Jared grabbed Zach by his ear and dragged him to the locker room.
No one tried to stop him.
Fred saw, crossed his heart, and made a praying gesture.
Henry nodded before leaving to help the new guest at the front register.
Nyla kept Fred’s parents company.
Zach sneakily gave Fred the finger and pretended his ear was hurting.
Jared wasn’t actually dragging him by it.
The moment they entered the locker room and the door shut, Jared made sure they were alone before looking at Zach.
He gave Zach a hug.
“I am so happy you are safe, and I am proud you helped that girl get out of the school.” Zach wasn’t used to his dad hugging him.
His last one wasn’t big on showing or even talking about his emotions.
He stifly hugged him back.
“I’m ok, Dad.” Jared let go of him and gave him a smile before getting serious.
“Zach, what is going on?
Your mom took my phone and signaled me to talk to you in private.
She is being careful, too careful.” Zach sighed.
“No wonder you said my full name and dragged me in here.
There’s some stuff I need to tell you and others.
Let me message my friend real quick.”
Zach walked into a bathroom stall and messaged Blair.
[Going to handle the situation tonight.
Draw my marking on your family, or have them carry an item with it.
It’s the only way they will get past the barrier.
I will bring mine with me, and so will Fred.]
[Is that a good idea?
My family already thinks I am some sort of witch, having me give them something with a weird symbol on it will make things worse.] Zach rubbed his temples.
[Then sneak it on them and then teleport to the Sanctuary.
Do whatever you have to.
Just be there at the Sanctuary by 8pm.]
Zach walked out back into the longer room.
“Dad, I will show you what Mom wanted you to talk about with me, just don’t freak out.” He teleported to the Sanctuary and then back.
Jared stood up from the bench and patted him down.
When he was done, he sighed.
“No bones, no muscles, and your skin is still on your body.” Zach gave him a look.
“Zach, the government has been in the process of developing a way to teleport people for years, but so far, they haven’t had any luck.
The GDA is keeping the technology as close to its chest as possible.
I can see why she took my phone and wanted me to talk to you in private.”
‘Good to know Cecil can’t teleport anywhere he wants to yet.’ Zach put a hand on his dad’s shoulder.
“You have to trust me on this.
Fred knows about this, and so does my other friend.
We will explain everything tonight.
Come to my room and maybe get Grandpa and Grandma out of the house for a while or give them something to make them sleep.”
“I never thought I would have a conversation with you about whether or not to drug my parents.” He shook his head and laughed a little.
“Ok, son, I will trust you, but just know the second I smell something off, I am notifying the GDA.
Not to dissect you, but so you can get help.”
Zach nodded.
‘As if I will let Cecil get his grubby paws on me.’ “Now I need you to pretend I just gave you the worst talk of your life.” Zach grinned.
“That I can do.” Jared face expression turned stern as he walked out.
Zach’s was one of shame and embarrassment.
He made it over to Fred and Cynthia.
Cynthia got up.
“I am going to get some water,” Zach mumbled thanks as she walked away.
She didn’t say anything in response.
“Is she out of earshot?” Fred nodded.
Zach used the system’s messaging function.
[Act like you are consoling me.
As I was walking over here, I saw someone from the GDA.
He’s the chubby guy over there on the treadmill.]
Fred glanced with his eyes before patting Zach’s back and handing him a bottle of water.
[Before I thought you were being paranoid about the whole only use the system messaging function, but it looks like you were right.
Have any idea why the GDA is here spying?]
Zach turned towards Fred and looked down.
On camera, it looked like a 15-year-old kid was down after getting chewed out by his dad, and his friend was trying to cheer him up.
[The only thing I can think of is what happened at school.
Something I did or didn’t do caught their attention.
The plan is for you to take these guest tokens and slip them or give them to your parents.
Bring them to the Sanctuary and have them leave their phones at home.]
Fred smiled and gave him a fist bump on his chest.
[I understand, send the tokens through the system, I will make sure to be there.
What time?] Zach signaled 8pm with his fingers before standing back up.
Fred didn’t nod because Cynthia had come back.
“I hope everything is fine.
I know how it feels to be called out like that.” Zach shrugged.
“It’s cool, Cynthia, I honestly deserve it.
Has Fred been a good host?” Fred swatted his arm.
“Of course!
In fact, Cynthia and I are workout partners now.” Zach lifted his eyebrows.
“Only until the school is back up and running.
Despite this place being more than fair with their membership fees, I still can’t afford to train here on the regular.”
Fred scoffed.
“You know who you have in front of you, right?” He placed his arm around Zach.
“This guy here can speak to the owner, who is his grandpa, and I am sure he will make it free for you to train here.
I mean, I haven’t paid a cent since I started training here.”
Zach turned to him.
‘No freaking way is this happening right now.’ Fred continued on.
“Cynthia, accept the offer.
Where else would you be able to train without someone on their phone recording, some creeps staring, or, worse of all, someone playing their music out loud? This chapter was copied from novelping dot com without permission.
This is a golden place to work out in.”
Cynthia looked at Zach.
“Is he always this demanding?” Zach thought to himself, ‘Remember the bro code.’ “I wouldn’t describe it as demanding.
I would call it encouraging you to reach your full potential.
He knows how much the powerlifting team needs and values you.
Here you can get all the practice you need or want.
There are even some bodybuilders who come here often.”
Cynthia looked between them both before caving.
“Ok, fine, I will take you up on that offer.
I will talk to the coach and see if he will negotiate having the team practice here.
You know, so your grandpa won’t lose out on too much money.” She grabbed her bag and left.
Zach shrugged off Fred’s arm.
Fred didn’t pay any mind; he was busy watching Cynthia walk away.
“Oh, buddy, what I wouldn’t give to be a fly on the wall.” Zach snorted and shook his head.
“There is no hope for you, dude, when that girl breaks you, don’t come running to me.” Fred stuck his tongue out at him.
“Jokes on you I want her to break me.
Live by the thigh is to die by the thigh.
I won’t tap when the day comes.”
Zach raised his hand.
“TMI, my guy, but at least I know if I ever find you dead in a bed, I know your last moments were memorable.” Fred laughed, and Zach joined him.
“If you have energy to laugh and joke around, that means you have energy to run!
I want ten miles from you both on the treadmill at half speed with an incline.”
They looked at each other and slowly walked over to the treadmills.
Henry looked at Nyla.
“It’s good to see you, Nyla.
I see you’re wearing your training gear.
How about a little spar between you and Jared for old times’ sake?” Jared snapped his head over to his dad.
Fred’s parents were off to the side, watching Fred and Zach run.
Fred’s dad nodded in approval as he saw his son push through and finish the workout.
His mom wanted to say that it was enough, but was stopped by his dad.
“Lilly, the boy needs this; let him experience some tough times.”
“If you say so, George, I don’t want him hurt.” George wrapped her in a hug.
“Honey, trust me, ok?
Our son will be a man one day, so let me handle him.” Lilly sighed and nodded her head.
Nyla smiled at Henry.
“Nice try, Henry.
I am not sparring or fighting my husband.
We rarely see each other.
I will go work out, though.” She turned to Jared.
“Will you be joining me?” Jared stood up.
“Yes, ma’am!”