Avenging You

Chapter 13

Parker

Ryan and I had to put more effort into hiding our appearance since the Aberrations recently saw us. And since at the last attack I recognized one of them as that woman from the house we knew we had to be careful to not get caught. The others aren’t as noticeable because they aren’t as powerful, so nobody cares to seek them out.

I put my hair in a braid and put a beanie on the top of my head. Thankfully it’s cooler weather right now so me wearing a beanie doesn’t seem suspicious.

I wear baggier clothes so it’s harder to define my shape and I put some glasses on because I know they wouldn’t be looking for anyone with glasses.

We only have one car right now, but thankfully it’s a minivan so it can fit all of us. I sit in the very back because I knew that Tom or Jasper would want to drive.

When Ryan sits beside me, I notice he had the same idea that I did because he is wearing a baseball cap and glasses. He smiles softly at me and I return it but feel tense as Ryan and I still aren’t on great terms.

Jasper and Ava sit in the bucket seats in front of us while Tom and Emma sit in the front with Tom driving off to wherever we needed to go.

Tom says as we drive, “We’ll need to split up and arrive back to the car at different times. The bigger group we’re in the more obvious we are.”

I speak up, “It’s probably best for Ryan and I not to be together due to the fact our powers are strong and it will make our aura really strong being around one another.”

“Good point, okay what if we split the group up in half. Guys and girls?”

Ava asks, “Don’t you think that will look obvious too? How about Parker with Tom and Jasper and Ryan can stick with me and Emma.”

Ryan says, “That’s fine with me.”

Tom says, “Okay it’s decided then.”

When we get to the store I leave with Jasper and Tom first as we head into the first store. It’s some hardware store. I don’t know exactly what Tom is planning to get, but he knows what items we need for booby traps meanwhile I’ve never even set one up before so I don’t know the items we would need.

Ryan and the girls are going to a technology store to get some cameras and monitors for us. It doesn’t surprise me that they weren’t sent to get that stuff. Ava specializes with technology, Jasper does to, but that’s because his power involves that. When it comes to what is the best kind of tech, we can get that is right up Ava’s alley.

It was nice getting to be around Tom and Jasper. I actually can’t remember the last time that I hung out with just the two of them.

They don’t seem to focus as much on the past and instead choose to focus on the present and the time we get to spend together. I mean I don’t mind talking about my time in Paris, but I don’t like focusing on that the entire time.

Jasper picks me up by my waist and lifts me up to grab something he can’t grab and the three of us laugh.

He sets me back down and says, “You know I’ve missed having you around. Everyone else gets mad if I do that to them.”

I chuckle, “Gee, I wonder why. You know if you put AJ on your shoulders you’ve probably made a best friend for life.”

Jasper says, “I should do that, he’s a cool kid, Par.”

I nod in agreement and Tom says, “We know like nothing about young kids like that, but we all really do enjoy being around him. It’s like he’s a tiny adult he doesn’t really act like a kid.”

I nod, “Yeah, I know. Now that I know he has abilities it makes me wonder if he could have some power that like makes him more knowledgeable? I don’t know, it’s just a theory.”

Tom shrugs as we continue to walk, “It’s not impossible, a kid that young with powers is unheard of and on top of that he was your kid and you have tons of abilities. I’d honestly be a little surprised if he didn’t end up with more than one power.”

I nod slowly absorbing that thought. I never really thought about AJ having a lot of powers although it makes sense that he would. He’s just my little boy that trying to picture him having as much power as I do is really difficult to understand.

The three of us continue to walk and chit chat until it was time to check out and meet back up with the others.

Ryan

It’s kind of weird hanging out with just Emma and Ava. They tried to interact with me at first but then they just started trying to find everything we needed with me following behind them and carrying whatever items they picked out.

I wish we had split off according to gender, but I guess they had a point and that the Aberrations may would be looking for that. I look around the store which is mostly empty which makes me feel a little more at ease. I’m just ready to get back home. I got out of the bunker, but I would’ve been satisfied with a run and then coming back inside.

Soon enough we’re headed to the car and I’m glad that we make it before the others. Ava turns towards me and asks, “What’s going on with you, Ryan?”

I shrug, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Emma scoffs as she turns towards us, “Yeah you do. What’s up with you and Parker and why haven’t you forgiven her yet?”

“She left us.”

“So?” Both girls say in unison, but Emma continues, “She left us trying to do the best she could for an innocent baby. If Ashton was still here, we all know that she never would’ve made that choice. She was young, she was mourning, she was terrified for both her life and her unborn child’s… why can’t you move forward?”

I huff, “She told me about AJ.”

Ava touches my knee, “I know Ryan, she told you she was pregnant before she left.”

I shake my head no and say, “No, she got in my head right after giving birth and she told me she and he were doing good. She told me his name.” I sigh heavily before continuing, “She told me he was born on Ashton’s birthday. Then she blocked me out. She didn’t even let me congratulate her. I’ve searched for her for five years and when she got in my head to tell me that and blocked me out it just it hurt me.”

I watch as both of the girls faces scrunch up as if they just ate a lemon and Ava asks, “How could you not tell any of us that?”

My eyes widen in shock that they were upset with me over this and Emma says, “We were all worried about Parker and looking for her. At least she let you know she was okay.”

“I should’ve been there for her.”

Ava rolls her eyes, “You can’t change the past so move on and stop being selfish! This isn’t helping any of us and it’s not going to help us defeat the Aberrations if you two are constantly at each other’s heads!”

She turns around and crosses her arms and the doors open as the others return. I look at Parker as she sits down beside me and takes off her beanie. I guess she must’ve gotten hot inside. I have a hard time looking away from her and I want to talk to her and fix this, but I just don’t know how.