Oddily began to sing along with the girls, but stopped when she noticed Pepper pass by the shopping center. She leaned forward and tapped her on the shoulder. “I thought we were going to shop at the Village.”
“Girlfriend, I’ve got somewhere better—the Grand Opening of a new shopping mall in the next town.”
Oddily leaned back and stared out the window wondering what to do. She had told Nexa that she would be shopping at the Village for awhile and to relay the message to Maxim. Nexa said she would have Maxim meet her there around six o’clock in the parking lot.
Oddily leaned forward again and this time tapped Carrie on the shoulder and shared her dilemma.
“Hey, it’s no problem. I’ll have Pepper drop you off in front of ‘Popular Chic’ when we’re done. Ok?”
Oddily relaxed. “That would be great.”
“So tell me,” Carrie turned the stereo down, “what’s it like to have Maxim as a boyfriend? Is he a good kisser?”
Just the mention of Maxim put a smile on Oddily’s face. “I love how he kisses.”
“Yeah, of course you would say that, but what kind of lover is he? Is he passionate and wet, or reserved and dry?”
Oddily’s smile began to widen. “Do you really want me to tell you?”
“Hell yeah we do!” Pepper spoke up.
“Well, he can definitely be passionate, but I’m not sure what you mean by wet.”
“You know—when guys slobber all over your mouth.”
“Ewww, that sounds so disgusting!” Oddily began to laugh. “No, Maxim usually likes to tease me with soft gentle kisses; but once in awhile his kiss will become so intense, it takes my breath away.”
“Mmm, my kind of guy,” Carrie sighed. “Does that mean you’re still a virgin?”
Oddily’s hand flew to her mouth and began to blush.
Carrie made a face when she saw Oddily’s response. “Oops, I’m sorry about that!”
“Hey, there it is!” Pepper pointed up ahead.
Oddily leaned forward and stared in wide-eyed wonder at the enormous shopping mall up ahead.
“Carrie, how much money do you have?”
“Forty-seven dollars.”
“What about you, Oddily?”
“I think I have fifty or sixty dollars in my pocket. Let me check.” Oddily reached into her pocket and pulled out several hundred dollar bills.
“Where did that come from?” Carrie eyed the wad of bills.
“It’s from Maxim. He’s always giving me money.”
“Woo hoo!” Pepper hooted. “Does he have a brother?”
The parking lot was already jammed full, making it difficult to find a parking place; but when they finally did, it was in close walking distance.
“Oh my God, I just spotted my favorite store! I’ve got to go inside and check it out!” Carrie began to dodge her way through the maze of window shoppers, oblivious to whether Pepper and Oddily had followed.
Oddily tagged along, all the while staring into various storefront windows enticing her to come inside and shop; but, she needed to stay close by her friends. Strangely enough, she should have been enjoying herself, but all she could do was to think of Maxim.
“How do you think I’d look in this dress?”
Oddily walked over to the mirror where Pepper was holding up a sundress. It was in a shade that clashed with her beautiful dark skin.
“Well?”
“I like the style, but does it come in another color?”
“Yeah, there’s a whole rack of them.”
Oddily found the dresses and brought one back to show Pepper. “What about this yellow one?”
Pepper held up the dress and had to agree. The color was much more flattering to her skin. “Hey Carrie…our new friend has an eye for style!”
“Great. She can help me with these.” She held up an arm full of garments.
Oddily felt a surge of confidence as she followed the girl’s around the store and gave them her input. The next store was the same. They entered a trendy boutique where Oddily bought a blouse she thought Maxim would like. She had never fussed with her appearance before, but now she cared very much how she looked. In fact, she was beginning to live every day in a mood of expectant happiness.
“We’re being followed, guys!” Carrie nudged Pepper with her elbow.
“They’re good looking too!” Pepper followed her best friend into another dress shop.
Oddily followed suit, but not before she glanced over her shoulder and saw the boy with black hair wink at her.
“Did you see that?” Oddily ran to catch up with the girls. “I think one of them tried to flirt with me!”
Pepper laughed at the wonder in Oddily’s eyes. “Don’t take it to heart girlfriend. There are probably fifty other girls he’ll flirt with before the day’s over.”
“Oh, okay!” Oddily glanced at the clock on the wall. It was four thirty, which meant they had been shopping for over an hour.
“By the way, I’m curious,” Pepper glanced at Oddily’s shopping bag. Why aren’t you buying anything? You certainly have enough money.”
“Umm…a lot of styles look silly on me.”
“How do you know when you’re not trying anything on?” Then Pepper had an idea. “You know what, I want to pick out some things for you to try on, and then tell me what you think.”
Oddily bit her lip and stared up at her.
“Don’t give me that look because we’re doing this.”
“No, I can’t!” Oddily became visibly shaken.
“Hey, what’s with you?” There was a note of tenderness in Pepper’s voice.
Oddily pulled Pepper off to the side and confessed, “I don’t like to undress in front of other people.”
“Even in front of girls?”
Oddily nodded.
“I don’t understand. What’s the big deal?”
Oddily frowned. “That’s the problem. I wish it was a big deal, but it’s not.”
“Okay, now you’ve lost me.”
“It’s my boobs,” she whispered.
“What about them?”
“They’re kind of…not there.”
Pepper suddenly erupted in a fit of laughter. “Damn girl, you had me scared for a minute.”
“It’s not funny!” Oddily crossed her arms over her chest.
“No, it’s pathetic!” Pepper made a clicking sound with her tongue. “You’re just a late bloomer, that’s all; and besides, there’s nothing wrong with having small breasts.”
“That’s what Maxim says.”
“Well then, there you go. You should listen to him.”
“But guys like big ones.”
“Get real! Not all of them do! Look at me. Do I have big knockers?”
Oddily stared at Peppers chest with disbelieving eyes, “Oh my, you’re small too.”
“Glance around the store and tell me what you see?”
Oddily began to count the less endowed females and stopped at seven. “Wow, there are a lot of us. I had no idea.”
“That’s because you’ve been fixated on noticing only the large ones.”
“So if I undressed in front of you, you wouldn’t make fun of me?”
“I think you’ve been around that dumb-ass Starla for way too long,” Pepper complained. “You need to clear your mind of what that girl had done to you, and have a little more faith in the people who care about you.”
“You’re right.” Oddily found comfort in Pepper’s insight about small breasts, and allowed the new sense of satisfaction towards her body to set in before she asked, “Where’s the dressing room?”
By the time five forty-five rolled around, the three had found a seat inside the food court.
Pepper had already slipped off her sandals with a groan. “Remind me to never wear new shoes when we go shopping!”
Carrie leaned over the table. “Hey, those boys are checking us out again.”
“Where are they?” Pepper turned her head and spotted
them by the hotdog stand.
“Should we invite them over?”
“We don’t need to,” Pepper slipped her shoes back on. “It looks like they are going to invite themselves.”
“How do I look?” Carrie became giddy with excitement.
But Oddily remained unenthused. “We’re leaving soon, aren’t we?”
“Oh, that’s right!” Carrie glanced at Pepper.
“Go ahead and call Maxim and tell him we’re running a little late.”
Oddily frowned. “I would, but I accidentally left my phone at home.”
“That’s okay, you can use mine.” Pepper pulled out her cell phone and tried to hand it to Oddily, but she wouldn’t take it.
“Now what’s wrong?”
“I…never bothered to memorize his number,” Oddily stammered.
“Hey guys, I’m Mel, and these are my friends Josh and Paisley.”
“Isn’t Paisley a girl’s name?”
Carrie began to banter back and forth with the tall lanky boy while Josh started up a conversation with Pepper. The only one left was Mel, and he was staring at Oddily.
“Hey cutie, what’s your name?”
“Oddily.”
“Do you mind if I pull up a chair by you?”
“No, go ahead.”
Mel found a chair and sat down next to Oddily and her pile of shopping bags. “You got yourself a lot of stuff there.”
“My friend Pepper helped me with my shopping,” she smiled sweetly, but her body remained tense and jittery. “What time is it?”
Mel looked at his watch. “It’s six o’clock.”
“Excuse me,” Oddily raised her voice to draw Pepper and Carrie’s attention away from the boys. “I really need to get going.”
Pepper turned to Oddily. “We’ll leave as soon as we get a bite to eat, okay?”
“But I…”Oddily’s voice trailed off when the girls got up and followed the two boys over to the food venders.
“What about you? Aren’t you hungry?” Mel had stayed behind and was staring at her.
“I guess so,” she shrugged.
“Well then, let’s go check out the food court.”
“No, that’s all right.”
Mel grinned. “Has anyone ever told you how cute you look when you pout?”
“Yes, but I’m not pouting.”
“All right, whatever you say. Go ahead and stay here and I’ll bring us something back. Is that cool with you?”
Oddily glanced over at the girls standing in line for Italian food and sighed. “Okay, I guess so.”
Mel was waiting in line for hamburgers and fries when Pepper approached him. “Where’s Oddily?”
“She’s waiting for us back at the table.”
“No, she’s not there!”
Mel turned around and sure enough, Oddily was gone. “Her shopping bags are still there so maybe she went to the girl’s room.”
“Good thinking. I’ll go and check.”
By the time Pepper returned to the table everyone was there except for Oddily.
“Maybe she found a ride home,” Carrie volunteered.
“And leave her bags?” Pepper glanced around the food court. “No, I don’t think she would do that.”
“Maybe she wasn’t done shopping,” Paisley spoke up this time.
“Yeah, what about that dress shop over there?” Josh pointed out the store he had in mind.
“I’ll go look inside,” Pepper volunteered. “Meanwhile, you guys spread out and check out other stores in this area. She wouldn’t have gone far.”
Two hours later, Pepper and Carrie were heading for the Village shopping center to find Maxim. Oddily was gone. She had disappeared without a trace.
“Carrie, you need to stop crying.’ Pepper tried to calm her friend. “We have to figure out what to say to Maxim.”
After Carrie blew her nose, she had an idea. “Pepper, what if Oddily ended up remembering Maxim’s cell number and called him to pick her up?”
Pepper rolled her eyes. “Like I said before, Oddily would have told us. Besides, she would have never left her stuff behind.
“Oh, that’s right,” Carrie knocked her head with her hand. “Why do I keep forgetting?”
“Because you’re upset—we both are!”
“Maxim’s going to flip out on us…I just know he is!”
“I guess we’ll find out soon because we’re almost there!”
13
Day turned into night and still Maxim paced back and forth in the Village parking lot. He had searched through the whole shopping center for Oddily and the girls, but he had no luck in finding them.
Where is she? He growled at Nexa, who was leaning against his car. How could you have been so careless to let her out of your sight?
Damn it Maxim! You said you had the situation with Zaylyn under control! What do you think I am…a mind reader?
Very funny!
You need to stop shouting inside my head, Nexa began to rub her temples. You’re starting to give me a headache.
I’m sorry, he lowered his voice. I’m frustrated right now.
I understand, but don’t take it out on me.
What if Zaylyn had done something to Oddily and the girls? She was angry enough to…! Maxim’s voice trailed off when he spotted Pepper’s black SUV pull into the parking lot.
“They’re here!” The relief displayed in Maxim’s voice was audible as he stepped under a streetlight to make himself more visible while waving them down.
When the girls pulled up and stopped, Maxim waited for Oddily to climb out; but instead, one of the windows rolled down.
“Hello Carrie. Where were you guys?” Maxim’s smile lit up his face. “I was getting worried.”
Maxim’s response was met with an uncomfortable silence, so he peered through the window into the back seat filled with shopping bags.
“Oddily’s not with us Maxim!” Carrie began to fret. “We searched everywhere, but we couldn’t find her.”
The shock of Carrie’s words was so intense, Maxim was unable to move or speak despite the commotion settling in around him. He overheard the back and forth exchange between his sister and the two girls during their discussion of the disappearance of Oddily. Nexa sounded extremely upset after hearing what happened.
Maxim, if you can hear me, please…I need a response.
A jolt went through Maxim’s body when he heard a stranger’s voice inside his head. Was he hearing things, or had he gone completely mad?
Maxim, are you there?
Yes…I hear you, Maxim blinked hard. Who is this?
Never mind that for now. Where are you?
It’s none of your business.
If you care about Oddily, you will need to follow my instructions.
Maxim stiffened at the reference to Oddily. I’m in the parking lot of the Village shopping center.
Good! You’re not too far from here.
Maxim became agitated. Where is here?
Do you know where the old graveyard is off Cavern Road?
Yes, there is a chapel on the property.
That’s right. I want you to park your car near the sign at the entrance of the cemetery and stay out of sight until I come and get you.
Maxim wasted no time in leaving. Without a word or explanation, he hopped into his BMW and drove off like a bat out of hell, leaving Nexa behind. He had no idea who, or what, he was up against so his instincts warned him to show up at the old cemetery alone.
In reality, the appointed destination was a short distance from the Village. But for Maxim, it felt like a lifetime had passed before he parked his car off the road between two clumps of trees. He sat there in the still of the night watching a low fogbank roll in while his heart continued to pound wildly in his chest. It was hard for him to think without panicking over the fate of Oddily. If anything bad had happened to her, he would risk his own life in order to seek his revenge.
It didn’t take long before someone stepped
out from the shadows of the woods.
Maxim climbed out of his car and called out, “Who’s there? I can’t see who you are.”
I’m not sure I want you to know who I am just yet.
That’s fine. I don’t care. Just tell me where Oddily is? Maxim’s voice choked with emotion. Is she all right?
There was a pause before the stranger spoke I’ll take you to where she is, but I’m warning you—you’re going to be surprised when I show you my face.
When the tall figure with telepathic powers stepped into the moonlight, Maxim gasped. “Paul…it’s you!”
Maxim had a ton of questions running through his mind, but he had to remain focused on Oddily. With one swift motion, he was at Paul’s side.
You know how to time slip. Paul nodded his approval. This will make things much easier.
In a split second, both Maxim and Paul dissolved, and then rematerialized on the grounds of the graveyard with their bodies pressed against the chapel wall. Paul peeked inside the building through the window and cursed. Oddily’s not there any more. That girl must have taken her somewhere else.
What girl?
The one you were arguing with at school earlier today. You had her pinned against the wall of the gymnasium and you were upset with her.
Maxim nodded. Her name is Zaylyn, but how did you know she had come here with Oddily?
I was curious about the altercation between you two, so I began to follow her after she escaped.
How could you when Zaylyn disappeared within a whirl of light!
I know what she did. Zaylyn had transported her body to the nearby woods.
Paul’s confession sent shock waves throughout Maxim’s body, but he recovered quickly. We must continue this conversation at another time. Right now, I need to find Oddily.
Maxim headed to the other side of the chapel and stopped in his tracks when he spotted Zaylyn walking through the graveyard with a shovel in her hand.
“No!” Something snapped inside Maxim and he charged forward, thrusting his full weight at Zaylyn and knocking her to the ground. He grabbed her by the throat and yelled, “Where is she, you bitch!?”
If you kill me, Oddily dies too.
Let her go, Maxim. I believe she’s telling the truth.
Maxim released Zaylyn’s throat, but kept her pinned to the ground. What did you do with her?
MAXIM: A New Type of Human (Oddily Series #2) Page 7
