Chosen

mugshots

"What kind of nerd breaks into a museum?" a male officer spoke as Toby got in front of a white wall, holding a black sign with his name along with a couple of letters and numbers. You and Jim had the same, only different names, letters and numbers.

"Move to the middle. Pose," the man ordered Toby. He smiled cutely as his mugshot was taken. They took a couple, Toby striking different poses with each time. "Okay, come on. No, stop!" he officer yelled. "Next!"

Jim sighed as he stepped onto the place where Toby had just been having a photoshoot. He shamefully held up his sign, looking as a great contrast to his friend. Speaking of the devil, Toby had somehow managed to sneak into Jim's mugshot and posed with his arm around him just like he had done in his own photos. The man groaned.

Then, it was your turn. You stood in the middle of the frame, like your friends had done. The bright light that shone against your face like the sun made you squint. "How does a girl like her get into this kind of trouble?" another officer asked. "Does the light have to be this bright?" you asked, pointing to it. "Pose."

About fifteen minutes later, Jim's mother stepped out of the station, speaking with Mr. Strickler. "I can't thank you enough for coming to the station," Barbra's sweet voice spoke. "They are so lucky she didn't press any charges." The three of you could hear their conversation, due to an open window in the car. "Oh, Ms. Nomura is a personal friend. She agrees with me that this was nothing but wreckless youth going amok," Strickler replied.

"I mean, who else do you think is hiding an evil troll face? Coach Lawrence? Steve?" Toby asked, finally breaking the silence that filled the car. "What if Strickler's one of them?" he gasped. "That could be true," you agreed. "Remember when he noticed my Horngazel?" "Strickler's been teaching history at Arcadia Oaks High since the dawn of history. If he's one, I'm one," Jim defended his teacher, looking back at you and Toby exchanging looks. "Are you?" you asked, poking his cheek. He scoffed and pushed the both of you back into your places in the back seats.

"So, are you gonna tell us about the bridge?" Jim asked, snatching Toby's phone from him, already displaying the picture Toby had caught. It was blurry and dark. You could almost not even see it. "It has to be the one Blinky was talking about," he said. "What? The Killa-thingy Bridge?" Toby exclaimed, the two of you leaning towards Jim in the front seat again. "That's, like, ancient history, right?" "They're trying to break Gunmark out. This is so bad. 'Goodbye, Arcadia. Hello Eternal Night' bad," you said. "As soon as we get home, we're going to Blinky."

Just then, Barbra opened the door to the car. Toby quickly returned his phone and you all out on your best innocent faces. "You really didn't have to go through all this trouble, Mr. Strickler," she apologized, sitting down in the drivers seat. Strickler poked his head slightly through the open window next to Jim's head, all eyes turned to him. "Please, 'Walter'. I'm sorry we had to meet under this unfortunate circumstance," he said. "there must be some way I can repay you. Coffee? Dinner? Appendix removal?" Barbra suggested jokingly, making Strickler chuckle and Jim almost choke.

"I.. Coffeee would be a delight. And a rain check on the appendectomy," Strickler replied, sounding almost.. flustered. The three teens exchanged worried and confused looks as he spoke. "Looking forward to it, Walter," Barbra smiled, making Jim look even more shocked. "Watch yourself, young Atlas," Strickler said, turning to Jim. "Next time, the consequences could be more severe." He gave Barbra one last flirtly smirk before heading off to his own car.

"Did you actually just ask my teacher out on a date?" Jim hissed to his mother, you and Toby smiling at eachother, excited for what was about to come next. "Don't you make this about me. You guys broke into a museum!" Barbra retorted, pointing at all of you. "And for this?" she continued, holding up Toby's Chubby Tracker. "You're grounded until you apologize to that woman." She turned over the engine and sighed deeply, waiting for an answer. "You got me?" "Yes mom," Jim replied as you and Toby let out a, "Yes, Dr. Lake," in shameful unison.

"Are you sure this is it?" Barbra asked as she stopped by the canals. "Oh yeah, I live a little further over there, but the road is so bumpy. You really don't need to worry, Dr. Lake," you smiled softly as you opened the car door. "Where do you live?" she asked worriedly. "Oh, just a small house hidden in those trees. My family doesn't like people," you lied, pointing across the canals as you stepped out of the car. "Bye then, Y/n," she said, her usual sweet tone regained. "Bye Y/n," the two boys joined in. "Bye guys," you replied. You watched Barbra drive off and round a corner before you let out a sigh and begun your way down to your home.

"Where have you been?" Blinky asked at once as you entered Trollmarket, AAARRRGGHH beside him. Both of them looking paniced. "Oh come on. I've been gone for longer than that," you shrugged it off with a smile. "Not in the surface world!" Blinky shot back. "Surface world dangerous," AAARRRGGHH agreed. "What did you even do up there that was so important that you didn't even think of telling us?" Blinky demanded to know. "Well," you begun. "A lot happened."