I have no idea why Elaine is so mad at me! I didn't do anything wrong! So much for "starting fresh."
I look at an old family photo of hers, so what?
"Parker here, walked over to my nightstand and looked at the family photo I have on it," Elaine says, tapping her foot rhythmically.
"And that means you hit him?" Bayani says, slowly, while nodding—his expression blank.
"He also called me 'Lainey' when I walked over there to ask what he was doing. Which means that he had to have read my journal without my permission, because only my penguin ever called me that!"
"Force of habit!" I absentmindedly retort.
"What?!" Elaine snaps.
I freeze. That was by far the worst response I could've had. It's only slightly worse than saying 'I'm Chameleon.'
"Giving people nicknames?" I say, rather unconvincingly, even to myself.
"Bullshit! You read it! My personal stuff! Privacy exists for a reason, Parker!"
"Parker! You can't read a girl's journal like that!" Kara chimes in with a very fake scandalized look on her face, poking me in the forehead.
"Don't fan the flames, Kara." Bayani sighs.
I really didn't read it though! Why am I getting smacked around over this?!
I take a sharp inhale and step toward Elaine, holding out my hand. Admitting to this, even though I didn't do it, is a better alternative than the truth.
"I'm sorry, Elaine. It was wrong of me to pry. You deserve privacy on family matters."
"You're goddamn right I do." She lightly smacks my hand away.
Elaine huffs slightly before turning around, "I don't care that this breaks the punishment, I need some time alone. Go hang out in Bayani's room for an hour. Don't leave." She then storms over to her room, swipes herself in, and lets the door close behind her.
Kara backs up slightly, "Dude, you really set her off."
"Let's go inside and talk. I didn't actually read her stuff, but I didn't want to tell her the real reason."
Kara, now realizing the seriousness of the situation, straightens up and snatches Bayani's ID from his pocket.
"Hey!" Bayani shouts as Kara makes her way toward his room.
"Let's go," Kara replies, swiping us into Bayani's room, "Go on in."
"Thanks for the permission to go into my room." Bayani sighs.
We enter the room, and Kara sits down on Bayani's bed. Bayani takes a seat right next to her, and I sit down on the floor across from them.
"Spill," Kara motions to me.
Well, I have to say something believable. I can't just tell them my entire history and identity, so I need an abridged version of the truth.
"My adoptive mother… Her name is Elaine." I start, now making things up as I go. "When she first adopted me, I called her 'Lainey' before I called her mom."
Sorry, Miss Claire, for now naming you "Elaine" to the others.
"Oh. Why didn't you tell Elaine that? She would've understood." Bayani asks. A reasonable question, but I can be fully honest in my answer to this one.
"I want that family to know as little about me as possible," I say, a level of disdain slipping into my tone.
"Paragon?" Kara asks.
"Paragon," I affirm.
"That photo, the one I looked at. It was Elaine and her little brother playing in a park. My mom used to take me to the same one. I was reminiscing." I explain. Not entirely a lie.
"Huh, so you and Elaine lived in the same neighborhood when you were six? Me too, surprised I never met you." Kara remarks, "Well, I only lived there for six months before moving into HQ, so that could be why."
"I didn't live there all too long either."
"I've never been. When Ironhide took me in, he and Kara were already living in HQ. Is it nice?" Bayani chimes in.
"Meh." I shrug. "It's great!" Kara chirps at the same time.
"What? It was so well kept, especially because Ironhide was patrolling it all the time!" Kara argues.
"Only places I've ever been in that neighborhood are the park and my birth family's house. Neither of them was well kept." I fire back.
"Well, Ironhide didn't patrol your birth family's house, did he?" Kara playfully retorts, sticking her tongue out.
"Kara. That's insensitive." Bayani reprimands.
"He did come over often, as a matter of fact." I retort.
"You knew Ironhide?!" She gasps.
"I did."
"That… Actually explains quite a bit about our first meeting."
Maybe telling her I knew Ironhide was giving away too much? That gets way too close to my identity, the one beyond just "Chameleon."
"Well. Happy to get to know you more." Kara yawns, punching my shoulder lightly. She then lies back in Bayani's bed. "Sleeping here."
"Go to your own room," Bayani complains.
"Nah," Kara dismisses, adjusting herself and closing her eyes.
It's near the end of the day. I should probably go back to Elaine's room and call Miss Claire. I stand up and start walking toward the door. Kara, not getting up, pipes up, "Parker. We're attacking the Clubs in five days. Give it all you got, 'kay?"
"Alright," I nod, exiting the room, walking across to Elaine's door, and knocking. She opens the door, sighing.
"I apologize for attacking you. But don't touch my shit,"
"Yeah. Won't happen again."
Elaine nods, hopefully she found that satisfactory. She steps aside to let me in.
I enter the bedroom and sit down on her couch.
"By the way. No morning training tomorrow. You, Elizabeth, and I are going to church." She states matter-of-factly.
"Seriously? I would rather train." I protest.
"Nope. Tomorrow is Sunday. I personally don't believe, but my sister does. I always accompany her, so you have to go. Where I go, you go, remember?"
I let out an audible groan. I haven't ever been. My birth family did. They never let me go places with them, though.
"Fine. I guess I have to." I huff, pulling out my phone and dialing Miss Claire's number.
"Who are you calling?" Elaine pipes up.
"My Mom. I promised her when I moved in here that I'd call her every night before I went to bed. She's abroad right now."
"Abroad? Cool. Where?"
"I dunno." I lie. I'd rather not have anyone here know where or catch wind of who she is.
Miss Claire picks up and greets me, "You alone? Just so I know what to call you."
"Still with Elaine," I reply.
"Great. Alright, Parker. How's it going? And why did you lie to Eun-ji about me giving you an errand?"
Well, I assumed she'd ask. I should've prepped something in advance. I'll just go with what I told Eun-ji. The story has to match, right?
"I wanted to…" I pause, knowing that Elaine is right there. "Train with a friend. And we had ice cream too."
"What?" Elaine stands up, "Did you go outside when I left you alone because I had to go to a meeting?!"
"N–No! We had it delivered! Mr. Eun-ji's place did that because I'm his apprentice!"
Elaine grumbles and lies back down on her bed. I'm not too sure she fully believes me.
"Kiddo, did you actually go outside?" Miss Claire asks.
"Yes, Mom, I was good today," I reply, knowing Elaine can only hear what I say, not what Miss Claire says. Well, I guess that's what I hope is the case. I'm hoping to steer Elaine off the topic.
"Gotcha, so you did… Well, don't use me as your excuse next time. I'm sure Eun-ji wouldn't have minded that outing if you were honest. He and I want you to have friends. Who was it, Kara?"
"Bayani." I correct.
"Well. Either way. Don't lie to any of us. Jane, Eun-ji, and I really want you to be safe. So you gotta be honest, yeah?" She lightly scolds, no anger in her tone, but definitely not appreciative of the lying.
"Yeah."
"Well, as long as you didn't do anything stupid while you were out. I'm not gonna be too mad." She says, a little strained.
"Are you alright, Mom?"
"Yup! I'm fine, just stretching."
"Okay…" Not sure if I entirely believe that. Guess we're both hiding things from each other.
"Alright, kiddo. Sorry that I don't have too much time to talk; now I'm getting to the business portion of my trip, so my time is more limited. But I promise I'll always pick up when you call, no matter what, okay?" She promises, sounding a little out of breath.
Has she been moving or doing something the entire time we were on call?
"Okay."
"Get some sleep, Parker. Good night."
"Good night, Mom."
Miss Claire promptly hangs up the phone.
"Are you gonna be calling her every night?" Elaine asks, pulling a blanket over herself.
"Yes, I will be."
"Got it. I'll try to tune out the conversations, because I value privacy," She says, obviously a pointed comment at me.
"Understood." I nod, settling myself on the couch to sleep.
"Good night, Parker."
"G'night, Elaine."
With that, I find myself staring at the ceiling above me until I feel the exhaustion of the day slowly take me to sleep. I do feel a small sense of dread as I do, not looking forward to the next morning.
I guess I'm going to church tomorrow.