I’ll truly be exceptional.
She would need her father’s permission, of course, but he would give it. He valued brilliance. Plus he could monitor her behavior and symptoms in case there was any real risk. Her mom would miss out on everything. She didn’t deserve to be a part of it.
Is she crazy? I think she’s crazy.
“I’m not crazy,” Pi said. “Think of this as an incredible opportunity. I’ll tell you everything you want to know. Plus I’ll meet with you once a month so you can do whatever tests on me you want. I don’t mind the risks. Imagine all you can learn. It would be brilliant research.”
It would be fascinating … but there’s no way they’re going to go for it.
Pi slammed her coffee cup on the table. “Make them go for it.”
She is hard-core. “I have to talk to my supervisor.”
Pi nodded. “Do that.”
Suzanna bit her lip. Could we do this? Yes. No. Maybe. But what if the others find out that she’s not taking the antidote? They could all decide not to take it. We’d have a major issue on our hands.
“I won’t tell anyone. You have my word.”
“But they can hear what you’re thinking!”
Pi smiled. “Not for long.”
Keeping her plan a secret hadn’t been easy. But if anyone could do it, Pi could. It took focus. And she had focus. She just could not let her mind wander. She hid. She discovered that humming helped block her thoughts. So she hummed at all times. She closed her eyes a lot. Plus she wore really, really uncomfortable shoes all week. Shoes that gave her blisters. That way she could focus on the pain.
Do you need a Band-Aid?
Why do you keep wearing them if they hurt so much?
Just get new shoes already. This is ridiculous!
She wished she could just stay home, but she feared it would be way too obvious, since she had a perfect attendance record.
She tried to teach herself to cry on demand, but unless she waved onions under her eyes, she couldn’t quite master it.
Pi had made an interesting discovery one day when she’d bumped into Keren Korb in the bathroom.
Keren had taken off her dark glasses and was splashing water on her face.
Ahhh. My skin feels so oily today.
Pi almost laughed out loud.
We hadn’t been able to hear Keren not because she was blind—but because she wore dark sunglasses. They stopped transmission. But Pi had worn sunglasses outside, hadn’t she? Yes, she had. It hadn’t stopped her from hearing other people’s thoughts, had it? She didn’t think so.
Maybe her sunglasses weren’t dark enough.
After school, she went straight to the closest Sunglass Hut and tried on a few pairs. She bought the ones that blocked the most light.
It worked. She couldn’t hear anyone in the store’s thoughts. She assumed that meant we wouldn’t be able to hear hers.
The problem was she wanted to hear our thoughts.
Plus, wearing dark sunglasses to class would make us too suspicious. Although Suzanna and her people might be able to use them. We were already suspicious of them.
Pi took the sunglasses off.
She’d figure it out.
It was a test. And Pi liked tests. She wanted to be number one.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
WE MEET AGAIN
We were told to arrive at the nurse’s office early, at seven a.m.
Our parents were asked to stay home so as not to raise suspicion among early-arriving students or faculty. We thought three men and one woman in dark sunglasses and navy suits surrounding us in the hallway might set off some alarm bells, but what did we know?
Hank Soporic greeted us in the hallway. “Good morning, everyone.” He adjusted his dark glasses first and then his tie. “There are donuts for you in the cafeteria, so as soon as you’re done, you can relax until your classes begin. Suzanna will be done setting up in just a minute.”
What’s up with the dark sunglasses?
They’re trying to look like government agents.
They are government agents.
I can’t hear what they’re thinking.
Me neither!
Is it because of the glasses?
It must be!
How did we not know that earlier?
Too late.
It’s disturbing.
Let’s just get this over with.
“Who’s going first?” Levi asked.
We all looked at Pi.
“I don’t mind.” Hum, hum, hummmmmm.
Olivia was behind Pi. Behind Olivia was Mackenzie, and behind her were Tess and BJ.
They couldn’t stop flirting.
“We should just kiss now,” BJ said.
“Why now?”
“Don’t you want to see what it’s like? To kiss with ESP? We’ll keep our eyes open and everything. It’ll be wild. It’s our last chance. C’mon, you know you want to.”
She laughed. “I’m not making out with you in front of the entire class!”
“Why not? No one cares.” He turned around and addressed the rest of us. “Would anyone care if we made out?”
Go for it!
Please don’t!
I haven’t even had coffee yet.
Tess shook her head. “I’m sure we’ll have time later. The vaccination took a day to kick in.”
“The antidote might work right away,” BJ warned. “We just don’t know. Why take a chance?”
Tess put her arms on his shoulders. I would do it if we were alone.
He stood up straight. Have you ever been in the guys’ bathroom? Let’s go.
Gross, thought Mackenzie. I’d go to the girls’ bathroom if I were you.
Tess put her hand on her hip. I shouldn’t. I know I shouldn’t.
Oh, just do it, Mackenzie thought. Why the hell not?
BJ nodded eagerly. We have at least fifteen minutes.
Tess laughed. We’re not kissing for fifteen minutes!
There’s other stuff we could do. Are you wearing the white bra? He waggled his eyebrows.
“Don’t push your luck,” she said. Then she added, All right, let’s go!
His eyes lit up. He grabbed her hand and practically galloped down the hall, dragging her behind him.
Suzanna came out and smiled. “You’re up, Pi!”
Pi went in.
We looked around at each other.
This is it. This is really it.
I can’t believe how different everything is now.
“I’m going to miss the ESP,” Olivia said.
Jordana nodded as she filed her nails. “Me too. To be honest, I’m not exactly sure why we’re getting rid of it.”
Olivia turned back to Jordana, wondering the same thing. Why were they getting rid of it?
Levi snorted. “Because it’s going to kill us?”
But would it? “We don’t know that,” Olivia said, her heart speeding up. “Maybe we should keep it,” she said quietly.
Everyone looked at each other.
The two men in navy still outside shifted uncomfortably.
“Isn’t it a little late?” Isaac asked. “We already signed the forms. I have plans for the cash.”
Olivia felt her confidence—the confidence that had come from the ESP—build inside her. “So we won’t take the checks. We’ll rip up the forms. We don’t have to do anything we don’t want to do.”
“But my eyes are purple,” Courtney said. “And I don’t want to have a stroke. Aren’t you the one who usually worries about strokes?”
“Only one person had a stroke,” Olivia said. “And he was eighty-one.” Her heart was beating hard against her chest. Was she really suggesting keeping the telepathy? Staying an Espie? What would that mean for her future?
“We need that money,” Dave said. “My family needs that money.”
“So do I,” said Michelle. I don’t have a fancy downtown apartment like the rest of you. We have mice.
“We do
n’t have to be unanimous,” Olivia said. “We can each do what we want.”
Courtney put her hands on her hips. “No way am I giving it up if I know some of you are keeping it. I don’t want you reading my mind when I can’t read yours.”
“Me neither,” added Levi.
“But what would we tell our parents?” Anojah asked, squinting.
Olivia stood up taller. Her mother was definitely going to have a heart attack. “It’s not up to our parents. It’s up to us.”
“I’m with Olivia,” Courtney said.
Levi nodded. “Me too.”
Mackenzie wasn’t sure. She thought about what Cooper had said about self-sabotage. Was keeping something in your brain that might kill you self-sabotage? Or was getting rid of a skill that could make you amazing self-sabotage? She decided it could probably go either way. “Me too,” she said. “You all know how I feel about needles.”
“But what if we get sick?” Anojah asked. “What if we do start to go blind? I can barely see as it is!”
Olivia definitely did not want to go blind. But losing her mind-reading abilities would also feel like a type of blindness. “I guess I just don’t see what the rush is. We can still get the antidote. We just don’t have to get it today. Can’t we wait and see?”
We all started to nod. What was the rush? Why were we in such a hurry to get rid of something that was so incredibly awesome?
Everyone in line was nodding, even Michelle. Everyone except Cooper.
Olivia looked up at him. “Not you?”
He shook his head. “I just want this to stop.”
She nodded. She understood. He’d had a rough few weeks.
“I know it’s been tough for you—”
He laughed. “My whole world fell apart.”
Olivia took a step toward him. Not because of the telepathy, though. Your whole world was already cracked. You just didn’t realize it.
No one said anything. Including Cooper.
“We all have to do what we have to do,” Nick said.
Just then the door opened and Pi came out. “All done,” she barked. “Who’s next?”
Oops.
We forgot about Pi!
It’s too late for her!
Pi’s eyes narrowed. “What’s going on?”
Olivia cleared her throat. “We decided—well, most of us decided—that we’re not taking the antidote.”
Her face paled. “What are you talking about?”
“We want to keep the telepathy,” Jordana said.
Pi’s eyes flashed.
She’s pissed.
Her hands clenched. Of course I’m pissed!
How did she hear us?
“The antidote takes a day to kick in,” Pi snapped. “I don’t have time for this. Go get your shots. Now. Olivia, you’re next.”
Olivia stood her ground. “I’m not getting it.”
“Yes, you are.”
“No, I’m not. We’re not.”
Pi grimaced. No! This isn’t happening! “We already came to a decision.”
Olivia did feel bad about that. “Pi, we’re so sorry we made the decision after you already took the antidote, but—”
No! Pi stomped her foot. I’m supposed to be the only one left!
“Huh?” Jordana wondered out loud, putting down her nail file. “Left of what?”
“Left of … left of …” Crap, what do I say?
Left with telepathy?
Did she get the shot or not?
We circled closer to her.
Pi, take off your blazer.
She shrugged and removed it.
She’s wearing a Band-Aid.
She could be faking it.
Why would she do that?
Why else? So she could be the only one.
“Care to explain?” Levi asked.
Pi took a step back. “There’s nothing to explain. I got the shot. Now it’s your turn.” Hum, hum, hum, hummmmmm.
Without a word, Jordana reached over and ripped off Pi’s Band-Aid.
Ouch!
Pi’s arm was needle-mark-free.
“You are such a liar!” Anojah yelled.
“This is totally worse than giving us the wrong answers on a test,” Daniel said.
Pi shook her head. “You don’t understand. They don’t want all of us to keep it. It’s too risky. It makes the most sense for it to be only me.”
The door opened. Suzanna smiled. We could see our reflection in her dark sunglasses. “Can the next person come in, please?”
She’s in on this with Pi!
The sunglasses are blocking us from hearing her!
She’s blocking us from hearing her!
They all are!
“We’re not coming in,” Olivia said.
“We know Pi didn’t get it, and neither are we,” Daniel announced.
Suzanna turned to Pi. “What are you talking about?”
Pi’s arms shook. I didn’t tell them! They decided on their own!
She can’t hear you.
But we can.
Olivia stepped forward. “We’re sorry, Suzanna, but we’re breaking the deal.”
Her smile faltered. “You can’t,” she said. “It’s too risky. We don’t know what will happen to you. You could have a stroke. You could go blind. Hank! Come out here!”
“What we want,” Olivia began, “is to not ignore this opportunity. What’s the rush, anyway? We can always change our minds later, can’t we?”
Hank stepped out of the office. “What’s going on here?”
“They’re refusing to take the antidote,” Suzanna explained. She turned back and shook her head. “We don’t know what the window is. What if you change your mind and it’s too late?”
We exchanged glances.
“I don’t think a few weeks will kill us,” Mackenzie said.
“It might,” snapped Pi.
Daniel laughed. “Says the person who wasn’t getting the antidote anyway.”
Hank shook his head. “You get the check when you get the shot. Don’t you want the money?”
There goes my college tuition.
There goes my motorcycle.
There goes my pet pig named Pillow.
“Kids,” Hank said in a cooing voice, “we’re going to have to call your parents. They’ll want you to take the antidote.”
My parents are going to kill me.
They’ll understand.
No they won’t.
We’ll make them.
It’s our lives. Our choice.
I think mine were kind of disappointed I was giving it up.
“The school won’t like it either.” Hank continued.
They’re not going to let us go to regular classes now if we can hear everyone.
And cheat.
They’ll figure something out. They’ll have to.
They’re not going to tell the rest of the students, are they?
“This doesn’t have to be a unanimous decision,” Suzanna said. “If there is anyone who wants the antidote, I can still give it.”
Cooper stepped up. “I do.”
What?
Are you sure?
Don’t do it, man!
He nodded.
“I’m calling your parents,” Hank grumbled. He took off his sunglasses and rubbed his temples. This is going to screw up everything. “This isn’t over.” He stalked off in the other direction.
Suzanna took off her sunglasses too. “If any of you change your mind, I’ll be here the rest of the day. Cooper, come with me.” Lucky kids. If I were them, I wouldn’t get rid of it either.
The door closed behind them.
“You’re all a bunch of morons,” Pi snapped, and marched down the hallway.
“What do we do now?” Daniel asked.
Courtney licked her lips. “Get a donut?”
Brinn mumbled something.
“What did you say?” Jordana asked.
Brinn wrinkled her nose. Maybe we should s
kip the donuts. In case they put the antidote in there.
“Good call,” said Dave. “But I’m starving.”
Me too.
Me three.
We’re all starving.
“Let’s raid the vending machine,” Courtney said.
We waved goodbye to the two remaining and useless bodyguards and followed her to the vending machine in the cafeteria.
* * *
That’s our story.
How we became a we.
And that’s what we are these days. A we.
When you’re a group that can hear each other’s thoughts, the line between I and we gets kind of blurry.
Along the way to the vending machine, Olivia stopped in the bathroom. She pushed the door open and interrupted a kissing BJ and Tess.
Can we do this forever?
We may have to eat at some point.
I think I can go without food.
Olivia jumped back. “Oops! Sorry!”
The couple pulled apart.
“Omigod, Olivia, you have no idea,” Tess gushed. “Kissing another Espie is the most insane thing ever.”
BJ motioned to Olivia. “You two should totally give it a try. I’ll watch.”
Tess punched him in the arm. “I guess it’s our turn for the antidote, huh?”
“Actually,” Olivia said, “there’s been a bit of a change of plans. Some of us—most of us—changed our minds. We’re not getting it. We’re keeping the telepathy.”
“Oh!” Tess said, her hand still on BJ’s arm. “Cool.”
“More Espie kissing,” BJ cheered.
“How long do we have until homeroom?” Tess asked.
“About twenty minutes,” Olivia said. “I’m going to get a snack.”
BJ waved. “We’ll be here if you need us.”
Olivia guessed she would have to find another bathroom.
She backed out and let the door swing behind her. When she turned around, she saw Cooper.
She couldn’t help feeling sad for him. “You’re done? Did it hurt?”
“No,” he said.
“Well, that’s good at least.”
“No, I mean I didn’t do it.” He smiled.
“You didn’t? Why not?”
“I don’t know. I just thought … well, Ashley already calls me her superhero. Imagine what she’d think if it were true.”
Olivia laughed.
“I guess I just hated finding out that everyone was lying to me. But now no one will be able to lie to me, right?”
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