CHAPTER FIVE
"Right, so I said to the guy, give me a break, I was
just joking." I burst out laughing.
"And he didn't strangle you?" I asked.
"Nah." Marco said, "But I did want to strangle
that stupid poodle. I mean it embarrassed me in front of-"
"Marco." A deep voice said behind us. "And, ah,
Jessie, exactly who I was looking for."
"Mr. Chapman." Marco said, his eyes flickered,
"May I be of assistance to you?"
"No." He said, "Run along little Marco."
Marco shook his head and muttered something. Mr.
Chapman took me to his office.
"Bright kid." He said thoughtfully, "But he's
got one big mouth."
"Huh?"
"Marco."
"I just met him today."
"So." Chapman said looking around, "How is it
going?"
"Fine." I said.
"So Jessie." Chapman said, "You never gave me an
answer."
"What answer?" I said, as if I didn't know.
He gave me a meaningful look, "The Sharing, you are
joining, right?"
"Yes."
"Good." He said, "There's a meeting there
today. I'll expect to see you there."
"Of course." I said quietly. I headed to the door.
Chapman smiled blandly at me, "Don't forget to bring your friends!"
"I wouldn't."
I closed the door behind me.
"What did he say?"
"Yah!" I yelped, it was Marco, "Jeez, where did
you come from?"
"Behind."
"Very funny."
"What did he say?" He repeated.
"None of your business." I snapped, the bell rang
and I headed to class, I didn't noticed Marco head to Jake and talk to him,
nor did I notice Jake talk to Cassie during math class, all this came
afterwards.
*** *** ***
"you're
going?" Cassie exclaimed, "I thought you decided against that."
"I didn't." I said, "I just wanted your
opinion."
"And after hearing it you decided to ignore it?"
"Look, I'm off alright?" I said.
"Where?" She asked looking at me in that odd way of
hers.
"The mall."
She made a face. "Rachel will approve."
I had a chance to meet Rachel! I couldn't believe it,
but as exciting as this seemed I couldn't, it wasn't fair to blow Shelby
off. But I decided to test something, "Approve? What is she the queen?"
"No." She said, "But her opinion and mine differ
when it comes to the mall. Our opinions argue when it's about the
importance of outfits."
"I see." I said, "I hope to meet her, someday."
"You probably will." She answered looking distract.
"Bye then." I said.
"Bye."
I
took the bus to the mall and met Shelby at the food court, "Hey Shelby." I
said, "I was wondering if you'd come with me."
"Where."
"To the sharing."
"You're joining?" She exclaimed.
I cringed back, "What, not you too."
"What? What did I say?" Shelby wondered, then she
rolled her eyes, "I'm a member."
"Really? What's it like?" I asked. "And why
didn't you tell me before."
"I thought Chapman might have."
"He did." I said staring oddly at her, " How did
you know?"
"HE always does, he's the one who told me to join
them, it's great really, I'm in the inner sharing now."
"What's that?"
"There is the inner sharing and the outer sharing,
the inner sharing are like, the real thing, the outer sharing is for people who
didn't really join yet, they're considered as a minority to The Sharing."
"So I can join but become an outer?" I asked,
"Good maybe this way Cassie would be upset her."
"She's against this?"
"Uhuh," I said, "She says they creep her out."
"Weirdo." Shelby said, "So, when are you
going?"
"Today. Chapman told me that they have a meeting."
"What?" Shelby stuttered, she looked at me
suspiciously, "You haven't joined yet?"
"No-"
"But the meeting is only for the inner member!"
"Maybe he liked me a lot!" I said cheerfully.
She smiled mischievously, "Did he tell you about it?
The details?"
"What details?"
"Are you up to it?"
I stared at Shelby, "Why are you acting so weird?"
She laughed and took my arm, " I'm not, Jessie girl
you'll have a good time, but know lets shop!"