String - Framework 2.2

“You just had to go and get your car stolen, didn’t you?”

“Stop complaining. We used to take the bus to school all the time, it’s not that bad.”

Lucy had been stingy and taken the window seat before I could. Sitting next to the aisle wasn’t exactly ideal but I couldn’t find it within me to care this morning. I had woken up to a dull headache and stiff limbs.

On my way out I decided to check the messages I had received last night and it turned out they had been from Sam. They weren’t urgent, she was just asking if I had made it home safely and that my car was still safe in the garage. I let her know I was fine and that I was grateful my car hadn’t been defaced further or recovered by the police. Then I had gotten back a vaguely sarcastic reply about making a young lady worry.

I found it hard to picture Sam being worried about anything, or as a ‘lady’ for that matter.

“It’s loud, cramped, and—” Lucy wrinkled her nose as she stared at a couple a few seats over from us that started swapping spit. “—really gross. Ew. Come on, it’s like eight in the morning. That’s way too early to be kissing.”

“You could just not look at them.”

“It’s so distracting.”

“Just bear with it for a bit longer. We’ll have a replacement car soon.”

My phone buzzed again and I scanned the notification.

Eyes_of_Samsara (Today at 8:02A.M) (Sam. L): Gonna do some scouting tonight. Want in?

The idea provoked excitement. I had been content to sit back and develop my gear before moving against The Cains but with Sam on my side, I’d be able to go on the attack sooner. It wouldn’t be just me waging a one-man war on an entire gang, which in hindsight, was absolutely suicide considering the stories behind Grim.

I had armor and I had spent all twenty-five charges, underpaying upgrades on both the helmet and the gun. Underpaying meant I was able to get more done for less cost, but the upgrading wouldn’t be instant. A couple of hours at most, I was able to guess. They’d be done long before I got home from school.

Pathfinder (Today at 8:03A.M): Where were you thinking? w/o my car, getting around is going to be a pain in the ass.

Eyes_of_Samsara (Today at 8:03A.M) (Sam. L): I can pick you up. I’ll figure out a way around your biometric security. 11 at Dax’s Pizza Parlor?

If Sam could crack my security, that was just a sign that what I had wasn’t enough.

Besides, that was a twenty-minute walk from my place, closer to ten if I ran. Since Mom usually goes to bed around nine and Lucy wasn’t staying over on the weekend, I’d be in the clear to sneak out.

Pathfinder (Today at 8:03A.M): You sure it’s safe to drive my car around? Police might tag it.

Eyes_of_Samsara (Today at 8:03A.M) (Sam. L): I’ll be careful. Police can’t risk patrolling gang territory so late and the Cains are active on the east side of town, closer to you. We can start at Nells Street and work our way down back to my place.

Pathfinder (Today at 8:04A.M): What are we even gonna do? Just drive around?

Eyes_of_Samsara (Today at 8:04A.M) (Sam. L): I’ll show you the ropes.

Eyes_of_Samsara (Today at 8:04A.M) (Sam. L): Oh, do I need to worry about gas?

Eyes_of_Samsara (Today at 8:04A.M) (Sam. L): Nevermind, Gold says it’s electric. Shit, you really went all in on this thing 😮

Pathfinder (Today at 8:04A.M): Sure did, the battery even recharges itself as well. Neat, eh?

“Who’re you talking to?”

I turned to see Lucy trying to peek at my messages. I hid the screen reflexively which wasn’t a good look.

“Alex,” I answered with a bored tone. Lucy didn’t seem convinced.

“Ahuh.”

“Just because I’m not showing you doesn’t mean I’m lying. How would you like it if I peaked at your messages?” When I saw her shoulders slump, I knew I had won. “If you really care that much you can ask Alex the next time you talk to her.”

There was no way she’d remember something so inconsequential as this.

“Fine. I was just curious. It’s just…you’ve been acting strange lately; you’re not normally so secretive,” she said with a sigh. I felt a little offended and it likely showed since she suddenly felt the need to justify herself. “It’s little things. You’ve started talking to yourself a lot – yeah I’ve noticed. It’s kinda weird. You also space out sometimes. It’s like you’re… I dunno, thinking.”

“Oh, ha ha.”

She had the audacity to laugh. “But for real though, are you okay? Between the black eye and stolen car you’ve hit a streak of bad luck. I get it but it isn’t just that, this has been going on for weeks now and you just seem so… disinterested.”

Well, that makes sense, it started around the time I woke up with my powers. Like any other teenager who had won the lottery, I was eager to play around with my new abilities. I had thought I’d be able to fix Mom and get her out of that damn wheelchair. If my power worked on biological material, everything would be different.

“I’ve just been thinking about life, you know?” I decided to let myself vent a little. “After next year, I’ll be done with high school, then I gotta tackle university. During all of that, I’ll probably have to move out, but I’m worried about Mom. Every time I see her in that wheelchair it’s… she's in pain and I can’t do anything about it.”

Actually, there were plenty of things I could do about it. Building her an exoskeleton would get her out of the wheelchair. I could even use it as a basis to work off of. The problem is that would be giving away my identity to not just my mom, but our entire community. Plus, if I told Mom about my powers, she wouldn’t want me using them to help her for that exact reason.

Lucy’s mood sombered and I chuckled mirthlessly.

“Sorry to be such a downer. I’ve just been thinking about this a lot recently.”

“Max, you’re doing all you can to help Eleanor but getting her out of her wheelchair would cost a fortune. I can’t even begin to imagine what the independents are charging nowadays. It must be… it has to be millions,” Lucy rubbed her forehead. “It’s just not feasible.”

“To jump up the list for something comprehensive that’ll get her back to one hundred percent, it’s close to a hundred million,” I muttered under my breath. She gave me a strange look and I offered a half-hearted shrug. “I was curious. I looked around online for a ballpark estimate. The most common answer I got was around 75 million to skip Patchwork’s waiting list and even then that’s just speculation. Other people claimed you can’t buy their services since they’re that sought after.”

There were cheaper options but Patchwork was world-renowned and trusted. He fixed up ECU officials and heroes all the time when they got in over their heads. Maybe I was setting my sights too high but if someone was going to fix Mom, I wanted to make sure they were the best.

“It’s all about money,” Lucy sighed. “Seems to be the only thing independents care about.”

It would be hypocritical of me to contest her point.

The bus came to a stop outside Minerva High’s front gates and we joined the line of students flowing out of the narrow doors like toothpaste. The longer I attended the more I felt stagnant and looking forward to the day I could leave. University seemed like it had much more freedom. The ability to come and go as you please, deciding which classes you bothered to show up to sounded like bliss. I still hadn’t quite figured out what I wanted to do yet but I was thinking something along the lines of a computer science degree, maybe software engineering?

I had always been passionate about computers and given what my power was, I couldn’t help but think anything in the tech field would be a breeze. I could coast my way to the top of that field and earn a pretty comfortable living, but the small intrusive thoughts told me that wasn’t what I really wanted. I could lie to myself all I wanted but I knew deep down that I wanted to do more with my power.

I wanted to create and experiment. Refine and expand.

Heading toward our homeroom class in the math block, Lucy and I idly chatted about assignments, particularly the project we were doing on Cyberspace. I’d need to find some time in the future to actually help with it but for now, I could relax. Lucy seemed to be on top of things and it wasn’t due until next Friday.

On our way to my locker, I wasn’t watching where I was going and was aggressively shoved to the side. I stumbled, knocking Lucy to the floor before immediately swiveling my head to search for the assailant.

“Watch where you’re fuckin goin, man.”

The accent was English, probably London if I had to place it. My eyes landed on Pete Morson and his crew of followers of about three other guys and four girls. Pete was a bully who walked around school like he owned the place. He was one of the best rugby players in the school and was the closest thing you could get to being a celebrity without having powers.

I glared at him and offered a hand to Lucy to help her up, my eyes narrowed on his neck. I wouldn’t have paid much mind to it before but I recognized the symbol. It was a snake, wrapping around the neck of a human skull with its mouth wide open about to devour it. I had seen this tattoo on only one other person – the guy who had interrogated me and stolen my money.

“Nice tattoo.”

It had been a reflex, the words spilling from my mouth without any sort of filter.

My pride was still hurting from the last couple of days. The Cains had been making my life miserable and I wasn’t about to stand around and let them make it any worse.

Pete stopped, his head craning to look at me from over his shoulder.

Everyone knew it but he had no particular target and just liked to harass anyone who looked at him funny. He took a metaphorical shit on everyone who slighted him. One of the only people in the school who didn’t take shit from him was Abby because she had the power and prestige to tell him to shove it. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t have any of that.

He stalked toward me with an exaggerated swagger, his guy friends flanking him. The girls stood back, snickering and whispering amongst themselves.

“Thinking of snitching?” He dared me with a mocking grin. “Teachers ain’t gonna do shit.”

I calmed my nerves. “Never said anything about snitching. Can’t take a compliment?”

One of his friends sneered at me. “Why point it out then, bitch?”

Maybe I was stupid or maybe it was the nerves, but I was feeling particularly brave. I stared right at Pete with a challenging scowl.

“I know a Cain when I see—”

My back slammed against the row of lockers, silencing the hallway. Pete’s hands had grasped my jacket and pulled me off my feet. He was a full two inches taller than me and way stronger with all the sports training he did. There was no way I was winning a fistfight against this guy.

“Max!” Lucy sprang into action and tried to pull Pete’s hands off me. “Let him go you asshole– hey!” She was shoved away by one of his friends.

There was a tense silence in the hallway, stretching on for what felt like minutes. I kept my gaze narrowed on Pete as I tried to relieve some of the pressure he was inflicting but it was no use. He was way too strong and my limbs felt like beanpoles compared to his muscles. This is what I got for not bothering to keep in shape.

“Met some of my boys, have you?” His voice was no louder than a whisper. “Then you should know to not go mouthing off. Know your place, else I’ll make sure your eyes match.”

His boys.

I wanted to laugh.

Unless he was a super, there was no way Pete had any sort of pull within the gang. The man who had interrogated me the other night held far more presence than this clown. I could still remember the sheer insanity bleeding from every word. The way he had believed every word he was spouting like he was some kind of holy man here to bestow wisdom upon the foolish masses.

Pete was just like me, a little fish.

“If you're going to hit me, make it count. You won’t get a second chance,” I hissed at him. His grip tightened and I felt the phantom sensations of a gun pressing into my ribcage. That had been a real threat. This? This was showboating. “Is this worth a suspension? Go ahead, do it.”

Everyone knew he cared about his position on the rugby team. The school wouldn’t be happy if they caught wind of one of their star athletes kicking the crap out of another student. He had already lost one scholarship because of his behavior and from what I heard around the grapevine, he was already on thin ice with the Deans.

Pete sneered at me and pushed a little harder before letting go. I dropped to my feet and quickly adjusted my jacket.

Just like I thought. All bark and no bite.

With a huff, he turned and walked away. I watched him take a few steps before my paranoia got the best of me. I heard footsteps approaching from behind and I ducked. An arm sailed straight over my head. I pushed all my weight to the side and tackled Pete’s friend. I had been expecting to drag him to the floor but the guy managed to keep his balance.

He might not have any prestige with the gang but he sure as shit has clout here!

Students were hollering now, their cheers echoing through the math block hallway. Without looking, I could tell the crowd had been watching the confrontation just seconds ago.

The guy that was attacking me was Gerald, last name who fucking cares. He threw a wild hook and I ducked. Immediately, he followed through with a kick, which I grabbed and pulled.

We tackled each other and he had the upper hand. Like Pete, he was bigger than me, but I wasn’t about to go down like a pussy. While he was trying to throw me down with his upper body strength, I kicked at his legs and he tumbled like a Jenga tower.

He dragged me to the floor and the crowd around us only egged us on.

“That’s enough!” A voice silenced the hallway. I turned to see my homeroom teacher, Mr. Reid broke through the crowd of students. “What’s going on here? This barbaric behavior has no place in our school!”

Pete’s friend took the opportunity to push me off him and we both stumbled back to our feet.

“He swung first! Max was just defending himself,” Lucy was quick to jump to my defense. There was a murmuring of agreement amongst the crowd as the guy who attacked me slowly got to his feet. “There was no instigation either.”

“Mr. Gerald Hanson,” Mr. Reid let go of my arm and glared at the boy. “Second time this month you’ve been involved in wanton physical violence. Go and sit outside the Dean's office. I will be with you shortly.”

His tone left no room for argument. Gerald sulked off, sinking into the dispersing crowd. I watched as Pete and the rest of his friends jovially pushed him around the moment Mr. Reid’s back was turned. They were probably giving him shit losing.

“Mr. Troy.” I turned to see Mr. Reid’s gaze hardened on me. “Perhaps picking fights isn’t the smartest thing to do so early in the morning.”

Lucy was quick to interject. “He didn’t—”

“Ms. Kim, I am speaking with Mr. Troy here,” He side-eyed Lucy, effectively silencing her. “He is perfectly capable of speaking for himself. I will talk to you when I am done with him. Now,” he returned his attention to me. “I know how it is, always raring for a fight. I was young once too, but I also know neither of you would start one without a reason.”

I sighed. “I said some crap to Pete.”

Lucy huffed and crossed her arms.

Mr. Reid looked unsatisfied with my answer. “And that warranted revolt from Mr. Hanson?”

This time I gave an idle shrug.

Who knew why the tagalongs were so keen to fall on the sword for Pete? Maybe he was trying to impress him or something. I didn’t care. It wasn’t my fault Pete and his cronies were a bunch of sensitive pricks – but now I had to deal with the repercussions of making myself a target, yay. This wouldn’t be the end of things, not with them. There would be retribution.

“I see. I will speak with the Dean about Mr. Hanson’s behavior. It is his second offense this month so it’ll likely end in a suspension. In the meantime, I don’t want to see you getting yourself into more trouble,” Mr. Reid gave a tired sigh. “I will be lenient this one time seeing as you aren’t the type to cause trouble.”

“Sorry,” I offered easily.

“It’s quite alright. I can see you’ve not had the best of times recently.”

“Huh?”

“Your eye.”

“Oh,” I gently touched my healing wound. “It’s nothing. I walked into my door.”

Lucy snorted, holding back laughter.

Mr. Reid stared at me for a moment and for a second, I was worried he would see through the story. My worries were amended when he chuckled.

“I’m sorry for assuming otherwise. Now, off you go. I will deal with this trouble maker and be back shortly to take the roll,” he straightened his tie before turning on his heel and marching down the hallway.

The moment he was out of sight, I was aggressively nudged by Lucy.

“The hell is wrong with you?” All the humor was gone from her voice. “Picking a fight with Pete? Did those guys knock some screws loose? You don’t fuck with him, Max. Now he’s never going to stop picking on you.”

“Oh, give me a break. You saw him, he chickened out. He wasn’t going to hit me,” I said calmly. “Besides, I’m not scared of him. He can try whatever the hell he likes. It won’t end well for him.”

I’ll make his life hell.

I retrieved my supplies from my locker and headed straight for homeroom. She struggled to catch up but she made it just as I walked through the door. Most of the class was staring at me, all with mixed reactions. There was some respect, a little bit of mockery, and a pinch of judgment thrown in for good measure. I wasn’t in the mood to piss off anyone else so I’d let people say whatever they wanted.

The moment we sat down, Lucy tugged on my jacket. I glared at her.

“What now?”

She glared right back at me. “What was that ‘I know a Cain when I see one’ shit you said? Is there something you’re not telling me? The Brotherhood of Cain don’t have a symbol. Their colors are red and yellow, nothing else.”

“The tattoo on his neck,” I grumbled. “I recognized it.”

“From where?”

“I don’t exactly live far from Cain territory, Lucy. I know what they look like,” I replied, aggravation leaking into my voice. “They’re much bolder than Pandora.”

Lucy scoffed.

“No one is bolder than Pandora. Also, you’re a liar. You didn’t get jumped by a bunch of random guys,” her brow dipped as her scowl deepened. “It was The Cains, wasn’t it? They’re the ones that attacked you. I’m right, aren’t I?”

“What does it matter?” I muttered. “I got the crap beaten out of me and I walked it off. That’s it.”

“Gangs don’t just beat people up for no reason, The Cains least of all. What were you doing? Don’t lie to me, I’ll know if you do!” Her stare was intense, burning holes into the side of my head as I stared aimlessly at the whiteboard in the front of the classroom. Today was turning out to be a real drag. “Well?”

“Well what?”

“Tell me!”

“I did. They jumped me, beat the crap out of me and took some cash. That’s what they do, Lucy,” I replied, eager to ditch this conversation and move on to something else. She didn’t have a clue what these guys were like. “Half the shit they do is for no reason. Robbery, theft, muggings.”

“There’s always a reason…” Lucy was quiet for a moment before shaking her head. Then, she gave me a pointed stare. “Were you really in the mall when your car was stolen? Was it even stolen? How do I know you weren't the one in the car on the news?”

I snorted, trying to hide the fact she had managed to land a hail mary on the truth. “You really think I’m good enough of a driver to evade a pursuing gang, and the police, while going over a hundred and fifty? I only just got my full license a month ago. I can’t drive like whatever lunatic was behind the wheel.”

I hope Sam never figures out that I described her as a lunatic.

“I don’t know but you bullshitted me about your eye,” She muttered under her breath. “Does your mom and Alex know who actually attacked you?”

“Yeah.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Now she just sounded hurt. “You never lie to me.”

I sighed. “It’s embarrassing. I got my ass kicked by a bunch of lowlifes. I didn’t even want to tell Mom.”

“But you can trust me! Why… I just don’t get why you’d try to hide it.”

“I just said that it’s embarrassing.”

“What, were you expecting us to laugh at you? Haha, Maxis you moron! Imagine getting jumped by gangsters, being robbed, and having your ass beat like a drum. Couldn’t be me,” Lucy rolled her eyes sardonically. “Do you really think that badly of us?”

“Look, I’m sorry, okay?” I rubbed my forehead, feeling more than ready to be done with this conversation. “I won’t lie about anything else like this. If it happens again, you’ll get the full story from me. All details. The full shebang,” I waved her off dismissively. “Happy?”

Lucy pursed her lips in thought.

It took her a few moments to come up with a response.

“A little bit,” She said. I sighed in relief. “But we’re telling our friends.”

“We tell Abby the truth, she will rain down hellfire on the Cains. She’s impulsive enough as is, she doesn’t need to cop a murder charge,” I said impassively. A small part of me reveled in the idea of hearing about Comet tearing down Cain safehouses across Bayside – but then that would put them all on high alert, which would make stealing from them all the more difficult for me and Sam. “Can we just… keep this to ourselves?”

Lucy pouted and huffed. “Why do you have to be so difficult? They’re our friends.”

“But we know Abby. She will go out and do something stupid,” I gave Lucy an unimpressed look. “Which is obviously what you want to happen.”

“Yeah…”

“That is why we’re not telling them.”

“Fine, but I get to know everything from now on,” She jabbed me in the side. “Promise?”

I stared and gave her a weak smile. “Promise.”