Chapter Seven: Lunch (Monday, October 3, 1994
I stare at my math book and then at a blank piece of paper. I’m trying to work on my homework during lunch period but no matter when I try to do it, math is just too frustrating for me. Add in the fact that my mind keeps drifting off to the fact that I can now teleport. I remember not long ago being jealous that Kyle can fly and now I have my own travel power. I just need to make sure that I don’t start thinking of a random place and then suddenly appear there. I’m sure with time and practice I can control this power and not have to deal with being sick after each time of using it.
The air is warm as I sit outside between buildings three and four. There are a lot of kids here from my drama class and club that tend to hang out here at lunch and sometimes afterschool. I’ve been half tempted to hang out here myself afterschool, but knowing that I can’t bothers me at times. I haven’t made that many friends but I do get along with all of my fellow students. Having fellow peers share the same classes is very different from having friends that share the same classes. I learned in middle school to keep a distance from most people and this wasn’t learned from my encounters outside of Earth either. Elementary school was easy, no drama, no backstabbers but as people get older, that all changes. That’s why I’ve put off relationships and I only trust a few people. Honestly, I only trust two people but that’s mainly because of the situation.
Lost in my own thoughts, I don’t notice a shadow that is coving my math book. My eyes focus back to the book and the shadow and I quickly assume that it’s Kyle but as I look up, I release that I’m wrong. In front of me is a short young girl with short green hair and blue eyes. She is wearing a blue dress with flower print on it.
“Hi,” she says in a soft tone. “I’m Taryn.”
“Hi?” I’m not very social and usually people don’t just walk up to me to say hi.
“You’re Kyle’s friend, right?” Taryn asks, slightly blushing. I have to wonder what she’s wants from me and why is she looking at me like that?
“Yea?” I raise an eyebrow.
“Kyle and I have the same math class together. He mentioned that you need some help. I’m a tutor in math and computer science…” Taryn trails off as I suspect she has noticed my confused expression.
“Okay…”
“Ummm…he told me that the two of you are together a lot so he assumed that the last thing you would want is help in math from him,” Taryn says, sitting next to me on the concrete step. She looks over to my math book and adds, “So what are you having problems with?”
“Look, I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but I don’t need help,” I say, closing my math book and picking up my bag of grapes.
“He said that you would say that,” she giggles. “You two must be close.”
I almost choke on the grape that I had just popped into my mouth.
“Oh I’m sorry, I thought…”
“It’s okay,” I say, coughing. “Look, I just don’t have the time to have a tutor.”
“What about during lunch? I could help you with your homework each day and hopefully that will help you to get better at math.”
I look up to see Teresa walking past, winking she says, “Homecoming in a month,” before moving on.
I roll my eyes and I am very tempted to get up and leave. Why can’t I have a nice lunch alone for a change?
Before I can get the chance to move or say anything, Taryn says, “I can’t wait until Homecoming. I love fancy dresses and this will be my first dance. Are you going?”
“Nope.”
“Why not?”
“Busy.”
“With?”
“Stuff,” I say, now at the point of crankiness. “You sure talk a lot, you know.”
“Funny thing is,” Taryn says shyly, “I don’t. Don’t tell Kyle but he noticed and told me about you and how I could help you in math and maybe other stuff. I’m the youngest freshman here and among other things, it makes people avoid me. I don’t think the green hair helps either.”
I laugh and then notice a hurt look on Taryn’s face, “Oh, sorry, that wasn’t, I mean you’re trying to make friends and I’m trying to avoid people. I just think that’s a little funny. You know, I’ve always wanted purple hair.”
Teresa walks back over and this time is followed by two guys. I assume this is what she meant by that wink when she walked pasted moments ago. One has pale skin, red hair and green eyes. If I didn’t know better, he could be Russell Anzak’s younger twin…or even a son perhaps. The other has dark skin and a shaved head. Both look like giants when standing next to Teresa.
“Seniors,” Teresa bursts out.
“Okay?” I say, unimpressed.
“That’s Robby,” she points to the red head. “And he’s Ty who still needs a date for Homecoming.”
“Not going,” I say, then I look to Taryn who might still need a date but she gives me the not-interested look.
“You can’t be serious, Jen,” Teresa says, a tad agitated.
“It’s okay, Teresa. You shouldn’t force anyone unless they’re ready,” Ty says with a Jamaican accent.
The bell rings, thankfully and Teresa and her two new friends walk off to class.
Taryn stands and says, “It was nice meeting you, Jen.”
“Call me Anya,” I say, without thinking. My thoughts are on Robby and the feeling that I have seen him before. Or maybe he just has that type of face. Or maybe it’s just because he looks like a younger Russell.
“Neat! So I’ll see you tomorrow so I can help you with math?”
“Fine,” I finally cave in and agree.
After school, I meet up with Kyle and as we head towards our usual teleportation spot I tell him about Taryn, “So you think I need a friend?”
“No, I just thought you needed help in math. Can’t have you failing a class,” he mocks.
“Right….” I trail off.
“What is it?”
“Ever get the feeling that something is off?”
“Yes…”
“I could have sworn I saw someone that I’ve seen before, but not here, but I’m not sure. I do know that he looks a lot like Anzak, but younger. I know it could just be me being paranoid, but…”
“I know what you mean and we just have to be ready for whatever happens,” Kyle reassures.
“What if it’s my fault?” I ask, as we reach the area behind the science building.
“What do you mean,” he slowly asks.
“What if me teleported set off some radar that Ozma has?”
“We know sooner or later we will be found so it doesn’t matter if it’s your fault or not.”
“What if we’re not ready? We got lucky last time,” I saying, doubting myself.
“We will be.”
