David
sat in the passenger seat in his friend Jason’s car, the trees and the clouds
rolling past him as they went. Jason stared straight ahead at the road, but David
played with his phone, hoping to somehow get a response from her. All he wanted
was his phone to beep, and for her name to come up and say something to him. It
didn’t have to be anything specific, just anything. It was driving him crazy to
wait any longer.
“You
know radiation poisoning is more common if you have your cell phone to close to
your face.” Jason remarked.
All
he could reply to was, “Shut up.”
That’s
just how things were. Jason and David have been best friends, since he was
eleven years old. Jason knew how much David cared about her, so he didn’t say
anything and just let it roll right off his shoulder.
“You
just had your phone out the entire time we were in the car. I’ve had to drive,
listening to Rihanna and Ke$ha that whole time, and you’re just staring at your
phone. Not doing anything, just staring at it. I’m completely shocked that your
phone hasn’t died yet. That wont help you see her sooner.” David had never
mentioned it to Jason, but he could see right through him. He always could.
“Well,
having a long distance relationship isn’t easy. The fact that she’s right back
at San Francisco makes it even harder.” David put his phone in his pocket and
looked out the window. “I would have left with her.”
“I
would have tied you to the flagpole than let you drop your education like that,
for a girl. Well, for Rosa at least.” Jason spat out his cigarette in the
ashtray next to the glove box. “Rosa isn’t worth ruining your life for, even
with my family mixed in.”
San Francisco was our home. I’ve lived
in America my whole life, and Jason’s family moved from London when he was
about 13. The two of us met in junior high, and when his parents found out that
I was living in an orphanage, they took me in pretty quick. From the time I was
eleven till the time I was eighteen, I relied on my best friend’s family for
everything. Jason, His parents, and his sister.
Rosa… well, Rosa was Jason’s cousin. I
met her when her family moved close to the Harpers, Jason’s family, when I was
fourteen. I fell in love with her instantly. Jason didn’t like her at all, not
one bit. When he found out that I had a crush on his cousin, he tried
introducing me to every other girl he was friends with, but I only had eyes for
her. Jason thought it would fade, but it never did. She was just so funny, and
smart and beautiful; it was hard for me not to fall in love with her. The
problem wasn’t even because I was shy, it’s because Jason made it hard for me
to. He wouldn’t leave me alone with her, and tried everything to keep us apart.
When Jason had finally let me do it, I was seventeen, a senior in high school
and accepted to attend the Seattle Medical Institute up in Seattle.
It was only a few months ago when Jason,
Rosa, and I left San Francisco to attend the medical program at the Seattle
Institute. I was studying to be a nurse, James was studying to be a surgeon,
and Rose was studying to be a Pharmacist. “Really? You think she isn’t worth it?”
“I’ve
been telling you she isn’t worth it, ever since she moved next door.” Jason
said. “Any girl who gives up the chance to study at one of the top universities
in the country just to come back to this shithole and do what? Work at Borders
on minimum wage? Rather than becoming a person with a good job and a family? She’s
stupid. You always deserved better than her.”
“How
do you know she would have had a family?” David asked.
“Because
you two are crazy about each other. All I can hear about from my parents is how
much Rosa is a wreck, and how much she misses David. How much she regrets
leaving.” Jason took a left turn through the Sun-shone lane. “What ever
happened with her?”
“I
don’t know.” David told him. “I barely remember her leaving.”
“Of
course you don’t remember her leaving, because she never told us. She just left
in the middle of the night, didn’t say anything to either of us.” He looked over
at David for a split second before he looked back at the road. “I know you
probably don’t want to hear this from me, but she doesn’t deserve you.” Jason
said.
“Right
about that.” he tried to stop him.
“Do
you honestly think she cares? I got more messages from my Dad than I did from
Rose. I’m sure it was the same situation with you.”
Jason’s Dad was found cheating on his
wife during our senior year. Jason’s mom found out during our graduation. She
made this whole scene in front of the entire school. That was probably the
worst day of Jason’s life. The fact that he was leaving high school didn’t make
it any better for him. After his mom kicked his dad out, he just left the
state. He moved to Indianapolis with this girl that just got out of college.
That was the last time that anyone had heard from him. He never called, never
made any kind of contact with Jason or Lyra, Jason’s sister. Anyway, I just
listened to him go on and on about how Rose wasn’t right for me, and how I
should find someone else, like Tracey from Anatomy class. When James finally
parked the car, I jumped out as fast as I could, making my way to the front
door. James could see right through me, which also meant he could see when I
was angry.
After
the doorbell performed its little tune, someone opened the door. It was a
middle-aged woman with greying-red hair and wrinkles wrapping around her eyes. Georgina
Harper, Jason’s mom. “Boys, welcome home,” she chuckled. She gave David a hug, and
then gave Jason a bigger hug. They stepped inside Georgina’s new house, the one
she just bought a few neighborhoods away from her old house. There were old
pictures of her kids up on the walls, a staircase by the front door leading up
to the second story, and separate rooms past the staircase. Georgina motioned
them inside and led us in the living room. David saw a dark-skinned guy with
flaming red hair and a pale guy with strawberry blonde hair. One wearing a gold
jacket and the other wearing a blue T shirt. Felix Johnson and Lucas Harrison, friends
of ours since high school.
“Davey!
Jace! You guys are home!” Lucas said sarcastically.
“Welcome
back!” Felix greeted.
Louis was one of Jason’s friends. I met
both James and Louis at the exact same time at school, but I just became better
friends with James. He was the only one that could call me “Davey” and Jason
“Jace.” Even after all that, he was just an American/French guy who was full of
himself. I never did like him all that much, but he was a good friend of
James’.
Felix was more of my friend than James’.
He was a kind, caring guy who cared about the people he loved. His parents are
divorced, and his family lived in Australia until a couple years ago. He still
has the same Australian accent. Whenever Jason was with Lucas, I would always
hang out with Felix. He was one of the people I missed the most when I left for
college.
Jason
was laughing as he walked in the door. “What are you guys doing here?” we
joined him in the bonus room in the basement.
Lucas
was playing Xbox with Fred in the bonus room. “Well, were here babysitting,
because your mom was about to leave.”
I
looked at him skeptically. “Lyra’s seventeen.”
“Yeah,
she and Henry got into a little trouble about a month ago. She apparently went
to the mall with a couple friends and was caught shoplifting at a Hollister.”
Felix told us. “Henry was also with her. She got into a hell of a lot of
trouble. I’m pretty sure she hasn’t even left the house, since summer started
over a month ago for them.”
“Wait
wait wait. Back up. Lyra and Henry were shoplifting?” James was awe-struck.
“It
surprised everyone. Georgina wouldn’t let her get one of those REALLY short
skirts, so she just stole it instead.” Louis commented.
“Okay, so why are you both here?” David asked.
“Because
were roommates, and because we don’t have an Xbox.” Felix replied.
“Wait,
you guys are roommates?” Jason asked.
“No
one told you? We got an apartment in downtown San Mateo a couple weeks after
you guys left for college.” Lucas told us.
“What?”
David asked skeptically.
“Yep,
me, Lucas, and Kimmy.” Fred said.
“Yea,
but eventually Kimmy moved out and Rosa and her both got an apartment in the
same complex.” Lucas continued.
Jason
was determined to change the subject. “How are you guys paying for an apartment
in San Mateo? You guys aren’t using—“
“No,
of course not. How can we? The pixie force is on our ass all the time.” Lucas
complained.
“Why?”
“Because
of the whole thing with Lyra. They thought she used her powers to steal the
skirt and so now everyone that has ever come in contact with Lyra Harper is
instantly a police suspect.” Lucas replied.
Did you figure out our secret yet? The
Harper family, along with every relative of the Harper family, as well as
countless other families, has the ability to use different powers. Everyone in
the bonus room could use it, Lyra and Henry could use it, Rosa could use it,
both of Jason’s parents could use it, most of the Harpers could use it. I
didn’t start learning what my powers were until I moved in with Jason, and Mr. Harper, gave me some ideas about what my
powers were and told me to just play around with it. I didn’t realize I was an
elemental until then, but somehow, I knew I could use my powers whenever I
wanted.
I think it’s about time I tell you who I
am. My name is David Sav. I’m an orphan that was originally born in England.
From what I remember, I thought I was a good kid. When I turned six, I got into
some trouble, and my powers were out of control. After that, they transferred
me to the U.S. I remember living in that orphanage, silent as hell. Until the
day I turned eleven, when I met James and Louis for the first time. They
actually came up to me. Since then, the memories of what happened thirteen
years ago still haunted my dreams to this very day. I don’t think I’ll ever be
able to escape.
David
stood up and started to head back up the stairs. Jason noticed and tried to
follow him. “Where are you going?”
David
stopped for a minute. “I’m going to the complex. I…gotta talk to Rosa.” David
continued to head up the stairs, and James stopped David.
“Wait
a second.” Lucas stopped me. “What happened to the Bros before Hoes rule?”
“Right
now would be a great time for you to shut up.” David snapped. “Felix, could you
give me the address of the apartment?”
“How
bout I just go with you?” Felix offered.
“That’d
be great.” David smiled.
“Yea,
let’s all go.” Lucas said.
“Nah,
you and Jason stay here. Someone has to stay with Lyra.” Felix told him.
“Whatever.”
Lucas mumbled as he returned to the Xbox. Jason sat next to him and picked up
the controller.
David
stared at the highway as Felix sat next to him setting up the GPS. “The GPS
isn’t working. I can just let you know where to go.”
“Why
isn’t it working?” David asked.
“Lucas
was messing with it for some reason, and now it isn’t working for anyone.”
“And
another thing broken by Louis.” David remarked.
Felix
shrugged.
“I
have no idea why you put up with him.” David began. “He is rude, bossy, a total
douche, a prick, an asshole, not to mention he’s totally full of himself.”
“Well,
we all have our flaws.”
“What’s
that supposed to mean?”
“I
just mean we all have reasons people don’t like us. Jason plays pranks on
everyone, Kimmy is too hyper, Rosa is dramatic about nothing sometimes, and I’m
gay, so not a lot of people like me.”
David
just didn’t reply and kept staring at the road. Everything he said was true.
“Listen,
it’s not like I’m saying Lucas isn’t all of those things, but I just generally
don’t judge a book by his cover. Lucas is really a nice kid when you get to
know him, he just doesn’t really show people who aren’t his close friends a lot
of respect.”
David
just scoffed. They spent the next couple hours talking about how nice Seattle
was, and about the classes and the teachers. They arrived in the apartment
complex, on the corner of the road. There were only a few cars in the parking lot,
and the floors of the apartment only went up to 4. David and Felix both got out
of the car. Felix walked ahead of David and led him to the front door of Rosa’s
apartment, floor 1, room 108.
Felix
knocked on the door. “Kimmy, open up!” No answer. Fred knocked again. “Kimmy!”
This
time the door opened, to reveal a dark-skinned girl wearing no makeup. She had
short, tidy black hair and chocolate brown eyes that lit up when she looked at
David. “Holy shit!” Kimmy jumped up and wrapped her arms around David. “Hi!”
“Hi…”
David skeptically answered back to Kimmy.
Kimmy
kept smiling as she started battering David with questions. “How was Seattle?
Are you doing well? Where are you staying? When are you leaving?”
Felix
was quick to respond to this. “Kimmy, shut up. We need to see Rosa.”
Kimmy
folded her arms. “She isn’t here.”
Felix
and David exchanged looks.
That’s how Kimmy was. Will accidentally
stall, but will be quick to the point when pissed off. Felix’s sister was
always like that.
Felix
rubbed his temple. “Then where is she?”
“She’s
at work. Just left an hour ago.” Kimmy replied.
I know, it isnt much, and it's probably a little boring, but it will climax, i promise. it will get more interesting, but an introduction was needed. So, that was it. i currently finished around half of chapter 1. keep in mind, these will be large chapters. if you have any suggestions or questions, just comment on this post!
~Kai Quinn
