“No – I don’t think so. He dated that cheerleader chick, like, a year ago, remember? I don’t think he is. I mean I know he doesn’t play football anymore, but he is totally into you.”
“You think?”
“Yeah of course he is. You have to talk to him tonight.”
“But...”
“No come on – You have liked him for like, forever, it’s time you did something about it. Just talk to him, then you’ll know.”
She sighed. “OK, OK, but you have to be near when I need to get out – Don’t leave me on my own.”
“Hey – come on – I’m your best friend... Hey I gotta go – I’ll see you at 8:30. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
Maggie’s phone clicked off and she instinctively starting playing with the screen. She swished her thumb over the gorilla glass and found the Facebook app and tapped it. The screen showed her classmates’ updates, and most of them were talking about going to the party tonight. She thumbed down the list until she saw Blake Simpson. “Getting ready to go to the lake with my boys” it said. Her heart raced as she saw the message. She thought about what she wanted to wear and looked out of the window to check the weather. Outside the sun was dropping towards the horizon, and the evening sky was turning a dusky red. She jumped off the bed and carried on fixing her hair in the dressing table mirror. She played with putting it up, but decided on down. Less try hard. She wanted to look as good as she could, but without making it obvious. Girl next door meets fashion model. Sassy but casual. A sort of Kate Moss look.
She thumbed through the phone again and saw more updates from people she knew. She clicked on the event on Facebook to see if any of her friends were going. Under the attendees list was Stuart Gibson. Oh great she thought. All I need is that creep in the way, letching all over me when I am trying to look cool and composed in front of Blake. She then had a sudden thought. If Stuart was going then... “Bobby!”
No answer.
“Robert! You there?”
Karen called from downstairs “No honey Steve took him over to see his friend Stuart a few minutes ago. He called out but you were on the phone.”
That’s all I need as well. She thought. My stupid twin brother in the way. Maybe he won’t go, or they go early and come away before me and Tina get there.
She stood up from the mirror and walked over to the wardrobe. She spent the next half an hour trying on different outfits. She started with a pair of low rise jeans with a crop top. She looked in the full length mirror at herself, decided it wasn’t right and then tried a summer dress.
She then tried on a knee length skirt, jeans and a dress and a sweater with a pair of leggings.
The routine went along the lines of – Grab an item form the wardrobe, try it on, walk over to the mirror, immediately take it off, throw it on the bed. Repeat.
Outside the sun had gone down and gave way to a warm summer evening. The sky was clear and the stars were beginning to come out, giving the air outside a magic feel.
Inside the house Maggie had emptied most of her wardrobe, via trying it on briefly before discarding it to the growing pile on the bed. She was now back wearing the jeans, and had teamed them with a different top and a pair of short boots, and she was satisfied with her look.
She stood in front of the mirror and started practicing different sassy poses that she had seen the women on Next Top Model strike on the TV. She tried the hand-on-the-hip strut, the over-the-shoulder look, and even a Victoria Beckham pout.
She was halfway through practicing all three of these at once when the doorbell rang.
Shit – what time is it?
“Maggie – Door!”
“OK aunt Karen – Coming.”
She grabbed her phone, purse and handbag and rushed out of her room and down the stairs.
Tina was standing talking to Karen when Maggie appeared at the top of the stairs. The two of them quickly said goodbye to her Aunt and got in Tina’s Honda.
The drive up to the lake took about three quarters of an hour, and the girls talked most of the way there.
“I saw that Stuart Gibson is going tonight.” said Maggie
“Really? Was he invited?”
“It went out to the school group – so he must have been on that.”
“Do you think he’ll come though? He’s not exactly a sociable guy. Does he actually know anyone at school apart from your brother? Wait – do you think Bobby will go too?”
“I don’t know – Steve took him out to see him a couple of hours ago so they might turn up.”
“Oh jeez that’s all we need. Sorry honey. I don’t mean to be disrespectful to your brother, but would he want to go?”
“I know.”
“I mean he doesn’t exactly get on with many people.”
“Yeah he is a real introvert. Ever since mum died he has shut himself away. I stopped trying to get him to come out ages ago. It was just too much like hard work. He would say he was coming, and then he would pull out literally an hour before we were due to leave. It would just mean that we would have an argument about it and I would be in a bad mood all night. So I stopped asking him. I mean I would love him to get out, you know and meet people. Try to get him to come out of his shell a bit. I think it would do him some good.”
“Then why don’t you try again.”
“It’s not worth the fight. Honestly. He gets in such bad moods. I don’t want the atmosphere at home. He doesn’t even talk to Karen and Stevie when he gets in a mood. It can last for days.”
“Wow. He has got issues.”
“Tell me about it.”
They drove in silence for a while, until they turned towards the lake.
The dirt road was wound its way through the pine trees as they descended towards the water. As they drove they caught glimpses of the boats moored by the docks. Most people took rowing boats out on the weekend, and would fish. There was also a rowing club near the pleasure boats that had its own clubhouse and bar. Uncle Steve was once a member of the weekend rowers and was often picked first in any team needed for competition racing. He would make up the four or eight man team and would regularly beat any rivals that showed up to challenge them. But that was when he was in his twenties, and when rowing was prized much higher in school than it was some thirty years later.
The trees started to become less dense, and as they approached the clearing, they could hear music pumping out and the noise of a party in full swing.
“OK, OK, there he is” said Tina as they rounded the corner. Even without looking up Maggie new that she meant Blake. When she did glance up she saw him standing with a group of guys dressed in a pair of jeans and a football jacket. Her heart started racing again.
As the car pulled over to park she saw her brother. He was standing next to Stuart. Both of them looked like spare parts at a school disco – Which wasn’t too far from the truth. From the other side of the crowd Gavin Clarke cupped his hand to his mouth and shouted something over towards the two nerds that made the crowd turn to them and laugh. Maggie saw her brother and his companion look sheepishly around them and then turn to walk back up the slope towards where Maggie and Tina were just getting out of the car.
“Hey Bobby” said Maggie. “Didn’t know you were coming – You should have told me. Could have come with us. Hi Stuart.”
“H-Hi.” He looked straight at her breasts.
Well it’s a change she thought.
“You guys not staying?” said Tina
“Nah – It’s lame. We’re going to catch the new Superman. Supposed to be awesome.”
“OK cool – Where do you wanna go?” said Stuart.
“Listen guys but I hate to break it too you, but two guys going to watch superheroes together is not exactly cool – Why don’t you stay?” said Tina.
“Ah no – we’ve gotta get going, you know, erm OK, well – see you back home.”
“But wait – How are you going to get home – Didn’t Uncle Steve drive you
here?” said Maggie. “Come on and stay for a while – We can give you a lift home.” Tina gave her a wide eyed look. “Of course we can – At least stay for one drink.”
“NO!” As soon as Bobby blurted out he realised it was too aggressive as Maggie’s expression changed to one of disappointment. “I’ll see you at home.” Bobby turned and walked away and Stuart obediently followed. Maggie looked at Tina and shrugged in an at least I tried kind of way and turned to walk in the opposite direction toward the party.
*
Bobby and Stuart trudged back up the bank away from the lake with their heads down and hands in pockets.
“It was crap anyway” said Stuart.
“Yeah rubbish wasn’t it?” said Bobby.
“So shall we go to the cinema?”
“Yeah if you want. Yeah.”
They walked along in silence for a while. Both thinking about the party and what they were going to do next. It was completely dark now and the only light was from the crescent moon and the glow from lights from the odd boat here and there dotted along the shore line of the lake. The lake itself looked like slate with the moonlight reflected in it. The walk was helping to calm Bobby down, and by the time they had been walking for a few minutes he was feeling more positive and had almost forgot the party, and was starting to wonder how they were going to get back to town without a car.
Stuart snorted a laugh. “That Gavin, man. Thought I was your boyfriend. What a dick.”
“Yeah. Don’t worry about him. I bet he was drunk.”
“Yeah.”
“He is probably gonna flunk school anyway. We’ll be the ones who look down on him when we are older. He will probably be coming to us for a job in few years.”
“Yeah – he’ll be like “can I have a job.” and I’ll be like “Who are you – Nah your shit, go away.” Ha ha.”
“Yeah – he’ll be working in McDonalds and we’ll be in some big company and see him when we go to lunch and be like “Make me a burger now.””
“Ha ha yeah.”
“So – Can we get a bus from up here? Or shall we call your uncle Steve for a lift?”
“Let’s take a look. I think there is a bus into town. I don’t have much reception here. Have to wait till we get a bit higher.”
The pine trees were starting to thin out as they walked up the path and the lights of the road up ahead were getting brighter. They could still hear the music from the party behind them, but it was gradually getting fainter and was being replaced by the noise from traffic, and the occasional cricket.
Bobby pulled out his phone to see if there was any reception yet, but when he did it was off. “Thought I charged it this morning.” He said.
“Did you play games on it earlier?”
“Yeah doesn’t last long. Damn thing.”
“Mine’s out too.” said Stuart. “That’s weird.” He tried to turn it back on again to no avail.
“Looks like it will be the bus then.”
The lake below crackled with a blue glow.
*
Tina was talking to one of the other girls from her school about exams. She had just told her that she knew someone who knew someone that heard a rumour that they could get the mid-term exam answers – for a price. She was a bit bored with the conversation mainly because the girl was drunk, and was practically leaning on her when she spoke. Tina kept trying to back away a few inches to gain back her personal space, but the girl kept leaning in again, to the point where they had slowly shuffled about six feet backwards over the last ten minutes in a drunken ballet.
Every few moments Tina looked over the drunk girls’ shoulder to check on Maggie, who, after much cajoling from Tina had finally plucked up the courage to go over to Blake when he has left his friends to go get another drink, and strike up a conversation. Tina was excited to see that the two of them had been in animated conversation for the last twenty minutes. They had just both reached into their pockets and pulled out their phones and were holding them next to each other, both talking and typing. They put their phones away, turned to face each other, kissed on the cheeks, and walked away back towards their respective friends.
Maggie started walking back up towards Tina in a slightly over elaborate catwalk strut. She turned to look over her shoulder to flash a smile at Blake who was playing the same I’m-really-cool-but-hope-you-see-me game. Once Blake had left her sight, she trotted quickly towards Tina with her hands flapping to cool her face down and looked like she was about to squeal out loud.
Tina quickly ditched her drunken dance partner and ran towards Maggie, grabbing her hand and leading her back to the car for a girly chat. “Come on – tell me.” She said.
“Got his number! Going out next Saturday!”
“Oh my god oh my god oh my god he is so gorgeous. Well done you! What did you guys talk about? I want to know everything!”
“Let’s go to your car.”
*
“I gotta piss so badly.” Bobby was bent over double looking around for somewhere to shelter from the roadside to relieve his bladder. The two friends had walked up to the main road, and were following the perimeter of the woods in search of a bus stop.
“Just go behind a tree” said Stuart.
“The cars will see me.” Bobby said looking around for somewhere else. “There’s a light on down there – Might be the rowing clubhouse.” He said gesturing towards the blue glow from the bottom of the slope near the lake.
Bobby’s eyes strained in the darkness, but he could see a white light with a shimmering blue hue further down the bank.
“OK but be quick – the bus might be along soon.”
“Bobby started his descent of the hill. As the roadside bank got steeper he had to hold onto branches to steady himself. The knowledge that he was about to urinate helped ease the pain in his crotch, and as the ground levelled out, he saw something unusual.
Below him and slightly buried in the ground was a small white – blue orb. It was about the size of a basketball, but perfectly smooth, like an opaque light bulb, or the white frost that forms on a car window in winter.
But the orb was glowing. It seemed as though it was made of something light blue, but it shone with a bright white energy, making it hard to see where the edges were.
As he got closer he could hear a very faint throb, which was not too dissimilar to the sound made by the party he had left behind earlier in the evening. He approached the light cautiously, and crouched down to get a better look. He had completely forgotten about the call of nature and was transfixed by the mystery object.
He was within about three feet of the object when the light suddenly grew brighter with a fierce intensity. Before Bobby could turn and run away the orb disintegrated into a bolt of electricity, and flew towards Bobby; striking him in the chest. The force of it sent him flying backwards, and as he landed he hit his head hard on the ground, knocking him unconscious.
The light was gone.
Ten
Captain Simpson had been stationed in the Military Police offices for the last three months. The medium sized camp that was set up by the event in the woods had been dismantled and the team had decamped to the current office and had been trying in vain to track its whereabouts.
The team knew that it had been shrinking in size even when they were stationed next to it, but now it was gone, they were monitoring all radio waves, radiation signatures and news channels for any evidence of abnormal electrical or radioactive activity.
For the first few weeks they were flooded with reports of radios going haywire, and communications breaking down, but more recently the calls had dried up, and they had held out little hope that they would find anything.
“We have had no reports of any abnormal activity for three and a half weeks” said Professor Brightside. “Not since local air traffic control reported seeing something on their radars.” Tom stared back at the Professor and sighed.
“Looks like we will be given another four weeks of funding to
keep going, but after that this investigation will be put on hold. Unless something new comes up.”
Tom absent mindedly rubbed the smooth skin on the ring finger of his left hand and turned to look out of the window. The sun was beginning to set and cast a wonderful orange glow across the sky. It was going to be a warm evening. He thought that he should really spend more time with his son, but then remembered that he was at some party tonight and would be home late.
Jeez. He thought. Work is beginning to take over again. Another late night. I spend more time here with these guys than with my family.
He stood and thought for a moment, and then turned to the room behind him. “I think I’m going to head home, gentlemen.” He made then all jump.
“Sir” said the eager young cadet.
“Need to do the family thing. Call me if anything comes up.”
He collected his belongings and made for the door. As he was walking towards his car, his phone buzzed with a text message. It was from his son.
Coming home early. Party ended as a kid from school got taken ill and rushed to hospital. Hope to see you soon.
He snapped the handset closed and opened the car door.
Good he thought. A little father and son time.
He stood and stared at the sky. The stars were gleaming brightly, creating a vast tapestry across the heavens.
What are you? He thought as he looked upwards. Where are you?
Eleven
The party was in full swing. It had started off quietly, but now all inhibitions had been lost, not even the quiet kids were quiet.
A bonfire had been lit by the water’s edge and a crowd were gathered around it, taking turns to dance near the flames. Points were awarded in the form of cheers to who gave the most exhibitionist style move. It started with some of the girls parading around in front of the boys, giving them a provocative twirl, or a suggestive look, but now was getting racier.
The pack of whooping guys on the far side were chanting encouragement to the girls. Their ringleader, Gavin, was particularly interested in the scene. “Wooo! Yeah! You go girl! Looking fine tonight!” He was waving a bottle of beer in the air and toasting every attractive girl that paraded in from of them.
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