by K Swanson
I glanced at Sam. Was he upset that his friend didn’t seem more enthusiastic? Would I be upset if I were in Sam’s shoes? My gaze flicked back to Lex, reading while he ate. No, probably not. Even though I’d known Lex less than a week, this seemed normal for him.
The table gently bounced and it took me a moment to realize Lex’s leg was restlessly wiggling around. He didn’t even seem to notice he was doing it as he took a bite of an apple he’d pulled from his bag.
Sam’s gaze dropped to the package on the table, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Thanks.”
Inside the clear packaging were some puffy yellow cake-looking things. There was no frosting, which disappointed me a bit. I’d always wanted to try frosting, but since treats were such a rarity at the institute, I’d never had the chance.
CJ came jogging up, sliding onto the bench next to me. “Got it.”
My brow furrowed. What did he have?
He plunked a couple of small containers onto the table next to the spongey cake. “Strawberries and whipped cream.” My interest was piqued. I liked strawberries.
Jayden leaned on his hand, which he propped on the table, his emerald eyes watching everything going on. He’d finished his bag of pretzels and now worked on a package of crackers and cheese.
Nick leaned forward, grabbing the package he’d brought. It seemed as though Lex was about to say something, but CJ beat him to it, smacking Nick’s wrist. “No. Eat your lunch first.”
I bit my lip, trying not to giggle as Nick’s bottom lip stuck out. “But… I’ve been staring at those things since last night. They’re calling my name.”
Without even looking up from his book, Lex said, “Good. They can keep calling it until you’ve finished eating.”
With a heavy sigh, Nick opened his lunch bag. “Fine… Gramps.”
I shouldn’t encourage him, but Nick just seemed to have the ability to make me laugh.
Lex went back to eating, and the only sign he gave that he’d heard his cousin was a slight lift of his brow.
I felt a little as though I was on the outside looking in, but I didn’t really mind. It was interesting to see them all being themselves.
When neither Lex nor CJ appeared to be paying attention, Sam opened the package of cake and handed one to Nick.
CJ sighed, but didn’t respond as he took a bite of his salad. “So, Jayden…”
The table jerked slightly as Jayden jumped. Had he been zoning out? Or possibly falling asleep where he sat? That seemed the more likely answer given the dark smudges that always seemed to be under his eyes.
He narrowed his eyes at CJ. “What?”
“What subject are you choosing for your essay?”
“Dunno.” He didn’t expand further on that.
CJ waited for a few moments, and I assumed he wanted to see if Jayden would say more. When Jayden remained silent, CJ’s brows went up. “What about you, Lex?”
Lex glanced up, shrugging. “Haven’t given it much thought, yet.”
CJ grumbled and shoved another bite of the salad into his mouth.
“What kind of an essay do you need to write?” I asked.
I’d written them before, and I dreaded them. At the institute, we were usually asked to write about how we’d use our power in certain circumstances. It wouldn’t have been so bad, except for the punishments we received if it didn’t meet their expectations.
Just the memory of the panic room made me feel ill.
CJ wrinkled his nose. “We can write about anything. The point is to get graded on how well we write.”
That was it? That didn’t sound terribly awful. I began to question him again when I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. Twirling one of my bracelets, I glanced behind me.
Bekka stood there, a smile pasted on her face and a tray of food in her hands. “There you are! I’ve been looking for you everywhere!”
I took a deep breath, raising a brow. I didn’t really want to speak to her, but a part of me was curious about why she seemed so intent on befriending me. “You were?”
CJ smirked, and Lex’s lips twitched as he said, “Obviously not very hard. She’s been sitting here since the beginning of lunch.”
She nudged me over, trying to squeeze between Jayden and me. When she poked me in the ribs to get me to move, I grumbled, but complied. I didn’t really want to start a fight.
Before she could sit down though, Jayden propped his foot up on the bench. “I don’t tolerate bitches well. You might want to find yourself another seat.” He took a sip from his thermos, not even glancing at Bekka, whose face turned an alarming shade of red.
My mouth dropped, and I wasn’t exactly sure how to respond. Was he really that much of a jerk?
Bekka stuck her bottom lip out, pouting. “Are you going to let him talk to me like that?”
I swore, time stood still. If I did the polite thing and said, “Of course not,” she’d more than likely take that as an invitation that she was welcome here. But if I answered in the affirmative, would that be too harsh?
“I—” I glanced at the others for help.
Lex sighed and slammed his book closed, his eyes flashing in irritation. Glaring at her, he said, “Yes, she is. We’d really appreciate it if you could find someone else to sit with.”
Her pout turned into a frown and she grabbed her tray, spinning around. I let out a squeak, dodging a flying tater tot that ended up hitting CJ in the forehead.
“Fine. Be assholes.” She stomped off.
CJ held up the tater tot. “Did she just throw this at me?”
“Not intentionally, I don’t think.” Before he could say anything else, I swiveled toward Jayden. “Just because she’s not very nice doesn’t mean you have to be rude.”
He blinked a few times, surprise filling his green eyes. “She isn’t just mean. She’s a bitch. I’ve only been here a couple days, and she’s already made fun of my clothes, my lip ring…” He sounded as if he’d planned to add something else but stopped himself.
“Really?” If I’d known that, I wouldn’t have been so torn about being rude to her.
“Yeah.” He glanced at me from the corner of his eye, as if waiting for me to say I didn’t believe him.
Instead, I frowned. I couldn’t really chastise him for being mean to her, and he hadn’t really bullied her. It was more like he’d been painfully blunt. Either way, he had the right to feel comfortable at lunchtime. Having her sit with us would not have been comfortable for him.
Nick finished his food. “Cake now?”
The abrupt change in subject brought my attention to the dessert on the table. I failed to see how this was a cake if it didn’t have any frosting on it, but still, I couldn’t wait to try it.
Lex inclined his head in acknowledgment, and Nick needed no more encouragement. He grabbed one of the small cakes, put a couple spoonfuls of the whipped cream on top, and then topped it with sliced strawberries.
Wordlessly, he handed it to me. “Want one?”
“Really?” I hadn’t expected him to make mine for me.
He nodded once and I took it from him with a thank you. “The rest of you can get your own,” he announced, already working on his own.
I took a bite, and couldn’t keep the grin from my face. The cool, sweet whipped cream mixed with the slight tang of the strawberries and the soft cake… oh my God, this was so much better than I’d been imagining. “This is amazing!” I said after swallowing.
Nick nodded as he took a bite of his own. His eyes slid shut as he moaned. “So amazing.”
Moments later, the bell rang, making me jump. Nick pushed away from the table so fast both it and the bench he sat on made a ‘boing’ sound as they attempted to move but couldn’t. “Gotta go. Can’t be late for class again.”
CJ packed up his containers and put them away. “Come on, Jayden. We’d better go keep him out of trouble.”
As I put my lunch away, I couldn’t help but wonder how Nick had been late to
his next class before. CJ had the same one, and I didn’t think CJ would allow him to be late.
Then again, this was Nick.
With a sigh, I stood and stretched before shoving my garbage into my paper lunch bag. Lex and Sam were silent as we headed for history. I didn’t mind. Sam rarely spoke around me, and that seemed to be just who he was.
As we passed an oversized window in the hallway, I frowned. “It’s raining…” Hopefully, it wouldn’t be tomorrow.
Lex gently grasped my hand, making me jump. “It won’t be raining tomorrow.” Could he read my mind?
“Oh, did you already look at the weather forecast?” It would make sense if they had, considering their plans for a swimming party.
His lips curled into a small smile. “Something like that.”
What exactly did that mean? And how did weather forecasters know what the weather would do for the next few days? I imagined men dressed in suits, sitting around a small table as they stared at a crystal ball. Obviously, that wasn’t the answer, but it still amused me.
Unless… what if the people who gave the forecasts were like me? And that was their superpower? Except… wait… I didn’t think I’d ever heard of people having the exact same power. A couple people in the institute had similar powers, but nothing truly identical.
As we entered our classroom, Lex asked, “We’re having another study party tonight. Are you coming?”
I shook my head. As much as I loved the last one, I had shopping to do this evening. I hoped I’d be able to find something for Sam for his birthday.
* * *
As soon as I got on the bus, CJ waved me over. How did he always get to the bus ahead of me? Not that it mattered, but I’d thought I was fast getting out there.
I shook my head as I pulled my phone from my pocket. “Do you have any ideas of gifts for Sam yet? Anything that might help me?”
“He collects memorabilia from pretty much any movie, but especially Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings.” He leaned forward, resting his forehead against the seat in front of us. I cringed. There was no telling what sort of germs were on those seats.
“Not superhero movies?” I might not be a movie buff, but I had seen a couple superhero movies thanks to one of the guys who had spent a brief amount of time at the institute. As soon as the handlers figured out what he was showing us, he got hauled out of there. Still, the rest of us thought those movies were fascinating. We could be those superheroes.
A small smile ghosted over CJ’s lips. “Nah. That’s more Nick’s thing.”
That surprised me. “Is Nick really into movies as well?”
“Not really.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “Nick won’t sit through most movies. Not unless there’s a shit-ton of action.”
I glanced at CJ. “What are you getting him?”
Chocolate eyes lighting up, he pulled out his phone and thumbed through a couple pictures. When he found the one he wanted, he held it up to me.
I cocked my head curiously at the photo of a bright red flower. “What is it?”
“Snapdragon. Sam likes fantasy, and this is a type of dragon.” He shrugged and his cheeks turned a faint pink, making his freckles stand out.
“Those are really cool.” I trailed my finger along his screen, smiling when the picture moved to show the plant was taller than I’d originally thought.
“Really?”
When I nodded, he smiled, the blush disappearing from his cheeks.
“So back to your shopping trip. If you find anything, send me pictures.”
I nodded. At least I’d know if my ideas were any good.
The bus ride didn’t last much longer, then CJ and I both got off the bus. CJ called out, “See you tomorrow!”
I couldn’t stop the smile or the warm, fuzzy feeling as I headed home.
* * *
I wasn’t really sure what I was looking for, but after Min and I got to the mall and I explained what Sam might like, we looked through a couple stores. Aside from some really cute cookies shaped like video game controllers, I didn’t find anything. We made our way into a novelty shop, and my eyes got huge. There was so much stuff, and it all seemed to be exactly what I wanted. Movie and video game paraphernalia surrounded me.
Min smiled. “I think we finally found a place that might sell what you want.”
I nodded as I scanned the shelves. Taking a deep breath to calm my excited nerves, I started toward the back of the small store. “Let’s start with video game stuff. I know CJ said he’s really into movies, but when I sent CJ a picture of those cookies, he said Sam loves video games as well.”
“Sounds good! And that gives us a place to start.” Min looked at a large display in the middle of the room as the salesman smiled at us from behind the counter.
“Is there anything in particular you’re looking for?”
Min shook her head, more than likely because we didn’t have anything specific in mind, but I quickly spoke up. “I’m looking for a gift for someone who’s into video games and likes movies, such as Lord of the Rings and…” I tried to remember the other movie CJ mentioned.
“Ah!” His eyes lit up, and I stepped back as he scanned the shelves. “What about something like this?” He held up a game of Yahtzee with some sort of character on it.
I peered at it before shaking my head. “I don’t think so.”
We repeated the process a couple times, and I felt bad every time I shook my head. He held up some superhero items and a T-shirt with a picture on it that he said was from Harry Potter. I didn’t even bother to send pictures of those to CJ.
I almost told the poor guy he could go back to what he was doing, but Min and I were the only ones in the store, and he seemed to embrace the challenge of finding something I’d approve of.
“Does he drink coffee?” Min’s body was obscured by a large shelving system, but her voice came through loud and clear.
“I’ll ask.” As I sent the message to CJ, I hoped he wasn’t showing the pictures to Sam as well.
Haylie: Does Sam drink coffee?
CJ: Only a shit-ton of it.
“Yeah, it sounds like Sam drinks a lot of coffee.”
Min nodded and handed me a small box. On the outside, it showed a white mug with a pixelated black heart on the side. It must have been the puzzled look on my face that made Min turn the box in my hands and point at the picture on the side.
“Wait, seriously? They make coffee cups that do this?”
She shrugged. “I’ve heard of them, but never seen one in person.”
When filled with a hot liquid, the heart turned red. I wasn’t really sure what it meant, but perhaps CJ would.
I took a quick picture to send to CJ. When he replied with a thumbs-up emoticon, I grinned. This, I could actually see myself getting him. “I’m getting this.”
“You should get him this as well.” Min held up a package with what looked like one of those boxy, rectangular handheld gaming systems we’d had at the institute.
A chill went down my spine.
A quick glance around showed nothing was wrong though. Maybe I was just being paranoid. As much as I tried to pay attention to what Min was saying, I couldn’t, so when she asked a question, I simply nodded.
The hair on the back of my neck stood on end.
Maybe it was just my reaction to being out in public? Except this didn’t happen when I was at school. But I didn’t usually spend much time out in the open like this.
Minutes later, Min handed me a bag. “This has been fun! We should do this again soon.”
Only half paying attention, I asked, “Go birthday shopping for my friends?”
“No, silly. Go shopping for anything.”
I blinked, trying to focus on her instead of the eerie feeling I had. “Oh, do you need to shop for something?” I hoped she’d say no, because I wanted this feeling to go away, but it didn’t make sense to come back later if she needed something now.
“Well, no. But you’ll need
clothing for winter in another month or two, so we can go shopping then.” She draped an arm across my shoulders, and I cringed.
“You already bought me more than enough clothes. I’m sure I’ll be fine.” I didn’t like the idea of her spending even more money on me.
Her face fell and her gaze dropped to the floor. “You’d rather not go shopping again?”
My phone vibrated, and I pulled it from my pocket as I replied, “I just feel bad about how much I’ve cost you.”
She pushed open the mall door. “It’s really no problem. As I said before, we definitely have enough to cover things like this.”
Was there no talking her out of buying things for me? It wasn’t that I didn’t appreciate it, but I felt bad. I’d never have a way to repay her for everything.
I followed her through the parking lot and finally glanced at my phone.
Blocked Number: I can’t wait until you’re mine.
Blood drained from my face, and I felt as though I was going to be sick. Who would send me something like that? And how the heck did they get my number? Did one of the guys give it out?
Even as that thought went through my head, I discarded it. They wouldn’t do something like that.
Would they? But no one else had my number. It couldn’t have been Phil or Min, right? They wouldn’t have given it out to a stranger. I already knew that much. Maybe it was a wrong number?
Min unlocked the car, then faced me. “Are you coming, Hayls?”
Shaking my head to clear it, I pasted on a smile and sped up. “Of course.”
Swimming with Guys
Taking a deep breath, I knocked on the gray door. Min had wanted to bring me, but she had to work, so Phil had to drive me. He stood next to me on the doorstep. With my backpack slung over one shoulder, I shifted nervously. I had my swimsuit on under my clothes, but my underwear, towel, and Sam’s gifts were in the bag.
Phil had helped me wrap the gifts this morning. I only hoped Sam had a sense of humor when he saw them, because they weren’t pretty. In my defense, I’d never wrapped gifts before. And after we finished, I wondered if Phil had ever done it either.
