I waited until Dad opened the door of the van to climb out. He put his arm around me as we walked. Mom rushed ahead.
Chapter Fifteen
Dad paused at the glass door under the Genie Communications logo. Katie and Leo had pulled in, and we waited for them to cross the dark parking lot.
When Dad wasn’t watching, Leo took my hand in his as if to say everything would be fine. Unfortunately, Dad didn’t stay distracted for long, and my hand was swinging solo seconds later.
They put us all in separate rooms. Leo, Katie, and me. The questioning took hours, and I felt like all the moisture had been sucked out of my body by the time they finished. At least I had my father. Leo and Katie didn’t have anybody.
The U.N.I.V.E.R.S.E. official, a bureaucrat in a blue oxford and tie, wasn’t hostile towards me. He wasn’t exactly nice either.
First he asked me to tell my story in my own words. Everything I said was recorded into a machine in the sparse, white room. Then he asked question after question with a neutral tone. Three coughing fits and a box of Kleenexes later, I thought we were finishing up.
I should have known things were taking a turn for the worse when the man started shifting uncomfortably in his chair and clearing his throat a lot.
“I apologize for the sensitive nature of the next questions,” he said, “but U.N.I.V.E.R.S.E. security is of paramount importance.”
I blinked at him.
“Ahem,” he said, with a nervous glance at my father. “Miss Farrelly. I need you to tell us if you and the male genie, Leo, er, um, mated.”
Eew! “No!”
The guy looked relieved. “Okay then. I guess that about does it.”
He didn’t ask about kissing, so I didn’t tell.
Dad’s expression reflected my relief when the man finally told us we could rejoin the others.
I rushed out ahead of him toward the reception area. Mom still had her cell phone to her ear, talking a mile a minute. Dad walked over and put his arm around her. She relaxed into him.
Katie sat rigidly on the very edge of the sofa.
“Leo’s still back there?” I asked.
“Yes. He must be exhausted,” she said with a glance at the clock.
“They’ve finished with me. How much more could he have to say?” He wasn’t telling them about the kiss, was he? Oh no.
Katie jumped up suddenly, a huge grin on her face. “Joe!”
I turned to find Leo and a shorter, older man coming quickly down the hall.
Leo had dark smudges under his eyes but his face was lit with joy.
A wave of relief swept over me. His father was saved.
Katie rushed into Joe’s arms with a sob.
I blinked back a tear. Leo stepped around them and I waited for the hug I so badly needed. Instead, he stopped awkwardly in front of me and glanced at my parents.
“How bad was it?” he asked, reaching out and touching my hand with one finger. My parents couldn’t see from that angle.
“I’m glad it’s over,” I said, almost choking on the words as I realized my time with Leo was also almost over. “How about you?”
“Not too bad.” He grinned. “And they’ve released my father.”
“That’s great,” I said, matching his smile.
“Dad,” Leo said, interrupting the reunion with Katie. “This is the girl I told you about. Jen.”
Joe pulled away from Katie and turned to me. He wore a Genie Communications t-shirt and sweats. I didn’t want to think about what they’d done to his clothes while he was here.
Katie blotted at the tears running down her face.
Leo’s dad smiled, and his eyes crinkled at the corners. He held out his hand. “Jen. I cannot thank you enough for helping me and my son.”
I shook his hand. It was colder and harder than Leo’s.
“I’m glad I could help.” I checked over my shoulder to make sure my mother hadn’t heard. She’d interpret my response as “glad to betray my mother’s trust for a stranger.”
My father came over to meet Leo’s dad. “Congratulations, Mr. Fuller. I’m glad your unwarranted incarceration is at an end.”
“I’m so glad that Leo found a friend like Jen,” Joe said.
“Yes,” my dad said without enthusiasm. “It’s too bad that they’re forbidden from seeing each other.”
His message was clear, and Leo’s father nodded.
I shot Leo a helpless look. His eyes flashed with anger.
Mom walked over, closing her flip phone. She gave us a weak smile. She’d long ago chewed off all of her lipstick. “Everyone’s free to go. The Oversight Committee will have decisions on Jen and Leo’s misbehavior tomorrow morning. They’ve put Max in a cell, and he’ll be returned to eternal rest after a hearing.”
She turned to Katie. “I’m afraid they may want to talk to Serena. Until then, you’re restrained from telling her anything.”
“She’ll be worried sick,” Katie said.
“She thinks Max called her and told her he wouldn’t see her until tomorrow,” Mom said.
“Thank you,” Katie said.
“Serena wasn’t involved in any of this?” Joe asked.
“No. We probed Max’s mind. It looks like Serena, besides being a beauty and an academic, just happens to be the last living descendant of his long lost love.” She shrugged. “He says he couldn’t help himself. He framed Joe when he realized they’d be at The Summit together.”
“I can see why he fell in love with Serena, she was the perfect woman for him.” Katie reached for Joe’s hand. “But framing Joe just to keep his secret hidden...” She shook her head with disbelief.
Mom took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes. “We all need some rest. We’ll talk to you in the morning.”
The ride home was tense. It was almost midnight and the streets were nearly deserted.
“Mom, I still have a question. Is Richard Williams really just a cell phone employee?”
“You heard me on the phone?”
“I thought he might be involved.”
“He’s the brother-in-law of a senior staffer. Williams was a buffoon. We were weighing the harm he could do to the cell phone business against the time it would take to prepare the senior staffer for the fallout from his wife about her brother.”
“Oh.”
“It was a family drama thing that we didn’t want impacting us.”
“Mom, did I get you into trouble?”
“Probably,” Mom said in a tired voice. “Breaking into my office does not make me look good. And consorting with a male genie reflects poorly on me as well.”
“Did I get you fired?” Mom would never forgive me.
“We’ll find out in the morning, Jen. I’m disappointed that you kept so much from me.” She sighed. “But I can’t argue with the way things turned out. You were instrumental in keeping an innocent man from being banished.”
With a soft thud, I leaned my forehead against the cold van window. I’d helped Leo’s dad, but how badly had I hurt my mom?
Somehow, I slept that night. Maybe I was lucky to have the Karmic cold. Otherwise, I might have spent the night worrying about banishment. Instead, I relived last night over and over in my dreams.
When Mom woke me, I blinked at her. “Is it time to face the O.C.?”
Mom had circles under her eyes. “I just came from there. Get dressed and come downstairs. We can talk about it over breakfast.”
Uh oh. Was this my last meal with my mother?
I jumped up, pulled on a bra and shirt and my baggiest jeans. Then I ran to the bathroom and rushed to follow Mom downstairs.
She stood at the stove making French toast. I liked French toast fine, but for my last meal, I’d rather have had eggs and biscuits. Either this wasn’t my last meal, or Mom was too peeved at me to care that it was my last meal.
I sat at the counter trying to get up the nerve to ask what was happening.
Mom served up the French toast, grabbed the syrup, an
d joined me at the counter.
“How bad is it?” I asked.
“For you, or for me?”
“You, and me.”
Mom closed her eyes for a long moment. Then she opened them. “You aren’t being banished. I didn’t think they would under the circumstances. Your father stayed up all night formulating arguments.” She smiled. “He really is a good advocate. The Directorate indicated that they were relieved you’d unmasked Maximillian before he’d caused more trouble. They are working on developing more safeguards for the Directorate.”
Thank God I wasn’t losing my family. “What’s my punishment?”
“You’re going to be watched closely, Jen.” She studied me for a moment. “You cannot screw up again. You’re also to do about 1,000 hours of community service. As for Leo, you can’t get anywhere near him. The U.N.I.V.E.R.S.E. will be monitoring all communication into and out of our house. No calls, no emails, nothing.” Her gaze softened. “Jen, you can’t ever talk to him again.”
My throat tightened and I gulped. I’d only known him a week after all. I could live without him just fine. Right?
“What about you?” I asked. “Are you fired?”
Mom smiled so wide she was almost beaming.
“That’s a no?”
“They terminated me from my duties at the U.N.I.V.E.R.S.E.”
My stomach roiled. “Oh.”
“But they’re letting me continue at Genie Communications. I’ll be working full time on the work I love.”
“They didn’t fire you?”
“I was surprised too. I think it’s a matter of keeping me close so they can keep an eye on me. And the fact that I’m wicked good at my job doesn’t hurt.”
I jumped up to hug her. “I’m so glad it worked out for you, Mom.”
“I know you can do the community service,” she said, “but can you really stay away from Leo?”
I nodded. “I wish I could say goodbye though.”
“You can.” She closed her eyes for a moment. “He’s supposed to call you in the next hour. Now, eat before it gets cold.”
I picked up my fork. At least I could say goodbye.
Mom and I had just put the dishes in the dishwasher when the phone rang.
My heart stopped.
“I’ll let you have some privacy,” Mom said.
She walked out of the kitchen, and I went to pick up the cordless from the charger.
“Hello.”
“Jen.” Leo’s voice sent shivers through me.
“Hey. I’m glad they let you call,” I said around the lump in my throat. “How’s your dad?”
“He’s great,” Leo said. “He and Katie are getting married on Saturday.”
“That’s great.” Too bad I couldn’t get anywhere near there.
“This is the last time we get to talk, Jen. Ever.” He sighed. “They’re watching us pretty hard.”
“Yeah, Mom told me.” I couldn’t think of all the things I wanted to say. People were probably listening to us.
“I’m sorry I got you into so much trouble.”
A smiled curved my lips. “I’m not.”
“I’m transferring back to my old school, and I guess you finally get the spot in Ian’s band.”
Funny, I hadn’t thought about it in days.
“Take care of yourself, Jen.”
“You too.” I didn’t want the call to end. I was never going to see Leo again. My first real kiss. My first motorcycle ride. My first real guy friend. “I’ll miss you,” I said.
“I’ll miss you too.”
My eyes were tearing up. “Bye, Leo.”
I hung up the phone, and just sat there with my head on the counter. I had feelings for Leo. I had it bad for him, and I wasn’t allowed to see him again.
Mom left me to myself for most of the afternoon. I crawled back into bed to reminisce about my time with Leo. I emptied two boxes of tissues, only one for my nose.
At dinner, I had to listen to Ian whine about Leo quitting the band.
“I’m so sorry,” Mom said. “If only there were a way to replace him with someone who knows all your songs.”
“Not now, Mom,” Ian said.
“Jen’s the perfect answer and you know it.”
I just pushed my food around on my plate.
Two weeks later, I was completely caught up on my school work. I’d doubled my practice time on the drums.
Ian hadn’t made a decision about the band yet. I wasn’t sure I wanted the reminder of Leo.
My truce with Sean was still in effect, and I’d started helping him with his homework.
After laying out my clothes on the bed, I walked over to the framed quote from Thomas Jefferson. Well, to anyone else, the frame held a quote. I knew the truth. The writing on the note card was actually a personal thank you from Thomas Jefferson for my work in ferreting out Maximillian.
He had written, “Action will delineate and define you.” So what if he’d said it before. The point was, he’d written it to me and signed it with his unmistakable signature, the Thomas running right into the Jefferson. My parents had each assured me that he was recognizing me for having the courage to act. Not too shabby for a seventeen-year-old genie.
And tonight, me and my friends were going to see Johnny’s Metal Chicken in concert. Things were looking up.
Three hours later, the band was just finishing their second number, and Alex and I were dancing in the aisle.
They played the last note, and Alex screamed in frenzied appreciation.
Before I could let out my own appreciative woo-hoo, the guy who’d been dancing behind me, brushed against me.
I turned and started to give him a warning glance about trying to cop a feel.
And then I froze. Because the guy in the backwards baseball cap and Johnny’s Metal Chicken Concert Tour t-shirt had Leo’s eyes and five o’clock shadow. The stringy blond hair and baggy, hip hop pants almost threw me.
“Be cool,” he said softly. “Keep your eyes on the stage. They’re probably watching you.”
I faced the band. “What about monitoring?”
“Tons of technology here,” he said, and I glanced around at all the cameras, cell phones, and sound equipment.
“Aren’t they watching you?”
“Lost my tail somewhere between Lennox and Underground Atlanta, the bus, and the taxi.”
The band started the soft notes of the next song, and Leo moved closer. “Jen, I found a girl at my school who’s on your RokrGirlz loop. Baitbreath. I’ll communicate with you through her posts, using her cell.”
Baitbreath? She went to his school?
“I’ve got a few ideas about how we can see each other. I’ll let you know when we can meet.”
I turned in surprise. “Really?”
“Turn around,” he said, his familiar smile warming my heart, “and dance. I’ll be in touch.”
“Soon?” I asked. But when I glanced back over my shoulder, he had already faded back into the crowd.
The guitar solo started, and beside me, Alex threw her arms in the air.
I moved to the rhythm and gave a shout that got lost in the noise of the energetic crowd.
Maybe things were going to be okay after all.
Maybe Leo wasn’t totally out of my life.
Keep reading for a sneak peek at Pointe of No Return by Amanda Brice and My Life as the Ugly Stepsister by Juli Alexander.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Juli Alexander writes young adult romances and paranormal young adult fiction. THE KARMA BEAT will be followed by the sequel—THE TECHNO ECHO—in early 2013. Check out STIRRING UP TROUBLE and the sequel—TROUBLE’S BREWING. STIRRING UP TROUBLE and VALENTINE’S DAY SUCKS are available now at all retailers. TROUBLE’S BREWING will be released summer 2012. Look for MY LIFE AS THE UGLY STEPSISTER in May 2012. Don’t forget to check out the YA anthology, ETERNAL SPRING, featuring “CAMP CAULDRON” by Juli Alexander.
Juli’s house is overrun with dogs, dirty laun
dry, and teenage boys. Writing keeps her relatively sane. You can find her at JuliAlexanderAuthor.com or on Twitter @Juli_Alexander.
A VERY SPECIAL SNEAK PEEK:
POINTE OF NO RETURN
BOOK TWO IN THE DANI SPEVAK MYSTERIES
BY
AMANDA BRICE
CHAPTER 1
Normally it would be pervy for a middle-aged man to touch a teenager’s rear. But there hasn’t been anything normal about my life ever since I moved to Arizona earlier this fall.
“Miss Spevak, your lines are a disgrace.”
“Point your toes!”
“Posture, Miss Spevak! Lift your carriage and lengthen your body!”
“You ladies dance like apes!”
“How many times do I have to tell you to tuck your buttocks?”
That last one might be cause for sexual harassment complaints anywhere else, but not here. I’m a student at Mountain Shadows Academy of the Arts, majoring in dance. I divide my days between ballet and Biology, tap and Trigonometry, hip hop and History, latin and Latin.
“Well, Miss Spevak?” Grigor Dmilov, the legendary principal dancer from the Phoenix Ballet, towered over my five-foot-three frame. His dark eyes bored into me as he pretended to wait for an answer that didn’t really matter since the question was rhetorical anyway – dancers aren’t allowed to talk in class. He used to intimidate me when I first came here.
Oh, who am I kidding? He still intimidates me. I just don’t cry in the shower after class anymore.
Much.
The difference now is that I know corrections are an important part of the process. We spend six hours every day in the studio, striving for perfection. Sometimes it felt like our teachers loved to torture us, but they were just trying to get us to live up to our potential and beyond. Getting corrections was a compliment because it showed that the teachers wanted to nurture your talent.
Not being noticed at all was far more damaging to your career. Nobody wanted to be invisible.
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