Oddily abruptly began to walk in the opposite direction at the same time Kip tried to catch up to her. She was just about to start running when Nexa stopped her with her hand and whispered, “Let’s find out what’s on his puny mind.”
“Oddily, wait up!” Kip called to her.
The alarm showing in Oddily’s sweet face made Nexa’s heart go out to her.
“Hey, give me that!” Kip tried to grab Oddily’s backpack from her shoulder, but she dodged his attempt.
“No, it’s mine,” she scowled at him.
“Let me help you, damn it!” This time Kip succeeded and wedged Oddily’s bag under his arm like a football.
While observing Kip’s antics, Nexa figured out Maxim’s little surprise. He had altered Kip’s mind, an ability her brother wasn’t supposed to have. It wasn’t until Oddily had tugged at her arm that her attention was brought back to the moment.
“What should I do, Nexa?”
“Remain quiet and enjoy the show,” she smiled.
Just then, Starla stepped up to Kip and demanded, “What are you doing?”
“What do you think? I’m helping out Oddily.”
“Carrying this for her?!” Starla grabbed Oddily’s bag from him and tossed it on the ground—then pulled him off to the side. “Okay, what’s up, and why haven’t I been included?”
“There’s nothing going on,” he glowered at her. “Can’t a guy be nice once in a while?”
“We’re talking about Oddily here, you jerk.”
Kip shrugged. “I know, but I like her now.”
“Oh, give me a break!”
“Do you have a problem with that?”
“Hell yeah, I have a problem with it!”
“Well get over yourself, because I’m not messing with her anymore.”
“Read my lips,” Starla pointed to her mouth. “Do what you’re told, and quit giving me a bad time.”
“Nope, I’m leaving her alone.”
Starla put her hands on her hips and scowled. “Does this mean you’re going to be nice to everyone?”
“No…I don’t think so.”
“All right Kip. What the hell is wrong with you?” Starla looked at him strangely. “You’re acting really weird right now.”
“No I’m not…am I?” Kip scratched his head.
“Whatever!” Starla was becoming frustrated with the whole matter. “Listen, if I pick out someone else, will you mess with them for me?”
“No problem. Who’s my next victim?”
Starla’s eyes narrowed into two slits as she surveyed the new girl standing by Oddily. “Go after her,” she pointed at Nexa.
Kip shook his head. “Nah…pick someone else. She’s too hot.”
“Better looking than me?” Starla’s voice became whiny.
“Well…!”
“You’ve got to be kidding!” Starla tried to slap his head.
“Hey, don’t mess with the hair!” He dodged her hand. “You’re prettier…all right?”
“That’s better,” she smiled. “Now go and do as I say, or you won’t get any action tonight…if you know what I mean.”
“But that’s blackmail!” he complained as Starla walked away, but then calmed himself. “All right…you win!”
Kip’s attention went back to Oddily’s backpack, but it had disappeared along with Oddily and his new victim. He needed to keep Starla happy, so he roamed the campus until he found them again, and sauntered up to Nexa. “Hey what’s up, babe?”
“My name is Nexa.”
Nexa remained patient while Kip gave her a once over, and then said, “Okay, now go away.”
“You’ve got attitude—I’m impressed,” he smiled. “To bad you’re so damn tall. Maybe I should nickname you, Giraffe.”
Nexa quickly scanned Kip’s mind, searching through the mayhem of thoughts to find out what he was up to, and had to smile when she found the source. “Starla has put you up to this.”
“Hey, you’re fairly smart for a blonde.” Kip gave her an evil eye, but that was a mistake. He was now under her control after loosing himself in her transparent blue eyes.
Nexa smiled. “I bet you didn’t know Starla has been keeping a secret from you.”
”She has?” Kip stared at her with an absent mind.
“She’s jealous because you’re bullying everyone but her.”
“Yeah,” he nodded slowly.
“And she wants to be the only one you pick on.”
“Okay.”
Nexa took her finger and turned Kip’s head, so he could find Starla huddled with a group of her friends. A menacing smile began to spread across his face, and then he left. Nexa watched him sneak up on Starla and dump his cup of coffee over her head. The expression on her face was priceless while Kip chuckled at her with his horsy laugh.
Starla’s friends gasped at what he had done while Starla shrieked in shock and outrage.
“You jerk!” She threw Kip a murderous look. “You are so dead!”
One of Kip’s friends intervened. “Hey man, what did you do that for?”
“She wanted me to,” he grinned while taking pleasure in watching Starla complain to her friends.
“I don’t think so, dude!”
“Nah…she does.” Kip checked out Starla’s rump while she stomped away. “She and I are going to have a good time tonight.”
With Nexa’s keen eyesight and overly sensitive hearing she didn’t miss a thing, and she was satisfied with the new situation she had created between Kip and Starla.
Nexa turned her head and was surprised to see a handsome kid talking with Oddily.
“You’re Paul.” Nexa greeted him with a charming smile.
“Yeah, it’s nice to finally meet you.” His brown ‘puppy dog’ eyes were warm and inviting as he gave her a nod of acknowledgement. “What’s all the commotion going on over there?”
Nexa followed his gaze to the small crowd breaking up. “Starla got mad at Kip.”
“What else is new,” he grinned.
“This is Nexa’s first day here,” Oddily’s large green eyes sparkled with enthusiasm.
Paul looked surprised. “Well, with your looks, I hope you’re prepared for a lot of attention!”
“I can hardly wait.” Nexa forced a bright smile.
“Sure, whatever you say!” Paul glanced over at Oddily and winked.
Paul’s dry sense of humor came as an unexpected surprise, and Nexa genuinely smiled this time. “Okay smartass. I see how it is.”
“Ahhh, you think you know me already!”
“Come on guys, we’re going to be late for class.”
While the three headed for their first class, Nexa’s flesh began to crawl. There was something in the air—an energy that was both formidable and unwavering. Suddenly, fear gripped her heart. Her instincts warned her of an unfriendly presence, a presence that was too close for comfort.
Without warning, she turned around and headed back to the parking lot.
“Where are you going?” Oddily called out.
“You two go ahead. I forgot something in the car.”
When no one was watching, Nexa ducked behind the gymnasium and entered the forest. She scouted the perimeter of Forest Ridge High, surveying the school from different angles, and was just about to head for class when she spotted something. It was only a flash but clearly, movement had caught her attention.
Oddily sat at her desk watching a short film on the Civil War while constantly glancing over at the classroom door. Nexa hadn’t shown up for class yet, and neither had Starla.
The incident with Kip and Starla played over again in her mind. It didn’t make any sense. Why would Kip spill coffee on his girlfriend’s head? Whatever the reason, she didn’t care as long as it wasn’t her head. Knowing how particular Starla was about her appearance, she probably drove home to clean up.
Suddenly, a beam of light streamed through the darkened classroom when the door opened. Nexa had stepped inside, heading to the ba
ck of the room where Mr. Belmont sat by the projector. Within moments, the teacher was telling Oddily to get her stuff and go with Nexa.
After they were clear of the room, Oddily was curious. “How did you get him to excuse me from class?”
Nexa smiled. “Just a little friendly persuasion.”
“Where are we going?”
“Home.”
“Does Maxim know?”
“No, I haven’t talked to him yet.”
“Oh good…let’s surprise him, okay?”
“That’s not such a good idea, Oddily.”
“Oh, you’re right. What if he’s busy right now?”
“Wait a minute. Don’t jump to the wrong conclusions! Maxim would love…!” Nexa’s voice trailed off when Paul jogged up to them.
“Hey guys, what’s up?”
“We’re going home,” Oddily smiled brightly with her thoughts still on Maxim.
Nexa studied Paul for a moment before asking, “Why do you ask?”
Paul shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged. “If you were ditching, I wanted to tag along.”
While Oddily excitedly talked with Paul, Nexa took the free moment to contact her brother.
Maxim?
Hello sis. How is your first day at school?
Oddily and I are on our way home.
Maxim laughed. Was it that bad?
That’s not it. I’m detecting a strong presence on campus.
In that case, leave right now and I’ll meet you in front of Stafford Manor.
No, don’t do that. Oddily wants our return to be a surprise.
I’m glad you told me. I’ll try not to disappoint her.
Did you capture our intruder yet?
No. But I found more pictures of her on the surveillance cameras!
With her peripheral vision, Nexa had noticed the stunned expression in Paul’s warm brown eyes just before he turned to go back to class.
Can you hear me, Paul? Nexa used telepathy to call out to him.
When Paul stopped, so did her heart.
Slowly Paul turned around, but then waved, “See you guys tomorrow.”
Nexa, what are you doing to Paul?
Apparently nothing. We will be home in a few minutes.
8
While driving home, Nexa glanced over at Oddily. “I’m curious about Paul. What do you know about him?”
“Not much; except that he’s fairly new to Forest Ridge High, he’s a senior, and he recently started to hang out with Starla’s group of friends.”
“Does he seem strange to you?”
“No, not at all,” she giggled. “He’s really popular, and so…”
“…Hot!” Nexa chimed in making the two of them laugh.
“Somebody’s got a crush!” Oddily teased.
Stunned by the remark, Nexa thought it strange that Oddily would assume she liked Paul, just because of a few questions.
“Well…am I right?” A goofy grin began to spread across Oddily’s face.
Nexa got into the playful spirit and said, “I’ll tell you what. Ask me again after I get to know him a little.”
After Nexa entered the gates to Stafford Manor, the garage door on the West side of the decaying structure opened. Nexa pulled inside and waited for the door to close all the while feeling resistant to having anyone, including Oddily, know of their secret entrance. Right then and there, she decided that Maxim would have to be the one to show her!
Regardless of her brother’s anger if he found out, Nexa altered Oddily’s mind causing her to nod off just long enough for Nexa to drive through their secret passageway and park the car. Oddily’s eyes flew open and glanced around after Nexa had nudged her awake.
We’re home, Maxim. Where are you?
I’ve been waiting for you in the bushes.
Wow, I’m flattered!
Come on, sis…humor me. I need for Oddily to see me in the woods, and then come after me. Can you make that happen?
Oh, how cute. You are going to initiate a game of hide and seek.
Will you stop being a tease? I’m trying to give Oddily a chance to surprise me, okay?
You’re the boss!
When Nexa and Oddily reached the camouflaged house, Nexa spotted Maxim and said, “Oh my…look who’s heading into the woods!”
Oddily’s eyes lit up. “It’s Maxim!”
“Go ahead and surprise him.”
Oddily shook her head. “I don’t know. He might be busy right now.”
Nexa rolled her eyes. “I promise you, he’s not busy!”
Oddily agreed and followed Maxim into the spellbinding woods, all the while wondering where he was headed. She soon found herself surrounded by a new kind of landscape filled with unusual plant life that was so vibrant, with it’s spectrum of colors, she wondered if her eyes were playing tricks on her. Never in her life had she seen flowers like the ones before her. To her left and right, the large unfamiliar blossoms seemed to crowd in on her as she continued her pursuit.
Suddenly, Maxim stopped. Oddily ducked behind a tree and froze, not even moving her foot to get away from the hideous insects that began to crawl towards her shoe. She remained motionless in an attempt to face her fear of bugs as she watched the things inch closer.
“Don’t freak out,” she whispered to herself. “You’ll spoil everything!” But she couldn’t help herself and jumped away from the crawly critters. When she looked over to where Maxim stood, he wasn’t there anymore.
Oddily ran over to the spot where she had last seen him as a large bird flew overhead with a wing span of at least five feet. She spun around searching in all directions until she spotted him again, and then let out a sigh of relief.
When Maxim reached a creek, he walked upstream for a distance, and then stopped where the small creek joined a larger brook. The little waterway had washed around a rock outcrop which formed a high bank on the opposite side, blocking out the breeze.
Finding the spot perfect to watch him, Oddily settled herself near the barrier. She stared at the brook from her vantage point; but she was so mesmerized by Maxim when he began to undress, she really didn’t see the water.
Oddily couldn’t help herself; she couldn’t even make herself look away, even though Maxim had abandoned his outer clothes. Her breath caught in her throat at the sight of his finely toned physique, and then she became fascinated. In the filtered sunlight, the hue of his pale body had a hint of blue—maybe a reflection from the water.
Maxim was now heading for the pool near the mouth of the creek and jumped in. Oddily watched him explore the rocky stream swimming further up, and then allowing the current to carry him back. His laughter indicated that he was enjoying himself immensely as he headed back up stream, only this time Maxim ducked behind a boulder.
Oddily was transfixed on the spot where she had last seen him, absentmindedly wiping at the droplets of water dripping down her neck. What was taking him so long?
All of a sudden, Oddily heard someone whisper, “Who were you watching?”
Oddily was too embarrassed to speak when she discovered Maxim crouched over her with a big grin.
“I was…uh…going to surprise you…and…uh…”
“I like it when you watch me.” Maxim straightened up and helped Oddily to her feet.
“You were having so much fun in the water, I…I…”
“…you wanted to join me.”
Oddily made a sad face, and shrugged. “Not really.”
Maxim touched her neck causing goose bumps to pop up on her arms. “I’ll have to teach you how to swim one of these days.”
“Was I that obvious?” Her eyes grew wide with wonder.
“No…just a wild guess.”
Maxim was still amused over Oddily’s shyness as they headed over to the stream. She was acting both awkward and bold while viewing him in his underwear. Little did she know he typically swam naked, but wore the uncomfortable boxers for her sake.
“What do you think of my stomping gr
ounds so far?” Maxim asked while getting dressed.
“It’s hard to believe that all of this is real!”
Maxim laughed. “This is just the beginning.”
Oddily’s eyes glistened with excitement. “I hope it doesn’t include any more creepy looking bugs.”
“Out of curiosity, describe what you saw?”
Oddily scrunched up her face at the thought. “I hope you don’t think I’m crazy, but the thing resembled a centipede with a praying mantis head.”
“You have described one of my father’s hybrids,” he mused in remembrance. “Creating new types of species has been a hobby of his for a very long time.”
“Including the strange looking flowers that I just passed?”
“Yes. They are beautiful, don’t you think?”
“They’re gorgeous, and so are the birds! I saw a huge colorful one fly by, and it was close to the ground dodging the trees.”
“Oddily, this whole place is filled with sights like no other on earth. In fact, I have something to show you. It’s a favorite place of mine, but you need to be real quiet.”
Maxim led Oddily through another section of woods until the trees opened up into a large clearing—a meadow covered with millions of yellow flowers in full bloom.
Without warning, Maxim swept Oddily into his arms and lunged forward, running into the meadow. The yellow flowers took flight filling the sky, and the sight reminded Oddily of the snowflakes whirling inside a snow globe.
“They’re butterflies!” she cried out
Maxim stopped and buried his face in her neck. “I know you don’t like insects, but isn’t this beautiful?”
“This is one of the greatest experiences I have ever had…except meeting you of course.”
“I’m glad that I met you too,” he said thickly.
Oddily’s expression became sober as Maxim set her on her feet. She stepped back to look up at him. “I’m acting silly again, aren’t I?”
Maxim cupped her cheeks and gazed into her eyes. “You’re not acting silly at all.” He began to kiss her with exquisite tenderness, but then stopped. Something was wrong. He felt a cold chill go up his spine when he spotted a flock of birds scatter into the sky in a frenzied manner.
MAXIM: A New Type of Human (Oddily Series #2) Page 4
