by Melinda Metz
"I'm not going back there," Cameron said. Her voice was shaking, too.
"If you don't want to go back, you know what to do. Get me the names of the other aliens," he said. "But know this-I'm not willing to wait forever."
Cameron looked indignant, almost mad. "But he didn't even admit he was an alien until I said-"
"You're free to go," Valenti told her.
Free, yeah.
Cameron turned and walked out the door. She shut it quietly behind her. She'd shown Valenti way too much emotion already. Her hands were still trembling.
The guard led the way back to the lab. They got there way too fast. Cameron pulled in a deep breath as they headed inside. Michael gave her that killer grin of his the second he saw her, and a wave of hot nausea rushed through her.
It's not like I lied to him about everything, she thought. I did run away. Valenti did find me. And my parents do see me as a freak, even if it's not for the reason Michael thinks.
His friends, whoever they are, they have powers, like Michael, she reminded herself, trying to stop the sick feeling from building. Even if I give Valenti their names, it's not like he's just going to be able to go round them up. And if he does, if he does, at least they'll have each other.
I'm the only one looking out for me.
*** 11 ***
Look! Down in the dirt! It's a worm! It's a bug! No, it's Alex Manes… Understanding Guy!
Yep, that was him. Who else would have agreed to stake out the compound with Isabel only days after she'd shown him the door? Other guys would be cursing her name, poking out the eyes in every picture of her, telling their friends that she was evil spawn. But not our hero. Understanding Guy just sucked it up and said sure, if Isabel wanted him to spend ten or so hours crouched down behind some scratchy bushes in a little arroyo, he could do that. With a smile.
Alex took a swig out of his sports bottle. No matter how much water he drank, he felt like he was sweating out more.
"Uh, Alex, there's something I wanted to talk to you about," Isabel said. "You know the other day, when I said I didn't think we should see each other anymore?"
He nodded, although he didn't remember it quite that way. First, Isabel hadn't said anything, she'd shrieked. And what she'd shrieked had been, well, not quite so polite.
"Anyway, I just wanted you to know that it really didn't have anything to do with you," Isabel continued. "You were right about me being totally stressed about Michael and everything. And now there's Adam to deal with. It just seems like there's too much going on for me to be with anybody right now. Even someone as great as you."
This was definitely a job for Amazing Understanding Guy. Alex put on his best all-is-for-given smile. He opened his mouth to say something that would make her feel totally okay for slamming him-but no words came out.
"I mean, if it was a different time in my life," Isabel said.
She kept talking, but Alex couldn't listen anymore.
He just did not need this. Sure, Isabel was beautiful. And when she touched him, instant meltdown. But she was totally selfish, spoiled, conceited, thoughtless-He stopped himself. He'd need his computer to do a really complete list.
"You know what, Isabel? You don't have to worry about it. The whole thing is fine with me," Alex told her. "In fact, it's great. You saved me the trouble of coming up with a nice way to break up with you."
***
"So, we're just going to break in?" Maria asked. Her feet felt like they'd taken root in the sidewalk across the street from Sheriff Valerius house. She wasn't sure she'd ever be able to move from this spot.
"We probably won't have to do the breaking part," Liz answered. "I bet there's a door or a window open in back. At least there always is at my house."
"If we wait for Kyle, he'd probably just let us in," Maria said. "Having you in his house has to be one of his major fantasies."
"You don't think he'd find it kind of suspicious if I just came over to his house after telling him to stay away from me, like, four thousand times?" Liz asked. "Besides, he knows I'm with Max."
Maria smiled at her. "I don't think Kyle exactly thinks with his brain when you're around."
"Oh, gross." Liz scrunched up her face in disgust. "You have just given me a picture I really did not need to see," she complained. Then she pulled in a deep breath. "Are you ready?"
"I guess. Except for this problem I'm having with my feet. They won't actually move," Maria answered.
"We're doing this for Michael," Liz reminded her.
"Oh, that was low," Maria said as they started across the street.
"But effective," Liz shot back. "Let's just act like we've been invited and head straight through the back gate."
"Do you think Isabel will end up with Michael now that she and Alex are broken up?" Maria burst out as they crossed the Valentis' front lawn.
The question just popped out of her mouth. Maria had been wanting to ask Liz that for days. But she kept telling herself that was not what she should be thinking about. All she should be worried about was getting Michael free. Spending even a few seconds thinking about who he was going to go out with when he got home was just disgusting.
But she couldn't help it. Of course she wanted Michael home safe. Of course that was the most important thing. Of course she wanted that even if he ended up with Isabel.
Of course she would have to curl up in a little ball and die if he did.
Liz led the way through the gate and tried the side door. Locked. "You didn't answer my question," Maria said as they moved around the house to the glass door leading to the dining room.
"I didn't answer because I don't know," Liz replied as she gave the door a tug. It was locked, too. "I guess it could happen, but maybe it's better just to wait and see and not think about it too much beforehand. At least you told Michael how you felt about him, so however it goes down, you won't have to keep wondering if it would have turned out differently if he knew how you really felt."
Yeah, so when he chooses Isabel, I'll be positive that he knew I loved him and that he didn't care, Maria thought. That will make it way, way better.
Liz reached another sliding glass door, this one leading to the living room. She tried it, and it slid open soundlessly. "We're in," she told Maria.
Maria listened hard, but she didn't hear any footsteps. They'd been pretty sure the house was empty, and it seemed like they were right. "Let's move before my feet go on strike again," she said. She stepped into the living room, Liz right alongside her.
"If Valenti has an office here, it's probably down that hall," Liz said.
Maria nodded and took a right. The place is like a hotel, she thought as she glimpsed a bedroom through an open door. Totally impersonal. It was worse than a hotel, really. Hotels usually had some kind of bad painting on the wall. The walls here were bare.
The next door was closed. Maria opened it. Jackpot-desk, computer, filing cabinet.
"Files or computer?" Liz asked.
"Files," Maria answered. She hurried over to the low three-door cabinet and sat down in front of it. She pulled open the top drawer, and the whole thing almost toppled over on her. She used one hand to hold the cabinet in place and one hand to pull out the first file. It was all Kyle stuff. Report cards, a suspension notice, some vaccination records. Nothing useful.
The second file wasn't any better. Just canceled checks and old bills. The third file had tax stuff. The fourth file had Sheriff Valenti's birth certificate, the lease for the house, and a copy of his car registration.
"Valenti's middle name is Elmer. It's just not as easy to be scared of someone named Elmer," Maria said. She started to giggle.
"Oh no, Maria. Not now," Liz begged.
Maria locked her teeth together and tried to think of something completely unfunny, like that guy Carrot Top. But she heard something that made her giggle even harder, so hard she couldn't keep it in. It was the sound of a door opening.
Liz moved up behind her and wrapped her hand
over Maria's mouth. Maria squeezed her eyes shut and took deep, slow breaths until she felt the urge for hysterical giggling fade. She reached up and pushed Liz's hand away.
"I think whoever it was headed to the kitchen," Liz whispered. "If we keep all the way to the right side of the hall, I think we can make it to the living room and out the door without being spotted."
Maria nodded her agreement. She stepped out of the office and pressed her back to the right wall. She crept sideways down the hallway, her eyes locked on her feet.
About halfway there, she coached herself. Keep moving. She took another step, then felt Liz's fingers dig into her arm. Maria looked up-and saw Kyle Valenti staring at them.
Maria's heart slammed up, lodging in her throat. She could feel it in there, a hot, meaty lump. At least it was saving her from another laugh attack.
"What the hell are you doing in here?" Kyle demanded.
"We're, uh, decorating all the football players' houses. You know, as a surprise to… give our guys a boost before the next game." Maria held up her crocheted bag, glad it was her biggest one. "We have crepe paper and everything. Rah, rah!"
Kyle crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm not on the football team," he informed her.
"Uh, uh, uh…" Maria swallowed hard, trying to shove her heart back into place.
"Really? This is all my fault!" Liz cried. "I always think of you as on the team. I guess because you're so big and strong. Well, we better go find the right house." She grabbed Maria by the arm and pulled her past Kyle. They raced out the front door and didn't stop running until they rounded the corner at the end of Kyle's block.
"Did you actually look at Kyle Valenti and say, 'You're so big and strong'?" Maria gasped.
"Sickening, isn't it?" Liz answered. "At least we got a look at Valenti's office."
"And found nothing." Maria sighed. "At least I didn't."
"Me neither," Liz said. "I hope the others are having more luck than we are."
***
Max shot a look at Adam. Was he cute? Max took another fast glance. It's not like he had to watch the road that carefully. It was straight, and flat, and pretty much empty, with the desert stretching out on both sides.
But no matter how often he took one of his fast peeks, Max just couldn't decide. Was Adam cute? Well, what he meant was, would girls think Adam was cute? It was a hard call. There were some things, like kittens or fuzzy ducklings, that were pretty much no-brainers. Definitely cute.
But Adam. Max was pretty clueless, although he had heard Maria saying that Adam's eyes were the most amazing shade of green. And eyes, they were important to girls, right?
Even if Maria thinks he's cute, that doesn't mean Liz thinks he's cute, Max told himself. And even if Liz does think he's cute, that doesn't mean anything. I mean, admit it, you think other girls besides Liz are cute. Like Maria. Be honest, you think Maria is walking, giggling cuteness.
But Liz. Whoa. Liz was so beautiful, it practically made him dizzy every time he saw her. She affected him the way no other girl ever did or ever would. And that's what he wanted Liz to feel about him. And that's most assuredly what he didn't want her to feel about Adam. Not like she did. Or at least he was pretty sure she didn't. But if Adam was cute, she might.
Wasn't there some study about how when a woman looked at a man and found him attractive, her pupils dilated? Maybe that's how he could tell if-
If Michael or Alex could hear what you're thinking, they would rag on you for the rest of your days, Max told himself.
"I guess we're far enough away from town for our practice session," Max said. He pulled the Jeep off the highway and drove another mile or so into the desert.
Adam was being awfully quiet. Max wondered what he'd been thinking about during the drive. Was he thinking about Liz? Was-
Max told himself to shut up and pulled the Jeep to a stop.
"Do you have a headache?" Adam asked. "You keep rubbing your head."
Max hadn't even realized he'd been doing it. It wasn't that he had a headache exactly, but there was this constant pressure behind his eyes. He thought it was from trying to block all the sensations and knowledge from the collective consciousness. It's not that he didn't want to learn everything he could about his heritage. But when he let himself experience the consciousness, it was all-consuming. And he couldn't afford the distraction right now. Later, after Michael was safe, there would be plenty of time to give himself over to it.
"I'm okay," he told Adam. "Any ideas on what we should try first? We're looking for anything that will give us more firepower when we break Michael out."
He didn't say "if." There was no "if" in this situation. In two days the group was going in, and Michael was coming out with them.
"Dr. Doyle, the guy who did most of the tests on me, had me try to explode things once," Adam said. "The biggest thing I ever managed was a grape. But together…"
"Let's try it. So when you blew up the grape, did you just push the molecules apart or what?" Max asked.
"I… I don't know," Adam answered. "I never really think about how I'm doing something-I just do it. Somehow it just comes out."
"Whoa. I've never experienced it like that," Max said, feeling a stab of envy. "Maybe it's because I've spent most of my life trying not to use any power if I didn't have to, and you grew up pushed to find out all the ways you could use yours."
"You didn't use your powers because you were afraid of scaring people, right?" Adam asked.
He's already figured out that's not the only reason, Max realized. Adam had been out of the compound for less than a week, and he'd already seen enough to teach him that humans, at least some humans, would want him dead if they knew the truth about him. Max could hear that knowledge in Adam's voice.
Adam was waiting for an answer.
"We don't use our powers in front of people partly because it would scare them. But also because when they do get scared, they can lash out. There are definitely people out there who would hurt you, Adam, just because you're different."
Adam nodded, his face somber. In that moment he looked like such a little boy. It was hard for Max to believe he'd actually been obsessing about whether Liz could possibly go for him.
"So what should we try and blow up?" Max asked. He and Adam would have to have a much longer discussion about humans later, but now they needed to get some training time in.
"Cactus?" Adam asked, nodding toward one about fifty feet away.
"Okay." Max reached out and touched Adam's arm. Instant connection. The only problem was, the images from Adam filled his vision. He couldn't even see the cactus.
Max tried to block the images, the way he'd been doing with the stuff from the collective consciousness. The images from Adam slowed, then faded. Max stared at the cactus.
"Ready?" he heard Adam ask.
"One second," he answered. He still wasn't sure how to do this. Adam said he just did it, but Max needed a method.
Maybe you don't, he told himself. Just stop thinking so much.
"On three," he told Adam. He could feel something growing between him and Adam, a force being generated. "One. Two. Three."
Max let the force loose, trying to aim it at the cactus. A second later he felt something wet against his cheek. He reached up and pulled away a hunk of mushy cactus. It had exploded so fast, he hadn't even seen it happen. Lucky he didn't get hit by a spiny chunk.
"That was cool!" Adam cried.
"Yeah, that could come in very handy at the compound," Max answered.
Adam's happy smile faded. "Let's try something else," Max said quickly.
"One time Dr. Doyle wanted me to set something on fire with my power. We could work on that. I couldn't do it, but there were things I couldn't do by myself that I could do with Michael," Adam answered.
"I'll go put a ball of paper on the ground." Max started to get out of the Jeep.
"Why don't we try that rock over there?" Adam asked.
"A rock? Rocks aren't exactly fl
ammable," Max said. "But sure, let's go for it." They could always try something easier later. Adam grabbed Max's wrist, starting the connection.
Max let the feeling of power build up until he could feel it practically screaming to get out. "Okay, on three. One, two, three." He set the power free, and an instant later the rock began to smoke.
Come on, come on, Max thought. He let more power build, preparing for a second blast.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw a little brown rabbit hop over to a piece of the cactus remains and take a nibble. Then it hopped toward the rock.
"Adam, be careful. We don't want to hit the-"
Max felt the power zing free. Then he heard the rabbit give a scream.
Max ripped his hand away from Adam. "Stop!" he shouted. "You're going to kill it!"
The rabbit's back legs jerked frantically, as if it were trying to run but couldn't. "No! Adam, look what you're doing! You've got to pull the power back!"
Max grabbed Adam by the shoulders and knocked him out of the Jeep, tackling him to the ground like an angry football player. Max glanced up and saw the rabbit bound away.
"Why the hell did you do that? Did you think it was fun? Did you think-"
"What?" Adam asked. He shoved himself to his feet and brushed some of the dirt off his jeans.
"What?" Max cried. "You're asking me what? You almost killed that helpless rabbit-"
"I did?" Adam cried. "I didn't mean-I didn't even know. I felt kind of… out of control."
Adam looked at the spot where the rabbit had been. Max had to admit, Adam looked genuinely devastated. But Max had seen his face when the rabbit had squealed.
Adam had been smiling.
*** 12 ***
Liz twisted her hair into a knot on the top of her head. She noticed Adam following her every movement with his eyes. She could almost feel his fingers on the places his eyes touched. Sliding up her neck. Twining in her hair. She wasn't sure how to react. One part of her was flattered at being so admired, but another part of her ached for privacy.
