I walk into the cafeteria and spot my table. Walking over with Jack, I notice how somebody got a plate of food already. I don't know whether to say thank you or pepper spray them. "You're welcome," says Ves. I look over at her and she smiles sweetly. "So ridiculous," I mumble as I sit down and start to eat. "Hey, I'm just caring about your health," says Ves indignantly. "Thanks," I say. Ves grins. "Anytime, Reza," she says. I smile back at her. A small smile. "So what's new?" asks Pike. His plate is piled with tacos. "Not much. Japanese was easy, and so was Econ. Chemistry too," I say as I bite into my taco. The cheese is a bit too cold, but I eat it anyway. "Japanese? Why Japanese?" asks Pike. "There was no other opening," says Ves for me. "Oh. Cause I was going to say, weren't you in Russia?" asks Pike. "Yeah, how do you know that?" I ask as I wipe my mouth with a napkin. "Mr. Corbin told us," says Mia, "when he had to tell us the news." "Oh," I say simply
Entering school for the third time, I hold the door open for Mia, who is followed by Jack, Pike, and finally Ves. We just waited for Pike to park his car, and then walk into the school together. Nothing really to it, though it was somewhat inefficient. "So, the only thing we have together today is Bio?" asks Pike to me. I nod my head, and Pike frowns a bit. "Why did you even pick art?" asks Ves. "I didn't," I say, "theatre was completely full. So was music." "Well, I guess it sucks to be you," says Jack with a grin. I lightly punch him in the shoulder. "At least you guys get to do something that you got trained for," I say bitterly. "True," says Mia assuringly, "but art might be interesting. Now you get to try something new out." "Art is anfractuous. It is a complete lack of discipline." "That I can endorse," agrees Mia."Maybe I'll learn to draw my face," I say jokingly."Why would you want to do that?""So I can use it to hide my face of disgust!" I say. We all have
I walk out of the class, the bell not finished ringing over my head. But what is anybody going to do? Suspend me? That would just be what I want. I could hang out at the mall, and still have a great time. Most likely. I hear heavy footsteps behind me, but quicken my pace and disappear into the huge crowd of students and a few teachers. I manage to walk all the way to the entrance. Stepping outside, I wrap my scarf around my neck and make my way over to Pike's car. I approach it and try the door, but it's locked. I look around, but none of my crew is here yet. "Reza," says the dreaded voice. I roll my eyes and turn to confront this kid. He looks down at me with his grey eyes swirling in anger. The dying sunlight catches his brown-blonde hair and makes it shine golden. "We need to talk," he says firmly. "No," I say as I cross my arms and lean against the car, "we don't." "Why are you acting like this?" "Like what?" I ask. I don't look at him. I just look at the schoo
Walking into the Politics classroom, I look around to see if Dane is here. He isn't yet. But he should be soon.Heading over to the table with Ves, Pike, and Mia already there, I set my bag down."Where is he?" I ask aloud."Not here," says Jack smartly as he takes his seat. I give him a fake glare."I figured."He doesn't show up. Until the bell rings. Then he stalks in. He gives one glance but looks away as if I'm nothing to him. He sits down at a table but doesn't even try to acknowledge how I'm literally staring only at him."He's pissed," remarks Ves.I know dammit! Why won't he look at me? He's always staring at me. But now he decides to not do what he does all the time? Great. Just great.The class is about political statements, and what and how it should be delivered. At one point, we all stand up to find random people to practice with. I take it as my cue to get to Dane.Walking over to him, I raize my hand to tap his shoulder, when he stands up and walks over to Mia."Wanna
So, my life with the new school and the new kid friend of mine began. Most of the time I didn't really bite out at people, but occasionally I did. But luckily, I had my crew as well as Dane to get along with.Dane turns out to be alright. He has this sense of morality that sometimes got on my nerves, but I either found a way around them or he convinced me to heed to them. Either way, we had little fights.Today, I have art again. Walking in, I make my way to the table with Dane, as well as Abe. Abe turned out to be okay too. We talk every now and then. He turns out to be a rather quiet and honest boy.I invited him to join me instead of the repressive Stars, but he said he would think about it. His way of saying no. We aren't on the basis of hugging and holding hands, but I guess you could say that we're on likable terms. The other Stars somewhat tolerate me. They don't lash out at me but just ignore my presence.The weather changes bit by bit so that it isn't cold and bitter, and the
The address turns out to lead to a church. An old one too, by the looks of the faded white marble and the cracks crisscrossing the stone surface. The warm spring air blows some of my hair around. I really need to cut it. It's gotten longer since I got here.Funny, really. None of us are religious. Back in the program, they did make us attend sermons and communion in the chapel, but I never took it seriously. My parents were apparently Jewish, but I might as well be atheist. I only believe in myself.Stepping out of the car, we all do a quick survey of the parking lot. There are three other cars here, but nobody is in them. And the trees that surround the edge of the premises seem empty."Let's go," I say.We make our way over to the church. I notice off to the side a graveyard with tilted headstones and rock-hewn angels with dirty rain-water tear tracks. They mourn the loss of now rotting body and bone.Opening the heavy doors, I hold it open as Pike and Ves step in, surveying the ins
The days grow warmer. We recover from the coldness that we had in the car. It turns out Mia was on her period, and Jack on his man-period. Or something. But I understand what they were saying. They both wanted to know what happened to their parents. Some people they cared about. I guess I would care about mine if they cared in turn about me. But not really.After the incident at the church last month, nothing really happened. No team of highly trained professional killers on my doorstep. Or anybody else in my crew. I guess he didn't really have anything that he could do against me, that Mr. Avezedo. He must have lost his office. Or maybe he already had.I don't care. If he comes for me, I'm prepared anyhow.And anyway, summer break starts soon. The April air has turned into days that rise in temperature through the day, and the nights are becoming cool and breezy, the humid air being stirred by the fingers of the summer wind.Walking into the class for Chemistry, I remember that today
June, and early summer rains down on Lonewood in golden rays of light. The green of the pines is firmer, and the smell of pine wanders in the air, like a fly that has been hit but somehow manages to stay aloft.The other trees grow their leaves, shielding the people underneath the harsh rays. Summer break started, and I began to spend much more time with my crew.Most of the time we spend at the community pool. Occasionally at the mall. Nights we sometimes are at each other's houses, playing cards and watching what the normal people of the world watched when they were kids or were 'classics' to them. And yes, there was some booze. I didn't drink most of the time because it hurts my head, and I swoon easily.It's a very big pool and the whole town could go and there'd still be enough chairs and water space to relax comfortably. A good deal of children swim in the pool, and high school kids from Lonewood played in the area with volleyball nets strung across a portion of the pool.Today,
"Happy birthday, Reza," says Dane as he gives a sweet hug."This wasn't necessary," I say into his arm and chest. His soft red sweater is comfy as it forms a cocoon around me."I would do this even if I had only ten cents left," says Dane sweetly.He rocks me softly from side to side as he nuzzles the top of my head. A gentle waltz in place."I'm happier than I appear," then I say happily.I hug him tighter, and he does too."Aww, that's so sweet," remarks Dexter from behind Dane at the kitchen island."Yeah. It's amazing," adds on Ves.Letting me untangle from him slightly, Dane lets me take in the scene before him. A vanilla cake sits on the kitchen island and a few gifts sit on the counter beside it. Some balloons in red and pink float to the ceiling.Everyone present, Ves, Mia, Pika, Jack, Dexter, and even Rupert has a hat on their head. A cone with colorful lines. Lewis and Irene came by earlier in the day to leave their gifts, and gave a hug and kiss on my cheek.Sweet people."
"Don't you want to text your friends that you're okay?" asks Evan as he pulls the ropes on my body away. "I'd rather you take me back to the mall," I say flatly. Meeting back up with everyone, especially Dane, is something I want to happen in the near future. Right now to be precise. "I will, but I want to chat first," he says, well whines really. "And it'll take more than thirty minutes?" I ask. "Probably. So even if we talk in the car, we won't have time," he says. Having untied the chains and ropes around me, he sets them in the corner and puts my Ruger and phone on the table in front of me. "I'll text them then," I say. Evan nods and I send a quick message to Dane and Ves. They're the people in need of knowing what is happening. "So, what do you want to chat about?" I ask as I slip my phone into my pocket. "So you're the third most dangerous person in North America?" he asks. He leans on one arm of his chair. I sit back in my chair, one arm on each of the c
Walking around the mall with seven other teens, I think of how if this was under any other circumstances where I was in my former occupation, I would be absolutely ballistic. No agent with a third of a brain would ever need any kind of hint or clue to gather that this would not be an acceptable situation. It just stands out too much.But, I'm not that, and I have to tell that to myself. Eight people walking around a mall is probably not an unusual spectacle. Eight teens walking around is probably what every American has seen or imagined once in their life.Entering a retail store, we disperse into groups of two or three to look around. I drift around with Mia and Lewis."Look at this shirt. It's so pristine," remarks Mia as she pulls out a baby blue shirt that looks to be made of cotton. The pearly buttons glisten with the shiny surface of the shirt."It looks good with your hair," complements Lewis as he looks over from a rack of jeans."He's right," I say.Looking around, I notice a
"Have you heard what happened to Avezedo?" I ask Dexter as he sets a plate of eggs and pancakes on the table in front of me. Butter slowly slides off the steaming surface of it. I pick up with my fork and eat the food gratefully. "Nothing, zilch, nada," replies Dexter with a shrug. "But he's definitely alive?" I ask. "Probably. No body was found in the woods or anywhere else. After they released him from the police station they didn't keep a tab on him. Needless to say," says Dexter as he sets a plate in front od Dane, "we know he's out there somewhere." "That's ominous," I say flatly. "Yeah," says Dane. His plate clearly has more food on it compared to mine. "But knowing you, it shouldn't be a problem," says Dexter. "Don't say that. You'll make him want to go out and find Avezedo to end him," says Dane with a frown. "Reza wouldn't do that, would you?" asks Dexter. "I might now that I have that idea," I say with a grin. Dexter grins with me as we look at Dane who
"I think they're here," calls Dexter from the kitchen. Looking up from a book I snatched from his office, I glance over at the wide doorway to the kitchen. Dexter leans on it and grins slightly."Noted," I reply. Dexter flashes his teeth. "That means, Reza, that you should go answer the door," he says. "Also noted," I say tersely. Dexter nods with his grin and walks back to the kitchen. Setting my book down, I hop off the couch with Rupert and make my way to the door. Making Rupert get behind me so he doesn't run out, I unbolt the door and open it. Dane, Ves, Mia, Jack, and Pike stand outside. The sun has already set and most of the sky is covered in heavy lead-colored clouds. Seemingly drawn into the sky with a shaky hand and soft pencil. "Hey," says Dane. He steps inside to give me a hug, to which I return a quick one. "Hey, Reza!" says Ves. She and Mia step forward after Dane steps back to give me a hug too. I smile slightly as they embrace me tightly. I see Jac
"Do you want to sleep together tonight?" asks Dane as he begins to clean up the living room couch where I spent the day laying. "Do you want to?" I ask simply. "Well," says Dane as he sets a pillow down and angles it, "I had a nice time yesterday night. So I thought that I might ask so I could do it again," he explains. "We're not doing anything," I say ahead. "Definitely," he responds. "I guess. As long as your dad is fine with it," I say as I look over at Dexter who is also picking up the blanket I laid under. "No problem. But don't do anything crazy. You're young, but that doesn't mean no consequences," says Dex. "Will do," I say simply. Dexter grins. "I love how your boyfriend happens to be somebody like Reza. He's so obedient," he says to Dane. "What? And I'm not?" asks Dane with a scoff. "You can be. And you mostly are. But Reza doesn't miss a beat. And when he does, it's undetectable," says Dex. "Whatever you say," says Dane as he rolls his eyes. I look a
Because I lost some blood, I sit on the couch with Rupert and Dane and try not to move around excessively. I needed some heat that isn't my own. Rupert and Dane were more than happy to provide it. After the time we spent apologizing, Dane's father finally made a sound that alerted us of his presence. He 'didn't want to disturb', in his own words. He said he saw the whole thing, Dane breaking down and crying, me forgiving, and the rest. He didn't have it in him to stop us. But whatever. The doctor came by about an hour ago. He pulled open my wound and checked to see if the bone was cracked. I hissed and snarled, but none of them really got scared by that. Rupert actually snuggled closer to me. Big teddy bear. The doctor, Dr. Carrier, said that my skull was intact. My upper dermal layer would need time to heal, but I should be fine. He said to rest and drink and eat plentily. Dexter said he would make sure that I ate. After Dr. Carrier left, Dane just lay down with me and hu
The Mobius curve is like a bridge folded in onto itself. Grotesque architecture. Unlicensed surgery, really. It looks terrible. When I first saw it in my math class in the program, I thought it was somebody's kidney that got carved out to that shape. The diagram itself was red in hue, and that's what came to mind.A wicked mind to have as a ten-year-old.But I guess the Mobius curve has some 'mercy', unlike me. Because the roaring and endless ride breaks and I feel the rush fading. My body is not detached from my head, and I can feel reality becoming flat and smooth. Not the crazy Ferris-wheel it turned into.A certain smell makes me alert and my eyes fly open. The smell of...Dane.My eyes see the color of skin. The shape of Dane's naked chest materializes before my eyes. And trailing my eyes upwards, I look into his sleeping face. Sleeping thankfully. One arm is draped over my shoulders.How did I get into this position? My eyes widen, but I don't make a noise. I realize slowly that
Slipping into clothes that are warm, I look in my bathroom mirror. I guess part of me is into parties.My black knitted sweater hugs my body lightly. The turtle neck is loosely wrapped around. It helps to draw out the natural red color of my skin. My hair is straight and it sits nicely. Some of the longer strands poke out, but I don't bother doing anything.Turning off the bathroom light and stepping out, I walk over to my bed and sit. I hadn't bothered going to school after I got chased down. I just stayed home. It was a Wednesday anyway. Only two days left in the week. Not much of a loss.Checking my gun, I make sure I have six bullets in. Seven, including the one in the chamber. Nothing will most likely happen, but I'm always prepared. And I don't give chances.Not even the first one, anymore.After stowing it in my pocket, I grab a coat and head for the door. It's the leather one. The one from last winter. The smell of myself is twined into the fabric, and I can tell that the once