-Why can't we attack today again?- Hector looked at the rest and they all simultaneously groaned. They've been over this. Many, many times. Wendy buried her face in her hands. Poppy sighed and leaned back in her chair, massaging her temples. Jordan facepalmed. Carter tried to ignore him. Other Jordan rolled his eyes. The others' reactions were no different, all screaming "here we go again."
Poppy was first to answer. It was her turn. It always seemed to be her turn when it came to Hector's dumb questions. Mostly because they were for some reason always addressed specifically to her:
-Because Lucas Tillman opened his damn mouth and now the stupid kid might know about us!
-I never get you, you know?- Hector asked.
-Why is that?- Poppy rolled her eyes. Carter smirked, wanting to hear what Hector was gonna say this time.
-No, it's just that you say the kid is stupid, then you say he may be onto us. Why would anyone stupid be onto us, huh?
Poppy groaned again. Why her?
-He wouldn't have figured it out if it weren't for Tillman.
-Tillman's an idiot!- Strawberry announced.
-Wait,- Hector started. -If this Tillman's such an idiot, how is he onto us?
Carter burst into laughter. Poppy slapped him and kept explaining:
-We call the kid and Tillman these things because they're jerks that ruined,- she glanced at Wendy. -or ended our lives. Not because of intellect.
-Okay, okay, got it, but I still have the same question: why not attack today. So the kid knows. Who cares? He's alone, we're twenty, Pop, he's got no chance!
-He's a hybrid!- Wendy finally lifted her head and spoke up, the tears obvious in her words. -We may be able to kill him, but he could bite all of us by that time!
-How will that change over time?!- Hector kept pushing.
-He'll stop expecting us at some point.- Poppy sighed.
-And we'll kill him,- Wendy added. -for Derek.
Poppy put a hand on Wendy's shoulder. Of them all, this was hardest for her. She loved Derek. They all did, but not like her. She loved him. They were engaged.
-Can we at least kill Tillman?- Hector sighed. It was boring to sit in a basement all day and wait for "the right moment." He'd much rather go deal with that kid and then figure out the rest.
-No!- Poppy groaned. -Guys, back me up.
Carter grinned and nodded. Wendy put her hand on top of Poppy's on her shoulder. Jordan pointed a finger toward Poppy. Other Jordan pointed a finger toward Jordan. The others' reactions were no different.
-I'm actually with Hec on this one.
Everyone turned their heads to see where the high-pitched voice was coming from. Strawberry sat quietly, seeing the reaction her opinion prompted.
-He's a jerk, okay?- she sighed. -An idiot. A fool, a monster, a liar… The list goes on. I say we kill Tillman. That'll scare the kid, but it might lead him to a false sense of the fact that this was the revenge. That we didn't kill him, we killed someone he loved, which is worse. He'll be miserable, which is great, after which we swoop in and kill him before he can blink. BOOM! See ya!
19 pairs of eyes were staring at Strawberry. That was the longest they've ever heard her speak. She would say something occasionally, but she was usually just chewing gum or something.
-You have a point, you know?- Poppy said. Wendy slowly nodded. Carter smiled, imagining what they'll do. Jordan looked at Poppy. Other Jordan looked and Jordan. The others' reactions were no different.