GoldHeart

Chapter 3: Did You Remember the Milk?

VEGAS' POV

"Did you fix the remote yet?" I call from behind the couch.

"Screw this. Read a book or something," Alto says.

I stop doing push-ups and stand up, sweaty and hot. "You're a guy. You're supposed to know how to do this stuff. And I can't watch my anime until you get this fixed."

"I know, give me a few more minutes. Patience is a virtue."

There's a crunching of chips below me. I lean over the couch. "Quit snacking! Just change the damn batteries! It isn't that hard!"

"If it isn't that hard," Alto tells me, tossing the remote at me, "change the batteries yourself."

I catch the remote and sigh. "I'm in the middle of exercising."

Alto leans back and eats another chip. "Not my problem."

With ease, I can put the batteries into the remote and close it up. "See? Simple," I say. I turn on the television and the news comes on. The blonde frizzy-haired reporter looks panicked and talks quickly.

"... and a new villain has shown up in the center of Pandomin, destroying everything in his path. No casualties yet. We are reporting to you live from Parque Park."

My heart speeds up. A new villain? He could be employed by Shadowhand! I start to run to my room for my costume, but I stop in my tracks. I can't leave while Alto's here. He'll think it's suspicious that I'm leaving the apartment while there's a supervillain on the loose. I've got to think of a way to get out as soon as possible. I hope Bryony has heard about this- I can meet her in that public bathroom and change before this villain does too much damage.

"Vegas? There's something I remembered I have to do." Alto gets up quickly and starts to his room. "I, uh, I'm going to the store. We're out of milk. Stay and guard the apartment."

He wants ME to guard the apartment? Not a chance! "I can go to the store for you," I say cheerfully.

"No, no, I'll go."

"Listen," I say, grabbing his shoulders and steering him back towards the couch. "You've been working hard at that job of yours. Don't you want to take a break? Besides, you shouldn't be out on the streets at a time like this!"

He pushes me away. "Look, I don't need rest. I know exactly what to get from the store. You wouldn't know what brand of milk to get. Besides," he continues, as I'm impatiently tapping my foot at his persistence, "whenever you go to the store, you always get more than we need and end up spending way too much money."

"Why are you so eager to leave?" I yell. I'm getting worked up quickly. This supervillain could have destroyed a third of the city by now and I'm standing here arguing with my roommate about groceries. What I wouldn't give for a secret hideout like Batman, where I don't have anybody to worry about except a butler!

Alto looks flustered and angry. "I'm not eager to leave. I just want to go out to the store for groceries."

"You never go to the store! You always make me do everything!"

"Not everything! I'm just busy!" Alto crosses his arms. "Busy with work, as you were quick to remind me a few minutes ago."

I roll my eyes. "Please. You're the laziest person I know."

"Fine. I'm going to my room."

"You can't!"

"Why the hell not?"

"Because you have to stay out here and watch the news! You can't watch the news from that old laptop you have! I mean, it's got to be at least ten years old." I shrug. "And somebody has to keep me informed while I'm at the store, or I might be killed. And then you wouldn't have any milk, would you?"