seriously Toby, whatever bullshit you have up your sleeve now, just cut it. Jessica's tired of your antics."
Toby mentally sighs. Isn't this the part where Jessica goes on one of her rants about how she can speak for herself? But no, she just stands there behind Mark all red and breathless like some damsel.
"I think Jessica can say it to my face if she's really bothered by it."
"If you really want to annoy someone, go back to your girlfriend Kagami! She'd much rather have you than Jessica. You know since she's taken."
Jessica finally jolts back to reality upon hearing the words Kagami and girlfriend. "Mark! That's enough!"
Now she speaks.
The boys throw daggers at each other with their gazes alone. An all-out fight was looking to happen until another party bursts out the door.
"Oh, Jessica you're still out here," Gina says, worried the couple might've gone into one of the private rooms to take it a step further. It takes Gina a while to notice Toby and the fact that Mark and Jessica aren't making out – or that Mark looks the angriest he's ever been.
"Gina? Nick? Lucas?" Jessica calls to them in confusion. Doubtfully Nick and Lucas are here to have a fun time – especially Lucas he isn't into parties. That means –
"We have a big BIG crisis in our hands, and we can really use Jessica right now!" Nick pleads to Mark.
Mark isn't having it though, even if he thinks the younger Tripp brother is more trustworthy and overall a better person than Toby.
"What big crisis? Why do you need Jessica? In fact, why the hell did you come out here for Jessica in the first place?"
Lucas butts in. "Its, uh, about our club! Very important club business!"
"What club? This is the first time I'm hearing about this!"
Gina grabs Mark's arm, dragging him away from the group. "Don't worry about it. I've been with these guys since forever. This is pretty common."
Mark looks at Gina like she's some crazy hobo from the street spouting voodoo nonsense and not a beloved friend of his and Jessica. He's heard Paula Pickney rant on about how the Tripp brothers including Jessica and Lucas were weirdos one time to her brother Ike but now he's starting to believe the girl.
He turns back to Jessica and he can tell she's hiding more from him.
She gives him a solemn look. "This'll be quick! I'll meet you back inside!" she yells out to him.
No use in getting angry at her. Mark nods, walking back inside with Gina.
Once he's out of sight, Jessica leans onto the wall, somehow mentally exhausted at the discussion or argument at hand. If all three boys are here then there's no doubt about it. The Gorm's in trouble.
"They're gone now." Lucas signals to his front jacket pocket, prompting Razzle to pop out, gasping for air.
"What took you so long, I could barely breathe!" Razzle rants. He takes a good look outside, eyes landing on the female blonde. Out of all of them, Jessica has changed the most – she's almost unrecognisable. Yes, she's not wearing her signature ponytail or her pink colours, but that didn't detour the fact that her body changed.
"Hi, Razzle." Jessica waves at the dino awkwardly, not really knowing how to greet her companion after seeing him for the first time in four years.
Nick goes to work, drawing the circle and elements on the ground with chalk. Toby takes out a bottle of water he shoved down his jacket pocket before leaving.
Razzle dashes towards Jessica, climbing up to her hands. "Are you really Jessica?"
Jessica chuckles. Razzle hasn't changed at all. "Yes. Is it the hair? I'm dolled up for tonight." Jessica takes her hair tendrils, making a messy ponytail out of her hands. "See?"
"Come on! We don't have time to waste." Toby says, cutting Razzle and Jessica's conversation short.
The teens all gather around the circle standing behind their respective elements.
"For the power of the light!"
A/N: It took 10 months and slightly over 70k words to get these kids back to Gorm (including these a/n's but hey it counts in my book). Yeah, we're almost at the end of this arc (i'm predicting around 4-5 more chapters.) There's gonna be a slight change in the next chapter since it's more action orientated but don't worry - it won't be long.
Thanks to finalfanaticgorm for beta reading and keeping up with my weekly schedule which unfortunately will come to an end when this arc's done. Enjoy another month(?) of weekly chapters.
See ya'll next week.