Melancholia

  I frowned at her. It wasn’t funny at all, what had happened. To me or Jason.

  “Jasmine, try to be sensitive, would you please?” Mrs. Butts was frowning at her daughter.

  Jasmine looked down, her face turning pink. “Shit. Sorry. Lost my mouth for a second there.”

  “Oh, there’s something new,” said Kootch, and for once, Jasmine didn’t hit him.

  “We had to do the play several times. The school had sold out shows for four nights. By the last night, Jerry was convinced we were meant to be together. He started stalking me, trying to catch me alone. He even came to my house and tried to break in. The last straw was when he grabbed me in a back hallway and forced me into a stairwell.” My face burned bright red, the shame overtaking me.

  “What happened?” asked Kootch, no longer joking or goofing around.

  “We don’t need to know anymore,” said Mrs. Butts. “You’ve told us enough.”

  I breathed out a sigh of relief. “Anyway, my parents packed us up and moved us away the next day, and now here I am.” I shrugged, embarrassed about having all their eyes on me.

  “What happened to Jerry?” asked Malcolm.

  “We filed a restraining order against him. I never saw him again, so I don’t know.”

  “Wow. That’s messed up,” said Jasmine. “I’m sorry I joked around about it. That was lame.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” I said.

  I got it, where she was coming from. My life is a mess. Joking about it made sense for someone who lived like she did in this cocoon of love and security. I couldn’t be mad at her for that.

  “So what’s that got to do with anything?” asked Malcolm. He sounded angry. “Why did she need to pour her heart out like that?”

  “Well, a couple things,” said Mr. Butts. “First, if in fact her father is not her father, that means we have possibly two groups involved and not just one.”

  “How so?” asked Kootch, hanging on his every word.

  “Think about it … Holder and Derek were wondering if Rae was a certain person. If they were in with another group who did know who she is, they wouldn’t need to try and figure that out.”

  “So you’re saying there are two groups who may have competing interests.” Mrs. Butts wasn’t asking; she was putting the pieces together and talking out loud.

  I, personally, was lost.

  “Yes. So Rae gets moved to this area and there are at least two entrenched assets, Holder and Derek, waiting for her arrival.”

  “How is that even possible?” asked Malcolm. “There are thousands if not hundreds of thousands of schools around the country. What are the chances they’d pick the one place where these two turds are and have been for years? I’ve known about Derek for like four years at least.”

  “Any number of ways,” said Mrs. Butts. “Without even mentioning the power of other Influencers, I’d say that whoever is handling Rae could have a list of safe areas on his computer that got hacked. Or someone from the other faction could have dropped the idea in her father’s head that this was a good place for her. We don’t know what it is for certain, but it’s not impossible. In fact, it’s very possible.”

  “What do you mean, other Influencers?” I asked.

  “Yeah, good question,” said Kootch, leaning in and looking at Mrs. Butts for an explanation.

  “Like we mentioned before … you two are not the only ones of your kind.” She looked right at me and then Malcolm. Despite Malcolm holding my hand under the table, the panic crept back in.

  Chapter Fourteen: Malcolm

  ALL OF THESE CONSPIRACY THEORIES Jasmine’s parents were throwing out there were pretty unbelievable, but this last one, that there might be others out there like us, had me curious. It’s something I’d always wondered about but never thought I’d get any answers to.

  Mrs. Butts continued. “What I mean is, you two are what we call Influencers.”

  “We? Who’s we?” asked Kootch.

  “Our colleagues. We’re involved in many covert operations, some of them involving reports of people with special … gifts.”

  “Kootch, if you say another word, I’m going to give you a beanbag piercing while you sleep,” warned, Jasmine, not even looking at him. Her attention was focused on Mrs. Butts.

  Kootch glowered at her, but said nothing, his hands moving to his lap to protect his jewels.

  Mr. Butts picked up the explanation. “There are reports of Influencers both in our country and abroad. The nearest we can make out, they have the ability to influence how people’s senses work.”

  Mrs. Butts continued where he left off. “…Seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, all of that. They can change how people sense things. But you’re the first we know of who can affect emotions.”

  “What do you mean, you have reports?” I asked, thinking that right now Kootch was probably wanting to yell about them being conspiracy nuts, but was too afraid of getting attacked by Jasmine. I didn’t blame him for keeping quiet. She looked like she meant it.

  “We’ve intercepted communications about them from different sources, but we haven’t actually come into contact with any until we met you two,” said Mrs. Butts. “The reports we have lead us to believe that there are people like you out there, being used or groomed to be used for different purposes.”

  “And you think that’s what was happening to me?” asked Rae. She didn’t sound as upset as I expected her to. Just curious.

  “Possibly. Maybe even likely,” responded Mrs. Butts. “But we won’t know until we do some digging. And in the meantime, we need to keep you safe.”

  “We’ve contacted a couple of friends who will be here soon,” said Mr. Butts. “Malcolm and Rae, we need you to be ready to leave in the next thirty minutes.”

  “Where are we going?” Rae asked. Now she sounded really scared.

  “To a safe place. I’m not going to tell you the location. I don’t want Jasmine or Kootch to know it.”

  “Oh, man. I can keep a secret.” Kootch looked offended.

  “No one can keep a secret. No one.” Mr. Butts had never looked so serious, not even when he was insisting I shoot him up with the darkness. It made me wonder if he’d ever been tortured by enemy forces so he’d confess.

  “Wow, geez, okay.” Kootch stood. “So what do you need me to do? If you give me a gun I can watch the front door.”

  “No guns,” said Mrs. Butts, a small smile on her lips. “But thank you for your offer. We just need you to keep as quiet as you can about what happened with Rae and Malcolm. But if someone puts you under pressure and you talk, it’s okay. They’ll be safe as soon as they’re away from here.”

  Kootch frowned. “I don’t care what anybody says or does to me. I’m not talking. Your secrets are safe with me.” He looked at me and Rae. “I hope I see you soon. Life hasn’t been this interesting since Jasmine pissed her pants in the fourth grade.”

  Jasmine punched him hard in the arm. “I didn’t pee! That was spilled water, assmunch! I’ve told you a thousand times, so get it through your thick skull.”

  He winked at us and jabbed a thumb in her direction. “I smelled it. It was pee.”

  “You’re sick.” Jasmine stood up and left the kitchen eating area, storming out of the room.

  Kootch stood there giggling silently and holding his stomach. “Oh, man. Gets her every time.”

  Jasmine’s parents ignored him.

  “Rae, if you want to leave a note for your parents, you can do that,” said Mrs. Butts. “I know you don’t want them to worry, so we’re happy to pass it on for you.”

  She shook her head. “You can just tell them if you want. That I’m safe and happy and they should stop looking for me.”

  “It would be better if it was written in your handwriting,” said Mr. Butts. “If they are who we think they are, they’ll authenticate. If nothing else, it will help your mom, maybe.” He shrugged. “Your call.”

  “I’ll help you,” I said to Rae, wanting to ease
the panic I saw on her face.

  Mrs. Butts got up and came back with a pen and a piece of paper, passing Kootch as he left the room. “No details, just assurances, okay?” She smiled, stroking Rae’s head a couple times before leaving us alone at the table.

  When Mr. Butts left, we were finally alone.

  “Scared?” I asked, reaching up and moving a stray hair away from her face.

  “Heck yes. Aren’t you?”

  “Of course. I feel like Jasmine in the fourth grade.” I grinned, trying to make Rae feel better.

  “Ha, ha.” She smiled for a second before frowning again. “Do you believe all this? Do you think it’s true?”

  “I don’t know. On one hand it sounds ridiculous. Crazy and all that. But then, on the other … not so much. I mean, I could see it being true. What’s hard for me to believe is that I’m involved in it, you know?”

  She nodded. “Yeah, I get it.”

  “It’s like, my whole life, I’ve been invisible. I’ve worked every day at not being noticed, and now all this shit is flying at me, and I’m in the center of it with you.”

  “It’s my fault.”

  I put my arm around her and squeezed. “No, it’s not. Maybe it’s your father’s fault or some company’s fault or something like that. But we were born this way, and we can’t help it. It’s not our fault that we do what we do.”

  “You’re strong, Malcolm. Stronger than me. You’ve somehow come to terms with who you are. I wish I could be more like you.” She dropped her chin to her chest.

  I used my finger under her chin to lift her face. “No, I’m not strong. At least not any stronger than you. But I had a really bad experience like you did, and I decided after that happened that I just had to focus all my attention on getting away, being separate. That’s why I’m having such a hard time convincing myself that you actually want to be with me.”

  I couldn’t believe I’d just admitted that crap to her. My face got hot with embarrassment. Something about Rae always made me talk without thinking first.

  “Do you want to talk about it? What happened?” she asked.

  “No. Not really.” I’d tell her if she really wanted me to. She’d told her awful secret; it was only fair.

  “Maybe someday you will,” she said, letting me off the hook. And I wasn’t strong enough to put myself back on it and confess. Her dimple came out with her smile. “When we’re living in a cabin in Canada, you can tell me all your secrets.”

  I grinned back. “Or in a mud hut in New Mexico.”

  “Where do you think they’re going to take us?” she asked, going serious again, picking up the pen and twirling it in her fingers.

  “I have no idea. But as long as you’re with me, I won’t care.” I leaned in, putting my forehead against hers, whispering my innermost thoughts out loud. “I hope I’m not a Rainbow. I want this stuff to be real.” My chest spasmed inside.

  “You’re not a Rainbow, I promise. I can spot them a mile away. This is real. It has to be.” She was whispering too, and being this close to her, talking this intimately, made me go all warm. My jeans started to get too tight in the crotch.

  I kissed her gently on the lips. “I want to be with you when no one else is around.” All I could think about was seeing her skin. Feeling it. Lying down next to her in a bed somewhere, where no one would find us or bother us anymore.

  She pushed towards me, licking my mouth with her moist tongue and kissing me back. “Me too,” she whispered, reaching up to put her hand on my face. Her fingers were cool. Small. The delicate touch of a girl, something I’d never felt before. Not like this.

  “Hey, sorry to break up the love fest, but your ride is going to be here in like five minutes and my mom wants that note,” said Jasmine. She dropped a duffle bag on the floor.

  Rae pulled away, her face going a cute pink color as she leaned back in her chair. I stayed put, hoping I could calm myself down a little before I stood up and embarrassed myself.

  “What’s that?” Rae asked, looking at the bag.

  “Some clothes, make-up, and soap and stuff. Hopefully where you’re going they’ll have those things, but just in case…”

  Rae stood up and grabbed Jasmine in a big hug. “Thank you so much, Jazzy Butts. I’ll never forget what you’ve done for me.”

  Jasmine patted her on the back. “It’s not like you’re going forever. I’ll see you again. But you’re welcome.” She looked at me over Rae’s shoulder. “Sorry, dude. I don’t have any guy clothes. But Kootch is supposed to try and find you some of his stuff.”

  “He doesn’t have to do that. I’m good,” I said, finally standing. I kept my hands in front of me to block the view of my pants. Things hadn’t completely calmed down there yet.

  Rae sat back down and quickly wrote out a note. I only saw part of it; she was telling them she was fine and not to look for her. Just as she was finishing, voices I didn’t recognize came from the side of the house near the garage. They were as effective as a cold shower. Thoughts of Rae and me together without clothes on disappeared in an instant. I bent down to grab the duffle bag, carrying it for Rae as she and Jasmine finished their goodbyes.

  “Come on. Let’s go meet your ride,” said Jasmine, leaving us to follow her through the kitchen.

  Chapter Fifteen: Rae

  WE WALKED THROUGH THE HOUSE, but not to the front door like I’d been expecting. Instead, we headed toward the interior garage door where two people were standing in the entrance. A blonde woman and a guy with jet black longish hair wearing a hat stood waiting, staring at us with serious expressions that made me nervous.

  “Change-up,” said Mr. Butts. “Girls in the bathroom, men in the guest room around the corner.”

  The woman walked over and gestured in my direction. “Follow me.”

  I looked at Malcolm, but he just shrugged. I went with the stranger into the bathroom, more than a little worried about what was going to happen, but trusting that the Butts family was trying to help me. The woman shut the door behind us.

  “Hi, I’m Jennifer.” She smiled as she reached up to the top of her head. I nearly had a heart attack when she pulled her hair off.

  “Oh my god … it’s a wig.” I breathed out a sigh of relief. Good news - no alien invasion today.

  “Yes. It’s a wig for you, actually. Take your clothes off.”

  Time to faint again. “What?”

  “We’re doing a change-up. You’ll be leaving here as me, I’ll be staying here as you. This is how it works. Hurry up while we have no one on our tail.”

  I wasn’t exactly sure what was happening, but I didn’t want to argue and make something bad happen. Jennifer was quickly taking her clothes off, and in less than a minute was standing in front of me in a bra and underwear. Hers were much prettier than mine.

  “Here,” she said, handing me her blouse.

  “I’m sorry … mine are dirty,” I said as she put on the t-shirt I wore to the party.

  “Don’t worry about it. I’m just going to go be seen around town and then I’ll take them off.” She pulled on my khaki pants.

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “I’m going to be you and try and attract your parents’ attention or the police or someone who might recognize you in these clothes, so they’ll have a nice false lead to follow while you’re headed out of town.”

  I put on her jeans and then stepped back into my own shoes. “Do you know where we’re going?”

  “No idea. It’s need to know basis, and I don’t need to know.” She took out the ponytail she’d been wearing and settled her hair into my plain style, combing her fingers through it. It wasn’t perfect, but it wasn’t completely far off either. We even had a similar shade of brown.

  “Put your hair up in this,” she said, handing me her elastic. “Then put the wig on. I’ll help you adjust it once it’s on your head.”

  I’d never worn a wig before but had always wanted to. Somehow I’d never pictured myself wearing on
e to hide from my parents.

  I put my hair up into a bun at the nape of my neck and then flipped the wig upside down, pulling all the hair out of the cap part of it. Leaning over a little, I put it on my head, flicking it all back when I stood straight again. It looked like I was wearing a Lhasa Apso puppy on my head. “If I were hiding in a pack of dogs, I might be able to blend. Maybe not so much as a person, though.”

  “Let me help you,” said Jennifer, reaching up to move the hair around and get it to hang straight. “There. That’s better. Here, put this on.” She reached into her bag and pulled out some lipstick. Bright red.

  “I look terrible in lipstick that color.”

  “No, you don’t. Because you’re not you, you’re me, and I look fabulous in red.” She spared me a quick smile, before going back to her bag. “Last but not least.” She handed me some sunglasses.

  I put the lipstick and the sunglasses on, checking myself out in the mirror when I was done, posing with some pouty lip action. “I look so Hollywood right now.”

  “That’s the idea. You are as far from teen nerd as you could possibly be.” She took a makeup wipe out of her bag and scrubbed at her lips, removing all traces of the red that had been glaring out at the world.

  “Hey, that’s not nice, calling me a nerd.” I gave her my best scolding look. Most of it was hidden behind the sunglasses.

  She lifted an eyebrow at me. “Exhibit one. Here’s you.” She gestured to herself, waiting for the image to sink in. Then she moved to stand next to me in the mirror. “Exhibit two. Look at the before and after.”

  It was hard to deny the huge difference. She’d erased about ten years off her appearance, and I’d gone from wallflower to starlet. All it took was a wig, sunglasses, and some lipstick. I smiled, thinking about how in this disguise and Malcolm with me, I could actually go shopping in a mall and buy and wear a stylish outfit. Yes, it was a shallow thought, but it was also a huge dream I’d had since I was a little girl. All I’d ever wanted was the freedom to be who I really am, who I could be, but all I’d ever been able to do was disappear. So now I’d be disappearing one more time, but then afterwards maybe I could be normal for the first time in my life. When I was far, far away from here. I hoped their plan was to bring us to another country.