Sometimes all it takes to prevent the enemy from attacking you, is bringing the fight to the enemy first.

*****
*****

As my eyes slowly opened to yet another sunrise which escaped into my room through the slightly opened curtain, i took a deep breath knowing today was going to be a long day for me.

I needed to overlook all the taunts from Ginger and her parents and pay Ricky a visit and i also needed to tell the team about Tess and her plans to help us.

My life was no longer that of a high schooler. I was like i skipped my teenage life am moved forward to adulthood where i take responsibility for myself and that of others. Life was moving a little bit faster than i had imagined it.

Beep Beep
My phone rang...
Message:
Hey its Skye...meet me up at the mall after meeting Ricky. See ya bestie.

"Urhhh!!! Skye" i rolled my eyes and turned over to the other side of my bed.
"Jezz!!!" i jumped and landed face flat on the floor.
Sophie was sitting on my bed this whole time in her white night wear and messy hair. The light that shun on her face made her look like those evil kids in scary movies.

"Don't you think its too early to be making out with the floor" Chase said as he walked into my room.

"shut it Chase... Its inappropriate to say that in front of a child" i said standing up.
"oh!!! I didn't realize that Sophie was here" i said as if realization dawned on him.
"what's making out Acey" Sophie asked.

Face palm.

"hmm.... Dear...it just means playing friend" i said unsure of what i just said.
"So if i play with Lucy, then it means we're making out?" Sophie innocently asked.
Chase always manages to get into trouble. If mum gets to know about this, she'll have both our heads on a platter.
"You know what dear... Lets cast a spell to rewind time to before Chase walked in, alright" i suggested. I know Sophie loved magic.
"Yes please... yes please lets do it" she replied jumping on my bed.
"okay but on one condition" i replied.
"what?" Sophie asked.
"You have to forget everything that happened before Chase came in, including what he said" i answered.
"Of course silly... We're definitely going to forget. what's the point of rewinding the time if we don't forget"she smiled

Sophie cast a spell that she called the "back in time spell", while Chase went out of the room. I knew after the spell, Sophie wouldn't say anything about what happened before.

"Can i go with you to see Ricky please" Sophie pleaded.
"Of course dear" i knew if Sophie was with me, Ginger or her mum wouldn't be mean to me.

****

I slowly counted the numbers of floors we passed through in the elevator as we were going to see Ricky. My hands were sweaty and i could even hear my own heart beat. I knew i wanted Ricky to wake up badly because i had so many things to tell him but now that he's awake, i felt nervous talking to him.

Tiinng

The sound of the elevator reaching its destination broke my reverie.
"Oh! We're here" i exclaimed.
I walked straight to Ricky's room and took a quick peek through the door. I was really happy that he was alone.

"Hey" i said in a somewhat calm voice.
"Hey" he answered in a tired voice but there was still a small smile plastered on his face.
I walked closer and sat on the chair beside him.

This is really awkward

I didn't know what to say, so i just kept looking at him like dumb person.
"How you feeling Ricky" Sophie said already climbing Ricky's bed.
"Sophie get down...he's not feeling alright yet" i said in a calm and stern voice simultaneously so i wouldn't hurt her feelings.
"It's alright, I'm fine" Ricky answered smiling at Sophie who was lying next to him.

Its been few minutes since i arrived and ive not been able to get passed the word "hey". Whats wrong with me?

"Hey Eric... How you doing" Chase entered with flowers in his hands.

Face palm... I even forgot to bring flowers.
"Hey buddy...thanks for the flowers" Ricky answered.

"Chase, can you take Sophie to get ice cream" I asked. I knew i needed privacy to talk to Ricky.
"But i just came" chase said in an unpleased tone.
"please..."
"Fine but you owe me" he smirked before taking Sophie with him. I knew Chase understood my plan because we don't let Sophie eat ice cream much and i also knew it was going to cost me.

"how are you feeling" i asked
"I'm fine. The doctor said that I'll be discharged in a couple of days" he smiled. I really missed that smile.
"That's really good to hear" i replied.
"Yeah"
"Thank you and I'm sorry" i blurted out.
"why are you apologising" he asked confused at what i said.
"If it wasn't for you, i would be dead... You saved my life Ricky and I'm really sorry you are in this condition because of me... You almost died and..."

"There's nothing to be sorry about Ace, if i was to do it all over again, i wouldn't change my decision and besides i wasn't the only one who suffered from the incident. I heard you were diagnosed with PTSD after the incident. How are you feeling" he said taking my hands in his.

"i believe with much sessions with my therapist, ill be better in no time" i smiled.

Beep beep
Message
Tess: Have you informed the others about what i told you?
Me: I'm with Ricky now. I'll tall them as soon as i leave the hospital.

"Ace... who's that? You look worried" Ricky asked.
"Its nothing important" i replied with a fake smile. I didn't want Ricky to know about this matter as it might be bad for both of us.

Beep beep
Tess:ok but you have to tell me where to meet you guys later"
Me: Yeah i will

"I need to meet up with Skye. I promise to come and see you soon" I said picking up my bag.

"but you just came Ace" he replied in a sad tone.
"i know but its important that i go now. Ill be back...as it is we have a lot to discuss" i smiled back at him before leaving.

******

There was an unexplainable smile plastered on my face a went into the mall to meet Skye. Maybe it was because deep within i had found peace after seeing Ricky smile at me and call me Ace once again. It felt as if i could finally breathe again after a long time.

"Jeez Acey!!! Stop grinning so much. You know you could easily pass for a crazy chick" Skye said walking up to me.
"i wasn't grinning that much" i defended.
"Yes you were" She taunted.
"Fine" i said in defeat "So why are we here" i asked.
"Don't tell me that you totally forgot you are a senior and will be graduating" she said with her left hand on her hip.
"Yeah... I remember that... Of course i would... I mean me in high school, graduating and all that drama" i gave a slight chuckle.
"O...key" she replied confused because of my rambling.
"So why did you call me to the mall?" i asked in a clueless tone.

"OMG... You have got to be kidding me, you totally forgot about prom, didn't you" she said shifting her weight from one leg to the other.

"Oh!!! Prom. I cant believe i couldn't remember Prom. Prom used to be that one special night we would always dream of as juniors but now all i can think of are powers, bad guys,guns, the safety of everyone. I no longer have time for my personal life Skye. I wish all this would just end and everything should come back to normal."

"You just have to give it time, everything will soon be fine. We will definitely come up with a plan to help us all" Skye said in an attempt to calm me down.

"Speaking of plans, we have to meet up with the others because i think i might have finally found a way to stop all this, though some of you may not like it" i replied.

"So shopping has officially been postponed" Skye said looking a little bit disappointed.
"We will surely find time for shopping, i promise" i replied.

*******

Later that day, we all gathered at our usual meeting place.
"I know you all must be wondering why i called you all here" i started.
" i think there might be a way to stop any other bad event from taking place like that of Ricky" i continued.
"Its nice to be in the midst of my friends with abilities" Tess said walking in.

"Whats she doing here?" Cassy asked looking annoyed.
"Yeah... And how did she get to know about our abilities" Cody also asked without breaking eye contact with Tess.
" That's the reason i called you all here. Tess came to me two days ago already finding out about our abilities. She thought of a way to help us and i believe this plan will be the closest we've ever gotten to solving this problem. She made a copy of the cellphone which belonged to the man who shot Ricky. There were series of messages sent to the number and hit comprised on hits on us. We need to locate the sender of this messages and end everything once and for all" i explained.

"Okay that's fine but what is it in it for her" Jimmy asked still not trusting Tess. I could relate with his feelings but we need to take the risk.
"She just wants a good story to get her into the best university and kick start her reporting career.
"How can we trust she wont also write about our abilities"Adrian asked.
"She wont do that because she has a..." i stopped remembering that i promised to keep that part a secret.
"She has what?" Skye asked suspiciously.
"Hmm... she...has no evidence. Lets forget all that... The enemies has been bringing the war to us, now its time to bring the war to our enemies" i concluded.

Hey guys. That's the end of this chapter. Pls share this story with your friend.
Thanks for reading.
ACEYLOVELACE