Vigilante by Choice

Chapter 26: Picnic

The next day the gang was getting ready for school. I had a different plan. "Ok guys we are going on a picnic!"

Rory raised an eyebrow. Rose turned around with a twirl and said, "We have school."

I picked her up and threw her in the air. "Who cares? No school today."

Jeb jumped on my back from the counter. "Yah! And you can show people your moves and everyone would know about you!"

I grabbed Jeb and sat him down on a stool. "No Jeb."

I used my stern voice. "Jeb, you cannot tell anymore about what I do for fun. Do you remember why?"

He swung his legs before the answer came out. "I don't remember, peasant."

I sighed and pulled up a chair. "It's because if someone found out and hurt you because they knew about me, then I would be very sad. And I don't want the bad guys to hurt you, they aren't like the bad guys who are in the TV shows you watch. Now are you going to tell people about me?"

"Nope!" He jumped off the chair and ran to grab his sword.

I stood up and clapped my hands. "Sounds good, now let's go!"

I grabbed the cooler as Rory, Jeb, and Rose changed out of their uniforms. We were walking out when Faye walked out of her unit.

"Gami, will you stop bickering with mama. I have to go to work. I can't watch reruns of Ellen with you." God, she's the most beautiful woman that has ever walked this earth.

As she closed the door, I shouted over to her. "No reruns of Ellen, that's unfortunate."

She rolled her eyes and threw an apple at me. I caught it in my free hand. "Shut up. I needed to get out of the house for a day. I need to relax on my day off and not think about everything."

"We're going on a picnic if you want to go." I took a bite of apple while I waited for an answer. I might have been flirting... maybe.

She raised her eyebrows. "Is that ok with you?"

She didn't say no. "Yes. Yeah that's fine. There should be extra food."

"Sounds like fun then." Faye said tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.

"We just have to take the subway." I said turning and making my way down the stairs.

Jeb jumped up on down running ahead of me. "Adventure through the caves of mystery."

"Well let's go." I said, making sure everyone followed me.

* * *

"Who are you texting?" Faye asked nudged Rory with her elbow.

"No one." The words sped out of Rory's mouth.

"Is it your boyfriend?" Faye jested at Rory.

"No, what boyfriend? I don't have a boyfriend. I don't know what you're talking about." Rory seemed to be hiding something, but I wasn't worried about it. She would tell me if she was dating someone.

Faye made a face and leaned closer to Rory. "You can tell me. What's his name?"

"Um, his name is Kenny." Rory whispered, trying to be as quiet as possible.

I spat out my pop, and I'm pretty sure some went through my nose. "Kenny?"

"Is there something wrong with Kenny?" Faye turned to me with a questioning look on her face.

"He's a senior." I said glaring at Rory.

Faye turned to Rory. "And what are you?"

"I'm a sophomore." Rory said trying to find an escape route.

"Well that's not that bad." Faye said.

I countered. "She started a year early, making her 14. And he's 18."

"Hey Rory, I think Jeb needs your help by the playground." Faye said, trying to make the conversation less awkward.

"Yeah, I can hear him calling my name. Gotta go. See ya." She shot up from the ground and ran towards the playground. When I see Kenny again, we are going to have a long talk.

Faye lightly punched my shoulder. "Hey it's fine, she's in high school. She's growing up."

"I know, but it's just strange seeing them grow up, even though I haven't seen from the start of their lives." I watched them play on the playground.

"What do you mean you haven't seen them from the start? Weren't you there when they were born?" Faye asked tilting her head.

I shrugged. "No why would I have been? I got to see them whenever I visited them."

Faye looked confused. "Aren't you their father?"

I laughed. "God no, they're not my kids! I didn't help create them."

Faye looked confused. "So these aren't your kids."

I glared at the thought of having children. "No they aren't. I'm their uncle. Besides if I was, Rory would be too old to be my kid. I've been watching them for the past few years, with the exception of Jerry, who I obtained legal custody of 8 months ago." The process seemed like it was so long ago, that it was a distant memory that was like anything else that had happened in my life.

"So where are the parents?"