I watch her walk up full of fire and ready for an ass kicking of some sort. I'm not really pissed but I have no room for bullshit antics as she drops her bag unceremoniously and folds her arms.
"I have stood in your defense; I have had you spared when you failed others. Today I saw you become vengeful towards Heather who is protected by me," I start but she interrupts.
"I made a mistake but if you want to call me out on it in front of everyone because it will…," I cut her off loudly.
"Shut up when I'm talking to you," I growl and everyone gets quiet," I need someone who can stop nonsense like you showed me today before it starts. Just like anyone here last year knows how horrible it is to be stranded and alone. I expect you as one of us to be the one standing up to stop what you did today."
"Yes sir," Vicki says, losing a bit of her nerve.
I let her join up with Hideo and the happy couple is welcomed in, I point Vicki out to Ben and she knows that's who she'll report to in lieu of me. I need to delegate some of this authority and Ben is my watchman. I get everyone settled before addressing my extended family.
"For those of you underclassmen and women who decided to come out here and see what the big deal was, I tell you now that I'm not as real as you have been told. I eat breath, sleep and shit just like everyone else. I will show you how to be respected, we will show you what it's like to live without the petty fears that other schools have, and everyone here will tell you that you are welcome," I am in speech mode as my family listens," Spread the word but know this. You betray one of us, you betray all of us. You stand with us and come to harm, we will find them and we will make them beg you to accept the apology."
I can hear the murmurs but my will needs to be known, a unified group moving forward and protecting each other. Same principle as my family but it needs to be spread out over a larger area. I let the students leave and see a lot of the faces from last year giving new freshmen rides home, it's a start. I take Kori home and get a warm kiss from her before heading home. Katy is in her room studying hard. I don't get to spend much time with her as she is scrambling to get more done now as opposed to pacing herself. I can't really fault her considering I spend two class periods a day doing online tests and courses. I contact Jun on video chat and he welcomes me to the modern age.
"Wow, you can actually use your computer," he jokes.
"How's UW," I ask and get a smirk.
"Dude, I live in an apartment paid for by Lilly's scholarship and barely have to go to classes thanks to modern technology. Lilly is fine by the way and I'll tell her you checked up on us," Jun informs me chuckling.
"Well I brought Hideo in today and his girlfriend Vicki," I brief Jun on current events and he listens but interrupts me at one point to clarify something.
"You do realize that I'm not there anymore and technically that puts me and Lilly out of the family," Jun says trying to clarify.
"No it just means that you are working on the next step man," I tell him with a smile.
"Is there a planned next step, a real one, not just you making shit up as you go," he asks me skeptically.
"Been one since the beginning of summer, just focus on your shit man. When I start to bring it all together you'll see it for what it really is," I tell my first friend.
We chat idly about the good shit in life; Lilly wants to be married before she hits her third year. I laugh at that and warn him about her getting pregnant and he honestly doesn't look worried. I'm glad he's doing well as we end the call and I get about being a good son and brother for the rest of my evening.
Last week in October
I've spent a month doing what all my girls expected of me, leading. I have rallied students to sell out of tickets for school sporting events, I have been briefed by every non sport activity club for a budget and while nobody got everything everyone got something. First big dance is the winter formal and I'm looking at two dances then but for now I'm preparing for Halloween. Everyone in the group is setting up for a party at Kyle's house, yes I said it, Kyle is hosting a party while his parents are away. It's invite only and as it came to the last couple of days before the party I find myself without a date. I don't know what to make of it so I go down my list; Kori is sick and missed school due to vomiting but doesn't want me to wait on her hand and foot. Katy is too tired from college and Mom is helping her stick to her guns on not coming with me. Imelda hates the holiday, there is nothing I can do about that. Mathilda is spending time at home with her father and they are doing something together which means no party and no company. Finally Rachael doesn't want to spend time over at Kyle's because it's too weird and her Dad's are busy with her at their house. To make matters worse, when I say I'm not going to the party all my women tell me I 'have' to go and that I 'need' to enjoy myself. I find it to be kind of impossible to go to a party and enjoy myself when I'm not with at least one of the five women I love.
I get decked out in my costume and while all my women have messaged me to have a good time I send responses that I will try and leave it at that. I'm on Pale Horse; it fits my Mr. Grim costume idea. Black trench coat, metallic looking gauntlets and some piecemeal armor over my body. The best piece is the mask, a worn looking skull mask but it's hardened and firmly secured to my head like a face plate. I arrive a little later than some but still earlier than others. I approach the house and not one person seems to know it's me. I'm mingling, I never liked parties and I'm completely alone when I see two people who make me feel better. Devin is bigger than most and seeing him in a giant military uniform I have to chuckle a little, Masha is decked out in military garb as well but it's not American military. I know they see me but I'm pretty sure they don't recognize me as I continue through the crowd. To say that Kyle's family has money is to say that Loretta has done well for herself. The house is big and while not supersized like Mr. Delauter's it's still pretty good. I decide to wander and keep up appearances that nobody knows me as I pass Liz who is some angel/fairy thing in white and blue. When I see her with Kyle who looks like he dressed up intentionally as royalty complete with the tipped crown for arrogance, I remember why I kicked the shit out of him last year. I move up and can hear them talking about me which is odd.
"Are you sure he's coming," Kyle asks Liz, looking around.
"All his girls said he'd be here, why are you so hard up for my brother to be here," Liz asks concerned.
"He's been really cool with me especially after we started dating so he's kind of my guest of honor, even having a room set up for him and the girls," Kyle informs my sister.
"The girls aren't going to be here, so we gave him a room that he can sleep alone in," Liz says a little upset," I hope we can find him and cheer him up, he loves Halloween and was hoping for some sort of fun tonight."
Liz actually cares about me, I forget sometimes since she is very self centered a lot but it's nice to hear. I watch as Kyle get's Devin's attention and has him check for my bike, when he reports back that I'm here Kyle heads up stairs to be above everyone when he addresses the crowd. In total I think he has maybe fifty students from two schools at his house.
"I'd like to thank all the invited people here for coming, to the guy in the clown outfit that snuck in I'd like to direct your attention to the two linebackers who will be escorting you out," Kyle says as two big guys in togas walk him out the front," Now let's get some music going and have some fun."