The Matters of Power

Chapter 9- Rising Reputations

The restaurant isn't very occupied, or is much of a restaurant to begin with. The interior seems dim and rough to have a deterring effect to a newcomer (like myself) and doesn't hold much accommodations other than leather seating and a very elaborate bar. Still, I walk over towards Carl and find others in the table already, two of them I don't recognize but seem to be with Carl, and... Alicia is here? I'm pretty sure she wasn't in the group chat, so it's likely she overheard our conversation and brought herself to be included. She is very excited for me to be here, so much so that she pulls me towards her end of the seating area and (force me to) sit next to her, not even letting go of my arm. "(Alicia) So he wasn't lying when he said Marcus would be here! I can't wait to win him over first and bask in such popularity!" The other two don't look too happy with her being here, but otherwise keep their mouths shut. "That Alicia, does she really think that she has a chance with someone hardly anyone knows about or acknowledges her existence?" "It already is tense with Carl trying to find out more about Marcus and indulge in his own fantasies, but still..." "(Both)...but the view isn't so bad, I can live with it." This sense of discomfort is disturbing me greatly, but I try to endure it regardless and see where all this goes.

Carl gets my attention first, "Marcus, thanks for coming to my "I'm sorry for starting a fight with you and am trying to make it up to you" dinner. Sorry, the name could have been better, but let me get our orders ready." He calls to the only employee working here and give us drinks even though I didn't order anything to my liking. Hold on... is one of these alcohol? "Thank you for visiting our establishment," he says, "Please take a moment to review our discreet menu and will be back soon to serve." He seems quite rugged and unkempt to be a proper employee, but the service apron proves otherwise. He takes one look at me and stops in place, as if I had done something to my face, and observes me with extreme intent. "Golleeee! Now I haven't seen anyone as good looking as me since that foreign exchange student in my early college years! He clearly looks like a well-made kid with those looks, I gotta get this place on his good side!" All of a sudden his expression turns to delight as he starts to greet me in a friendlier manner, complimenting the restaurant that will "serve my every food indulgence to my every need", and even offers to let me have anything on the menu free of charge. I of course kindly try to refuse such an offer since I am a first-timer, even with Alicia trying to get my attention by squeezing my arm to the point I can feel every cell in there almost bursting. The employer and Alicia give menacing looks to each other and I just stay still while Carl and his friends just look confused at the situation I'm stuck in. Finally, the employer puffs and walks away from the table saying that he will return for our orders.

Potential crisis averted. Yet that isn't the least of my worries, as Carl starts to ask questions about me and my supposed past, not aware that I know his plan to find a weakness to me. "So... Marcus." he starts, "Nobody at school really knows about you, heck, never seen you before and people seem to take so much interest in you (quickly glares at Alicia). So I mean, where do you even live to begin, tell us something!" So this is where I have to choose my words carefully, otherwise I risk being a target the whole school year. I think the best thing I can do at this point is equivocate some details and be somewhat subtle yet convincing. "Well..." I start to stay, "I don't live that far from the school firstly. I often live by myself unless my parents come home every once in a while." They process the information with blank faces. "(Carl) So the man lives alone near the area of San Anton but has parents that are often managing their own businesses? This must mean they are well-off and have to travel most of the time with such a household life." "(Alicia) Alone? By himself? That means I have a chance to try to impress him." ...Not the reaction I had in mind, but I don't want to correct them if that means I expose my powers.

Carl continues on, "Sweet then. That means I can visit you and hang out as friends, right? That's a wonderful idea!" "Oh!" Alicia chimes in, "Does that mean you are alone most of the time without anyone? You can alwa-" "Uh, no! No, I can't have anyone visit me!" Uh oh, I instinctively said that to respond to their ideas of visiting my home, a desolate place by their standards or worse. They look at me in confusion. "Well why not?" Both Carl and Alicia ask. Quick, I have to think of an excuse that can give some credibility and truth! "Oh, well you see... my parents don't take kindly to other visitors that they don't know exclusively. And they are really strict on who they let anyone in the house because of an accident that happened a while back." Surprised by my response, they retreat into their own minds again. "(Carl) Wait, an accident? Is he hinting that they will harm anyone they don't know because of potential corporate spies or thugs robbing them?" "(Carl's Friends) Oh no, I don't think Carl should mess with Marcus if they have the capabilities to cause 'accidents' to unknowns like us." Again, not the reaction I was expecting, they are completely missing the context of my responses and blowing them out of proportions. Yet as long as they don't press more questions...