Legacy Mutation (Book Eight)

Chapter 19: Dates & Cousin Love

"HIYAH!"

Mitch lands on the other side of the Dragon Gate, high-threeing his turtle cousins. Dean smirks and sheathes his ninjaken while Dakota retrieves her knives. Venus does a few flips as she balances on the wires.

"That was fun!" she exclaims, her hamadashi blade already sheathed in her belt.

Asher spins his hanbō, smirking. "Indeed."

"Not bad, Dean," Copeland says. "Our outing wasn't completely boring."

Before he can reply, Dean's t-phone buzzes. He picks it up, reading the new text message.

K: Dean? Did you forget about our little outing? 😭

He cusses and types a quick reply.

D: Sorry Kate. I'll be there soon.

"What's up?" Dakota asks.

"Katie and I are going to a late night movie. I'm late! I'll catch you guys later," he explains hurriedly.

They watch as he flies off, almost tripping over himself trying to get to the theatre. Mitch lets out a long sigh.

"You know, I'm not really sure I like Katie," he admits.

"Why is that?" Copeland asks.

"She's pretty and athletic and all, but...I don't know. Something is tipping me off about her."

"Like...what?" Asher asks.

"She just always seems to be really into him and his looks," Mitch explains. "They were walking in the hallway together, and she complimented him on his muscles. Another day, it was his eyes. Yet another time, it was his teeth-"

"You remember all this?" Venus whispers. "Woah."

"I'm just saying, he needs to be careful. Dean's a good guy, and he needs a girl who can see past his looks."

"Preach it, MJ!" Dakota grins and high-fives him.

Venus plays with her hair absentmindedly. "What're we gonna do now?"

"Go home and eat pizza with a video gaming spree with Blake?" Copeland suggests.

"YES!" they all shout.

With laughs and whoops, they head home.

🍕🐢🍕🐢🍕🐢🍕🐢🍕

Dean slows down, hardly out of breath as he drops down near the theatre. He pulls a spare patch out of his pocket and puts it on. Transformed, he fixes his hair, moving towards the theatre. Katie waits outside, her hair seeming to shimmer in the streetlight beams.

"Kate!" he calls.

She looks up and grins widely. "Dean! Oh my gosh, I thought you had forgotten!"

He laughs. "Nah."

She hugs him, and he returns it. She pulls away, taking his hand and tugging him into the theatre.

"So, I got the tickets already. There's this really cool movie I wanted to see, 'Crowning Cadence'. It's going to be so-"

She's cut off as they run into someone, knocking the person over with an audible, "Oof!"

Dean regains his balance easily, steadying his date before looking to the person they knocked down. His eyes widen at the sight of the familiar girl.

"Elisabeth?"

His friend stands up, brushing a loose strand of her brown hair behind her ear. She's wearing her long ponytail, as per usual.