The Protagonist System

232 Green With Envy

Carol and I had played tourist last time, so this time, I cast a slight obscuring spell on us to not let anyone recognize us and I took her shopping. Yes, it was a trope that all women enjoyed shopping, and yes, Carol also liked it as well. Her tastes were a little different than any other women, though. Since she was a professional lawyer, her style was more tailored than of the rack.

That meant we visited the more higher end stores and Carol revelled in being professionally fitted for her business suits and skirts. She went a little crazy over the blouse styles and colors, which was understandable, because there were only so many suitable colors for business suits without looking garish.

We also dined at a few high class restaurants for our meals and Carol loved the treatment, even knowing it wasn't because of who we were and it was because we were rich and were paying for the service. It was something she had always wanted and never had the chance to enjoy before.

She worked hard as a lawyer to earn enough money to keep her family comfortable and only just recently reached the point she needed to achieve that. When I joked during supper about her increasing Amy's and Vicky's allowance to give Dean a break from buying them everything, she actually laughed. It was a pleasant sound and I liked hearing it.

We left the restaurant and ducked into an alleyway and out of sight, then I stepped us back into her office. I took out the things I bought for her and her suitcase and briefcase, then took her into my arms and gave her a very long and sensual kiss.

“Thank you for letting me spoil you today, Carol.” I whispered.

“I let you, did I?” She asked with a smile.

I smiled back. “As if I could ever do anything for you that you wouldn't approve of first.”

“True.” Carol responded and gave me another kiss. “Say hello to your boss for me and let her know to keep up the good work.”

“I will.” I said and let her go, turned around as I took a step, and ended up in Paige's downstairs lounge. I could feel that she was upstairs and I went up to the studio apartment and saw her just finishing her meal.

Paige saw me and her mouth started watering, because I had also bought a few new suits that made me look quite dashing, according to Carol. Without a word, Paige walked over to me and took my hand to bring me over to her bed.

A very nice time later, we were back downstairs in the studio and working on the other songs I had sung. We also discussed how the sales of my first album were meeting her predictions. She hadn't been surprised at how PHO was reacting to the release and there were already pirated versions making the rounds.

Instead of trying to stop them, Paige wanted them out there to spread my influence that much further and it would only increase sales as people would want to hear the original and also want to hear what other music I had made. The radio stations were still playing the national anthem I recorded, even though they had a full album of other songs they could play instead.

“There's been no reaction from the PRT or the Protectorate.” Paige informed me when we were between recording the guitar riffs and drum solos for the different songs.

“You're kidding.” I said and she shook her head. “Costa-Brown?”

“Dead silent. She's not in the office today, so maybe she didn't hear about the release yesterday?” Paige asked, her voice full of doubt.

“Maybe she's waiting to issue an official response?” I asked back.

“They might knock on your door in the morning...” Paige started to say.

“...or beat it down with an arrest warrant for me.” I finished for her and she nodded. “I'll keep an eye out and I won't cause a scene.”

“Thank you.” Paige said and gave me a quick kiss before we went back to work.

I had been coming over in the evenings when I could to keep helping her, since she didn't want to hire anyone else to be there in her personal studio. She still had production staff for things like that, back in the original studio, and she had other musicians on contract, too. They weren't her priority right now, though.

I went home at a reasonable time and spent an hour with my mom before warning her about my potential arrest in the morning. I had the proper paperwork and evidence of my innocence with me to handle it if someone showed up to arrest me, too. I was also ready to pop over to Paige's studio as well if they showed up there to raid the place. I wasn't taking any chances with what the PRT might do.

The morning came and nothing happened. It was a little disconcerting that there wasn't even a hint that something was going to happen. I even had Lisa do some digging and there was nothing she could find in the PRT's systems or from cell phone records that there was anything being put into place to deal with me.

“You better go to school before they figure out a truant officer might be the easiest way to get to you.” My mother joked and kissed me goodbye.

I gave her a hug and changed my clothes to jeans and a t-shirt that had muscles printed on it, making me look like I was shirtless. She laughed pretty hard at seeing it and I winked at her and stepped backwards to appear near Arcadia High School and walked around the building towards the front doors. The gasps from the girls and the blank stares from the guys, made me smile.

I entered the school and the reactions were almost the same, except the girls all looked quite hungry instead of shocked. When I reached my locker and the hallway where the popular kids hung out, I heard several distressed sounds and tried to not laugh at the expressions on the faces of the girls.

“I honestly don't care why you're topless.” Brittany said and stepped forward.

“It's a t-shirt.” I said and plucked at the cloth.

Brittany shrugged and wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me deeply. “You're going to blow up PHO, so it doesn't matter.”

I laughed and nodded, then shared hugs and kisses around to the girls that wanted it, which was all of them except Amy and Vicky. Dennis, Chris, Carlos, and Dean accepted fist bumps.

“You're my hero, dude! Your rapping didn't suck!” Dennis joked and a few of the people around us laughed. He leaned in closer and whispered after that. “No, really. You cleared out the cancer ward my dad was in on Saturday. He was in long term treatment and he was on his last legs.”

I wasn't sure what to say to that, so I put a hand on his shoulder and patted it. “I feel sorry for you that it's the rap song you listened to and not the heavy metal song.”

A few more people laughed and Dennis gave me an understanding look. Kickstart My Heart was a good description of what healing his dad did for Dennis.

“They're all good.” Jessica said and her friends nodded. “Some aren't my tastes...”

“My parents played Thunderstruck on repeat all weekend.” Dean told us, surprising Vicky. “I have no clue why they enjoyed it so much, though. It's mostly just drums, except for the guitar solo.”

“I really liked Pour Some Sugar On Me.” Chelsea said. “Although, Open Arms is a close second.”

“I enjoyed Here I Go Again. It's the best song on the whole album.” Brittany said. “Well, besides I'd Do Anything For Love. That thing can't be topped.”

“Which version?” Jessica asked her.

“Both. I like the softer version Greg sings when I'm relaxing and the long version with Bad Canary when I'm horny.” Brittany answered.

A couple of the girls blushed at her admitting that and the guys looked surprised before they also had red faces. The smirk on Brittany's face let me know she said it that way on purpose.

“Hey, Greg. Nice shirt.” Jensen said as she came over to us.

“Thanks, it's custom made.” I said and I didn't stop her when she reached for my chest and her fingertips lightly traced one of my pecs to show off that it really was matched perfectly to my real chest and my nipple hardened when she gave it a light rub.

“Greg Veder!” An angry female voice said from down the hallway and everyone fell silent as we all turned to look and see who spoke.

I was surprised that it was Taylor Hebert and my danger sense hadn't been going off. She was wearing really baggy pants and a sweater so big that it looked like she was draped in a tent, which meant it wasn't much different than what she normally wore at Winslow High School to hide herself away from her tormentors.

“Taylor! They finally transferred you out of that hellhole?” I asked and felt a mix of feelings. Despite my danger sense not going off, I was slightly afraid she was going to confront me in front of everyone and it wasn't going to go well for anyone, especially Taylor. I was very popular at the moment and any slight against me might make the whole school hate her.

Taylor strode down the hallway towards me with a scowl on her face and a few people gasped as her skin turned green and her muscles bulged out, then she grew nearly a foot and a half in height as her whole body expanded. Her once baggy clothes were now quite form-fitting and showed off her Amazon-like build.

I was still confused that my danger sense wasn't going off as the large angry woman approached me, even as she bared her teeth at me and pulled her fist back. Everyone in the hallway could only stare at the blatant attack that was about to happen. No one tried to jump forward to stop it, not even Vicky.

Taylor's fist blurred forward and at the last possible second, opened up to become a flat hand.

*CRACK!*

My head jerked to the side from the epic slap to the face I just received.

“GREG MAKE HEBERT ANGRY.” Herbert said in her sexy husky voice. “HEBERT SAD. HEBERT NOT UNDERSTAND WHY.”

I knew to respond to that as I rubbed my red face. I had actually felt that, so I knew she hadn't held back her strength at all. “Greg sorry for hurting Hebert.”

The hulking green female gave me an odd look. “GREG SORRY?”

I nodded. “I never meant for you to get hurt. I tried to help you as much as I could and it wasn't enough. That day at the locker...” I paused and tried to not recall how disgusting it was. “...I was almost too late to save you. You didn't deserve to suffer like that, like I did, so I took your place.”

“YOU TOOK HEBERT'S POWER.” Hebert accused, angrily.

“No, I didn't. Everyone triggers with different powers. I just happened to get lucky.” I said and pointed at Vicky. “Even though Vicky has super strength and can fly, her sister triggered right beside her when she was hurt and gained healing powers, because that was what she needed at the time.”

Vicky gasped and Amy blushed.

“Because I saved you, you missed being tortured and gaining a power you would need to survive.” I told Hebert and she frowned. “You can hate me all you want, and I'll take it, because I'm not sorry that I saved you from that.”

“HEBERT STILL ANGRY.” Hebert said, only she didn't sound angry.

“I know, and I'm sorry.” I said and stopped rubbing my face. She was a full foot taller than me and we were both well muscled and weren't too different from each other. Physically, anyway. “I have always wanted to help you and I'll try to help you again if you let me.”

“WHY?” Hebert asked.

“Because no matter who you are, how big or how strong, everyone needs someone to reach out to.” I said and held my hand out towards her. “What do you say, Hebert? Can we be friends?”Nôv(el)B\\jnn

“FRIENDS?” Hebert asked and stared at me with a mix of confusion and longing.

“Yes, friends. You can never have too many friends.” I said and wiggled my fingers at her.

The confusing on Hebert's face faded and went blank as she reached out and her larger hand gripped mine. “FRIENDS.” She said and squeezed.

I held in my laugh at her trying to dominate me like that and squeezed back. Her eyes widened briefly and then narrowed as she squeezed even harder. I squeezed back and grinned at her. She let out a cute rumble-like growl and leaned forward to apply more pressure.

The bell rang and startled everyone except Hebert and myself. It did give me the opportunity to pause the world and spend a few hundred points to add her to my party and to adjust her mental deficiency drawback as she grew stronger. It should give her a little more control over herself when she was in her rage form and I paid to remove her from the party before I unpaused the world.

I saw the instant clarity form in her eyes and she sucked in a sharp breath. I didn't let her hand go, even though she was trying to. I knew she was starting to feel embarrassed over what just happened and was trying to retreat instead of confronting her feelings about it.

“Do you need someone to lead you around the school?” I asked and she nodded, almost against her will. “Cool.” I said and looked at Jensen. “Can you let my first period teacher know I'm guiding a new student today?”

Jensen nodded and gave Hebert a pointed look before she walked off to class.

“I don't see the welcome package or anything, so we need to go to the office first.” I said and kept hold of Hebert's hand as I led her back across the school to the office. “Can I ask why you didn't go there first?”

Hebert blushed slightly and her face went to a darker green. “I WANTED TO FIND YOU FIRST.”

I glanced up at her face and she looked shy. “It's understandable. I would have looked for you as well if I had known you would be here.”

“YOU WOULD?” Hebert asked.

I chuckled at the doubt in her voice. “I knew we had to confront each other after everything that happened; but, we've both been too busy to meet anywhere else.”

Hebert stayed quiet as we entered the office and the secretary gasped at seeing the giant green Amazon. I asked for Taylor Hebert's welcome package and her schedule, helped her sign the paperwork needed for the work placement schedule, and then led her back out into the hallway.

Not surprisingly, her locker wasn't too far from my own and I helped her put her things inside and then gave her a tour of the whole school. I pointed out the important places, like the chem labs and the cafeteria, then told her she would be comfortable to find her own way around the school after a few days and she could come to me if she needed help with anything.

We went back to her locker and I pretended to open mine and took out a stylish backpack with a slightly expanded space inside. I gave it to her and she put her class things inside and didn't notice the expanded space. I brought her to her next class a few minutes before the bell rang and she pulled me over to the wall out of sight and leaned against it.

“GREG.” Hebert said and took a deep breath and let it out. We were still holding hands, too.

I gave her a smile and reached up with my free hand and tapped her throat.

Hebert gasped and then gasped again at the sound she made. “I sound normal!”

“It's just a slight adjustment to the vocal cords.” I said. “It's only in your altered form, too. You still have the same sexy husk, it's just not loudly boosted from your extra strong voice box.”

Hebert blushed. “Greg.”

“I really am sorry for everything you went through.” I said and she had a conflicted look on her face, then she started to shrink. I quickly used an auto-sizing spell on her clothes and Taylor returned to her normal height and skin color and her clothes remained form-fitting.

“Wh-what... what...” Taylor looked down at her clothes that made her look great, even in her normal size.

“It's permanent, so you can wear those clothes without worry if you have to Hebert and punch something.” I told her.

“How did you do this?” Taylor asked.

“It's just something I do.” I said and the bell rang. I handed over her backpack and she accepted it. “We can exchange numbers at lunch.”

Taylor blushed again as the hallway started to fill with students. “Are you asking me out?”

I laughed and shook my head. “We all sit at the popular table. Me, the girls, the Wards, a few jocks, and Amy and Vicky.”

Taylor gave me a shocked look and whispered. “You know who the Wards are?”

I leaned down and kissed the back of her hand before I let it go. “I know who everyone is.”

“B-b-but... the unwritten rules...” Taylor stammered, her face red, and she rubbed the spot where I kissed her hand.

“I'm not telling you who they are, just that I know.” I countered and she relaxed. “See you at lunch.”

Taylor nodded and I started walking away, then I stopped and walked back.

“I suggest waiting for everyone to sit before claiming a seat in your classes. It saves them from asking you to move and saves you from some embarrassment.” I told her.

Taylor looked surprised for a moment and then blushed. “Th-thanks for the advice.”

I smiled and started walking backwards. “It's no problem. I'm friends with your alter-ego.”

Taylor huffed. “Just her, huh?”

“For now. You'll get there eventually.” I joked and waved, then I turned around and went to meet up with Jensen at my next class.