Connor (9 page)

The next morning, I woke to the raised voices of my parents. They were fussing right outside my door.

Oh crap, they must have known I snuck in last night. How? I was quiet. No way or they would have either been waiting in my room or barged in as I crawled through the window.

I slowly got up to open the door and face my sentence. I tried to come up with a good excuse before they confronted me, but when I opened the door, no one was there. I peeked down the hall and in the other rooms, but didn't find them there either. That is strange.

I grabbed my cell heading downstairs and found them out back on the patio. From the hallway next to the stairs, I watched them through the back door window. Whew, they were fussing about Ebony staying out late and lying about it. About time. Crisis averted.

“Connor, when did you get up? How long were you standing there?” My mom said, swinging open the door after shushing my dad.

“Oh, not long, I just woke up. So what's going on?” I asked, busted for eavesdropping.

“Nothing, sweetie, you must have been tired. It's almost twelve already,” she said with the fakest grin I had ever seen cross her face.

“School, school, school. Study, study, study,” I said, all goofy like, not doing any better than my mom at hiding a lie.

“You want lunch or something?” she asked.

Why is she being nice to me? “No. Remember, Angie and I have plans to do the shopping-and-movie thing today?”

“You need some money, honey?” my dad asked. Okay, something is seriously up because my dad never offers money, ever. I must be dying, or maybe they feel guilty for working me like a slave around here while Ebony never helped.

“Ummmm, sure, Dad, I do need some new jeans.” Hey, why not take advantage of it? If I'm going out, I may as well go out looking good.

“Okay, I will put some money on the kitchen counter by the phone.”

“Thanks, Dad,” I said, walking off quickly, hoping he would not realize what he said and change his mind.

Halfway down the hall, I stopped cold and dropped my phone. I heard my parents all the way from the other side of the house, just as clear as they were right in front of me.

Is it possible that I could have a third ability? I have the ability of invisibility, telekinesis, and now enhanced hearing.

I listened for the birds singing outside, the bees humming in the flowers, the water drip from the faucet in the upstairs bathroom, and the trees blowing in the wind. It was surreal. It felt as if I was next to each one, so I closed my eyes and pretended I was. It felt like heaven, all warm and cozy.

“What are you smiling about, alien head?” Kane said, standing there in is his red cape, water gun aimed at me.

Oh great, Reptile Boy. I thought we set him free in the woods. Drat, he must have found his way back. Trying to ignore him and find my way back to heaven, he sprayed me in the face with water, so my inner child kicked in and joined in the water fight.

We ran around the whole house, me with cups, and he had the super-duper soaker gun, screaming and jumping, having fun. I broke a mug—who cares I'll clean that later—and kept on going. Even our little Jack Russell was chiming in, barking, and bouncing off the furniture.

I was drenched from my head to my toes and loved every minute of it. I guess that at times my little brother could be fun. Last night felt like a distant memory, and that is how I want to keep it, distant for as long as I can.

After what seemed like hours of fun, the doorbell rang. The living room clock read one o'clock, but Angie wasn't supposed to be here until two or, as in her case, three.

Expecting to see Angela's face explaining why she came so early, I swung open the front door, but as fate would have it, Tony stood in my doorway.

He checked me from head to toe, eyeing me curiously. “Hey, Sci-fi, you just stepped out the shower?”

I'm supposed to be annoyed with him, but I was over it. That was yesterday's news, and I'm a woman of today. Where do I come up with this stuff?

“Who's there?” My dad came up behind me, being nosy. “Hey, son, we're not buying anything,” he said, and he tried closing the door in Tony's face.

“Dad!” I squealed, grabbing the door. He can be so rude sometimes.

“Stop it, Blair, they probably know each other,” my mom said, trying to save me from my dad's eternal embarrassment. “Come in. Connor, let the young man in.” But she was smiling as if it was prom night or something. Now who is going to save me from her?

“Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Esquibel. I'm Tony. Connor and I go to school together.”

“Nice to meet you, Tony,” my mom politely said, turning to my dad who wasn't so nice. “Blair.”

My dad stood there, arms folded, eyeing Tony suspiciously, and made a noise of the nonhuman kind. Did he really just grunt? My dad seriously grunted at him.

“We're going to the patio.” I grabbed Tony's arm, walking off toward the back but would have preferred to drop into a black hole, which is quicker to get to, and the furthest away.

“Sure, dear,” my mom said right before asking, “Who broke a glass in the kitchen and left it?”

“Reptile Boy,” I yelled back and hurried up.

Making it to the patio in record time, I asked him to have a seat, but he refused and leaned against the railing instead, so I did the same. I apologized for my dad's behavior, explaining it was probably some old people mental disorder disease. “So what's up?” I asked, wondering what prompted this unexpected visit.

“Let's go,” he said with no further explanation. “What? Where?”

“The Caring House, today.”

“I thought we were going to make some calls regarding this place, check out its history, form a plan before we head out there blind,” I said.

“I know, but I was thinking if we call ahead then we give people heads up, and I don't want to do that. We have waited long enough, and I'm ready for some answers. Aren't you?” he asked.

“What people, Tony? You act like there is some big conspiracy or something.”

“No, I'm just saying I don't want to give people a heads up. After what you said about Vincent last night and people following you, Byron, and Cheyenne, I think we should act now. You know you're taking this adoption thing in stride. I'm a wreck. I hardly slept last night. I wanted come here five hours ago. What's your secret?”

“I don't know why I'm not more upset, honestly, maybe because I woke up in my bed in my room to the sound of my parents' voices. So to me, nothing has changed, or it just hasn't hit me yet.”

“It's called denial, Connor, and we need to face it and fast.”

“Before all this started, I already had a superpower, which gives me the ability to ignore, suppress, or categorize my emotions. And if that's what I need to do right now to function, then so be it.”

He looked so tired, this obviously was bothering him a lot, as it should, so why wasn't I more upset? He was right about one thing, I do need to face reality and exit stage right of fantasyland.

“Yeah, it's called denial.”

“Whatever, did you call the others yet?” I asked. “No, I came straight here,” he said.

“Oh, I figured you would have gone straight to Cheyenne.” Did that just slip out my mouth?

That comment got me a cold stare and a long sigh before a response. “Why would you say that?”

“Well, to hear her tell it, if she wanted to, she could have you at any time. I thought you two had a thing from the first time I met her,” I said.

“Oh really, and that's not true. We were the first to meet, and thinking that we were the only ones made us close. Besides, she has and always had a boyfriend, as far as I can remember,” he said.

“So what did you do to lead her on?” I asked.

“I never led her on, so get that right out of your head. We did a lot of talking and always joked one day we would save the world together, that kind of corny stuff. Please, she would drop me like a hot potato whenever her boyfriend called,” he said.

“She doesn't like me like that, Connor, honest. She's the overprotective type,” he explained.

He caught me off guard when he stepped close to me, so I backed up a little. “I'm drawn to you, Connor. Come on, I show up at your house in the middle of the night. I think about you all the time and have even spoken to Cheyenne about it. At first she seemed cool with it, but now all of a sudden, she's upset about it.”

Boys are so clueless. Of course, she's going to play it off. No wonder she hates me. She probably wanted him to wait around for her in case she broke things off with her boyfriend.

“Maybe she genuinely likes you, have you ever thought about that? Besides, she's pretty, rich, and has legs for miles. Who wouldn't want her?” I said, folding my arms, trying to act as if I could care less if he went to her as I closely watched his reaction to my comment.

“That's your opinion. You're the beauty. I'm crazy about your wild curly hair, your personality, and I don't think you heard me say that I am drawn to you.” He stepped in close to me again and started touching my hair, but this time, I didn't move back. I swallowed hard. I missed the part about being drawn to me. The butterflies in my stomach stirred.

His eyes turned from light brown to yellow right in front of me, but before I could say anything, he kissed me, and I kissed back. He pressed my back against the house, holding me tightly like before, grabbing my hair, and kissing me fiercely, making the butterflies flutter wildly.

“Um, hello.” I heard a female's voice behind Tony.

I broke from Tony, who must not have heard her, because at first he appeared startled. I was patting my hair back down, eyeing Angie who had the biggest grin ever, eyeing me from the bottom of the steps, wearing the latest fashion. Of all people to show up, why I am not surprised it's her? She lives for the latest gossip.

“I have heard of raging teenage hormones before, but that kiss made me want to blush. It was like in the movies or those Spanish soap operas. Girl, if I hadn't shown up, who knows what would have happened next. I'm jealous.” As she walked up with patio steps, she was putting emphasis on each word.

“Just friends, my butt, you little sneak. I knew there was more between the two of you. I wish Bobby kissed me like that,” Angie said, now not five feet from me, making me feel uncomfortable.

Tony walked to the other side of the patio covered by shade in order to calm himself so his eyes could revert. I'm lucky mine didn't do anything crazy. Angie was always popping up at the wrong times.

“Hey, Angie. You're a little early, aren't you?” I sounded out of breath but tried to play if off.

“I know, but I needed to get out of the house. My mom was driving me crazy with chores,” she said.

“Hey, Tony. I don't need to ask how you are doing. Seems to me you are doing just fine.” She was trying to get a reaction out of him, but he didn't bite. He kept his distance on the other side of the porch, facing us, not saying a word.

“Really, Angie,” I said, cutting her a look to stop. “Fine, how about we go shopping another day? I would

feel so guilty separating you two. Besides, Bobby asked me to go out anyway. I told him no, but I can certainly call him back.”

“No, Angie, we can go shopping. It's no problem.” “No, do you, because I want to hear all the gossip later,”

she whispered.

“It is not like that, Angie,” I said. She doesn't know when to let up ever. She is so full of it. She's never done anything with a boy either. Bobby is a straight-up science geek and an undercover
Star Wars
lover.

“Actually, that will work, Angie, thanks. I just asked Connor to take a ride with me.” Tony walked over, his voice deeper than I had ever heard before, his expression serious, arms folded, and he leaned against the pole. His eyes were back to normal, but his mood wasn't.

“No problem, Tony. We have to double date soon. Kisses,” she said, running off, giggling.

This would be on the Internet as soon as she got in the car. “Tony, I had plans, you know,” I said, sounding a little annoyed with what just happened.

He didn't say a word, only stared at me. I got the hint he was not backing down.

“Fine, give me thirty minutes, okay?” I said. “Fifteen.”

He still had a look about him that meant business, so I reserved my sarcastic comment and was ready in twenty. I never showered so fast in my life.

About twenty-two minutes and a little lie later, we were on the road. Not that I like lying to my parents, but this was important.

“So what's the plan?” I asked.

“There isn't one. We're winging it. We go there and see what we can find out.”

“You're the boss.” Not that I thought this would work, but he seemed to be on a mission, and hey, you never know.

We drove mostly in silence not by my choice, but Tony seemed to be in a crazy serious mood, so I let him be. I kept drifting back to the kiss and those butterflies would flare up again. I've never been kissed like that in my life. Trying to ignore the wildlife in my stomach, I allowed myself a midafternoon nap.

Tony woke me up as we drove into a nice peaceful town that looked like a small local tourist attraction. According to the phone's GPS, it should have taken a normal driver ninety minutes to get here, but with Tony's driving, we made it in seventy.

We passed modest-looking homes, a couple of public schools with two nice-sized playgrounds, and a few grocery stores. There were boutiques along what seemed to be the main strip of the town. People were coming in and out of shops with bags of recent buys. Kids were everywhere: some eating ice cream on benches, some in strollers, or running rampant. It seemed like a cozy place to live.

The town park was hosting some kind of fair, so we decided to go check it out first. We parked in a nearby lot, hoping to fit in with the locals, then decided to walk from here. The Caring House was only a few blocks away.

I felt the heat as soon as I opened the door and it was blazing hot. Getting out the car to stretch, I asked, “How come you don't always drive to the meetings late at night?” “I don't want my dad to hear the car drive off and get busted,” he said, then asked, “Are you hungry?” I gave him an enthusiastic yes without shame. Between playing with Kane and Tony popping up, I hadn't thought about

food.

We grabbed some grub, found a table, and after finishing off two hot dogs, a slice of NY-style pizza, two scoops of ice cream including the cone, and a big cup of soda, Tony couldn't help but be amazed. My belly was full, and I was content.

“What? I was hungry!” Am I to feel embarrassment because I have a healthy appetite, which seems to get healthier by the minute?

“I could tell. You didn't come up for air once. You are definitely not a cheap date,” he said, edging back as if I were going to gobble him up too.

I punched him in the arm. “Ha-ha, if this were a date, my friend, you would not be feeding me hot dogs and ice cream. Not that you can talk, you didn't do too shabby yourself, buddy.” We cracked jokes on each other for a while, and before long, we were back to normal.

After we ate, we decided to head toward the Caring House, which was only two blocks away. We approached a two-story wooden house with a sign on the front lawn that said “The Caring House: a home away from home.”

It was a pretty mint-green two-story house with white shutters. Green grass spread across the front yard that was tidy and well kept. Off to the left of the house, there were two station wagons parked in the driveway in front of a two-door garage that was the same color as the house. The porch extended around the sides of the house, decorated with white wicker couches, chairs, and colorful cushions filled their seats. It looked so very much like a Barbie doll's house that it almost didn't look real.

As pretty as this place appeared to be, it gave me the creeps, but I shook it off for the sake of the mission. “Okay, now that we're here, what's the brilliant plan?” I asked.

“We want to know more about us. Maybe they can lead us to someone who can help, and if that doesn't work, we will distract whoever and break into the records,” Tony said, walking up the walkway, not breaking stride, as if breaking into a house was the norm.

“Wait, what? Are you crazy? We could get caught breaking in. You never said anything about breaking in,” I said.

“Listen, we didn't come here for tea and crumpets. Well, at least I didn't,” he said, taking the steps by twos.

“I don't appreciate you throwing my words back at me. That was a different situation, and you know it.” He rang the bell, not responding to my last statement, and refused to look at me. He had a goal in mind but forgot to clue me in on all the plans. What did I just get myself into?

A minute later, a woman about sixty opened the main door but kept the screen shut. She seemed a bit put off by us from her tone. Her face scrunched up as if she just ate a rotten piece of candy or she didn't like daylight. She wore purple horn-rimmed glasses, and her dark hair stood pinned up in a bun on her head so tightly, it had to hurt. She dressed as if style was unknown to her in an old-fashioned white-laced, long-sleeved shirt and a long blue skirt with black boots. Did she not get the memo that it's warm out?

“Yes, may I help you?” she asked, holding on to her glasses.

“Hello, my name is Tony, and this is Connor. Years ago we were adopted from here, and now we are searching for more information on our parents.”

All right now, don't hold back any. Just let it all hang out, buddy. Was he purposely botching this so we would have to break in?

“Well, if neither one of you is eighteen, and you certainly don't look it, or older, then I simply cannot help you. Ask your adopted parents to file the appropriate papers, and the state will follow up,” she said, sounding every bit the rude person I expected her to be.

“Ethel, who is at the door?” An older woman appeared at the door with a smile. Maybe we have a chance after all. She was short, stocky, and wore a plain blue dress. It seemed to suit her somehow. She, unlike Ethel, seemed delighted to see us.

“They wanted some information on their adoptions, so I was explaining to them we simply cannot help,” the woman named Ethel answered.

“Oh, Ethel. Come on in, kids, and have a seat. Surely we can invite them in,” the older woman said, opening the screen door for us to enter.

“Marge, you will take in anyone. Well, you deal with them. I have some paperwork to do,” Ethel said, walking off.

“Don't mind her, kids, she has been a little stressed lately. Anyway, come in and have a seat in my office. I am Ms. Ridgemont.”

We followed her down a long hallway lined with shiny dark wood paneling, passing a small hall on the left, but I couldn't see where it led. On the right, there were double doors that opened to a sitting area, and right past the doorway to the left, along the wall, was a stairwell leading up.

As we followed, we each tried to take in the lay of the land. I felt like I was casing the joint for a bank robbery. She stopped at an old cluttered office, stacked high with papers that needed a lot of attending to.

“Have a seat. Now how can I help you two lovelies?” she was polite as any grandmother could be. Something about her was special. Maybe because her demeanor reminded me of my grandmother, except for the fact that this woman needed a cane to walk.

“Like we told the other lady, we recently found out we were adopted from here sixteen years ago, and we're trying to find out some more information on our past or our real parents,” Tony said.

“Unfortunately, Ethel was right. Unless you are eighteen and have filed the proper paperwork, I cannot give you any information. Besides, we would not have your files still. The state claims it after so many years. Have you asked your parents anything?” Ms. Ridgemont asked.

“No, not yet,” I said, eyeing Tony, not liking where this is heading already.

“How did you find out you were adopted then? Can't you ask the individual who informed you of this?” she asked us.

“Well, they, our parents, don't know we know yet. I figured if they hadn't told us by now, they probably won't. Besides, we kind of stumbled upon it,” Tony said.

“You won't know unless you try. Have this conversation with your parents, and see where it goes. I always say you must try first. Now, sweeties, I am so sorry, but I simply cannot help you,” she said, quickly dismissing us, but as she stood up to escort us out, Tony started coughing uncontrollably.

“Oh, Tony, are you okay?” I asked, trying not to laugh at him over acting the part. He clutched his chest and covered his mouth. His cough looked more like a heart attack.

In between his coughing spasms, he asked for some water. She hurriedly got up to go to the kitchen to get him something to drink. As soon as she left, he said, “I will distract her as long as I can. Try and search through those cabinets.”

“Yeah, I got the cue,” I said.

While he kept her busy, I fumbled through the metal file cabinet against the back wall as quickly as I could. There were only financial paperwork on legalities and stuff I didn't understand. Since that was a no-go, I checked out the table along the front wall and the windowsill behind her chair, but there was nothing other than some funky decorations. Lastly, her messy desk stacked with finances and legalities like in the cabinet also was a bust.

In fact, the only thing I gathered in her office was dust—on the cabinet, her desk, even the chairs, which we had to wipe off before sitting down. Was this not her main office but a storage room, and where did they keep the files on the children? In fact, where are the children? I jumped back into my seat as soon as I heard some commotion down the hallway.

“Sorry about that. Thanks for the water. Allergies, you know,” Tony explained to Ms. Ridgemont.

“That is okay, but you should really get that taken care of. Is there anything else I can do for you two?” she asked us but still walked toward the front door.

“Can we get a tour of the facility to see if it brings back any memories?” I asked, almost begging.

“I am sorry, dear, I doubt you would remember being so young, but this is not a good time anyhow. The kids will be back from their day trip soon. I have much to do maybe next time,” Ms. Ridgemont said, opening the door for us to leave.

We said our good-byes after she practically kicked us out, and we walked away disappointed. Tony stopped me after we walked a block. “Did you find anything useful?” “No, not really. What struck me as odd was her office

was extremely dusty,” I said.

“So she's an old dusty lady. I'm sure it's on her to-do list. I mean any paperwork or anything unusual or on us?” Tony asked.

I don't know why the dust bothered me so much, but it did. Something was off with this place. I could feel it. I shook my head no.

“Let's do this. We sneak in through the back and investigate the basement for old files. Before I headed to the kitchen, I checked below the stairs, and there was a door which I'm sure leads to a basement,” Tony said.

Now after being inside, I thought the next thing to do was break in since we quickly hit a roadblock, but I felt the others needed to be involved too. “Okay, I'm in, but we should call the others and bring them in on this.”

“Come on, we can do it ourselves. I say we make a move before the kids get back so there are less people,” he said.

“I get it, but if something is going on, they should be involved. It's only right, especially since we all went the night I wanted to go,” I said.

“Here's the deal. If we get in and find something, then we call in reinforcements. Come on, Connor, we're so close. Let's do this,” he pleaded with me.

“Fine, I'm in,” I said, hoping I wouldn't live to regret it, but something told me we needed to do this if we ever wanted some answers.