"Jenny? Hello? Earth to Jenny, come in space girl!"
Brad was being super annoying today. But then again, everything seemed to be really getting on my nerves. I rolled my eyes and slammed my fist on the lunch table.
"What?!"
Too hard, apparently, because a chunk of it fell off. Tittering nervously, I covered the hole in the table with my lunch tray. Maybe no one would notice.
"Geez! What's with you? You've been acting so weird lately. You're not yourself, Jen."
"Well.. Whatever. I guess I just woke up on the wrong side of the bed." I sighed thinking about how I really woke up today. Depressed. Nothing feels right. I'm getting talked to by all the popular kids, but their conversations seem so empty and stupid. Maybe it'll be better on Friday.
"I'm sorry, Brad. I really didn't mean to snap like that I'm just having a bad week so far."
"A bad week? Yesterday you said you were having the best week of your entire life."
The bell rang and we started walking back to class together. Infront of us, pink pigtails bopped alongside a nerdy kid with horrible posture. Giggle. Giggle. Giggle.
"Come on," I scoffed, "They're so mismatched. I mean look at them! She's a good three inches taller – without the platform sandals, mind you—and he's so smart and she has no brain!"
Brad gave me that look. The one that screams 'disbelief'.
"Uh.. Gee, Jenny.. You'd think you were jealous or something."
"I'm not! No way! I just don't see what she sees in him, that's all."
I ran into Don Prima as he was getting books out of his locker for his next class.
"Hi, Don!"
"Oh.. Hi, Jodie."
"Jenny."
"Huh?"
"Um.. nevermind, are we still on for this Friday night?"
"Oh, of course, babe. Wear something nice. See you then."
If little cartoon hearts could float around my head they would.
"Isn't he charming, Brad?"
"No, actually, he isn't."
"You're just jealous because you're not that cute."
"..Sure."
Brad walked away without saying goodbye. Great. Now I'd lost Brad and Shelton. Not like I minded losing Shelton or anything, it's just that.. Well I might miss his company. But only because he was so nice to me. I don't miss the clumsiness and all the stupid jokes. The way his hair always smells like that gel he uses. Ugh. And those clothes! They're so un-cool. Everyone always makes fun of him. And seriously, does he have to make straight A's all the time?
Suddenly, Mom's alert signal interrupted my thoughts. I pressed a button and the screen in my chest folded out to show my mom's distressed face.
"XJ9! There's an emergency in town square!"
"Oh."
"A fire broke out at the polls during election! Hundreds are still trapped inside City Hall! Hurry!"
"Oh. Ok. Sure."
I got excused from class and flew out the window to the center of the city. It's not that hard to find, really, just look for the huge tower of billowing black smoke. People were screaming as they poured out of the building like ants, trampling the elderly and the people who were just too slow. It's crazy how these humans act. They're all for charity, but when it comes to a fire it's all about them. They never care who they kill just to get out the door.
I pulled a hose out of the compartment in my chest and hooked it to a fire hydrant, and forced my way into city hall.
"Everyone stay calm," I yelled unenthusiastically. "Just try to get out in an orderly fashion. It's gonna be okay."
By the time the fire trucks arrived, I'd put out almost all of the flames. The only injuries were from those who had been trampled, and luckily no one was killed. A news reporter approached me.
"XJ9! These people owe you their lives! What do you have to say to the city you just saved—again?"
"Um.. I dunno. Don't smoke, I guess."
The entire act had been a blurred whirlwind of instinct. Just reminding me that I've been programmed to save things, and I don't even have to think about it. Sometimes, I feel a little used. I started walking home. By the time I'd get back to school, it would be out. I looked down to glance at my watch and noticed that my hand was starting to rust from handling the water hose. Go figure that my date was tomorrow and I'd be rusted!
That evening, as Mom was polishing my hand she tried to strike up a conversation.
"How's school, XJ9? Any science projects coming up? Any essays? What did you make on your Geometry test last week?"
"Yeah, Mom, Sure."
She stopped polishing and peered at me over her glasses.
"Jenny," This grabbed my attention since it was so rare to hear her say that.
"Jenny," she repeated, "You're apparently in some proverbial 'funk'. You need an attitude adjustment. Why don't you tell me what's the matter and I'll see if I can't give you some motherly advice."
"I'm not really sure, myself.."
As I spilled my story, she nodded intently and continued to polish the rust off of my hand.
When I was done she was silent for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, she spoke.
"Well, Jenny.. When is this date? Tomorrow night?"
I nodded.
"It seems to me that you miss Sheldon."
"No I don't!"
"Maybe my calculations are incorrect, however, it would be incredibly ironic, wouldn't it?"
"What do you mean?"
"The little boy that you've avoided and hidden from all this time is finally giving up on you, and now you miss him."
Giving.. Up.. On.. Me?
Woah, Woah, Woah. Sheldon? Giving up on me? Now that she puts it like that I feel like a major heap of junk. All those times I just shrugged him off, even though he'd always be there for me. Even though he always showed me how much he cared for me. All those times I've hurt his feelings. I've just been walking all over him and it made me feel like I was that much closer to the top, didn't it? I was using him as a step in the social ladder. As long as someone was less cool than me, I'm not too bad, right? Is that how I've been thinking all this time? And now.. maybe he doesn't care about me anymore. I mean, why should he? I certainly don't seem to care about him. I mean, I do. I say 'Hi' to him enough. I don't flat out tell him to go away.
"Aaagh!" I yanked my hand away and flounced out of the room. This internal struggle was too much for me! Surely no real human teenager ever goes through this!
My alarm went off and Mom's screen popped up.
"XJ9?"
"Just leave me alone, Mom. I don't feel so good."
"Alright, just one thing…."
"What?"
"You should apologize to both Sheldon and Brad."
She was right as always. Apologies were always so humiliating. But if it would get things back to normal, I'm ready.
