by C. C. Lynch
Though I should have been terrified at the possibility that I was being tricked into some sort of dangerous situation, I was actually a bit intrigued. Nicholas’s black sedan pulled up to the corner and I mentally let the wall fall then got into the car.
“Whoa,” Nicholas guffawed, “is there something other than sneakers on your feet?”
“Yeah,” I giggled nervously, “I let Steph do the makeover she’s been dying to give me all these years.”
His knuckles went white for a moment as he gripped the steering wheel harder when I mentioned Steph’s name. Closing my eyes and sighing inwardly I tried to pick up on the emotions around me. I felt excitement, nervousness, and giddiness. Being able to decipher which emotions belonged to who would have been easier if I hadn’t been feeling those exact ones, or if I hadn’t spent most of my life trying to keep people’s thoughts and feelings out of my head.
“You car smells good,” I sniffed honing in on what exactly I was sensing. “It’s like mint and tea tree oil.” Nicholas’s car usually smelled like a bag of dirty gym clothes with a few sprays of cologne to mask the foul scent. Another detail that was different about the man I was in the car with.
“Okay?” His voice was barely audible and he adjusted his hands on the wheel.
The rest of the ride was filled with small talk about our first days back at school. My hands were tucked under my thighs, a nervous habit I had developed years ago. As the ride became more comfortable I played with my gift and I repeatedly began to push into his mind then retreat slowly. Nicholas was one of the easiest people to read and after nearly twenty minutes of effort I had no luck penetrating his mind.
Pain gripped my stomach as the tingling sensation of fear raced from my toes to my face. The man I was in the car with was clearly not Nicholas and I had no idea why someone would want to impersonate my best friend. I jumped when he suddenly asked me what was wrong. His eyes searched my face and I looked away quickly.
“I forgot cash,” I stammered slowly looking at him. Relax, I told myself. “Man, I forgot how easily my expressions give me away.” I shook my head at myself. It was far more difficult acting normal around an imposter than I could have ever imagined.
“Don’t worry about it,” he tapped his hand on my leg quickly, “tonight is on me.”
I said nothing more about the situation and spent all my energy trying to calm down. The man did not feel threatening, but it was definitely not Nicholas. My mind was either being tampered with to make me see my friend or this person could change their appearance. The first one sounded extremely invasive while the second was just utterly impossible.
We parked a few blocks away from the concert and stopped at a pretzel cart on the way. My senses were heightened as we ate our snack at the octagon fountain in the town square. I tried to keep calm and act as natural as I would if Nicholas was in front of me but my lying was outright terrible. Silence fell between us just long enough for me to notice a boy playing guitar on the other side of the fountain.
“You’ve been staring at that kid for ten minutes now.” Fake Nicholas raised an inquisitive brow while he crumpled up his napkin.
“Watch him,” I whispered.
“Yeah, he’s good,” he shrugged disinterestedly, “so what?”
“You’re looking at him, but you’re not seeing him.” I shook my head in disbelief. “Watch when someone talks to him.”
Almost on cue someone put money in a cup by the boy and began speaking to him. The boy strummed his guitar while the person spoke. “He’s not playing a song to that person, he’s translating.” I was utterly amazed by what I was witnessing.
“I don’t…” fake Nicholas began to speak before I took his hand and brought him around the octagon to take a closer look.
I knelt down to eye level with the young oriental boy. I smiled and spoke softly, “Hello. You play extremely well.”
The boy’s fingers broke from the song he had been strumming to pluck a few random notes as the words left my mouth. He grinned and nodded before continuing on with the song he had been performing.
“He doesn’t speak English.” I looked at fake Nicholas and giggled disbelievingly. “He’s translating everything he hears to the notes that he understands. It’s absolutely beautiful.” I was in awe. “Could you imagine? What an incredible mind!”
Fake Nicholas was smiling at me. He seemed proud, as if he was approving of what I had just said. “Come on,” he squeezed my hand, “we’re going to miss the headlining band.” I took another look at the boy who gave me a thankful nod then followed Nicholas.
The moment we stepped into the arena I was hit with a flood of thoughts and emotions. Putting up the wall was a tempting idea but I was afraid to be so remiss in the presence of the fake Nicholas. I danced and sang along with the band for an hour until the crowd was drunk. Drunken emotions were the worst to deal with because they ran higher than sober ones. My chest started heaving and the edges of my vision began to grow dark. I had waited too long and fake Nicholas knew something was wrong.
“Are…” he began to speak but I cut him off.
“It’s just really hot in here, can we step outside?” He nodded and took my hand leading me to a side door.
Once we were away from the crowd I rested my hands on my knees and looked up at the person pretending to be Nicholas. “Sorry about that, I don’t know what came over me. I must be coming down with something.”
“No problem,” he shrugged, “the band was playing all new crap anyway. Only the old stuff is good.”
I nodded in agreement. Sucking in a large breath I stood and gathered my strength to walk back to the car.
“Thank you for tonight,” I smiled when we were halfway home, “I’m sorry about not feeling well.”
“No problem, I had fun.” He looked over and smiled the same big goofy one that Nicholas so often flashed.
For a second I forgot that it wasn’t Nicholas I was in the car with but when I remembered a wave of anger washed over me. “So who do I tell Steph I went with?”
“What?” he seemed completely baffled and the leather of the steering wheel squeaked as he squeezed it tightly.
“I obviously borrowed clothes from her and told her I was going tonight. When I said you had told me she bailed on you she said that you never asked her. You put me in a pretty awkward position so I had to lie and say that I got a phone call and I just assumed it was Nicholas.” I was careful to say Nicholas instead of “you,” a verbal push into his subconscious so he knew I was onto him.
“Oh,” he licked his lips nervously.
Calm down. Though I did not feel threatened by this man, I still had no idea who he was and I was in a car with him. My life was in his hands and pissing off a stranger after I had just gotten a warning from a telepath about my death was at the top of the list of stupid things I could do. I inhaled and calmed myself. “Look, I know she can be a bit exhausting to take to these things. She’s always finding a way to get alcohol, is pushing the limits, and we end up just being babysitters. This is the first and last time we lie to her. I’ll tell her I went with some guy I tutor and we will never mention tonight again. Deal?”
Relief washed over his face and he nodded in agreement.
“I’ll see you tomorrow?” I asked before getting out of the car.
“See you later Abbs,” he winked.
“Abrielle,” I corrected him before shutting the door. “See you later, whoever you are,” I grumbled as he drove off.
The visit was bothering me so much so that I fought myself for an entire hour before calling Nicholas.
“Yeah?” he answered in his typical way that annoyed me greatly. Was it so hard to just say hello?
“What are you doing right now?” my eyes were closed and I tried to read him through the phone.
“Just studying for this exam tomorrow,” he huffed. “Actually, what can you tell me about quantum mechanics?”
“Oh you have Warner for the wonderful you-should-ha
ve-studied-all-summer exam?”
“Yes ma’am,” he huffed.
“Don’t worry about it,” I laughed sitting up, “I’ve got the exam right here and he never changes it. I’ll email it to you right now and you can just tell him I tutored you if he gets suspicious.”
“Thanks, Abrielle!” A sigh of relief followed.
“No problem, Nicholas. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight, Abrielle.”
I smiled and hung up. I would always be Abrielle to my Nicholas, but I would be “Abbs” to fake Nicholas.
5
Walking towards study hall I felt arms wrap around my waist. “You are the best Abrielle,” Nicholas said over my shoulder. “Thank you so much for that test.”
I smiled and slowly read him. It was the real Nicholas, easy to read and said my full name. “If you ever have questions about Warner’s class, always ask. I have all my old tests, essays, and notes.”
“You’re my girl,” he squeezed me tightly and kissed my right temple quickly. “I’ll see you Friday at Steph’s.”
With that he jogged off to catch up with some blonde girl I had never met before. His friendship loyalty lay with Steph and me, but he had girls chasing him from every angle. With a strong jaw, dimples when he smiled, dirty blonde hair, and green eyes, Nicholas belonged in a magazine posing for underwear advertisements. Whenever I watched him with other girls I could not help but think how the woman he married would be unbelievably lucky. She would have an incredibly handsome husband that was sweet, smart, affectionate, and entertaining. He had a nearly perfect personality wrapped in a handsome body.
“That was very intimate,” Steph glowered at me as I sat down next to her.
“What?” Nicholas was like that with both of us and it was not meant in a romantic way. “Oh, oh my goodness, I forgot to tell you about last night. Yeah, it was not Nicholas, it was this guy Rodney that I tutor in math.”
“Rodney?” Steph snorted, “Who knew we had anyone named Rodney in this school?” She rolled her eyes and pulled out her pocket mirror.
“Don’t be so shallow,” I scolded. “I had a really good time. He was sweet and is super handsome.”
“Well does Rodney know that you and Nicholas are so touchy-touchy?” Steph gave an exasperated sigh.
Why was she getting so weird about Nicholas? He was our friend that was overly affectionate since the day we met him. “Who cares? He’s not my boyfriend and you and Nicholas are just as… oh my gosh!” I shrieked quietly, “you like Nicholas! That’s why you seemed so upset last night and why you are getting so catty right now!”
I could see she was just about to defend herself when a student knocked on the door. “Is Abrielle in here?” She was a petite and sheepish sophomore wearing a neon yellow volunteer tag.
“Yes?” I hesitated.
“Oh, um, Miss Flannigan needs to see you.” She held her elbow and swayed nervously.
The class erupted in quiet mockery of drawn out “ohs” and “trouble.”
When I got to Miss Flannigan’s office she ushered me right in. “Come in, come in!” She was bouncing in her seat excitedly. “I have wonderful news!”
“Oh?” I had no idea what she could be so excited about.
“We had a representative from Glaston Academy here and they did an on-the-spot admissions interview. They want to take you in next week! They know you have enough credits to graduate here and they are willing to do a pre-college year where you finish off this year’s necessities but enroll you in college classes too. They even said they will provide a full boat based upon your scholarship essay!” Miss Flannigan was bouncing in her seat so much that her computer was wobbling on her desk. “I already notified your teachers and your mother!”
“Wait, what?” I practically yelled in her face. “I’ve never heard of Glaston Academy, I did not apply there, and I never accepted their offer.” The news felt more like punishment than good news, like I was being sent away. I began to pace about her office, furious and confused.
“Oh don’t worry dear, since you are not legally autonomous your mother signed the consent form.” She tapped her finger on a file placed on her desk. “You are the first student here accepted to a college! Hooray!” She clapped her hands together in excitement. “We already made you a star and it is hanging on the wall outside the principal’s office. You’ll have to quit your jobs and volunteering because the school is an hour or two… was it four? Either way, no work, just study, study, study. How exciting is this?”
“No, I need to think about this.” I ran shaky hands through my hair. “I would be leaving my school, my friends, my life. What about graduation? I deserve to graduate from here.”
“Honey, your mother already signed all the necessary paperwork. You’re starting college next week. Go say goodbye to your friends because you are living on campus like a big girl soon.” Her voice was serious and strict but her vivacious smile was still in its usual place.
“This isn’t legal, Miss Flannigan. There is no way. It’s just some sort of sick joke.” I was planning on going to Yale or Salve Regina; some beautiful college where I was only a small drive from a beach. Sweat beads were beginning to form along my hairline as the panicky feeling intensified. “And why is it so damn hot in this office?”
I fanned my face with my hands and I could feel the sting of the tears that threatened to erupt. I ran out of the office and down to my class before I would let her see me weep. I got into the class and I could feel the eyes of the other students on me.
“I need Steph to take me to the nurse. I’m not feeling well.” I turned on my heel and waited for Steph to come to my side.
“What is wrong?” Concern strained her voice.
“I got accepted into college.” A laugh erupted as I realized how preposterous that sounded. “My mom signed the paperwork already. I go next week.”
“Abrielle,” she looked at me pointedly, “you realize how illegal and ridiculous that sounds?”
“That’s what I said to flaky Flannigan, but I’m not autonomous yet, I turn eighteen in six months. Honestly, if my mom signed the paperwork my only chance is seeing if I can argue with her.” The chance of my mother changing her mind about anything was slim to none. My spirit was breaking and tears began to slide down my cheeks. “I have never even heard of Glaston Academy.” I shook my head and laughed at the absurd circumstances through sniffles.
“That sounds like an English boarding school,” Steph muttered wiping away a few stray tears. She straightened herself out and her voice became firm like a mother. “I will see you every other weekend and you will do your best. You will become a brain surgeon someday and use that academy as a stepping stone to do so. When you are done there you will work for fifteen to twenty years until you make enough money for us to both retire on a beach on some tropical island in the South Pacific.” Her eyes began to well up. “Go say your goodbyes to the friends you have here. Nicholas and I will throw you a going away party this weekend. You are going to have fun at this new place and when Nicholas and I go to visit you we’ll get drunk at some sorority where we can make bad decisions.”
She kissed my cheek quickly as an older sister would do to her baby one then twisted her arm in mine and walked me down to the entrance of the high school. There she sat with me until I calmed down enough to make myself believe that the entire afternoon had been part of some strange bad dream.
I sat on a radiator with my legs crossed underneath my body undisturbed. The longer I sat with my chin propped up on my hand the more disbelief was replaced with excitement. Not finishing my senior year of high school in the town I grew up in was surreal.
A few minutes after our last period began I felt someone staring at me. Soft footsteps came up and sat beside me. I finally looked over to see Nicholas.
“Steph told me what happened,” his voice was gentle and he put a hand on my shoulder.
“I feel like I’m the butt of some sick joke,” I shrugged my shoulder
s.
“Anyone would be excited to be in your place, Abbs.” His voice was reassuring and supportive.
I sat up slowly and went over to a set of doors that led to a fire escape stairwell. “Come here, let’s talk where no one else can hear us.” I mimicked the crooked grin that was on his face.
He walked through the doors after me and I looked up at him innocently. Nicholas’s face was so handsome and sincere. Quickly I pushed him against the wall using a tactic I had learned in a self defense class. “Who the hell are you?” I gritted.
“What’s your problem?” he pushed against my grasp. “I’m your best friend, I’ve been your best friend since elementary school.” His tone sounded rehearsed and bored rather than threatened.
“My Nicholas only calls me Abrielle and would never bring me to a concert without Steph. Now I’m a pretty easygoing person but I’ve had a particularly upsetting day and I’m kind of pissed off. If you would kindly tell me who you are and what you’re doing taking on the image of my best friend it would really make my life a lot easier.”
He laughed and pushed me away like I was a feather that had fallen upon his arm. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
He began to walk away but before he reached the door I yelled for him to stop and much to my surprise he froze.
“Look at me,” I growled as tears began to form, “please.” He turned slowly to face me. “I… I can’t read you,” I stuttered. “But I trust you. I’m hoping it is not just because you look like Nicholas, but because you’re trustworthy. So is there anything you can answer for me. Like, do you have something to do with this Glaston Academy place?”
He looked over to his right and shrugged, “I can’t say anything. You weren’t really supposed to be able to tell I wasn’t Nicholas.” He ran his hand through his hair then looked back to me. “I guess I can say that I’ll see you in school next week. You just might not recognize me.”
“Are you a guy?” I chortled at my own question.