Heroes and Villains

30 - Ready to party

Michelle

I can’t believe it’s been a month already since I started training with Jack. Time sure flies by. After news of Itsuki’s disappearance spread across the company, people are no longer so eager to the grand anniversary party, but life must go on, I guess.

Yumi has told me her grandmother has not left her office since she arrived 2 weeks ago, not even to talk to her. I can’t imagine what Yumi is going through right now.

Truth is, I should have tried to contact her before but I didn’t. I’ve been so busy lately with the performances, the training and all the aiding at the mutant lair. Not that I am complaining, though. I love spending time with them and helping them like I used to do when I was still Kat/Kitty Girl.

I am so happy they finally seem to have found their home where they can feel safe with no fear of getting captured and tortured all the time. It is sad that none of them recognizes me for who I was but I am not about to let that affect me. What’s important is that they are safe and it is a blessing to be able to form new relationships with them all over again.

Jensen still seems suspicious of me at times, but I have been helping them so much with grocery shopping that he has decided to let it go.

Anyway, onto the training! One good thing about the party’s preparations is that it is so much easier to sneak in and out of the mansion.

With a grand smile, I casually walk my way to the dojo, knowing there is no one around the mansion at this time of the afternoon. Even the mansion workers were moved to the facilities to get everything ready for tomorrow.

However, I am surprised when I hear footsteps coming my way. My heart immediately beats faster with my distress and I try to hide only to find I am in a very bland corridor.

Giggles call my attention and I look at the end of the corridor just in time to see Cain turn around the corner, holding a little girl like a potato bag.

I tilt my head in confusion at the sight. Cain looks like a very large teddy bear, holding who I suppose is his little niece, Ricardo’s daughter.

When he notices me, Cain’s expression immediately changes and I have to stand upright at his harsh look.

 “What are you doing here?” He unceremoniously asks and I notice the little girl trying to take a peek through her uncle’s large shoulder.

“I… uh…” I mumble. “I came to train with Jack”

“That knucklehead didn’t tell you?” Cain says, pulling the little girl from his shoulder and holding her upfront with his strong arms. She looks curiously at me. “The party is tonight”

“Tonight?” I ask. “I thought it was supposed to be tomorrow!”

“Aw s**t” Cain let’s slip and then looks wide eyed at the big-eyed girl looking up at him. “Don’t tell your dad I said that”

The girl giggles, knowing her uncle would be in trouble if she did.

“Anyway, if he told you that, then he also thinks the party is tomorrow” Cain says. “I have to go warn him and you…”

He looks menacingly at me.

“You go back to the bar” He says. “Jaden is waiting for you”

“But the training-” I start.

“There is no training” Cain says, placing the little girl back on his shoulder with a warm smile. “Now let’s get this little foxy into her pretty dress”

His adoring smile to his niece is a sight I didn’t think was possible. However, as he looks at me again, his expression changes to threatening again.

“What are you still doing here?” He throws. “Go”

I don’t even complain, not daring to say another word. I just run off while I hear the little girl laugh.

“Unca Cain is big meanie” Her adorable voice says, but I am already too far away to hear anything else.

I am a bit disappointed that we won’t have any practice today but at least I will get to see Jack tonight regardless, which is nice.

I rush back to the bar and am about to sneak into my room when Stella steps in front of me, looking angry.

“How did you do it?” She asks me and I look confused at her, wanting to just swift past her and forget she ever crossed my way.

“Do what?” I ask, knowing that won’t be an easy task.

“Get Jack to take you to the party!” She shouts, obviously upset. My mouth forms an understanding oh when I realize why she is so upset. She’s jealous.

“I didn’t have to do much” I tell her. “We are friends, you know?”

“Friends don’t invite friends to this type of party!” She continues shouting. “How did you convince him? You had s*x with him, didn’t you?”

“Not really” I say, crossing my arms. “And besides, it’s not like having s*x with him would get me anywhere. It didn’t get YOU anywhere”

Her face turns red with anger and I can tell she is about to hit me but is stopped when a stern looking Jaden grabs her arm.

“I think that is quite enough, Stella” He tells her and she glares at him.

“Figures you would protect your little princess” She says, still angry. Then, she looks back at me. “He won’t always be there for you. I’ll get you someday. Everyone will know just how much of a w***e you really are”

She leaves afterwards and I try to act as if what she just said doesn’t affect me at all. But it does, oh hell, it does… I have known she and Jack were having casual s*x for a while now, but I always tried to ignore it. Having her face me like this only proves just how determined she is to have him all for herself.

“Are you alright?” Jaden asks and I notice my arms are still crossed and my nails are digging into my flesh.

“Yeah, I’m good” I say, but I guess he knows me too well to know this isn’t true.

He touches my cheek, eyeing me intensely. I avert my eyes from him as I don’t want him to read into me like he usually does. For once, I want to keep a secret from him. He sure seems to be keeping secrets from me.

I haven’t even told him how I managed to save Jack back then. Heck, I didn’t even talk to him about how I felt when I found Jack lying on the ground like that. It has been weighting on me too much, even if I try to hide it.

“What’s wrong?” Jaden asks me, his hand still gently touching my cheek.

I finally look at me and the weight of everything that has been going on finally catches up to me and I can’t take it anymore.

As a sudden sob escapes my throat, I bury my face on Jaden’s chest. He just holds me back as I place my arms around his torso. There are no questions asked. He knows I need this.

Surprisingly, no tears come out as I let out my frustrations on Jaden’s chest, not even caring is anyone crosses this corridor and hears everything.

I tell him all about what has been happening these past few weeks: about Jack and how I saved him. About Yumi and the robots. And finally, how Stella’s confrontation scares me so much. I love Jack and I want him for myself. The simple thought of him being with other women is so painful, I feel like my heart has been pierced by a thousand needles.

Jaden rubs my back as I finish my rampage and finally start to calm down, taking several deep breaths as he taught me to do.

“There’s too much about my past that doesn’t make sense anymore” I mumble, managing to reveal what has been really bothering for so long. “I need to know who I am and where I came from. I need to know how I have these strange powers that saved Jack that night”

I look at him as I say this because I know he knows more about my past than what he is letting on.

“I’ll tell you everything” He says as he looks back at me, still holding me close. “I know none of this is fair to you…”

He seems pained to tell me this. He did say once before that he would tell me more about my past but it was something he needed me to see. I thought he had regretted saying anything because he never mentioned it ever again so I didn’t push him. Now I wonder how much this ‘truth’ may affect our relationship. After all, there has to be a reason why he never told me anything all this time.

“It’s alright, Jaden” I start. “I don’t need to know”

“No, you do” He insists. “I was foolish to think I could keep this from you”

“Are you sure?” I question.

“Yes” He nods. “After the party, meet me at the beach, on our usual place, and I’ll tell you”

“Alright… I don’t want to be upset with you” I admit, my voice shaking slightly.

He smiles gently and pulls me into another hug.

“I don’t want that either” He says, holding me closely. “I’m so sorry, Amelia”

I pull back and look at him strangely.

“What did you call me?” I ask and he seems to realize his mistake.

“I meant Mia” He excuses. “Sorry, I’ve been working too much lately”

“Go rest, Jaden” I tell him with a smile.

“But I have to help you prepare” He says. “Didn’t Cain tell you?”

“He did… But I can prepare myself” I say. “I have enough time before the party”

 “Really?” He asks, more relaxed. “What are you going to wear?”

I hesitate as I really haven’t thought about it.

“I’m sure I have a proper dress somewhere” I counter.

“And what about that hair of yours?” He continues.

I instinctively hold onto my messy hair. “What’s wrong with my hair?”

He laughs at my reaction. “I don’t think a messy hair is proper enough for a fancy party, Mia. And neither are your usual dresses”

“What do you suggest, then?” I ask and he smiles.

“Come with me and find out” He says and starts leading the way. I follow him, now too curious to refuse him.

He takes me to his room where I see a bunch of stuff, like makeup and hair products, all ready to use. He tells me to sit down on a chair and I do so as he starts working on my hair, placing all kinds of things to smoothen my messy curls so it is as straight as it has never been.

I am curious to how I look, but he makes sure I have no mirror nearby until he is done. Next, he moves to do my makeup despite all my complaints of how I can do it myself. He shuts me up when he says I only know how to do hooker makeup.

He steps back to look at me when he is done and the smile on his face tells me I probably look pretty.

“Can I look now?” I ask, dying to see myself in a mirror.

“Not yet” He says. “First, you have to put this on”

He goes into his closet and removes the most beautiful dress I have ever seen. It has a beautiful orange color, my favorite, with tiny bows adorning the chest and short sleeves. The skirt that will reach down my knees has tiny crystals that sparkle when the light touches them. It’s perfect.

“Jaden…. That’s…” I start, unable to speak properly for a moment. “It’s… perfect... When did you get it?”

“Oh, well…” He says, looking at the dress he is holding in his hands. “I may or may not have gone into a shopping spree when Cain told me Jack had invited you to the party”

“You dummy” I say, shaking my head but being unable to hide how emotional I am getting over this. “You didn’t have to”

“Of course, I did” He says. “Mia, you deserve this and so much more. Giving you the perfect look on your first party with Jack is the least”

I try not to tear up, but can’t avoid sniffing.

“Oh, stop it!” I say. “You’re going to make me ruin my makeup”

He chuckles and hands me the dress. “Put it on”

Not wasting any more time, I quickly remove my clothes and put on the dress that fits me perfectly, showing all of my curves beautifully.

Finally looking at myself in the mirror, I can barely recognize myself. Jaden has made me look as beautiful as a princess and I certainly feel like one in this dress.

“Thank you, Jaden…” I say. “I… I have no words…”

He places a hand on my shoulder and smiles at me through the mirror.

“I’m so proud of you, you know that?” He says, making me want to cry again. “You have managed to do so much with so little”

Turning around, I hug him tightly again. It is good to have my adoptive brother back. He smiles gently, wiping the stray tear before it can do any damage.

“Now, go” He says. “Your date will meet you at the Hamato Industries entrance”

I nod and kiss his cheek before I head out, hesitating before walking out of the room section. The girls will be so surprised to see me like this. My heart hammers against my chest at the expectation of tonight.

Good things are sure to follow.