Chapter One
Gordon Tracy walked down the hall of Eleanor Roosevelt High School as a senior - finally. He got a few high fives from some of the guys and a singing chorus of 'Hi Gordon' from a group of giggling girls. Ah, they were only sophomores, not worthy of his lofty attention.
Signs adorned the walls proclaiming TRACY FOR CLASS PRESIDENT!! It looked like he was a shoo-in for that job as the competition was only minimal. He approached his locker which was painted a shiny gold color by the school in honor of his Olympic gold medal in the butterfly which he won last summer. His red hair was now a respectable length as opposed to the crew he had while swimming and joy of all joys there wasn't a zit on his face.
The locker opened, spilling out a small pile of notes shoved in through the vent. Little folded pieces of pastel paper smelling like a ladies hairdressing place. All invitations from girls to parties, to get togethers, and few other interesting propositions that were definitely on the wild side of life.
Okay, so he didn't have a steady. The two years leading up to the Olympics had been too busy for that sort of thing. He could actually pick any girl he wanted, but somehow, no one really got to him. He wanted more than just a girl to parade on his arm, he wanted. Well, he didn't really know what he wanted, but he knew when he saw her he'd know it.
Not for the first time, nor for the last he wished his older brothers were home. He especially missed John. They had more or less amiably shared a room until John went off to the Air Force and despite the occasional brotherly spat remained the best of friends.
His older brothers used to come home pretty often, but Scott and Virgil both were deep in astronaut training and rarely even called. John was off in some South American jungle romping with SETI types and at the mercy of antiquated vid systems. Even Brains was off to MIT wowing the old folk with his brilliance. Father, of course, was busy with business.
Alan was okay, but once he'd gotten interested in cars, it was like they were speaking different languages. Anyway a senior shouldn't be seen fraternizing with a lower classman, even if it was a sibling.
He had it all.
He had nothing.
"Oooo Gordy can I have your autograph?" A whiny high-pitched voice broke into his introspection.
He turned to grin down at the short, slightly plump girl looking at him with undisguised adoration. Her short spiky hair was died an unnatural shade of blonde. She fluttered her eyes at him.
"How much are they worth?" He crossed his arms and tried to look serious.
"Weeelll. You aren't worth much. But, I'm willing to invest in you." The whiny voice was replaced by a thick New York accent.
"Em, you crack me up!"Gordon laughed and ruffled the girl's hair cut into further disorder. "Why you don't go out for drama is beyond me."
"Too busy for frivolous things." She said seriously. Her normal voice was surprisingly husky for such a small girl.
"Too busy for a movie?"
Her eyes lit up and her whole face glowed with pleasure. "Whacha got?"
"Ten original copies of Tom Corbett, Space Cadet."
"Yes! Lock and Load! The usual place? Day after tomorrow?" She said enthusiastically, practically dancing in front of him with excitement.
"It's a date." Gordon managed to field the punch to the ribs just as the bell rang. Of course, it wasn't a date. He and Em had been sharing a passion for old vids since they were Freshmen. Em was the perfect accomplice for some of his better practical jokes and an able study partner when school work intruded on real life. Good old Em.
Then he saw her. She was floating down the corridor a petite vision in mint green, her soft red hair wafting like a flame behind her. His jaw dropped in astonishment. Where did this beauty spring from?
"C'mon Tracy, we'll be late for class!" Someone reminded him waking him from his reverie.
Gordon still stood dumbstruck. As if she subconsciously knew he was looking at her, the girl turned and glanced at him. Brilliant blue eyes met his and he felt a shock of deja vu. He had seen her before...but where?
Gordon came to himself with a start when the slamming of doors signalled that he was going to show up for class late. Eleanor Roosevelt High School, or Ellie Rose it more familiarly known to the students, prided itself on academic excellence. Ellie Rose kept a tight rein on it's brilliant and often rambunctious student body by a strict code of rules, which applied to seniors as well. Late meant an extra study hall and he had other things planned...now like hunting down the elusively familiar redhead.
Gordon Tracy walked down the hall of Eleanor Roosevelt High School as a senior - finally. He got a few high fives from some of the guys and a singing chorus of 'Hi Gordon' from a group of giggling girls. Ah, they were only sophomores, not worthy of his lofty attention.
Signs adorned the walls proclaiming TRACY FOR CLASS PRESIDENT!! It looked like he was a shoo-in for that job as the competition was only minimal. He approached his locker which was painted a shiny gold color by the school in honor of his Olympic gold medal in the butterfly which he won last summer. His red hair was now a respectable length as opposed to the crew he had while swimming and joy of all joys there wasn't a zit on his face.
The locker opened, spilling out a small pile of notes shoved in through the vent. Little folded pieces of pastel paper smelling like a ladies hairdressing place. All invitations from girls to parties, to get togethers, and few other interesting propositions that were definitely on the wild side of life.
Okay, so he didn't have a steady. The two years leading up to the Olympics had been too busy for that sort of thing. He could actually pick any girl he wanted, but somehow, no one really got to him. He wanted more than just a girl to parade on his arm, he wanted. Well, he didn't really know what he wanted, but he knew when he saw her he'd know it.
Not for the first time, nor for the last he wished his older brothers were home. He especially missed John. They had more or less amiably shared a room until John went off to the Air Force and despite the occasional brotherly spat remained the best of friends.
His older brothers used to come home pretty often, but Scott and Virgil both were deep in astronaut training and rarely even called. John was off in some South American jungle romping with SETI types and at the mercy of antiquated vid systems. Even Brains was off to MIT wowing the old folk with his brilliance. Father, of course, was busy with business.
Alan was okay, but once he'd gotten interested in cars, it was like they were speaking different languages. Anyway a senior shouldn't be seen fraternizing with a lower classman, even if it was a sibling.
He had it all.
He had nothing.
"Oooo Gordy can I have your autograph?" A whiny high-pitched voice broke into his introspection.
He turned to grin down at the short, slightly plump girl looking at him with undisguised adoration. Her short spiky hair was died an unnatural shade of blonde. She fluttered her eyes at him.
"How much are they worth?" He crossed his arms and tried to look serious.
"Weeelll. You aren't worth much. But, I'm willing to invest in you." The whiny voice was replaced by a thick New York accent.
"Em, you crack me up!"Gordon laughed and ruffled the girl's hair cut into further disorder. "Why you don't go out for drama is beyond me."
"Too busy for frivolous things." She said seriously. Her normal voice was surprisingly husky for such a small girl.
"Too busy for a movie?"
Her eyes lit up and her whole face glowed with pleasure. "Whacha got?"
"Ten original copies of Tom Corbett, Space Cadet."
"Yes! Lock and Load! The usual place? Day after tomorrow?" She said enthusiastically, practically dancing in front of him with excitement.
"It's a date." Gordon managed to field the punch to the ribs just as the bell rang. Of course, it wasn't a date. He and Em had been sharing a passion for old vids since they were Freshmen. Em was the perfect accomplice for some of his better practical jokes and an able study partner when school work intruded on real life. Good old Em.
Then he saw her. She was floating down the corridor a petite vision in mint green, her soft red hair wafting like a flame behind her. His jaw dropped in astonishment. Where did this beauty spring from?
"C'mon Tracy, we'll be late for class!" Someone reminded him waking him from his reverie.
Gordon still stood dumbstruck. As if she subconsciously knew he was looking at her, the girl turned and glanced at him. Brilliant blue eyes met his and he felt a shock of deja vu. He had seen her before...but where?
Gordon came to himself with a start when the slamming of doors signalled that he was going to show up for class late. Eleanor Roosevelt High School, or Ellie Rose it more familiarly known to the students, prided itself on academic excellence. Ellie Rose kept a tight rein on it's brilliant and often rambunctious student body by a strict code of rules, which applied to seniors as well. Late meant an extra study hall and he had other things planned...now like hunting down the elusively familiar redhead.