In The Clear: Introductions IV
Eris Perrault, 17, Winnipeg MB
"What?" Eris sighs as another knock taps against her bedroom door. She throws her phone down beside her and moves to pull the door open. "What do you want?"
She's not surprised to see her half-sister, Kaya, standing in the hallway. She's dressed in her new soccer uniform, a pale blue compared to the orange she wore last season. It's hard to believe it's already time for the family to talk about nothing else for the next six months. Lucky me.
"It's our first practice," Kaya smiles. Despite being only a couple years younger than Eris, she's notably smaller. She has their mom's bright eyes and her dad's round lips. The perfect little in-between of the two parents; Eris has heard it a million times before. "Mom says we can get pizza after."
"Kaya!" As if on cue, their mother calls up the stairs. "We have to go!"
"Coming!" Kaya shouts back before turning to Eris. "It'll be fun, come on."
For a moment the bitter expression pulls away like a mask. Eris hadn't been told that soccer started tonight. She barely attended any games last season except the final where she'd been practically dragged from her room to the field. Yet, part of her does want to go. Eris simply understands that, one way or another, she isn't really invited.
Eris watches her mother climb up the stairs, neatly dressed in a parents' version of Kaya's uniform. It makes the sullen mask seal back to her skin. It pulls every small bit of stupid excitement back down where Eris can't touch it.
This is their thing. Her stepdad is probably waiting in the car wearing the same ridiculous shirt. They'll drive over together and sit together and have dinner together while Eris simply isn't part of it. Kaya will score a goal or whatever and it'll be all anyone talks about until next week. Even if Eris tagged along, it'd be just like every other time.
Eris was an infant when her biological dad left them. She was only two when her mother remarried and had Kaya. Yet, even as a toddler Eris was nothing but a growing memory. She forced her mother to remember a different life that she'd hated with Eris' bio dad. She forced her stepdad to remember that his wife hadn't always been his and that Eris would never be.
Eris ruined that perfect little family portrait almost as soon as she could walk. There's nothing she can ever do to fix that in their eyes. This house might not hate her, but it's never truly called her family either.
She looks at her sister, who grins naively back no doubt waiting for her response. Why can't you fucking see it?
"Kaya, honey," her mother says as she straightens her daughter's uniform sleeve. "I'm sure Eris will be too busy watching Supernatural. It's a Thursday."
"Supernatural was cancelled last year."
Her mother looks up from Kaya just long enough to shoot her look. Eris doesn't bother to cushion her expression. Showcasing her bitterness won't change a thing, but it might just make her feel better. Her mother doesn't get to pretend to know what she likes, pretend to care.
Yet, it's Eris who always ends up filling the silences. "I'm meeting up with friends anyway."
"Be home by ten," her mother chides. "It's a school night."
"Got it." As if you actually care.
Eris leans back until her head touches the rail behind her. All around her are speckles of whispered chattering, but she could care less. The tingling that lightens her temples is enough to put every worried thought at rest. It always is.
She opens her blurry eyes just enough to see the afternoon sun illuminate the dusty clearing. Eris doesn't know how far from school they've actually ventured, but it also doesn't particularly matter. They'll go back eventually or, even better, they won't. As far as she's concerned, it's none of her business.
"He's still in the Remand Centre." This voice comes from her right where two of the boys are still nursing the last puffs of a joint. "They'll probably keep him there a couple more weeks."
"You good?" Eris smiles as she finds Chantelle watching from beside her. The pair are the youngest of the small group, both in eleventh grade at least for the next few weeks. They met in home room last semester and the rest is, some might say, history. They might not be the keepers of each other's deepest secrets, but it's kind of nice to have a friend.
That's why, when Chantelle reaches over for a high-induced hug, Eris doesn't immediately shrug away. She grimaces a little bit and playfully rolls her eyes, but she's too content to actually be upset. How can anyone be mad when their limbs feel as light as feathers and their mind is too warm to make sense?
She doesn't have to think about anything.
"You're both in, right?" Nick turns to face them and Eris has to laugh. His eyes are squinted so far shut she's surprised he can even see her.
"In what?" Eris' own words feel distorted and she giggles.
Chantelle lays a hand on her knee and shakes her head. She leans in so close that, despite her loud whisper, it feels like no one but Eris is going to hear her. "It's all talk. They'll never get their shit together in time."
Eris cocks her head to the side. All talk about what?
Except the question doesn't leave her lips and, soon enough, Eris forgets it was ever there.
Left.
Right.
Left…
If Eris just focuses on putting one foot in front of the other, she won't have to think about anything else. All she has to consider is the route ahead, the right turn she has to make in just a few blocks. The only thing that should be occupying the space between her ears is the memorized phone number for if something goes wrong.
"Eris." The familiar voice behind her didn't stop when she walked away. In fact, Eris heard the moment her half-sister's steps quickened again to catch up. She doesn't know why Kaya's here; this isn't about her. "Are you even listening to me?"
Eris spins around to face her and the heavy case knocks against the front of her shins. "No, I'm not."
"You don't know these people," Kaya tries again. It's been the same vague worry since she found Eris a block over. She takes a step forward before making eye contact with the black case locked in Eris' grip. Her expression changes from bitter determination to fear. "Come on, let's just go home."
"Yeah, go home, Kaya." She doesn't bother to temper the annoyance that pulls at every syllable. This is none of her sister's business. The two of them haven't talked in nearly a month. There's no reason for her to be here other than to make it all about her again. These are Eris' friends. Kaya has nothing to do with this.
Why can't I have anything? Eris feels her grip tighten on the case's handle. Kaya could've chosen to speak to her at any point in the last month but of course she chooses now. What Eris wants has never been on her radar; it's never mattered to anyone. Eris finally has friends. She finally has a life that she doesn't want to shut her bedroom door on. For the first time, Eris can say that she doesn't give a shit about her family and mean it.
They shut her out for years. Maybe it wasn't Kaya, not really, but she's the center of everything while Eris is lucky to have a place on the outskirts. Her parents made that choice long before Eris knew what it meant to be second, but how did Kaya not realize? How did her sister, who looked up at her like they were best friends, not notice?
Eris stared at her sister in the hallways between their rooms. She demanded the tears in her eyes retreat but they refused to. Of course Kaya found out about Caden's charges, it'd been all over the news. As much as Eris had heard from her other friends how they needed to break him out, she heard just as much disgust from her family. She was almost more shocked that it took three days for Kaya to confront her.
"They're not good for you."
Eris didn't bother to respond. She reached for her doorknob and Kaya hit her hand away. When Eris looked up, she saw that the tears in her eyes were running down her sister's face. Eris had left the dinner table specifically because she didn't want to hear it anymore. If her family wanted to pretend to care, they could do it without Eris.
Eris doesn't remember exactly what she said that night. She recalls feeling the words slip out as easily as breathing. It all came out, every bitter thought that Eris has had since her mind thought to store them. All the stinging tears that made young Eris wonder what was wrong with her shot out like cannonfire. Her expression evaporated as her words shot daggers at her sister. By the end, both eyes were bone dry while Kaya's were overflowing.
She does, however, remember how that night ended. Eris looks at her sister now with the same disdain, the same words seared on her lips. I hate you.
"I know." Kaya's jaw clenches as Eris realizes she's said the words aloud. Glass trembles in her sister's eyes, but this time no splinters fall. The bitterness that gleams back at her is like looking in a mirror. "But we have to go."
Kaya grabs the case mere centimeters from her hand. On the street just outside of Memorial Provincial Park, she pulls as hard as she can.
And Eris doesn't remember anything else.
Lyanna Coramar, 17, Brandon MB
Lyanna furiously pulls open her laptop before even sitting down. She's still in her school clothes with a ponytail that's been giving her a headache all day. Her book bag is slouched over her night stand and her phone hasn't even made its way to the charger yet. Right now, she is thinking about none of those things.
Today was, quite possibly, the worst 'first day of school' of Lyanna's entire life.
"Lyanna, dear," Ms. Wakefield asked as the end of period bell died between the desks. "Could you stay back a moment?"
Lyanna stiffened as she felt every students' gaze land on her. She stared perfectly forward, unaffected save for the blush that had already started under her collar. She tried not to listen to the chorus of playful ooo's that seemed to take residency at the front of her mind. Lyanna busied herself with packing up her pencils until all the surrounding desks were empty.
"Yes, Ms?" This wasn't what she wanted to say, but just seeing the points of her teacher's shoes approaching made her lips dry. Lyanna wouldn't dare disrespect her, not even when she had so clearly decided to embarrass her.
"Welcome to Prairie Hope." When Lyanna looked up, the teacher was smiling brightly. "How are you finding it so far?"
"Well," Lyanna nodded.
"I noticed that you were struggling with quadratics during class today." The smile didn't budge. "I realize you weren't here last year, and perhaps that's put you a step behind. We have one of the strongest math programs in the province. I'd be more than happy to set you up with a tutor to get you up to speed."
Just like that the niceties were over. Lyanna felt her cheeks start to burn but she refused to react. No matter that she wanted to argue, she held her tongue. She didn't need extra help. She was more than fine without it.
She wasn't behind. That word wasn't in her vocabulary.
Lyanna slams her fists down beside her laptop as she waits for it to restart. She can't get that idiotic smile out of her face. She's as good as any Prairie Hope student if not better. Lyanna has never spent a day behind in anything. It's the one thing she's never had to worry about.
She's been at three schools since starting high school and at least a dozen beforehand. Lyanna has lived in nearly every part of Manitoba and a good chunk of Alberta as well. She's never been anything but an exemplary student. Her parents brag about her to everyone.
It's the only thing she's ever heard them say about her. When she's introduced to her dad's coworkers, it's always with some quip about her being the smartest Coramar. Sometimes Lyanna wonders if that's all they know about her.
Sometimes she wonders if there's anything else worth knowing.
She quickly pulls up the Prairie Hope website. Lyanna scans but she's seen it a dozen times already, there's nothing special. They boast about their literacy test scores and various sports times. She half-believes every high school in the province follows the same template.
Lyanna glances at the top of the page and easily finds the staff login. She doesn't hesitate as she inputs the memorized passcode. Ms. Wakefield should really consider not leaving it on a sticky note beside her desktop.
It's all right here. Lyanna swallows as she clicks name after name, not even stopping to blink. Most of them are unremarkable, 80s or 90s across most classes. Some, however, stick out.
At Prairie Hope there are seven students just like her.
And one, Amadis Navarro, that's even better.
Lyanna is lost in her English essay when a knock at the front door disrupts her. She sighs and quickly saves her progress before closing it down. There's no one else home, but it's just become a habit. The last thing she needs is for someone to see her other tabs. They're nothing that a little explanation can't wash away, but Lyanna would rather not waste the effort.
From the staff login, she's managed to grab her math teacher's TurnItIn profile and drive. She's learned how easy it is to alter data and how badly some students don't want their data leaked. None of the students even realize that it's her. It's been over a month and Ms. Wakefield appears none-the-wiser.
She makes her way through the main rooms. The Coramar house is, as usual, in pristine condition. It's not hard when the only person who really uses it is Lyanna. To anyone else the white decor would feel almost clinical. To Lyanna, it's the only thing she knows.
There's nothing special about their new house in Brandon, in fact it's practically a carbon copy of their last one. The furniture is all the same. The paintings are still the abstract greys that her mom fell in love with a year ago.
If her house felt lived in, if it were anything but silent and spotless, it wouldn't feel like home.
Lyanna opens the door to find a man standing idly on the steps. He smiles when he sees her and she gives him a nod of acknowledgement. He looks vaguely familiar, but then again most of her parents' associates dress in this sort of business-casual. He's little different than any other white man in a sports jacket.
"Good afternoon." The man steps forward to shake her hand and Lyanna accepts without hesitation. She's more used to this than the various greetings people her age have come up with.
"Hello," she nods. "I'm afraid my parents aren't here at the moment. I can let them know you stopped by?"
"Actually I'd like to talk to you, Lyanna. May I come in?"
She hesitates for a moment before allowing him inside. There's something about the man that is familiar, and besides it's not like she's ever actually home alone. She's been hearing the carpet cleaners upstairs all afternoon.
"I'm Agent Nguyen with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service." Lyanna's throat goes dry as he flashes a bronze badge from his jacket pocket. "It's come to our attention that you've been accessing confidential information through your school database."
The way he says it isn't a question. Lyanna swallows, unable to bring forth any of the arguments she's already thought through. It's harmless. They should protect it better if it's such a big deal. None of them feel sufficient now that she's looking at him.
"You're not in trouble," he says after several seconds of pause. "I think we can help each other out, actually. Your parents speak very highly of you, Lyanna."
It's impossible to stop the audible sigh of relief. Her mind soaks in every compliment as he continues, but there's something itching at the back of her mind. Lyanna can't bring herself to stop him long enough to ask, but she can't shake it.
The badge he's carrying isn't a CSIS badge.
It's from the Canadian Armed Forces.
Lyanna settles back at her desk, still sipping the remaining third of her mocha. It's been a quiet morning, which on any other day would make it boring, but today she doesn't mind. Between the headlines and the frantic emails from Prairie Hope, there's been enough excitement.
Who is she to complain about an extra few days off? She's certain that's what every other high school student is thinking today. Lyanna certainly isn't bothered to have more time to just hang around the house. Maybe she'll finally start unpacking.
She glances at her closet, where she can see a neat stack of boxes practically waving back at her. This is the longest she's spent in one place, but force of habit tells her not to believe it. Lyanna's own ego begs her not to.
She's done nothing to settle in over the past seven months. She hasn't bothered to join any teams or extracurriculars. Lyanna's existed in Brandon the same way she did in Winnipeg, Steinbach, Airdrie, and every other city she's lived in.
She hasn't.
Lyanna manages to be a ghost in every house she moves into - not really living in any of them. Her room proves that with its lack of decoration. No one that walks inside would believe it belongs to a teenage girl.
Lyanna approaches the closet cautiously. She runs her hand down the seam of the front three boxes before closing the door on all of them. The truth is that she doesn't want to stay. In fact, now that everything's come to a head overnight, she's even more eager to finally leave.
Lyanna did everything the agent asked. She took the tutoring position with Amadis and spent weeks wearing her down. She switched out the chemical at lunch after offering to clean up Mr. Wilson's lab. She pulled it all off seamlessly.
Mr. Wilson…
Lyanna refuses to dwell on the name. She didn't kill him, she didn't even think he'd be back when he was. Beyond ensuring a trace of the chemical was left on the lab bench, Lyanna didn't have anything to do with the explosion. As far as she knew, he wasn't a target. His obituary isn't her fault.
It isn't.
There's a knock at her front door but, as she moves to answer it she hears footsteps beat her to it. She takes another sip of her mocha and stretches back against her chair. She did what was asked of her. That's it, that's all.
Lyanna is just about to open her inbox when she hears her name echo through the hallways. She quickly logs out and closes the laptop, a direct order from Agent Nguyen any time she leaves it. She's followed every instruction perfectly. If all goes well, she should have a job lined up by graduation.
She steps quickly down the main staircase, but pauses halfway down. Lyanna glances from her mother to the two officers standing barely inside the threshold. "Lyanna Coramar?"
She straightens her posture and nods. They don't wear the same clothes as Agent Nguyen, but this must be related. Lyanna takes a soft breath and forces a pleasant smile to her lips.
The shorter of the pair steps forwards. "You're under arrest for multiple counts of extortion and unauthorized use of a computer."
"What's going on?" Her mom's face has gone practically grey as she looks wide-eyed at Lyanna. She wants to shake it off, to smile and tell her mom there's nothing to worry about. All she can do is stare blankly between the officers.
She clenches her jaw until the muscles hurt but, no matter how hard she searches, there's nothing else to find. Lyanna doesn't see Agent Nguyen behind them, but she doesn't need to. Those are the same charges he mentioned on their first meeting; the same thing he knew about but said the government would look past if she helped them.
She wonders if he ever actually intended to keep that promise.
A/N: Slowly but surely we are getting through these. Thank you to everyone that's been leaving their thoughts whether that be reviews or discord channel screaming. I appreciate you all. If you have the time, I'd love to hear what you think of Eris & Lyanna.
Up next will be Noam & Vasilisa!
~ Olive