Capítulo 2748: 4.1
I was on cloud nine, I felt as if I was floating and my face hurt from all the smiling. Here I was playing video games and eating junk food with the Wards with no bully in sight. I wasn't very good at Mario Kart but it was still fun, even to lose. The Wards seemed to have a system, whoever came last had to give their controller to the next person in line. I was the exception that night since I was the new kid.
Honestly I didn't mind that I was getting unfair treatment but it was getting to the point where I hadn't had any of the pizza since my hands were occupied with the game.
"Someone else take over for me, I want a go at the food!" James jumped at the chance smiling at me. "Anyone want me to grab anything while I'm up?"
"Thanks Taylor but I'm good." James called out as he grabbed the controller.
"You don't have to grab anything, I'll come with you!" Missy told me. I shook my head but she got up anyways. "I insist." Before I could refuse her again she used her power to walk ahead of me, squeezing the space between us that would've been several steps down to one.
"Well if you're both up how about you guys carry the entire table over?" Asked Dennis pausing the game. "Just park it right here." He opened his mouth and pointed at it. No one took him seriously but I decided to grab a drink for him anyways.
Making my way over to the food table with Missy I found that Dean and Shadow Stalker were already there. However she wasn't eating, hell she hadn't even removed her mask yet. Missy wasn't kidding before, she was really shy.
"Hello Taylor." Dean greeted me. "Hello Missy." She beamed at that and waved back. I was still getting used to their names. I had known them all by their Cape personas for so long that seeing them, even without their masks and helmets was still odd to me.
"Hi Dean, hi Shadow Stalker." Calling her Shadow Stalker was a bit of a mouthful. I'd have to come up with a nickname for her eventually, maybe I could abbreviate her name to SS? Or maybe I could call her Shadow? That sounded bad ass! Shadow the hero! Hmm that was a bit too edgy, maybe I'd sleep on it.
"So what are you two doing over here on your own?" I would've asked if they were dating but it was obvious that Shadow Stalker didn't swing that way and Dean… Well Dean himself was already a bit of a celebrity outside of his Cape persona. The guy dated Glory Girl after all!
"N-nothing…." Shadow Stalker replied to my question with a mumble. It seemed that she hadn't dealt with my rejection that well, a bit of guilt wormed it's way into my mind. On one hand I didn't want to get too close to her and give her false hope that I was romantically interested, on the other everyone deserved a friend.
She seemed a bit antisocial, something I could relate to.
Dean sighed. "I'm just giving Shadow Stalker a bit of company you know?" That was nice of him, especially after what she went through. Wait a second…
"Shadow Stalker." I called out to her directly. She flinched confirming my suspicions. Only someone who had gone through a campaign of abuse would act this way. "You aren't being bullied by the other Wards are you?" I should've seen the signs earlier. All the teasing, the fact that she seemed to prefer being alone, the stammering when she spoke.
If it wasn't for Dean keeping her company it would've been some twisted reflection of myself. It might've been hasty of me to assume such things but I could see a bit of myself in her.
"Bullying is no joke, you have to tell someone, go to an authority figure." The Heroes wouldn't ignore her like my own school had.
"I what?" She seemed to freeze at my words.
"I know you're trying to hold back, that no one can understand you, that they won't listen, trust me, I know the feeling." Fuck Madison, fuck Sophia and fuck Emma! "But you have friends who care about you, I mean if they didn't then you wouldn't have Dean here right now."
"Uhh I think you might have the wrong idea." Dean piped up. "She doesn't really act like this all the time, she's not being bullied, she's just… she… we've tried to make friends with her it's just that most of us had given up, she's very aggressive." That painted a more depressing picture honestly.
"Yeah she's a bitch." Missy agreed.
"Language." He gently reminded her. For her part Missy did look sorry about it. "The only reason why she's stammering and such is because of you I think."
"I'm standing right here you know?" Shadow Stalker growled making us turn to her. It was then I made up my mind. This Hero, no this girl needed a friend. One that wouldn't abandon her just because they couldn't handle her. I wouldn't be like Emma.
"Don't worry Shadow Stalker, I'll be your friend no matter what, through thick and thin." I had pushed away Dad and I knew how it was to be lonely. She had Dean sure but he was only doing it to be nice. As far as I could tell the two of them had very little in common. "Come on, let's get something to eat." I smirked in anticipation.
"Uhh.. no thanks… I've got my mask on." I grinned at that, she fell for my verbal trap perfectly.
"So do I!" Before she could react I was wearing the plastic Shadow Stalker mask again. Grabbing a slice of pizza I shoved it into my face. Instead of a greasy mess it was instantly consumed. "Mmmm pizza." She just stood there, watching me.
"Hehe." Both Dean and Missy cracked a smile. At least two people here enjoyed my comedy. Mentally I gave them a brownie point. Wait brownie points, SWEET ROLLS!
"That's a very convenient power." Missy commented. It was wasn't it?
"I... I'm leaving now." Shadow Stalker announced. Wait! I hadn't even shared a sweet roll with her yet!
I went to stop her but I felt a gentle hand grasp my shoulder. Dean simply shook his head.
"If you go after her now she's just going to dig herself in deeper, give her some space, let her process things. She'll come back in her own time." I wanted to argue, to point out my own situation where no one tried to help me.
But it wasn't the same.
Dean was already there helping. Shadow Stalker wasn't quiet and depressed like me, she was angry and lashing out. I nodded in understanding.
I turned back to the rest of the Wards and overheard something that I had rather not have heard.
"So the official ship name is SS.Vim right?" Dennis asked someone. Ship name? SS.Vim?
"That's really bad man." Carlos groaned. "Seriously, Taylor isn't even into her." Oh god.
"Well I know that she's straight and you know that she's straight but the internet doesn't!" I put my hands on his shoulders. It was at this moment that Dennis's fear kicked in, freezing himself in place that had nothing to do with his powers.
"I'm sure I won't see any of this on the PHO." I told him as I began to give him a massage, he stiffened up. I gripped him in such a way that if he used his powers on me then he would've been trapped regardless. "Have I mentioned I'm also a blaster? Flamethrowers for hands." It was at this point that I felt Elation.
Huh, it seemed my speech shard benefited from intimidation as well. Useful.
"Yes ma'am, won't see a peep outta me on the internet." I patted him on the back and made my way onto the couch.
"Sweet Rolls anyone?"
Vista giggled and I couldn't help but join in. The sweet rolls were a big hit.
=================================
Eventually I left. Dad was driving, apparently he and Armsmaster or Colin had struck up quite the friendship. The two of them were avid workaholics. It was so odd to hear about how well they got along, especially with how angry dad was when they first met.
"The guy isn't so bad once you get to know him." He told me, not that I needed to be convinced. "He's blunt but honest. I can respect that." It was so strange to think of them as friends but I was glad that he had someone new to talk to. Ever since mom died he'd become withdrawn, much like myself now that I thought about it. "The other heroes were pretty nice as well, that Assault guy is a card."
Huh, now that I thought about it I hadn't really had much of a chance to interact with the adult heroes. Well that would probably change in the future, we would be working together after all. I wonder if I can convince Armsmaster to build me a jet pack? A way to move around quickly. My teleportation power was pretty garbage after all.
"Hey dad." I began. "You know, I didn't give the Wards all of my sweet rolls." He smiled at that and in turn so did I.
The next day was filled with more anticipation. Yesterday was amazing of course with me meeting the rest of the Wards and spending the evening with them but today would be a different kind of pleasure. Today I was finally going to see Winslow and by extension, the rest of the bullies for the last time.
I had half a mind to dance on the roof of the school while singing insults in every direction. One of the conditions that had been laid out with Armsmaster for me joining the Wards was that I be transferred as soon as possible to Arcadia or at least out of Winslow. Dad was fairly confused at the time, wondering why I would want to leave my 'best friend' behind.
It was there I revealed that she was no longer a friend but instead a bully. I hadn't revealed more than that. I didn't name any names but by dad's expression, I hadn't any need to. My somber silence was enough for Armsmaster to try and change the subject.
For now I had to speak with Principal Blackwell. Dad was with me today along with some case worker named Fiona. Rocking up to the front gates we found no resistance as we made our way over to the office where the receptionist sat.
"Hello." My dad greeted. "We're here for the meeting?" He asked.
"Mr Herbert?" The receptionist asked.
"Hebert actually but yes, that's me."
"Please take a seat, she'll be with you shortly." We did so and the bell rang indicating the first period had already started. I smiled again, I might not even run into Emma today!
We waited for awhile and I began considering the pros and cons of pulling out a sweet roll from my backpack to snack on. The problem with that of course was that my physical backpack didn't have sweet rolls in it and while I doubted that I'd be unmasked by such an act I didn't want to get into the habit of using my Inventory power in plain view regardless of how subtle I could be.
I'd stick to using my Veil thank you very much.
Not only that but Dad would ask for one as well if he saw me eating. At that point I would feel rude leaving out the case worker and even the receptionist. Actually, screw the receptionist, she was part of the problem. There were only a few people that helped me at Winslow, like the janitor, back when I was… was...
My musings were interrupted by the phone ringing. The receptionist picked it up.
"Yes?" She spoke into it. "Yes, yes, of course Ma'am, I'll send them in now." Hanging up she motioned towards the door behind her. "Please go in, Principal Blackwell will see you now."
Getting up we entered. The Principal was already sitting down looking through some files as if she hadn't noticed us yet. I noted that there were only enough seats for two other people in the office. I looked over to dad and Fiona wondering what they wanted to do
"I'll be happy to stay standing." The caseworker told us. Dad refused shaking his head.
"There was another chair outside, just give me a second and I'll grab it." A moment later we were all seated inside. "I guess they're not that prepared today." He spoke loud enough for the Principal to hear.
After the shifting of papers Principal Blackwell spoke up.
"While I am sad to see you go." Ha bullshit. "I understand that you feel that it's in your best interest to start fresh in another school." A diplomatic way of saying good riddance.
"You can't really argue with Arcadia's reputation." Dad replied, translation, Winslow is a shit hole.
"I'll be approving the transfer right now, everything has already been sorted, we just need your signatures." Hurry up and sign the paperwork and get out. It was clear to me that the protectorate had twisted her arm somehow but had clearly not told her the full story. I almost wanted to show off my powers right there just to see her reaction.
Eventually Fiona piped up and what followed was a long list of legal talk that made me zone out. After Principal Blackwell was sure that nothing bad was going to happen to her or the school we were quickly ushered out with promises that everything would go smoothly without incident.
"Well that went well." The case worker commented. "You two enjoy the rest of your day, I'll be heading back to my office." Honestly a lot of the meeting had flew over my head, I was simply too distracted.
"So Taylor." Dad began. "Any thoughts on what you want to do now? You don't actually start Arcadia until next week but until then you don't have to come back to Winslow." It was a dream come true as if everything was going my way. The meeting was all sorts of weird. As far as I knew transferring schools never happened this quickly or in the middle of a school day. If I wasn't a Ward I'd probably would have had to attend at least one more day before leaving.
Fiona had assured me that it would be okay that morning, that we could use medical reasons from the locker earlier in the year as an excuse. She also told me that the 'office' was very good with paperwork and that everything would look normal. I began to consider dad's question, where did I want to go?
"I think I want to visit a library, maybe one that I've never been to before."
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