Sunny Daze by R.J. Ross Read Free Book Online Page B

one--”
    “Century is coming here, thanks to you and your little encounter last night,” he says, crossing his arms over his chest.  “If you’re going to do things like that, really, don’t wear the shirt, Sunshine.”
    The other three start snickering, looking far too amused for my own good.  “Um… they tried to mug me first!” I say, hopping down from the tree house.  “It was self defense!”
    “So you mugged them in return?” Pan asks, his expression turning thoughtful.  “I’d say that’s worth ten extra points.”
    “So I’m in the lead, right?” I ask, grinning widely.  “Suck on that, sunshine boys!” I yell up at the trio.
    “Teacher’s pet,” Jack yells back.  “And you’re the sunshine boy, or haven’t you looked at your shirt?”
    “Wait, what?” I ask, trying to look at the back of my shirt.  Obviously it doesn’t work.  I shrug it off and turn it, looking at the back.  Sure enough, “Sunshine” is written across the back.
    I’m about to yell at Max for that when I notice everyone looking in the sky.  I glance over, watching with an inward sigh as the blue, white and red clad hero lands in front of us.  Century is huge.  I bet he’s a little taller than Dad and Grandpa Superior.  I know his jaw is a lot squarer.  I bet you could shovel with that jaw.
    “I’m here to hear what you have to say for yourself,” he says.  Wait.  I think I missed part of what he was saying while looking at his jaw.  Whoops.  “So what, exactly, happened?” he demands, looking straight at me.
    “They were trying to mug me.  I bent that one guy’s gun, by the way.  Him having a gun proves my point, right?  I tossed it in the dumpster next to the gas station.”
    “I see,” Century says.  “They pulled a gun on a fifteen year old boy, huh?”
    “And told me to hand over my wallet,” I say in my most injured tone.  “We’d just gotten here, we were kicked out of the RV and had no food--it was the middle of the night, you know?  So I got stuck going for groceries!”
    “You tossed a fifteen year old out of the RV without food in the middle of the forest?” Century asks Panther.
    “He’s the child of Lady Rose and Technico,” Pan says, “I really doubt he’s going to die.”
    “Lady Rose?” Century repeats, looking a bit surprised.  “I should have known that was where you got your powers from.  But don’t think you’re off the hook, son.  If we don’t find the gun, I’ll be back,” he tells me.
    “Well I can’t swear it’ll still be there, I mean someone might have found it between now and then.  Of course it’d probably explode, wouldn’t it?” I say.  “So if you find someone dead from an exploding gun, that’s it, got it?”
    He just looks at me and I can practically see him biting his tongue.  “I see,” he says instead.  “I’ll inform the suits of that fact.  Now--where are the other three?” he asks Pan.  “I want to know who to blame for any unscheduled villainous acts.”
    “I will be keeping them far too busy for that,” Pan says, “but fine--boys, time to come out.”
    “We’re not sure we should,” I hear Ace call from the tree house.  Century takes to the air, floating up to the tree house.
    “You brought Maximum AND Cold Steel?” Century asks Pan incredulously.
    “And Dragon--seriously, people, do I have to wear the dragon head all the time just to get recognized?” Ace complains.
    “I had requests to bring Falconess’s daughter, as well, but she’s not come into her powers enough--she’ll be joining us next summer,” Pan says.  “Now, if you’re finished with your interrogation, these boys need to get cleaned up and ready for their day of training.”
    “Yeah, I need to shave,” I hear Jack say.
    “How do you do that, anyway?” Ace asks.
    “I’ve got a grinder,” Jack says.  “It’s got a full set of attachments, including buffers--I, unlike you, have a girlfriend to look good