INTO

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

"Where did you guys run off to?"

Gwen and Tina walked back into the store, side by side and immediately attracting weird looks and stares from Adam, Miranda and Bernard.

"She was the one that ran," Gwen took a seat then exhaled. "I simply went after her so if there's anyone that question should be directed towards, it's her."

"Fine," Miranda said, raising her eyebrows. "Tina, where were you? Why did you run off like that?"

Tina exchanged a quick glance with Gwen, Gwen immediately looking away. She raised her legs on her seat, bringing her knee close to her chest as she buried her face in it.

"Well," Tina swallowed, trying to gain as much confidence as possible. "I saw someone familiar. So I ran after the person."

"Someone familiar?" It was Bernard's turn to speak. "From school?"

"No," she shook her head. "From back home."

"That makes no sense."

"From back home? Are you sure about this?" Bernard said, ignoring Miranda's comment. Tina nodded in replied and then he sighed and took a sit. "Who's the person?"

Gwen raised her head as she heard Bernard ask the question. She looked at Tina and she could see her fidgeting like she was contemplating on answering or not.

"Just someone I know," Tina said, Gwen immediately arching an eyebrow at her. "But I don't know. Maybe it wasn't really them. Maybe it was just a look alike. I mean, how could they possibly be here?"

"The same way you guys are here," he replied, eyes turning in his direction. "Or the same way I'm here. I used to live in the human world too once, remember?"

"So you're saying," Gwen spoke. "Her- I mean, whoever she saw, she could actually have seen them? Like it's possible she saw someone from the actual human world here?"

"You guys of all people should know how possible that is," he said with a light chuckle. "Of course it is."

"Whoa."

"With that being said," Bernard folded his arms. "I hope you don't think I've forgotten but we haven't talked about what you guys did."

They all knew exactly what he meant and as such, all began to act weird. Gwen returned her head back in her lap, Miranda and Adam looked away while Tina began to bite her fingernails.

"I don't have a problem with you guys making friends here," he began, knowing fully well they'd all rather have him do anything else. "I know you hate me saying this but you guys would be staying here for quite some time so having a couple of friends really isn't a bad idea. But just why the hell did you think befriending a bunch of kids with strong desires to get rid of the human race was the best option?!"

"WHAT DID YOU SAY?"

They all turned to see Lucy barge into the art shop. She had a couple of bags around her arms and had an apron splattered with paint on.

"Oh, Lucy," Gwen forced a smile. "Where have you been? I didn't know you were in."

"Well, surprise. I went to get some art supplies for Bernard and in the meantime, what did I hear you guys did?"

On getting no response from them, she dropped the bags in her hand and pulled a stool to sit next to Bernard. "What did you just say? What did they do?"

Bernard shook his head, gave them all disappointed looks and rose to his feet. "We'll continue this conversation during dinner."

Sheepishly, they all nodded knowing it was going to be an unavoidable conversation.

---

Their walk back home was silent, dinner being even more silent. Bernard made their supper, Adam and Tina assisting him while they all barely uttered any words to each other. Miranda and Gwen sat on the couches, both anticipating dinner and the long talk they were going to have afterwards.

They finally finished dinner and like it was all planned, they got up at the same time to put their plates in the kitchen. Their steps were extremely slow as they walked, knowing what was going to be happening as soon as they returned to the living room.

"It was all Gwen's idea."

"What?!" Gwen's eyes shot up as she watched Miranda point an accusing finger at her. They were finally all seated, ready for the conversation and anticipating Bernard say the first words when Miranda had gone ahead. "Why would you say it like that?"

"Because very technically, it was all your idea," she folded her arms. "You were the one you walked up to us and asked all of us to join them. She didn't even make it seem like we had a choice. She basically already had a done deal with them and just can over to inform us."

"Bernard," Gwen faced him. "Miranda's exaggerating. That wasn't what happened."

"Oh," he folded his arms. "Tell me what happened then."

Unsure if he was being sarcastic or not, Gwen began. "I was simply strolling down the corridors when I was called by these kids. From their introductions they felt like the popular kids so I thought just maybe, they were just interested in talking and wanting to hang out with me."

His attention was fixed on her so she continued. "So I went on to listen to them and boom, Petal went ahead to introduce themselves as a kinda group that simply wants to get rid of humans. She then offered for me to join their team and I had no choice."

"No you had a choice," he shook his head. "You could have politely declined her offer and left while having it in mind that you'll avoid her as much as you could."

"I could have but," I replied him. "She said she was going to have one of em erase my memory if I declined. I mean, think of it. It wasn't really my fault. She was offering us a slight hope of having the portal open and I just had to take it. If I had rejected her offer, she'd have wiped my brain and we'll still be stuck here looking for a way to get the portal open."

"And the portal still isn't open, is it?" His voice was soft as he spoke. "I understand where you're coming from but joining hands with them is still an extremely risky move to take."

"You can't put all the blame on Gwen," Adam spoke up. "She only did it in our own best wishes."

"I'm not putting the blame on anyone here, lover boy," Bernard smirked at his son. "I'm just trying to be logical."

"Oh."

"From what she said, anyone of you weren't technically forced," he continued. "If anyone of you didn't want to be a part of it, you could have told that Petal girl and had her erase your memory."

"Yeah."

"Anyways, that happened already," he adjusted his sitting position. "And that we only thing we can do now is look forward. And for that to happen, I'll be joining you guys."

"What?" Miranda burst into laughter. "How? Are you going to get enrolled and start coming to school too or who exactly are you going to introduce yourself as to Petal?"

"No, silly," he laughed lightly. "I didn't mean joining you guys that way. You guys stay teammates with Petal's gang and I'll stay teammates with you guys."

They all exchanged glances and he immediately caught it.

"Why are you all looking at yourselves?" He pointed accusing fingers at them one after the other. "What do you guys mean? Are you trying to say I can't join your team."

"That's not it," Adam replied on behalf of all of them. "We're just- Are you sure you want to do this? You-"

"Adam," he cut him off with a smile. "I want to do this and I'm sure. Most importantly, I sincerely want you guys to stay safe and the longer you stay here, the more dangerous it's going to be. So I want to keep you all safe and I'm ready to do whatever it takes."

Adam smiled at his dad in return. "Thanks, dad."

"You don't have to thank me, son."

"I-"

"OKAY ENOUGH WITH THE MUSHINESS!" Miranda said in a loud voice, immediately rising to her feet. "Enough. I'm not about to cringe to death."

Bernard burst into laughter. Miranda."

"Enough," she blocked her ears with her fingers. "We should all just go to bed. Okay? Everyone, get up. Please go to your rooms and go to bed. Okay? Get up!"

Laughing lightly, they all got to their feet, heading towards their rooms as Miranda led the way. She left for her room with Lucy, Bernard and Adam doing the same to leave Tina and Gwen behind as they walked the slowest.

"Um, Tina," Gwen stopped her as she almost opened their room door.

"Yeah?" She turned to face Gwen.

"Earlier at the shop," she said. "I was just wondering why you didn't tell them who you saw. You sounded so confident it was your dad and suddenly it's just someone you know?"

"Yeah you're right," Tina nodded, toying with her fingers. "I'm certain it was him I saw but I just couldn't tell them. It'll just confuse them and make things a bit more complicated. So I want to wait a little bit more. If I manage to see him one more time and maybe try to unravel the mystery about him in my head first, I'll go ahead and tell them. But not now. Not like this."

Gwen was silent for a while then nodded.

"Does it not make any sense?"

"No, it does make sense. I guess you're truly a nerd. You're a bit sensible," Gwen pursed her lips. "Too bad."

"Is that to be a compliment?"

"I don't know," Gwen shrugged. "You know, just maybe. Maybe if we met in a different universe and under different circumstances, we could have been friends."

Tina's eyes fell. "I guess I'm still a bit too nerdy to fall into your friend category."

"Yeah, you're right," Gwen nodded. "You're still much of a nerd."

"Then-"

"Don't forget we're going over to Petal's tomorrow," Gwen cut her off to remind her. "Remember what Miranda said? It's your second chance to give them a better impression about you. Don't lose it."

She nodded in response. "Alright."