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Chapter 2: My Friends behind My Back

Have you ever felt like your only two friends in the whole world were sharing a secret and wouldn't let you in on it? Well, that's how I felt. Brooklyn had been here for three days, but it was like she and Julius had known each other for years. Well, at least they hadn't made me into an outcast.

And, thanks to Julius helping, I finally got Brooklyn to talk to me. Now it's time to find out a little about her.

"Hey guys, what's going on?" I asked, sitting down at our lunch table.

"Hey Krys," Brooklyn said. "Nothing much, I'm just listening to blabbermouth Julius going on about petitioning that we should have a meal between each class."

"Oh come on!" Julius protested. "You have to admit, it wouldn't be a bad idea. I mean, at least we wouldn't be starving halfway through the day, right?"

"Julius?"

"Yeah Brooklyn?"

"You're a dork."

"I know Brooklyn. You and Krystol have told me that dozens of times.

"More like hundreds," she snickered.

"Hey, um, Brooklyn?" I asked.

"Yeah Krys?"

"Well, I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions about yourself. I mean, just to get to know you." As soon as I said that, I wished I could've taken it back. I could've sworn I saw her eyes cloud over with mistrust as they flicked over to Julius. He gave an imperceptible nod so quick, I thought I'd imagined it. But then Brooklyn's eyes went back to their normal and calm state.

"Sure Krys. Shoot. What do you want to know?" she said

"Oh, well I uh," I stammered. "Um, well, let's see-"

"What do you say that I tell you about myself, and then you ask questions, okay?" she cut in. I nodded to her, thankful that she saved me from stuttering myself into embarrassment. "Okay then, where do I start? I was born and raised in New York City, just two blocks from the Empire State Building. I've been kicked out of every school I've ever gone to, but so have most of my friends. Then again, I don't have a lot of friends."

"You live two blocks from the Empire State Building? That must be insanely crowded."

It is, but it's easier for my parents," Brooklyn said offhandedly. I saw Julius flinch when she said that.

"Um, why exactly is it easier for your parents to live so close to the Empire State Building?"

"Oh, well, my mom's an architect and the place she works at is in the same area. That and my dad is a marine biologist, so we like being by the water, too," she said. It was as simple as that. Then why did Julius flinch?

"Dang, your parents sound pretty cool."

"They're okay."

"So, how did you end up in this prison?"

For a second, she looked a little surprised. "Oh, well-." Then the bell rang.

"Hello class," hissed Ms. Slith. Nobody said anything. Unless Ms. Slith said something to you, you were silent. She scared people so much; I'd heard she had given some kids nightmares. It was no wonder why, either. Her teeth were like fangs, all of them. What could only be her smile was like venom. Some kids even said she had a forked tongue. The worst part was her eyes. They were scaly green; her pupils were slits. To sum her up, she looked like she would tear your throat out at any second. Somehow, it was the only class I didn't have with Julius or Brooklyn. Joy!

"Class, you're going to write an essay using the persuasive techniques you learned. It is due at the end of the hour; no exceptions. Do you understand?" barked Ms. Slith. Not waiting for an answer, she turned around and left us to work.

The bell finally rang, ending the school day. I put my essay on her desk like everyone else and turned to leave. I was one step from the sanctity of the hall, then, "Krystol, come here," barked Ms. Slith. Crap! I thought. Why now, why here, and why her? I took a breath, turned around, and walked back.

"Yes Ms. Slith?" I said.

"What is this?" she hissed, pointing at my three-sentence essay.

"Um, it's my essay," I mumbled.

"Really? Well, I've seen some ugly things in my life, but I think your essay has managed to out do it all. I said there was no excuse for not getting it done. You have detention Miss Lore," she said, almost a little happily.

"But it's Friday!" I protested. "The school doesn't allow Friday detention."

"Then you will serve it Wednesday. I don't care if it is the second to last day of school, you will serve it, understand?" growled Ms. Slith. All I did was nod. "Good, now leave." Finally, I thought.

I walked down the bare hall to where I always met Julius and Brooklyn. I was about to turn the corner to meet up with them, but then I heard a voice like Brooklyn's coming from there, and she did not sound happy. I scooted a little closer to the corner to hear what she was saying.

"-don't trust her, Julius. Have you seen the way she looks at the students here? We can't afford to take any chances. We have to act now," she was saying.

"I know, Brooke. Honestly, I trust her about as much as I trust a Kindly One. But what if trying to act now just puts us in danger? We can't risk that. What would Chiron say, and your parents?" Julius said.

Now I was lost. Who didn't they trust? Was it me? And what the heck was a Kindly One?

"Fine, only because it makes sense. And just to let you know, Chiron, mom, and dad would agree with me if I got us to camp safely," Brooklyn said in a defeated but defiant voice.

"Whatever, let's just go figure out where Krystol is," Julius told her, obviously somewhat annoyed.

Uh-oh, I thought. Okay, act natural. Pretend you didn't hear a single thing they said. You know nothing. Remember, ignorance is bliss. I took a breath and rounded the corner like nothing had happened.

And ran smack dab into Brooklyn. The next thing I knew, I was on the ground, holding my stomach, Brooklyn standing over me in a defensive stance. Julius just stood there, wide eyed and mouth gaping, like a deer in the headlights.

"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry Krystol! I didn't mean to kick you, but you snuck up on me. Are you alright?" Brooklyn rambled.

"Oh yeah, wonderful," I groaned sarcastically. I caught Julius trying not to laugh at us. Oh, he is so in for it, I thought. I was about to tell him to shut up when Brooklyn saw him.

"Oh, put an enchilada in it, Julius," she snapped. She certainly is helpful at times. "Come on, why you need to get off the floor," she said, pulling me to my feet.

"Thanks," I said.

"No problem."

"Excuse me for a second," I told Brooklyn, smiling sweetly. Then, I stalked over to Julius and slammed my foot into his shin.

"Ow! Krys, what was that for?" he shrieked, hopping around and holding his leg.

"Because I felt like it," I said smugly.

"Besides, you know you deserved it," Brooklyn chimed in.

"I hope you two know that you are such jerks" Julius snapped.

"Yes, I do, thank you," I smiled.

"Hey guys, can we get out of here yet?" interrupted Brooklyn. "We've already missed the buses and my parents like knowing where I'm at. In other words, let's move." Then she strode off down the hall, leaving us to catch up.

"Well, I should be going guys," I told Julius and Brooklyn as we walked out of the empty school.

"Uh, no. You aren't going anywhere, missy," Brooklyn stated. "You are coming with us to Central Park. You got to ask me questions, now it's my turn. So, here's a quarter. There's a phone booth,' she said, handing me a coin and pointing to a phone. "Go call one of your parents."

She didn't even give me a chance to say anything before pushing me off. I guess she did deserve to know about me after I asked all about her though, I thought. But what if my mom wouldn't let me go? Then again, I'll be with Julius, so she shouldn't mind.

Then I was at the phone booth. I walked inside, closing the door behind me. I slid the coin in, picked up the phone, dialed, and waited. Two rings later, I heard, "Hello?"

"Hey mom," I said.

"Oh, hi Krystol. Um, sweetie, whose phone are you using?" she asked, sounding a little scared. I didn't know why she was so afraid of me using phones. Mom didn't like it when I used somebody else's cell phone, or even the house phone for that matter.

"I'm using the pay phone outside of school. One of my friends gave me a quarter to use."

"Oh, okay," my mom sighed, sounding relieved. "So, why did you call angel?"

"Well, Julius and Brooklyn, my new friend, want me to go to Central Park with them. They just want to hang out for a few hours, that's all."

"Well… Okay, Krystol, you can go. When will you be home?"

"Um, is five-thirty okay?"

"Yes, that should work."

"Okay, see you at five-thirty then."

"Okay. Be careful, Krystol. You know how New York City has some…different things in it."

"Yes mom, I am well aware of the point that New York has some weird people in it. I promise that I will stay with my friends and keep away from any of the lunatics out there."

"Okay sweetheart," she laughed. "I'll see you later. I love you."

"Love you too, mom." Hanging up the phone, I sighed. Mothers, I thought. They are so overprotective. Walking out of the booth, I found Julius and Brooklyn talking alone again.

"-told them?" Julius was asking.

"Yes, I talked to them," Brooklyn said, sounding really annoyed.

"Did you tell all three of them? You know they'll want to know where we are."

"Yes Julius! I told all three of them!" she snapped. "You may be the one who needs to keep watch, but I can take care of myself. Let's not forget, I've been doing this for three years now."

"I know. I'm just trying to do my job. Besides, you know how I am about your safety. Let's not forget what happened those three years ago," Julius retorted, anger and frustration layered thick in his voice. His face softened, though, as Brooklyn dropped her gaze. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought that up." She didn't answer.

Trying to break the tension between them, I spoke up, acting like I'd just come back. "Hey guys. I called my mom and she's letting me go with you. I just have to be back home by five-thirty."

"Awesome. Come on, let's hit the subway before the train takes off," Brooklyn said, going back to her usual self.

Twenty minutes later, we were sitting on a bench, Central Park splayed out all around us.

"So, what do you want to know about me?" I asked Brooklyn .

"What do you say we do this, I ask a question, then you can ask me? Does that sound fair?" she told me. I nodded to her letting her take the first question. "Okay, first off, where the heck do you get your looks?"

Well, I thought, that's a new question. Most people didn't ask me about my looks because they were so odd. My face was a lot like my mom's, but my hair and eyes weren't. She had dark brown hair, but mine were as black as Brooklyn 's. Mom's eyes were aqua, like the ocean at midday. My eyes couldn't be more different. They were extremely dark. I mean, beyond dark brown. Most people would say that they are really black, but I was always told that my eye color should have been impossible. They were still even weirder. Whenever I looked in a mirror, I could swear that I saw purple glints in the black. The oddest thing, one thing I could never explain, was the gold that ringed my iris and pupil.

"Krys? Hello, is anyone in there?" Brooklyn played, tapping her knuckles against my head.

"Hey! You better watch it, Carver," I joked.

"Bring it on, Lore," she teased. I just laughed.

"Okay, so my looks, right. Well, I get my facial features from my mom. My hair and my eyes, and I've never seen him so I can't prove it, but I get them from my dad."

"Cool. You know, I've seen some really awesome eyes, but none like yours," Brooklyn said. "Oh, it's your turn now."

"Okay, same question."

"Alright, I get the hair from mom and the eyes from dad." Dang, why is everything she says about herself so simple? "My turn again. What are your parents' names?" I must have given her an odd look because she added quickly, "If I wanted to use a phone book or something to call you."

"Oh, my mom is Katrina Lore. I don't have a dad. Same question for you."

"Um, we actually don't have a house phone. But their names are Silena and Connor. Now, what question can I ask you? Well, I can't actually think of one so you can go."

"Um, okay. Well, let's see. Okay, since I can't think of an actual question, what's your favorite color and why?"

"Oh, so now you're looking for more details," Brooklyn teased. "Well, I actually have two favorite colors: green and gray. I like green because, in my mind, it stands for calmness, independence, excitement, and it reminds me of the sea. I like gray for calmness, neutrality, intimidation, peacefulness, plainness, and, because of all of the things I said, it reminds me that my life is still somewhat normal."

What, I thought. Oh well, I won't bother her about it. After all, my life is pretty weird.

"So, have you always been in New York City? You seem to know where everything is," Brooklyn said.

"Yeah, I've been wondering about that for some reason, too," Julius chimed in.

"Oh wow. Sheesh, Julius, you were so quiet, I actually forgot you were there," I joked. "You aren't usually this quiet. I'm surprised you haven't asked anything."

"Yeah, why aren't you talking?" Brooklyn asked, a slight edge mixed into her voice.

"Well, I'm just not very curious," He told her, meeting her stare.

"Uh, yeah, we'll believe that" I said. "Well, for as long as I can remember, I've lived in New York. I did ask my mom about that once, though; she said that we were in Las Vegas for about a year after I was born, then moved out to here." But, I thought, my birth certificate says New York City. "So, are you into any sports?" I asked Brooklyn.

"Yeah, I'm into running, most water sports, and volleyball," she said. "I guess you could say that I'm good at fencing. I also like playing a game called capture the flag." I felt Julius tense up beside me again.

"You mean that game where you run around with those little flags on your waist, trying to get the ball to your side of the field?"

"Yeah, pretty much."

"Cool! Man, I would love to learn how to fence." Brooklyn smiled as Julius laughed nervously.

"Okay, my turn again," Brooklyn said. "Okay, um, this might be a personal and weird question to you, but how did you end up in Torture Academy?"

"Well, there are a few things that I can think of that could've gotten me in there. One, it's not as expensive as other schools, so mom can afford it. Two, it's close to home. Three, it's one of the few schools in the area that we can afford that try to help kids like me."

"Kids like you?"

"Yeah, those of us with, as the doctors call them, learning disabilities. Sadly, according to the stupid doctors, I've got one of the worst combinations: ADHD mixed with the wonderful dyslexia," I said sourly. "To be honest, I don't even remember what ADHD stands for half of the time."

"Attention deficit hyperactive disorder," Brooklyn said quickly.

"How do you know?"

"I've got it, too, and dyslexia," she sighed. She looked at me with those knowing gray eyes, and I saw something in them that I couldn't name. "How do you think you I ended up at Ellis?" she asked gently.

I was trying to think of something to say to her when I heard a truck honk, bringing all of our heads up. There, at the edge of the park, was a red Chevy Tahoe. The backseat door opened as a boy hopped out and ran toward us.

The kid couldn't have been more than ten or eleven years old. His hair was the color of dark, rich honey without any added sugar or anything else. His eyes were that of the ocean green, but filled with the wildness of a hurricane. He was tanned and toned, just like Brooklyn. He skidded to a halt in front of us.

"Hey, twerp, what do you want?" Brooklyn played.

"My own car, but we know that's not going to happen anytime soon. Mom says it's time to go," he joked with her.

"Okay." She picked up her bag, told Julius and I goodbye, and then raced off toward the truck with the boy.

"Who was that?" I asked.

"I don't know. Maybe Brooklyn has a brother, or even a cousin," Julius said. But he'd hesitated before saying anything. Again, Julius is a horrible liar.

"Well, I should be heading home," I told him, noticing that it was now five o'clock.

"Oh, okay. Can I come with you on the subway? I mean, I get off two stops after you, so I figured I could hang out with you for a little bit longer," he rambled.

"Sure, why not?" I told him.

A half hour later, I was home. I ate dinner, attempted to finish my homework, and got ready for bed. Before I fell asleep, I wondered about what had happened lately. What was going on? Why did it seem like my friends were somehow lying to me? Who were my friends?

A/N: Sorry that this is taking forever to post, but I've been really busy with school and my brother's football games and so on. I promise it will pick up soon, hopefully in the next chapter. Until then, I hope you enjoy this. If not, oh well. R&R please. Oh, and about the Tahoe, that was just a random truck that hit my mind.