Chapter 4: working up the nerve
I walked out of my dorm building. Today, I couldn't be stopped, for some reason I woke up and felt like I could fight a bear, two bears, polar bears. This feeling was perfect for today, I only had one class, and that class was with Anna. With all this it makes today the prefect day to work up the nerve. As I was walking to class I waved to Tally. I can do anything today.
*~*~*
Someone is confident today, “rock her world buddy” I said to Jake.
He probably didn't pay any attention, doesn't matter I have my own matters to attend to. As  I was walking away, I heard some rustling in some bushes I was walking past. At first I guessed it was the squirrels, their crazy, our school is famous for them. But then my senses started tingling, I continued walking away. Then out of the corner of my eye I saw a black haired girl appear out of said bushes.
I recognized her, I spun around and watched her. She was creeping behind Jake, she was staring up at me and Jake when we were playing on the roof last night. I didn't think much of it, considering that you don't see two people making music on the roof everyday. It was probably the girl Jake pointed out earlier too. Jake usually walks to class in an odd fashion, even though he was heading to the science classroom, he usually walks through the shopping center just to see if there was anything going on. She tailed him, and followed his every move, trying to act like she was heading to the same place even though she wasn't. At one point, I walked up behind her, “you lost?” I asked
She turned around and almost glared at me, “you do seem to not no where you're going” I said “I notice you're following that guy, not to insult him but he's not gonna lead you anywhere”
“and who the hell are you” said the girl
“I should be asking you the same question, I've noticed you stalking my friend” I said
“You're friend? Ah yes you're the redhead he's been hanging out with” she said “and you're trying to protect him, cute”
“I want you to leave him alone” I said
“you must be his girlfriend” she said “or at least trying to be”
I was silent, “that was harsh” I said
She looked into my eyes, let her fingers go through my hair and kind of smiled “you look nice and you're pretty, so I'm going to give you some real advise. Be patient with that one, he takes forever to realize that he found a great woman who like him.” she said
Eventually a man appeared behind me, he was a damn mountain, “is something wrong Amanda” he said
“I was just making friends with this girl, don't worry Maxwell” said Amanda “Did you find her?”
“Yes” he said “she just left her home, probably for class or something, I still think you're going the wrong way with this though”
“I doesn't matter, lets go” she said as she walked away “oh and one more thing”
She looked at me “guys like him tend to not like being protected from girls, especially from his ex”
That was weird, honestly I think shes the one who needs to be tailed.
*~*~*
I made sure I sat next to her, due to recent events she had a hard time walking around and getting in the chairs so she sat in the back of the classroom. Like a number of girls she continued to try to wear the same clothes, with the exception of the gloves none of her goth clothes fit. It looked like after only being able to go past her breasts, her shirt gave up, and only from her will alone her pants didn't split.
“Interesting class huh?” I asked
“I guess its as interesting as physical science gets” said Anna
I've always hated asking girls out, it's always been one of the hardest things for me to do, one of my better desires is for to have a girl ask me out. However last night while sleeping I came to a conclusion. The hardest thing for me to do was public speaking, but then for an assignment I got over my fear and then success happened and now I'm usually the one who makes speeches and toasts at parties. The way I see it if I get over my fear of asking girls out, success will happen.
“So do you have any plans for tonight?” I asked
“plans?” she said
“Yeah like are you going to do something” I said
“no” she responded “why”
“well, I have no plans for tonight, and if you have no plans for tonight we could plan to do something together” I said
“a date?” she said
“if you want to call it that” I said
She was silent for a good couple of seconds “Jake I don't think that would be a good idea” she said
“why not?”
“In this condition I don't think I should be dating anyone, you understand right?” she said looking for agreement
I wanted to say hell no that was a terrible excuse, and maybe I should have but I said what she wanted to hear “yeah I guess you're right”
“thanks Jake” she said
I wanted to ask if things were different would she go out with me, but I didn't want to know what the answer was.

I replayed what happened for the rest of the day and up to my daily training session with Hailey. “So far we've been through, heightened senses and telekinesis but those parlor tricks won't help you much in battle” said Hailey “it's time I start teaching you how to defend yourself”
I smiled, the only thing that could get my mind off of girls is learning about psychic attacks. “using your own frustration you can focus your psi into energy attacks” said Hailey
“It starts with trying to take something your stressed about in your mind and focus on it”said Hailey
A blue energy started to appear in her right hand and took the form of a ball, “its easier if you're in battle” she smiled “then let it go”
She launched the shot at the wall. “It's pretty much the psychic's version of the magic missle, the psychic missile I guess, now you try” she said as I focused on what had been frustrating me  “at first you can only launch one or two shots a day but once you build up your mental muscle you can...”
I launched multiple attacks at the wall, she was silent “damn Jake” she gasped “stressed much?”
“I guess” I said
We both locked gazes for a second, my guess that one of the reasons why we were best friends is that we can tell when one of us were is stressed. “you look like you could use a night out” she said
“wanna go out?” I asked
“sure” she said
*~*~*
A large black van appeared and dropped off a large box. It was the package we've been waiting for, the anti psychic attack implements. Amanda opened the box, she pulled out her weapon, it was a pistol looking thing with a second handle. “Is my weapon in there?” I asked
She pulled out the power gauntlet(sized for larger hands), “you and your thing with power gloves” she said as she handed me the glove
It looked like a metal gauntlet but I knew it was more than that, I put it on, fits like a glove “which reminds me how is the blonde doing?” I asked
“she's going on a date tonight” said Amanda “I'll get her after she comes back”
“how odd, last time I checked on my target he appeared to be getting ready for a night out as well” I said
“wouldn't it be something if they were both going together” she said
We both had a good laugh, I looked at the stars, the moon was full “tonight is a good night for an ambush” I smiled
*~*~*
I put on my dark socks, my good shoes, and I even changed my underwear. I looked at my self in the mirror and weighed the pros and cons of combing my hair, then opened the cabinet under my sink, I looked through my colognes. Which one of her favorite colors should I wear, I decided to go with blue, triple blue my favorite and signature smell. Then I struck a fighter pose in the mirror, I'm feelin good “you smell nice” said Bill
“Hrnh!?”
I didn't notice him there, “I take it you asked that one girl out” said Bill
“yep” I said
“Sweet she said yes” said Bill
“nah she shot me down” I said “painfully”
“then who are you going out with?”
“A different friend” I said
“you work fast” he said
I looked at the clothes rack, I put on one of my cool guy shirts, black and blue. “don't think to much of it” I said
I left my room “have a good time” I said
As I was walking away I noticed Lux walking into my dorm, I guess it won't be that difficult for him. I rode the elevator down, I got off and noticed Hailey was standing on the ground floor wearing a blue top, that went down her belly but not that far. “you look nice” I said
She was playing with her top “I'm surprised you couldn't find anything that fits” I said
“I did but I knew you liked it when clothes fit like this” she said
“how?”
“I've been in your dreams remember” she said
“I'll have to remember to take one or two trips into yours” I said
“absolutely not” she said
“I see how things are you can go into mine but I can't go into yours” I said
“yep” she said
As I was thinking of a remark my eyes drifted down to her chest, I remembered that her boobs were pretty big, even before the pregnancy. I usually try not to think too much about them though, its kind of weird to think about my best friend like that. We got into the car “so you pay for food I pay for the movie” she asked
“I'm good with that” I said
I guess I should explain, we started doing this when Hailey broke up with someone really nasty, not the type of guy who knows how to treat girls properly. Even though this guy was a jerk she had a hard time getting over it. One day when she was real depressed, so I came to the conclusion that she needed a nice night out. So I asked her out on a date, and showed her a nice time.
Some time after that she took me out on a day I was depressed, since then we've been going out on dates. Sometimes we take turns to pay and sometimes we split the bill, she usually doesn't do it like that though.

We went to the theater to watch the new action movie, with that one guy from a tv show that I watch on a regular basis but since I saw him in the movie it was weird because I'm used to seeing him as someone else. She payed twenty for the tickets and seven for a thing of popcorn(she didn't share, almost got my hand bitten off trying to get some), I snuck drinks in like I usually did. The movie was decent, it was our kind of movie.
After the movie we went to the next to the theater restaurant I ordered my usual food, she ordered two appetizers and two entrees. I sipped my coke, “so are you going to share that” I said looking at the double order of appetizer sampler.
“I wasn't planning on it” she said
“plans changed” I smiled as I took an onion ring
“didn't plan on paying for food for five people” I said “you pay for food I pay for movie”
“I figured you would've caught that one” she said “didn't mean to trick you though”
“movie prices weren't as high as I remember” I said “don't worry I would've had to pay around this anyways”
“ah you asked Anna out” she said “and it didn't work out”
“usually doesn't” I said
she continued to eat, I guess she really is hungry, more food arrived and she went from the appetizers to the entrees. I ate some of my food but just couldn't help but stare, my guess is at one point she drifted off into her own world. I ate my food, it was good, I didn't appear to enjoy it as much as she did. “this one really is pregnant” said the waitress
“yeah” I said as we both chuckled
“so I take it you're the father” she said
I should've said no but for some reason I said “yes”
I don't know why maybe to go well with appearances, maybe because I caused it, and possibly because I was happy about what I did. I created a world I liked better, I've been more stressed out because of it but I was happier. It seemed like everyone else was happier in their new form too, I didn't know if it was because of me or because of the fake pregnancy hormones. Everyone not only became accustomed to what was going on but they seemed to like it.
“so do you want dessert after you're finished with that” the waitress asked
There was a relief, Hailey never really cared for sweets, “do you have cake?” she asked
Damnit! “we have angel food” said the waitress
“I'll have some” she said
“two forks please” I said as she left to get the cake
“who said you were getting any” she said
“Me, I want to get a piece of some warm and moist sweetness from somewhere” I said without thinking
A creepy smile went across both of our faces, then strange silence, I don't know exactly what was going to happen but it felt like be were both gonna jump across the table and into each other.  “cake” said the waitress
Our attention both drift toward the cake, I didn't know what was going to happen but it was probably best that it didn't happen. She started eating, I took my fork in and ate some “thanks for the night out” I said
“you paid for it” said Hailey
“yeah but we kind of needed it” I said
“true from here things are only going to become harder for you” said Hailey
“what?”
“things are only going to become more difficult, not just training but challenges await you” said Hailey “thought I should let you know”
*~*~*
“Okay both of our targets should be returning soon” said Amanda
We were both outside of the target's dorm building “so they both live in this building? Strange, you sure they don't know each other” I said
“its not that strange its a big building” said Amanda “I've been told that half of the sophomores live here”
“So are we going to wait for both of targets here?” I asked
“no thats too risky, I'm going to take the other entrance incase one them go in that way” she said
“what if both of them show up at the same time in the same entrance?” I asked
“that probably won't happen” she said
She walked away, I stood in my spot for a good few minutes, I brought a magna novel to read while I was waiting for one of the targets to show up. Amanda said her target was a short blonde pregnant girl, figured it would be a blonde, she hated them. I wonder if she really believed it was her or if she was full of crap, then again my readings off my target weren't that high either, however I have a feeling about this one.
Before I started to read, a girl appeared at first I thought it was the target but she was too tall, not that tall but Amanda made her target sound like a midget she guessed around four, ten. This one was over five feet foot two, she came closer, I recognized her then. “Ah the little red haired girl” I said “or should I say not so little”
“Funny” she said
“what are you doing here?” I demanded
“I could ask you the same question” she said
“none of your business” I said “go away”
“when you and your friend started spying on Jake it became my business” she said “and the power glove holster tells me your business isn't good”
Most people don't know what a gauntlet holster looks like and some people argue that one doesn't exist. “I'm with the paranormal investigation service”
“A PIS Off?” she said laughing
I started to get frustrated but then I noticed something “what is that behind your back?” I bellowed
She smiled “I half expected a fight to start” she said
Her katana flashed a light at me “you think you can take me on?” I said “do you even know how to use that, or how to fight”
“Jimmy taught me how to fight big jerks like you” she said
I laughed “what is your name?” I asked
“Tally, and I suggest you put that glove on” she said
“I'm saving it” I said
“humor me” she said “I'm going to use my weapon
*~*~*
We walked home, Hailey was hanging on my shoulder. The date was almost over I just had to walk her to the entrance and then I go back to my place. I looked up at the stars, “they're pretty tonight aren't they” she said
“they always are” I said
We stopped and stared up for a moment, but then I a green light getting brighter. I screamed her name as I pushed her away. Then I was constricted by a green whip, it felt like I was being electrocuted and my entire inner being was being priced by fire. I followed the whip to see who it was connected to. I couldn't describe the horror I felt seeing who was holding the whip “ah-man -duh” I could barely mutter
She looked just as shocked as I did “Jake?” she questioned
The stream broke when a blue wave froze her from most of her from the neck down, “you need to chill out betch” said Hailey
“what are you doing?” I asked
“careful with this one she has anti psi weapons” injected Hailey “don't get hit”
“I'm here to take down two psi users but you can't be the messy brown haired boy that Maxwell was talking about” said Amanda then she turned her head toward Hailey “you're the one I'm looking for ”
“Me?” said Hailey
“you caused all this” said Amanda
“caused what?!”
“the out break of pseudo pregnancy” said Amanda“and under the authority of the paranormal investigation service I will take you in”
“so that would make you a Pis Off” I said “and she didn't cause it”
I almost said I caused it but didn't want to draw her attention to me, however I wanted to know why she ignored me. She broke out of the ice, pulled out her pistol whip weapon, shot me, then tangled Hailey with her whip.
I was floored, I wondered why she ignored me, she never thought that highly of me, even when we were rivals, and she always had a serious hate for blondes. I got back up and walked toward her, she was torturing my friend, I couldn't let it go on. I still didn't know why she didn't accuse me of anything, she even knew that I liked pregnant women. As I readied myself for an attack, dozens of images went through my mind. She did know about my secret she was the only other person I told about my fetish, on one or two special occasions she even dressed up as a pregnant woman.
Then it hit me, the only reason why she refused to target me was because she still loved me, tears went down the corner of my eye when the shot hit her.
*~*~*
The big man was on the ground whining like a baby, “toughen up its only nerve damage” I said
His shirt was torn revealing multiple scratches, “You'll be able to walk again in twenty four hours, if you're fortunate your friend will find you before the cops” I said
I heard noises coming from what seemed like the other side of the building “however I have a feeling that she is being taken care of someone else” I said
“I had fun tonight Mr. Steel” I said finally walking away “I could use a snack”
*~*~*
It wasn't fun but we both eventually knocked out Amanda, “it was a good thing we were together” said Hailey “I don't think I could've taken her down on my own”
“yep” I said
“you said you knew her, what was she an old friend or something?” she asked
“my ex girlfriend” I said
“ouch” she said
“I wondered where she went after high school” I said “I guess this is where she went”
“we need to increase your training” she said “I knew bad stuff was coming but not this soon”
“what?” I said
“you can't have me save you all the time” she smiled “it's just not attractive”