Choices and Chances (a ppg fanfiction)

Chapter 11

The next day, they were back at the precinct after a two-hour patrol. After their talk that started from a song, they hadn’t spoken to each other.

“People of the year!” Kevin practically shouted to them in greeting.

“Guess what! On Friday night, our team is invited at a banquet arranged by Mayor Bellum.”
“Wow!” Rhea exclaimed. Arias’ face was cold.

“Man, Ari, do you owe a suit?” Ryan asked Arias. He nodded.

“Dress up nicely, okay?” Ryan exclaimed. “And you my beautiful Rhea. I’m hoping to see you in dress – looking better than Aphrodite herself.” Ryan took her hand in his. Rhea laughed.

“I’ll be there in a brown paper bag.” She playfully replied. Arias was seeing how comfortable Rhea and Kevin were together.

“You’ll rock that paper bag then, cuz you so goddamn pretty.” Kevin flirted. Rhea playfully pushed him away.

Arias sensed that Rhea was always tense around him but with Kevin Ryan, she was always relaxed.

“I'll bet you were homecoming queen back in high school.” Ryan said. “not you think, Ari? Ari?”
He was gone.

Arias was walking towards outside. Rhea leaving Ryan standing there ran after him
.
“So where to?” she asked, interrupting his train of thoughts.

“Its, not a job, Timmons. I’m taking off early.” He said and turned towards their police car. He only wanted to spend some time alone.

“I’m not a fun person to hang out with, Timmons.” He replied. She chuckled softly.

“Let me be the judge of that.” She said to him. He stood there, trying to judge her intentions.
She started back, hearing incoherent sentences that were forming in his mind.

“Come on, then.” Arias gave in. They both get inside the car. He instantly turned on the radio.

“Wish we could turn back time,
To the good old days…”

‘Good old days, huh?’ She listened to Arias making a mental sigh.

Rhea saw three boys in Arias' mind, she knew them well.

The Rowdy Ruff boys.

‘He is definitely one of rowdyruffs.’ She thought. ‘but the question is which one?
’
Arias feeling her emotions, looked hard at her.

“You are creepy, Timmons. You know that?” he said focusing on the road.

“I know.” She sheepishly said. He looked at her in his peripheral vision.

“We are going to practice shooting.” He told her.

They both spend an hour shooting in the firing range. Occasionally talking. She didn’t learn single new thing about Arias.

…………………

“He is just alone. I mean, he lives in solitude. He doesn’t think anything worth mentioning.” Rhea told Chief Guerra. “he doesn’t want friends, family, or any relation.”

“That should tell you something about him. HE IS NOT NORMAL HUMAN!” chief Guerra spoke in the scariest manner.

“He is not sick or anything.” Rhea kept her tongue civil.

“That’s all for now.” She got up. “I’ll tell you if I learn something about him.” She felt guilty inside. She wasn’t doing her duty. Her duty was to tell Chief that Arias Callahan is, in fact, a rowdyruff. But she was taking a new course. She wasn’t going to take Arias' chance where he was only justifying his survival.

“Dr. Simmons?” Chief called her from behind. She stopped.

“Why are you protecting him?” the chief asked her suspiciously. ‘you a Powerpuff?’ he added in his mind.

“He hasn’t done anything wrong. I’m not protecting him.” She sounds convincing.

“Are you sure you are not biased?” Chief asked.

She was hearing his thoughts. He was thinking right. She did like Arias Callahan. She had to lie till she herself doesn’t figure out the truth.

“No. I’m not.” She said strongly and walked away as fast as she could. After all, she had a banquet to attend at night.
…………….

“I’m thinking about his attitude, professor.” Ms. Bellum spoke softly. “you said, he is very keen observant and he can solve most critical situations in the best way possible. Right?”

Professor Utonium slightly nodded.

“He is changed, Ms. Bellum. All he needs me a chance.” Bubbles pleaded.

“And a person like him will get one.” Ms. Bellum confidently replied.

“What do you want me to do?” Ms. Bellum asked. Bubbles looked at the professor, asking his permission. He nodded and smiled.

“All I want the city of Townsville to utilize his abilities. We, the surrogates, are developing more interesting abilities. If our abilities are not utilized, what use are they for?” Bubbles took as breath.

“World don’t forget rowdyruff leader easily and won’t trust him. But we can make a choice. We have a chance at a better future. All we have to do is to make a choice to trust him. He won’t let you down.” Bubbles stopped. No one spoke for a while.

“I’ll do that, darling. Cuz I trust you and your father.” Ms. Bellum replied after thinking.

“But!” she looked at overexcited Bubbles.

“Trust me to keep him safe. Both of you mustn’t know his new identity.” Bubbles were about to say something but Ms. Bellum stopped her. “it is to keep you and him safe. He’ll be an amazing addition to our force.” Ms. Bellum smiled at the end.

“I’ll call Police Chief Henley. We'll both made arrangements to get him in the academy.”

Bubbles weren’t liking that idea. The professor could only see the scientific and logical aspects on which Ms. Bellum was talking.

“You two have done your work. Now it’s our time.” Ms. Bellum assured them.