Can You Keep a Secret?

WE GOT READY FOR BED AND SAID OUR GOODNIGHTS, BUT the thought of what Gabe could do was just killing my brain. I had to go ask him personally even if it's the last thing I want to do. I made sure Anna and Kait were asleep and I snuck out and went up to Gabe's room door. I was hesitant and second guessed. I just forced myself to knock on his door and regretted it. I remembered him saying that only Kait could come in his room. I felt sick to my stomach and was about to leave until I saw the doorknob turn. He glared at me and growled,

"What do you want?"

"Can come in?" I felt that I had no right to ask him and I was terrified of him.

"No." Then he shut the door in my face. I knocked again and again. He finally opened the door and said,

"Stop bothering me." His voice was cold as ice and I didn't know that a person could be this cold.

"I'm sorry to bother you, but can I ask you something?"

"You just did now leave."

I stuck my foot out to block the door from closing and he said with force,

"Fine! What is it?"

I was shook, but I didn't come this far just to give up.

"Can I come in?" He stepped aside and finally let me in.

"You know what you're doing right?"

"Yes." I tried to sound confident and sure, but inside I felt all knotted and nervous. I just stood there and he was staring at me head to toe. That just made me more nervous and my knees started to shake, but I willed it to stop.

"Not to pry, but what's your power?"

"That's why you're annoying me?"

"Yeah."

"Fine, but once I tell you, you might regret it."

"I don't care. I'm just dying to know." I started regretting it right now.

"Sit in that chair."

I did as he told me to and he sat on his bed staring at the floor in deep thought.

"I have the power of telepathy. I can read a person's mind."

"Oh." I was thinking, "So he has the power of telepathy. That isn't that bad. And why would he go to jail? Murder?"

What he said made me think if he was just reading my mind. I don't like the feeling of someone reading my mind.

"You would think it wasn't that bad. But what you're thinking is true. I did cause murder twice. Once by accident and the other for self-defense."

I realized how stupid I was. I'm sitting in the same room with a person who killed people. Am I crazy or something? I got scared and was walking toward the door as I said,

"I guess it's getting late. Thanks for telling me what your ability was."

He is quicker, faster, and stronger than me. Even though I was closer to getting to the door he blocked the door by standing in front of it. I was stunned at how fast he was to beating me to the door.

"Don't you want to know what happened?" He gave me one of his most chilling and disturbing smiles.

"O-okay." So I sat back in my chair less curious than before and just wanted to leave. I asked less enthusiastically,

"What happened and why did you kill two people?" I was afraid of the answer he was going to say.

"The first time was an accident. I had a girlfriend named Fawn that I met at the center. We were dancing and I didn't know what I was doing. All I heard was a scream. And it was coming from her. I didn't know what to do and her face grew paler and paler. By the time she stopped she was . . . dead. The second time was for self-defense, but the jury didn't think that."

I didn't know what to do or what to say. I tough he was all tough and stuff, but on the inside he's sort of misunderstood. When I actually thought he had a heart he turned into his normal Gabe self all cold hearted.

"Now . . . since you know my secret. He-he (chuckle) I have to kill you."

"Gabe. I know you're lying."

"Oh really?" His voice sent chills down my spine and he gave me a freaky grin while walking towards me.

He kept coming closer and closer until I could hear him breathing.

"Get out."

His last words got me scared, but of course I didn't show it. He might have been reading my mind or something. But as I always say, nobody's actually confident. You just have to act it. I don't know how a person can switch personalities so fast. He could hold the world record.

I sneaked into my room again and slipped under the covers trying to get some sleep. I looked at the clock and it read 1:30 AM. I don't really remember falling asleep, but the last thing I do remember is Gabe's face.

MMMMOOOOOOOO WWWWAAAAAKKKKKKEEEEE UUUUUUPPPPPPP, MMMMMMMOOOOO WWWWWAAAAAAKKKKKKEEEEEEE UUUUUPPPPPP!

"What is that noise?" It's Kait.

"I don't know is something wrong?" That's Anna.

I was bewildered and tired. In Alabama it's 5:01 AM. I looked at the clock and it said 7:00 AM. The time difference is killing me. We didn't have time to put regular clothes on and we knocked on the boy's door.
"Come in." It's Rob.

Kait said, "What's that noise?"

We heard grumbling under the sheets. Lewis. Of course I should have known.

"Do you like it?" He said coming out from under the cover.

All five of us started laughing. We got worried over nothing.

Anna's calm voice said, "Let's all get changed and go downstairs for breakfast."

We all agreed and after we got dressed, we went into the kitchen and found Joyce wide awake.

"Good morning. For breakfast we have orange juice, blueberry muffins, and whole wheat cereal."

We settled down and ate.

Joyce said with a mouthful of muffin, "Since today is Saturday, we are going to do testing, but for only an hour. After breakfast go upstairs and get ready."

"I can't wait to do testing and see what my full potential is," Anna said optimistically.

"Neither can I," Lewis chirped.

Everyone was looking forward to the testing. Except for me. I was scared once again of who? Myself? No what I can do. After breakfast we went upstairs and we all got ready. I guess all my mixed emotions showed on my face because I felt a gentle squeeze on my shoulder. It was Kait.

"Are you okay? And don't just put a smile on your face and lie."

"Yeah, you can tell us. What's been on your mind? I could tell something was wrong since the first day." Anna said.

"Okay." I sighed, "If I tell you please don't get scared and try to hide it."

"Sure," they agreed. I was scared that they might act like my parents and start to drift apart.

"Have you ever wondered why I didn't tell you what I can do?"

Just realizing, they said, "No. I guess I didn't notice."

"Well, I don't really know what I do. All I know is that it's bad because worst case scenario, someone can die." I waited for their reaction. Anna's face was cool and calm. Kait's on the other hand tried to cover, but showed a little bit of unbelief and horror. We heard a knock and it was Lewis and Rob.

Rob said, "Are you girls ready?"

"Yeah just about," I replied.

We went towards the testing room. It was pretty casual with music, books, and a couch. I expected the room to be all white like a laboratory.

"I learned that making a patient feel comfortable is the best way for them to show what they can achieve to the fullest."

We followed inside and for some unknown reason I thought of Gabe and the other night when I went to talk to him.

"Okay," Joyce said ready to work, "Lewis you will be in this room with a set of locks and a map. What you have to do is try to unlock it. Anna you go in the other room and try to influence the mouse to go into the direction written on a piece of paper. Kait you will be in the soundproof room to help you concentrate. A helper will concentrate on a picture and you have to draw what she's thinking. Rob you will rise or lower the heartbeat impulse depending on what you draw and what the paper says."

Everyone went where they were supposed to be. First it was Lewis. Joyce was holding a clipboard and writing data or something down. After about 20-30 minutes Lewis got the lock to unlock. I was impressed. Next was Anna. I was interested and wished with all my might that I could somehow magically have a different power that doesn't kill. The mouse found the cheese and went where Anna told it to go. Rob was next then after Kait. Kait's was interesting because she was blindfolded, ear muffed, and had hooks everywhere on her head. Joyce got everyone down except me. Oh and Gabe. Now I was really wondering where he was. I saw a girl with mahogany hair and big brown eyes. She had dark skin and she was skinny and tall. Joyce told her to go get Gabe and she went without saying a word.

I asked Joyce, "Who is she?"

"Oh, her name is Marisol and she's one of my helpers with you guys and this institute."

"Oh," I said in wonder. I was wondering if I wasn't going to get tested on today. I asked Joyce, "Joyce, I'm not going to get tested on right?"

Joyce was laughing and wiped a little bit of tears. I didn't know what was so funny. Still laughing she replied, "Of course you are silly. What are you thinking?"

I didn't say anything and felt a bit embarrassed and dumb. In the corner of my eye I saw a guy with wavy brown hair. He was tall and looked about 20 years of age. Joyce told me he would be helping me if he can in any way. She introduced us,

"Kevin this is Connie, Connie meet Kevin."

I held out my hand and said, "Nice to meet you Kevin."

He said, "The pleasures all mine. I'm looking forward to working with you." He smiled and he had a dimple on his left cheek.

He looked nice and genuine not like all the pervy men out in this world nowadays. Joyce let Lewis, Anna, Kait and Rob a break. She told them to go upstairs and said that she'll call them down later. Right after they left Marisol came back with Gabe. He had a sour face. Joyce went over and said,

"Marisol, take Gabe into the room and here's a clipboard and a pen. Write down what you observe and what is happening. I'll be with you after I'm done with Connie. Gabe's partner should be there."

Marisol just nodded and showed Gabe the way. For some reason my heart was beating quickly and I was getting nervous. It might be because I'm just nervous for the testing that's all. It's not like I like Gabe. Hehe that would be silly. Joyce put me and Kevin in a room that was enough room to run around in. There was a huge window where Joyce was standing so we can see and hear each other. I began to feel sweaty and sick to my stomach.

Joyce said, "Okay Connie, how do you feel when someone ends up reacting the way they do?"

I knew that Joyce was wording it so only I would know because she might not want Kevin to feel anxious or fearful.

I said, "I usually feel steamed, angry, or mad. But I'm not really sure sometimes it's after an hour I get mad or right when I am."

"Okay then try to think of something that makes you mad."

"I'll try, but I don't really have anything to be mad about."

"What do you love do to? Or what is one thing you can't live without?"

"I love to read and listen to music."

"Okay then try to imagine that you and your parents had a big fight and they won't let you read and wouldn't allow you to listen to music for a year."

"Okay." I took a deep breath and tried to think about what Joyce said and bullies and my other pet peeves. I started to get mad, but failed to let the anger boil.

"I can't. I just can't," I said hopelessly.

Joyce sighed in disappointment. I didn't want to fail her, but I couldn't seem to get angry. Joyce's face lightened up and told us to wait. I was bewildered and Kevin had a puzzled look.

"What do you think Joyce is going to do?" He asked.

"I don't know. Hit me in the head so I would get mad?"

We laughed and I was actually not nervous for once today. Until I saw Joyce coming in with of course. Gabe.

She told me and Kevin to come out so she can tell us what we're going to do. She said,

"Sorry for calling you on a Saturday Kevin, but we don't need you right now. But you should still stay just in case . . . something capricious happens."

"Sure." He sounded sort of upset for not being able to help.

"Okay. Gabe and Connie get into that room and I'll tell you what to do after."

We did as told and when I looked at Gabe his face was dull and I couldn't tell what he was feeling or thinking. I felt bad and guilty because he gave off a sign that doing this was a waste of his time.

After Joyce closed the door she said, "Connie, since you said getting you mad was when people started to act weird. Gabe, you're going to try to get Connie mad since you're good at getting people mad at you."

Gabe smirked a little and seemed to take Joyce's comment as a compliment.

He mumbled, "This is going to be a piece of cake."

I didn't want to get mad at him, but I had to try. I guess my head was up in the clouds because the next thing I knew Gabe had on an angry face and said,

"Are you even paying attention? God how did you pass the first grade? Are you even qualified to be a senior? Ha! More like a senior citizen!"

Never mind I take what I thought back my blood is boiling. I think my temperature is above 200 degrees. I didn't know what to say, but I didn't have to. All of a sudden, Gabe started getting stiff and rigid. His arm started to go up and started to twist. I realized what was happening and tried to stop, but I didn't know how. I can't believe Gabe's not even screaming or yelling. His arm was twisting in an impossible direction. No more than a second later my brain started hurting and I felt nauseated. Then, all sounds started to fade and everything turned black. All I could see was black surrounding me darkness everywhere.