There's a drumming noise inside my head
That starts when you're around
I swear that you could hear it
It makes such an all mighty sound
Louder than sirens
Louder than bells
Sweeter than heaven
And hotter than hell
Previously-
"I met Number Four" more silence and I was beginning to get irritated with him.
"Holy shit" One thing about Adam you should know, He never cursed.
"You met a number…number four" He sounded like he didn't believe me, and I bit on my lip as I entered the bathroom, checked under all the stalls to make sure that no one was in there, went in the big one and closed the door behind me, clicking the lock shut.
"Yes Adam, his name is John…and I know he's like me. I talked to him" I whispered, cautious to any unwanted listeners that there might be just outside the door. I heard him jumping in the car, Coco's barks in the distance.
"Where are you going" I asked him, pacing in the three feet of room between the metal barriers.
"To come get you" He said and I protested, he couldn't come get me. I had already missed two class periods of writing class, due to his constant worrying.
"There are now two numbers in Paradise, that's a big easy target for the Mog's" He said and I could hear him driving, and I still protested.
"No…we have twice the advantage. Didn't you always say that numbers are stronger together? And we'll have two guardians protecting us…I know what you're thinking. You want to move again and no Adam, not now. I never give you any problems when you decide to pick up and move us, I go along with us and take it like an adult. But we can't just leave" I could feel my eyes prickle, and I knew that I probably sounded like some mouthy little teenager but god damn it, we weren't leaving.
"Fine. We'll discuss this more when school gets out. Bye" He hung up before I could say anything I sighed and slipped my phone back into my bag. I exited the stall and caught a glimpse of myself. You'd never think that here was anything wrong with me…that I was from another planet. I looked incredibly normal. Medium height, Medium weight…nothing out of the ordinary. Until you were to see me undressed…until you saw the odd scars on my calves and the patterned tattoo's that ran up from my hip to my highest rib bone. I out on a layer of lip gloss…there. I was just a normal girl that had come to the bathroom for a fix up…How I wished.
I found Sarah out on the hill, looking through one of her scrap books. I sat next to her; with the tray of food I had gotten before hand and offered an orange, her favorite. She accepted it with a thanks.
"That was the longest run to the bathroom ever" She teased as she began peeling the fruit. I didn't like oranges much, the smell of the peel burnt my nose.
"Time of the month" I lied flawlessly and she gave me sympathetic groan and plopped an orange slice in her mouth. I saw John out of the corner of my eye, sitting alone. Sarah noticed my gaze and chuckled I looked at her confused.
"Told you he was cute" She explained with a small giggle, and I smiled at my human friend. Always the blunt one.
"Hah, I just feel bad for the guy. He's sitting all alone" I defended myself and she nodded, non-believing. I nodded back to her, grinning as I lounged down on the hill, the crisp spring grass was cold under the layers of shirt and cardigan on my back. Just then, Mark, king of all ass holes, decided to nail Sam in the head with a foot ball, and I shot up strait as John stood up and went to help the poor kid.
"Hey do us a favor and throw that back, will ya' new guy" Mark said and I gave him and his groupies a death glare. John threw the ball back, at non human speed. It hit Connor in the chest, sending him flying back in the bushes. I looked at him, with a shocked face, Who had taught him to blend in? Go under the radar? Cause whoever it was had failed.
Adam was there, in our old beat up red SUV at exactly 3:20, as usual. I gave Sarah a squeeze on her arm then made my way to the car, swerving through the crowds of people. I got in an closed the door behind me, Coco jumped from the backseat into my lap.
"Cocopuff. How's my baby doing today" I cooed affectionately, scratching my dog's ears and cradling him to my chest. Adam chuckled and pulled out of the parking lot.
"So I talked to number fours guardian today. I knew him back on Lorien, he was in the same sector as I was" Adam said, making a sharp turn. I clutched Coco and gave Adam a glare, he was the worst driver in the world. If a Mogodorian didn't get me, his driving skills would.
"And what did you two discuss?" I questioned as we drove down a road I hadn't really been down, I was curious, but I wanted to talk about John and his guardian first.
"About how you were right. We need to keep both of you together, everyone's stronger that way" I held in the squeal that I wanted to release. We were going to get to stay! I gave him a huge, all your teeth showing grin, but it shrunk as we pulled into an unfamiliar drive way. I immediately noticed the camera in the tree and on the porch.
"Where are we?" I questioned him and before Adam could answer me, John and a man who looked to be in his mid thirties walked out on to the porch, and I had no more questions. The car came to a stop and I was unbuckled and shutting the car door behind me before Adam had the keys out of the ignition. John smiled and walked down the porch steps, his guardian in tow.
"Told you I'd find you" I smirked at him and he just gave a shrug, telling me that he was happy I did. I went to his guardian and held out a hand for him to shake. He reminded me a lot of Adam, tall, a dark mane of hair, and dark eyes and an air of authority to them. He gave a warm smile and took my hand, giving at a squeeze.
"Number Five…Its good to meet you. I'm Henri" He greeted and it was odd having someone meet me, calling me by my number…I was used to having a name. From as long back as I could remember I had been introduced with one of the names me and Adam had chosen for me. First it was Taryn Martin, then Brooke Danvers, then Layla James, Lillian Fowler… now I was Quinn Price. I had never really been a number…and for some reason, it felt good. I was number five; no one could take that or change it. That was me. I beamed at him and told him it was good to meet him too.
The house that Henri had chosen was nice, a little old and beat up, but nice. I liked it, it had a certain charm to it. All four of us ended up at the small kitchen table that had came with the house, eating Chinese take-out. I listened to Adam and Henri talk about Lorien, the old days, training. They were laughing and seemed to be in they're own world, back home. I threw a piece of kung-pow chicken into my mouth and looked at John from across the table. He looked to be feeling the same thing as me…slightly bored, but mostly envious. They had lived on the planet..had memories there…
"And that damn Randant! He was such a hard ass for a commander!" Henri reminisced, chomping on a wonton and using it a sword for a moment. I chuckled at Adams face, he looked so into the conversation.
"Hey do you have a computer?" I asked and Henri nodded, and told me to take my pick.
"Come on, you can use mine" I looked to Adam, who nodded in approval and followed John up the stairs, I saw Coco in the living room, passed out on the floor next to Johns dog and shook my head, everyone was settling so well… almost too well. Johns room was bare, with just a poster, that I knew wasn't his of some football player on his wall, a bed, and desk with a lap top sitting on the top. I grabbed the computer and plopped onto his bed on my stomach. He chuckled and sat beside me.
"Just make yourself at home" He bantered, and I socked him in the thigh, not even at full power. He hissed and rubbed the spot.
"You pack one hell of a punch" He told me and I shook my head and typed logged onto the computer.
"Quit being a sissy, I didn't even hit you that hard" I muttered to him as I reached the website I had wanted.
'Strangers in Paradise' The banner read, pictures of teachers, local townies and students. I turned the screen so that John could see it.
"Strangers in Paradise?...Sarah" He answered himself with a small smile and I gave him a yep as we scrolled through the many photo graphs. There was the one of me, my face completely blank in calculus, one of John throwing the football back, another of Sarah and me sprawled out on the green grass, the sun hitting at an amazing angle. Before we could get to the last pictures…they were suddenly gone and I let out a breath, I hated that. All her hard work, down the drain. There were pictures of him…multiple pictures. Henri came up moments later with an angry expression.
"Invisible, you did hear that this morning? Cause I could swear you were there" Henri asked exasperated. John just scoffed and shut the computer, harder than necessary and I gave the guardian an apologetic smile.
"That Sarah girl, she's sweet, but that camera is a problem" Adam came in and lowered the tension and Henri and John had a bit of a stare off, before Henri left the room, Adam in tow. I didn't understand how Henri and John argued so much, you could tell that they both cared for each other, would kill for each other, yet they were always arguing. Me and Adam had our differences, but we barely ever fought…we barley ever had a disagreement. I looked up at John and flipped over onto my back. He was upset, and I could understand that/ It was hard to be constantly erased.
"Sarah and that fucking camera" I chuckled, trying to get that smile back. He lay down next to me with a guffaw, elbowing me in the side, and showing off his whiter than white teeth.
Okay how was that? Good I hope, I'm up at 1:13 on a school night for it(: I love I am Number Four, and I hope this story is doing it justice! Thanks to Abby-Jade-Love for giving me the category! Please give me some of those reviews! I love 'em!
