Chapter 12

Dad was still quiet the next day, but he was at least speaking to me. I took that as a sign that he was on his way to forgiving me. I headed up to my classroom, hoping I didn't get into more trouble again today.

Vicky was waiting for me. I told her about detention and she made faces of sympathy and cursed Tara's name. It was comforting to have a friend backing me up. Eventually my arch nemesis Tara turned up, but she seemed to be back to just pretending I didn't exist for now. I was a bit worried what would happen if she managed to catch us somewhere out of sight of the teachers, and P.E. loomed on the horizon like a bad storm.

Most of the morning went fine. Tara didn't do anything in lessons, and when it came to P.E. our teacher stayed in the changing room with us, a bit like she was expecting trouble. I went to lunch, internally breathing a sigh of relief that the morning was over without confrontation or injury. There was still the rest of the day to get through but it was looking good so far.

Safe in the lunchroom I deliberately sat near the teacher's table to reduce the chance of any nastiness. Vicky, Colin, and I enjoyed a quiet lunch. Colin was talking about some club he had joined that did photography or something. Since he had abandoned his more super leanings, he had been looking at the various school clubs most of which the supers frowned on for one reason or another. He had found all sorts of things that he had been missing out on. While some of the clubs were a bit sceptical of his motives, most were good enough to give him the benefit of the doubt. I was glad some good had come from the confrontation with Tara.

Once we had finished, we headed to the library while Colin went off to do some club things.

We reached the library without incident and once we were safely inside I got Kittybot out for some exercise and we got down to some homework and idle chit chat.

"So when are we going to see your evil lair and your armour?" asked Vicky.

"You could come and see it tonight," I said, then remembering, "Oh but you have your guitar lesson tonight."

She gave Kittybot a tickle under the chin, "I could probably manage a short visit if your lair isn't far, as my lesson is a bit later tonight than normal."

"It's not too far."

"Where is it? I didn't know there were any hollowed out volcanos around here."

"No, none at all."

"I know. It's underwater ... maybe in the duck pond?"

"Too shallow."

"OK, it's on the moon!"

"No, that would be a bit of a commute."

"OK, I give up, where is it?"

"It's in my parent's garage."

"Is it a secret garage?"

"Oh yes, very secret. I put signs up and everything," I said with my best straight faced serious expression.

Vicky nodded at me seriously for a few moments before her face began to show some strain and then finally she cracked up. The two of us were roaring with laughter. We continued for quite a while till a smiling Miss Gordon came over, "Try to keep it down a little, girls."

We nodded and tried to stop laughing but it wouldn't take much for one of us to set the other off again. This went on for several minutes until suddenly Vicky's eyes locked on something behind us and all the laughter drained out of her. I spun round and saw Colin walking towards us his face all bandaged up.

"Colin!" we both exclaimed and jumped up racing over to his side.

"What happened to you?" I asked.

"Lump," he said angrily, "Tripped me coming out of the art block. I smacked my face into the concrete, bloody hurt!"

"That fat bastard!" exclaimed Vicky.

"Language, Victoria!" Miss Gordon said in a scolding tone coming over to see what the fuss was about.

"Sorry Miss."

"Oh dear you look a bit the worse for wear young man. You'd best take a seat," Miss Gordon said and we led Colin over to a convenient table, "I assume since you're bandaged up you told someone about this?"

"Yes Miss, Mrs Norton saw the whole thing, so had Lump, sorry Eric, put in detention," Colin replied.

"Well you just relax a bit let your friends take care of you. If you are not feeling up to lessons let me know and I'll give you a note and you can stay here."

"Thanks Miss. I should be OK."

Miss Gordon gave him a nod then headed back to her desk.

"How are you feeling?" asked Vicky.

"Not too bad. My Mum had signed the pain killer waiver so the nurse could give me a pill which has taken the edge of it. It looks a lot worse than it is," Colin replied.

"Well you just sit here, we'll look after you ... would you like a book or something?" I asked.

"How about one of the comfy chairs?" Vicky asked.

"Maybe a drink of water?"

We rallied round our friend offering him everything we could think of to make him feel better but in the end he shushed us with a small bemused smile on his face. "Really I'm fine. I'll just sit here and recover a bit."

"Okay, but say if you need anything," said Vicky.

I felt a bit bad that he had gotten beaten up. I felt like it was my fault.

"Hey, there's no need to feel guilty, Lexi. None of this is your fault," Colin said.

"If I hadn't flipped Tara's switches then this never would have happened," I said quietly.

He put his hand on top of mine on the desk, "Maybe, but I never would have been friends with you two and that would have been a shame."

Vicky smiled and put her hand on top of his. We sat there for a bit smiling at each other and enjoying this bond of friendship when Vicky began giggling again and pointing at our hands. Kittybot had decided to join in and stood with one of her paws on top of Vicky's hand. We all burst out laughing at my mechanical companion's antics I picked her up and gave her a kiss on the head, "Aren't you a clever girl, Kittybot!"

I stroked her belly and then sat her on her normal perch on one of my shoulders. She curled up happily hiding in my hair.

"So are you coming to see Lexi's secret lair after school tonight?" asked Vicky.

"I guess," he said, not sounding all that excited.

"It'll be cool she can show us her fancy suit," grinned Vicky.

Colin brightened at the mention of the suit, "I must admit I am curious to see that thing up close after reading about your exploits on the news."

"Well I can show you both tonight. I trust you both to keep my secret."

Vicky beamed like the sun and Colin looked a little embarrassed but pleased.

The bell rang and we made our way to our next lesson, arranging to meet Colin in the car park after school in the hopes my Dad would give us a lift.

The rest of the day was fairly quiet and we made it to home time without any further incident. Vicky and I made our way into the car park waving to Colin who had already arrived. He had taken off most of the bandages and cleaned up a bit so he looked a lot more normal. A short time later Dad showed up. I noticed he was carrying a brown cardboard box.

"Hello girls," he said and then looked a little taken aback by Colin's presence.

"Daddy this is my friend Colin. Can he have a ride with us too?"

"Sure, why not?" he replied looking between me and Colin with a speculative look on his face. I wondered what he was thinking, then I realised what he was thinking and was very embarrassed, feeling my face turn bright red. I didn't say anything as any preemptive denials would only make him think he was right. In my embarrassment I forgot all about the box he was carrying.

"Why are you suddenly blushing?" whispered Vicky in my ear, "You look like a tomato, you're so bright red."

I whispered back into her ear, "I think Dad thinks there might be something going on between me and Colin!"

We climbed into the car Colin taking the front seat. "And is there," whispered Vicky with a mischievous grin once we had belted in.

"No!" I said vehemently, and probably at slightly more than a whisper as Colin and Dad turned to look at us.

"What are you two whispering about?" asked Dad with an amused smile.

"Nothing," said Vicky with a look like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth.

"Just girl talk," I said with a grin, which caused Vicky to start giggling.

We drove home with Colin looking worriedly at Vicky and me, Dad grinning, and Vicky giggling.

Once we got back to my house I took my friends up to my room so I could dump my school stuff.

"Hey sweetheart," Mum said as I walked in the door. She must have just got back from work, as she had grease marks on her face and hands. "Hello Vicky."

"Hello, Mrs Jones," said Vicky.

"And who is this?" asked Mum when Colin came in.

"This is my friend Colin."

"Pleased to meet you, Mrs Jones," Colin said very politely.

"Nice to meet you too," said Mum, "Well, I better get cleaned up. Have fun, kids."

I escorted my friends up into my room and extracted Kittybot from my bag, then chucked it under my bed.

"I'll just put Kittybot on her charger, then we can head over to the garage," I said.

"Lair!" insisted Vicky, "Can we take Kittybot with us? I'll look after her."

"OK," I said, handing her over, "best keep her clear of the suit when I use it. I'm not sure what the intense magnetic field will do to her."

Vicky hugged Kittybot to her and gave her a good stroke, "Don't you worry, I'll keep her safe."

Colin was staring at all the various prototypes that had led to Kittybot. He was so fascinated that he didn't notice us leaving the room and Vicky had to call back to him, "Are you coming Colin?" before he came and joined us.

I led my friends out into the garden passing dad on my way, "Don't go too far, honey, Dinner won't be long. Do your friends want to stay?"

Both of my friends shook their heads, "I've got a guitar lesson later," said Vicky.

"I've got family coming over this evening," said Colin.

"Right ho. Well if either of you need a lift home give me a shout," Dad said, then went off to help with dinner.

I took my friends hands and pulled them along, excited to be sharing this with someone other than my mechanical cat. I dragged them along to the garage and then checked around to see that the coast was clear.

"OK, in we go!" I opened the garage and we all piled in. With the suit and the three of us it was quite a squeeze. It was a good job Colin, Vicky, and I were relatively small or we wouldn't all have fitted.

"WOW!" exclaimed Vicky.

"I can't believe you built all this yourself!" said Colin, running his hand over the suit feeling the joints and welds.

"Careful, I didn't smooth out all the edges," I cautioned.

"Can we see it in action?" asked Vicky.

"What if someone comes?" I asked.

"We'll keep watch. I just want to see it in action!"

"I don't know..."

"Oh pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease," begged Vicky. I decided I couldn't say no to her.

"Alright. Check to see if it's clear while I get things ready and stand well back. I don't want to step on anyone."

"Yay Lexi!" squealed Vicky, giving me a quick hug, then grabbing Colin and opening the door. They ran out and I began putting on my padding to protect me in the suit. I left off the disguise stuff, as they knew it was me so I didn't think I would need it.

I clambered up into my suit and then waited for the all clear.

"Okay, you can come out now," said an excited Vicky.