Chemistry

Caleb lived less than a mile from from Rica, so she had no problem walking him home after school. She followed him inside his spartan one bedroom with some furniture and a flat screen. Rica didn't ask about his parents.

After settling down and joking in his place, the classmates followed the necessary steps and made a dozen smoke bombs. Caleb shined in this bad boy craft, and kept Rica's interest. He even had different dyes to make different smoke colors.

"Ya, this is cool!" she laughed.

"Yup, I think so!" he agreed.

All good fun, but Rica had to pee, "Hey, man I gotta pee!"

Red faced Caleb pointed down the hall. Before Rica excused herself, she quietly Rica snatched Caleb's phone and took it in the bathroom, for research.

Young Lady!

Caleb was cool, but Rica had homework and like a proper girl her age she left. Caleb walked her to the corner and watched her leave the block. He checked his watch, there was something he had to do.

By 10 pm Rica finished her homework but her night wasn't over.

She returned to Caleb's block, climbed the roof across from his apartment and set Strongbow on his bipod. Through her rifle scope she watched Caleb doze off with his flat screen on. Then her phone buzzed.

"Mom!" Rica answered smiling.

"Rica? What happened at school Monday? I got an email saying you bad kids set the place on fire, did you have something to do with that?" asked Reyna.

"No, but that did happen though, it couldn't be helped!"

"What?"

"Ma, I have information for you!"

"Yeah? What'd you get?"

Rica told Reyna what she found snooping in Caleb's phone and apartment. Including a Will that left Caleb a business owner. Also two names on Caleb's phone, Tseka and Asim. Reyna liked what she heard.

"So, this young man Caleb has either been in contact or will be in contact with Tseka hunh? Ok, I am going to need those phone numbers and that Asim number, fuuuck! It must be Asim Bora! Baby, send me those numbers and the other images you have, where are you know?"

"Rooftop surveillance."

"I'm sorry little anime girl, you won't be up on those roofs but for a night or two, I'll find these guys!"

"I know you will, you always do!"

Reyna missed her precious student and offered small talk.

"Baby, is that school ok? You're not standing out are you?" asked Reyna.

"Hmm, I wanted to lay low but now I'm popular, I think. I was at the cool table in lunch."

"Really? After one day? Young lady who'd you blackmail?"

"A second year student named Norman, I took "pictures" of him. Then I made him my friend. Good times!" Rica laughed.

"You little monster, now you'll have new problems. When you're popular girls won't like you and boys are gonna harass you."

"Eh? Why would they do that?"

"Social pressure doll, you have to keep up appearances or you'll be toppled by the next princess that wants your throne. Means you have to fight to keep it, hee hee!"

"But I made friends with everyone! I got witnesses." Rica pleaded.

"Umm hmm, they're friends to your face, let me ask you, is Caleb popular?"

"No! Well, girls like him, Tiara Ortiz likes him."

"Tiara? Hmm, she sounds lovely. Is she your competition?"

"Not in this life!"

"Oh? She must be pretty then!" said Reyna with glee.

"Who's side are you on?"

"Ha ha, sweety, you need to control your mark, and the best way to do that is for Caleb to want to be around you. If something happens you need him with eyes on you.

"I know that but you make it sound slutty!"

"Rica Reyes, watch your mouth! Now I'm not saying give up any of your sweet goods."

"My sweet goods?"

"But a smart Rifle Girl can convince any man that her problem is now his problem. And when you're good, you won't even have to hold his hand, hee hee!" evil Reyna.

"So, you want me to seduce him?"

"No, drama queen! I said control your mark. If you want to guard Caleb then you'll need him to want eyes on you and only you. And you don't have to kiss him to do that. That is, unless you want to!"

"What?"

"I didn't say anything!"

"Mom, you're the worst parent!"

"It doesn't mean I'm wrong, and you'll find out soon enough when Tiara makes her move on Caleb, hmph!"

"You sound like you want it to happen!"

"Yes, I do! How entertaining!"

"I'm hanging up!"

"Rica don't hang up! Mommy misses you!"

"Hai, hai!"

"One "Hai" is enough young lady!"

"Nyah!"

"Oh! one more thing, that Asim guy, in Caleb's phone. I think I know where he'll be tomorrow. I'm gonna talk to him, he might point something out."

"Oh, ok let me know," said Rica, knowing what Reyna really meant.

"Yeah yeah, no worries, I'll call you if anything."

"Ok, ne Mommy? When am I gonna see you?"

"Soon sweet pea, I been watching some places and sleeping in the car, I haven't bathed in well, I don't know."

"Hello, too much information!"

"Baby,if they don't send anyone by 2 to get that boy, then it won't be till dawn."

"I'll be here at dawn."

"I know you will, because you're my clever girl!"

"Yaaaa!"

Reyna hung up and Rica continued guarding Caleb. She scanned the block for anything out of place. She saw nothing, all quiet.