by Aaron Slade
“Driver?” Dad said.
“Yes, sir,” Milton responded. His voice forced the respect and humility that his lower rank required around a superior officer like Dad.
“I chose you to drive us into town because your file says you’re from Fallon.”
“Born and raised, sir!”
“Tell us about the town,” Dad ordered. He acted a bit arrogant around lowly ranked soldiers and talked down to them.
“There’s no finer community, sir,” Milton said. A definite sense of pride filled his voice. “People here are friendly and everyone knows everyone. Though we live in difficult times, we’ve always thought our city is safer because we have such low numbers compared to other survival cities. Not many people can handle the desert life.”
“Tell me about the school,” Dad said, “and the principal.”
“The principal is a brilliant man, sir. The whole town adores him for what he’s accomplished with the school. With the help of the Military, the principal built a library that even the Military uses on occasion. My younger cousin currently attends the high school. He hates school like anyone his age would, but he knows that he’s receiving a quality education. The entire faculty managed to receive educations from Universities.”
“That sounds promising, doesn’t it, Evee?” Dad asked, trying to be encouraging.
“I don’t anticipate getting to go to the school for long,” I said. “Are you going to drive me into town every day from the Military Base?” The Military Base was twenty miles outside of Fallon, and I didn’t have a car to make the drive every day.
“Actually it’s not going to be a problem. I’ll be driving this way to go to work, so I can just drop you off at the school on my way.”
“But the base is in the opposite direction.” I pointed in the direction we came from. “Where will you be working?”
He hesitated before he answered. “There’s a facility in the desert on the other side of Fallon. I’ll be working there.”
A facility? “What is it?” I asked.
“Consider it classified,” he said. “You shouldn’t worry with it.”
Classified was a word he used often– his answer for almost everything about his work.
“Tell me something, driver,” Dad said. “I remember hearing something about this town in the newspapers. It would have been years ago. I know I’ve heard of Fallon before, but I can’t remember exactly. There’s something famous about Fallon. Right?”
“It’s the smallest survival city flourishing today, sir,” Milton answered.
“No… that’s not it,” Dad said, scratching his head.
I noticed Milton’s eyes in the rearview mirror. He looked hesitant then finally answered. “This is where the human lives, sir. The Homo sapien lives here.” He talked as if the subject was taboo.
“That’s right!” Dad said. “How could I have forgotten that? I was living in the Oregon Territory at the time they announced it in the newspapers. You were just a little girl, Evee.” He resumed his reading with a curious expression.
“I should warn you,” Milton said, “the human boy goes to the public school.”
“Really?” Dad asked. He looked at Milton for the first time, inquisitively.
“Yes sir!” Milton answered. “The administration actually allows him to mix with people like us. Can you believe it?” He sounded nasty talking about the human boy.
“Is that a problem?” I asked.
Milton found my eyes in the mirror again. “The boy is a trouble maker. My cousin tells me that he’ll start fights and instigate arguments, but he usually gets his ass handed to him from what I hear.”
“That’s unfortunate,” Dad said.
The soldier pulled up to the school and directed us to the front office. I walked behind Dad, who carried himself with great authority and a precise sense of direction. A bronze statue of a hydrogen bomb stood in the front entrance of the school. The idea of a bomb made me anxious. I still felt sick, but the feeling had less to do with Shannon’s prediction now. The new school made me restless. Dad’s rank had always ensured me respect among my classmates, but this was a different environment. I would have to make friends on my own here.
I already felt eyes on me. Some of the boys outside stared at me, but none of them were the boy from my vision. They whispered to each other, checking to see if they knew my face. I was the new girl in a small town where new people stuck out like a soldier out of uniform. I noticed every boy’s shirt had a hood. Everyone I saw had a hood, and then I realized it was to block the scorching sun. I needed one.
One of the boys whistled, but Dad gave him a nasty look and all of them scattered. One turned invisible, one teleported, and the rest ran. Dad’s intimidation struck fear in many, even me at times.
We entered the main office– a quaint room that two secretaries managed. There were a dozen cabinets for storage, and enormous amounts of paper and filing baskets buried the front counter. Plants and flowers dressed up the room, giving it an open feeling. The two secretaries decorated their desks with family photos and small knickknacks weighing down stacks of documents. I looked over at a small chalkboard where someone had written a message:
Congratulations to the following students who received admission to universities at the
University Honors Banquet:
Cindy Crenshaw
Missy Faulkner
Sara Harper
Adam Howard
Garred Mills
Heather Mills
Christopher Landers
Allen Young
I wished I could go to a university, but I was sure Dad had other plans for me. I would be forced to work for the Military after graduation. I hated the idea, but my options were limited.
“Can I help you, sir?” the brunette secretary asked. The name plate on her desk read Jane Powers. She examined Dad’s Military uniform and the silver crest with the engraved falcon head, recognizing that he was a high-ranking officer.
“Yes,” Dad answered. He leaned on the counter. “I was hoping to meet with the principal. My daughter might attend school here, and I would feel better if I could talk to him first.”
“Certainly,” she replied. “Let me see if he’s in his office.” She walked over to one of two doors on the back wall of the office. One door had a sign that read Principal, and the other Nurse. The secretary peeked in the principal’s office. “I’m sorry,” she said. “The principal isn’t here. He’s a teleporter so he could likely be anywhere. He’s always popping in and out, so I imagine he will be back soon.”
“We’ll wait,” Dad said. “But in the meantime, can I get all the proper forms I’ll need to enroll her?”
“Of course.” She handed him a booklet of papers. It looked pretty standard: name, date of birth, address. Dad started to fill out the forms.
A pair of twin girls entered the office, handled their business, and left. They eyed me on their way out the door, but they didn’t make any friendly gestures. I envied the twins, longing for my own brother or sister for company. Most extra-human women could only birth one child– except in the case of twins. It was a genetic anomaly that Military scientists were still trying to work out, but occasionally some lucky women managed to have multiple children.
Some of the boys from outside also came into the office, but I was sure they’d been looking for an excuse to get another look at me because they only needed to ask the secretary for the time. Dad looked up from the booklet of forms at the boys, directing a strict look of warning at them.
The office left me with an empty feeling. Public school seemed too unfamiliar and foreign. I rubbed my hands together trying to calm my nerves, but stopped when one of the secretaries cast an annoyed gaze at me. I looked up when I heard a door close.
A boy exited the nurse’s office holding his arm. He almost looked like the boy in my vision, but his face was like a mask of depression. The boy from Shannon’s vision had an incredible smile.
He saw me imm
ediately and must have recognized me as a new student like everyone else. I was already frustrated with how much I stuck out. My complexion was too fair to be from the desert, and my face looked even paler when contrasted with my dark hair. He gawked from across the room without saying a word, which I considered rude. His gaze was drawn by my eyes. Guys always stared at my eyes. When a guy attempted to hit on me, he usually gave special attention to the unique blue color of my irises.
The boy forced his gaze to the floor. He did it instinctively, as if he would get in trouble for staring. Maybe he read my mind. It was almost like he was afraid or ashamed to look at me. He turned his head up slowly to get another glance. He was handsome for sure, with green eyes and wavy, chestnut brown hair. His skin had an olive complexion that fit his features. He had a youthful face, but his eyes were old with years beyond his own. I noticed the burnt, black marks on his left shirtsleeve.
He saw my eyes examine the burn marks. His hand darted to his shoulder to cover up something, but I caught a glimpse of what he tried to hide– a tattoo, maybe. There was something different about him. Something I couldn’t detect. The way he scowled, it looked like he was having a bad day, so I smiled to be friendly.
And then, slowly, he returned the smile, revealing his teeth. However handsome I had originally thought him to be doubled or tripled as his electrifying smiled ignited. I felt certain that it was the same face from Shannon’s vision. I grinned bigger, taking in every ounce of his charm. He wasn’t staring at me like the other boys, but as something forbidden and beautiful.
Shannon was right, but I wondered if it was only the power of suggestion that made me want to start a conversation. I realized I had nothing to say– plus we were on opposite sides of the room with Dad right next to me.
I was curious about what he must be like if it was predicted that I would fall in love with him. What type of guy was he? Did I even have a type? My nerves were on edge, freezing me in my position. He seemed frozen as well, and his eyes remained fixed in mine.
The principal’s door opened behind the boy, causing him to jerk. His eyes widened and his grin faded, rendering the room darker. The well-dressed principal stood behind him, and the boy’s body tensed, followed by a panicked expression.
“Casper?” the principal asked.
“He-hey Dad,” the boy stuttered.
I pieced it all together. He was the principal’s son. I could relate to the panicked look his father triggered. His dad was in charge of the school and mine was in charge of the Military– both men of authority. I thought the name Casper was odd, but it fit him somehow. He was uniquely handsome so the name was perfect. But without his smile, there was something tragic about his face.
“What are you doing here?” the principal asked.
I watched and listened with total investment. Dad, too, became aware of the principal’s presence and watched the father and son.
The boy was at a loss for words. He covered the burnt shirtsleeve to hide it, but he was too late.
“Did Randy Alcott do this?” He tried to examine Casper’s shirt and arm closer, but Casper pulled away.
“I think you have a new student,” Casper said. He pointed at me. His attempt to divert the attention away from him had worked.
The principal looked at me and then Dad. “Well…” he said, “hello and welcome to Fallon. I don’t recognize either of you, so you must be new to town.”
“Are you Principal Vance?” Dad asked, cutting right to the point. He towered over the front counter in the office.
“Yes, sir. I’m James Vance, how can I help you?” He had a genuine smile that resembled his son’s.
“I just wanted to introduce myself. I’m Colonel Gerald Ford, and I’ve just been reassigned to Fallon. My daughter wants to attend school here. This would be her first public education, which makes me nervous, so I thought I would come evaluate the school.”
The news made Casper beam again, sending another surge of his magnetic charisma through the room, but his eyes stayed focused on his feet.
“This is my daughter, Evelyn,” Dad said, placing his hand on my shoulder.
“Call me Evee.” I extended my hand for a proper greeting.
Casper’s head tilted down, but his eyes looked up.
“Welcome to Fallon High School,” Principal Vance responded, shaking my hand. He had a welcoming voice, and I felt excited.
“I hope you like what you see. I can already tell the student body would be glad to have you here.” He shot his eyes towards his son.
Casper blushed and sweat glistened on his forehead, but he remained silent as if he shouldn’t talk.
“I would be happy to show you the school or talk with you in my office,” Principal Vance said. “Anything I can do to help you make your decision.”
“If you have the time, we would appreciate the chance to talk with you,” Dad said.
“Just come into my office.”
Dad and I approached the Principal’s door. Casper stood next to his father, partially frozen.
“This is my son, Casper, by the way,” Principal Vance said.
“Nice to meet you,” Dad said. He greeted Casper with a head nod.
“Hello, sir.” Casper came off polite but timid, and Dad noticed too, giving an odd look at the boy.
Casper looked at me, but there were no words. He extended his hand for me to take, but it trembled so bad he pulled it behind him. Why was he so nervous?
“It’s nice to meet you,” I said. I made sure I came off genuinely kind and approachable.
He grinned again. “Tha--thanks,” he said. He looked down again and his smile disappeared.
“I’ll see you at home, Casper,” Principal Vance said. He eyed Casper’s burnt shirt again.
Dad and I followed Principal Vance into his office. Casper still didn’t move. He stood there, staring awkwardly as the door closed.
After I heard the door click shut, I realized there might be some truth to Shannon’s prediction. Shannon knew that I would fall in love with the boy, and I wondered if it was possible. The other part of Shannon’s prediction sent a jolt of adrenaline through me. I wasn’t ready to die. I could choose not to believe it, but it was hard not to believe the words of a seer. However little time I had, I knew I wanted to spend it getting to know him.
He was so handsome, how could I resist? There was something about him– something different. He wasn’t like the other boys. He seemed gentle and kind in ways that I couldn’t detect. But what had that been on his shoulder? He didn’t seem the type to have a tattoo, but I didn’t know what else it could be… I didn’t know him at all, but it felt like I should.
I still had some doubt. Shannon said the boy would be special. Other than Casper being good looking, I didn’t know what made him special. What if there was another boy I hadn’t met yet? How was I supposed to know? My mind was set on it being Casper, but I could be wrong.
Principal Vance sat at his desk shuffling the papers Dad had filled out; his son’s pictures covered the wall behind him. There was one photograph of a younger Casper sitting on a tricycle with some semblance of the smile he’d had in the office. He couldn’t have been more than five years old in the picture. A few more photographs of the older Casper rested on the desk, but he seemed depressed in his more recent pictures. He was unbelievably attractive, but more so when he smiled.
It wasn’t until his father looked at me again that I noticed just how much he and Casper looked alike. They both possessed the same broad nose and complexion, but Casper didn’t have the shadow of facial hair. When they had stood next to each other, they had been the same height - just less than six feet tall, but Casper was a more boyishly handsome version of his father. I quit looking at the pictures when I saw that Principal Vance noticed me staring.
“So how can I help you make your decision?” Principal Vance asked. He looked from Dad to me, but his gaze lingered with me as if he knew everything I was thinking.
“It’s not me
you need to convince,” I said. “It’s him.” I gestured towards Dad in the seat next to me. He adjusted his posture so that anyone could know he was in the Military– as if the uniform didn’t already give him away.
Principal Vance smiled and shot his gaze back at Dad, but I kept talking.
“In all honesty, I’ve already made up my mind that I want to attend school here, but my father is going to have the final word. The biggest issue will be my safety. So I’m begging you to make a good argument.” I knew I sounded unusually desperate, which Dad seemed to notice as he gave me an inquisitive look. I didn’t care if I sounded desperate or strange. I was willing to fight Dad to the end if it meant I could go to school off base. Only now, my motive was partially Casper.
“My daughter is correct,” Dad said. “My Evelyn has seen her fair share of disasters in the bigger survival cities, but I want things to be different for her here, and if you can convince me she’ll be safe at your school, I’ll have no problems letting her attend.” He used his Colonel voice, as I liked to think of it. His speech and posture increased in the authority that the lesser ranked officers and soldiers dreaded, but Principal Vance didn’t seem threatened by Dad.
Principal Vance read through the papers Dad had filled out in the other office. He vanished from behind his desk. I had almost forgotten he was a teleporter. He appeared back within seconds holding more booklets and documents.
“Sorry,” he said. “I come and go a lot. Being a teleporter really does make my job easier.” He cleared his voice then continued. “I see that you are moving here from San Diego.” He had a perplexed look as he continued talking. “I read in the papers about the two people who fought in the Marina area.”
The air in the room turned cold, and I looked at Dad, who was to blame. The Principal noticed the temperature change as well, and then pinpointed Dad as the cause.
