Chapter 5.
I think it should be said here that in my reality I had never obtained my license. It didn't seem very important and besides we never had time to drive. Now as I was faced with driving a car by myself in this alternate reality, it seemed like a minor problem. When stacked up against the fact that I had to change history to save my father, driving this vehicle, no matter how beat-up it looked, seemed a trifle.
As I drove down the street away from my new home and my fake father, my mind was plagued by questions. How had this happened? What was I supposed to do about it? I knew the first thing was to call the number. If it was ever to be used, the time was now. So to the dismay of several people behind me I swerved into the parking lot of the nearest gas station. Minutes later I was still searching through my belongings. A cell phone was discovered in my backpack and a quick dive into my purse revealed a small compact with a mirror and a pen.
Hurriedly and to the consternation of whoever might be watching, I stripped off my sock and shoe. After a couple very acrobatic moves I had the mirror at the right angle to reflect the image of the tattoo back at me. Eagerly I scribbled the revealed digits down on my arm. Then, I flipped open the cell phone. I looked at the surprisingly hip device with disdain. Would it be safe to use this?
What if Secondhand was listening in on the call? What if the number showed up on the bill and was revealed to all? With a muffled groan I slammed my head down on the steering wheel. The horn beeped loudly startling me and the old man on the sidewalk. I mouthed 'sorry' and grabbed my purse. I could always use the pay phone right? Besides I needed some caffeine anyway. I entered the little store and headed to the back towards the refrigerated section. The floor was tiled and grimy, the shelves in disarray. All in all it was the usual type of establishment for a gas station.
Another teenager was already in front of the drinks with her back to me. She was about my height with long gorgeous black hair worn down to her shoulder blades. From what I could see she looked like a hard core goth with black pants and a dark purple satin shirt. I waited silently behind her, trying not to hum as I so often did when nervous. She made her choice and shut the door.
Her face was shown in the glass divider and our eyes met. I tried not to let my jaw drop as Magenta turned around towards me with a smile, "Hey Lydia, you ditching first hour again?"
"Maybe," I said trying to sound playful. The truth was I didn't know if I'd show up at school at all today. My first priority was calling that number. I didn't want to act suspicious by staring at the changed Maj, so I opened the door she had just closed and pulled out an iced coffee, "Are you ditching?" I asked hoping to turn the conversation away from me.
"No, I have a test first hour that I can't miss. I just wanted to get some breakfast beforehand, you know?" she said holding up her energy drink and a package of skittles.
"Yeah, some breakfast." I answered looking her up and down as we walked to the cash register.
She paid and then waited as I bought my stuff as well, "So Lydia, if you're not ditching, you think you could give me a ride? I left the house kind of late today, and I'll probably be late if I walk the rest of the way," she widened her dark eyes and took on a pouting expression.
"Sure, I can give you a ride, but uh…I have to make a quick phone call first."
"Here, you can use my cell phone," she said pulling it out of one of the voluminous pockets in her pants.
"Thanks," I answered as I took the change from the man at the counter and then took the proffered phone. I took a couple steps away from the counter and turned my back to them. Stealthily, I slid my sleeve up to reveal the number and dialed it in. Secondhand wouldn't be listening into her phone conversations right? I told myself to stop being so paranoid and plugged my other ear as I listened to the ringing.
The other line rang two or three times before someone answered. I heard the door behind me open with a jingle and then close again, "Go to school," a man's voice commanded from the other end and then just as abruptly the phone call ended. I glared at the screen before ending the conversation from my line. I was outraged by the simple instruction, but really what other option did I have? I closed the phone and pushed back my short auburn hair with an exasperated sigh.
I turned back to Magenta who was rather engaged flirting with the guy behind the counter. I rolled my eyes and walked towards her, "Here," I said handing her the phone, "Are you ready to go?"
"Uh-huh," she answered following me to the door. We approached the car silently, and got in. I wondered if it was even ethical of me to drive with her in the car, considering my notable lack of skill driving. Then again, if she could walk there then the school must not be that far away. I pulled under the awning to fill the car's tank, at least I knew how to do that, and then we were off.
Magenta startled rambling as soon as we had pulled out of the parking lot, "Gosh he was a hottie," I assumed she was talking about the cashier she'd been flirting with, "I mean if you weren't already dating I'd say you should've gone and talked with him."
I looked at her curiously, dating? "What guy?"
The gothic girl turned to me, eyes rolling under dark eye-shadowed lids, "You're kidding right? That guy in the magazine aisle that was staring at you," she laughed, "I can't believe you didn't see him, he was totally checking you out. It looked like he was heading to work: black suit, sunglasses the whole nine yards. He's probably some genius who graduated college early and got snapped up by the FBI…wasn't too old, twenties maybe…"
A doubt was growing in my mind, black suit, sunglasses, FBI? This was all leading to a very strange conclusion, "What color was his hair?" I asked suddenly, interrupting her tirade on his looks.
"So you do want to know? Reddish, kinda like yours…maybe a little darker, it looked good on him though…you know if you and War…"
I slammed on my breaks at the stoplight almost causing the car in the back of us to rear-end me. Magenta was silenced by the swearing of the man behind us. She quickly rolled up her window and reminded me to take a left at the next light. It was so strange, almost inconceivable that even in this alternate dimension that strange man was stalking me. Who was he? What did he have to do with all of this? I was very suspicious that he was some kind of spy for my uncle and hoped he hadn't been able to track my call with some strange spy gadget.
"Was the guy watching while I used your phone?" I asked Magenta trying to sound nonchalant.
"No, he got a call and left…didn't even buy anything. Why?" now she was sounding suspicious.
"No reason," I answered in a high-pitched tone as the school loomed up before us. I looked on the compound with shock, trying not to betray my inner feelings.
The building was surrounded by tall wire fencing and there was only one entrance. There were hardly any windows in the building and they all looked to be rather small. I pulled into the parking lot and was immediately stopped by a security guard dressed in all black. Searching frantically, I found a school id in my wallet and flashed it at him. He nodded and waved his hand for me to enter. It didn't look like anybody was assigned certain parking spots. I hoped not to interfere with that at least. The large gray prison-like building rose up before me as I pulled into a spot and turned off the car.
It was too much to see the beautiful campus transformed into a place that looked like it was meant for juvenile detention wards. I suppose that's what made me sit in the car with my eyes welling up. Maybe it was the fact that my father was probably dead somewhere in the past and I had no idea how to save him. At any rate this dimension was turning out to be rather grey and dismal. The storm clouds overhead and the howling wind only added to the atmosphere of despair.
I just wanted to sit there all day and pretend away the problems that plagued me, but I reminded myself that I couldn't, especially with Magenta watching me. We both exited the car. I noticed that most of the students had already gone inside. Apparently, I was going to be late again if I didn't move quickly. I wiped my eyes, hoping my mascara wasn't smeared. Nervously I touched the charm at my throat and locked my car. Hey, at least I had figured out how to drive without killing anyone.
We walked up the concrete steps, avoiding several old pieces of gum that sat there, wishing for some disinfectant. I hadn't realized what a blessing Sky High really was until I saw this building, awash in grime and graffiti. The doors opened to reveal several student packed halls and I thought with panic that I didn't know where to go; I didn't even know where my locker was. What was I supposed to do? Ask Magenta? She was already looking at me like I was crazy. Mosey into the office and tell them that I had forgotten my locker combo and my class schedule?
I turned just in time to see Magenta break off at a classroom. She gave a small wave and then was gone, leaving me to the chaotic atmosphere of the hall. Suddenly, I saw Warren Peace a little ways in front, looking around as if he was watching for someone. With dread my eyes locked onto his and he came striding over. The strange thing was he was smiling. Not the half-grin that I had sometimes seen, but actually smiling. I hoped I hadn't done something to make him mad and looked around for a quick exit. He stopped in front of me and his grin disappeared, "What's wrong Lyd?"
"Lyd?" I thought to myself, wondering what the heck kind of nickname that was. I didn't have much time to respond because he bent his head down to kiss my cheek. Without thinking I froze the moment an instant before his lips met my skin. This was unbearably strange. How did something so implausible come to be, was I dating him? What happened to him hating me? I longed for the cold shoulder and suddenly the time freeze was let go.
The action happened before I could take note of what it felt like. He straightened, obviously waiting for a response to his question. "Nothing," I stuttered and looked at my toes while a red blush crept up my neck. He nodded but seemed to want to say more when a bell rang in the hall, ushering all remaining students to hurry to class.
Before I could ask him exactly where my class was he grabbed my hand and I followed. Either we had the same first hour class, or we were ditching. Considering the character of the pyro it was probably the latter. I glanced at several people in the halls, recognizing some, being confused by others who looked strangely changed. Zach passed us, but he was dressed in dark colors that didn't seem to suit him at all.
I thought at least some would stare at the strange sight of Warren Peace walking down the hall hand in hand with a girl but no one gave us a second glance. We stopped outside a classroom door and he let go of my hand as we passed through the open door. Before I could react another student shoved through, right past me, pushing me into the wall as he walked out of the classroom.
Warren turned at my small, muffled protest and we both watched the retreating back of Will Stronghold. "Stronghold, watch where you're going," Warren yelled at him and was promptly met with the finger. My eyes widened in shock as we sat down in the last two empty seats in the classroom. Will just flipped off Warren Peace after shoving me into a wall? There was much more changed in this dimension then I had thought would be possible.