Fortified

by J. F. Jenkins

  A message appeared on his social media profile.

  A notification appeared from a clearly fake name of Mr. Peanutbutter. “Be less obvious.”

  “Who are you?” Gideon wrote back, trying to stop his hands from shaking so hard. Be less obvious? What did that mean? Did all of his enemies know what he was up to?

  “An unexpected ally.”

  “How did you find me?” Giddy pressed.

  “It doesn’t matter. Just watch yourself. You’re not the only person who can hack into a computer, and I’m not only talking about me.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “A lot has happened,” Alan said quietly, opening up the meeting at The Apartment.

  Angela scoffed. “I’ll say.” She was still reeling from the events of the day before. Going to school had been difficult. She would have faked sick, but then there was no way her parents would let her out later so she had to suffer through what was possibly the longest school day ever.

  “Where did you put the Ilotus?” Alan asked.

  “We gave it to Nia who gave it to her leader,” JD said, perhaps a bit too quickly. It wasn’t a total lie. That was the plan, after all. Get the Ilotus to her alien boss and then they could get back to Altura with everything they needed. It hadn’t happened just yet, but it was going to happen, and that’s all that mattered, right? Angela didn’t like withholding information from Alan, but they’d all agreed that his other tribe members were getting too greedy over a device that wasn’t theirs. If Alan didn’t know this one minor detail, then he couldn’t tell anyone else so he wouldn’t get in trouble for hiding things. It’d be a moot point by the end of the night, anyway. Nia promised she’d take care of it during their brief conversation with her once she’d gotten to Dallas’s.

  Nodding, Alan scratched his chin. “This was our closest call yet.” He gazed over at Cadence and then at Gideon. “To catch you both up, when we arrived at our delivery location we were attacked. Those three were able to escape. Impressive. Drone and his teammates are not easy foes to fight against.”

  “It was all JD,” Angela said. “He…he got his powers!”

  JD slouched in his seat, obviously embarrassed. He never did like to be the center of attention. Not when it came to praise for his achievements. “I didn’t do anything.”

  “Whatever! You, like, beat a bullet! It was the coolest thing I’d ever seen!” she gushed. She couldn’t help it, she was proud of him and so glad he finally had an ability of his own. Now he had no reason to be so down on himself.

  “Beat a bullet?” Alan asked.

  Cadence’s jaw dropped. “You were almost shot?”

  “We were all almost a lot of things,” Orlando chimed in. “Without JD doing…whatever it was he did…we’d probably not be having this conversation right now.”

  The brightest of grins spread across Alan’s face. “This is great news. Tell us more!”

  “Not much else to say.” JD shook his head, waving his hands in front of him.

  “We had another minor skirmish. Obviously we got away. From there we came back and regrouped and the rest is history,” Orlando explained. “Alan, what about you?”

  Their fearless leader noticeably tensed up. “I followed the leader of the attacks down into the tunnels the yellow tribe was using. Whoever was there left. I’m not sure if they were chased out or left on their own accord. A few things remained, but I didn’t see any signs of a struggle. Of course, I also was admittedly distracted. My commanding officer tells me, however, a fight occurred, so I assume this information is correct. The opposing leader escaped.” He swallowed. “I regrouped, as you call it, with Jaes on the ship. Only after we knew you were safe. I almost called a meeting that night, but thought perhaps with all the excitement we needed a moment to…process.”

  “Good thinking,” JD said. “What’s up with Jaes’s charges? He’s not involved in what they’re doing, is he?”

  Alan shook his head. “No, they’ve gone rogue. Jaes and our superior are discussing ways to deal with the situation. I’m taking a few days off, so you can expect time off as well. If I’m being honest, I’m not sure what is going to be required of us next. The sudden disappearance of the yellow tribe is…puzzling. It shakes so much of our mission up.”

  “Dallas…” Orlando sighed. “Dallas mentioned that…Nia’s boss was planning to leave the planet to get back home. Something about genocide and targeted attacks on his people here on Earth. He basically bailed on her and now she’s left to fend for herself.”

  “I see. I’ll have to tell my commanding officer about this. We’ll make sure she is safe.” The way Alan said it, however, didn’t sound too reassuring to Angela.

  Protect Nia, protect all of the other charges who have been abandoned, and stop all of these bad guys. Is Alan’s tribe getting spread too thin? She frowned, not liking where that thought was going.

  “I um…” Gideon took in a deep breath. “Tait met at a park near my house. I didn’t eavesdrop but I know the guy she was with, and I’m pretty sure it was business related, and I don’t think she’s completely rehabilitated. Then I got a weird message on my computer to ‘watch out’ because people are following what I’m doing.”

  It took Angela a few seconds to understand everything he’d said in his rushed speech. “Breathe, Giddy. Okay?”

  He nodded, pulling his knees up to his chest. “Sorry…”

  Kid had a long way to go. She risked a glance over at Orlando to see how he was handling this new piece of information.

  “Why is everyone looking at me?” he snapped.

  “Because we’re talking about your girlfriend?” JD supplied.

  “She’s not my girlfriend.”

  Angela held back an eye roll. “Any thoughts?”

  “Beyond that she’s bad news? No, can’t say I have much of an opinion on the matter.” He glared at her. “Should I?”

  Struck a nerve. “Just curious.”

  “She’s still one of the bad guys. There, I admitted it. You can all gloat.” Orlando crossed his arms in front of him.

  Cadence let out a soft breath. “We’re not going to do that. Are you okay? I think that’s more what we’re concerned about.”

  “I’m fine,” he insisted.

  Don’t push him, Angela wanted to warn. More than anything she wanted to hug him and console him herself. Doing so wouldn’t help with their current predicament. For the time being, he was going to have to stew on his own. The only thing she could be glad for was that the rose-colored glasses were lifted from his eyes.

  Alan narrowed his eyes, his lips pressed together tightly. “I think we’ve covered everything I’d like to for the time being. Obviously, if an emergency arises, I’ll come find you. Hopefully that won’t be necessary and I won’t have to see you until sometime next week. Even if all I’m doing is checking in to make sure you’re all doing okay.”

  “We done then?” JD asked.

  “Yes.” Alan nodded.

  A collective sigh of relief sounded around the room.

  Orlando was the first to stand. “This is going to be an interesting weekend.”

  That’s right, he still has prom. Angela watched him leave, almost following after so they could talk in private. If I do, I’ll cave and let him pull me back in. I hate how badly he’s hurting. We’re both so vulnerable right now. What if we let that lead us into a not so great decision? She wouldn’t be the rebound girl, so she let him have his space. A few days to breathe was something they all needed no matter how much it hurt.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Prom. A night Orlando had been looking forward to, but instead dreaded. Dinner had gone well enough. It had been a group thing, so he didn’t have to struggle with finding what to say to Tait when they were finally alone. He ate his food, made a couple of side comments, and did what he did best: be mysterious and nonchalant about everything.

  Once at the fancy downtown hotel where the dance was being held, the girls all ran off to do whate
ver it was girls did in the bathroom together and he sat down on a bench in the lobby, away from the swarm of teenagers going in and out of the ballroom. Why did I do this again? Oh, right, because I wasn’t thinking straight. He’d let his unintentional game go on long enough and now it was time to pay the price.

  Tait rejoined him after a rather long time passed. When her friends walked by, they whispered and giggled. And by the end of the night they’ll be on the attack. He took in a deep breath, determined to have fun and not let his nerves get the better of him. Maybe they’d have a good, laid-back, friendly time. It didn’t have to be a romantic adventure just because it was prom, right? People went as “just friends” all the time. They were even able to dance and not have it be a big thing. An hour and a half passed with no problems, leaving Orlando feeling confident in his decision.

  Everything was going great until she leaned in to kiss his lips during a slow dance. The gesture turned his stomach in a knot, proof that he was indeed over his infatuation with her. He did not reciprocate it.

  “Sorry,” she mumbled, looking down, obviously embarrassed. The tension in her jaw brought out the sadness in her eyes. “You let me kiss you at the mall a few weeks back. I assumed it’d be okay here too.”

  “It was a fair assumption to make,” he said quietly. He could hardly hear himself over the loud music, let alone think.

  Tait shook her head, a few of her blonde curls coming out of place from her fancy up-do. “You’re confusing me. One day you’re in, the other you’re so far out the door I can’t catch you. What’s going on? Do you or don’t you want this to work?”

  How did he respond? “Yes” meant he’d only betray his heart to save her feelings. “No” would end in a tearful scene and possibly a bloody nose when Peyton caught up to him. Then the rest of the backlash would follow. Tait was popular. She’d end his social existence for good if he didn’t tread carefully. Not like he wanted to be the social king of Lunar Falls, but he did want to survive high school in one piece. Even worse, the other single girls would see him as fair game and pounce him in other ways…or try to. Silence seemed safest.

  “I’ll take that as a no.” She pursed her lips, letting go of him to fold her arms across her chest. Not a great place to put them since it drew attention to the sweetheart neckline of her pale pink gown. “You sounded excited when I asked you to be my date. What’s wrong? Why the sudden change of heart?”

  “I’m not sure how to explain it,” he said. Not tactfully, and not without giving myself away. I know who you are. I know what you’ve done. I can’t forget it and let it go no matter how hard I’ve tried. I hate how you are still involved with the wrong side, and I’m positive now that you’re doing it on your own accord and it disgusts me. I don’t know how to say that there’s someone better for me out there. Ugh, what do I do?

  She took in a deep breath. He’d clearly taken too long to answer. “Is there someone else?”

  “When I said I’m not sure how to explain, that’s all I have for you. It’s complicated.” Confusing. Messy.

  Then she glared at him, and he caught a glimpse of the dangerous girl she kept hidden inside: Sprout. “I’m disappointed. You’ve always been bluntly honest with me in the past. Why not now?”

  Again, he stayed silent. No words were better than lies.

  Of course, she wasn’t going to understand. “Why did you come then?” He opened his mouth to answer. She held up her hand, cutting him off. “Actually, I don’t want to hear it.” Before he could reply with anything that might possibly diffuse the conversation, she stormed off.

  “Well then…” The only thing he could think to do was leave. Staying would prove disastrous. Once all of her friends caught wind of their fight, the school would be against him. Better to get out while he could and let things cool off over the weekend.

  He slipped out of the ballroom, walked casually through the hotel lobby, and then stepped outside into the cool night air. For a few blocks, he walked, enjoying the ambient sounds of the city. Cars passing by, people talking, laughing, the occasional honk of a car. It put him in a new place, one that was far from reality and the hole he’d dug himself into.

  When did I become such an idiot? Orlando always prided himself on being the guy who did the right thing, who vowed to not let his selfish desires take control of his life again. As it turned out, he hadn’t changed as much as he thought. Deep down, he was still the spoiled brat desperate for attention. At least I can psychoanalyze myself and figure it out now. No need for anyone else to do it anymore.

  With a sigh, he pulled out his cellphone and dialed JD’s number. He might never admit it in front of the rest of the group, but JD was fast becoming one of his best friends. Despite all of their differences, there was something refreshing about JD’s attitude. The last place Orlando could go was home. His parents would ask too many questions or coddle his broken heart to the point of no return. Dallas would go on and on saying “I told you so.” No, Orlando needed a friend who would listen, give the advice he needed, keep quiet if he didn’t need it, and move on. JD talked a lot—he also listened when it mattered most.

  “Hey, ‘sup?” JD answered.

  “I know it’s late, but can I come over? Don’t give me any attitude over what I’m about to say: I need a friend, clarity, and you’re the only one who I know who will understand.”

  JD was quiet for a moment. “Anything, anytime, I’m here for ya dude. Just gotta head out for a study thing briefly later with my friend Miranda. Shouldn’t take long, though. But come over and stay as long as you want.” He paused. “Aren’t you supposed to be at prom?”

  “Things kind of blew up,” Orlando said as he continued to walk outside in the cool spring air. “I severed things with Tait, for real. It was the right thing to do. I just don’t understand why it hurts so much. I’ve…never had to do this before. My last relationship didn’t exactly have substance to it.”

  “It’s normal. I promise. We’ll talk about it when you get here, and then never speak of it again.”

  He cracked a small smile. “Gotta protect that manly image.”

  “Exactly.”

  They hung up, and Orlando circled around the block back to the parking ramp where he’d left his car. Not going in the limo with the rest of Tait’s friends was turning out to be a fantastic idea after all.

  Music blasting, he drove to JD’s. Through the window he saw Angela talking with her parents and he groaned. Forgot she might be here. Just like I forget sometimes she and JD are related. He took in a breath to collect himself, then made his way to the door. And of course, Angela had to answer.

  “You’re not pizza…” she said, her gaze roaming over him in his tux, a small blush spread across her cheeks.

  I’m still gorgeous to her, that’s good. Orlando had several comments to retort with. He kept them to himself. “I’m here to see your brother.”

  “R-right, duh,” she said, opening the door wider so he could go in. “I…are you…is everything okay?”

  He continued walking, not wanting to dive into the story just to hear “I told you so.” The door to JD’s room was wide open, ready to receive him. For the sake of being polite, he knocked on he doorframe before making a show of his fancy attire. “Ta-da.”

  “Woah…” JD raised both of his eyebrows. “It’s not international spy, but I’m amazed at how you actually look like…normal.”

  “I’m assuming that’s a compliment. I have a change of clothes in my car, so don’t get attached to me being…normal.” Like I’m not? What is normal, anyway?

  JD ushered him in then shut the door. “Talking isn’t normally your thing, but you kind of gave the impression you wanted to when you called.”

  And without any further prompting, Orlando unloaded everything. His confusion over Tait, the mixed feelings going along with that, and how much he hated himself for wanting to believe the best in her despite everything she’d done. Angela was mentioned, briefly. He wasn’t quite sure openi
ng that can of worms was a good idea since he was talking about JD’s sister. A vague version of the truth came out all the same: he cared about her—a lot. JD would have to be blind to not notice something happening between them by now. It seemed everyone had some kind of inkling of it.

  When he finished, JD gazed at him for a long time. “I’ve been in your shoes. There was this one time I liked two girls at once. Ended badly. They’re best friends now over their mutual dislike of me.”

  Orlando pinched the bridge of his nose. Of course that’s what he gets out of my confession. “Can’t say I see that happening in my case.”

  “Nope, so you’re good!” JD clapped him on the shoulder. “In all seriousness, though, you see what your heart really wants. Take some time and…people…will come around. Look at Cadence and me! I messed that up royally and we’re back to being able to hang out again.”

  Time, Orlando knew that was the right answer. If there was one thing he had a hard time with, it was patience. Because he was spoiled. All of the things he’d wanted in life, he’d been able to buy or make happen on his own. It helped him cope with all of the things he couldn’t change: his parents, Dallas’s death. Anything he couldn’t have right out, he pushed away so he didn’t have to deal with the pain. But if I want things to work out with Angela, I gotta start doing the right thing. She wanted space, so I’m going to give it to her, and then I’m going to earn back her trust.

  “I suppose I’m intruding,” Orlando mumbled. “It’s getting late.”

  “You can stay,” JD insisted. “Did your parents expect you to come home tonight? For real?”

  He shook his head. “They were reluctantly open to my staying at whatever after-party was happening so long as I sent them a text.”