Chapter 9
My head was down, hair covering my face as I tried to hide from the world. To the teacher it looked like I was just taking notes, but my classmates knew better. I could still hear them snickering and whispering about me, not even trying to disguise it. I had just spent the majority of lunch in the bathroom, crying quietly while I tried to clean myself off. I had been sitting alone in the cafeteria at the table against the wall, ignoring everyone as they did the same to me. Out of nowhere I feel something hit my head, and something cold dripped down my face.
"Oops! Sorry freak!" he had thrown his tray over me. I turned to see Alan McGuire, one of my lifelong antagonists. One of the kids who used to push me around in grade school. The entire cafeteria chorused in laughter, and I gave him the nastiest look I could muster. I couldn't do anything with this many people around so I resigned to the bathroom to clean myself off the best I could. I could hear someone calling my name but I didn't bother to look. I stood at the sink trying to clean the milk and applesauce off of my clothing with paper towels, thankful no one was in there to see my tears.
Now I sat in history pretending to take notes. I was going to smell like old milk for the rest of the day. I watched Alan sleeping through class, anger bubbling back to the surface. I delved into his mind and ended up in his dream. I had never done this before. It was a happy dream I suppose, for a douchebag. He was making out with some chick, I didn't really care who. I only wanted to cause him pain. I wanted him to feel how I felt today, yesterday, everyday. I wanted him to feel how I felt in the third grade when he pushed me down on the playground. Suddenly the dream warped around me and everything became very dark. The woman he was making out with turned into some fanged beast and let out a monstrous roar. He leapt up and ran, but just like any dream he couldn't seem to run fast enough. The beast soon caught up with him and sank its jaws into his leg. He screamed in pain, and for the first time in a long time, I smiled. I watched as the beast thrashed around, tearing him to shreds.
I was thrown out of his head by sudden screams. I came back to reality and everyone was against the far wall except me. They were all staring at Alan, fear in their eyes. He was on the floor writhing in pain. Still trapped in his nightmare, he was clutching his leg which was bleeding everywhere. My eyes widened, not knowing what to do. The teacher pulled out her cell phone and called 911.
I sat up quickly, a thin sheen of sweat covering me. I peeled back my blanket and stood up. I needed a walk. My feet were still a tad sore, but it hardly bothered me now. When we had returned to the helicarrier last night I procured a handful of band-aids and a bottle of peroxide from the medical room and attended to my feet after a long hot shower. There had been a few cuts but nothing serious. A bruise here and there where I must have stepped on some sharp rocks spotted my feet.
I grabbed my hoodie and left my room, wandering the carrier's halls. It was 4:30 in the morning, and I knew I wouldn't get back to sleep now. That memory hadn't plagued me in a long time, so I have no idea why it showed up now. After the ambulance had shown up that day they tried to stop the bleeding and loaded Alan onto a stretcher. As they pushed him out of the room his eyes locked with mine, as if he knew. His eyes were pure fear as they pushed him out of sight.
I know now what happened. That night I looked it up online and found a page on dream eating. It described everything to me about invading someone's dreams and manipulating them. Only what happens in the dream becomes reality. It was the first time I had done that, and wondered what else I was capable of. After that day Alan never bothered me again. He always gave me a knowing and fearful look, but avoided me like the plague. Half of me was glad because the prick deserved it, the other half felt terrible. It's something that still haunts me from time to time.
The doctors explained it as a severe blood clot in his leg that burst, causing him to bleed out everywhere. I knew they were full of shit and someone was trying to cover it all up. I suspect now that it was SHIELD. Now that I know they've been watching me since childhood it was pretty obvious.
I wandered to the kitchen and began brewing a large pot of coffee. I was seriously going to need it today. While I waited for that I raided the fridge for something to eat and found a box of strawberries. I grabbed the container of my favorite fruit and then poured myself a cup. I walked with my meal into the conference room, where all of the computers were unattended. Setting my items on a desk, I sat at the computer nearest me and began nosing around. I found the internet browser, and soon it was time for Angry Birds. I played for nearly an hour; the box of strawberries now gone and I had refilled my coffee twice. I didn't see Steve enter at all and jumped out of my skin when he spoke.
"I was wondering who made coffee." I missed my shot completely as the bird flew straight into the air screeching. Wide eyed and heart racing, I looked to my right to find the captain taking a sip from his mug. I exhaled and closed my eyes, not ready for his cute face this early. "Sorry if I scared you." He walked over examining the computer screen. "What is this?"
"Angry Birds, it's a game. You shoot the birds at the pigs with this slingshot and try to hit them all with the birds you're given."
"Why?"
"Because the greedy pigs stole all of the birds eggs and they're trying to get them back." His face was funny as I explained this, the weirdest expression on his face. He shook his head and took another swig of coffee.
"What are you doing up this early?" I contemplated telling him, but decided I didn't need any more enemies.
"Couldn't sleep. You?"
"Same." He nodded. I checked the time on the screen; it was 5:30 now. Some of the ships inhabitants will be getting up soon. I closed the game out and stood, stretching and yawning. My hoodie rose up and exposed a few inches of my navel and Steve visibly blushed. He averted his gaze and rubbed the back of his head nervously. He was so cute when he was nervous.
"Well I guess I should go get dressed or something." I trailed off. This left an awkward silence between the two of us. "I'll see you later okay?"
"Right, see you later Shea." I left the conference room and made my way back to my room. An hour later I reentered the kitchen to see several people milling about, and joined Natasha at the table.
"So, what were you and the captain doing this morning?" I choked on what had to be my fourth cup of coffee and furrowed my brows.
"How did you know we were up?"
"I saw you two on my way to train this morning." Geez how many people creep around that early in the morning?
"I couldn't sleep and neither could he. I was showing him now to play Angry Birds." She looked at me funny. "What, you don't know Angry Birds? The game?" She shook her head at me and I sighed. These people need to get out a little. Natasha and I talked for a while until an agent rushed into the kitchen, cutting us off.
"Agent Romanoff, Agent Farrelly, they need you in the lab. Now." The urgency in his voice made Nat and I look at each other before swiftly walking off in that direction.
