I vaguely hear a soft knock through my headphones, but I ignore it, turning up the music instead. What can I say, I like to block out the noise. When it's quiet, I'm at ease. Unfortunately, this isn't working so well for me. "Sara, I'm coming in!" I hear Mrs. Holmes yell, and roll my eyes. Well, I guess the couple left- she wouldn't be caught dead out of her 'loving mother figure' character if they were still around. Whatever.
"If you really feel the need, but I might retaliate with some teenage hostility. Besides, the name's Lana." I yell right back. The door swings open, revealing a still quite red Mrs. Holmes, and the young couple. Okay, so not too good in the theory-department today. He has his arm wrapped around her, and she's leaning into him. Oh, gag me. I mean, don't get me wrong- they're totally cute and all, but loves for...well, just about everyone but me. I'd just mess it up as usual, as Mrs. Holmes would be all too kind to point out.
I turn down my headphones, figuring I ought to at least tell them where they can find the kid they're searching for, and then I'll go back to my music. "Sara, Mr. and Mrs. Smart would like to spend the afternoon with you, to get to know you better. Wouldn't you like that?" she asks in her 'ooh-i'm-angry-do-what-I-say' voice. It doesn't really affect me, having ignored it for years, but at least it gets me out of the house for the day, so I agree.
"Sure," I nod, turning off my cd and taking it off. Wonder what they have in mind for entertainment in this fine town of mine. I grab my jacket and turn to the couple, both of whom look a little nervous. Ah...first-time kid shoppers. I got it. Well, at least they seem nice, which is something that, when Mrs. Holmes takes care of you, you learn to appreciate. They seem unsure of what to do, so I help them. Out of pity or whatever. "So, you, like want to go for a walk?" I ask, and they agree.
A few minutes and a few more drunken bums later, we've walked all the way through Eden, and I'm still not annoyed by them. Now, I might sound a little angsty/bitchy/PMSy (even though I haven't gotten it yet....which is a whole other topic ALTOGETHER.) but the thing is, most adults don't like me. To be honest, I'm more hated by them than anything. I don't know why. Maybe they feel threatened, or worried, or most just pile on the pity-which I totally hate, and they're out. When I don't like someone or something, I usually just don't do what they want me to unless I want to, and hope on everything holy (and some things not) that they'll leave.
But the weird thing is, even though they're asking me about school, and life, and even my family, I don't mind. I always have to listen to other people's problems and bottle up my own. Something which I don't have a problem doing, it's just...overwhelming, sometimes. So, I take them to my place...that's right, the High Place. My place, where I once swore off all of humanity and promised I would never, ever leave that spot. But then I wanted a cookie, so I went home to make cookies which ended up known as the Cream Cheese Cookie Caper. I've also sworn off baking, something that I did keep my promise to.
I hop on the right pieces of wood, telling them to follow me. I'm actually surprised that they've made it through my homemade trail (i.e. I walked over weeds and hoped they'd stay down.). Most adults wouldn't even make it halfway. They'd give up right behind the old Budweiser brewery and then tell me to go back. Not that I'd ever taken another human being here, but it's the scenario that keeps repeating itself in my head. Whatever.
"So, this is...what is this, exactly?" Alec asks me. I think it's cool they let me call them by first names, not that I would ever tell them that. I look over the crevice underneath the bridge, with the drying wildflowers soaking up the last of fall's rays.
"This is the only place that I have here. It's my High Place, and it's all mine. I haven't ever shown a single soul. You two are the first." I tell them, looking proudly out over the mini-canyon. It's beautiful, and I must say that I did a good job in picking out my place. I notice a scraggly piece of paper in the very bottom of the crevice, where a tiny spring runs. It's caught in a rock, and I need to know what it is. You know, curiosity killed the cat. Sometimes I wonder if I'm part cat, because I'm so curious. But then, some cats might not even be curious. So, it could be curiosity killed any number of animals. I should really stop analyzing medaphores.
Either way, I tell Max and Alec that I'll be back in a minute and jump the twenty-something foot drop, my sneaks squishing slightly in the rock-covered mud. I hop my way over to the thorn bush where the paper is caught, and untangle it from it's web. I fold it haphazardly and tuck it in my pocket, then run back to the bridge, climbing up the metal column like it's what I'm meant to do.
I pull myself up using one of the links for the old track, and flip back onto the bridge, smiling at their dumbfounded expressions. Bet they couldn't do that. So there. I really should stop feeling compelled to stick my tongue out at people. I don't, but still, the temptation is there. "Um...I took gymnastics. Yeah, really good." I lie, not wanting to be viewed as abnormal.They smirk a little, looking like they don't believe me, but they let it slide.
"So, why exactly are you guys so interested in pretending I'm your kid?" I ask, tucking the picture in my pocket and sitting down on the edge of the bridge, swinging my legs. They sit down next to me, staring out into the setting sun.
"Well, um...have you heard about that group Manticore on the tv?" Alec asks, and I nod, not knowing why he really brought it up.
"Yeah...covert government agency created kids solely for the purpose of being soldiers. Bred to be them, really. Spliced genes, genetic alterations, the works. It's quite sad, really. I mean, they had no childhood. And, while I didn't really have a great one, at least I got to be a kid. Why do you ask, anyway?" I ask, and they look to each other.
"This may take a while..." Max says as she and Alec pull down their collars to reveal barcodes that are black against tan skin.
"Oh." I whisper, my mouth forming a perfect 'o'. "So much for a boring afternoon..." I mumble, pulling the piece of paper out of my pocket and unfolding it, revealing a drawing of the night sky from my High Place. I rip it into tiny pieces, letting them float away into the sunset, along with my semi-average life.
A/N: I know, I know, I am a horrible person for not updating. I'm so, so sorry. Please forgive me, my loverly reviewers!!!!! I luv ya to death, you know that? You guys keep me going.
Hope you like it- I think it's a bit craptastic. Review- tell me exactly what you think, even if it's just "Alec is hot, your story sucks." I can respect that...I guess. But, for the love of God, if you say something that'll make me cry, at least add something about Alec's hotness to cheer me up.
You guys kick some heavy duty ass! Keep on reading, guys!!
Hugs, kisses, and all that jazz,
mj XOXO