My Predator System Vol.2

Chapter 8

Maks talked to Sam on the phone.

"You broke your promise."

"Yeah, I know but you have to trust that you can overcome your dark impulses. It's a struggle everyday so...you're not alone."

"Hey Maks, thanks for not giving up on me." Sam said.

Maks felt relief. "Yeah."

He turned to Harley and she was all prim. His phone almost dropped.

"Wow." He said.

She approached him and he looked stunned.

This felt like the first time they went on a date.

"This is awkward." He said out of his depth again.

"I must have overdid it. Shoot." She said.

'I shouldn't have said that outloud' She thought.

"No you're fine." He said. 'That was hit and miss' His heart raced.

"Wanna watch a movie?"

"Yes, that would be fine." She said walking with a stiff spine to the couch.

"Wanna watch a movie?"

"Yes, that would be fine." She said walking with a stiff spine to the couch. She turned on the TV.

He watched the movie and cleared his throat.

"You were right about Yvonne. I was acting spoiled."

'Damn, what a turn-off' He thought. "Sure."

"So I hope I didn't give you a hard time leaving."

'That's it. I'm done pretending' "Yeah, leaving without a good-bye."

"Yes, I thought about what Miguel said. And I couldn't even take him out. It's not easy for me."

"It's one thing to practice martial arts, it's another to get out there." He said.

"Maybe I'm not as ready as I thought."

"That's one thing about life, you'll never be as ready as you thought and here you are taking advice for me. I don't even think I'm morally fit for this conversation, I mean..."

Her brain was on fire. "Let's do something else." She said quickly and cupped his face. She kissed him and he kissed her back.

He held her and the TV was left unwatched.

Maks woke up and he blinked at the TV. Then he grabbed his phone and turned off the alarm.

He pulled up and she rolled away. "Come on, wake up."

He prepared and made toast.

"Wake up!" He spanked her and she whimpered faking a cry. "You've got classes."

Maks walked with Rex and they fist bumped. He yawned.

He saw Artemis seated at the lecture hall. "What are you doing here?"

"We've got biology classes remember?" She asked. "So we're buddies now. The other lecturer got the flu."

"Yikes." He said.

"Yeah, hey lend me your notes will ya?" She asked.

"What for?" He said skeptically.

"What for?" He said skeptically.

"Maks." Exclaimed Meg. The duo froze.

"Artemis, you're here."

"Hey Margaret, what's shaking?"

She glared at Maks.

"Meg_"

"Young man!" The lecturer exclaimed.

"Huh?"

"Explain the principles of allosteric regulation." She said and the class ooohed.

"Wait...not you...her." She pointed at Artemis.

"Damn, this lecturer is out for blood." Rex said.

Artemis wasn't exactly known for studying.

"Here's the lowdown on allosteric regulation: first, enzymes are proteins that speed up reactions, and they have an active site where the reaction occurs. Second, allosteric regulation occurs when another molecule, called an allosteric effector, binds to a site on the enzyme that's different from the active site. Third, this binding can either increase or decrease the enzyme's activity. So, in summary, allosteric regulation is a way of controlling an enzyme's activity by binding to a site other than the active site."

Her jaw dropped. "That is impressive. Too bad students like you let your brilliance and potential go to waste with tardiness." She told him.

Artemis blushed. "It won't happen again. I promise."

"Please, being educated isn't the same as being intelligent. I could have learned the whole dictionary if I wanted to." Artemis said drily.

Maks raised an eyebrow and Meg folded her arms impressed by her but angry she almost landed herself in trouble.

It seemed like the lecturer had some prior experience with Artemis and her tendency to be late. "Tardiness?"

"Word gets around fast." She said standing akimbo.

Meg stopped Maks.

"Look Meg, we've been over this."

"You made a promise to kill Sam?"

"I did, but..."

"You broke it." She finished and hugged him. "Thank you."

Maks was not surprised. "You're welcome." He wasn't use to such niceties. "You can let me go now..."

"Ah yes, I was hoping you'd say that." She straightened her lab coat.

Artemis and Maks breathed a sigh of relief.

Artemis and Maks breathed a sigh of relief.

"Can you imagine her yelling all over the place?" Artemis asked.

"I'm just glad it's over."

"What are we talking about, Amigos?" Rex asked.

"Nothing." They said simultaneously.

"You can't just talk about nothing."

"Yeah, Artemis and I were just talking about going skateboarding."

Rex looked at her. "Okay?"

"I'm not doing that." She told Maks. "This isn't high school anymore."

"Hey, I can skateboard too you know." He said taking their shoulders. "We could go join the guys.

"No."

Maks frowned at Artemis.

"One skate wouldn't hurt."

Rex didn't want to be known as the Bully's cousin. Of course he had his share of bullying in the past but he was willing to bond with them.

Artemis folded her arms while the skaters watched her.

"Are we playing pretend or are we trying to include Rex for some other reason."

"Come on, it'll be fun."

"Fun, like I didn't know that." She said.

"You're starting to sound like me. Glad that rubbed off on you." Maks teased.

"I am nothing like you." She poked and took her board.

Rex clapped a friend's arm and he skated down the concrete ramp. He skated around but then fell.

The skaters laughed hard.

Artemis grimaced but Maks was laughing.

Rex had been a bully most of his life to hide his insecurities. Now was a defining moment. Would be blame the duo for leading him on or would he take it in stride?

Rex laughed.

***

Maks sighed after that time with Artemis and Rex.

He went home to Harley sewing up her teddy bear that blackjack tore.

"Come on, we're going flying."

She blinked, her heart started to race. It sounded romantic but she was afraid of heights.