TC, Seattle.
I'm really doing this...I'm going to a completely different world, all because of a story that sounds incredibly close to science fiction, and a weird mark on me. Great. I am so screwed. How am I supposed to act? What does everyone wear? Oh, god, I'm going crazy..
Ok, think of something else, anything else. Um...circus peanuts! Ooh, I could really go for some of those right now....I wonder if they actually sell them at the circus, or if it's just their name. And, on the subject of names, why do they call Animal Crackers crackers? I mean, they're obviously cookies....I should just stop thinking.
"So, we there yet?" I ask, wincing inwardly as I ignore the memory of the crash and promise never to ask that question again.
"Almost. You nervous?" Max asks, smirking. I shake my head, trying to stop fidgeting.
"Nope, I'm fine." I lie through my teeth, and she nods.
"Don't worry, you'll do fine." she says, and I try to convince myself the same thing. I spot a small city of buildings with a large, metal gate around it, and protestors marching outside.
"Terminal City?" I ask, and Max nods, revving the truck's engine.
"Hold on." she says, gunning it and I squeal a very un-Lanalike squeal as we rush the gates.
"Stop, you kamikaze!" I shout, but the gates open at the last second and clang shut behind us. I put on my brood-face, not liking that Max didn't tell me that she was just gonna charge an inanimate object.
"Gotcha." she says, grinning. Ooh, if she didn't have a lifetime of advanced training on me, I'd so kick her ass.
"Of course you did. Usually when people decide to use their vehicles as battering rams, I think the passenger has a right to be worried." I say as the truck rolls to a stop. She just does that smirk that I have a distinct feeling all transgenics do so well, and I roll my eyes.
I step out of the car, examining the city. Old, industrialized office buildings that still have signs hanging off of them, announcing what they were in a past life, fill the city. Transgenics walk the streets freely here, unafraid to be who they truly are.
"So, whatcha think of good ol' TC?" Alec, coming up beside us, asks. I smile weakly, really not knowing what to think.
"Um, looks fun." I say, grabbing my backpack and duffel bag out of the car. "So, where are we going?" I ask, nervous about meeting everyone, and clenching my hands to keep them from shaking lightly. It's this horrible habit that I have when I meet people, or do pretty much anything in front of people. I don't really feel that nervous, but I just shake.
"Headquarters." Alec says, grabbing my duffel bag. I clutch the straps of my backpack, not wanting to relinquish it. I follow Max and Alec through the streets of TC, and into Headquarters, where everyone in the building is working on something. About eighty heads snap up as Alec sings, "Honey, I'm home!", and transgenics come out of everywhere, crowding around Max and Alec, the leaders in this whole thing.
I feel like everyone's looking at me, wondering who the hell I am, which they probably are. Max sends me a smile, and I try to smile back. "Everyone, this is Lana. She's new." she yells over the noise of the crowd, and I nod my hellos to everyone, blushing like mad.
The chatter dies down, and everyone goes back to their jobs. I stand in the same place, suddenly filing through everything that I forgot to tell everyone. Becca needs to remember to act like a normal girl and not a princess during school, and Rachel needs to remind Mrs. Holmes to fill her inhaler. Bobby has to be convinced that going to school is somehow better than hanging out with his pothead friends. Megan needs to stop being so dark and moody, but, really, how the hell did they choose me for that job? Maybe Becca can do it- she's pretty chipper.
Three girls in the corner glare at me, and I'm suddenly reminded of the Plastics. Their hair is perfect, and they have those same evil smiles on their faces. But, really, they're trained soldiers, right? The Plastics can't have invaded everywhere? Oh, please tell me that I'm right...I'm not right, am I? I turn away, suddenly feeling like they can see my nervousness, which the Plastics always could. Dear god, I am SO screwed.
Max pulls someone by the arm over to where I'm contemplating running very, very fast all the way back to Eden. "You okay?" she asks, and I nod, toying with my sleeve.
"Fine, why?" I ask, trying to keep my mind off of the girls that still keep staring at me. Jeez, talk about overkill. She shrugs.
"I don't know, you just look kinda pale." she says, and I brush it off.
"I live in Wisconsin. We have winter for like 5 months, in an average year. We aren't the tannest of people." I lie, hoping she believes me. She cracks a grin, as does the guy next to her, who I didn't even notice.
"Guess I never really thought about it." she says, and turns to the boy, who's around my age. "Gavin, this is Lana, Lana, this is Gavin. He's the guy in charge of our housing, and he's found you an apartment." she says, and I smile, glad I don't have to sleep on the streets. He smiles back, his blue eyes shining almost blindingly.
"Thanks." I nod, then remember the cans in my backpack. "Um, is it all right if I, uh, redecorate?" I ask, editing out the 'graffiti' part. Max sends me a knowing smile, and I wonder if she's seen the underside of the bridge. Christ, can nothing go right for me?
"That's fine. Most people don't want to keep the dust, anyway." he says, smirking (I knew all transgens could do it!), his eyes lit up with silent laughter.
"You want to go get yourself set up?" Max asks, and I nod, needing to be alone. "Well, I need to go check and see if Alec's doing his job right." she says, rolling her eyes with a glance at him. Gavin and I just share a look. How can those two be so blind about each other?
"I'll show you." Gavin volunteers, and I wave goodbye to Max and head out of HQ, happy to get away from those girls who seem to have it in for me. Yeesh.
"Thanks for having a place ready for me. It's really nice to not have to mooch off someone." I tell him, and he shrugs.
"It's kinda my job," he says, and I blush with stupidity. "But I'm glad you're mooch-free." he adds, seeing my discomfort.
"Me too." I smile, "So, how much further? I kinda want to get to it." I need a distraction right now, and tagging my new place will be the best kind I could get.
"There's probably not a lot you can do to it, I mean, short of painting it or getting new furniture." he says, and I nod. "I could see if I could get you some paint, but there's a list for furniture." he says, and I shrug.
"Thanks anyway, but I have some." I tell him, and he stops walking, letting out a laugh. I twirl around, glaring my most menacing glare. But I forgot that he works with Max, and it's normality for him.
"You carry paint with you?" he asks, and I blush at my slipup. I scowl as we continue to walk through the streets.
"Uh, yeah. In Eden, there isn't fun, so you have to make your own." I tell him, forgoing the story of my brother telling me that I shouldn't pent up my feelings.
"I guess that makes you a little less weird." he says, grinning mischievously, reminding me of Alec. "But only a little." I just hit him on the shoulder, but can't hide my smile. I guess it's one of my biggest flaws. I just can't hide my smile, even when I'm mad. But maybe that's not that big of a flaw...I've heard that smiling's contagious.
"Hey, most taggers take their own paint, too!" I tell him heatedly as he steers us into a dilapidated old building. He glances at me, and you can practically see the wheels turning in his head.
"What?" I snap, tired, missing my sibs, and extremely at large with this new climate.
"You seriously do graffiti?" he asks, sounding surprised. I roll my eyes, biting back a sarcastic comment.
"Yeah, that a problem?" I ask as he opens the door, handing me the key once we're inside.
"No, I think it's cool. You planning on doing it today?" he asks, and I shrug.
"I think I might just sleep, you know, tired and all." I say, stifling a yawn. "Is there such a thing as car-lag? Cuz I think I've got it." He laughs, and I lay down on an old, dingy sofa. I don't care- it's soft and can be used as a makeshift bed.
"I think you might have just made that up." he says, and I nod.
"Yeah, but I'm sure the word will get a lot of use in the future." I tell him, and he just smirks, sitting down on the edge of the couch.
"Well, when you do paint the room, would you mind if maybe I watched?" he asks, almost shyly. A big, red, obnoxiously loud alarm goes off in my head. I've never, ever, EVER (with the exception of my siblings) even shown someone my work, and I've NEVER let anyone see me paint. Noticing my apprehension, which I guess is probably pretty apparent, he shrugs. "If not, that's okay, I mean, I was just curious. I'm gonna go now"
"Uh, well, I've never, uh, let anyone see my stuff before." I explain as he reaches the door, realizing I'm probably shaking a little bit. I clasp my hands in my lap, sitting up. He turns around, smirk in place. "It's kind of just a hobby, ya know? I'm really not that good." I mumble, beet red.
"I was just wondering, that's all." he says, smiling big now. He's just so damn smiley, but you can tell that it's kind of an act, like he's always fine.
"Well, if you want, you could stop by tomorrow. I haven't made up my mind yet." I tell him, and he smiles.
"Maybe I will. Night, Lana." he says in his deep voice as he sweeps out the door, barely fast enough for me to see.
I'm left staring at a closed door, wondering why I want him to stay....oh shit, I like him, don't I? No! I can't like him! I'm not supposed to like anybody!!! oh, man, I am SO screwed...
Mmmm....me likey sleep....
Gavin's PoV
It's weird, to have someone who thought they were a norm come here. But she seems ok, I guess. Different from all of the girls here, that's for sure. Max is probably the most vibrant girl around here, while all the other ones like to ignore sarcasm, which I find to be a crime.
But this new girl, she's different, like I've said. It's like she just doesn't give a damn if she pleases anyone, but is still polite and graceful. I guess, by definition, she's an oxymoron, or at least that's how I see her. She's tough emotionally, but that's only the way she wants herself represented. She's really just scared, which is understandable. Nearly anyone who came to a city of genetically enhanced supersoldiers would be smart to be afraid.
Maybe I will stop by tomorrow...you know, just to see if she needs any help. Yeah, that's why...
Max's office, TC
/"What?" Max asks as Lana watches, and she shrugs.
"So, what's with you and Alec?" she asks, and Max rolls her eyes, a light blush covering her cheeks.
"Alec and me? Nothing, strictly business." she says, and Lana scoffs. "Shut up." Max snaps, turning her eyes to the road. Lana waves to Alec through the window, and he waves back.
"Whatever you say, Max." she says/
I don't like Alec. I can't like him....I'm Max, the girl who love hates. I have too much stuff to take care of to fall for him....But I don't need to worry about that, cuz I definitely don't like him. I mean, he's Alec, for god's sake.
Max sighs in frustration, slamming her fist against her desk and leaving a sizable dent. A knock in the door interrupts her thinking-session. "What?" she snaps, and as angry as she sounds, she's truly glad for the welcome interruption.
But then the door swings open, and she groans as the most gorgeous (not that she'd ever admit it) man in her life walks through, smile plastered firmly on his face. "What do you want?" she asks mopily, a pout etched on her features.
"No 'Hello, Alec, what brings your magnificent self to my office' or 'What a wonderful surprise to see my secret crush walk in the room'?" he asks, sitting on her desk. She bites her lip, trying not to notice how incredibly hot he looks, or how you feel like he's staring into your heart when he looks at you.
"Shut up, Alec." she snaps, rubbing her temples. "Did you have something important to say, or did you just come in here to annoy me?" she asks, and for a moment Alec looks hurt, but then he puts on his smirk again.
"I just figured you were pretty stressed lately," he says, pulling out a bouquet of Tootsie pops. Max's whole face lights up. Alec grins, happy to see Max smile, as it is quite rare
"Oh my gosh! How'd you get those?" Max asks, taking the bouquet and hugging it. She sniffs the candy, and then shakes her head. "You know what? I don't want to know."
"Oh, I didn't have to kill anyone for them, Maxie. Just maim, some minor gun wounds." he says nonchalantly, and Max gapes at him. He laughs. "Max, you are the most gullible girl in all of TC, you know that?"
"Maybe, but I got Tootsie Pops, and I don't give a damn." she says happily, pulling out a cherry one and opening it. Alec smirks, not having seen her this happy in a long time- probably since Sketch kareoke'd 'She Bangs'.
"Glad you like them." he says, grinning like an idiot and starting to leave.
"Wait!" Max says, not wanting him to go yet. "Um, I don't like the blueberries. Wanna help me eat them?" she asks, looking away but holding one out. She gains enough confidence to look at his amused face as he grabs one and sits back down.
"I knew you loved me." he says, pretending to be sarcastic but really just gauging her reaction. She blushes lightly, something you wouldn't be able to notice if you didn't know Max. But, we're talking about Alec here, a guy who's loved her since she kicked him into a solid metal wall.
"You do know you are unbelievably full of yourself, right?" Max asks, rolling her eyes. Alec's eyes light up like a little kid at Christmas when she avoids the question, but he plays nonchalant.
"Whatever you have to tell yourself, Maxie." he says, and she punches him lightly in the shoulder. "Hey! What was that for? I didn't even call you a bitch!" he says, and she shrugs.
"Haven't done it in a while, didn't want to break tradition." she explains.
"Aw, you just wanted to touch me." he says, poking her in the stomach. Max chokes back a laugh, and Alec raises an eyebrow. "Maxie, I didn't know you were ticklish."
"I'm not." she says indignantly, biting back a smile when he pokes her again.
"Really?" Alec asks, and she nods, straightening her shoulders.
"Uh huh." she says, looking him square in the eye. And, like the predatory cat that he is, Alec just can't ignore when his prey presents herself to him.
TC
"What's that?" Mole asks gruffly, looking in the direction that the sound is coming from- Max's office.
"Sounds like someone laughing." Dix says, looking confused. "But that's Max's office."
"It can't be. She doesn't smile, and never laughs." Mole says, but the loud, sweet laughter keeps on coming.
"Alec went in there a while ago." Dix says, shrugging. "He's pretty funny."
"Ew, the images." Mole says, making a face. "I need a drink."
What "They" Say, part 1
They say you can't choose who you love. They're right, I guess they always are. Life's just weird like that. You think you have total power and BOOM!, you're in love. It happens quicker than most people realize.
We think we own our destinies, but we don't. As hard as we try, we can't hide from Fate.
Maybe it's better that way.
A/N
hey guys!!! sorry I haven't updated in so long- forgive me??? ducks flying tomato All right, I confess, I'm a horrid author who's mean to her readers.....wails I'm so-rry!!!!
Drop me a line and tell me whatcha think- Gavin a go or a nogo? What about the tickle scene? Let me know, I'll hit ya back.
Luv forever,
molly jeane :D