Claws

Chapter Twelve

      "Why my apartment?" Adrian asks.

"Because I know the layout, plus James lives in the same building." I explain.

"Alright," Adrian concedes.

"Let's go!" Jean shouts enthusiastically, grabbing my hand and pulling me back in the direction of Adrians apartment. I shake her loose and walk on my own, still doubtful.

We arrive, and it's my first time trying to fit more than two people in the cramped elevator. When it's just me and Adrian, it's shoulder-to-shoulder, so getting four people in there is a blast. I'm pressed against Jean the entire time, and she's shoulder-to-shoulder with James, who's pressed against Adrian, who's shoulder-to-shoulder with me. This does nothing to ease my anxiousness.

We reach the top and all spill out gratefully, Jean, of course, instantly bounding down the hall towards the apartment door. James moves less slowly, and I of course am inching my way out, suddenly very hesitant. Why was this a good idea again?

"C'mon, Alexis, hurry up! We need James!" Adrian reminds me, grabbing my wrist and yanking me out of the elevator. He lets go and I fall from the momentum.

"Why? It's not like, we urgently need him, or anything." I point out.

"Yes, but we might, and it's saving explanations later," Jean explains, pulling me off the floor. I groan.

"Okay, so, can we go in?" James asks, standing outside Adrian's apartment.

"Yeah, let's go." Adrian agrees, unlocking the door. We march in in single file, and Jean collapses on the couch. James sits carefully next to her, obviously still wary about what's going on.

"Hey, you know the special jeans? Do you know where those are?" I ask, turning to Adrian.

"Aren't they in your backpack? Also, why?" Adrian asks back.

"Just to make it easier." I explain, grabbing them from my backpack. Jean peers curiously over my shoulder.

I dash to the bathroom. There, I shed my gloves and my mask. I set the hat on top of the pile. I switch out my slacks for jeans, and brace myself to exit.

"Woah," James breathes. After all, I didn't bother doing it little by little like I did with Jean and Adrian. This is all at once. "That's definitely a reason to wear a mask."

"Hey!" Jean says, smacking him on the shoulder. It suddenly occurs to me how friendly they already are, which is weird.

"I've never seen you in the jeans, Alexis! It looks good!" Adrian exclaims.

"You can't tell anyone, James!" I implore, ignoring Adrian. "Promise!"

"Alright, I promise to keep your secret. Calm down. If I was in your place, I wouldn't want anyone to know either." James agrees. Adrian huffs and crosses his arms.

"Are you seriously just going to ignore my compliment? Rude."

"Shut up," Jean chastises. I giggle a bit.

"Okay, so what's this about me being useful?" James asks. I toss a look to Jean.

"Oh, fine, I'll explain." She groans, receiving my message. "There's this evil organization named ARSON, and they have this rival named SAKA, that's also evil, and we don't know what they're trying to do but they've both hurt a lot of people without those people knowing and so we're trying to stop them because Alexis somehow wound up tangled in this mess."