"Good morning Arcadia Oaks! It's 6:30 a.m. If you're still in bed, you're missing out on the most beautiful sunrise, clear skies, and a beautiful morning ahea – "
My eyes flew open. I glanced at the digital alarm clock on my nightstand and mentally swore. Realizing the noise was coming from downstairs, I slipped back under the covers.
"Krel, would you please turn that thing off," I groaned. It came out muffled underneath my pillow. "Krel!"
I waited for two seconds to give him time. Our television was all the way downstairs, after all. When he didn't reply, I peeked out from my blanket and saw the light in his bedroom finally turn on.
"I heard you the first time Aja," My brother sighed. His voice was shaky as he stumbled out of his room. "But it's not my alarm clock."
"It's coming from the television," I snuggled further into my blanket, speaking to the dark. "Varvatos must've turned it on. Or one of the Blanks."
Krel leaned against the doorframe, folding his arms. He raised an eyebrow. "And you're asking me to go all the way downstairs to turn it off."
"Precisely!" I closed my eyes again in hopes of falling back asleep. A moment later, Krel walked back to his room and slammed the door.
Seklos and Gaylen. I mean, it was worth a shot.
It took all my willpower to kick off the covers and rise out of bed. I immediately collapsed. My hands hit the cold floor before my head did, thank god, and staying in that position, I dragged myself out of my room on all fours. I was way more tired than I realized.
I found the staircase in the dark fast enough and stared at them in exasperation. Finding only one way to go down without standing up, I hesitated before rolling all the way down. Thankfully I was in my Akiridion form, so I could take the hit. If I was dressed as everyday Aja in nothing but her pajamas, I probably would've ended up in the hospital.
Wait… Akiridion form?
Yeah, I should explain.
My brother and I are stuck here on Earth until the Mothership is recharged and can take us to another planet. Luckily, we won't be cornered by the Zeron Brotherhood anytime soon. Zadra managed to contact us through the radio and the Resistance killed them before they could get to Earth. From what she told us, they're all pretty busy trying to get things back in order from Morando. All Krel and I have left to do is bring mama and papa back to life.
So far, my brother's been trying to find parts for a daxial array, whatever that is. One of us was born with the smart genes.
So here we are in Arcadia Oaks. Trying our best to fit in, which I think we've accomplished fairly well. Sure, we've been off to a rough start, but it's a work in progress. At least I'd like to think it is.
"Lively," I muttered under my breath as I heaved myself back up from the ground. Across the room, the television was playing, but oddly enough, no one was watching it.
I scanned the room and realized nobody had woke up either. The living room was just as dark as my bedroom had been, and all the blinds were shut. Even Luug was nowhere to be seen. My heart began to race. Who turned on the TV? And more importantly, was Varvatos really sleeping through all the noise? That's highly unlikely.
I crawled toward the couch and reached for the remote. I paused before looking around the room one more time and turning off the TV.
Whatever, I shrugged. I stood up and started to walk back up the stairs.
More sleep time for me, right?
The first thing I noticed about Mary Wang was her phone. Yes, quite legitimately her phone, as if it was her only defining feature. She never went anywhere without it.
"Aja, you coming to the party on Friday?" She squealed, shoving her phone into my face. I couldn't help but giggle at her bright pink case.
"I have no time," I replied, carefully putting my textbooks into my locker. Spanish? Check. History? Check.
"I don't know why you lie to me Aja," Mary slumped against my locker and looked up at me. "At least tell me what you're doing."
Frowning, I closed my locker and shouldered my book bag. I was so caught up in Varvatos' disappearance that I forgot to bring my Spanish homework to school.
"Don't worry about it, Mary. Krel just wants to spend some family time together," I sighed. Although this wasn't entirely true – it wasn't wrong either. We started walking down the hallway.
Her eyes lit up and she jumped up and down like a puppy. "Then bring him! It'll be so much fun! C'mon, Steve will be there?"
I glared at her and continued to walk to Spanish. As much as I hated Senor Uhl, I hated Steve a bajillion times more. I quickened my pace.
"I'm not going!" I yelled as I ran to class right when the bell rang.
Two months of Arcadia Oaks I could handle.
Two months of Steve Palchuk? Forget it.
I sank into my seat. As Senor Uhl began calling attendance, I realized he would be coming around to check the homework.
"Aja Tarron?" He called out, his eyes glued to the attendance sheet.
Panicking, I turned around to see Jim Lake staring at me questioningly. I shook my head and ducked before sneaking out the back door of the classroom.
"Um, she's absent," Jim said, looking down at his blank paper – secretly wishing he'd left class too.