(Note: I moved the "Meet the Real Nights" widget to the bottom of the page). Okay, so Ali forwards me an email that "Rea" sent to her, telling me to post this conversation. Apparently, someone was getting a little conspiracy theorist and shot "Rea" an email saying that her picture on the wiki was a fake and that things don't glow when you use telepathy and that "Rea" was a big fake. Personally, I'm kind of glad that "Rea" didn't get pissed off and go off on the idiot. Once again, it seems like I'll have to remind you guys out there that the story is based off of real people (names changed, of course), NOT real events. (that means no telepathy, for the ones out there that are slow). "Rea's" response to Mr. Anonymous' email was this: "The picture is part of one of Ralphie's little projects. I was holding a glass bowl in a dim room while Ralphie had a bright light shining on the bowl. After messing with the camera, he took the picture and this is what came out. Next time, think about what you're accusing someone of doing; anyone can see that and say it's not real. The only difference is that a smart person knows that they don't need to say it." While I'm here, I'd like to remind you guys that all of these posts are copyrighted and there is a 1,000 fine for stolen intellectual property. Anyways, read the next post and quit sending me stupid emails; I'm starting to think this isn't worth half the trouble.
* * *
I was on my laptop, working on a wiki for the Nights, changing our names so that no one could track us. I added pictures of us, choosing ones that wouldn't attract too much attention. Like we didn't anyways, I thought to myself.
Jennifer was reading a book on the couch called Crash into Me by Albert Borris. She had decided to start wearing pseudo reading glasses in an attempt to blend in more with the school cliques.
I rubbed my lip where my piercing used to be. Toby had it removed on the account that it was too noticeable. It had felt good when I first saw him getting his hair dyed.
Tony was doing Pre-Cal homework at the kichen table and making chicken-something. Since we moved to Little Falls four month ago, Tony had shown sides of his personality that none of us had ever seen before. He had never gotten the chance to cook or play the piano. Our old school down in Pennsylvania was huge and the classrooms never had less than 30 students in them. Electives consisted of Spanish, Art, and Band. Realizing which was the most beneficial to us, we had all taken Spanish. In Little Falls, we had two elective periods and the choice from 50 classes.
We found out that Tony was a natural piano player and he joined the jazz band. He took a Home Ec. class just to find out what it was and fell in love with cooking. Now, instead of going to a McDonalds every other day, we depend on Tony's cooking. To give you an idea of his talent, take this into account: from the first time Tony started cooking at home, we have not been out to eat.
I smiled to myself and added "cooking" and "playing piano" to his hobbies.
Just then, the doorbell rang and Jennifer got up to answer it. I minimized the window and opened a random Youtube video and acted like I was watching it.
Jennifer open the door and Toby shuffled in, shaking off snow on the door mat. I exited the Youtube video and pulled up the wiki again.
"Good news," began Toby, shaking his head to get the snow out of his hair. "I just got a raise."
Jennifer's mouth dropped open and I looked up from my lap top. Tony stood up, eyes wide. "No way," I said, staring at Toby. Getting a raise from Mr. Keeves was like finding the Holy Grail in a bathroom stall.
Toby nodded and opened his mouth but the door bell rang and he opened it, probably thinking it was Austen. From the look on his face, it wasn't.
Pushing myself off the floor where I was working, I placed my laptop on the kitchen counter and walked over to where Toby was standing, hearing Jennifer follow me.
Standing there, arms huddled around her body, was the only person that would wear a long sleeve shirt in a snow storm. Austen popped out from behind Katline and waved. "Aren't you going to let us in?" he said, smiling.
* * *
Toby sat in the armchair, throwing Austen a death stare every two seconds. Austen smiled, ignoring the anger that emitted from us like radiation.
When we first moved, we decided that no one from the school could ever come over to the apartment. It was too dangerous; if the person found something that would give us away, then we would have to run away again. Tony was making rude gestures at Austen from across the room.
Seeing our glares, Katline snuggled closer to Austen on the couch. Leaning down so that he was almost kissing her ear, Austen whispered to Katline. I caught a few words here and there but all I could make out was, "...they won't tell anyone..."
Katline closed her eyes and thought for a moment. Nodding, she choked out, "Yes."
Kissing her head, he whispered, "I love you." Despite the logical outlook I tried to maintain, I felt a tear sliding down my cheek. Life wasn't fair to me.
Taking a deep breath, Katline said, "I have something to admit. I don't know who my parents are. I live in an abandoned house outside of town. I don't even know where I came from. I just woke up one day with a burnt birth certificate next to me." She took a shaky breath. "My real name is Frost."
The sudden change in the mood threw me off guard. Toby's face softened and he nodded sympathetically.
Austen smiled and took her hand and whispered to her again, kissing her cheek.
She nodded shakily and stood up. She stretched hand out towards the snow that was melting on the door mat. Closing her eyes, her arm trembled. Slowly, the snow began to rise and float to the middle of the room. It started to condense and become harder. Turning into a piece of clear ice, it slowly descended to rest on the coffee table.
Toby's mouth hung open and Austen smiled smugly. Katline opened her eyes and made her famous shy smile. Tony walked over to the coffee table and touched the ice ball. It slowly rolled and fell of the table. Jennifer picked up the ice ball and put it in the sink. I watched Katline in a daze.
Gently pulling Katline back onto the couch, Austen said, "She's one of us."
"What do you mean?" asked Katline, confused. She looked so frail, so innocent.
Toby got up and sat in front of Katline on the coffee table. "All of us here are orphans," he said, looking into her eyes.
Katline shook her head. "No, you guys are a family," she said, looking up at Austen who had put his arms around her. "Aren't you?"
Austen shook his head and and Toby said, "That's a cover story. We call ourselves a family because we're as close it gets. My real name isn't Toby."
Katline looked at Toby. "Then what is it?" she asked, curiosity sounding in her voice.
Toby looked down. "I don't know what it is," he said grimly. "None of us do. We came up with our own." I bit my lip from saying that I knew my real name; it wouldn't help the explanation process.
Jennifer spoke up. "Mine was Rea." She flashed a reassuring smile; Katline was shaking like a leaf. I wonder if that's what I would look like if I ever had to tell my secrets to someone and realized I wasn't alone, I thought to myself.
Tony spoke next. "Mine is Tony. We decided not to change it."
I looked at Katline when I spoke. "Mine was Zane." I watched as she digested the news that was coming at her in high speed.
Austen rubbed her arm and said, "Mine was Ralphie."
Toby was last. he looked into her eyes and said, "Mine was Blade. We called ourselves the Nights. Because none of us knew our last names either, 'Nights' became our new last names.... We have powers like you." He gestured to Jennifer to start off.
Jennifer smiled warmly and stared at Katline. As a look of surprise crossed her face, Jennifer nodded.
Tony rolled his eyes. ""I am telekinetic," he said bluntly.
This is like a freaking AA meeting, I thought to myself. Realizing that everyone was waiting for me to speak, I said, "I can teleport."
Austen smiled and said, "I can tell the future." He winked at Katline and Tony rolled his eyes again.
Tony clasped his hands together. "I'm sorry, but I won't tell you what my power is."
"He hasn't told anyone," Austin explained. Katline's eyes remained wide and she still clutched his arm, rubbing his bracelet numbly.
"But I can tell you the correct name for your power," Toby continued, ignoring Austen's interruption. "You can practice cryokinesis. You can manipulate ice." He looked so much gentler than he had seemed in my first memory of him. Then again, I had just broken into his "house," so I guess he did have a right to look so intimidating.
Katline stared ahead as if trying to look at something in the distance. After a few seconds, she curled up and hid her head in Austen's shirt. Putting his arms around her, he stroked her hair. "I'm not alone," came the muffled words.
I looked away; it had been a statement, not a question.
* * *
"Yeah, so Katline's going to be sleeping in Jennifer's room because Austen is-" started Tony, serving chicken-something.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it," interrupted Austen, glaring at Tony. Katline giggled.
Tony just chuckled and sat down. As everyone dug in, Katline looked at her chicken-something. "Are you sure this is good?" she asked doubtfully.
Silence covered the table. A fork hung motionless in Toby's hand, stopped suddenly in its course. I shook my head, trying to remember the last time that something that Tony cooked wasn't good. Austen cleared his throat. "Love, when Tony makes it, you know its okay," he reassured her.
Partly reassured, partly intimidated, she nodded and took a quick bite. "That's good," she said in wonder, looking at Tony with wide eyes.
As everyone continued eating, Tony said nonchalantly, "I know."
* * *
(Note for Jinx: You've gotta change your bio page on you website, bud. Shar and I broke up 2 months ago and it's kinda awkward.)
No comments:
Post a Comment