Tobey instinctively backed up as Two-Brains's henchmen came forward. They held gleams in their eyes that Tobey didn't know. Normally, they were just two-bit pawns in the evil scientist's wild, cheese themed heists. But now, he found a new evil within their gaze, one that held his very life in check. These weren't the henchmen that he'd had many an amiable chat with at EVA conventions. No, these men were bloodthirsty and willing to do anything to ensure that his relationship with Becky was halted forever.
"I…er…bu…" He stammered, desperately seeking a way out.
"Ha!" Two-Brains chortled with wicked glee. "There's no possible means of escape! Your blood runs red on the streets of this city tonight, BOY!"
Suddenly, the henchmen lunged at him, but Tobey used his smaller size and speed advantage to run right through them. They knocked into each other and Two-Brains cursed them before ordering them to pursue. Tobey, for his part, had been trying to exercise a bit more regularly since turning from his evil ways. This came in handy as he darted from street corner to street corner. His attempts to elude the henchmen were working. Looking back, he saw them groping blindly in the dim glow of the streetlights. He smirked to himself before disappearing down an alleyway that led towards his home.
Once there, he darted inside and ran headlong into his mother. It suddenly dawned on him that, in his haste to escape, he'd forgotten all about the errand that she'd asked him to run. His heart sank as he looked up into her stern gaze. He'd done a lot to prove to her that he had turned from a villainous brat into a legitimately well behaved boy. This minor mishap could cause her already fragile trust in him to shatter. She might ground him for a substantial length of time. It could interfere with his work at the spaceship or, worse, his private time with Becky. They'd created a rather warm and inviting friendship. He didn't want to lose it over a pile of missing groceries.
"Oh, um…hi…Mom," he managed to get out.
"Hello, Tobey," Claire said abruptly.
"Did…you have a good day?"
"Indeed," Claire responded, "and thank you for asking. But, Tobey, I must say, I'm a bit puzzled."
"…as to what?" Tobey gulped.
"Well, for one thing, the lateness of the hour. You've been getting back later and later. Every time I ask about it, you always feed me the same little stories about clubs and extracurricular activities. But, son, I know that absolutely none of those things are going on at this time. Not only that, but the groceries I asked you to buy after school don't seem to be with you. Now, Tobey, for weeks you've been at this little game and I'm growing impatient with you. I love you, Tobey, and I care about your safety…so I'm only going to ask this once. Where…were…you…this afternoon?"
Tobey gulped once more. He certainly couldn't tell his mother the truth. Not only had Becky sworn him to severe secrecy, but it would ruin his rapport with his mother as well. His mind went into overdrive as his mother's piercing gaze met his own. Inside, he found nothing but a sharp disappointment. He realized that, in her mind, his recent reformation meant that he would never do or say anything that might make her think otherwise. His relationship with Becky and the work they did to help the city had to take precedence, though. Much as he loved his mother, he knew that their relationship meant nothing in the grand scheme of humanity.
"I'm sorry, Mom," he said. "I've been…hanging out with someone after school."
"Oh?" Claire asked, eyebrow raised suspiciously, "and just who might that be?"
"It…it's Violet," Tobey lied through clenched teeth. "Violet and I are getting…kinda…close."
At this, his mom's anger seemed to fade and she bent down to embrace her son. Tobey blushed deeply as Claire told her son that he didn't need to be embarrassed to admit to her that he was beginning to notice the girls in his class. She went on and on about how proud she was that he had selected such a wonderful and talented young lady to be close with. Unfortunately, she also announced that she was formulating a plan to get the two of them together sometime. Knowing his feelings for Becky, Tobey quickly surmised that any kind of forced romantic arrangement concocted by his mother would be a disaster. He tried to pull the conversation in a different direction, but Claire was already busily humming to herself.
Damn it, Tobey thought, when she goes and starts that humming, it's all over. Oh, well…at least Becky's secret is safe. But what do I tell her? I mean, it's her that I want, not Violet!
Tobey's mind was in a whirl as he stumbled his way through dinner, followed by his homework and then a horrid attempt at falling asleep. His head seemed to be in a constant stupor, with Becky's beautiful face being its main focal point. Her hazel eyes assaulted him, pushing their way into his subconscious. It was almost as if they were telling him of their disapproval of the specific lie he'd come up with. True, it was to protect both his job and their relationship. But at the same time, he wondered if he'd gone too far this time. Should his mother have her way, he and Violet would be dating by that time next week.
I know how Mom operates, he told himself. Ever since Dad…
He stopped short.
No, no, no, his internal dialogue continued, not that. You are NOT going down that road, Theodore! Do you hear me? You are NOT gonna think about that. Just breathe…breathe…there we go. Now, first priority is sleep. We'll figure this out in the morning.
Upon these thoughts, Tobey rolled over and fell into a sleep marred by nightmares, yet balanced by the thought of seeing his beloved Becky upon arriving at school the next day.
