| Tyra sat in her room when Cell returned. She was able to sense his presence. She got off her bed and opened her door a crack to hear what was being said. At first, she didn’t hear anything about the event of the day. Then she heard her mother starting the subject. “Tyra got into a fight today,” Lara informed Cell. “Did she?” Cell looked out the window and crossed his arms. “You don’t sound concerned.” “I don’t see anything wrong with it,” Cell said. “Cell! There is something wrong with it. Ever since you taught her how to fly, it’s been going farther and farther. Now she knows how to fight and if something is said that she doesn’t like, she starts a fight! And you don’t see that as a problem.” Lara gave him a stern look. “The kid probably deserved it. Tyra wouldn’t start a fight for fun. I tried my best not to let her be like me in that case.” Lara sighed. She knew it was no use talking to Cell. He thought fighting was a sport. “Never mind. Your head is too thick for this to sink in.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” Cell turned to her. Tyra closed her door again and sat on her bed. “I knew Dad wouldn’t be mad.” Later on, Tyra helped her mother clean up the kitchen after dinner. She was drying a dish when she heard a knock on the door. “Tyra, can you get that?” Lara asked. Tyra opened the door to see Eddie Gold. “What do you want, Eddie?” She said harshly. “I just wanted to tell you that I hope you enjoy your time in detention hall. I also thought I’d invite you one more time to come for a ride.” The jock smiled at her. Tyra started closing the door, but Eddie stopped it. “What’s the matter? Oh that’s right! You have to stay home to protect Daddy, don’t you? Well then, in that case, I’ll leave.” He shrugged his shoulders and laughed along with his friends. “Look Eddie, I hit you before, and I’ll hit you again,” Tyra said, trying to hold back her temper. “That was just a lucky shot before. You couldn’t take on all of us at the same time.” “Wanna bet?” She said. “It wouldn’t take me more than two minutes to knock you all down.” The group started laughing again. “Hey did you hear that guys!? She wants to fight us!” In the kitchen, Lara and Cell had been listening to the whole conversation. Lara started to move towards the door when Cell stopped her. “Let her teach those brats a lesson once and for all. And if they keep it up, I’ll make an appearance; that would shut them up for good.” “I’m not fighting you. It’s not worth my time.” Tyra tried to close the door again but Eddie grabbed her arm and dragged her outside. “You bet us. I wouldn’t want to lose the bet, so let’s fight. If you win, we’ll leave you alone. If we win…you come for a ride with us in my car,” he finished with a smile. Tyra knew that her mother wouldn’t approve, but she could see her father nodding ‘yes go ahead.’ She pulled her arm away from Eddie’s hold. “Fine, but when I win, I want you to go.” Eddie laughed and waved for his friends to get out of the car. “Steve, you’ll be sitting in the back on the way home. Tyra gets to sit in the front with me.” The four boys surrounded Tyra and got into a fighting position. They laughed, and one of them leaped at her. Tyra, not even turning around, jumped in the air and sent her leg into the stomach of the attacker. He fell to the ground. She easily beat down the other two with one kick, and only Eddie remained. “You guys are wimps. How could you let a girl hit you? I’ll show you how it’s done.” “I see you want another bloody nose,” Tyra said. Eddie ran for her and swung his arm. Tyra moved only her head so the boy’s fist didn’t hit her. She then brought her knee up into his stomach. Eddie landed on the ground with a thud. The five teenagers heard a clapping. They looked over to the house and saw Cell leaning against the doorway clapping his hands. “Well done, Tyra,” he said with a smile. The four boys’ eyes were wide. “What the…” one of them started. Tyra pushed her hair back over her shoulder. “Thanks…Daddy.” She said looking at Eddie. Eddie got to his feet and starred at Cell. Then he laughed. “Your dad is more pathetic than I thought. He goes around wearing that ridiculous costume?” Cell slowly walked over to Tyra’s side. He held his head high and looked down at Eddie with his pink eyes. “So,” he said, “you think this is nothing but a costume. Well, my friend, let me assure you that I am the real thing.” “Who are you trying to fool?” Eddie asked with a grin. “I’ve heard and seen pictures about that macho jerk that held some stupid tournament. He got himself killed. Besides, you couldn’t be her father…” “Oh, but I am.” Cell said with a smile. “Daddy, I think he doesn’t believe you. Maybe you should prove it to him,” Tyra said with a devilish grin. “I think you’re right.” Cell grabbed the back of Eddie’s shirt collar and brought him about one hundred feet into the air. “So, do you believe me now when I say I’m the real thing?” Eddie panicked. “Put me down you creep!” “As you wish…” Cell let go of Eddie’s shirt, and the basketball star started falling the ground below. Right as he was about to hit the ground, Cell used his mind to stop the boy from hitting. Cell took his time landing next to the terrified Eddie. When he did he kneeled down and looked at Eddie’s scared expression. Cell laughed and threw the boy into the side of the car. “If you come near my daughter again, I’ll let you hit the ground next time. Now get out of here.” Cell smiled. The other boys ran to the car and in a flash they drove off. Tyra walked over to Cell and looked up at him. “Thanks, Dad. You scared the pants off those guys.” “I know. And I loved it.” Cell put his arm around her. “Lets go inside. Prepare to hear another lecture.” However, they didn’t hear another lecture. Lara stood in front of the window, laughing. “That was cute,” she said when Cell and Tyra walked back into the house. “You’re not mad?” Asked Tyra. “Nope. Those little jocks deserved that. I wish I got it on tape.” She winked at them. Just then the door opened, and Seru and Mikau walked in. Seru had just flown home from college for the weekend, and Mikau went to meet him. “I just saw some car go tearing down the road,” Seru said. “It was the captain of the basketball team and company,” Tyra said. “You beat them up, huh?” Mikau asked. “I just knocked them to the ground. They were running away from Dad.” The two boys made one slow nod then laughed. “You go, Dad.” Mikau said. “I know,” Cell responded. Later that night, Cell lay in bed on his back with his arms under his head. Lara was brushing her hair. She put the brush down and turned to him. “You’re amazing,” she said. “I am,” Cell said quietly. “And you still have the biggest ego of anyone I know.” She slipped into bed and cuddled up next to him. In turn, Cell put an arm around her. “It’s not that big,” he said. “You’re right. It’s only about the size of the planet.” She laughed and leaned up to kiss his cheek. |