Chapter 47 (Dealing with a Bully [Part 4]) – Reconnaissance

Jack’s talking about football, which inevitably leads to talking about cheerleaders, which somehow devolves into a conversation about, and I'm quoting directly here, "the most fuckable girls at school."

Couldn't he just say "attractive"? "Most attractive girls at school"? Why must he be so aggressively crude about everything? It's like he's physically incapable of expressing attraction without making it sound like a threat.

"Dude, come on," one of Jack's friends says. "You gotta admit Elize is the hottest. Those tits, man. And that ass? Fuck."

I'm going to need a shower after this conversation, and I'm not even participating in it.

Jack snorts. "Yeah, she's hot. But I'd pick the Holloway sisters any day. Could you imagine? Fucking both of them at the same time?” He pauses, and I can hear the disgusting grin in his voice. "Now that's what I'm talking about. You got Selene, pink-haired girl who's all bubbly and shit, and Bianca, a goth with an attitude. Best of both worlds, you know what I'm saying?"

I'm going to kill them.

The thought comes so suddenly and viscerally that I have to concentrate on not moving. My fists clench involuntarily as white-hot rage floods my system. Are you kidding me? So they talk like this about my sisters all the time? How dare they?

"Oh shit, yeah, I see what you mean," another friend chimes in. "Like, total opposites. That's kinda hot, not gonna lie."

Are these idiots actually trying to have an intellectual discussion about why my sisters would be good for a threesome? I think I can feel my brain cells committing suicide in protest.

My anger is still persistent, covering my mind in a haze. I continue shoving it down, wrestling control over my body. My nails dig into my palms. I need to stay calm. I need to listen.

"Yeah, exactly," Jack says, sounding pleased. Then his tone shifts. "But yo, I found someone new."

My attention sharpens.

"What? Who?" one of his friends asks.

"You know that fat kid? The Holloway sisters' brother?"

"Adam?"

"Yeah, whatever. Saw him yesterday with some chick. Didn't give a shit at first, but I got a better look at her face when her hair moved." He makes a sound that turns my stomach. "Dude. She's fine as hell."

"Wait, who? How's Adam pulling anyone?"

"Right? Her name's Luna or some shit. She wears these huge hoodies and baggy pants, so you can't tell. But I'm telling you—” Jack's voice drops lower, more vulgar. “Her tits are massive. And that ass..." He trails off with a groan. "Fuck, man. I wanna bend that bitch over and—"

I'll fucking kill them.

The thought isn't metaphorical anymore. It's a cold, crystalline certainty. My vision tunnels. My hands shake with the effort of staying still. Every muscle in my body is coiled tight, ready to sprint over there and do something monumentally stupid and violent.

Ding! Your Willpower has increased by 1

The system notification cuts through the haze like a bucket of cold water. I focus on it, using it as an anchor. Slowly, painfully, I unclench my fists. There's a trickle of blood on my palm where my nails broke skin.

But the rage doesn't disappear. It just compresses, condensing into something dense and cold in my chest: A promise. That if worst comes to worst, if anything happens to Luna, I'll kill them. I don't know how. And I don't know how long it'll take. But I'll find a way.

"Yo, you gotta show us," one of his friends says. "If she's that hot—"

"Yeah, let's go find her. She's probably at her locker. Come on."

Oh no. Oh no.

I immediately pull out my phone and text Luna.

Adam: hey where are you? you at your locker?

Luna: Just got to school! Heading to my locker to grab my books

Luna: Why?

Adam: don't go to your locker

Adam: Jack's looking for you

Luna: Oh, okay

Luna: But I need my textbooks for first period ?

Adam: what class?

Luna: English, room L-5

Adam: give me your combination, I'll grab your stuff

Luna: Really? Are you sure? I don't want be a bother…

Luna: It's 23-17-34

Adam: you're not bothering me at all

Adam: but from now on come to school earlier okay? get your stuff before jack gets here

Luna: Okay... that's a good idea

Luna: Thank you so much Adam

Luna: You're always so good to me, I'm really lucky to have you

My heart does that stupid flip thing again, even though I'm still riding the edge of homicidal fury.

Adam: damn right you're lucky

Adam: you owe me so many Fario Racer rematches now

Luna: Hehe okay! Let's play a lot together then

God, she's cute. And I will absolutely murder Jack if he touches her.

For the next few minutes, I tail Jack and his friends as they head to Luna's locker. I keep my distance, using other students as cover. They spend a while looking around, Jack getting progressively more confused when Luna doesn't materialize.

Eventually, he scratches his head, and the group shrugs and moves on. Probably looking for some other girl to harass, which makes me sick to my stomach, but there's not much I can do at the moment. I'm not nearly capable enough to protect the whole school from these disgusting menaces. One problem at a time.

Once they're gone, I quickly navigate to Luna's locker, input her combination, and grab her textbooks. Then I head to room L-5 to find Luna.

She's waiting in the classroom, sitting quietly in the corner.

It’s time for some mischief! I creep up behind her as quietly as possible.

"Boo."

She lets out the most adorable squeak I've ever heard, jumping slightly in her seat before spinning around to face me.

"A-Adam!" She pouts at me, her cheeks slightly flushed. "You... you scared me..."

Looking at her cute face with that adorable pouting expression is too much cuteness for my heart to handle. This is lethal. This should be illegal. "Sorry, sorry, I couldn't resist," I laugh, setting her textbooks down on the desk next to her and patting her head.

"It's okay..." She tries to maintain the pout, but I can see the smile tugging at her lips. "I get scared... really easily..." She looks up at me, and the pout transforms into a genuine smile. "But... I guess it's okay... if it's you..."

Is she trying to kill me? She's definitely trying to kill me.

I notice she's still carrying her lunch bag. "Want me to put that in my backpack? Looks kinda heavy."

"Oh... um..." She looks down at it. "I can hold it... It's okay..."

"Luna, come on. I have room." I hold out my hand.

"...Okay... thank you..." She hands it over, and I tuck it carefully into my backpack.

The bell rings, signaling that first period is about to start.

"Alright, I'll see you fourth period?"

"Yeah! See you... again soon Adam..." She smiles up at me with those beautiful violet eyes, and I have to physically turn away before I do something embarrassing like stand there staring at her for the next five minutes.

Classes are boring as usual. And I'm completely distracted by the whole Jack situation, my mind churning through possible solutions. I pack up before third period even ends, and the second the bell rings, I'm out the door.

Luna time!

I speed-walk to fourth period, and for once, I actually arrive before Luna does!

I'm standing by the door when she arrives, "Hey Luna!"

"Hi Adam!" She looks surprised to see me already there, her eyes widening slightly.

"Hah, I actually beat you here for once."

She lets out a gentle laugh. "It's... not a competition..."

"Everything's a competition if you're competitive enough," I say, grinning.

We move to our usual seats in the back corner, and once we're settled, I lean in slightly. "So... how are you? Did you end up telling your parents about yesterday?"

She nods, her expression becoming more serious. "Yeah... My dad got really upset... He said he'd fly back immediately... and that I should have... a bodyguard..." Her voice gets even quieter. "I think... they're overreacting though... I told them not to worry so much... but they made me promise... to tell them if it... gets worse..."

Honestly? Fair. If I had a daughter as shy and adorable as Luna, and she was getting this kind of negative attention from guys, I'd do everything in my power to keep her safe too. I might go even further than her dad. A bodyguard seems reasonable.

"Well, don't worry," I say, puffing out my chest and flexing my arms dramatically. "If anything happens, I'll protect you! Look at these guns! Who's getting past me?"

Luna giggles softly, covering her mouth with her hand. But then her expression turns sincere. "Yeah... thanks Adam... for keeping me safe..."

Oh.

Well, I was just joking, but she's being completely sincere about it. The way she's looking at me, with complete trust and genuine gratitude, makes something warm bloom in my chest.

I can't let anything happen to her. Ever. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if she got hurt.

"So anyway," Luna says, pulling out her phone. "I'm still playing... that mobile game... The Sims one... remember?"

"The one where you made the dad go to work in a clown suit?"

Her cheeks flush pink. "That was... an accident... But look! The youngest son... he's starting his first job... today..."

"Oh yeah? Let me see."

She hands me her phone, and I navigate to the son's wardrobe. After a few moments of browsing through the options, I find exactly what I'm looking for: a full clown costume.

I dress him up and hand the phone back with my most innocent smile. "There we go. All ready for his first day."

She looks at the screen, and her mouth falls open. "Adam! Why did you... don't mess with him!" She's trying to sound stern, but there's a smile playing at her lips.

"What? He looks great! The outfit makes him stand out from the other employees!"

"It's his first day... at work..." She's already switching him back to formal attire, but she's laughing softly. "You're so mean..."

"I'm just helping with his wardrobe choices. That's what friends are for."

She shakes her head, but she's smiling. "If you say so..."

We spend the rest of class alternating between actually doing our work and chatting quietly. Mr. Zhao drones on about something computer science related in the background, but honestly, I'm just enjoying spending time with Luna.

When the lunch bell rings, we mutually agree not to eat in the cafeteria for a while. It's too dangerous, too exposed. I don't want Luna catching Jack's attention again.

Instead, we head to the computer science club room.

"Okay, stay behind me for a second," I tell her, putting my hand up.

"What are you—"

"Reconnaissance," I say seriously, then peek my head out the door like I'm checking for snipers.

Luna giggles behind me. "You look... silly..."

"This is serious business, Luna. I'm keeping you safe."

I move ahead of her, checking each hallway corner, scanning for any sign of Jack or his friends. Only when I'm certain the coast is clear do I wave her forward. She giggles behind me, clearly amused by my theatrics.

We make it to the computer science club room without incident, and the moment we're inside, I feel myself relax slightly. The room is quiet and peaceful, with only a few students scattered around working on their own projects. Perfect.

We settle into our usual corner spot, unpack our lunches, and eat in comfortable silence for a few minutes.

After we finish, Luna wipes her hands on a napkin and looks at me. "Want to... find some games... to play together?"

"Is that even a question? Obviously yes."

We browse around on the computers, looking for silly web games together.

"Oh... look at this..." She points at the screen. "It's one of those... escape room games..."

I lean over. It's a point and click escape game where you have to solve puzzles to get out of a locked room.

"These are fun..." Luna says softly. "Can I... watch you play?"

"You don't want to play it yourself?"

"I like... watching playthroughs... It's more relaxing... than playing sometimes..."

"Oh yeah, I get that. Watching playthroughs is fun in its own way, you know? Different vibe than playing."

"Exactly..." Her face lights up a little. "I really like... cozy playthroughs... or funny ones..."

"Alright, let's do this." I crack my knuckles dramatically. "Prepare to witness a master at work."

Luna scoots her chair closer, so close that our shoulders are touching. I'm suddenly very aware of her proximity, the subtle warmth of her next to me, the faint sweet scent emanating from her.

I start clicking around the screen, looking for items and clues. Luna watches intently, occasionally leaning in even closer when she spots something interesting.

"Maybe... try that painting..." she whispers, her breath tickling my ear.

I click on the painting, and sure enough, there's a hidden key behind it. "Good eye!"

"Thanks..."

We work through the puzzles together, Luna giving gentle suggestions whenever I get stuck. Her voice is soft, barely above a whisper, and every time she leans in to point something out, I catch that subtle scent of cotton candy that always seems to surround her.

"The calendar... I think... the code might be... related to the date on it..."

"Oh! You're right!" I input the date, and a drawer pops open.

We're a surprisingly good team. Between my problem-solving and her observation skills, we breeze through the puzzles. Before long, we've solved the final contraption, and the exit door swings open on screen.

"Victory! High five!"

"Hehe..." She smiles and gives me a gentle high five, her small hand soft and warm against mine.

I smile back at her. Really, how did I get lucky enough to be friends with someone like Luna?

"Hey," I say, making an executive decision. "I’ll walk you home again today, okay?"

"What? But... you have work... I really don't... want to bother you..."

"You're not bothering me. Seriously."

"But—"

"Nope. Not hearing it. Besides, you're actually doing me a favor, I get to hang out with you longer! That's a win for me."

She looks down, her cheeks turning slightly pink. "...Okay... if you're sure... Thank you..."

"Nothing to thank me for." I reach over and pat her head. "Now come on, we have like ten more minutes. Want to find another game?"

"Yeah..."