The Awakening (10 page)

Check the boot.

I fumbled about and found the button that opened it. Once popped, I headed around and lifted it. Bags filled the space. Names like Selfridges, Boss and Versace stamped on them like awards. They contained what must have been thousands of pounds worth of designer clothes: t-shirts, jackets, jeans and shoes. I even found a brand new pair of Ray Ban’s.

I picked a knitted beige jumper and checked the tag.

£249.99

I let out a disbelieving laugh.
Someone must really like me.

I looked around to see who was about. The street seemed empty. Even Mikey was blocked from view, so I shrugged off my clothes and slipped into the jumper and a pair of jeans I’d found in another bag. I finished with a black leather jacket and matching shoes. Everything fitted perfectly. I shut the boot and walked back to my old car.

The engine roared as I gunned down the road. The car was so fast I wouldn’t normally have been able to handle it - I’d only had my licence a few months. But something was different now. I seemed to know exactly what to do at every possible point - when to drop a gear, accelerate, when to brake. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Mikey staring at me wearing a look of disbelief.

“Listen,” I said, taking a corner a little too fast, “before you ask, I still don't know what’s going on. A letter arrived today with the keys and this note inside.” I handed him the fold of paper. “That's all I can say. But if someone gave you all this stuff, would you say no?”

He scanned the words and shrugged. “Depends on what they wanted in return. I mean, why else would they do all this?”

I paused. With everything going on, the thought that there may be a catch hadn’t even occurred to me.

What could they possibly want from me?

“Do you think it could be some kind of government experiment?” Mikey asked, fiddling with the CD player. “It would explain the reason you were taken and why you have all these sick abilities.”

I lifted a hand off the wheel and pinched at the bridge of my nose. “Maybe. I mean it’s possible, I guess. Argghh I don’t know!” I hit the wheel with the palm of my hand. “Screw it; I’m going to enjoy this while I can.”

Eyes bulged and jaws dropped as the car rolled through the gates of Chapter Hill School. I parked near the main steps, buzzing from all the gawping stares. As Mikey pushed open the door, he turned and looked at me.

“Quick one, how do you plan to keep
this
from Mum and Dad?”

Not all of them.

People stared even harder when I slipped out of the sleek sports car and flicked the alarm. With a large smile etched on my face, I weaved past them and up the main steps. As I made my way through the school, people glanced up and social circles stopped talking to stare. It was an odd sensation, being the focus so many people, but minus the suffocating feeling of awkwardness.
This must be what actual confidence feels like.

I’d been confused and in need of support when I’d confided in Mikey. Now I had a better handle on things, it seemed better to keep the circle of trust tight. At least until I knew more. So I decided not to tell Tim - yet. Instead, I fed him the exact same story I’d used on Mum and John, with the rich Uncle bit tacked on the end. Explained how I’d used some of the money to pay for the expensive private retreat. I must have spoken with conviction, because he didn’t even frown.

“Well rest assured mate, it was money well spent.”

*

I killed a free period in the sixth form common room, sitting on a worn sofa, flicking through an old FHM magazine someone had left on the counter. Out of the corner of my eye I spied a group of girls staring at me and giggling. One of them - Grace Evans, shared my History class. She was pretty. Not Gabriella pretty, but very attractive by mere human standards. I’d never so much as exchanged a single vowel with her before, but she was certainly paying me attention now. She ran a hand through her wavy auburn hair and flicked her eyes between me and her group. After a while she made her way over to me. Normally that would have been the exact point in which I started sweating and said something mortally embarrassing. None of that happened. My heart rate didn’t even increase. I lowered the magazine and looked up. She stood in front of me, clutching at her bag strap and dug the heel of a boot into the carpet.

“You um...you look different,” she said awkwardly, twisting the strap of her bag between her fingers. “Like in a really good way - I mean you look really good.”

It was the first time a girl had ever referred to my looks in a positive way. The unexpected compliment raised my already good mood up a few notches.

I grinned. “Thanks Grace.”

“Ha, um, you’re welcome.” She glanced over at the group, someone signed something to her. “Oh, I heard you have a sports car. Is that true?”

Wow, that was fast.

“Wow, amazing! I mean - no, wait...that’s not amazing him dying and that. But leaving you money,
that’s
amazing.”

I smiled again.

“So anyway...I mean we don’t really know each other, but I was wondering if...well if you wanted to go for a drink some time?”

First I’d been complimented and now the same girl was asking me out. I was deep in unexplored territory - a surreal experience. I stared at her, unable to produce an answer.

“Cool, well, text me or something. I’ll see you soon,” she said and hurried back to the safety of the herd. They were all giggling and she went more and more red, trying to shush them.

I paused for a moment, struggling to believe what had just happened. I’d been asked out within an hour of attempting to re-invent myself. It was unbelievable. The notion that it was all very superficial was not lost on me, my improved look and car clearly playing a large part, but I was an seventeen year old brimming with hormones - I wasn’t about to get all resentful about it.

Without warning, my heart began to hammer against my chest and a sheen of sweat appeared on my palms. A delayed response. Tossing the magazine aside, I unsteadily left the common room before my body could give me away.

I headed to the bathrooms and splashed cold water on my face, to calm myself down.
Maybe this is what they mean about my body adjusting
I thought, through the dizziness. I stayed there, clutching the sink for a few minutes until the sensations passed. I wiped my face with paper towels from the dispenser and stared at my reflection in the mirror.

“Keep it together Alex.”

After weaving my way through the crowds, I reached the science department. My heart thumped louder with each step I made towards the classroom. In my mind I tried to imagine what she would be wearing, how her hair would be done. My heart sank as I reached the door. Full class - no Gabriella.

The gossip machine had been running at full speed. Half a dozen people came up to me and I had to repeat what I’d told Tim half a dozen times. Everyone seemed to believe the lie as easily as Tim had. I guessed it was just a matter of confidence. Only one person didn’t utter a word, but sat hunched over his desk with a deep scowl etched on his face.

Silence descended as a slightly harassed looking Miss Steele paced through the door. Her eyes scanned the room and settled on me. Then she seemed to relax. Pulling her specs from her bag, she slid them over her petite nose. Her hair was unfastened today. It swept over one shoulder and hung just below her breast line. The thing I noticed the most however, was the perfume she was wearing. It was both intoxicating and overpowering, like she’d used half the bottle. It surged up my nostrils and flooded my brain with images of majestic flowers which stretched up towards the sky, glossy black petals open like outstretched fingers. I blinked a few times and the images faded, followed shortly by the scent.

Super smell
, I assumed without much thought. It seemed that nothing could surprise me anymore.

I was wrong.

Halfway through the lesson, Miss Steele asked for a volunteer. As expected, every single male in the class put up their hand. She chose TJ.

I decided it was time for a little revenge.

I waited until he was almost at my desk and pretended to drop my pen. As I hopped off my seat to pick it up, I used my heel to slide the stool into his path. His foot caught against it and he let out a cry of surprise as he fell, bringing it clattering down with him. The room erupted into laughter. He clambered back up, with a face like a storm. I feigned innocence. “I’m sorry, I dropped my pen.” I waggled the offending object to emphasise my point.

Miss Steele was quick to intervene, wedging herself between us. “Stop it this instant!” she hissed. “This is not a playground. I will not tolerate this type of behaviour. Do you understand me?”

Neither of us said a word, our bodies still squared up to one another. I was clenching and unclenching my fists, trying to resist the urge to throw Miss Steele out of the way and break the prick’s jaw.

“Good,” she said. “Now both of you sit down so we can continue the lesson. I think I’ll do the demonstration myself...honestly I have never seen such immaturity.” She shook her head and marched back to the front. As she passed me, I could have sworn I saw the faintest hint of a wink.

The lesson continued without further incident, although I could feel TJ boring holes into my back. If looks could have killed, I would’ve been six feet under.

At the end of the lesson, Richard Lawrence and Elliot Shaw - two guys from a few rows back I’d barely ever spoken to - came over to my desk as I was packing my things away. Elliot clapped a chubby hand on my shoulder. I tensed up, anticipating the worst. But when I turned, I saw he was smiling.

“I had no idea you were such a nutter pal. Fair play, TJ is a knob.” He spoke in a low voice, making sure the subject didn’t hear as he disappeared through the door, giving me a final glare.

Richard nodded, his curly blonde hair bobbing with it. “I really hate Terry’s lot. I mean this isn’t school anymore, I can’t even believe they get away with this crap.”

I raised my eyebrows, surprised that one: they were even talking to me and two: they were being
sympathetic
.

Elliot patted my back and gestured for me to walk with them. “So how does this car of yours handle?”

It wasn’t until I’d reached the hub that I realised I’d left my bag in class.

Elliot and Richard were still chatting to me about something or other. Being honest I’d stopped listening, but somehow managed to keep the conversation flowing. It was as if one part of my mind switched to autopilot, whilst the other went exploring. My focus was on Gabriella.
Where is she?
I wondered.
Why does she keep missing lessons?

It was then that I remembered we hadn’t spoken since she’d left me the message. I’d tried to call her the night before but her phone had cut straight to voicemail and I’d been too nervous to leave a message. I decided to try again.

Except I couldn’t find my phone.

Where is it? I panicked, pawing at my empty jean pockets. Then I remembered I’d put it in my bag before Science...which was still in the classroom. Crap!

“Sorry guys I got to go.” I left them standing in the hub, sharing a confused expression. I threaded back through the hallways, making sure I kept my speed below superhuman levels. When I reached the room, the door was closed and the window blind down
. Great, I bet it’s locked and I’m going to have to hunt Miss Steele down
. But when I twisted the handle, the latch clicked and the door inched open.