5. The Stakes

August 25th

(SHERRY)

"So, what do you think?" Isabel asked. Orientation was over, and most students had already filed out for the day. Alexandria had left with Amy and Violet, saying they were off to do something involving the Broadcast Club. That left Sherry alone with Isabel and Thomas. The two people in charge of keeping us safe she thought.

It was a hard thing to believe. She hadn't thought they'd put her in Room 319; at least they'd put her there with her friends. She couldn't imagine what it'd be like to face this alone.

Someone will have to go through this alone, though she knew. At least it's not me. She hated herself for such a selfish thought, but there it was. At the end of the day, they all had their parts to play. Sherry was just glad hers wasn't the one her friend had volunteered for.

Volunteered. That never happened. Nobody wanted to be in charge of Countermeasures; it was a draft, just like the Other-Stop it Sherry caught herself. She didn't know if thinking about that aspect of Countermeasures was dangerous, but better safe than sorry.

In any case, this was going to be an unusual year. Most of the time, whoever "won" the lottery to become Head was free to choose whoever they wanted as deputies. It was generally considered bad form to refuse that offer; in this case, no sooner had Isabel raised her own hand than Alex had volunteered to assist her. That at least didn't surprise her. She and Isabel were closer, even closer than Sherry and Isabel; she just hoped her friends could handle it.

"I think…I know I trust you guys to do the right thing" Sherry had to say. Had to? Either I trust her or I don't. And what reason do I have not to? "If anyone can keep things together, it's you, Isabel."

Isabel smiled faintly, inclining her head. "Thanks, Sher. And I can count on your help, right?"

It was the questions Sherry was afraid of, but one she couldn't afford to hesitate answering. If Isabel was willing to do more than her fair share, how could she do less?

"Yeah. You've got me. Anything I can do" she replied. "I trust you."

"Good. I'll need all the help I can get." Isabel turned to Thomas. "And I think you know why I asked you to be here."

Thomas Martin paused for a moment, adjusting his glasses. Ever the quiet one, he was especially careful with his words now. Sherry wondered what her fellow club member was thinking. Well, I suppose we're about to find out.

"You know where I stand on this whole thing" Thomas replied, his voice calm and measured. "I don't think…well, we can't afford to panic. If I can help keep things under control, I will. You've got me, too."

"I knew I could count on you two." Isabel turned to Sherry. "Don't tell Alex this, but if she hadn't offered-"

Sherry shook her head. "No. I think Alex is better suited to this than I am, anyway. I'm a little bit too…emotional. You don't need that."

"Don't sell yourself short." Isabel put her hand on her friend's shoulder. "You've got a big heart. I do need that, buddy."

"Well, I know you'll listen to me" Sherry replied.

Thomas nodded in agreement. "Yes. I think we can trust you to do the right thing…but just the same, I know you'll hear us out."

Isabel nodded. "Well, yeah." She smiled thinly. "It's gonna be rough, though. For the next few months, I can't afford to be the person I usually am. This is bigger than me. Bigger than all of us. Everyone is riding on this."

Sherry smiled at her friend. "Well, I can't think of a person more suited to the job than you. Your friends trust you, Isabel. Trust yourself."

"Thanks."

September 8th

(SHERRY)

School, unfortunately, couldn't end early enough for her. She really needed advice on this. She'd tried bringing it up with Alex and Thomas, only to learn to her horror Isabel hadn't given them any instructions. More importantly, they were just as concerned about going behind her back as she was.

It wasn't supposed to be this way. The whole reason there were Countermeasures Deputies was to assist the Head in making tough calls, and act in his or her stead when necessary. This certainly seemed like the time, yet Thomas wasn't overly concerned, and Alex insisted they needed to wait for Isabel.

And where does that leave me? Sherry wondered. She suspected she really knew where that was, but it was a place she didn't want to be. Well, I can't do anything about that she decided. Just gotta make do.

"Well, I'm sure you'll all remember to do your homework tonight. I want pages one-thirty-five to one-thirty-six completed no later than tomorrow afternoon" Mr. Light was explaining. "And remember, there's no reason to miss any of the odd-numbered questions. The answers are right in the back of your book." He closed his own book and set it inside his desk. "Well, that's all I have for you today-" He was interrupted by the sound of the bell. "Have a good afternoon. I hope to see all of you bright and early tomorrow morning."

Sherry packed her books up and headed for the door with the rest of her class. Math was already one of her least favorite subjects, and having it at the end of the day wasn't improving her interests in it at all. Maybe I can talk to Alex about it she thought. She's good at math. Or Thomas. He's good at everything. She could see him up ahead, talking to Nolan and Kirk about something or other. Well, I need to talk to Thomas anyway. But maybe some other time. Sherry checked the time on her phone. She had some club stuff to do after school, and she needed to tell Isabel what she'd missed today. It was one of the Service Club's primary functions to check on sick students; doubly important when the student in question was one of your best friends. Yeah Sherry decided. I'll talk to Thomas tomorrow.

(KIRK)

Kirk didn't know what was going through Sherry's head at that particular moment; in fact, he couldn't even see her. He noticed Thomas was watching something form the corner of his eye, but couldn't tell what it was, and more importantly, had other things to focus on right now.

"Don't sweat it, Abe" Nolan said. "The assessments are nothing to worry about."

Thomas adjusted his glasses. "Maybe not for you, Nolan. Some of us want to succeed after high school, though."
"Oh come on, man! Live a little!" Nolan said irritably. "There's more to life than good grades!" He looked over at Kirk. "C'mon Abe, help me out here."

"Uh…"

"See, you agree, don't you?"

"Well…"

Nolan snapped his fingers. "If you won't listen to me, at least listen to Abe! I mean, this guy's pretty smart too, right? Go on, tell him."

"I don't-"

"Told you, didn't I?" Nolan said. "Abe's the man, right?"
Kirk had no idea if he was the man or not. He was beginning to wonder if he could stop Nolan from calling him that. Thomas noticed his discomfort.

"You know, if he's upsetting you, you can hit him. I won't tell anyone."
Kirk had to chuckle at that. "Thanks, but I don't think that'll be necessary."

"Oh, come on Abe! I thought we were cool! I thought we were-"

"If we're relying on your thinking, we're all in trouble" said Violet, joining their discussion, Amy in tow.

"Oh, now who asked you?" Nolan demanded.

"Well, Fletch, you're kind of shouting. It's hard not to overhear, right Amy?"

Amy nodded. "Yeah. You're a little loud, Nolan."

Nolan threw his hands in the air. "Everybody's a critic."

Violet patted him on the shoulder. "It's okay, Fletch. We still love you."

Nolan stopped and squinted at her. "Who's we?"

Violet's face reddened a little. "Uh…"

"You're wasting your time, Violet" Thomas said. "Nolan's got his eyes on somebody else, anyway." He smiled evilly.

Violet stammered, but Nolan went right over the top of her, his face getting even redder. He pointed an angry finger at his friend's face. "Screw you, man!" He turned to the others. "Don't listen to anything this guy says, he's nuts!"

"Oh, I think he doth protest too much" Amy said, smiling. It was the longest sentence Kirk had heard out of her.

"What are you talking about?" Nolan demanded. "What does that even mean?"

"It's Shakespeare, you twit" Thomas said. "Well, come on Nolan, the cat's out of the bag now. Aren't you going to share with us who your crush is?"
Nolan shook his head. "I hate you all" he said in resignation.

Kirk was watching the entire exchange when he felt something vibrating in his pocket. Confused, he pulled out his mobile.

"You've got a cell phone?" Nolan exclaimed.

"Fletch, they have technology in England too."

"Shut up, Vi."

Kirk looked at the number. It wasn't one he recognized. "Hello?"
"Kirk, is that you?" asked a familiar voice on the other end of the line.

"Elaine?"

"That's right, Horror-Boy. How's it going?"

Great, another nickname Kirk thought. I'm going to have to start a book for these stupid things. "Pretty good. Just got out of school."

"That's good. No more problems with your lungs?"

Kirk winced. He didn't like being the object of other people's concern. Still, she didn't mean anything by it. "Nope. I'm good." He paused. "Hey, how'd you get this number?"
There was a pause on the other end of the line. "I…kinda stole it from your phone while you were sleeping."

"You what?"

"Well, I figured you wouldn't mind." Elaine chuckled. "Well, now you've got my number too. Give me a ring some time."

"I will. And I'll bring your book back as soon as I'm finished with it."

"Take your time, Kirk. I'm not going anywhere. Cao." The line went dead.

Kirk put the mobile back in his pocket. Nolan shook his head at him.

"Wow, you must roam like a mother."

Kirk shook his head. "No, my dad set it up so I'm on my aunt's plan while I'm over here."

"Well, in that case, why don't you give me your number?" Violet asked. "Then we can be phone buddies!"

"Oh yeah, me too!" Nolan exclaimed.

Thomas sighed. "I'm sorry, Kirk."

Kirk shook his head. "No, it's fine." A few minutes later, he had new contacts for Nolan Fletcher, Violet Fields, and Thomas Martin in his mobile. He asked Amy if she wanted it as well, but she shook her head.

"Sorry. Nothing personal but… I don't talk much."

Violet patted her friend on the shoulder. "What you don't understand about Amy is she's that rarest of things: a shy actress."

Kirk blinked at her. "You act?"

His classmate nodded. "Yeah, I do a bit."

She didn't seem willing to go further than that, so Violet elaborated. "Amy and I are in the broadcast club; you can see us on the school TV show in the mornings. And she's in the Drama club with me, Sylvia, and Isabel Castille. She wasn't here today, but-"

"I've already met her" Kirk replied. "She came and visited me in the hospital with Thomas and Sherry. She's the one who said she's in charge of Countermeasures, right?" he asked Thomas, who nodded slowly. "What are those, anyway? Some kind of disaster response group?"

"Kinda…" Violet said nervously. What's the deal with this? Kirk wondered. Everyone always got defensive when he brought this up.

"Say, Kirk, who was that on the phone just now?" Nolan asked. Violet hit him. "Hey! What was that for?"

"Nosy."

"No, it's fine. That was…Elaine."

"Elaine?" Violet asked. "I thought you said you didn't have a girlfriend."
"I…don't. She's somebody I met at the hospital."

"Like another patient?" Violet asked.

"Actually, she's…a nurse."
"Oh-ho!" Nolan exclaimed. "Helloo, Nurse!"

"What's that supposed to mean?"
Thomas shook his head. "Oh, don't worry about it. Nolan doesn't know what it means, either."

Violet looked down at her phone. "Crap. Well, we've gotta run, boys. See ya later!"

"Don't have too much fun" Nolan suggested.

"Oh, I'll try to keep her in line" Amy called back as the two girls hurried away.

"Well, I've gotta go too" Thomas said. He turned to Nolan. "And shouldn't you be getting to practice?"

"Practice?"

Thomas nodded. "Yeah, Nolan's on the soccer team."

"Soccer-? Oh, you mean football."

Nolan shook his head. "Do I look like a football player to you, Abe? Jeez, I dunno how they do it in England, but here in the States-"

"Association Football, genius" Thomas said. "That's where soccer comes from. How do you not know this?"

"How do you?"

"I read."

"There's your answer."

Thomas shook his head, then turned to Kirk. "Well, have a good one. See you tomorrow?"

Kirk nodded. "Yeah."

Kirk watched his new friends walk off down the hall together, then thought back to his tour of the school with Sherry as he headed toward a staircase. If he remembered correctly, the art rooms should be down this way.

Most of the classrooms were already closed, Kirk noticed; it didn't look like there were any last period art classes. But there was still one class with the lights on. It seemed as good a place as any to start.

Kirk poked his head through the door. "Is this the Art Cl-Holly?" His eyes widened when he saw the only other person in the room.

She looked up at him curiously, setting aside her pad.. "So, you can see me?" she asked, her voice calm. "That's interesting."

"Well, yes, I can see you. Why wouldn't I?"

Holly shook her head, her hair moving like a wave to either side of her face. "Never mind. You'll find out soon enough. So…what brings you up here?"

"I'm looking for the Art Club. Jerry, one of my classmates, told me about it. Are you a member?"
Holly nodded. "That's right…but if you join, then I won't be able to attend."

"What? Why not?" Kirk asked. "It's not something I've done, is it?"
"No…it's just too complicated. One classmate is difficult enough. Two would be…unmanageable."

"Unmanageable? What do you mean?"

Holly didn't answer. Instead she picked up her pad, brushed her hair behind her ear, and resumed drawing. Kirk gasped. A piece of gauze was affixed by latex straps over her left eye.

"Your eye!" he exclaimed. "What happened to it?"

"You should know better than to ask someone a question like that" she said, not looking up. "Besides, the answer itself should be obvious. I'm not a pirate; why else do people wear eye patches?"

Oh. Right. "Hang on. You said you were a classmate with Jerry and I. But…I didn't see you today. Are you in Class three-nineteen?"

Holly didn't look at him. "I'm not usually in class. Sometimes I go, and sometimes I don't."

"Why not? And why would Jerry tell me he'd never heard of you? And Sherry. I suggested she and Thomas visit you after what you told me about your friend, and she got…scared. Why would she-?"

Holly set her pad down again. "You're asking a lot of questions, Kirk. I don't know about England, but in America, we call that an interrogation. I don't like it. I want it to stop."

"Sorry."

Holly sighed. "It's okay. It's not really your fault. I suppose the others will explain things to you in the next few days, if they haven't already. We probably won't see each other again."

"What do you mean?"
Holly shook her head. "It's not for me to say. The others will explain it better than me. Just don't worry, I don't mind."

"Don't mind what?"

"I already said I don't want to talk about it" Holly replied. "How much clearer can I make this to you?"

"Sorry" Kirk said again.

"Don't worry about it." She looked at the clock on the wall. "Well, it's getting late. I have to head home soon. I'll finish this later" she added, sliding her pad into a backpack which almost looked too big for her. With practiced ease she slid the bag onto her shoulders, then headed for the door.

"Are you walking home?" Holly started to answer angrily, but Kirk held up his hand. "What I meant was, I will be too today. Maybe we can go together?"

Holly shook her head. "I…I don't think that'd be a good idea. If anything, you should stay away from me. Getting close to me…it wouldn't be wise."

"What are you talking about? What's wrong with you?"

"Thanks for checking up on me, and trying to get your friends to do the same, but…" Holly seemed to think her words through carefully. "I wouldn't do it again, if I were you." She walked away, heading down the hall without looking back.

"Holly!" Kirk called after her. "What's going on? What are you talking about?"

She stopped, then turned and looked at him over her shoulder. "You should be careful, Kirk. It…it may have already started."

"It?" Kirk repeated. "What do you mean?"

"Goodbye, Kirk. I'll see you…but you won't see me." Then she rounded the corner and was gone.

Kirk stood there for a moment, trying to reason out just what the hell she'd meant. Curiosity got the better of him, however, and he hurried down the hall after her. "Holly!" he shouted, rounding the corner…only to come to a sudden stop.

The hallway was empty.