11 All Hands On Deck

"We became friends not because we wanted to- but because we needed to. And that was the best fricking thing that has ever happened to us."

"Whoa."

"Wow."

"How the hell did I never know about this place?"

"Wait-someone's missing."

All eyes turned to me.

I smiled. "Mia Woods."

Thank the lords, I didn't screw up her name.

'Flashback time.' I sang in my head.

________________________________________________________________-

Alex shut herself up. Candy sighed and then apologized and said that she didn't mean it and it was all in a fit of rage. Alex smiled- genuinely, might I add - and they both hugged and made up. Clearly, they've always been friends but none of them acknowledged each other at school.

I wondered why.

"We have to do something about this." Candy announced, a hint of determination in her eyes.

"Y-Yes." Emmy agreed (Emma or Amy, whatever you like- please excuse me)

"We should make it our goal to teach all of them a lesson. Bullying shouldn't be taken so lightly and it didn't matter what problems they had. Everyone had problems of their own. No one was perfect. And It's time to remind them that." Cady declared.

Jeff smiled, as he put his hand in front. "All hands on deck?"

"All hands on deck." We slapped our palms on top of the other's and then broke the contact. It was a good thing that the students of our school were finally be taught 'manners' and the 'basics of giving someone respect'. Even if I didn't stuck around schools much and their problems shouldn't have been my problems, something inside of me screamed-

Jeff didn't have problems

Cady didn't have problems

but they still wanted to fight for Alex and Emma

Emma wasn't a friend

But they were humans

And we were doing nothing but fighting for the cause of humanity

That is a lot to take in for a seventeen year old - soon to be eighteen.

"So where do we plan our....mission?" I asked.

Jeff and Cady shared a look before giving us a smirk. "We know just the place."

_____________________________________________________________________________

'Flashback over' *Snaps fingers*

"Mia Woods?" Jeff pretended to think as he walked to the center of the table. "Are you sure she isn't here?"

I raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Alex, Emma and I had the same question but only I was the one to voice it.

Candy smiled. "Turn."

All three of us turned in unison to see Mia standing at the doorway- holding the tray of juice and then walking towards the long table to keep it. Frankly, the place wasn't much. It was small and comfy, there was a long conference table with just the right amount of chairs to fit all of us, a large t.v screen hung on the wall, a large window which showed an amazing view and at one corner of the room, there was a small shelf-cum-drawer.

"I present to you, my HQ!" Jeff exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air.

"Our HQ." Candy corrected.

We stifled our laughter.

Jeff gritted his teeth. "You had to ruin the moment."

Cady shrugged. "Couldn't help it."

"How did you find her?" I asked about Malai.

Damn it!

"Well, Mia is a family friend of ours- guys, take your seats. Choose anywhere you want except the solo one- cause it's mine."

Jeff chose the one at the center of the table. His HQ, his rules.

"So, she knew the place and I didn't?" Alex grumbled.

Candy smiled. "Now you know."

"But-"

"No buts, no ifs-"

"How will we sit then if we don't have butts?"

All eyes turned to Jeff who was laughing at his own joke. When none of us joined, he sniffled.

"No one cares about good jokes. No appreciation. No nothing. Huh!"

Candy rolled her eyes.

So did we.

"We filled Mia in on what happened during our car ride here so she knows everything." Candy stated.

"Save the plan?"

"Save the plan."

"So, what is the plan?"

Jeff stood up from his seat, an evil smirk on his lips. "Now we're talking. I will take time and explain my devious plan. 'Cue the evil laughter'."

"You sound like Loki." Alex deadpanned, taking a sip from her juice.

"I intended to."

"Jeff!" Candy scolded, throwing her brother a glare.

"So...here's what we will do."

_____________________________________________________________

After an hour..

"So, we will have to pretend to be friends and back ourselves up?" I asked after Jelly ended his speech.

"Not exactly." He paused. "You see, we shall not form any new friendships-other than the ones we already have- but we will pretend to be friends so it would be easier if one person stood for the other and no questions would be asked. We do not really have to be friends to be loyal to the team. We are doing this for the sake of humanity and all of us have one motive in mind. 'To defeat the evil forces'. We will have to stick together through thick and thin and-" He paused for a mini second. "-we shall have boundaries, that is written in this very book."

"Contract." Candy corrected.

"Don't make me sound like I stole the idea from somewhere!" Jelly stage- whispered.

Candy shrugged. "It's the truth."

"Where did you steal it from?" Alex asked, now suddenly interested in the conversation.

"You know where!"

"The writer's going to be after you." Candy mumbled.

"Oh, as if I care!" Jeff cried out.

Candy raised an eyebrow and shot me a look. "Looks like someone stole your line."

"More like stole your thunder." Alex smirked.

"Ooh!!!" the others banged on the table while Alex did a dab.

"G-Guys, c-concentrate." Emma yelled.

"Contract? What does it say?" I asked.

"Well-the short version of this is- we are not allowed to share any personal details of our lives except the facts that caused our problems. Also, if by the end of everything, we stuck with each other without breaking apart, we let each other in our lives. Meaning, we let them see our vulnerable side. Before the ending, no one is allowed to break down or cry. If you cry on public, we shall comfort you but that is a show and nothing else."

"That's ridiculous, Jelly! You're asking us to be robots!" I yelled as I slammed my fist on the table.

Alex smirked. "Jelly?"

I gave her a look. "That's what you pick up from what I say, Snow White?"

She raised her eyebrows, clearly not expecting a nickname for her.

"It's not ridiculous." Candy spoke, breaking our eye contact. "It's necessary for reasons."

"S-shouldn't w-we k-know the reasons , t-then?" Emma inquired.

"Only the short versions of it."