The Arks: Over Heaven (by Ben)

Chapter 55.5: In Vain

Part 3/7

Franklin jumped out of his seat in shock and turned around. It was the good family friend, Jeffrey! He was holding onto the seat by the top and he had aged and changed so much since they had last met. Now ten years old, he had grown bigger, and a bit bulkier. He still seemed a bit short and lean, but certainly not skin and bones. He had a stitch running down his cheek that looked like it had been there for a while now. He was wearing a thick blue jacket with the fluff of a wolf, and a white shirt that was stained with peeled magenta paint. He also wore black shorts with white stripes.

“OMG JEFFREY?!” Franklin screamed in joy, “Man it’s been AGES since I’ve last seen you! Dude, I can’t believe it!”

“Heh heh, I know right? I mean, the last time we met was when-”

Jeffrey paused, blinking his eyes rapidly. A mild discomfort crept up his face.

“That.”

Franklin nodded softly.

“Yeah… that.”

Soft, loud footsteps began to ring throughout the quartz halls, and Franklin’s ears perked up.

“Who’s that?” Franklin asked.

“Oh, just some old fam who also showed up!”

A nine-year old girl burst into the hallway and began to sprint toward them.

“Jeffrey, Franklin, it’s been so long! Where have you been?”

A magenta forcefield flickered in the doorway, and Emma ran straight into it. She bounced off, and let out an “Ouch!”, holding her nose tightly. Franklin looked her up and down. Her bangs were starting to look thicker, and her hair was starting to fall all the way to her hips. She had a few gray hairs, surprisingly, but that was pretty normal considering what they’d been through.

“What was that for?” Emma cried with anger.

“Sorry, old habits die hard,” Jeffrey chuckled. Emma clenched her fist.

“Heh, don’t make me make you forget bestie!”

Jeffrey laughed and waved his hand, the forcefield flickering away.

“I know you could, I know you could…”

“Hey, don’t mind my crazy sister,” a familiar voice said aloud, “Don’t worry, I’m excited to meet you too.”

A thirteen year old boy soon waltzed into the room, his hands in his pockets and a smug smile on his face. A mystical yellow flame sprouted from his body, and everyone had their mouths agape. It was Connor, and he has certainly changed the most out of all of them. He was starting to pack on quite a lot of muscle, and he was even starting to sprout a goatee already. He was wearing a white tank top and black jeans, and there was a strange machine running down his right arm that connected to his chest. It must have been for his heart condition.

“My man, you’ve been working out!” Franklin said, getting up from his seat and pinching his biceps. Connor began to laugh and he flexed his biceps.

“Heh, that’s right! I guess you could say I’m the strongest now!”

“Maybe you’re right, Connor, but don’t forget me.”

A seven-year old girl waddled into the room. She had a bit of chub on her face, but she seemed to be about as young as Emma was way back when, in their good days. Her black hair was tied in a ponytail. She was wearing a green shirt and brown pants. One of her eyelids lazily hung loose. She must have just gotten an allergic reaction recently.

“Tanya! Jeez, we have pretty much everyone here!” Franklin said, “And, you are right, Tanya, you WERE the strongest.”

“That was, until I came around,” Connor smugly said while flexing again. Everyone laughed, and Emma slapped Connor in the face. Connor’s face went slightly red but he still kept posing.

“Okay, okay, fun reunion, I have to admit,” Jeffrey said with a smile, “I uh, didn’t even expect this. But ALL of our parents brought us together to wish Franklin and his big brother a happy vacation!”

“Really? WAIT, THE BOSS HIMSELF IS HERE?!” Connor shouted in glee. The yellow flame grew brighter and his eyes began to pounce out of his eyes. Franklin shielded his eyes.

“Dude, you’re blinding us man, turn that off!”

Loud, fast footsteps began to approach, and the yellow flame around Connor quickly disappeared.

“What’s going on there? Tanya, get out of there!”

The footsteps stopped, and a twelve-year old girl stopped in her tracks and looked on in horror, and then with annoyance at the gathering. It was Little Kayla. She was wearing a black t-shirt and gray sweatpants. She had a burn mark on the side of her face. She walked up to Connor, and he gave her a big grin.

“Nice seeing you again best friend!” Connor said. Little Kayla pointed a finger at his chest and began to walk forward, making Connor back away.

“What did we all agree on before we parted ways?” Little Kayla barked, “We agreed NOT to use our powers so that he wouldn’t have to remember what we went through!”

“Yes yes yes I know, but I didn’t KNOW he’d be here!” Connor protested, “Besides, it’s not like he’s here right now-”

“Hey ‘OGs’.”