"Heeeey, I did not expect to see you here. Are you gonna be my roommate? That doesn't matter now it's late. You must be getting hungry. I was just about to go call for pizza from the front desk. Don't worry about unpacking now you can do that after the little pizza party me and the gang are throwing. You might have "joined" up with us on the bus but the rest of us are kind of outsiders that have known each other since forever. Aaaah you'll understand when they get here."
He kept rattling off sentence after sentence not letting me get a word in edge wise. "Are you going to let me respond in anyway or just keep talking." I cut in to hopefully damn the river that he had become.
"Oh, Sorry dude I have a tendency to ramble when I'm excited, or nervous, or scared. Which I'm kind of all three at the moment. I hope you don't mind that the others from the bus are going to be joining us in our little room. I--"
"Woah, woah, woah slow down a little who's coming? Why are they coming? Why can't I unpack now? And why are we going to the lobby to order the pizza."
"Sorry I'm rambling again. The reason that we're going to the lobby is because my phone just died. Unpacking now is no fun we have a week before classes actually start. Finally we have the people that sat with us on the bus. You didn't socialize much more than getting their names so now is the chance to actually talk with them and possibly get to know each other more. Let's see it was Darcy, Dean, Penelope, and Uriel. But the real reason that they are coming is because we're all friends. We all go back about three years. Aaaah you can learn more when they get here."
"Well at least now i have a handle on the situation. By the way I didn't bring any luggage I wonder why I would have to unpack."
"Oh, that's right your new. Most of the students that live in the dormitories get some of their stuff from home transferred to the dorms here usually stuff that the student requested transferred. Of course there's also the stuff that they pack into their suitcases. That being said your room looked more like one that a permanent resident would have." He looked over at me and was just about to say something else but we had just reached the main floor lobby. "I guess we can always get to that more."
The gentleman from earlier was no longer leaning over the counter instead he seemed to be kicking back in a chair that was held behind the desk. He looked over at us as we approached the counter. "Hey kids, you settling in okay."
"We are thanks Edward, been a few months hows life treating you. Family still back in the states." Garrick said without reservations.
"Life's been pretty good and yeah unfortunately the wife and kids are still back in Miami. School and job are just to important to them. Any thing I can do for you boys."
"Can we borrow the phone I need to call for pizza for the yearly start of school year party. Oh also the twins, Penny and Uriel are on their way as well just send them on up when the get here."
"Go ahead it's right over there. And Yeah I'll definitely send your friends up." Edward gestured towards a little table across from the front desk that had a wireless phone set up between two chairs. I had seen the lobby just a little bit ago but had been too focused on filling out the form and the feeling of being watched by whoever it was on the fourth floor. It seemed like a fully functioning lobby with the desk on one side of the door and a comfortable waiting area. We had taken two of the seats in the waiting area while Garrick made the call for the pizza.
A few moments passed and He had finished up. It seemed that he was pretty used to it he had ordered five pizzas with only two of them sharing the same toppings. Instead of taking the stairs back up we decided to take the elevator this time.
After we had returned to the dorm room I finally got a chance to get the lay of the land so to speak. Rather than being small rooms typically associated with dorms these rooms were more like little apartments. The "living room" portion had been set up with a very large screen TV with a game console hooked up to it. As I didn't have either of my own I assumed they were his.
When I peeked into my room I was hit with a wave of shock it was the exact setup of the small apartment I rented as a hitman. All my furniture had been brought here and set up in the exact same way. The contract had said that any assets that I possessed would be brought here but I thought it would have been at least a week to bring here and also that it would only have been my computer.
_________________________
About an hour later Garrick opened the door to the arrival of the pizza along with the twins. Dean and Darcy Dark, as expected, were in the same clothing as they were on the bus. For the sister that meant a floral print, pleated skirt with spring colors under a rose pink blouse. Her hair done up in one of the most common hairstyles for younger girls--pigtails. Dean on the other hand had a pair of tight jeans, a plaid, button up shirt with a pocket protector, glasses and was still wearing his backpack which never seemed to come off.
"You ready for tonight Gary. I WILL beat you in Shooter Guy 4 this year." She danced around him approached and inspected me walking in a circle around me. She glanced up and down for a little bit before saying, "Your taller than I thought you were. But I guess everyone seems smaller on the bus. Nice to see you here glad you could join us tonight. Get over her Dean say hi to our future senior."
Dean had been considerably slower as he creeped around Garrick as he made his approach to me timidly. "H-h-hello Mr. Mordecai sir." He spoke in a voice that was very quiet and sounded almost terrified.
"Mordecai is fine Dean. You don't need to add sir or mister. I'm not that much older than you. Anyway, nice to officially meet you two."
They each took seats on the couch in front of the TV as Garrick turned it. The pizza was placed down on a coffee table that was between the two. As they all got ready to load up the previously mentioned game a knock was heard on the door. "I'll get this one Garrick. No need to get up You guys can start playing."
"You got it guy."
Standing up from my spot on one of the armchairs I drew near the door barely grasped the handle before the door burst open. On reflex I jumped back, went on guard and became extremely spatially aware of myself and everything in the room.
"THE PARTY HAS ARRIVED" exclaimed a rough feminine voice. The voice was attached to Penelope in her ripped jeans and rock band tank top. She was carrying a box on her shoulder that was revealed to contain chips, soda and other party confections. Behind this amazonian was a lanky fellow in all black goth style clothes complete with a wallet chain, ear and lip piercings and long black hair that partially covered his face.
"It's too early to be this loud Penny." he said as he released a sigh. "Oh hey it's the rebel from the bus. Wish I could have stood up to Liliana like that."
"Now that ya mention it Uriel it is the little rebel. Glad to properly meet ya if you're sticking around then welcome to the Five Freaks."
"Gah! Dammit again. Garrick you are way to good at this game. Why is it that even with all three of us working together we still can't take you down." Darcy pouted after twenty consecutive losses.
"MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! NO ONE CAN TAKE DOWN THE KING." Garrick let out a massive and hearty laugh.
Several hours had passed since the party had started. It was my the first time I had been at a party that didn't have either a client or a target involved. It was refreshing not having to do business or kill someone at an event like this.
I was observing each member of the group and getting a better read on how each of them behaved. The first thing I noticed was that despite his Gothic clothing and speech Uriel was actually fairly social. Numerous time through the night he and I had struck conversations most of which he had initiated.
The twins were a very interesting subject. The sister was bright and cheerful but was always placing herself between me and her brother in a very protective manner. The brother on the other hand is very jumpy but other than the permanent fixture of the backpack I noticed something else weird. Dean had no shadow.
Penelope gave off a very rough and tumble vibe however she was very gentle and and very caring making sure that everyone had gotten food and drinks. "So, Mordecai do you have anything planned for tomorrow or the rest of the week. Us five are gonna try to get together with the rest of the little freaks."
"Well I do have plans for tomorrow morning but I could possibly join you later. By the way why do you guys call yourselves the Five Freaks and who are the Little Freaks."
"Well the Freaks of Pantheon City are the students that are known for having great potential but either no skill to use them or it's defective with their power." Garrick cut in. "As for the Five Freaks it's because we're considered the most broken in one way or another. Like me for example supposedly I shift dimensions or something but mostly I just turn things invisible."
"What about the rest of you? What is your ability Penelope?" I asked a little sharply with doubt etching my voice.
"Ah, Sorry but we just met ya got ta earn that. Garrick here is very trusting but you just joined the group it'll take a whole lot more than just sharing a room with one of us," She stated curtly. "Anyway it's getting late the four of us should get going. See the two of you guys later."
Uriel, Darcy and Dean had put their stuff together by this point. As they started to make their way to the door Darcy came up to me with a small smile on her face. "Well it was nice to meet you Mord."
"It was nice to meet you as well Darcy."
She got on her tip toes and whispered in my ear as her face took a slightly more violent turn. And as I had suspected she was more than just a sweet little girl. "If you ever hurt my brother I will make sure that you regret it for the rest of your life."
I leaned in as she went back and whispered in her ear. "I have no intention of hurting your brother but don't ever threaten me again. You do not know who you are messing with." She looked back at me and the look on her face was a little more serious.
"You're an interesting one." Her smile changed to one of more intrigue. "Most people either laugh at me or get away as fast as possible. I think I like you."
"Darcy, leave Mr. Sharpe alone he's not going to hurt anyone." Dean chastised his sister in a very subdued tone of voice as he passed by. What happened next would have been painful if I wasn't still in a cautious state as usual. A massive black hand shot out of Dean's backpack aiming for my stomach. In reaction I jumped back and the fist instead collided with the wall. I followed where the fist had come from and was surprised to see that it originated from his back pack. "AH, NO! Bad Shadow stay in the bag."
The shadow spoke back but in some weird unknown language. "So, that's your power. Is that supposed to be your Id."
"S-s-sorry. H-h-h-he doesn't mean it. H-h-h-he just does things on his own."
"It's okay kid I've seen other similar abilities from other people. I'll be more careful from now on. How about I see you guys down and out."
"Thanks for your offer It might be a good chance to talk more. Lead the way." Uriel said taking a bow. "It also might be a way to help you not do something stupid."
"Hey you guys aren't leaving me out of this situation." Garrick stopped me before we opened the door.
"Fine but you better get off your rear then." Garrick scrambled off the couch and rushed towards the door and was the first to leave.
Immediately after leaving the room we encountered another student who seemed to be on the same floor. This person was very tall and had handsome features but the look on his face was very different. He was sneering. The three kids behind him had similar looks on their faces.
"Well, well. If it isn't the Five Freaks. Oh and they have a new friend. What freaky nature does he have."
"Go away Frank no one needs you here." Came Penelope's venomous reply.
"Or what? Is the wannabe gonna cry?" one of the thugs mocked.
"There's going to be trouble if you come don't leave us alone." Darcy piped up in response.
"The only one in you group we have to worry about is your loser of a brother. And that would ONLY be if he doesn't get the rest of you in the process."
"Hey, hey, boss," one of the others whispered in his ear. "That's the guy that the student council brought in today."
"Hey! You, new guy."
"My name is Mordecai."
"Yeah, whatever. So the council brought you in today. You must be some tough shit then. Why are you hanging out with these Freaks. If you really want to move up in the world you should hang with us."
"Thanks for the concern but I've met and worked with people like you before. I don't need your kind of power."
"Oh. You'll regret that." He seemed just about ready to do something drastic but his pal whispered something into his ear again. This time seemed more important cause he made and effort to hide it. "Tch. Mordecai was it? I'll remember this conversation and you better watch your back."
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