might have been thought through, might've not

chapter 2a

Ranger's POV

We navigated our way through the semi-crowded station. The faces we saw here were not unfamiliar  but they were not the friendly kind either. We knew close to nobody here despite our frequent visits to this Northern-central part of the island. Close to nobody but not nobody. That's a fact I am grateful for.

I think.

I could hear the next train approaching in the distance. As comfortable as we were walking on that ground, it still felt like there were still hints of exotica in our stride. Like we carried some scent that let people know that "these guys aren't from around here" was true. Maybe that only exists in my head but that's what I felt.

The weather forecast he'd told me about on the train was right. The rain would hit our home before moving over to the testing ground. We walked to the left and continued walking where we passed the wall that yelled "AWESOME STATION ECO-FRIENDLY VERY NICE WOW". We were going against the migratory current of people moving in and out of the station mostly comprised of jogging residents who seeked shelter from the rain. The brick stairs turned a darker shade of red as the daily shower began. It was November so water on your head and your everything else happened pretty often if you kept forgetting your umbrellas and other water evading devices for forever. You could hear the calming sound of water gushing slowly through the drains, gradually getting louder and faster the heavier the rain poured down.

On our journey to the top of the grassy mound of land, there was a staggered line to our right full of people walking downwards to the station. They were mostly clad in exercise wear but there was a photographer or two in that single file as well. Majority of them were abit preoccupied with the instinct to hide from the falling water that was pelting down on their heads. They did not wish to stick around.   These people needed to calm down. One of them though, waiting, jittering in the jammed stream of hydro-evacuees, gave me a glance that reminded me of my being alien.

As inconspicuous and unstrange my navy jacket and blue shirt were, if someone took a better look at me, they could easily spot patches of blue and pink tape stuck onto my skin. I think I said this before but they look like KT tape some regular student/athlete would wear, but if they'd move their gaze to my hands and feet, they would notice something amiss odd. Anyway, it's not like it's a common sight for people to see someone practically wrapped up in KT tape like Aang and his glowing blue limbs. Why am I talking so draggily. To put it simply, the thing I had on me was actually weirder and more complicated than it looked. They'll see soon enough. Maybe. But it's quite funny to think that some teenaged goofball made this. Okay. To be honest, he's not that terrible of a goof but this is weird what am i doing haha why am i telling you this now i'm rambling

We reached the top of the staircase. Bruce dug around in his pockets while catching his breath. I was tired but not as horribly as I had expected. It was then when I realised how much this water thing had improved since the last time. Seeing the amount of effort Bruce put into this, I don't get why the project didn't have a name. In his hands now were his phone and some kind of accessory to use alongside my earpiece. He showed me what seemed to be scraps of an iPod and hooked it onto my glasses. I'm not even sure he gets the money for all this technological rubbish. My mind started sieving through the names of various online selling and buying platforms. The mental list-making was interrupted by a jolting smack to my shoulder. 

"I'm going over there. Just speak to respond. The mic will pick it up even if you're rolling in the grass." 

Nevermind the fact that he hummed that to Adele but when and how did he test that out. Fishy.

"But if for whatever reason you can't talk, just press the button on your ring. I got both the headset and the rings are hooked up to my phone," my dear brother droned on excitedly as he walked off almost aimlessly.

I watched, helplessly, as his fresh white Converse sneakers screamed frolicked in mud. What was he thinking to be wearing white shoes- actually forget it nevermind. Part of my heart still broke a little inside watching that though. I turned away from him when he stopped walking and looked down the slippery green slope. My brain started to wander. It helped me relax because even though the modifications made it much lighter and reduced the strain on my back, wearing the blue water gizmo was still wearing me out too. The weather seems really nice for nap. I had not gotten the best sleep the night before. (The nights before that were like that too, Ranger remembered.)

"HEY! Can you hear me hello hello." *rumble rumble* *static static* *sudden heavy breathing* "hELLO ANSWER ME. WOI. YOU SLEEPING OR WHAT? WAKE UP, PRINCESS."

"First of all, don'T SHOCK ME DON'T DO THAT. Secondly, it's not my fault this thing isn't working?"

"Fine. I'll make it louder. wuhu crank up the volume. Drop tHE BASS WUB WUB WUB." 

"sTOP SHOUTING INTO MY EAR THANKS. NOW IT'S WORKING TOO WELL."

Whimsical.

"Ha ha. Okay great, you're awake. Now test the ring." I pulled down on the button and a blue light loomed out of the piece of metal. The steel band did not feel as cold anymore now that I was standing out in the rain. I signaled a thumbs up. 

"Noted. Set and ready to go. You know the drill. Be careful, okay? I'm turning on the camera."

I hear lively boink sound and get ready to dive.

"Start."

Have a nice swim, polar bear. I hear a whisper the wind might have carried. 

I need sleep.