✔️| [2] Straight On 'Til Morning

☆ Chapter 2 ☆

"You have one powerful swing, Valerie."

"Thanks. I take pride in that." I can feel my sly smile getting wider as I hand Hiro a roll of bandages I found in Mom's first-aid kit.

Lily turns to them with an inquisitive look on her face.  "So, how did you find us?"

Tadashi gestures to Mini-Max, who is on my shoulder, "I built him to help us find you. Once he did and was activated by you, we got the address."

"Yeah, that's not creepy at all," I tell him, folding my arms across my chest.

"It was the only way we could find you. We tried the phone books but there are a lot of Martinez's in New York City." 

Lily nods, "Yeah. It's a popular last name."

I barely take in Tadashi's words, seeing Hiro wrapping the thick bandage around his shin. He has been uncommonly quiet. A twinge of guilt pricks my conscience, but I shake it off. "How long have you guys been here?" I ask, my curiosity growing.

"Only two months," Tadashi replies.

"And it's just you two?"

"...Not exactly."

I blow my bangs in frustration. "Okay. Okay. I can work with this," more to myself than anyone.

Ignoring me, Lily turns to the boys, "How did you all get here?"

Hiro's eyes light up. "You know the portal that Valerie went through? Once she went through, it closed and exploded!" Lily grins excitedly. Her reaction encourages Hiro to continue (like he wasn't going to without that push).

 "Well, when it exploded, dust was everywhere and it landed on each of us, Baymax included. It didn't take effect until four months later which I don't understand why..." Hiro trails off, looking at me for an answer.

I shrug, "Whatever that thing was, was very unstable. Maybe even to the point where it delayed transportation?" 

Hiro shakes his head. "That doesn't make sense."

"It's just a theory!" 

Suddenly, I hear footsteps coming in the direction of my door. "Oh, crap!" I whisper-scream at the boys, and they return my panic with helpless looks, equally as panicked. 

"What do we do?" Hiro mouths at me. "I don't know, hide!" I whisper-scream back. Hiro examines the room anxiously and limps toward the closet, making a stop at the door. He steps in, wincing, and closes the door to the best of his ability while Tadashi slides under the bed.  

I stand a few feet from the door next to Lily. She points ferociously at my shoulder where Mini-Max rests. Hastily I grab him from off his perch and fold him even more compact before shoving him in my jean pocket.

My hand isn't even out of my pocket before the door opens. Standing there is my mother. The blanched moonlight illuminates her skin, revealing the bags under her eyes and the frown on her face.

"What on earth are you doing up this late, Valerie?"

I cross my arms. "Why do you care?"

Lily elbows my side and I sigh, giving my mother a fake smile.

"Sorry," I say softly behind my clenched teeth.

"We're not tired. We just wanted to talk about the musical we saw." Lily says, bouncing on her toes slightly. Her lively attitude seemed to make my mother's face brighten a little. But her tone stays the same.

"Why did I hear the voice of a guy?" 

Thinking quick, I whip my phone out. "We were chatting with Tessa. Her boyfriend was also there."