𝐈𝐍𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐁𝐋𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 - 𝐇𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧

[Chapter 7]

╔ • ╗

I swipe open the call from the watch, expecting a call from Miguel or Jess about another anomaly chase. After yesterday's scare, with Jess narcing on me, I've been anticipating calls like I would when waiting for a guy to text or call.

But Hobie's figure pops up, and I feel the muscles in my body loosen, and my heart calm down from the anticipation.

Now I just have to prepare for the worst, most out of pocket insults. Despite the fact that we've decided to leave behind the mess of our first impressions, I can tell he's still very keen on insulting me. Weirdly, I can tolerate it because it's not like the ones before, when he was slinging his political shit at me.

"You truly never brush your hair first thing in the morning, do you?" He yawned.

"Okay, well, hello to you too." I frowned at him. "And it's 4 in the afternoon here..."

The hologram portrays his judging scowl perfectly. "Brush your hair, you look like a nightmare." He chastised.

"Why should I brush my hair for you?" I said, but already had my hairbrush in hand. This man cannot leave my hair alone and it's making me self conscious, but I can't show him that.

"Just a mate lookin' out for a mate." He winked. "Besides, you need to look smashin' for your friend over at 7/11."

I almost audibly gasped in offense and horror. "Dude, seriously?" I groaned. "Don't make this weirder than it already is."

"Alright, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he chuckled. "So, what tsunami did you just crawl out of?"

"Aerial silk class." I sighed as I brushed my hair with my free hand, my muscle sore. Aerial silk might be the last thing I need to help me relax, considering the insane perseverance and upper body strength you'd need to have to climb up and down the silk without looking like you're clawing your way up desperately, or sliding down lazily. There's the elegance that should always cover up how hard it is on top of it all.

A grin on his face. "You an acrobat?"

I shrug. "Sure. Jealous?"

"Somewhat. Suppose that explains the flexibility, and the lounging on your own webs."

"Wait, you guys don't do that?" Yes, so I create hammocks and silks to hang on from out of my own webs because I've got some back issues. I thought everyone did that, but Hobie shook his head, so apparently not.

"Hammocks I could do," Hobie says. "But the silks you hang from, no."

"Ha," I mocked, "I really am the special one of the group."

"Yeah, yeah, enjoy it while you can." He leaned back against something and closed his eyes. "Miguel's startin' to recruit more of us. What're you thinkin?'"

"Ooh, probably more kids." I tied my hair in a low ponytail. It's really bothering me that I'm glistening from sweat and my cover up clothes are sticking to my skin, and I can't get into the shower like I always do right after practice. I don't necessarily feel like ending the call just yet. "I'm really hoping for more kids our age." I added.

"Did you ever notice that we're the only 17 year olds in that team?"

I pause my brushing in disbelief. "Wait, really?"

"So you never actually noticed?"

"No! I thought it was just because we're paired up all the time." And it was true, we were paired up all the time, in ever mission we've been in. Some missions it would be us and Miguel and Jess. They're plotting a devised plan on their own, but Hobie and I waste no time doing things out of instinct, and we still get the job done. And weirdly, it would force us to team up and our skills align together perfectly.