Chapter 16

I couldn't believe my eyes, "Seth—?!" Lilia called over to him as he runs away, I knew something was off about him, but I didn't think he would be here, "SH*T!" he yelled as he disappears before my eyes, "Seth!" Lillia called for him as I follow behind him closer, "Yukii, Tucker some help please!" I yell as I fly past them, they looked over at us but Yukii must have seen Seth fade back in. "Seth!" Tucker noticed the distress in Yukii's voice, as we began to chase him through the school.

We stop in the hall and look around I couldn't see him until we hear a familiar voice, "Seth is that you?" Violet, had Seth cornered, "Seth why are you here?" Praise the LORD Ryan's dumb enough to keep a runaway captive by mistake. The girls surround him, "Seth!" the guy looked terrified, "Ah, I see my little spy has been found out." The principal walked over to us with Dr. Kellie and Mr. Stone-head dragging his feet not far behind. "Seth Evergreen has been a student spy since you were in middle school, we wanted someone to keep an eye on you girls and become a friend with you." Wait if Seth is a Hero League spy then who is the second creation?

Lilia was upset; her vines and flowers were growing through the stone flooring. "Now that he's been found out, I guess he'll return to the school, especially now that you are all being taught by Dr. Kellie." I watched the vines wrap around Seth's legs, Lilia glared daggers into Seth, as I feel a bitter betrayal rise in me. Yukii beat all of us to the punch, literally, she punched him, "That's what you get for lying, leading Lilia on, and pretending! You are no better than those corrupt people working in the Hero League." Lilia started to cry, "Look I understand that this looks bad, but I've been following the second creation and would like to help you in your investigation."

Seth said with every power in his body to prove he was brave enough, as Dr. Kellie comes over, "You wish to help? Then come forward sooner kid, we nearly labeled you the second creation. Your butt would have been sitting in a cell!" Seth looked surprised, "Wait, you thought I was the second creation?" He holds in a laugh, "We found some bots that match your micro-training-bots, from lasts year's contest. In fact; it was almost identical, which is why Heath's hormone is off the charts." Lilia said as she still has a face covered in bitter tears. Seth realizes his position suddenly, "Okay a bot I was working on: I was going to put on you six suddenly disappeared from my chest in the robots lab at school, the flea bot I was making was going to be put on you during the summer, so that we can keep an eye on you."

Lilia isn't the only one who was fuming with anger, "You should have, come, clean Seth, you put our lives on the line, and Dr. Riverside got his hands on the bots. Things are going just fine for him and his second creation, all because you kept secrets." I spat at him as the halls filled with crowding teens, "It wasn't my intention for my devices to wind up in their hands." I grit my teeth: this fool, "Can't you see he's trying to make more of us; those who carry our DNA the thing he keeps trying to create!" I must sound like a fool, Violet the cheerful one in our group was sizzling like bacon, you could tell she wanted to kill Seth.

Lilia grips her arm; "I'm leaving!" she turns towards the entrance and starts to take off, "I'll go with her," Yukii said as Vee nods, but continues to walk with her, I hated this, Seth was Lilia's first love and she loved him like a brother too, he betrayed her and only pretended to be her friend. "Heath, you boys return to the apartment and send my brother-in-law to pick me up, I'll stay and talk to Seth." Dr. Kellie handed me her keycard, as I nod taking one last death glare over to Seth.

I took off as we flew to the apartment where the girls were outside talking as Lilia had melted down in front of the door. "Cupcake—" I was cut off as Yukii held her hand out for the card, "Come on, you should go lie down." Lilia nodded but took my hand despite Yukii telling me no, "Babe, you seem calm, are you going to be okay?" Tucker grabbed her arm, "黙れ, this is too much, Seth betrayed us and mocked us, Tucker I'm done, I just want to go home, and I want to do nothing, but eat bad foods and watch Japanese dramas for a week." Tucker looked shocked, "We can do that, we can go to the lab and steal a room in the blue hall like Lilia and Heath." I turn to him, "We live in the 40th room so any other room please and lock the door, Dix and Shi like to visit in the night when they are scared." Lilia wiped more tears as Violet was ranting by Ryan, "Oh, Seth you— you stupid idiot!" Ryan was trying to calm down Violet.

I see that we need to step up, "Let's go inside and, go about our own devices." I unlock the door as everyone walks in. We ride the elevator and return to the apartment where the kids were happy to see you us, their parents were exhausted, "Dr. Kellie wants you to go ahead and pick her up; she was speaking to someone and told us to return home and send you to the high school." They all loaded up and left us, they spoke about having to suddenly leave because the children were broad without toys. I guess something—more of a family matter was happening.

Lilia stormed over to the room and slammed the door shut. Yukii didn't take long to follow her but turned to Tucker, she flipped him off and slammed their door shut. Violet stood for a moment and went down the hall to Ryan's room and whispered something before shutting the door softly. Tucker groans and falls down on the couch, "Man, when I see that jerk again, I'm going to cut his balls off." Ryan sat next to him, "I'll help and then I'll present one to Vee, you can take the other one to Yukii, I'm sure they'll enjoy it." I roll my eyes and sit down in the chair, "Don't do something so stupid, we still have something bigger to worry about, the second creation."

Tucker and Ryan looked at me, "Oh where did you get the idea of Seth being the second creation, we thought he was just a super." Ryan asked as I go through the long and boring reason why Lilia and I thought Seth was the second creation, "And, you didn't tell us?" Tucker sounded hurt, I waved it off, "We were going to tell you guy in class on Friday, but Lilia was hurt before class." The guys nodded as we hear shuffling as the front door opened and Dr. Kellie walked in, "We're taking Seth to the compound as a prisoner of our investigation. When we leave tomorrow the Hero League will drop him off at the school where we'll be taking him to the compound."

We nod as Dr. Kellie looks at the closed doors. "Girls, would you like Chinese for dinner?" Violet stormed out of Ryan's room, "No, I'm going shopping; Yukii, Lilia we're shopping for ingredients for dinner!" Yukii groans but opens her door she changed into basketball shorts and an oversized hoodie. Slowly but surely Lilia opens the door, she was dressed in sneakers this time but still in the same outfit as before. Violet was tapping her foot, "Come on, you boys make sure all the nice dinner plates are clean, if there aren't any good plates, then all four of you, yes you as well Dr. Kellie are going to pick out a nice table setting."

The girls storm out and Dr. Kellie sighs, "Let's go, all the nice plates are in storage and I would rather buy new settings since my parents had gotten my dish set for me back when I was in high school in the '90s." we groan but get up and walk out the door when a neighbor walks out as well. He was shocked and about Dr. Kellie's age, "Grace?" she looked over and groaned, "I thought you moved and the apartment stayed empty all these years. Except for a cleaner." The man was acting like he never noticed us. "Yes, well my sons and I have been a little bit all over, and I just haven't thought about selling the apartment in case I have business here." The man grabbed her hand, why do I suddenly feel like a little child upset that their mother is looking at someone other than them and their father?

Whomever this man was, was getting on my nerves, "That's wonderful, let's have dinner together then while you're still here." Tucker must not like this guy much either, "Well look who's trying to win a spot as good old pop's." the man woke up from his daydream. "Oh, boys you're here with your mother as well?" his smile crept further along his face, "Yeah, we have guests with us, and they asked us to buy some plates for dinner since everything like that was placed in storage." Ryan said as the man looked back at Dr. Kellie, "Your boys have grown quite well; haven't they?"

She gives him a quiet nod as he steps closer to her, "I was about to go shopping myself, how about I help you guys out?" this guy is creepy, we should walk the girls up when they return. Dr. Kellie groaned, "Alright we���re just walking down the street if you are going to a different store than part ways with us." The man nodded eagerly, "I'm only going to pick up a new set of cups, that fight earlier broke all my nice glass cups."

Great, now he's going to follow us there and return with us. "Let's go, come on boys we would want to leave you behind." He said take Dr. Kellie's hand like they were a couple. Tucker leans into me as we wait for the elevator, "I wish we went with the girls now." I nod as Ryan was having to listen to this guy's lecture on some sport. "I don't think I caught your name," I grunted out loudly. The man was shocked, "Oh, excuse me, I forgot that you boys were so little when you were brought here, I'm your neighbor Darek White." I nod, I do remember that name a little bit.

We step into the elevator, "So are you boys in any sports? I'm sure your football team is happy to have you in it." I roll my eyes, "We normally are in sports, but this year we're not in any since we're in a new town." Darek looked shocked, "I'll talk to the coach for you boys, and help you guys get on the team it might be late, but better late than ever right." Tucker scoffed, "Tell that to Dr. Kellie." She stepped on Tucker's foot. "Sorry, when we are at presentations, I've asked them to call me that, since they tend to get embarrassed when they have to refer to me as; mother." Darek laughed, "I don't know any teenaged boy who doesn't get embarrassed over his mother."

He smacks Tucker's should like a father would, "No worries son, I don't mind if you call her mom." We cringe as the door opens, "Since we moved, I've also asked them to spend the year worry about their academics." Dr. Kellie finally spoke up, the man nodded, "I guess if you are worried over your sons well beings while they are in a new school." Dr. Kellie nodded, "We're actually here to empty out the apartment I am going into early retirement and will be staying in the small town of Riverside." Darek perked up, "Really, I'm moving to Riverside as well, I had gotten a job in upper management in the Riverside Toy company. They are getting ready for the heir to take over in a few years so the board is finding new management for the HQ while the older management goes into retirement."

That means I'll have to see this guy every time Lilia and I are working! Dr. Kellie seemed to ignore this fact, "I see it is a nice little town with nice people, the boys have made some friends already." We had already walked out and over to the crosswalk. The market like-place was filled with dining wear. "Alright, I think I will meet you guys here in 15mins okay, Grace come with me so we can talk some more." Darek said as he pulled Dr. Kellie along, "You think he's trying to be our daddy?" Ryan said with a childlike annoyance in his voice, we laugh and walk over to the plates.

I shrug, "I mean if he does, we won't be around much after graduation since we all have things to do." Tucker nods, "Yep, I'm going to the Yamada dojos and will be studying the martial arts so Yukii and I can take over her Uncle's when we're older." Ryan sighed, "I've been invited to open the next Smith Bakery when they finished the preparations in a few years." I nod, "Lilia's grandfather has already taken me under his wing and is helping me get ready to take over the company when Lilia does."

We continue to walk past plates, "I guess something nice, and not white." Ryan said as he took pictures of darker dining sets, "Who's going to use these after tonight? Do you think Dr. Kellie will keep them?" Tucker asked as I shrug and grab a square set with matching silverware. "Leave it to Heath to find black…well more of a smokey gray dining set." Ryan rolled his eyes as we all whip out our phones and snap pictures for the girls. We wait, but they picked Tucker's goldish plate setting. "Alright let's go!" Tucker said with a smug smile on his face.

We bought the plates and waited for Dr. Kellie and heard Darek walking up with her; "I see now I really want to have dinner with each other. Please allow me to come over tonight I'll make dessert and bring us something good to enjoy when the evening is young." Dr. Kellie was just nodding, great I think she's drooling now. We walk out as Tucker and Ryan want to race back because they can see the girls, "Boys enjoy the walk with your mother and I." Darek said as Dr. Kellie nodded, "It's been a while since we walked together from the store." Tucker groans but slows his speed. After our seven-minute walk, we open the door and head for the elevators. "Alright then it's settled, Grace come get me when dinner is ready." I catch the plates as Tucker drops them.

Tucker and Ryan were fuming, "No way is he coming to dinner!" Tucker growled out, "Yeah, we don't even know him, we've been living elsewhere for eight years." Ryan protested as I rolled my eyes, "Boys that's enough, Mr. White was quite kind to us when we still lived here, we should thank him and enjoy our last day of being neighbors before we sell the place." Dr. Kellie said as we load the elevator.

The doors opened on our floor as we walk past the others and our apartment door opened, "Alright, we'll get it!" Yukii and Lilia walk out of the apartment, "I can't believe she's making us get the one ingredient that this recipe doesn't need." Yukii was complaining, as Tucker perked up, "Hey good looking what are you doing out here." Yukii noticed us as did Lilia, "Hey, Vee forgot onions, and asked us to go get some." I hand the plates to Ryan, "We'll go with you." I said as Lilia looked up at me happier than she was before, "Sure, I think we'll pick up some dessert as well." Darek coughed as Dr. Kellie snapped back, "Right, girls this is our long-time neighbor Mr. White. He will be joining us, and has asked to bring the dessert."

Lilia scanned the man, I was hoping she would pick up major creeper vibes, but instead of ignoring him, she smiled, "Hello, it's nice to meet you, I'm Lilia, this is my friend Yukii and you'll meet our other friend Violet later at dinner." Darek smiled back, "Quite the pleasure, Heath is she someone special?" Lilia smiled back at me as I blush, "Right this is my girlfriend Lilia Riverside; she's the one you'll be working for in the future." Lilia stepped on my shoe, "Nice words, Heath, nice words." I turned my glances to Darek; he wasn't shocked all that much, but he was surprised, "I see, at least I know who my boss is before I start working."

Tucker started to creep away as Yukii used her foot to push him on the floor, "Get off the floor, you idiot." Darek smiled over at him, "Is she your girlfriend, Tucker?" he looked at her then the floor, "Well, she is my future partner, so I would assume so?" he finished it like it was a question to be confirmed with no one but himself. Darek took his hand out, "Nice to meet you Yukii, you have a wonderful name is it Korean?" Yukii seemed insulted, "Nope; it's Japanese my family is also known as the 'Great Yamada Clan' we're known for our arts in the martial arts."

Darek nodded, "I see forgive me, I am still new in the world of telling the two apart." Yukii rolled her eyes but took his hand, "No problem, it can be hard if you're not from that country." The door opened, "Girls stop standing in the hall, I need the onions to make my onion cream sauce for the baked chicken!" she noticed Ryan, "Baby, I didn't think you'd return so soon!" she rushed over and planted a swift kiss on the cheek. Ryan being a greedy teenager went in again, "Save it for your room!" Tucker chortled out as I roll my eyes, "Oh, and is this Ryan's girlfriend?" Darek asked as he nods shyly, "Yeah this is Violet my girlfriend for a little over a month now."

Darek shook her hand as the girls seemed unphased. I guess only us guys noticed it, seems odd. Darek finished chatting for a few moments more when the girls rushed to Dr. Kellie, "Oh my goodness, did you see how he was looking at you!" Violet went off, "Dr. Kellie he was checking you out!" Lilia said with pink excitement on her face, "Did you know him well enough when you were living here before?" Yukii asked as us guys stood shocked, "Wait, the four of you act like you didn't feel, I don't know upset, discomforted, or creped out!" I hiss out, as the guys nodded, Yukii and Violet smirk as Lilia puts her hand on my chest, "Heath are you guys, jealous?"

Those words crash on me like a rock, "Why would I be jealous?" Lilia smiles, "Because she is still your mother adopted whether or not you realized it, she raised you and you boys are worried over her safety like she has been over your ten years of co-living." I feel my throat dry, "Give him a chance if we start to feel out of place with him, we'll let you boys know to kick him to the curb." Lilia said with a smile on her face.

The girls opted to stay at the apartment as Violet votes for us guys to get the onions for her, when we return Lilia and Yukii are helping make the food, Violet is getting the oven ready as Dr. Kellie sets up the table. "We're back!" Ryan called as Violet rushed over, "Oh good can you boys help keep an eye on the stove while I help Dr. Kellie get read Yukii is helping as well but we need to get ready for dinner. Oh, which reminds me, Lilia ordered you, boys, some nice shirts for dinner, so no dirty wrinkled shirt: understand." I feel like that was more pointed to Tucker and Ryan, but I did not miss that glare.

I nodded along with them though and snuck over to Lilia wrapping my arms around her, "Hey there, Cupcake, what's for dinner?" She jumped a bit, but smiled, "The Smith family's famous creamy chicken, Yamada's fried rice, and Riverside broccoli." I smile; it smells good, really good, the only thing the guys and I can make; are microwaveable meals. She moves the food she was watching over to the back burner as Yukii begins her rice, "I'm going to help Vee get Dr. Kellie ready, help Yukii when she needs it, okay?" I nod as she walks back with Violet and Dr. Kellie to get ready.

I sit on the couch as Tucker goes and pester Yukii, after some time Yukii was tired of him and finished the rice, "I'm going to help them finish, you boys listen for the oven." I nod, "Why are you going to help them, I'm sure they're good on their own." Tucker whined as she rolled her eyes at him. "I think you need to calm down and take a shower." He groaned but got up and went to his room. "Ryan Heath; watch the food and when it comes out; put it on the potholders we have set out." She picked them up to show us then went to Dr. Kellie's room. For the rest of the time, I listened in on giggling girls and a ticking timer.