The Evident Sidekick

1

Claire thought she ought to know the definition of mediocrity. She heard it frequently around her—spoken by her parents, teachers, friends, relatives…She'd never quite summed up the energy to actually find out the meaning of it. She didn't care much. At fifteen, who really needed to know such serious words? The only important words to her in the local vernacular were related to shopping, boys, and clever insults. Massie would probably know. Claire didn't really care much about that, either. Massie was smarter than her ("given!" Alicia would cheerfully point out) and prettier than her and better than her. Massie also had a much better extra. An extra, as Kristen would intelligently describe it in her scientific gibberish, was a supernatural ability, a dominant gene, which manifests in one half the population at the age of thirteen.

Yes, only fifty percent of the population had an extra. It used to be only 0.00002 percent of the population had an extra, back when extras were undiscovered. It was human evolution that pushed this small percentage to a significant portion of the world's occupants.

Extras were usually extremely useless. Claire knew a girl who could jump five feet high. A teacher who taught at her school knew people's names before he'd even heard of or met them. Her best friend Layne could communicate with squirrels. But then again, there were the extremely useful extras too. A few people were lucky. Claire knew a boy who lived near her who could run faster than a speeding car. And her second cousin twice removed could speak any language fluently after hearing only a few words of the particular dialect.

Claire wasn't one of those lucky ones. Claire was very well balanced. After the manifestation of her extra, she never once fell. She could stand on one toe on top of a slippery soccer ball and not fall. She could walk across a thin piece of rope tied from one building to the other and make it out alive—without even trying. It seemed pretty cool. But not compared to Massie's extra.

Massie could control clouds. Sounds pretty lame, right? Wrong. She pretty much controlled the weather. Whenever dark clouds moved in on Westchester, Massie could send them away. She also could ride clouds, though Claire laughed at her when she first announced it. Massie explained that she once compressed a cumulus with a cirrus and a whole bunches of altostratus's to make a solid cloud, just big enough for her to fit on. She somehow isolated it from the rain cycle so it wouldn't ever disappear. It just floated in tentative circles around Westchester. Whenever she beckoned to it, it would come. It didn't have a mind, it was just a cloud, but she named it anyways (she named it Nine, like Cloud Nine) and grew uncannily attached to it.

Claire had once ridden Nine with her. It was only mildly terrifying.

There wasn't much mediocre about Claire's life, anyway, even though she'd heard it many times. Especially today, because today was the day she went to Lake Cross.

Lake Cross was a summer camp that all kids with extras had to attend every summer from when their extra manifested to when they turned seventeen.

Basically, it was a government-operated camp to train extra-enabled children to control their extras. Claire hated it with a burning passion.

There was nothing campy about it. There were no bonfires or games or swimming lessons. There was a cold, algae-infested lake and mean, bitter counselors, and indoor lectures. She attended it with her best friends, but that was no reconciliation.

"Claire, you ready?" Her mother stood in the doorway now, looking warily at her half-packed luggage.

"Nearly," Claire answered, tossing in clothes and books carelessly. She could hardly wait for her seventeenth birthday.

2

"I wanted to go to Hawaii," Dylan moaned. Her duffel was slung over her bare, sunburned shoulder, and she stood, unmoving, in the camp parking lot stubbornly, like a child unwilling to go to school.

"It'll be fun!" Kristen offered optimistically. "There's good food," she added.

Dylan sighed forlornly and followed her friends, only somewhat reluctantly, since the mention of the camps renowned menus had perked her mood a little.

Massie led the group to Cabin 8, the cabin they'd shared for two summers together. She glanced upward, surveying the skies. A cloudless day—her least favorite kind of day. There was one cloud hovering almost sulkily in the clear sky. It was nine of course, whom she'd ordered to follow her to Algonquin Park, where the camp was situated. She made a mental note to take a quick evening ride on Nine later.

"I can't believe we're old enough to be co-ed," Alicia whispered excitedly. "I feel so powerful as a third-year camper."

"There's nothing powerful about having to wake up, bare-faced and groggy, beside a guy," Massie pointed out coolly. "I think the whole co-ed thing is totally inappropriate. Especially for a government run camp."

"Maybe Dempsey will be in our cabin though," Kristen chimed in, and in a low voice she added deviously, "wouldn't be so bad waking up near him…"

Dempsey was Claire's neighbor, the boy who could outrun a car. The camp director and all the counselors adored Dempsey and his incredible extra.

Massie snorted in disgust. "If that narcissistic loser is in our cabin, I'll ride Nine back to New York."

Claire, Dylan, and Alicia giggled, while Kristen glared.

"He's only conceited because of his extra," she insisted. "He's actually a cool guy."

Kristen had met him once and had exchanged mundane small talk with him at a charity fundraiser. She'd been obsessed ever since.

"I just hope Derrick won't be in our cabin," Massie said. Derrick was Massie's "camp boyfriend". He lived in Saskatchewan, so Derrick didn't know about Massie's "School boyfriend", Kemp, who was not an extra, and spent his summers vacationing in France.

"It would be really awkward if he checked the cabin mailbox one day to find six, thick love letters from addressed to me from France." Massie giggled.

The girls mounted the rustic, wooden staircase that led to cabin 8. Grunting at the steep incline, which made their duffel bags seem twice as heavy.

When they entered the cabin, they found two strangers. One was a petite girl with curly brown hair and thick, dark rimmed glasses. She sat on a bottom bunk, engrossed in a book. The second stranger was a tall, lanky boy with black hair and pale skin.

Awkward introductions were exchanged while the girls settled in.

The cute, curly haired girl was named Nikki. She lived in Toronto and she was a third-year camper. The boy was Landon, from Seattle. He was a fourth-year camper, but he had only recently transferred from a different extra camp in Washington. Nikki had to leave her extra camp in Toronto because some idiot who could control wind had blown the place to pieces in a horrific tornado.

People began to trickle in as the girls unpacked. There were eleven campers to each cabin and one counselor.

A boy the girls recognized to be Chris Plovert strolled in wearing a sheepish grin. Dylan threw herself on him in her excitement. Chris was Dylan's not-official-but-they're-so-cute-together-who-really-cares boyfriend from Iowa. They had only kept in contact during the year via Skype and Facebook, so the dramatic reaction to his entrance wasn't frowned upon.

Layne walked in, catching Claire's attention. Following her was Olivia, Alicia's friend and confidant. She smiled brightly at the occupants of the room. Kristen, Dylan and Massie leered back.

The counselor marched in. It was a boy, who must've just graduated from university. University graduates projected a certain air of accomplishment, melancholy regret, and snobby arrogance, Massie thought.

"I'm Chad, but you can call me sir," he announced. He wasn't smiling. Counselors usually didn't small at Lake Cross, unless someone had fallen down or cliff or choked on their food. And they never laughed.

"Okay Chad," Chris said.

Chad ignored him, and continued. "Welcome back, third-year and fourth-year campers. It is government regulation that I explain to you the new law being passed at this establishment." He didn't look happy about the news he was about to deliver. "The government, after thousands of extremely persuasive and influential complaint letters, has decided that anyone fifteen years of age or older does not have to attend this summer camp."

A collective cheer followed. Dylan screamed, "HAWAII!" at the top of her lungs, and Nikki began applauding enthusiastically.

"IF"—Chad continued grimly, cutting the noise abruptly, "you prove yourself responsible with your extra. That means no slip-ups this summer. If you want to make this your last year, then you better act like an adult."

Massie and Claire exchanged looks. Lake Cross was their place to act out. It was the place to release academic related stress and to make mistakes and be a total, careless idiot. Being mature and responsible was not something they did at Lake Cross. It was something they mocked.

"See that chart, there?" Chad pointed to a large, white whiteboard mounted near the doorway to his bedroom. "That's a demerit point chart. When you do something bad, I record it. If you exceed ten points, you're coming back next year."

Massie let out a relieved breath. Ten points? Who could exceed that limit?

"Most misdemeanors earn you at least two points," Chad added. "Things like speaking down to a counselor not being on time in the dining hall for role call will earn you two. Being out after dark without a permit is three. Anything worse, our board of punishment will decide how many points you deserve." He started towards his bedroom and stopped at the door. "I'll be watching," he said. He almost smiled. Then he disappeared into his room.

In the grim silence, someone walked into the cabin, catching everyone's attention.

It was Dempsey.

He took the last remaining spot, the single bed in the corner, without saying a word.

"Oh great," Chris said sarcastically. "It's you."

"Yup, it's me." Dempsey wasn't facing them. He was carefully stacking his folded shirts in the rickety shelf beside his bed. Massie felt some misplaced sympathy for him for a moment. Then it passed.

"I'm glad you've decided to grace our cabin with your presence," she said dryly. "I thought your privileges here would at least grant you a bed right beside the director."

"He offered," Dempsey said, and Massie knew it was a joke but his voice was dead serious. "I turned him down. I told him I'd rather be with the bottom feeders. It's nice once in a while to spend time with the needy."

Massie's face went bright red. "I'd choose your words carefully if I were you," she retorted hotly. "There's ten of us "bottom feeders" and one of you. What does that sound like to you?"

"An unfair fight for your side," he replied flatly.

"Ha!" Massie barked. "What are you going to do, smother us to death with your arrogance?"

Finally, Dempsey turned around to face his opponent. In a quarter of a second, he was standing directly in front of Massie. She'd seen him do it before, so it shouldn't have surprised her. But it did, much to his satisfaction.

"Actually, I was thinking I'd run you into a brick wall at 200 miles per hour," he said darkly.

Then he turned and walked slowly back to his bed.

The counselor door swung open, and Chad emerged. "What's the trouble? I heard a dispute."

He saw Dempsey and his face lit up. "Dempsey!" He cried, then remembered his dignity, and cleared his throat. "Good to see you."

"Same to you, Chad." Dempsey smiled.

The two of them disappeared into the counselor's room, chatting happily. Dempsey flashed Massie a cocky grin over his shoulder as he shut the door behind him.

3

"I still think he's cool," Kristen said stubbornly that afternoon in the dining hall. Massie, Dylan and Kristen sat together at a secluded table in the corner. Claire was off spending quality time with Layne and Cam, and Alicia was with Olivia.

Massie didn't understand Kristen. Dempsey had insulted them harshly, and then threatened to kill her. What was so cool about that?

"I think all those memories are stripping you of your common sense," Massie said sharply. Kristen had a perfect memory. She remembered every detail of everything. You could walk into a store with her and she could recount every detail of the store, even if she hadn't really been looking around. She remembered insignificant conversations from two years back word-for-word. It was truly impressive, but for some reason mental powers were never as impressive as physical ones.

Kristen stiffened. "You hate him because he's the center of attention. You probably wish you had an extra like his."

It was true, but Massie would never admit to it. "Whatever," she said dismissively.

"I think he's just going to draw a whole crowd of girls to our cabin every day. It'll be annoying," Dylan said. "He has like six girlfriends every summer, and they know about each other. He obviously isn't a believer in monogamy."

"Told you he's no good," Massie said in a singsong voice as she stood to collect the dishes on their table.

"Kristen," Dylan said, in a spot-on imitation of Dempsey's voice, "I am too much of a jerk to have you."

Kristen cackled, despite the underlying insult directed at her lover.

Dylan's extra was vocal imitation. She imitated any voice with perfect accuracy. Massie had suggested she enter a singing contest using Beyonce's angelic voice, and Dylan had made it to the finals. Then a spiteful competitor had told the judges that Dylan was using her extra to win, and she'd been disqualified.

"Hey." Claire had her arm linked with Cam's. "You up for sneaking down to the lake tonight?"

It was a tradition for them to sneak down to the lake at midnight every first day of camp. Only now, with the daunting demerit point system and all, it seemed like a recipe for disaster.

Cam usually led them through the forest with his phenomenal night vision. His extra was certainly not useless. He could see perfectly in pitch-blackness, his vision was better when it was dark then it was during the day, and somehow Massie thought this might help him land some obscure profession later in his life.

"We'll be careful," Cam promised, catching Massie's hesitant look.

"Yeah," Claire agreed. "We'll be super quiet."

Massie sighed. "Somehow I think this won't work out."

"It will," Cam insisted. "Just wait."

Massie hoped fervently that he was right.

4

Someone was following them.

Massie knew.

Quiet footsteps, yes. But they were present.

Cam assured her he couldn't see anyone behind them. She knew he was only tolerating her wary, paranoid behavior because she was Claire's friend. Oh yeah, she'd heard of and witnessed Cam's colossal impatience…

When they arrived at the dock, Massie was nearly trembling with anticipation.

"Massie, what's the matter?" Claire whispered, concern filling her blue eyes.

"Someone's following us…" she answered ominously.

Cam had to suppress the urge to roll his eyes.

But Massie was right. Because right then Dempsey, smug and triumphant, emerged from the trees.

"Gotcha!" he declared.

Claire let out a little surprised yelp. Cam simply looked astonished—and impressed.

"I knew you were up to something." Dempsey grinned deviously. "I was right. You're not supposed to even swim in this lake. There's too much bateria."

"Oh and your so concerned for our health," Massie spat. "Get a life, Narcissus."

"I'm just doing my job. Chad assigned me as the cabin watchdog. I'm just protecting my people."

"Don't ever call us "your people"," Massie hissed. "You may only refer to us as "your enemies".

"No hard feelings when I turn you in, right?" Dempsey asked, feigning concern. "I mean, I guess it'll be about seven demerit points for being out after curfew without a guide or a light, and seven for trying to swim in this lake, but that ain't so bad. Hey, Cam, maybe you and Massie can stay in the isolation cabin for the rest of summer and your cute little girlfriend here can stay with me. No need to waste a useful bed though, she can stay in mine!"

Cam lunged at Dempsey.

It went downhill and downhill fast from there.

Dempsey was fast, sure, but it was nearly pitch black. God knows how Dempsey managed to follow them so diligently without falling into a hole.

Cam was on top of him and bashing him before Dempsey could finish his choked, "get the hell away from me!"

Massie and Claire stood there, shocked into motionless.

Massie could smell blood.

She jumped on Cam and tore him off her enemy, noting the irony numbly.

Dempsey didn't seem to be conscious, but then he was on his feet, with a horrible vengeful look on his face.

Faster then speed itself, it seemed, he rammed his weight into the three of them. They plunged into the icy water and surfaced quickly, sputtering water and holding onto each other.

Cam was staring up at the dock.

"What?" Massie asked.

Dempsey was standing there, smiling. "Oh no, you wanted to swim, you'll get your swim. You're not coming out of this water."

Massie swallowed. "Dempsey you're taking this a little too far. I can't"—she choked back tears, "I'm not a good swimmer."

She was already feeling weak in fact.

"If you try and swim to shore, I'll be there to fend you off. You are not coming to shore." He looked at Claire earnestly. "Except you, Claire, you can come out anytime you like, as long as you promise to ditch your nocturnal boyfriend here and be with me." He flashed a cocky grin.

Cam was fuming, but was out of breath, and didn't retaliate.

"Claire, Cam," Massie said. She jerked her head up at the dark sky. Nine was in the distant sky, waiting to be their rescuer.

They started swimming out to the center of the lake.

Dempsey wasn't aware of Massie's little cloud trick, or he probably would've swam out and foiled their plan.

"Swimming to the other side of the lake won't help!" he called after them, chuckling.

Slowly, Massie willed Nine towards them as they swam.

When they'd reached the center, the cloud was directly above them. Massie pulled herself up and helped her friends aboard. Nine was only about the size of a small sled, but she figured they could reach land.

Dempsey was speechless on the dock.

They rose into the air, above Dempsey, very high, until they could see the roofs of all the cabins.

"Fine!" Dempsey shouted, accepting his defeat. "Next time you won't be so lucky!"

Massie practically hugged Nine in relief.

They were all breathing heavily and raggedly.

"This is so cool," Cam whispered, awed.

They hovered towards the shore.

Suddenly, a bright light caught their attention.

It was coming from the office building—a searchlight.

"He's already snitched?" Cam demanded angrily.

Massie was frightened. Their descent would be long and slow. The light would find them.

She was panicky, and that didn't bode well while riding Nine.

The cloud wasn't solid anymore.

They screamed and plummeted towards the earth.

Nine floated there stupidly.

They smashed headfirst into the lake, sinking several feet deep. When they resurfaced, they thrashed their way desperately towards the dock.

Massie cried out when she saw Dempsey sitting on the dock happily, kicking his legs back and forth like a child watching sea life.

"Back in time for the finale," he told them. "The little cloud trick was quite unexpected, I must say, Massie. I had to alert the authorities since you were using your extra in a dangerous way. And breaking curfew. But I'm back in time to watch you meet your well-deserved demise."

"Claire? Take me up on my offer. I'll be a better boyfriend then Cam can ever be," Dempsey prompted.

"Screw off," Cam growled.

Dempsey laughed. "You're in no position to"—and then there was a satisfying splash. Dempsey shouted profanity when he surfaced.

It was Landon who stood on the dock, smirking. He had kicked their enemy into the water.

"Who the hell are you?"

"Landon," he replied, looking down at Dempsey with a cheerful satisfaction.

"Do you think you can just kick me into the water and not see the consequences?"

"Yes." Landon grinned.

Dempsey pulled himself out of the water. "I think it's time you join your friends in the water," he said through clenched teeth, reaching for Landon's arm.

And just like that, Landon disappeared.

Dempsey gasped.

Massie wanted to be amused and relieved, but she was struggling to tread water.

She beckoned to Nine. But it would be too late before Nine arrived.

There was someone treading water behind her, even though she saw Claire and Cam directly in front of her.

She turned to see Landon, smiling.

"How?" she tried.

"Teleportation," he whispered. He slung her arm over his shoulder. "You're first."

Then, her feet were touching solid ground. She collapsed, grateful and relieved.

"Thank you," she breathed.

"No problem."

She looked up to smile at her rescuer, but he had disappeared. Moments later, he returned with Claire and Cam.

They too crumpled and embraced the forest floor.

After thank you's had been delivered, Landon said he had to go back, and he disappeared noiselessly.

The three exchanged bewildered looks.

"His extra is the best I've seen—or even heard of," Cam said, awed.

"And he saved us," Claire added distantly.

They lay there for several minutes, talking about the rescue, and about what a huge dick Dempsey was, and how he had tried to drown them.

"Suddenly Lake Cross seems a little dangerous," Massie said thoughtfully.

And of course, Dempsey chose that moment to arrive, soaking wet, and extremely angry. "You know that promise I made about my slamming you into a brick wall at 200 miles per hour?" he said to Massie, yanking her up by the collar of her shirt. "I'm about to fulfill that promise."

…..