LS: The Beginning (15 page)

“It’s getting late. Time to go,” I advised Lisa.

“Huh?” She pretended not to hear.

I repeated myself, clinging to her perfectly shaped ears. She stood up and looked
at me.

“I wish I didn’t have to go back to my parents. It's really hard to look at them these days without feeling a huge amount of guilt,” Lisa said.

I felt really sorry for her, thus I distributed out some suggestions.

“You haven't done anything wrong, dear. If it's really that bad, why
don’t you stay in the college dorms?”

“I can’t let other students confirm I'm a freak.”

At that moment, I had succeeded in getting Lisa out of the bowling area. Her head was
perfectly placed on my shoulders as we strode.

“That’s true. Why not stay with me?”

She looked at me. Her warm hazel
eyes enticingly glittered, like a polished oak. Her
voluptuous lips made Angelina Jolie look like a charade.

“Your cousin won’t like the idea, nor would my folks,” she said.

“You’re probably right,” I agreed. I didn’t realize I had suggested that out loud. It was a ridiculous idea.

It was fairly dark; the moon was in its quarter state and the cold air breezed over my skin
,
giving chills to my hands and neck. It seemed not to affect Lisa, even with
the open top she wore. Her blistering skin repelled the
cold; she was very lucky.

“My house is this way.” I pointed to a south-east direction from
where I stood.

“My house is this way,” she said, pointing to the opposite direction. “Thanks for keeping your word. I had a lovely day, and learned so much.”

I grinned.

“You’re welcome. I enjoyed making you happy.”

With that, she gave a heart-warming smile. Indeed, Lisa
was the incarnation of the word love.

Immediately afterward, she supersonically sprinted home, and this made me feel like a good teacher once again. I did the same, arriving at my house almost at the same time.

Chapter Nine

Lisa's Parents

It was about 2:00am, and I was alone in my big house. Though, Stacey had informed me she was going to a friend’s party, I was still worried about her whereabouts. There was a good reason cell phones were invented, but like a director in a board meeting, she’d switched hers off. The mere thought of her being in danger made me scared. I had accidentally inspired her to do whatever she pleased, since I knew Lisa was dangerous and still hung out with her.
I wouldn’t forgive myself if anything happens to her,
I thought, pacing round the living room. The flat screen
was switched on but I ignored it as I strode back and forth.

Stacey was definitely out of her mind. She had lectures that morning; the least she could do was come home early
and grab a nice rest. I chose not to call the police or go looking for her, because I had to give her the respect she deserved.

The screeching sound of car tires suddenly silenced my worried thoughts. Then, the next sound I heard was that of a lady’s shoe heels striding toward the gate. She opened the gate and lurched inside the building, feeling woozy.

“What in God's name is wrong with you?” I scolded. “Look at the time, for goodness sake.”

“I'm so sorry. I knew you'd be worried,” she said, removing her tall shoes.

I bridled at her lack of consideration.

“You knew, but you didn't come back home. I'm disappointed.”

“I'm an adult and I can take care of myself,” she stated.

“Sorry, but when you live with me, the least you'd have done was to call me.”

“My phone battery died,” she said.

I tilted my head a bit. “I see.”

“I know you're reading my mind, and I'm sick and tired of your freaky nature,” she growled and walked past me.

It was annoyed how impolitely she ended the discussion. I was the one to get angry and not her, because I would have to explain to the Fords if anything happened to their only daughter.

I felt there was no use of me barging into her room to continue the discussion, so I went to my room and slammed the door behind me in annoyance.

Some hours later, she came and knocked on my room door. “Hey, Steph, can I come in?” she asked, knowing I’d
be awake.

“The door’s open,” I said.

She pushed the door and entered the room wearing a rueful grim. It meant only one thing: an apology was at hand. I
did not need my powers to know. Actions, they say, speak louder than words. She wasn’t dressed for school; a silk pink housecoat covered her
body. I had been doing some light reading, which seemed to always occupy me through
the sleepless nights.

“I’m sorry. I guess you’re busy. I’ll wait downstairs,” she said, fiddling with the rope of her robe.

“Nah, I just don’t want to be idle. Please sit.”

My room was more of an office. It gave me that young director’s look. However, Stacey was the
only girl who had seen it so far – such a waste.

We stared at each other for a very long second, and then we said at the same time, “About this morning.”

Stacey leaned back on her chair and smiled.

“You first,” she said.

“No, you go first,” I requested.

“Okay. I’m so sorry for coming so late and walking out on you. I'll try my best not to repeat it in the future.”

“No problem,” I said. My temper had already reduced. “What actually happened?”

“After the party, we went over to Julie’s house to relax,” she explained.

“When you say
we?
”

“Two guys, Julie and I,” she answered.

I was a bit disappointed.
Why did two boys have to follow them?
I needed answers.
I knew Stacey was a responsible girl and only a carefree person would do that.

“Hope you’re all right?” I got up from my chair and rested on the arm of
the chair she was sitting on. She leaned close to me, placing her head on my lap.

“I’m okay,” she said. “I didn’t allow anything to happen.”

Hearing that, I released a sigh of relief
; it would have been a different situation
if she was hurt or taken advantage of.

Stacey glanced at the wall clock.

“So, are we cool?” she asked.

“Yeah, we are,” I said.

“Okay. Now, it’s your turn,” she said.

“Nothing much, I’m just glad you’re okay. Please, go get ready for school.”

I wasted time in my closet, thus allowing Stacey to embark on a daily activity
which I had recently lacked: eating. Arriving at the living room, I noticed she was looking through a schoolbook. She looked different from the girl who came to apologize.
Is it because she'd freshened up, or because she’s stop being remorseful?
I had no clue.

“Have you eaten?” I inquired.

She picked up her bag and headed to the door.

“Yes, let’s go.”

I ran towards the door and opened it before she reached it.

“It’s not fair, you know,” she grumbled.

“Life’s not fair,” I replied, grinning.

Mechanics106
class wasn’t so much fun, and then again sometimes academia wasn’t.
Lisa had reserved a seat for me at the back, and I quickly occupied it before any
of the boys could make a move. The rumor about Lisa being a freak didn’t
last long; she soon became the apple of the males’ eyes in the college once
again. I was hoping she would be in a cheerful mood, so I could invite her
to my house, but she wasn’t. Something bad must have happened and I
planned on finding out what it was.

“Hey,” she greeted as I sat down.

“Hiya,” I said.

After ten minutes of secretly watching her, I asked,
“What’s the problem, Lee?” I’d shortened her name to something I
could easily pronounce.

“It’s my parents,” she answered.

There was no need to act naïve; I knew what she wanted to tell them.

“Did you tell them about us?” Every single time I used the word
us
in that context, it reopened my image of Lisa and I dating, which I
believed would be a match made in heaven.

“They found out,” she said.

“Ouch! That must have hurt?” I asked, hoping a resounding no.

“Yeah, they want to send me away to a rehab or some government facility
, so they
can monitor me.”

“That’s insane!” I yelled.

Everyone in the room turned to look at me, including the teacher, Mr. Taylor.

“I’m sorry, carry on,” I told him.

I was so vexed; I dragged Lisa by the arm and out of the classroom. She followed me to the corridor without hesitating.
Then
I placed my hands over her shoulders as she leaned on the wall.

“Please, tell me you were joking,” I pleaded.

“I wish I was,” she replied.

I couldn’t think of Lisa being so far away
from me; most of all, experimented on.
She was in my life now, and I didn't want her to go.

“And your own parents want you to be used as a lab rat?”

A sudden
fury was building up inside of me. I observed through Lisa’s honey-brown eyes as my eyes
turned sky blue, and slowly I began breathing out cold air from my nostrils.

“It was my fault. I almost burned my only brother alive,” she explained.

“No, it wasn’t your fault. Your abilities made you hot tempered,” I said, removing my hands from the wall. “This is insane. How
did you tell them you got it?”

“That was where your name came in. I introduced you as Susan Ford’s nephew, the wife of Justin Ford,” she said.

“Okay, but that’s beside the point. What do you plan on
doing?”