The Alta Heroes (J.F.)

Teams Take Time

        The giggling parlor with the team ceases when they're now sitting in their bedroom in hopes to talk about their game plan.
      "So. What do you think we should do, guys?" Asks the positive yellow girl.
     "Well, I think we should get up early in the morning. Does anyone have any suggestions?" Jayden inquires calmly. It doesn't last long before Asori enters her opinion in the dropbox of decision making.
   "I vote five in the morning."
   "Why five?" Ashley asks her body and mind just begging to go to sleep since their fun time's over.
  "Well, the earlier we get up, the better we'll have a chance at stopping the bad guys from getting the shards," Asori explains.
Sighing, Ashley growls, "Dude, I'm pretty sure even bad guys need sleep." Ashley feels the impatience grow inside her, but she fights to keep it contained. She'd only become "that bitch" again.
"What about 7:30?" Shadow Bird suggests, his words being supported by Jayden's and Aubrey's encouragement.
"That sounds like a good idea."
"Agreed. Plus, Ashley has a point. I'm sure even those guys need sleep too."
Asori nervously suggests, "Well, what if that's not how these guys work? I mean, that Evilkin guy is the literal entity of darkness. And-" Ashley tries holding it together, but she can't. Why is this girl fangirling for God's sake?!
"Maybe you need to quit relying on Star Wars to understand people!" The team is left shocked beyond words at Ashley's unfair outburst. Even Ashley sees how uncalled it was for her to lash out at Asori. This outburst makes Ashley's guilt build up ever higher. Asori too feels guilty regarding her opinion.
"I-I'm sorry," Asori says, her stuttering just a little bit. Sadly, because of her rage and regret, Ashley can't stand down.
"Don't be sorry, Asori! Just maybe consider everyone getting their stuff together before you!" Now, what the hell is she doing? She promised herself to never be that asshole again, and she's going back on it all because she didn't get enough sleep these past two days. She wants to stop. She wants to shut up so that Asori could get a say. But, a part of her just didn't care. She needs a punching bag for all the shit she's gone through this past month, yet she knows it's her fault.
"Oh, but you probably don't care since you're only concerned about doing this mission! After all, you probably think you're some Jedi because of those powers of yours, don't you?! You're no Jedi, Asori, and you sure as hell will never be! So, why don't you stop being a-"
"I said I was sorry, douchebag!" Asori nearly screams. Ashley immediately shuts up at that point, her face copying the deeply shocked expressions of everyone else. Asori had just gotten away from the bastard who controlled her life, and she never wants to deal with another entitled, egotistical dirtbag making her feel like shit.
"I'm sorry I care about us staying alive! Do you want the multiverse to come to an end, Ashley?!" Asori's rage burns throughout the room. It's obvious through everyone's shocked reactions. Something snapped within her psyche. The chain that holds onto her patience and tolerance for taking this mistreatment. She doesn't want this again. No, she'll never take this shit again! This goes for Ashley as well regarding the bullshit she's been dealing with her entire life.
"No, but how about we get enough sleep for tonight?! That way, we're ready to fight them without being tired as hell! Do you want all of us dying on your hands?!" Roars Ashley. Asori and Ashley angrily get up to face each other. The rest of the group, meanwhile, is left without a clue on how to solve this problem. Are they gonna have to break up a fight even after they just got comfortable with each other? Aubrey can't help but feel fear coursing through her veins. She's been here before and she hates it. The screaming, breaking things, bloody fighting, and broken bonds. Shadow Bird hates this too, for he too has been wounded by those factors. Jayden, out of all of them, feels fear and another emotion. Anger. Frustration towards his teammates for not getting along, annoyance that this started from deciding when the team should get up, resentment at a particular girl who betrayed him, and rage toward two people who made his life absolute hell. That's it. That's the straw that broke the camel's back. Jayden, summoning whatever control lays inside him, rushes in between the two, his hands in front of Ashley and Asori in a very stern manner. Their rage immediately ceases the minute Jayden stops their verbal scuffle. Everyone looks on as Jayden uses threatening glances at them as a means to scare the anger away. Shadow Bird and Aubrey stand, silently preparing if they must step in. Lowering his head down, the blue hooded teen takes a deep breath before speaking his mind.
"Asori, go outside and calm down," The young man tells Asori in a serious tone. Asori and the others are stunned by this move, but Jayden cares not for this reaction. He needs everyone to realize this is no time for bickering. For if they don't get their shit together, they'll be the most dangerous roadblock on this journey. Asori, her pent-up anger having left after letting it out, leaves the room without a second thought. Jayden then takes another deep breath before speaking more calmly to his new teammates.
"Ashley, go look for her and apologize after you cool off." Ashley stands there in utter shame as she nods her head at Jayden. She'd done it this time. She promised herself to be better than the asshole she was in high school. But, she just had to get pissy over this crap. She's tired right now, but that's no excuse for her verbally bankrupt actions. Aubrey's core is completely shaken. As previously stated, she'd been in these messes before, and they're not a fun experience by any means. Sadly, Jayden's probably been in this situation many times as well. Shadow Bird is greatly impressed, on the other hand, regarding Jayden's ability to take control of these types of situations so quickly and efficiently. But, he hid this with his sad but understanding stance.
"We're getting up at 7:30. No later, no earlier," Jayden says with his arms crossed. No one says a word to counter his order. Ashley especially doesn't question Jayden as she knows she and Asori are in the wrong. Speaking of Asori, she's now sitting on the couch she'd sat on earlier. Her entire body structure is messy as messy can be. Slouched shoulders, forlorn eyes, the whole shebang. Instinctively, Asori pulls out a locket. It makes her extremely angry. This man, this bastard, had lied to and used her since he picked her off the streets. What's worse is that she loves him, but she hates him too. Holding the locket with her fist, Asori goes to a trash can where she drops it in there without an ounce of guilt. She sits back down.
"Hey," Ashley addresses Asori in a soft tone. Asori looks to Ashley. She's not dressed in her previous outfit, but rather a simple black tank top and pink pajama bottoms with a pattern of roses going up and down. Asori can't lie. She looks amazing. After all, she has such beautiful emerald green eyes that looked like they're staring warmly into her soul. Asori also loves the way her red hair is pulled to the right side of her shoulder. That slightly nervous demeanor of hers makes Asori like her even more due to it reminding her of herself. And that outfit especially. Ashley soon works up the courage to walk up to and sit next to her on the couch, Asori letting her guard down slightly too.
"Hey," Asori manages to say. A great silence swells across the atmosphere for a moment or two. During those moments, Asori and Ashley's guilt over the events in their meeting room written all over their faces. It doesn't take long for Asori to open herself up first.
"Look, Ashley. I'm sorry. I was just-" Ashley immediately put up her hand to stop Asori's unnecessary apology, or at least it being unnecessary in her eyes.
"You don't need to apologize. It's my fault," Ashley tells the geek in a forlorn demeanor.
"But, I made a stupid choice-" She's stops Asori again.
"You're not stupid," The redhead tells her black-haired companion, a bit of her impatience coming out. Asori isn't scared by this. After all, she's been through much worse. Ashley, taking a deep breath, continues her talk with Asori.
"Sorry. It's... something I'm working on."
"I understand." A brief pause between the two girls occurs before Asori breaks the silence.
"If you don't mind me asking, are you running away from home?" Asori's question comes back at her with Ashley telling her the reason for running away.
"I... I don't have a home," Ashley admits. Asori leans a bit towards the redhead before Ashley goes on.
"I mean, I grew up in an orphanage, and while it wasn't a hellhole, it wasn't what I'd call home." Asori isn't surprised by this confession. After all, she doesn't have a home anymore.
"Also, it's because I did some bad things at school," Ashley admits while she looked down in shame. Feeling sympathy for this girl, Asori decides to at least try making Ashley feel better.
"Ya know, someone I knew acted the same way." Ashley's gaze shoots up a bit. Who's this prick? More importantly, how can she make sure she doesn't end up like him?
"Who's that prick?" Ashley asks immediately.
Asori tells her, "Jerrod. He's a prick who used me my entire life. Thankfully, the bastard's in jail right now." Asori's eyebrows furrowed at the mention of that man. His ego isn't needed in her life anymore, so she doesn't care if she trashes him or not.
"Wow. Was he that bad?" Ashley asks in a more relaxed manner.
Asori says, "He wasn't Adolf Hitler levels of bad. But, he was still bad." Asori and Ashley pause for a short moment before talking again.
Ashley tells Asori, "That guy sounds a lot like Mr. Adams."
"And let me guess, he's a jackass teacher you knew in high school?" Asori asks. Ashley chuckles lightly.
"Correct-o" Ashley sheepishly comments.
"I'm sorry," Asori says softly.
Ashley says in response, "I'm sorry too." The two similar girls stop talking at that point and make their way back to the bedroom. Entering the room, they find Jayden, Aubrey, and Shadow Bird waiting for them. The teens have their pajamas on as well aside from Asori. Jayden has his arms crossed seriously whilst Aubrey and Shadow Bird look on in both pity and concern.
"Well?" Jayden sternly asks.
"We're good," Asori tells their new leader truthfully, Ashley nodding her head in agreement. Deciding to put this to bed, Jayden uncrosses his arms, ending this unnecessary argument.
"See you guys in the morning," Jayden firmly whispers whilst going to the top bunk. Asori grabs her things and made her way to the bathroom to change into her pajamas. A while later, the team is snuggled up in their beds. All of them, however, cannot sleep as of right now. Doubt, fear, anger, and distress crawl under their skin. Ashley and Asori seem the most doubtful and fearful. Ashley feels guilty regarding this whole scenario, a part of her wanting to cry in shame of herself. However, knowing that crying is not going to solve anything, the redhead keeps her tears shut. She then makes a promise to herself not to screw this journey up. If she does, then how can she become a better person? Sighing, Ashley goes to sleep right then and there, yet regret and dread persist in her mind. The dread Asori feels persevered because of her experience with Jerrod Sterling himself. Her teacher. Her father. Failing him was one thing, but this is another. This new team is her second chance. If she lets them down, then it will be like her pathetic past all over again. So, she shall keep her mouth shut if need be and open it when need be. Aubrey, out of all of them, tries her best to hold onto hope. Knowing her phone's in her pocket, she takes it out and looks through her photos of her and Ariana. Ariana Stone is a ton of things, all right. Adorable, clever, sassy, and creative. A slight giggle escapes her mouth while she looks on at Ariana and her happy accidents involving cookie baking and tree topping. Her little sister deserves a better life, and this Evilkin guy and his cronies are not gonna ruin this chance. Putting her phone away, Aubrey heads off to bed, a genuine smile across her face. Shadow Bird, although it's not shown, feels fear with its cobwebs crawling in his skin. That was intense, but he's been through worse. Shadow Bird immediately takes a deep breath to calm those said fears. He doesn't want to be that weak kid again. That kid people used and abused up until he was eleven. Now fifteen, and a badass vigilante, Shadow Bird knows he needed to be that badass for the team. With that, the young man goes to sleep. Jayden himself feels intense fear regarding the well-being of his team. How is he gonna keep them together? Where will the tension escalate? And, the question he is scared of the most; what if they end up like those two? Jayden once again feels his anger building up. This anger that's been in him since he was only a child. Those two. Those selfish sons of bitches. With the anger comes forth a newfound determination. He knows Optimus Prime never buckles down from this pressure. He's been through worse, of course. Like, way worse. And, he needs to be strong for them, for him too. The whole multiverse depends on it. All five teens finally manage to get to sleep after finding some form of peace for tonight. Who knows how long this peace will last?