Chromosome 'S': The Angel

by Rey, Solomon

  “Seeing those woman pulling on the blouse like that worries me. I don’t feel safe,” he joked, “I’ll wait for you outside,” he thumbed toward the exit.

  “Okay, I won’t be long,” she said, her eyes locked on a pair of black converse.

  Derek quickly walked away, immediately scanning the mall for any signs of Scott or Ronnie. He roamed around, glancing through the large display windows of the neighboring stores, but nothing caught his attention enough to consider entering. He wandered back to the store and found a seat underneath the second level walkway.

  * * *

  As luck would have it or bad luck would have it, Rachel, Sonya and Doreen had just walked out of the music store on the second level and were leaning against the glass railing. They were drinking ICEES and trying to enjoy their day.

  They wore tank tops, shorts and vans. They were a sight for any teenage boy. Rachel and Sonya were dark haired beauties with curves that were almost fully developed and Doreen with her honey colored hair was just as beautiful.

  “I’m bored,” Rachel complained.

  “Me too,” the other two agreed.

  “As soon as I graduate, I’m leaving Coos Bay for good,” Rachel announced, “I’m tired of this place. I can’t stand it anymore. I swear the second I receive my diploma, I’m out.” This was a common oath many small town kids make.

  “Where would you go?” Sonya asked sipping her ICEE.

  “I don’t know…I could go to…Portland or…New York or Los Angeles.” Rachel imagined each place fulfilling whatever was missing in her life.

  “Do you know anyone in Portland or L.A. or New York?” Doreen asked.

  “No, but who cares,” she said flippantly.

  “What would you do there, when you got there?” Sonya asked.

  “Try modeling…acting. I know I’m pretty enough to model,” Rachel said conceitedly.

  “What’s so bad about Coos Bay…I mean all of our friends and relatives are here?” Doreen asked, pushing away a lock of hair from her face.

  “It’s too small-townish and boring. There’s never anything to do. I want to go somewhere that people don’t know me,” Rachel said, “Here, you sneeze and it’s all over town before you can blow your nose,” she said with obvious disgust.

  “I know what you mean. I remember getting my first period one morning and by that afternoon my Nana called, wanting to talk about it,” Sonya said.

  “She actually called you up to talk about it?” Doreen asked.

  “Yeah! Can you believe it…like I want to discuss my period. Ewww!” Sonya said as though it were the grossest thing imaginable.

  “So, what did she say?” Doreen asked as Rachel rolled her eyes in annoyance.

  “Didn’t you just hear me? I don’t want to talk about my period,” Sonya replied sharply.

  “Oh yeah, sorry.”

  “Great! I can’t believe I have to stand here and listen to you guys.” Rachel casually scanned the immediate area. A smile blossomed on her face. “You guys up for some fun?” Rachel asked grinning ear to ear.

  “What do you have in mind?” Sonya asked.

  “I’m up for anything,” Doreen said eagerly.

  “Look right below us,” Rachel said pointing as she took a sip of ICEE,” I bet Olivia is not far away.”

  “So what do you have in mind?” Doreen asked, looking around for Olivia.

  “I’m not sure. You guys have any ideas?” Rachel asked, staring into their blank faces. Rachel’s mind was whirling, “I got it! Let’s see if Olivia shows up…then we’ll…”

  Rachel and her cohorts discussed their plans.

  * **

  Derek sat patiently waiting for Olivia, as his imagination began to run wild.

  “It’s done, Derek,” Dr. Richard Osborn confirmed.

  “Really! I don’t feel any different,” Derek reported.

  “Well, being that you are the first human to be injected with Chromosome ‘S’, I’m not sure what will happen,” he said, holding a clipboard and pen.

  “I feel a little thirsty. Can I have a glass of water?”

  “Sure”, Richard said, filling a glass.

  “Thanks,” he said, reaching for it. His hand closed around it, shattering the glass, sending shards flying.

  Derek stared at his hand, “Uh…Dr. Osborn…I think it’s working,” he laughed uncontrollably.

  “I think you’re right, Derek. Try to pick up the table,” he pressed.

  “Okay, but move back,” Derek bent down, with one hand, grasped a leg and lifted. It felt light as a feather. “Yahoo! It works,” he gently sat the table down.

  Richard noticed something was amiss. “Uh…Derek there’s something wrong with your pigmentation. Look in the mirror over on the wall,” he said pointing.

  Derek darted over to it, apprehensively. “Ah crap! I’m turning green! I’m either turning into the Hulk…or Kermit the Frog!” He stared at himself in the mirror.

  “Derek…Derek!” Olivia shook him by his shoulder pulling him out of his daydream.

  * * *

  “There she is,” Rachel said excitedly, with a demonic smile, we need to wait till she’s sitting with him, then we’ll get both of them.”

  “Uh…Rach…Doreen asked.

  “Yeah, what?” She asked, remaining focused on Olivia, like a cat fixated on a parakeet.

  “Why do you hate Olivia so much?”

  “Yeah, I always wondered,” Sonya said curiously, both looking at Rachel.

  “Well, isn’t it obvious, she thinks she’s better than everyone else. She walks around with her nose in the air. The snob!” Rachel said angrily.

  That sounds more like you, Doreen thought. “She does?”

  “Yeah…she does!”

  “How?” Sonya asked.

  “How? Really? She’s always so smug, just because she has the best grades in school and her father’s rich,” she said with clear disdain.

  “I don’t get that from her. She’s always been nice,” remarked Doreen.

  “Yeah, I don’t see her as a snob, at all,” Sonya agreed looking at Doreen.

  Rachel’s face reddened with anger. “So you would rather be friends with the rejects down there?” She asked accusatorily.

  “No, we were just curious,” Doreen assured her.

  Rachel faced Sonya, “And you?”

  “Just curious, that’s all.”

  Rachel turned her attention back to her prey, as she said under her breath,”Idiots.’

  * * *

  Derek came out of his daydream to see Olivia standing next to him.

  “So did you get anything?” Derek asked.

  “No, everything good was already gone. I did see a cool pair of checkered converse, but they were the wrong size,” Olivia said.

  “Ah, that sucks,” he said, “So, where to now?”

  “I don’t know…you want to go to Subway…then we’ll come back?”

  “I’m not really hungry yet,” he said, “Besides, I don’t want to get fat, because I have this serious weight problem.”

  “You’re stupid,” she said snickering, as she sat next to him.

  * * *

  “Hurry up and sit down, damn it,” Rachel said.

  “What if she doesn’t sit down?” Sonya asked.

  “Then we’ll have to come up with something else, duh,” Rachel snapped, “Wait, I think she’s sitting down,” Rachel said excitedly, “Yes! Wait a second…ready…now!” She commanded, as all three of them poured the remainder of their ICEES on the rejects below.

  “Well, let’s walk around a little,” Derek suggested.

  “Okay, I guess so,” Olivia said as cold, cold liquid doused them. They sat dripping red from the top of their heads to their feet. Derek shot a look above them to discover the culprit that soaked them. There was no one there. He looked back at Olivia, to see tears forming in her eyes with her arms held out as though she were imitating a tree.

  “Don’t cry Olivia. If you cry, then
I’ll cry, which will totally screw up my make-up, then it will turn into a huge tearfest,” he said playfully, trying to make her laugh. As usual, it worked.

  “You’re stupid,” she said laughing as they both got up.

  People stopped momentarily to watch the spectacle. Some laughed, others sneered.

  “Hey, you heard of The Walking Dead, right?” Derek asked, leading her into a joke.

  “Yeah, why?” Olivia answered, knowing he would say something silly.

  “Well, we’re The Walking Red,” he said holding his arms out, dragging one leg, imitating a zombie.

  “That was really bad,” she said, “You really need to work on your jokes. They’re slipping,” she laughed, “Did you happen to see who did it?”

  “No, they were gone by the time I had a chance to look up.”

  “Oh well. Not much we can do about it. I guess I’ll go to the girl’s restroom and clean up. I can rinse this stuff in the sink, then we can go outside and dry off.”

  “That’s a good idea, I’ll do the same,” he said.

  “Okay, meet you here when you’re done.”

  They walked to the restrooms, which were right next to each other. The ICEE had already begun to dry; their skin was sticky and uncomfortable.

  “Don’t take too long,” he told her.

  “I have to rinse everything, but I’ll be quick. I’m just not looking forward to putting on the wet clothes after I dry off.”

  “Yeah, but you knew the job was dangerous when you took it,” he said with a chuckle.

  “What job?” she asked curiously.

  “Being my friend.”

  “I had no idea it would be this dangerous and embarrassing,” she said jokingly.

  “Just go change before I moon you!” He threatened.

  “I’ve already seen your butt. It would be cruel to flash something that white at anyone,” she said tittering, as she walked into the ladies restroom.

  She stared at herself in the mirror, I look like Carrie at her prom, she thought.

  She stripped down to her panties as she rinsed her shorts and tank in the sink. She wrung them out, shaking them vigorously to get the excess water out. There was no bra to rinse out. Since she was flat as a board−she never wore one. There was little difference between her’s and Derek’s chest. She looked at her breasts or lack of, and thought, ‘someday’.

  She considered removing her panties to rinse them out. What if someone walks in, she thought, I really don’t want to be all stick—oh, who cares! She stripped down completely naked except for her pink converse, she began to rinse.

  With the sound and feel of the water, nature decided to call at a most inopportune time. She stepped from foot to foot trying to hold her bladder until she finished rinsing, but it was futile. She gave in, dashing into the stall.

  * * *

  “They went into the restrooms, let’s go have some more fun,” Rachel said laughing hysterically.

  “What are we gonna do to her,” Doreen asked nervously.

  “Just mess with her a bit, that’s all,” Rachel said.

  Doreen and Sonya were too weak to resist Rachel’s exhortation. They reluctantly followed her down the stairs headed for the restroom. There was no one in sight; security guards, adults…and Derek was still in the restroom.

  Rachel led the way, slowly opening the doors, she peeked in. She instantly spotted the wet clothes on the counter, smiling at her two accomplices, who responded in kind.

  “Who’s there?” Olivia’s timid voice came from the stall. She sat on the toilet, suddenly realizing she had left her clothes out on the counter.

  “Hello Olivia,” Rachel said, snatching up Olivia’s clothes.

  Olivia recognized the voice, fear ran through her body. “Did you have an accident?” Rachel asked facetiously.

  Olivia stood on the toilet seat to peer over the stall door.

  “Rachel! Put my clothes down!” She yelled, her face turning red with anger.

  The three girls leaned against the counter. Sonya and Doreen folded their arms in front of them with Rachel standing between. Each wore smug faces.

  “I don’t think you’ll be needing these. Maybe, I’ll give them to a homeless person,” Rachel said, as the others giggled, “Actually, they’re too disgusting, I don’t even think a homeless person would lower themselves to wear them.”

  “Please don’t do this, Rachel,” Olivia pleaded, “This isn’t funny!”

  “Actually, I think it’s very funny,” she replied, “What do you girls think? Is it funny?” She turned to her followers.

  “Hilarious,” Sonya said.

  “Oh yeah!” Doreen said.

  “Tell you what…I will give them back if you walk outside, like you are for …one minute. What do you say?”

  “Nooo! Just give them back!” She screamed.

  “Not a chance,” Rachel said, heading for the door. “Have fun walking home.” The three laughed, closing the door behind them.

  Olivia stepped out of the stall. “Great! Now what?”

  Maybe Derek’s done, she thought. She cracked the door open, Derek wasn’t around. “Derek!” She shouted, hoping he would hear her, since his restroom was less then fifteen feet away. No answer. “Derek!” She shouted louder.

  “What?” He shouted from behind the men’s room door.

  “Come here, please,” she called desperately.

  “Give me a second; I’m putting my clothes on.”

  “Please hurry!”

  “Okay, okay. Keep your panties on!” He retorted.

  “I wish I could,” she said to herself.

  She waited impatiently trying to figure out what to do.

  The door to the men’s room opened and Derek stepped out. The ICEE had rinsed out completely.

  “What’s wrong?” He asked, “You dressed yet?”

  She cracked the door a little, “Does it look like I’m dressed.” he saw the side of her body, trying not to suppress a laugh, “What happened?”

  “If you laugh I’m going to hurt you!” She said spitefully, “The three witches of the west struck.”

  “What?”

  “Rachel, Sonya and Doreen stole all my clothes, I have nothing but my shoes,” she said as he giggled. “It’s not funny,” she said seriously, which instantly caused his smile to vanish. “What do I do?”

  He thought for a moment, “I got it!” he announced.

  “Well, what is it?” she asked obviously annoyed.

  “I still have my twenty dollars. I’ll run over to one of the stores and by you a t-shirt and shorts. You’ll have to go commando for now,” he said.

  “Okay, sounds good, but please hurry!”

  “No problem, I’ll run all the way, unless you want to come with me,” he joked.

  “Right now is not the time for jokes. Now go!” She ordered. She closed the door, retreating back into the stall. She didn’t want to be caught naked if someone came in.

  He did as promised. He ran all the way. He found a decent top and shorts for sixteen dollars. He ran all the way back. It took him a total of ten minutes. He knocked on the door panting, trying to catch his breath. “Olivia it’s me.”

  She cautiously cracked the door. “What did you get me?” she asked.

  “Does it matter? I could have bought you a clown suit and you would still have to wear it,” he said sarcastically.

  “Just give me the bag.”

  He handed it to her and she closed the door. She emerged a moment later wearing a white tank with navy blue shorts. “They fit!” She said happily.

  “You can’t even tell you are going commando,” he joked.

  “Shut up,” she said.

  “So, what do we do now?” He inquired.

  “Let’s go to your house and get something to eat.”

  “Okay, then we can play some X-Box!”

  They strolled toward the exit when Olivia spotted the witches of the west, sitting on a bench as they flipped through the pages
of a teen magazine.

  Olivia stopped abruptly, pulling Derek to the side. She pointed at the girls, “I’m in the mood for an Icee, how about you?” she said with a giggle.

  “That sounds really refreshing.”

  They scaled the stairs two at a time, purchased two Icees with the money Derek had left over, then ran over to the area where the girls were sitting. They stood right above the witches.

  “Are you sure you want to do this?” Derek asked, “Will you be able to live with yourself?”

  “Well, I’m not sure…let me think about it…I thought about it. Hell yes!” She said enthusiastically, “On three,” he nodded, “1…2…3!”

  They poured the ICEE over the three girls watching their bodies stiffen, then hearing their screams. Derek and Olivia laughed uncontrollably. They heard the girls shout their names as they ran down the stairs and out the mall, laughing all the way.

  * * *

  “Ahhhhh!” Rachel screamed bloody murder. The two others sat dripping as she cried, “I’m gonna get them for this!” She swore.

  Doreen had enough. She had nothing against Olivia or Derek. In fact, she thought Olivia was pretty cool. “Just let it go. We deserve it.”

  Sonya said nothing.

  “Shut your face or I’ll shut it for you,” Rachel shouted at Doreen, “I’m gonna get them, I swear it!”

  CHAPTER IX

  As they walked the two miles to Derek’s house, the two friends made plans for the night.

  “You think our parents will ever figure out that their perfect for each other?” Olivia asked.

  “I don’t know, but hopefully something will happen tomorrow that will pry their eyes open,” Derek said.

  “I think we need to do something else, don’t you?” she asked.

  “Like what?”