"Draco was right. It's fun being a super spy," Frank said, hiding behind two huge flower pots near the pool area. He had activated the zoom of his bionic eye to two hundred percent to spy well on the rivals, who were resting while the staff put a rubber statue into the pool, an almost terrifying figure of a cadaverous man, literally with the face of a skull, dressed in theatrical clothes and a domino mask. That was the Phantom of the Opera, the book version at least, Frank had already read it a thousand times so he knew what he was talking about.
"What are you doing here?" a female voice asked behind Frank.
"AAAAAHHH!" He screamed.
"Shhhh. Keep it down!"
"Evie?"
"Shouldn't you be helping Finn?" She whispered, crouching behind the pots next to him. She looked down, "What's a Mary Jane shoe doing here?"
"I think it's important to get information from the enemy like Zeth said," Frank whispered.
"SM-13 is already working on that, but what have you discovered?" Evie asked.
"Not much. Damon likes sunbathing. Boomer hates the sun. Anton is a dick. Kato is friendly. Deadgar is way too sensitive. Paul always gets ignored."
"I don't think you've discovered anything new."
"No, but I'm quite the gossip," he replied, giggling. "Just like the good ol' times, huh Evie? Spying on Chad and Chloe from behind the bushes?"
"You and I were a great spy team," she chuckled, looking down at Frank's hand, wanting to hold it but deciding not to, "Frank. I want to tell you something."
"You are avoiding me because you still love me?" He asked, looking her straight in the eyes. She gulped, "Is that it?"
"You know then."
"I've always known. You and I were close, almost telepathic."
"But you knew nothing about me."
"I didn't need to know anything about you to know that I loved you, and that was my mistake," Frank said, caressing her cheek, "But you are my most beautiful mistake, Evie."
She was speechless. Here they were, both crouched together behind some flower pots, gazing into each other's eyes, lost in each other. She loved his smell, his voice, his presence, everything.
"When did you know you loved me?" She asked.
"Ever since I saw you I liked you, when I kissed you I knew that, one day, I would marry you."
"But that never happened."
"It hasn't happened yet," he said, smiling, taking her left hand in his right one. She gasped. His hand was warm, with some calluses from so much gym, big and with thick fingers that slowly intertwined with her soft and thin ones. "I know it's still a possibility, you know? You and me, little house in the suburbs, kids running around here and there, a family? That can still happen."
She let go of his hand.
Kids... No. She would never have children.
"It's nice to imagine that," Evie sighed.
"Do you still love me?" He asked and she just nodded. It would have been so simple to do that from the start. "When did you find out?"
"When you and I made love for the first and only time," she whispered, looking into his eyes, "You made me feel genuinely loved that night, Frank. The way you kissed me, undressed me, the way you intertwined your fingers with mine, how slowly you moved your hips, your gaze... That's when you went from being my mission to my weakness."
"Was that your first time too?" Frank asked, Evie laughed bitterly.
"I wish it was," she said, "It was beautiful, you know? When you loved me..."
"I never stopped loving you, even when I hated you," Frank said, "Evie, I was wondering if you'd like to be my..."
Suddenly, the door of the cafeteria opened, and out stepped a bodyguard dressed in a snake-green battle suit.
"Who that?" Frank frowned, "He looks like a baddie."
"Basil Iskov," Evie grunted.
"You know him?"
"You don't want to know," Evie whispered, pulling an earpiece from her belt pouch, "I'm going to put on my bionic ear and listen."
"Yeah, I already have one included," Frank said with a little chuckle.
Evie and Frank remained silent, listening intently.
"Paul, the whole video went wrong because of you!" Anton shouted, furious, drinking soda from a can, with a cigarette in his other hand. "I told you I didn't want to see you in any shots and your stupid hair appeared in a reflection!"
"I'm sorry, I didn't see that mirror, it won't happen again," Paul apologised sincerely, walking in circles in a corner, away from everyone.
"You asked me to come so you could meet the Monster Mash apes, but you just came to make us work double time," Anton rebutted, "It's impossible to work with someone like you!"
"VI-93 reporting, Mr. Operman," Basil said.
"Umm, Anton, why is Basil here? Where's the therapist?" Paul asked, walking closer.
"I totally forgot about calling the therapist," Anton said.
"How could you forget something so important?" Deadgar asked. He was busy on his phone, texting someone, but then he looked Basil up and down, "This guy doesn't look friendly."
"I was trained to be a mortal psychoanalyst," Basil said.
"How the fuck does that make things any better?" Deadgar complained.
"It was my mum's fault for not reminding me to call the therapist," Anton said in an annoyed voice.
"You're such a mommy's boy who can't do anything for himself," Damon said, lying on a lounge chair shirtless, sunbathing with sunglasses on, taking a sip of his soda.
"I think this is a mistake, Anton." Boomer said, hiding from the sun under an umbrella that he took without permission from one of the tables in the pool area. "You should have gotten a real therapist. You are too irresponsible."
"That's true," Kato said, sitting on the floor with his legs crossed, "A real therapist and a murderous psychoanalyst are two very different things."
"I know, but with so many things I have to do it was impossible to remember it," Anton said.
"You don't do anything all day other than what your mommy tells you to do, Anton," Damon said, putting his hands on the back of his head, still enjoying the sun. "You're a loser born with a silver spoon in your mouth and still, you do nothing right."
"Come on guys. Don't be so hard on Anton," Paul said with a smile, "We can still do this. And next time you could use your phone's calendar so you don't forget it, Anton."
"Wow! Are you serious, Paul?" Deadgar was shocked, "Calm down! What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you acting like this?"
"Yes, Paul. You crossed the line," Damon said, "Since when are you so rude? Fame has already gone to your head and you're going to give us all orders now?"
"You should be more careful with your words, Paul." Boomer said.
"Paul, you should be more empathetic." Kato said, "Being understanding with others could help you a little."
"But what did I..."
"Don't try to play the victim now, Paul," Basil said, "You've already opened your mouth, you've already spat the venom, now you better shut up."
"Can we start now, Basil?" Anton asked, "I want to treat this emotional wound Paul just left on me before it starts bleeding."
"Okay, whatever! I'm Basil Iskov and welcome to your first group therapy session, yada, yada, yada," Basil said with annoyance, "I'm here because two of you told Cadence that this was a good idea and..."
"Who did that?" Deadgar asked.
"This was Paul's idea." Anton said, rolling his eyes, "Apparently he thinks we all need psychological help. He literally thinks we're crazy."
"Was this your idea?" Basil asked Paul, who looked rather confused.
"Well, it was but..."
"I will never forgive you for this, Paul," said Deadgar.
"Yes, we are not crazy," Kato said, "I don't understand why you think that."
"But..."
"You have to understand that we're all different, Paul," Boomer said, "Not everyone thinks like you."
"Yes, maybe you're the one who needs help, Paul," Anton concluded.
"What? No! I never said that! This is about us talking about our feelings so we can get along better," Paul said with a warm smile.
"Not your best idea, Paul," Anton rolled his eyes.
"We came up with it together, Anton! And you were the one who told your mum about this!" Paul said desperately.
"I think this was a great idea, Anton," Kato said.
"Oh! Thanks, burger flipper!"
"But guys..."
"Shut up, Paul," Deadgar said, "You never let anyone speak. You are so selfish! You would do well to learn to listen to other people's feelings."
"Okay, whatever." Basil sighed, "I was told you were given a small homework assignment before coming here. You were supposed to write a short letter about each other's good qualities. Who wants to go first?"
"Me," they all replied in unison.
"Oh! Ah! Okay!" Basil rubbed his nape.
"Damon, why don't you go first?" Paul asked politely, with a smile upon his face.
"Wow! And now you want to control us as if we were your puppets!" Anton said, crossing his arms.
"I wasn't..."
"It's okay, Paul," Deadgar said, "We already know what kind of person you are, it's clear for everyone to see now."
"I never said..."
"You've said enough, Paul," Basil shut him up. "I'm not paid enough to do this. Fine! Okay, everyone calm down, don't let Paul's negativity infect you. I'll decide who goes first. So... Damon, you'll read your letter first."
Damon lowered his sunglasses, staring at Basil incredulously.
"I didn't know Anton's mum was serious about that." Damon said.
"You did your homework or not?!" Basil was so done with this.
"Yeah, I didn't do that." Damon shifted his shoulders, and then put his hands on the back of his neck again.
"Wonderful!" Basil rolled his eyes.
"Good effort, Damon," Kato gave him a thumbs up.
"Anton, read your letter," Basil ordered.
Anton reached into his pocket and pulled out a coffee-stained napkin on which he had written.
"Paul, I remember when we first met," Anton read slowly. "And I think it's fucking rude how you always act like you are better than us! Grow up already and stop being an attention seeker!"
"But I'm not seeking attention," Paul said.
"Oh! OH! Here we go again, playing the victim," Deadgar crossed his arms.
"Crybaby alert," Damon said, "Fame has changed you a lot, Paul."
"Anton, you were supposed to write good things about others," Basil said.
"Ah, yes... I can't do that when Paul tries to overshadow the virtues of others."
"But..."
"Shut up, Paul." Basil hissed like a snake, "Okay, Deadgar, read your letter,"
Deadgar pulled his letter out of the pocket of his formal trousers, carefully unfolded it and began to read.
"Paul, you are like an older brother to me," Deadgar began with a calm voice, "And I'm talking about the annoying brother that everyone wants to get rid of! You know I have a rivalry with Frank Rubinstein and yet you won't shut up saying that Monster Mash are your idols! You sound like a teenage girl! Grow up already!"
"Oh, Deadgar, I didn't know you felt that way," Paul looked very surprised in his bad way, "I promise not to talk about Monster Mash again."
"Paul, wow!" Damon was really shocked, "Silent treatment? Seriously? You're not going to talk to me now either? Wow! People really change when you give them a little power!"
"But I didn't say..."
"Oh my God, Paul! Seriously?" Anton was shocked too, "You have no right to speak so rudely to Damon!"
"What did I say?" Paul looked at them confused.
"Paul, you are at an eleven, bring it down to a two." Said Boomer.
"You could be nicer, Paul," said Kato with sad eyes.
"I didn't think I'd have to deal with someone so rude when I signed the contract," Basil said, looking up and down at Paul, "Whatever! Kato, your letter?"
Kato took a postal envelope from his pocket, opened it very carefully, unfolded the sheet and began to read.
"Boomer, you and I have become the closest of friends and..."
"Wow! Fuck you, Kato!" Anton yelled.
"Yeah, what about the rest of us?" Deadgar asked.
"I don't give a shit about being friends with any of you," Damon said. "Just give me my paycheck. I have six banks chasing me for not paying credit cards and a landlord who wants to kick me out of my apartment for owing six years of rent. You're all crybabies anyway."
"Damon, that was not nice," Paul said.
"Oh! Someone has a problem with honesty around here!" Deadgar laughed bitterly, "Hypocrite! You were the one who said we should talk about how we feel, Paul!"
"It's true, Paul," Kato said, shaking his head, "How do you expect us to respect your emotions if you judge ours?"
"Fine, sorry," Paul said, taking out his letter, "Well, I wrote this from the bottom of my heart for you. It says... Guys, I am so grateful to you. You are all fantastic and very talented and..."
"Paul, I didn't tell you to read your letter," Basil said, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"But I thought it was my turn."
"You always want to gather the attention and it's so fucking annoying," Deadgar was so fed up with this.
"Paul, if you don't behave, I will have to ask you to leave," Basil said in a serious tone. Paul just sighed and put his letter back in his pocket. "Well, let's continue. Boomer, please read your letter."
Boomer took his letter out of his pocket and before reading it, he looked at all the boys with sweet eyes.
"Well, before I read this, I want you to know that I couldn't write a letter. Instead, I wrote a song, and it comes from the bottom of my heart." He cleared his throat and then, he began to sing, "Woo-ooh-ooh-ooh. Woo-ooh-ooh. Woo-ooh-ooh-ooh," Boomer made a pause, "I'm sorry, I'm having a hard time with these lyrics. I feel very emotional."
"Take your time," Anton said, his eyes glassy.
"I'll continue," Boomer cleared his throat and despite the lump in his throat that threatened to make him cry, he went on, "Woo-ooh-ooh-ooh. Woo-ooh-ooh. Woo-ooh-ooh-ooh. The end."
There was a long silence.
"That was beautiful, Boomer," Deadgar said, wiping away his tears.
"It was so inspiring," Anton was also crying.
"You touched my heart," Kato said, blowing his nose.
"You touched my soul," Damon admitted, pursing his lips, finally getting up from the lounge chair just to clap his hands.
"It's a beautiful song," Basil said, fanning himself, "You're quite an artist, Boomer. Mozart would be so proud of you."
"I... I didn't understand," Paul said, raising a hand, "I guess I'm not artistic enough to get it. Could someone explain it to me?"
"Wow! You always belittle our merits in order to stand out, Paul!" Anton said in an extremely offended tone, "You're such a narcissist. You don't have an ounce of empathy in you."
"Your words hurt me," Boomer said, tearing up his letter, "My art is worthless. My life has been ruined."
"Well done, Paul," Kato said with fury in his eyes.
"I've never met a Hunter who is even remotely as cold-hearted as you," Basil said, shaking his head, "Your cruelty terrifies me."
"But... I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, Boomer," Paul whispered.
"Are you even listening to yourself right now?" Deadgar was about to slap this bitch, "You didn't mean to? Your subconscious has just betrayed you! You didn't mean to, but you did want to!"
"I didn't say that," Paul said.
"Now you are yelling?" Damon asked.
"Wow! You are so toxic!" Deadgar said.
"Rude doesn't even finish to describe you, Paul," Anton said.
"Paul, I beg you to leave," Basil said.
Paul looked at all his bandmates and, head down, turned around and walked towards the emergency exit of the cafeteria, entering without saying a single word.
"Thank you, Basil. We feel so much better now," Anton said.
"Don't speak for me," said Deadgar, "You don't know how traumatized and hurt I am because of Paul's behaviour. You have no right to tell me how to feel!"
"Whatever," Basil rolled his eyes, "How do you feel now that Paul is gone, Deadgar?"
"Much better! Thanks for asking!" Deadgar said with a smile.
"That's what I just said," Anton replied.
"No, you said 'so much better' instead of 'much better' and that's not how I feel," Deadgar said.
"And you said it like you were better than us." Damon grunted.
"That's because I am," Anton replied.
With a quick slap, Deadgar sent Anton's soda can straight into the pool.
"Things are getting a bit tense," Basil said with a calm voice, "But I know how to fix what Paul has completely messed up. Role-playing may help."
"Yeah. That'll cost you extra," Damon said as he put his button-down shirt back on. "And I won't be a bottom."
"Not that kind of role-play! My gawd!" Basil couldn't take this anymore, "Okay, listen. Anton, you will be Damon. Damon, you will be Anton."
"Trade with me, Anton," Damon said.
"No trading!" Basil yelled. "Now, let's pretend you are all giving a concert."
"Where?" Boomer asked.
"That is not important!"
"It is important to me," said Deadgar.
"Okay, fine! Madrid!" Basil was so fed up already.
"I wanna go to Paris," said Anton.
"Me too," said Kato, "It is the city of love."
"Great! You are giving a concert in Paris!" Basil shouted, "There are hundreds of people..."
"Thousands," Anton said.
"There are thousands of people watching you on stage! Try to communicate in a polite manner," Basil ordered.
"Well. Wow!" Anton began, walking from side to side holding an imaginary microphone, "This show has been so much fun! And this crowd is amazing!"
"I can't believe someone paid a ticket to see you," Damon told Anton, "You're so untalented and ugly I feel like Celine Dion."
"I said Polite Manner!" Basil shouted.
"I said someone paid a ticket," Damon said, "When do we start whipping each other?"
"I want to be Boomer," said Kato.
"And I want to be Kato," said Boomer.
"And I want my money for the role-playing," Damon said.
"And I want to quit already," whispered Basil.
This was crazy. Evie and Frank didn't know whether to laugh, cry or feel sorry for these guys.
"Can you believe it?" Evie asked from behind the flower pots, watching everything through her electronic telescope.
"Yeah! Boomer is quite the artist," Frank said, wiping a tear, and Evie slapped him in the chest, "Ouch! What?"
"These guys are going to fall off the cliff without anyone pushing them," Evie said, putting away her telescope, "Frank, don't waste any more time on this. Go help Finn and let me work, okay?"
"Okay. I'll go to the emergency exit of the cafeteria over there and meet up with Finn in the football field," Frank said, slowly standing up, swinging one of his legs over the huge flower pot.
"Frank, you're huge! They're going to see you!" Evie whispered.
"Don't worry. I've been so discreet that I'm sure I could apply for a job as a... Ah! Shit! Crap! Fuck!" Frank fell too dramatically and complicatedly while trying to jump over the huge flower pots. One of his sneakers flew through the air and landed right where Evie was.
"Well, that explains the Mary Jane shoe," Evie said.
All the Fifth Octave boys and Basil turned at the same time.
"Hey!" An obnoxious, screeching voice made Evie and Frank look up. Anton. "Were you spying on us?!"
"No, moron," Damon said, rolling his eyes, "They're probably playing hide and seek. What a stupid question!"
"Oh, Anton! Hey, it is all a misunderstanding but..." Frank rose to his feet clumsily, "I mean, no, I wasn't spying, I mean... I am here because..."
"Zeth sent you to make a truce?"
"What? I mean, yeah!" Frank hated himself right now, "But that's obviously not going to happen so, I'm leaving now! Bye!"
"Oh! You want us to collab?" Anton asked.
"No, I didn't say that, I said..."
"You think you have the talent, Robocop? To collab with us?"
And that was the spark that lit the fire.
"Okay, I'm going to slap this bitch," Evie stood up, but as soon as she did, Basil moved a finger no at her.
"I'm have more talent in a bionic leg than you in your whole body, Anton," Frank snapped. "And I can show you whenever you want!"
"How about tomorrow night?" Anton took out his cell phone. "My dad is producing a talent show, The Opera House. You know the show, right?"
"Of course I do!" Frank yelled, "I was a contestant when I was younger!"
"Well, I'll open the show with my band, and I can tell dad that it will be in collaboration with Monster Mash." Anton started typing on his phone. "Unless you're afraid?"
"We're not afraid!" Frank yelled. "Call your daddy and tell him that Monster Mash is going to be there!"
"I already did," Anton said, putting away his phone. "So, I think I'll see you tomorrow. Go well-groomed, suit and tie. It's a fine spectacle, not a strip show. Rehearsal is tomorrow morning. I hope you know the show is filmed in Transylv Studios in Beach Seaty, northwest Transylv Island. See you there."
"Frank," Evie said, closing her eyes tightly.
"I screwed up, didn't I?" Frank turned to Evie.
"Zeth is going to kill you." She replied. "But we'll see what we can do about it. Just go with Finn and help him with all the hard work, okay?"
Meanwhile, in the school football field, just behind a tall tower, Finn was making a list of the Mashers who were willing to be in the music video.
"My head hurts," Finn whispered, stunned by the hubbub of almost every student in the school giggling and gossiping. "Where the hell is Zeth when you need him? And where did I leave my pen?! This is too much work for me alone!"
"Hey Finn! The rivals brought a prop statue and synchronized swimming dancers are gathering in the cafeteria," Frank said as he walked closer, hands in his pockets as he surveyed the crowd that Finn had gathered. Where the hell had this guy been? Finn had been taking care of everything alone for two hours, and suddenly Frank arrived relaxed and smelling like roses. "Wow! So many people! You've been busy."
"Frank! Stop spying on those idiots and help me! I can't find my pen and there is still a lot to do!"
"But you did a good job," Frank said, putting his arm around Finn's shoulder, "Oh! Your pen is on your ear. Here."
"I'm tired, Frank!" He snatched the pen, "I already made them sign non-disclosure agreements and a thousand contracts to appear in the video, I also ordered their names in alphabetical order to pay their checks after the shooting! I did everything!" Finn complained and then looked back at the group he had gathered. He spotted two girls walking up to him with determined expressions on their faces, "Oh no! Not them again!"
"Who?"
"Raven and Brooke."
"Hey Finn, we wanted to ask..." the pompous blonde started and turned to look at her friend, laughing nervously. "Do you know if Zeth has a girlfriend?"
Finn shook his head.
"Why would you want to know?" He crossed his arms.
"Finn is single," Frank put his hands on his friend's shoulders, wiggling his bushy eyebrows, "He's very handsome, don't you think? I mean... He's a great guy, and he used to be a lifeguard in Hawaii! And did I mention that he's single?"
Finn glared daggers at him.
"Shut up," Finn growled and pulled Frank off him with surprising strength.
"Oh yeah, Finn is handsome and all but..." Brooke bit her lip and looked down right between Frank's legs. "Are you also made of metal there, Frank?"
"Oh well..." Frank turned red as a tomato, covering his crotch. "Girls, that's a little personal, don't you think?"
"So it is made of metal!"
"I can assure you Frank Jr is absolutely intact, okay?" Frank was breathing very fast.
"Girls. Can you please go to horny jail?" Finn rolled his eyes, crossed his arms, and turned to face the rest of the crowd once again. "Please be professional."
"Argh! You're a party-pooper," the blonde rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, yeah... Whatever!" Finn muttered and then took out his phone, scrolling through it while both girls left giggling.
"Here comes trouble," Frank nudged Finn, who looked up when he saw a guy wearing a suit jogging towards them.
"What the hell is he doing here?" Finn asked as Paul Ter Gheist finally made it to where he and Frank stood.
"Hey, do you have a minute?" Paul asked, but Frank shook his head.
"Sorry, we apes don't have time."
"Exactly," Finn lowered the clipboard from his hand and put his phone back in his pocket, then elbowed Frank. "Idiot, you just called us apes."
"You're too cute to be an ape," Frank said, blinking a lot, and Finn's eyes widened, looking at Frank like he'd grown a new head, "I mean... What do you want, Paul?"
"Listen, Anton is a jerk, not me. I came in peace," Paul smiled, and Finn raised an eyebrow. "Anyway, I wanted to tell you guys that I'm a huge fan," he reached into his pocket, pulling out a magazine clipping with one hand. "Actually I was friends with one of you," He offered it to Finn, who took it and unfolded it.
It was an interview where Alex mentioned Paul, saying that they were old friends who drifted away.
Finn remembered that interview well because Frank sat in a plastic chair that broke mid-interview and fell into the pool behind them. There were sparks and a lot of static afterwards.
"So you're that 'Paul' Alex talks so much about," Finn returned the clipping. "What do you want?"
"I want to tell you that I'm on your side," Paul puffed out his chest.
"Good for you," Finn nodded. "But we're working on a project... Together!" He eyed Frank. "So we can't afford to waste our time on someone who stole our location."
"But I care about you," Paul said, "Let's just say my band didn't want me around but out of nowhere they called me back to the pool area and I found out something. I heard Anton talking about tomorrow's show, and he wants to sabotage you."
"Wait, what show? We don't have any shows tomorrow. You mean the Hallow Inn show? The charity event? That will be on Saturday, not tomorrow." Finn said, way too worried.
"Finn, there's something I need to tell you," Frank was bright red.
"What did you do, Frank?"" Finn ran his fingers through his hair desperately.
"Let's say Zeth is going to kill me, okay?" Frank laughed nervously.
"I'll find out what I can," Paul said, looking back and forth, "And I'll tell you everything I know as soon as I can. Could any of you give me your phone number?"
"No, I won't make the same mistake again," Finn replied and Paul looked down.
"But I can give you mine." Frank said.
"Frank, no!" Finn ordered.
"Okay, first, I've been spying on him and believe me when I tell you that Paul is not very happy with his band."
"I am not," Paul said.
"And Second," Frank pursed his lips, "Finn... Do you think Zeth would be upset if, for some reason, a surprise show appeared on our schedule? Like, a show that for some reason involves Fifth Octave and us and The Opera House?"
"You challenged Anton to a duel of the bands, didn't you?" Finn asked, too calmly. Frank nodded. "SSSSSShit."
"Paul! Get over here this instant!" Anton's voice echoed throughout the campus.
"I think I'd better get going," Paul said, looking down, "Just be careful, guys. I hope to see you later."