“Let’s talk and move. We’re wasting time, and he sounds like he’s in serious trouble. He can’t be far. The projection of his message wasn’t strong, so he couldn’t have done it from anywhere further than a block,” Cadence said and gave his arm a tug.
“You can tell all of that?”
“Yeah, it’s easy,” she said with a shrug. She led the boys down the bleachers. “The message still comes into the brain similar to normal sound. It’s just a more direct method of communicating, and selective. Kind of like when you listen to music through your headphones. Only you can hear it, but it still goes through your ears. So you can calculate the decibels and then the energy it would take for the brain to produce that many, and go from there. Then you have your answer.”
“Whatever you say,” Orlando said. He gave the blond cheerleader one last glance. The two exchanged a look, and he even waved at her. It was enough to make JD die of a heart attack. Orlando was being nice to someone? He was acting timid, and not like himself. He had to have a thing for her.
Once they were away from the rest of students, they resumed their conversation.
“So Alan is close? Like how close?” JD asked.
“I would deduce that he’s somewhere here in the school,” Cadence said. She kept her tone and body language light. “He did say he wanted to investigate this area. There must be something going on here after all.”
“Woohoo,” Orlando dead panned. “All right, so he’s in the school. How do you propose we get in there without getting caught or arrested?”
“The school’s open, duh. The football players have to change somewhere. But you gotta show us how to get in.” JD rolled his eyes, secretly pleased he knew something Orlando didn’t. He felt productive and helpful for the first time since they agreed to help.
Orlando nodded. “This way should be open since it’s closest to the locker rooms.” He motioned to the school building. They crossed through the parking lot. The doors were open, and a handful of students lingered outside, chatting quietly amongst themselves. He motioned for them to turn left right away, and they found themselves in a barely-lit hallway.
“Okay, we’re in, all right? We should probably put on our mask thingies in case we get caught,” Orlando said.
“There aren’t any cameras here, are there? This is going to be awesome,” JD said pulling his out. They’d worn their masks on duty before, he and Cadence, but it wasn’t in the midst of anything potentially dangerous. This was much different, and it was making his entire body tingle with anticipation.
“No, no cameras. School’s incredibly ghetto compared to Morningtide,” Orlando said as he dug around in his coat pocket for his own mask. JD was impressed he even brought it out with him.
“So,” JD said as he looked around the dark hallway. “If I was a super evil, super bad guy, from another planet, that was trying to wage war on a foreign planet and was using a high school for my base, where would I hide?”
“Well, if we’re talking about you...” Orlando ended the thought in a quiet and private mumble. He peered ahead of them. “Why is that door not locked?”
“A lead! Rock on! Let’s go look!”
“I doubt we’ll find anything now that you’ve announced we’re here to everyone and their mother.”
“Guys, even if there isn’t anyone there, it’s a start. If they’re running, they’ll have left everything behind,” Cadence said and moved in front of them.
Slowly the three approached the door. With each step, they slowed and shook until they were stopped right in front of the door. Ironically enough, it was painted black to match the rest of the school spirit decor in the hallway making opening it that much more daunting of a task.
“Ready?” Cadence asked. She looked specifically at Orlando. It made JD’s blood boil to have her rely on him, of all people, for protection. He was the only one powerful enough for the task though. JD was worthless, and he hated it.
Orlando nodded, and stood back as she opened the door. JD stopped her before any of them could look inside by gently placing his hand over hers.
“Let me do it,” he whispered. She stared up into his eyes, and their hands lingered for a brief moment. He gave her hand a small and reassuring squeeze; then he put his hand on the door and slowly opened it. The heat from her skin still resonated against his, and he felt like that, in and of itself, gave him some kind of all-powerful super ability.
The room was dark. The only light to be seen came from the crack in the door and the red glow of an exit sign towards the back. There must be another door over there. He took a step forward and tried not to shiver at the chaos in front of him. The room was a mess—that much was obvious—because he could make out an overturned table and a mass of papers spread out over the floor.
“Yeah, I think they were in here. I’m turning on the light.” He didn’t see anyone in there anymore.
“We’re clear,” Orlando said, and JD took that as a sign to go ahead and flip the switch.
“Oh, man,” JD mumbled and stepped further into the room. The mess was a lot more than an overturned table. The room was for the music department. There were large lockers for instruments and uniforms, practice rooms with pianos and music stands, and an office for the teacher. One of the lockers was tipped over, however, and another had a dent. There was a ripped-up piano, more paper than he could possibly have imagined, and a mutilated base drum on the floor off towards the back.
“Looks like there was a fight.” JD was calmed at the lack of blood, but that might not necessarily mean anything good either.
“Fight,” Orlando said with a nod. He was the next to step in, and he took a good look around the room.
“You think it was between Alan and someone else?”
“Who else would it have been?”
JD smirked at him. “I don’t know. You do have a reputation to uphold as the new bad boy in town.”
Orlando only rolled his eyes and stepped further towards the back. “This didn’t happen during school. I’m pretty sure this was fairly recent, you know, within the past couple of hours at most. People would be talking about it otherwise.”
“I was kidding anyway.”
“I know that. I think there’s someone else here though.”
“You got super hearing now, too?” JD quipped and stepped towards Orlando carefully. He didn’t want to rustle through the papers too much for fear of slipping, making a lot of noise, or leaving a clue for the police. He’d watched enough CSI to make him paranoid that they’d get caught by the soil residue left from their shoes, or something as equally obscure.
“No, I’m actually not human,” Orlando said. He rolled his eyes. “When your house is as quiet as mine, you learn to pick up on the slightest of sounds. You know, pins dropping, breathing, footsteps. It helps me make sure my secret hobbies stay secret.”
“Do I want to know?” Cadence asked, now finally entering the room as well.
“Ha. Now shut up. I’m serious here.”
All three of them were quiet, each barely even breathing, as they all tried to listen for whatever sound he had heard.
“Orlando, buddy, I think you’re hearing things,” JD whispered.
“Maybe if you shut up,” Orlando said and walked through the room, stopping every few feet to extend his ear out to listen better. He stopped between the tipped-over locker and the broken one with the dent. There was one large instrument locker still intact, and he pressed his ear against the door. He made a gesture for everyone to not make any more sound, and once more the air in the room became still. Then he opened the locker. With a sweeping gesture, he motioned for them to take a peek inside.
What they saw was Alan, who stared at the three of them with wide, glossed over eyes. “Carrot,” he muttered to himself.
“What about carrots?” Cadence asked. She leaned into the locker to give him her hand. He didn’t answer. “Come on, Alan, let’s go home.”
“Carrot,” was his reply. Every action he
made was only done because of her leading. Outside of his lack of mental presence, the rest of him appeared to be unharmed. His clothes were slightly disheveled, but he didn’t have a cut or a bruise on him from what they could see.
JD put an arm around him and walked with him through the hallway. Alan leaned onto him for support, walking stiffly, as though his knees and limbs were incapable of bending.
“Do you think if we walk him out, everyone will be able to see him? I mean, he’s usually invisible to everyone but us, but that might just be his power thingy,” JD said.
“We should assume so. Good thing we parked close, huh? But what are we going to do with him?” Cadence said.
Orlando raised an eyebrow. “I might have an idea. JD, how do you feel about staying over tonight?”
JD frowned. “Like sleep over at your house?” he paused, frowning at Cadence. “Why?”
“So we can have male bonding and prance around in our scantily-clad undies while we beat each other up with big fluffy pillows,” Orlando said with mock enthusiasm. “Why else? I mean, it wouldn’t ever be because Alan needs a place to stay, and a guys’ night would be a great cover for that sort of thing. Nope, not at all.”
“Why do you have to be such a jerk? It was just a question.”
“Cause that puzzled look on your face is just so cute.” He reached over to give JD’s cheek a tweak. “Haul him over to my car. I’m not too far away either. We’ll get some food, movies, games. What do I need to bribe you with to get you to do this?”
“Pizza works,” JD said. “Now where’s your ride?”
Orlando led them to his sports sedan, and JD had to fight the urge to not drool on the spot. It wasn’t necessarily his dream car, but he certainly wouldn’t complain if he had one. He helped Alan into the back and buckled him into the leather seat. The empty gaze was starting to make him uncomfortable. JD sighed, shrugging at Cadence. At least she had driven.
“You’re okay with this? I don’t have to go with him,” he said.
“Are you kidding? If anything, I’m going to be spying on you through the windows at your scantily clad pillow fight,” she teased and gave him a playful nudge before adding quietly, “I think this is a good thing. Alan needs you. Orlando’s going to stress him out. Besides, you all need to find a way to get along.”
He gave Cadence a weak smile. She was right, and it wasn’t simply because she knew everything. That was his Cadence speaking, the girl he loved and admired as his best friend. “All right, I’ll take care of him. I’ll let you know if anything interesting happens and make sure to tape anything wild and crazy.” He glanced back at Alan, and prayed silently they’d be able to break him of his trance soon.
“Carrot...”
Chapter Nine
Orlando grabbed a shopping basket as soon as they entered the grocery store. He walked quickly, knowing exactly where he wanted to go. Alan was still having problems moving like a normal human being, so JD had to stay near him to make sure he didn’t do something even stranger than continually mumbling the word 'carrot.' This caused Orlando to slow his pace often.
“You know, do you think if we gave him a carrot, he’d stop talking about them?” he called over to them.
JD shrugged and pulled Alan along to catch up. “I don’t know. I guess anything is worth a try right?”
“Here Alan, knock yourself out.” Orlando found a bag of baby carrots and threw them at JD.
Alan’s eyes focused on the bag for a split second before glazing over again. “Carrot.”
JD opened up the bag for him and pulled one out, putting it underneath the alien's nose.
“Ca...where?” Alan stared at the vegetable and opened his mouth to eat it.
“We’re at a food store. And yes, people are looking at you. They can see you. Take it as a compliment. Just hang tight, keep quiet, and we’ll be out of here fast. We’ll talk more when we get back to my house. Eat your carrots. They’re good for you,” Orlando said.
“I should go. I need to get back to my ship,” Alan said. He stood still and closed his eyes as if concentrating. When nothing happened, he frowned. “I do not have my ability.”
Orlando exchanged a look with JD, and he was shaken by the lack of concern. Alan had to know exactly what had happened to him, and why his powers were missing.
“I suppose I will have to stay with you after all. You don't mind?” Alan said.
“It’s fine. We need to be fast though. I’d like to try and get back before my sister does. I’ve got one more week of being grounded, so it’d be a good idea to not piss her off,” Orlando said. He grabbed a bag of fresh, seasonal apples, and put them into the basket. They moved out of the produce section, grabbed a gallon of milk, and then went on to stock up on the junk food.
JD grabbed a box of popcorn and a bag of cool-ranch flavored tortilla chips. “I can make some wicked nachos tonight.”
“I like nachos.”
“You like something?”
“Yes, I do like things,” Orlando said.
“Like the cute, blond cheerleader. You seemed to like her a lot,” JD said with a smirk.
Orlando shrugged. “As much as I like any cute, blond cheerleader.”
“So you admit that she’s cute.”
“I think anybody can see she’s good looking,” he said, trying to stay casual. He ran his fingertips over his lips. The truth was, not even he knew what he thought about Tait. She was definitely cute, hands down, and he wasn’t about to deny he had always had a thing for girls her type. He always liked proportionate and curvy women. Her attitude was what attracted him the most, but it was too soon to say much beyond she intrigued him.
“She’s interesting, all right? I figure I may as well have something to entertain myself with now that I can’t beat the snot out of jerks who diss my family,” he said.
“Entertain yourself with?” JD smirked.
“I don’t—” Orlando waved a hand. “Yes, she’s my girl toy. We’ll have all sorts of wild fun. Is that what you want to hear?”
“I just want you to admit you like her.”
“I just met her.”
“So? You can still like her.”
“You sound like a girl. Maybe you should stop spending so much time with Cadence,” Orlando grumbled. “Honestly, are we in middle school again? I like peanut butter, that doesn’t mean I want to marry it.”
He wasn’t interested in dating. That was difficult to communicate to anyone without them getting the wrong idea about him, however. His sister never got it, and when his parents were around, they didn’t either; and if they didn’t get it, then his classmates definitely never would.
“Dude, where are you going?” JD called after him as he continued to drag a still rather confused Alan along. The alien was taking everything in as they went. He’d stop to look at the items on the shelves every so often. “Alan, it’s just a bag of potato chips, all right? It’s not that cool.”
“Why does your planet have hunger if you have stores like this all across your nation?” Alan asked while he was pulled around another corner.
“It’s kind of complicated. Why are we in the hair products aisle? Are we going to do makeovers tonight, too? And you call me a girl?” JD said.
Orlando had stopped in front of the hair dyes, the unnatural ones, and his eyes wandered over every color of the rainbow. “Sure.”
He ran his hand over his face and moved to grab a few different colors to experiment with. He tossed them into the basket. “Do you have everything you want for tonight? Toothbrush? Deodorant?” JD had picked up a bag briefly after the game, but Alan had absolutely nothing on Earth.
“Clothes? For Alan, since he’s still kind of quasi-naked,” JD said.
The alien barely met the shoes and shirt requirement in his sandals, pants, and vest. It wouldn’t have been so strange if it wasn’t late October. The teens had made an attempt to cover Alan’s perfect abdomen in an effort to keep him decent, but it didn’t work well.
“Find everything okay?” the middle-aged woman asked him before flipping over his card. “I.D., please...Captain Awesome?”
“Is something wrong?” Orlando said and pulled out his driver’s license next.
“Captain Awesome?” she repeated before swiping the card and handing it back to him. “Someone’s being a bit optimistic of themselves.”
He took his credit card back and placed it into his wallet before rolling his eyes. “Someone doesn’t have a sense of humor anymore. I wonder why.”
JD laughed awkwardly and bagged up their things. “I’d rather leave that one up to my imagination than have you tell me. But seriously, Captain Awesome? Did you actually sign your card like that?”
Orlando shrugged and pulled out the credit card again to show him. “Yeah, so? It works a lot better than ‘Please ask for I.D.’”
JD took the card into his hands and stared at the custom design with a picture of two orange and white kittens making angry faces at the camera. Orlando loved his cats, and it was the only picture the bank accepted from the options he provided.
“You’re so...” JD said.
“I know, I’m weird.” They walked out to the car, and he got in soon after. He tapped on his steering wheel as he waited for JD and Alan to follow suit. “Come on, pokey.”
The ride back to the mansion was fast and painless for them all. They somehow managed to hold a decent conversation without wanting to kill one another. Things were fine until they pulled into the driveway, where they saw his sister at the end of her date in the middle of a goodnight kiss at the back door. His hands tightened around the steering wheel to the point where his knuckles were even whiter than usual.
Battlefield Page 8
