Power Moves - Exodus

Chapter 26: Rodger

It happened very quickly, as though it was a blur, most people wouldn't have picked it up, but Zach did. Xavier speedily and forcefully moved Leila's arm from his face, as though in a flash and twisted her arm slightly, his face breaking into a cruel smile, but his heart pounding hoping against hope that it wasn't what he thought it was 

"Is this the way you ask me out to the Royal Ball?" Xavier Johnston replied coldly, he stared carefully at Leila, looking for an ounce of realization. Leila blinked blankly, as though lost in thought, before turning around, realizing what she had done, but the whole cafeteria was silent, staring at them

"Wh-what? Oh...b-b-ball? Er..no..." Leila said, embarrassment seeping across her face. From nowhere, Leila felt another more gentle hand, clutch onto Xavier's "This isn't how you get asked to the ball buddy..." Leila felt a rush of gratitude towards the voice, which she recognized so well, she turned to see the joking face of Zach,

"Let go of my hand..." Xavier said sneering at Zach while still staring at Leila

"Let go of her's"

"She's the one who came here...in case you missed that..." Xavier said his words menacing

"I....no........sorry......I was ...a bit impulsive........."

Xavier raised his eyebrow, a scratching chair noise came from the left, Nico had kicked the chair out "Well now that you are here, why don't you join us Ms Adams?" Leila turned around looking embarrassed,

"You know what.....that's an excellent idea......Let's join them......dare I say you must be tiered of the beggars table...?" Zach said, smiling. Feeling as though she had no choice, Leila sat down awkwardly, while Xavier still clung onto her hand.

"You should know, I've never allowed just anyone to touch my face......what do you think you were doing?" Xavier said haughtily

"Er..you're face?......no-nothing...sorry...." Leila responded awkwardly while her feeling her face going red.

"Just so you know Leila has rejected Me and Nico's proposal to go to the ball together...." Taylor said to the table, while digging into his food. Xavier stared at her expressionless, while Zach winked "Good choice, I wouldn't go with them either..." Leila smiled at him, somehow in the tense situation she still felt safe with him.

"I...think I should go.." Leila said feebly while getting up, just as she felt a strong arm push her down

"Stay...................you can leave when we are all done." came the commanding voice of Xavier. Dislike for him poured into every inch of her.

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"What you will see in the best C40s is that they are not trained to argue, or to look for reason. No, that would be the job of let's say...other stakeholders such as intelligence agencies, Criminal prevention so on and so forth. C40s are specifically trained to deal with enemies. And it is their job to put the enemy down. Do you get me?" Princess had the class in pin drop silence. 

He smiled to himself; he had to admit he was good at his job. He had one job, and that was to make sure that he held the attention of his class. "So it's an....... army?" James asked from the far corner of the class

"Yes and no....... Look with a typical army you would have a lot of rules and protocols to observe. And we already know you specifically aren't good at following rules, I mean that's why you are here isn't it? While an army has to observe these limitations.......C40 don't.........that makes them both more so dangerous....and free from a traditional army. Oh don't get me wrong we do have protocols......but WE make them? You get me?" Princess looked at his class, some looked at his in amazement while others looked puzzled.