Jake
It was true that I only got my morphing power back because I had talked about all the stress I was feeling. I remembered completely breaking down in the boy's bathroom and Marco comforted me as only a best friend can, and I felt ashamed. Marco didn't mention it again and I was grateful. Even though I could morph again, it didn't take away the final pressure of choosing a future. In less than a day. I kept on thinking of different reasons why I should fight. Nothing came to mind. I needed something more personal than just saving the world. Tom was my one reason for staying in this fight and now it had just disappeared.
I sat through double history thinking of nothing but my choices. What I could choose instead of what Rachel had offered me. I couldn't think about the many reasons why America had a president and not a king or queen.
"Jake?"
I looked up. Everybody was leaving. I didn't even realise the bell had rung; I was too busy thinking about what my choice would be. My friends were standing around me, looking down at me with what I realised was concern. I didn't need any of that. I packed up my books and put them in my bag. I stood up and swung my bag over my shoulder.
"Interesting lesson wasn't it?" Marco said, sarcastically as we walked out of the classroom. "Never thought I'd learn so much in one lesson."
We started walking down the hall to the cafeteria for lunch.
"Oh, no," I moaned and stopped in the hallway.
"What?" Rachel asked.
"Hey, Jake!" Allison called, running over to us. "Jake, why didn't you tell me about your brother?" she asked. "After what happened at the beach, I thought…"
"What did you think Allison?" Rachel laughed. "That you and Jake were an item? He's with Cassie; get that through your thick head."
"I'm sorry Rachel," Allison sneered. "But I didn't realise you're Jake's spokeswoman now."
She looked at Cassie, as though she would like nothing more to hit her. "Why are you so quiet?" she spat. "Don't you have anything to say for yourself?"
"Look, Allison," I started. I had enough of trying to get this girl to understand that I was never going to go with her. "You're a nice girl and all, but I don't really think you and I are a very good idea."
"In other words he doesn't like you and he wants you to go away," Marco said pleasantly. "But you're welcome to me any day."
Allison gave him a filthy look and turned away.
"You should stop being so nice and give her one Jake," Rachel growled as she watched Allison walk into the cafeteria.
We walked into the cafeteria and I couldn't help but notice the many stares I got. We found a spare table and sat down.
"I'm just asking," Marco said, looking at me weirdly. "But have you decided yet?"
"No," I sighed. "What other choices are there besides those two already panned out for me?"
"No pressure or anything, Jake, but you have to choose soon," Marco said.
"I know," I said. "Do you have any ideas?"
"Just asking."
I got up. "I'm going to see if they have anything good to eat today."
That's when I saw them exchange looks.
"What?" I asked them.
"Nothing," Cassie said, smiling. "I'll come with you."
"Yeah, so will I," Marco said getting up. "I'm starving."
"I'll come along," Rachel sighed. "But I'm not eating anything. I just don't want to be seen by myself."
School passed quickly after that. My mum came to pick me up so I didn't have to take the bus.
"How was school?" she asked me when I got in the car.
"Nothing special," I replied.
"Have any problems?"
"Like what?"
"I don't know," she said. "What is it you kids do when you're at school?"
"Learn?"
"You don't expect me to buy that, do you?" mum laughed.
I smiled. It was good to know that my mum was getting her life back together. Unlike me.
"Jake, I don't know if Mr. Chapman told you, but the Sharing is holding this tribute to Tom down at the beach tonight," she looked sideways at me. "You don't have to go, but your father and I are."
My heart had stopped beating for a couple of seconds. "What?" I asked, frantic.
"Yeah," she said. "A very nice thing to do."
"You can't go," I said hurriedly.
"Why not?"
"Because… you can't."
"Jake this is your brother," she said sternly. "If you don't want to go that's fine but don't expect the rest of us to follow suit."
"Please, mum," I pleaded. "Don't go."
"What is wrong Jake?" mum asked. "Is there a special reason why you don't want us to go?"
I didn't reply.
"Jake, we're going," she said. "End of conversation."
((Hey Jake,)) came a voice in my head.
I jumped and looked out the window, miserably. A red tail hawk was flying overhead. Tobias.
((You look worried,)) Tobias said. ((If this is about that thing in the cafeteria, I already know it wasn't you. Rachel told me.))
I wanted to die. This can't be happening. Not after everything. I couldn't let my parents be taken. I couldn't no matter what.
((Jake are you alright?)) Tobias asked. ((You don't look too good.))
My mum pulled into the driveway and I got out. I followed her inside and ran up to my room where a red tailed hawk was perched on my bed.
((Are you going to tell me why you ignored me?)) Tobias asked.
"I have a problem," I said closing my door and starting to pace the length of my room.
((Alright,)) Tobias said calmly. ((Look Jake, we all know what you're going through right now, so lets get this straight. Nobody blames you no matter what future you choose for us…))
"It's not about that, Tobias," I snapped.
((So, what's it about?))
"The Sharing is holding a tribute for Tom tonight at the beach,' I said, running my hand through my hair. "My parents are going."
((Oh,)) was all he said.
"What am I going to do?" I said, frustratingly. "What am I going to do?"
((Alright, just calm down Jake,)) Tobias said. ((We don't want you to lose your powers again.))
"Forget about that," I said. "I'm not going to lose them because I'm going to use them."
((Wow,)) Tobias said. ((Somehow I have a bad feeling you meant that in a bad way.))
"I don't care if there's a good way or a bad way to use them anymore," I practically shouted and then remembering my mum was downstairs I lowered my voice. "I'm not going to let them take my parents. They captured and killed my brother; I'm not going to let them take my parents."
((We're not going to let them take your parents,)) Tobias said softly. ((Just stay here, I'll get the others.))
And before I could say anything he flew out of the window.
