The PulseTeam, Book Two: Evolution

Chapter Six: A Kidnapping

Part One: "My Beautiful, Feline Princess"

Allen Manor | Cleveland, Ohio
Thursday, June 30, 2033 | 16:45 EST

So, in terms that are user-friendly, I am only going to this party because Alexa really wants to and she won't go without me. Although, truthfully, my time would be better spent doing something--anything productive other than going to this party. And the attire for this thing is casual.

But, I'm not going to this party looking any kind of way, because if Mom and Dad taught me nothing else, it was to dress for success, no matter where I go. By this point, I had Aunt DEELEX manufacture a whole line of clothing from the material Rick and I made, so if anything happens, it happens to the person or persons wearing the material, and not the material itself.

So I put on my favorite black casual suit jacket, a black button-down shirt, dark blue slim-fit joggers, and black shoes. Most of the clothes I own--if they're not school uniform--are black, dark blue, black and dark blue, or some combination thereof.

I also put my laser ring on my right middle finger and loop my shuriken belt through my pants, because if memory serves, the last time I was out and had the ring and belt on, I had to actually use the laser the ring was housing, and the shuriken the belt was holding.

After I finish getting ready, I take my favorite pair of UI HUD sunglasses, I go to Alexa's room, and I knock on the door. When she opens it up, I almost faint. She has on a royal blue criss-cross halter crop top that shows just enough cleavage, a pair of black open-finger, mesh net gloves, black skinny jeans that accentuate every curve she's got, black open-toe high heels, the ring I made for her (that I pray she never has to use), the necklace my mother gave her, some black eyeshadow, some red blush, and dark red glossy lipstick.

I believe the reason I almost faint is because of a lack of oxygen flow to my brain: I think I've just forgotten how to breathe.

It takes me a minute to regain the cognitive function of respiration, but when I do, I say, "Words cannot even begin to describe how gorgeous you are. It's almost surreal, your beauty is. Makes me feel a wee bit insecure in myself."

"Don't," says she. "You have a certain charm about you that I can't resist, and I know other girls can't resist."

"But I don't really do much except mind my own business. I'm not trying to be charming. It takes up more brainpower than I'm willing to relinquish."

"That's your charm," says Alexa, "The fact that you just don't care. Or that you do care, but just in that nonchalant, 'I-don't-care-even-though-I-care kind of way."

"Wow. I had no idea."

"Probably because you weren't paying attention to it."

"How do I turn it off?"

"I don't think you can, honey."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Damn."

"Don't feel bad."

"I don't feel bad about it at all, Alexa. I want to be rid of this so-called 'charm' ability so other girls won't be trying to hook me. Because even though many have failed, the fact of the matter remains that they tried to begin with."

Alexa laughs. You see, before she and I got together back in January, a little more than fifty girls in total have tried to seduce me. And I've been counting. I told Alexa about this a little after we got together. And she still thinks it's funny. And I don't.

"Well," she says, "let them try. Because they'll have to find out the hard way that you're mine."

She loops her left arm through my right arm and says, "To the party, my knight in black armor?"