Legacy Mutation (Book Eight)

Chapter 21: Hey! I Don't Like Your Girlfriend

Human anime kids XD ^

When school starts again, the Jones household is way more hectic than usual.

"Blake, your shirt is inside out," April fusses. There's a smash behind her and she spins around, her loose red hair flying into her face. "Mitch! Clean that up!"

"I keep forgetting she's psychic," the blond boy grumbles as he sweeps up the fallen breakfast plate.

"Babe? Where's my tie?" Casey calls.

"Why would you need a tie?" Copeland inquires.

April pats her shoulder as she rushes by. "There's an opening for sports commentator at the television network. He's going for an interview."

"Woah...that happened," Asher whispers.

"Casey Jones, getting a job," Dakota seconds.

"Haha, you're all hilarious," Casey grumbles as he fiddles with the button up white shirt he's wearing.

"Dean! I can't find my homework!"

"Venus, you don't have any homework."

She giggles. "Oh...right!"

"Asher, did you use my hairbrush?" Dakota calls.

"Um...maybe?"

"Ugh, that's gross!"

"We shared a womb! Get over yourself!"

"BLEH!"

"BLEH!"

"Woah, you guys actually didn't sound intelligent for once in your life," Mitch comments as he races by.

"Where's my patch?" Copeland asks.

"On your wrist," Dean answers, putting one on himself.

"No, it's not! Wouldn't that be-" She stops as she looks at her wrist, realizing that she already looks human. "Oh..."

"Get wrecked..." Blake whispers.

"Oh shush!"

"Blake Jones does not shush!"

"That's my boy!" Casey praises as he dashes by.

"Oh god, it's so hectic. My circuits are overloading," Dakota moans, holding her head.

"You're gonna have to get Blake to school. Patches on, lunches in bags, go go go!" April shoves them all out the door.

Once they're all scrambling off to school, it gets a lot calmer. They chat about homework and how the year's going, just feeling content.

"Hey guys, I found a dog the other night," Copeland brings up. "A stray."

"Aw! You didn't keep it?" Venus frowns.

"Casey said I couldn't until he talked to April...us living in their house and all."

"Well, now he's probably gone," Asher says. "You can't really track strays."

"Bummer..." Mitch whispers.

"Dean! DEANIE-BOO!"

Everyone groans in synchronization. Dean shoots them a look that says, "Be nice." He turns around to see Katie racing towards them.

"Hey Kate," Dean greets, smiling a little.

She leaps forwards, wrapping her arms around his neck and forcing him to lift her into the air. Copeland makes a gagging motion from where Katie can't see.

"Oh wow! There you go with all those muscles again." The ombré-haired girl giggles. "Ooo, your hair looks awesome today!"

"Told you..." Mitch whispers.

"Thanks." Dean puts his hands in his hoodie pockets, his cheeks pink at the compliment.

Katie glances to the other kids, smiling a tight-lipped smile.

"Oh, hey."

Copeland crosses her arms. "Are you just gonna stand here ogling our cousin or are you gonna keep moving?"

Katie smirks. "Right, you're the sassy one. We've talked about you."

"Should I feel honoured?"

"Okay!" Dean steps between the two girls. "Enough of that."

"Can we keep moving? I don't want to be late," Dakota presses.

"Same. Lukas and I were gonna test out his newest robot," Asher adds.

Katie laughs. "Nerds do such weird things. I could never understand."

The twins scowl, turning and starting to walk. Mitch and Copeland follow with Blake and Venus beside them. Katie looks to Dean, whose jaw is clenched.

"Babe, what's wrong?" she pouts.

He shakes his head. "Listen, Kate. You're cool and all, but you aren't allowed to treat my family like that." He frowns. "What happened to you being nice? Like back in grade nine and ten?"

She pouts a little. "I'm not being rude. It was a conversation. Besides, if anything, that Dopeland girl is the one who's rude as hell."

"Copeland. It's Copeland."

"There you go being funny again. Let's go, babe." She grabs his hand and starts walking.

He grits his teeth but follows.

🍕🐢🍕🐢🍕🐢🍕🐢🍕

"Co? You ok?" Tiki asks as he joins the disguised mutant at her locker.

"My cousin's girlfriend is a bitch and I hate her," Copeland growls, her fists clenched.

"Katie?" he wonders.

"Who else? I don't know why Dean likes her so much!" She slams her locker. "He deserves so much better than her. She doesn't deserve him."

"Calm down, okay? Deep breaths."

She sucks in and exhales large gulps of air, slowly releasing her fists. Tiki smiles and pats her shoulder.

"That's my girl." He chuckles. "Come on. We've got math."

She shuts her eyes and groans. "I hate math."

"Don't we all?"

"Touché."

They start walking, and she notices that her shy friend seems a little distracted.

"Is something bothering you, Ti?" she asks.

He sighs and shakes his head. "Nah. The weekend was kind of busy. I had homework, chores..." He glances over at her. "But that doesn't matter. What about you?"

"Just...stuff."

He stops walking, grabbing her wrist and jolting her to a stop. He smiles weakly.

"You can tell me anything, you know?"

She tenses and swallows the lump in her throat. "Of course."

"I mean it. I'm here for you."

She nods jerkily. "Definitely."

She looks down, trying not to think about her true form and the thought of revealing herself to her human friend.

Would he understand?