Chapter 1

After that freaky incident with the sun and all, I pretended nothing was different, and nobody acted any different either. I went up to my room, shut my door- and checked every nook and cranny in my room to make sure Jonathan wasn't around to stalk me for Tweedledum and Tweedledumber- then logged onto my computer and looked up the sun. Pictures of the psychotic sun appeared all over the screen, even some pictures of the new moon - which in my opinion was even creepier. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Warily, I opened my eyes to see Jonathan holding a water gun, pointed straight at me. Knowing them, there was definitely no water in the gun, and I wasn't too keen on finding out what the hell the mystery liquid was. "Go away, Jonathan. I'm not in the mood," I said slowly, trying to hide my agitation, and failing miserably. He loaded the gun and put his finger on the trigger.

And he sprayed. And Mother opened the bedroom door and saw Jonathan holding the water gun.

So, Jonathan got a good scolding, and I got a nice, warm shower. Tweedledum and Tweedledumber got bruises and a black eye from another one of their jock fights, and my other brother, Eric, ended up helping Mother with dinner, and Mother still stayed oblivious to the our disastrous potential. And all was well and good until dinner. Until she brought up the subject of school.

Tonights dinner was Soba noodles and chicken with gravy. We were all eating quietly, if you ignore Tweedledum and Tweedledumber's habits of jock-yelling about girls with "hot bods" at their high school. So, eventually I said, "Hey, how would you know what their bodies look like? Don't their clothes have to be off for that? Or did you just put on sexy blond wigs and a Victoria's Secret bra, prance in to the girl's locker room with your hands up like puppy dogs, and pretend to hang there while the girls in another class make use of the locker room?"

Eric snorted, and Jonathan snickered. That's the most I've heard him in three days...

"In fact, Liraz, that is exactly what they do. How did you guess?" Eric said. He stabbed his fork into the chicken, and I ate my bowl of noodles.

"That's enough." Mother says. "Anyway, it's mid-summer, and there is the impending issue of school.

You three will go to the same school again, because I don't want anyone to think you were expelled again. Please don't get expelled again. It's your last year of high school for Heaven's sake."

Eric interrupts and says, "They are the reason we had to move schools. I did nothing. Nada. Zilch. Zero. I'm graduating at the end of the year. They are going to repeat high school until they get a brain the size of a potato."

"Eric." Mother warns. "I was going to say acorn but thats what they already have. And that's an improvement."

"From what?" I ask. "Half an acorn." He responds. "Half an acorn."

"Anyway." Mother started. "Jonathan is going to camp soon. Some of the mothers at his kindergarten suggested a camp for Jonathan. They said a lot of his classmates will be there. Isn't that great?"

No one responded. "Sure, Mom." I say. Her face lit up, then faltered for a second. A few minutes later, we stood up and put our dishes in the sink.

Tweedledum and Tweedledumber went out to the basketball court at the nearby park, Eric sat on the sofa and watched TV, and I started up the stairs to my room. "Liraz, could you come here for a moment?" Mom asked. I walked to the kitchen where she stood leaning against the sink. In her hand was an envelope. "Yeah? What did you need?"

"In the mail, I found an envelope addressed to you from the DWMA."

She paused, handing me the envelope. I took it from her hands, gave it a once-over, and carefully ripped it open. Before I could read it, Mom said, "Do you remember the blood test you took last week at your physical?" I nod. "Well, the doctors saw a mutation in your DNA. They sent it to a scientist who works at the school and he said that you have the genetic coding of a weapon."

I glance at the letter, then back at her. "But I feel fine."

"Well, the doctors said that you could turn into a weapon anytime now. They suggested going to DWMA to learn how to..."

"I get it." I lean against the counter. "When do I go?"

I closed the door behind me, and turned around. Jonathan sat patiently on the center of my bed. "Hey." I nod to him. He nods back. He's cute, but in a creepy way. I sit down next to him. "I'm leaving for school, Jonathan. Although, I guess you already know. Stalker tendencies and all."

He doesn't respond, just looks at me. He lifts his hand. I raise my eyebrow, curious. He pokes my cheek. And crawls out the open window beside my bed. "Goodnight Jonathan!" I yell out the window.

"Weird little guy."