Hey guys! Dang, it's been a while! School has been kicking my tail like crap and I have so been trying to use every spare second on this new update. The semester is almost over though, so I should have it a little easier then and more time to update. I'm hoping and praying that it gets better after. It's finally here, the 3rd Chapter of What Lies Beneath! Enjoy!
"Who can tell me the answer this question?" Mr. Braswell asks and calls up a student from the front row of the classroom to the dry erase board.
The moment I am out of his zone of vision, I move my math textbook aside and turn to a page in my journal.
Why would Banter show himself to me now? After 3 months? Coincidence or not?
Where did he even come from? He's not normal in the slightest.
Is there a connection between him, his home, and….Eli?
I add these questions to my list. As ridiculous as it sounds, for some reason it's easier to think clearly through each hypothesis and each piece of this complicated puzzle when I write these questions down on paper.
I was almost too busy enjoying myself this morning and thinking about Banter, I completely forgot about my civics homework that was due today. My victory over Shaina's sadistic torture on the bus couldn't save me from a fierce scolding from Mrs. Webb; Not that I probably didn't deserve it since it's the third time in a row in a matter of two weeks. But I didn't feel too bad as I could still make it up. I managed to make my way through English and pushy Mrs. Taji through Foreign Language class. I can withstand a little bit of her yelling and Mr. Braswell's long math lectures. Besides after school is over, I can finally figure out the mystery of the little slug hiding out in my backpack for the past several hours, who's been surprisingly quiet and probably already eaten more than half the apples I put in there for him to snack on. Just as long as he isn't seen….
I reach in my pocket to check the time on my phone, but my fingers only feel the bottom of my pocket. Great! I must have left my phone at home on the counter. Just perfect! I pick up my pencil and write down the problems on the board.
My pencil stops moving as I feel nudging against my neck! Thank goodness my hair is down!
Banter was sitting right there, looking up at me plaintively from my shoulder!
"Banter," I whispered softly, but also trying to make my voice sound as urgent as possible (which wasn't very easy), "You can't be here. Get back in my bag. Now!"
He cocks his head to side with a grumpy expression.
"What? Don't tell me. You ate all of them already?"
He chirps. "Banter be quiet! The last thing we need is someone seeing you, calling up the news, and you being turned into a lab rat! Now get back-"
"Miss Kirkwood?" My head whips around to the front of the classroom, Mr. Braswell staring daggers into my eyes, "Is there something you would like to share with the rest of the class? Because clearly it's more important than my lesson."
"No sir. I'm sorry. It won't happen again."
"It better not Kida," he shot back, his expression even scarier as he looked over the tops of his glasses, "I've had to get onto you one too many times about participation. One more interruption and I will have no choice but to send you to detention. Whatever is on your mind you can save for unstructured hour. Until then, I would like your full attention up here. Since you seem to be into the program now, then perhaps you can answer this question I just put up on the board. Please demonstrate for us how to solve for x in this equation."
Darn it! Did he really just have to throw me under the bus in front of the class like that?! I mean come on! I wasn't even being that loud!
I begrudgingly left my seat and endured the silent judging stares at walked to the front of the classroom. A stare down with Mr. Braswell was a battle that would not be in my favor.
It's fine, okay? Just a little more time. That's all it is. Let's just hope within that time I don't earn three hours in detention.
By the time the bell rang for us to have unstructured hour, my stuff was already all in my bag and ready to go. I practically sprinted towards my locker to put away my other books, not caring what or who I bumped into and muttering absent apologies as I went. All I cared about was getting there before Shaina or any other of Lindsey's trouble-seeking flunkies could spot me. Heck, I was even moving fast enough that the security guards would have a hard time figuring out who was tearing through the hallways.
I looked up and down the hall. Still no Shaina, Kari, Savannah, or the witch herself. Must have chickened out because of her little embarrassment this morning. Must have run back to her master with her tail between her legs like a kicked puppy. It's not like I'm elated to have seen her choke, and on one of her OWN pranks, but I don't regret anything I said to her at all.
I need to solve this mystery with Eli. Where did he go? If only I could just talk to him. Wow. I really am getting obsessed.
The bus is as usual as quiet as a graveyard, everyone with their earbuds in, and on their devices. Still no Shaina. Only me and my excitement.
I pull out my wallet and open it to a picture that me and Eli got together at the photo booth at the skating rink right before he disappeared…
"Looking good Kida!" He yells as he whirrs right past me and spins round to face me.
Why does he always feel the need to show off how much better he is at this stuff than me?
"No, I'm Nooooooo-" My arms swing backwards unsteadily, but I don't fall down on my butt, which is most likely going to have a lot of bruises on it the next day. But I swear if I do it again, I'm staying right where I fall.
"Not really! I can't put in any speed."
"Sure ya can!" He almost screams over the loud booming music, "You've got to stop worrying about falling. That's mainly your problem."
"Oh sure! I've only done it like fifteen times every few seconds. If I go any slower and I'll be going in reverse! I don't know how in the heck you talked me into doing this!"
He shakes his head and chuckles, while coasting backwards and looking at me. How can he this happy all the time? "You're seriously telling me you'd rather be cooped up in your house? All by yourself? Come on! You gotta admit this is WAY more fun."
"If you call landing hard on your knees enough times to make them turn purple by the next morning, then definitely! I'm having a blast!"
He slows down on his skates, a mischievous smile on his face that makes me nervous. "Alright Spitfire, you leave me no choice! You came for fun, and that's exactly what you're gonna get!"
He's gonna crash into me! I cross my arms in front of my face! But instead of a hard knock to the ground, hands grab me from behind and when I open my eyes….I'm flying across the rink!
"Eeeellliiii! I can't go this fast! I'm gonna fall!"
"No your not. I won't let you."
I feel like my whole body is buzzing with energy! I feel like I'm about fall over, but Eli easily steadies me. He's really strong. I wonder if he's this social with the other girls he hangs out with at school. I wish my heart would stop beating so fast! Why do I feel so nervous?
"As soon as you let go-"
I feel his fingers slipping from my arms! "Too late! Now coast!"
I shut my eyes and I spin around!
"But you need to see where you're going!"
I'm still upright, but I'm not going straight anymore. He skates up beside me, flashing a smug grin. "What'd I tell you?"
"Don't be ridiculous! If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be getting my twentieth beating of the night."
"But it sure is much more fun riding the rink instead of falling on it, right?"
"Whatever."
After about an hour of none stop racing: Best out of 2, best out of 4, best out of 10, best out of 15, Eli bought me a soda and sat down with me at one of the tables by the rink.
"Alright. Not bad. Cross getting you out of your school zone off the list."
I swallowed the last bit of my drink. I don't understand why he wants so badly to mess around with a nobody like me. Why is he always pushing me to "get out of my element? "What's that suppose to mean?"
"Well, for one thing you're actually talking. You don't do that much during school."
"Why wouldn't I? It draws much less attention to myself. And less attention equals less trouble to deal with."
"But don't you want to interact with people? Make friends? You can't be clammed up in your our shell for the rest of your life."
"What the heck Eli? Didn't you get the briefing on the first day. I'm more of a magnet for bullies than friends."
"You found a friend in me didn't you?"
I turn away from him, but I'm most likely turning every possible shade of red right now. Does he enjoy doing this to me? "You don't count. Pretty much anyone you converses with you could find a friend in you Eli."
"Not true."
I punched him in the arm. "You liar!"
"Ow! Hey, I'm serious. I may get along with people, but that doesn't mean I'm friends with everyone."
"That's not my perception."
His grin turns to a frown, a very un-Eli feature about him. He's always so happy and energetic. But right now, he looks almost sad. Maybe I was being a little too rough earlier. I must have struck a nerve somewhere to make him lose his smile.
"Being part of the popular kids isn't exactly as perfect as you think it is Kida."
His voice is quivering. I didn't want to do this to him! "Eli-"
"Sure, I do get attention from the other students. People know who I am around the school, and I get admired for my drag racing skills. But not even half the people who know my name even know my likes, dislikes, what my profession would be after school, or even my favorite song. It's mainly because I drag race, and because of my last name, the fact that I'm "a Shane." It means more to them to just have met the son of a renowned man than to actually get to know him. A large part of the time, I'm by myself."
Eli really must trust me to be this open with me about this. Do I mean that much to him? How the heck could everyone like him so much and yet not even know what he likes or doesn't like? Not even Lindsey knows. Then again, she basically just fools herself and believes whatever she wants to believe as always. Or course, Eli has that inviting aura about him, something that just draws you to him and makes you...woah I need to search my thoughts and stop daydreaming.
But Eli? Alone? It never really crossed my mind to ask him about what he does at school when he's not in class. He and I don't have the same lunch, and I never thought to ask him where he'd be during that time. Why do I always make everything about me? How selfish I must seem to him.
"I'm….so sorry Eli. I never thought….I'm just so so sorry for assuming that about you,"My head droops and my hands cover my face. I know that I look pathetic, but I HAVE to be open with him,"Please forgive me. I really am a terrible friend. I shouldn't have to jump to conclusions."
Eli's eyes opens wide in surprise. His cheeks are dusted pick like he's embarrassed, and he waves his hands franticly. "Hey, hey it's alright. It's alright. You were a little standoffish, but I don't blame you. You're such much different than everyone else and like that about you. Wow, if I had known I had to get deep like this for you to soften up, then I would have-"
"Eli! I'm trying to be serious! What I did was really messed up!"
His kind smile reappears and I feel my insides are doing somersaults. It felt great that didn't take my arrogance personally, but. "Like I said, it's alright. I forgive you."
"Thanks. I appreciate that."
"I….really enjoy spending time with you Eli," I laugh. I can't help laughing when I'm around him. I'm learning so many things when I'm with you, like how to do physics, deal with Lindsey, and even rollerblade."
"I didn't do anything….except give you a nudge."
I punch him in the arm again.
"Ow, do you have to be so violent? What was that for?"
"For grabbing me. A nudge? More like a near-death experience on wheels."
Eli laughs."You're going to stand there and tell me to my face that that wasn't fun?" he says smiling. Why does he have to be so darn kind? He's really something else. I really love that about him.
"Go again?"
"You are ON!"
I'm too excited to even take all the steps off the bus! I sprint from the top and run for the front door. I throw my backpack onto the floor beside my bed and find some comfortable clothes in my dresser. Pulling my sweater over my head, I look around for my phone. I probably won't have to worry about my parents finding me gone since they are working late again. If they are too tired to drive home, they may as well just sleep in the lab. But where is phone? Maybe I didn't bring it with me to school?
I look under the covers and on my charger, but still can't find it. Eventually, after a thorough search in my room, I find it on the counter.
I'll lose my head if it doesn't stay attached to my neck.
On the fridge, the note my parents left is still hanging on front of the fridge, under the magnet just as I left it this morning. They haven't been home at all today. They at least stop by the house at least one time during the day with new instructions or a new message for me. I take the magnet and note under it.
They may have been too busy today with the new progression in their research. I can still talk to them, even if they are working.
I stuff my phone and magnet into my sweater pocket and then grab for a pair of socks, but they move a few inches away. I reach for them again, this time faster, but they move again. All at once they jump right out of my drawer and land on the floor! I smirk and pounce on them as they skitter across the floor and disappear to the other side of my bed. Creeping up onto my bed on all fours, I crawl to the very end until I'm right above them.
"Banter, I believe you have something of mine. Come on."
"Banter? That's enough. Come on. Cough 'em up."
I see him peep up from behind the covers wearing a rascally smile on his face. He reminds me Eli whenever he felt the indisputable need to push me out of my comfort zone and into the spotlight. He fits in so well with the pops, but was so friendly to the lower class in school, people like me.
"You probably won't understand this, but I'm so glad I found you Banter. You're the first friend I've had in awhile."
He scurries out from under the covers, and seemingly trying his best to smile with my pair of socks hanging out of his mouth.
"You remind me so much of him."
Banter drops the socks and cocks his head with confusion.
"He was a good friend of mine, like a big brother and best friend at the same time. And maybe….more than that. I must have had some kind of appeal to him for him to give me the time of day he did. True, that we may only have been friends for a year and a half, but it felt so much longer. I could be so open and as much as I played it strong for him, he could see right through my charades. I'm an easy book for him to read, and a short one. I hate that about him, but I love it at the same time."
Banter slouched with his wings spread out and chirping lowly with a solemn smile.
"Yeah, I really liked him, unlike anyone else."
He flopped off of the bed and hopped up onto my lap and then my shoulder, nudging my neck like a persistent cat.
I rub his head with my fingers. "Yes Banter, I like you a lot too."
I enjoy Banter's company so much, but it can't repair the hole in my heart where a piece of Eli once existed.
Eli, why the heck did you have to up and disappear like this? And without a single word? I don't know why you left or why you didn't bother to give me a clue Eli, but I swear that I'll…...find…..a clue? He must have left me SOMETHING to help find out where he went. There must be SOMETHING!"
I pull out my wallet and look at the picture of the two of us side by side at the skating rink. We decided to take just one picture outside the photobooth and had to retake it several times before I could get my smile right.
All the sudden, Banter begin to chirp so loud, my ears start to ring! He leaps off of my shoulder, the bandages around his injured wing fluttering to the floor, and revealing perfectly healed skin! He flies as so fast around the room, he almost looks like a blur!
That should have taken at least A WEEK to fully heal! A few days at the LEAST!
"I guess your wing is all better now!"
He zooms down to my eye level, spinning around and around over the photo. Finally he lands gracefully on the picture and chirps happily like little kid on his birthday.
"Do you know him, Banter? Do you know who this is?"
He nods so fast and then takes off into the air again, chirping his head off. He flies to the ceiling and looks at me and then flies towards the open door.
"Banter, wait for me!"
He zips back, hovering in the frame of my bedroom door. I'm almost inclined to follow his lead! I'm going to find Eli!
I stuff a few snacks into my backpack, my laptop, and a few other things I'd need.
"Lead the way Banter."
I'm sorry about the cliffhanger! But I squeezed in some ElixKida fluff! We're getting to the good stuff! Please review and tell me what you think! Review! Review! REVIEW!