Can't I Fit In Anywhere?

Chapter 63: Discovery

Petra was an early riser, that was no doubt in his mind he wasn't. Not many people were morning people, and Petra could safely say that he knew neither Ryan nor Aaron were a part of the small group that gets up early in the morning.

So you could already say his shock was quite high seeing the two of them stumble in the lab before anyones else got up, besides Ry and Slade. Then on top of the original shock, they came walking in willingly, not arguing. Ryan merely twists around a rubix cube while Aaron just mildly watches.

What? Petra thought out, blinking. At first he would've thought the glasses he wore was making him see things, but they were currently pushed up onto his head, holding back a few strands of hair that kept flopping in his face.

"Morning?" Petra said.

Ryan was the only one to give a verbal response, while Aaron just made a noise, before the two of them collapsed on the only free chair. Both settled into the couch, before Aaron finally spoke up. "So, do you want us to find the rest of the items, or just wait for everyone?"

"Wait." Judging by how both of their heads snapped towards Ry when he spoke, Petra had a feeling they didn't know he was there.

"Well, something went wrong." Aaron scoffed out.

"Clearly," Ry replied. "Not the intended effect, but hey, at least I don't look that bad with purple hair." Petra was glad that the backfire didn't do anything; Keeping the school together was getting harder as the days went.

"Most of your fail potions change hair color don't they?" Ryan pointed out.

"Ya... At least you know Goldy doesn't look that great with pink hair."

"Here." Ryan spoke again, tossing the cube, solved by the looks of it, at Aaron, not even paying attention if he was looking. Slipping his hand in his hoodie pocket, Ryan brought out a thing of tea in a bottle. In other words, not an uncommon sight.

Aaron tossed back the cube, and Ryan caught it before it would have hit his head. It was weird to see the two get along, but Petra noticed how Slade didn't seem so surprised. Did he know why they seemed way friendlier with each other? Petra wasn't complaining about it; Aaron and Ryan get into the most fights schoolwide, with Tina then Lexi following.

Petra sighed, before nudging Slade, who turned at the nudge. He gave a confused glance at the two, hoping to get the message across. Sighing, Slade nodded, before a look of conviction came across his face.

Something was wrong by the looks of it, maybe this time, it didn't have to deal with Ryan.

---

Of course it had to deal with Ryan, why wouldn't it? Slade, Petra, and Aaron were the only ones in the room, as they moved towards a far away breakroom to hopefully keep away eavesdroppers.

Plus, the fact it was night once again and almost all left. The only ones that didn't leave the main lab were Ry and Goldy, who was too engrossed into whatever he was doing to leave, Unicorn, who was quickly building the machine with Tina watching, and Ryan who ultimately crashed on a couch during a break period, with both Runes up and going. Petra was going to wake him up, but when he took a step, he was on the receiving end of a few glares. Unicorn, Tina, and, he wasn't sure which one was more surprising, Goldy and Aaron.

So he left him be, and from what Aaron and Slade were saying, was probably for the best. Right about now, Petra wasn't sure how Ryan and Aaron could function with the little amount of sleep they get.

Well, scratch that, he didn't know how Aaron could function, Ryan probably gets a steady caffeine intake with the amount of tea he drinks.

"So, you two would go onto the roof most nights, yes? While that is breaking a rule, I do not see the need of dragging me into another room."

"Because that's not the issue." Aaron grumbled out, crossing his arms, and leaned against the wall.

---

Petra rubbed his hand down his face, rerunning the problem in his head, plus the fact that ghosts exist. "How long has this been going on?" Petra asked, aspirated.

"Since near the beginning of the school year." Aaron's ear flicked. "I can see how this is an issue, but what can we do? The damn dude died a long while ago."

That caughted Petra's attention, since it seemed Aaron knew about it's history more than anyone in the room. "What?" Slade questioned, before Petra could even utter a sound.

"His name was Jacob, remember? From what I gathered from Ryan, he fell to his death when the two dorks were climbing a fire escape to get away from a cop or something."

"Why would-" Slade gave a pause. "I don't even want to know."

"Neither do I," Petra lied, glancing at Aaron. It was easy to see that Aaron knew more about Ryan then he let on about, more than maybe the two of them. "So what should we do?"

Each person shared a look, before Slade gave a sigh. "Tomorrow Ryan and I were going to practice more with his Runes around Lunch time, so I can question him then if you think that would be the best."

"Don't pry too much at least." Petra informed. "Last thing we need is for him to get lost."

"As long as we stay on that hill, I think it is nearly impossible for Ryan to get lost." Slade pointed out. "But I'll try."

Each one stayed silent, waiting for someone else to speak up. Petra stood up, looking at the two of them, more towards Aaron. "Get some sleep, we have a long day ahead of us. If we keep going on this time frame, the machine should be done by tonight. I'll try to get Unicorn to go to sleep, along with the rest."

"Fine." Aaron rolled his eyes, before quickly ducking out.

"Goodnight Petra." Slade spoke.

"Goodnight Slade."

---

Petra shook his head softly at the sight. All of them were asleep in the main lab. Ryan was curled up in a ball in the corner. Unicorn was next to him, sleeping sitting up, but was slowly collapsing to the side, with a machine resting lightly in his hands, unfinished (which he took). Tina sprawled out length wise, using the opposite arm rest of Ryan as a pillow, and her leg went across Unicorn and her feet rested lightly on Ryan. Petra watched in slight amusement as Tina's tail flicked in the air occasionally, hanging off of the couch. Goldy somehow burrowed her way in between the back of the couch and inbetween Tina, pushed into a tight ball.

Ry, again, was on the floor, a few notes and materials laid around his sleeping form. A few bottles sat near his head. By the looks of it, they had something in them, but not anymore.

Plus, since neither had sparks or different color hair or skin, Petra assumed that whatever it was supposed to do worked. Grabbing a few spare blankets off the back of the couch, and tossed a few over them. He nearly laughed when one blanket took over Ryan, completely covering him from view.

Stretching, he looked at the time, and seeing that it said it was now nearly 2 in the morning, went off to bed.

---

I have no excuse for why I didn't post one last Friday, and for that, I am sorry.