“How long has it been busy?” I asked. Usually this time of day was pretty dead. Normally, it wouldn’t get crazy for another couple of hours.
“Since your school let out. I gotta warn you, I’ve been hearing your name come up a lot. Especially from your favorite.” He nodded toward Jill.
“Yeah. Long story.” I really didn’t want to get into with Roger. He’d find the whole thing amusing, of course, but if Jill overheard me talking about Ryan, she’d find some way of turning it against me and embarrassing me somehow. “I’ll tell you later when it’s not so crowded.” I gave Roger a meaningful glance and he nodded in understanding.
“Gotcha. Don’t you think it would have been easier if you went to regular school like the rest of us?”
“You have no idea, but Geoffrey Turner is one of the top schools in the country.” I gave Roger the usual spiel. I had it memorized. I literally had a double life, the fake one where everyone thought I was an over-achiever that planned on going to the best schools and would have an amazing career, and the real one where I brought dead things to life and couldn’t step out of a four mile radius from my home or my jerk step-dad would drop dead and rot on our trailer floor.
“I know. And just so you know, us park people are really proud of you. It’s always an inspiration to see someone succeed and get out.”
Roger smiled with pride, like he was living vicariously through me. My heart dropped slightly. There were a lot of people in the parks who saw me as an inspiration. I didn’t want to think of how disappointed they’d be when I ended up staying at the ice-cream parlor and doing nothing with my life.
“Hey, no pressure. Relax, you look like you’re going to cry.”
I, obviously, hadn’t perfected the art of hiding what I was thinking. I definitely needed to work on that. “I’ve just had a crazy day.”
“You’re killing me! What happened?” Roger was practically salivating for the gossip.
“Later. Trust me.”
“So, trying to sleep your way into money.” Jill’s voice came out of nowhere. How did she sneak up on me like that?
I turned to face her and there she was with Joan at her side sneering at me.
“Do you need a re-fill on that shake?” I asked in the most sickly sweet voice I could muster.
“Yes, but I don’t want your dirty hands touching my glass. What’s his name here will do just fine.” Jill gave Roger the empty glass and he took it with a wink of encouragement to me.
“What do you want, Jill?” I just wanted this to be over with.
“I want you to stay away from Ryan Vaughn. Stick to your own kind, like Shake Boy here.” Jill was getting angrier by the second. I couldn’t fathom why she hated me so much. She had everything: money, power, good looks. Why was she always so focused on making my life miserable?
Roger returned with Jill’s shake and handed it to her. He had his back slightly turned so Jill couldn’t see his lips and he mouthed to me, “Ryan Vaughn?” Then he made a face of genuine approval. “Nice.”
I almost wanted to hug Roger. He was a friendly lifeline in the midst of attack.
“Okay. Will do. Is that all?” I raised my eyebrows in emphasis of the desire to end this.
Jill stood there, frozen in body, but eyes livid. I had seen that look before. It was the same expression Bruce used to make before he…
PUNCH!
Right in the face. Jill actually punched me! And it hurt!
“Oh crap!” Roger was just as shocked.
Even Joan and the rest of Jill’s crew looked shocked.
And just when I thought that Jill got out of her system whatever it was that made her freak, she leapt over the bar and tackled me to the floor.
This time I was a little more prepared, but not much. It’s amazing at how awkward fighting actually is. In your mind you can imagine how you’d be, what you’d do, how you’d defend yourself, but when someone is actually on top of you, wrestling you to the ground, your basic instincts kick in.
Fight or flight. Those are pretty much your two options, and as I knew from Bruce, mine was fight.
I grabbed Jill’s wrists to stop her hands from wrapping themselves around my neck. Her face was distorted and snarling from anger. She had finally reached her limit. With the combination of being caught taking Age-pro, the fly that practically devoured her, Bill’s protectiveness of me and Ryan’s kiss had finally sent her over the edge.
Once I had a good hold on Jill’s arms I used my whole body to flip her over so I was on top and…
BAM!
I punched her hard in the face.
That was when I felt the strong arms of Mel pulling me off of Jill’s body.
Joan quickly ran around to the other side of the bar and started to help Jill up yelling, “YOU should fire her! She attacked Jill!”
“I did not! She punched me and then Amazon’d it over the bar!” I couldn’t believe Joan was actually trying to go there.
“It’s true, Mel, Chelsan didn’t do anything but defend herself.” Roger was obviously having none of Joan’s shenanigans either.
“Like I would ever stoop to fighting!” Jill caught on to Joan’s tactics. “And I have a room full of witnesses who will back me up.” Jill smiled at me, regaining her evil calm and turned to Mel with as much malice as I’ve ever seen from her. “And if you don’t fire her, my father will be coming down here and closing up this fine establishment, so I suggest you rid yourself of the scum that works here.”
Mel looked like he wanted to kill Jill himself, but I knew Jill would make good on her promise of destruction. I turned to Mel before he had a chance to decide. “It’s okay, Mel, I’ll leave.”
Mel’s face was burning with fury. He wheeled on Jill, but I stepped in front of him before he’d do anything he’d regret, and whispered so Jill couldn’t listen. “Don’t. You’ll lose everything.”
Mel did something then that I didn’t expect. He hugged me and bent close so only I could hear, “I’ll fix this.” He pulled away and turned to the room full of staring customers. “Nothing more to see here. Go back to your business.”
Everyone pretended to do just that, but there were still flickering glances of curiosity from the audience.
I gave one last look at Roger and could tell he was still enraged at the unfairness of it all.
“I might just have to press charges.” Jill was getting into this ruse full force now.
I turned to her with as much fury as I could evoke. “Then I might just have to report your Age-pro use to the proper authorities. It stays in your system for at least two weeks after you stop. All they’d have to do is a blood test.” I totally lied. I had no idea if Age-pro stayed in your system or not, but from the horror on Jill’s face, neither did she. “Even daddy can’t get you out of that one,” I added for measure.
It was the equivalent of another punch.
Jill fixed her hair and straightened out her clothing. “I suppose you being fired is enough punishment.”
I just shook my head and left. I still had another semester’s tuition due later this year and without a job there was no way I could pay it. Jill knew that. And then it hit me.
She had planned the whole thing.
That’s why the shop was so full. Full of witnesses she controlled. I should have known something was up. She was waiting for me to hit her back and I fell for it. Though that look of rage on her face was as real as it gets, and Joan acted pretty surprised when Jill punched me and leapt over the bar. Jill probably expected me to punch her first when she made the comments about Ryan and when I didn’t bite she couldn’t let the opportunity pass. I was still an idiot, but whether I hit her or not, she would have made everyone swear that I did, so it was pointless even thinking about it.
I made my way to the Hover-Shuttle stop which was located at the end of the street. I’d have to let Bill know that I didn’t need that ride after all. I pulled out my cell phone and started to dial.
The phone rang a few f
eet behind me. I whirled around to see Bill holding his phone and smiling.
“You think a fist fight between you and Jill wouldn’t be on every cell phone in our school in milliseconds,” Bill said with amusement. “Come on. I’ll take you home.”
“Thanks,” was all I could say. I had to admit it was nice seeing him there. Bill was becoming a rock of support I didn’t think I could live without.
“Tell me you got some good licks in.” Bill tried to lighten my mood.
“I wish I could have done more.” I smiled back at him.
“We’re a pair today, me with Ryan, you with Jill.”
“I seem to be the common denominator in all these equations.”
“Something worth fighting for, I’d say.” Bill leaned down and kissed the top of my head.
I was shocked. As innocent as it seemed, Bill had never touched me, let alone kiss me. And as surprised as I was, it was actually kind of nice. Unexpected but comforting. I smiled up at him and gave him a playful nudge in the gut. “Let’s just agree not to get into any more fights from now on.”
“Agreed.” Bill put his arm around me and gave me a supportive squeeze. It wasn’t like the fire I felt with Ryan, but it was just as powerful. Like the fierceness you feel with a friend you know you’d do anything for. A surge of intense loyalty came over me and I squeezed Bill back.
“Thanks for getting me. I really needed a friend.”
“Any time.”
We arrived at his hover-car without mishap and he opened my door for me like he always did. I sat inside while he smoothly walked around to the driver’s side and slid into the car. He started the car and we were off.
“So, fired, huh?” Bill smiled.
“More like quit. Mel looked like he was going to throttle Jill himself for giving him an ultimatum like that. I didn’t want her dad messing things up for him.”
“If I could help you I would, you know that, right?” Bill was so sincere it made my heart hurt.
“Yeah, I know. Thanks, Bill.”
“You need money? I think her plan was to get you to have to drop out due to lack of funds.” Bill said this so quietly I had to strain my ears to hear.
“I figured. But I can’t take your money. I’ll figure it out somehow.” The last thing I wanted to do was owe someone money. Especially since I was doomed to work crap jobs for the rest of my life. I’d be indebted to him forever.
“I wouldn’t expect it back, if you’re worried.”
Did he just read my mind?
“But I, personally, would have to pay you back and that’s why I can’t. Thanks though, I really appreciate it.”
“The offer will always be open if you need it.” And he left it at that. Just like Bill: never pushy, never overbearing, just simple and to the point.
We arrived at my trailer and he lowered the hover-car to the ground. Bill quickly exited the car and ran around it to open my door.
“Thanks,” I said, a little embarrassed. He was being extra polite, probably because he felt bad about the whole Ryan debacle. I stepped out of the car.
“Try not to think about it.” Bill tried to make me feel better.
And then he hugged me.
What was going on?
I hugged him back and pulled away, punching his arm to try and re-establish our normal buddy behavior. “See you Monday.”
His face registered disappointment, but he hid it with a smile. “See you Monday.”
Bill got in his hover-car and flew away.
“I thought you two were just friends,” my mom’s voice sounded from the doorway of the trailer.
I turned to face her and she looked angry.
“We are. What’s your problem?” I didn’t like the tone she was using to talk about Bill.
“Get in here.”
I sighed and walked into the trailer. I kept Bruce sitting in front of the holo-tv and intended to keep him there during this soon-to-be painful conversation.
“Bill is a nice guy,” I said. I had this argument with my mom about five times a month. For some reason she didn’t like Bill. Any time I’d mention him she’d ask me if there were any other boys at school that I liked. My reply would always be a groan and a giant no, but it was as if she knew I had a hopeless crush on Ryan and wanted me to do something about it.
“I know you think so, but I don’t trust him. I see the way he looks at you. Aren’t there any other boys at school that you like?”
SEE?!
“Mom, he doesn’t look at me in any way but friendship.” Which was true. Though he did just kiss the top of my head and that hug felt a little too tight.
“I saw that. I know you don’t feel that way about him and you should tell him. Maybe he’ll leave you alone after you deflate his ego a little.”
“Charming, mom.”
“Well… wait a minute. What are you doing home so early?”
Uh oh. Here comes another painful topic.
“I quit.”
“Good. I don’t like you working and going to school.”
What? Not even a why? Or what happened? Just: Good.
“Good? I have no idea where my tuition is going to come from now.” I was a little angry at her response.
“You’ll just have to go to public school like the rest of us did,” Mom said with an air of pleasure.
I couldn’t even stomach the rest of this conversation. “I’m going to bed.”
I stalked past her and went into my room, slamming the flimsy aluminum door. I pulled out my reader, searched the directory for the Scientific Journal and downloaded the study Mr. Alaster referred to today about resurrection. After a few minutes my eyes grew heavy and I couldn’t keep focused on what I was reading. I pulled my comforter on top of me and laid my head on my pillow, falling instantly asleep.
Saturday September 18, 2320
Chapter Two
I awoke to the sounds of clunking and clacking from the kitchen.
“Mom, seriously?!” I yelled through my wall. She was about to go fuss around in her garden and she was arranging her tools. The reason I knew this was because it had become an annoying Saturday tradition that would never fail to wake me up. She hated it when I slept in late. It was some kind of strange pet peeve of hers.
“Oh, did I wake you? Sorry sweetie,” her muffled voice came through the wall.
“Sure you are,” I mumbled into my pillow.
My mother also knew that once I was up, I was up. I couldn’t go back to sleep.
I suddenly thought of the Science Journal’s report and I had a surge of excitement course through me. Maybe I could find some kind of clue as to how I had my powers. But the last place I wanted to read was in this dingy trailer. I suddenly thought of the perfect place, just outside of the trailer park, where no one ever went, where I could just be by myself and concentrate on the report.
I was still wearing the same clothes as yesterday and I seriously debated on not changing. I wouldn’t see anyone from school anyway. “Is it hot outside?” I called to my mother.
“It’s already eighty-five degrees,” she called back.
Shorts it is.
Grabbing a pair of cargo shorts from the floor, I quickly changed into them and replaced the tank top I was wearing for a sleeveless fitted top. I slipped on a pair of flip-flops, headed toward the kitchen, blanket and reader in hand.
Mom was arranging her bucket full of gardening supplies, about to head out front. “You going somewhere?” she asked thoughtfully.
“Just over to my tree to read.”
Mom knew the spot I was talking about.
She smiled, “Well, have fun. You should take some toast or an apple with you. Lunch won’t be for another few hours and you’ll be starving.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I grabbed an apple and left the trailer.
Walking through the trailer park, I felt a rush of contentment. This truly was my home and everyone in it felt like family.
A black swirling hole came running toward me
as I recognized Buster, a golden retriever that belonged to a little girl named Katie. This was the dog that was killed by a hover-car. The driver was drunk and swerved down too low to the ground, clipping Buster’s head, killing him instantly. I knelt down and scratched behind Buster’s ears. I made sure that he acted like he was enjoying it thoroughly.
The Riser Saga Page 5
