by Monica Davis
Vanessa smiled back, but the two had no more time to talk — their history teacher had just marched into the classroom.
Daniel spent the next half hour staring at the clock in the courtyard and gasping at the fresh air, since following along with Mrs. Kuwalski’s lesson was about as exciting as watching a cow chew its cud. In fact, the teacher looked a bit like a cow.
The thought made him smile.
“Daniel Taylor, if you don’t want to flunk out, you’d better pay closer attention in class!” her shrill voice rang out.
Daniel turned away from the window and pushed a strand of hair out of his eyes. Crap, what did she ask me? Fingers trembling, he leafed through his history book so that he wouldn’t have to look Mrs. Kuwalski in the eyes. She had threatened to expel him if he failed one more time. She can’t do that, she just wants to torment me!
“Because today is such a lovely day,” his teacher said sarcastically, “I’ll ask the question one more time: Who was the first president of the United States, and when was he elected?
The first president? Daniel’s brain flipped into high gear and he answered, “George Washington.”
“And?” Kuwalski wasn’t going to let him off that easily. “When … was … he … elected?”
Damn, he had no idea!
The other students grinned at him. This was basic American history, the dates and facts that were drilled into every schoolkid from a young age, but somehow Kuwalski made him forget everything! In any case, Daniel had no interest in either American history or politics.
Why did Kuwalski always have to pick on him? Sweat seemed to be streaming from every pore in his body. As though he weren’t already hot enough! The other students tittered over his stupidity. Man, how he hated everyone here!
“The answer, Daniel!” The teacher, her hands firmly placed on her slim hips, fixed him with a predatory glare.
No, Daniel corrected himself: with a bovine glare. Kuwalski had gigantic eyes, just like a cow. Otherwise she might have been attractive — well, if she didn’t always pull her hair into a tight bun and stare at everyone so grimly. A bitter spinster, his mother had called her, and Daniel suspected she was right.
Kuwalski hates me. I’m all worked up, just because of this stupid cow! I deserved to get a better grade from her last year! he thought, his breathing shallow and frantic. Something enormous was brewing inside him, and it was about to erupt. Underneath his desk, he dug his fingers into the fabric of his T-shirt while his vision began to blur. Daniel’s pulse thundered in his ears and his heart raced as a light tremor shook the classroom. In this region, that was nothing unusual; all of California was basically situated on a fault line. Researchers were constantly speculating that the “Big One” would come, but it never seemed to materialize.
After the tremor died down, which barely lasted two seconds, Daniel’s physical symptoms suddenly disappeared. Oddly enough, he wasn’t even hot anymore!
The excitement subsided quickly, and Kuwalski was still waiting for Daniel to answer.
“1789,” Vanessa whispered behind him, making him nearly fall out of his chair. He had heard her voice as though she had spoken directly into his ear, even though she was sitting at least a yard away. What would I do without you, Vanessa! I’m just lucky that you’re good at history! Vanessa was the only reason he hadn’t given up entirely. They had a few classes together, and Nessa helped him out when she could.
“1789,” he repeated quickly, trying to hide his confusion. Of course, it was the right answer. Vanessa always knew everything; she was at the top of the class. But despite this, she was popular with their classmates. She seemed to be welcome in any group — especially among the “cool kids,” which really got on Daniel’s nerves. I don’t care if no one likes me and that even Dad let me down, he thought defiantly. I can’t stand any of them … except for Nessa.
“You couldn’t possibly have come up with the right answer on your own, Daniel!” Mrs. Kuwalski strode between the desks and looked around as though she were searching for something. “So, which one of you told him?”
Daniel thought he could hear Vanessa’s racing pulse and the quiet sigh she always made when she was excited. But that had to be a delusion, a product of the extreme heat that had been oppressing Little Peak for weeks. His brain must be fried. Or he was just slowly going crazy.
Superhero hearing, he secretly hoped.
“I’ll ask you one more time: Who told him the answer? If no one fesses up soon, you’ll have the entire chapter to read as homework, and a test on it on Monday!”
There was a deathly silence in the classroom. Out of the corner of his eye, Daniel noticed that Toby was restless. The boy with copper-colored hair was gnawing at his pencil like a dog with a bone. Yeah, you’d like to rat out Nessa, wouldn’t you! Tobias Rafton was basically Vanessa’s closest competition, but he always ended up being number two behind her. You’ll never beat Nessa — she’s far too clever for you!
A tingling in the roots of his hair told Daniel that the weasel was about to open his mouth. Why this was the case, Daniel had no idea, but he was sure this was going to happen. In any case, he knew Toby fairly well. The kid loved sucking up to teachers in order to get extra credit. And a blind man could see how he had a crush on Kuwalski. He’d do anything for the cow; he even held open doors for her.
The freckled boy was clearing his throat. “Ahem.”
“Yes, Tobias?” Mrs. Kuwalski spun around and raised her thin eyebrows.
Rage rose within Daniel. Eyes narrowed, he fixed his gaze on Tobias Rafton. Vanessa had always been Daniel’s friend, ever since they were small children; he would never allow her to get in trouble because of him. Especially since Kuwalski was known for her extra-nasty punishments. Although Daniel wasn’t nearly as close to Vanessa now as he used to be, he would do anything to protect her. She was like a sister to him!
Tobias was about to speak. Daniel imagined down to the smallest detail how he would like to place his hands around the brownnoser’s neck and squeeze. Toby began to cough. His eyes wide, he clutched at his neck with one hand while the other waved violently in the air. The classroom dissolved into commotion, and Kuwalski hurried over to his side to pound him on the back. “Tobias, what’s wrong with you? Are you sick? Did you swallow something the wrong way?”
Toby, bright red, shook his head, still unable to speak. He was too busy trying to breathe.
When he finally caught his breath, tears were running down his cheeks. He glanced over at Daniel, who grinned back at him beatifically.
The general commotion ensured that Toby held his tongue and that Mrs. Kuwalski forgot about her threat of a chapter test.
Wow, telekinetic powers! With a sigh of relief, Daniel leaned back in his chair, secretly hoping that Toby’s choking fit hadn’t been just a coincidence.
“Hey, Danny, wait up!” Vanessa called after him. She was the only person he allowed to call him by this nickname. Even with his mother, he freaked out every time she called him “Danny.” But Daniel liked Vanessa, and let her get away with it.
He was riding down a steep hill, so he applied his brakes slightly until Vanessa caught up with him. They both lived not far from the high school and generally went home together, but for some reason Daniel wanted to be alone today. So many strange things were happening in his life, and he had no explanation for them.
“Man, I’m glad Toby had that sudden coughing fit. I had no desire to spend the whole weekend doing extra assignments,” Vanessa said.
“Not to mention the damage to your squeaky-clean image!” Daniel grinned at Nessa, although the smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. He felt completely spent. All he needed was an ice-cold shower and a good night’s sleep. Still, he couldn’t help but watch Vanessa, who was riding her mountain bike close to his, her long, chestnut-colored hair blowing back over her shoulders. She was wearing a white blouse and a black skirt, her knees poking out beyond the hem as she pedaled. How long and slim her legs were …
“Do you want to come swimming with us, Danny? I’m going to go to the lake later.”
Daniel had no interest in company today, although Vanessa’s presence was somehow soothing and her offer was particularly tempting, especially because no one else ever wanted to do anything with him. Despite this, he said, “Nah, it’s too hot today.”
“Well, you’re probably the only one who thinks that — I’m still going to the lake.” Her gaze bored into him like a drill bit into soft wood. Vanessa had unusual eyes: They were an intensely deep brown, sprinkled with golden points, and Daniel couldn’t look away from them — now to the point where he almost fell off his bike. Of course, he had long since noticed how pretty she was; in the past it had surprised him that he felt nothing more for her than brotherly tenderness. But suddenly, recently, there was something more. Something new and exciting he’d never felt before.
“I want to do my homework first.”
“Naturally!” Nessa rolled her eyes. “You’re an addict.”
“Huh?” Vanessa was a master at changing the subject, and he couldn’t always follow her train of thought.
“I mean you and your computer. Admit it, you’re hopelessly addicted. Even if the world collapsed into ashes around you, you wouldn’t be able to tear yourself away.”
Nessa knew him pretty well, but he really wasn’t that addicted. He smirked. “You’re wildly exaggerating.” Daniel enjoyed escaping into artificial worlds in which he could imagine himself to be a hero. But now he was a hero … or would soon be one, he hoped — just a secret hero, like Superman, someone who otherwise led a simple life. Daniel didn’t really want to be in the spotlight. He would be happy if everyone just left him alone.
Nevertheless, he found himself saying, “Okay, I admit it, I found a new game that’s pretty cool.”
Her smile disappeared. “Too bad; a little sun would have done you some good. You’re so pale.”
“It just seems that way because I wear black.” Daniel could sense Vanessa’s disappointment, and it made him a little sad. But something was going on that he couldn’t explain; the last thing he needed was for someone else to notice. Daniel accelerated his pace, but Vanessa kept up with him.
“Will you at least come with me to Rebecca’s Halloween party tomorrow?” she asked.
She wouldn’t let up! Daniel inwardly sighed. “I wasn’t invited.”
A spark appeared in Vanessa’s eyes. “I was, and am allowed to bring a guest.”
“Why don’t you take Colleen to the party? I thought she was your best friend.” Daniel marveled at her persistence. As children, they had often done things together. But in recent years, they had generally only talked on the way to and from school. To her credit, Nessa sometimes talked with him in the breaks between classes, even though he had the impression that she did that out of pity. That she had anything to do with an outsider like him bewildered him.
“Coll is going to Disney World with her parents.”
Aha, so that was how it was! He was just the backup plan. “What about Mary?”
“Mary’s not allowed to go. Her mom thinks that Becky is a bad influence on her.”
“I don’t know …” She only needed him because there was no one else to go with her. He would have preferred it if Nessa had just invited him somewhere, not as a substitute, but as himself.
She just asked you if you wanted to go to the lake with her, you idiot, he scolded himself. You could have just said yes. Whatever he did, it turned out wrong. But the others shouldn’t think that we’re on a date. Daniel didn’t want Vanessa to turn into an outsider on his account; he cared far too much for her to allow that to happen.
Although the road before them still sloped downhill, Daniel kept on pedaling. But Vanessa stuck to him like a burr. “It wouldn’t hurt you to live a little instead of sitting alone in your dark attic room the whole day!” she called out against the wind.
Vanessa was right, but it really wasn’t a good idea right now. In addition, he was getting one of the excruciating headaches that had been bothering him for weeks. They began with a harmless throbbing in the back of his head, but got worse if he stayed out in the sunlight. He could ride out the attacks the fastest in his gloomy, darkened room. The wind that was whipping his hair about wildly and fluttering up under his shirt brought him no relief.
Daniel exhaled as they turned the corner into their street. The typical Californian suburban community of Little Peak, with its rows of houses and grassy lawns, was his home. Daniel knew every inch of it and every neighbor. He could have felt at ease here, but there was something struggling reluctantly inside him. Daniel leaned into the curve, enjoying the speed, then let his bicycle slow down.
Parallel to Grayson Street, just behind the row of houses, there was a small stretch of forest in which he and Vanessa had spent a great deal of time as children. Their old treehouse was still standing. Daniel sometimes went back there when the rest of the world seemed to be conspiring against him and he needed a quiet place to think.
Nessa had caught up with him; now she came to a stop and got off of her bike. Daniel stopped in front of Vanessa’s house to say good-bye. Their families’ houses were right next door, numbers 24 and 26, and they were as identical as two peas in a pod: Both were painted a light beige and had two stories with a gabled roof over the attic rooms. They both had a small yard stretching out in front of the porch and a built-in garage with a whitewashed door.
Now that there was no more wind to cool him off, Daniel began to feel the heat. His face flushed, and drops of salty sweat ran into his eyes. He automatically pulled off his T-shirt, intending to use the fabric to wipe off his face while he held the bicycle’s handlebars steady with his other hand.
“Wow,” whispered Vanessa, prompting him to raise his head. She was staring at his torso, but quickly averted her eyes.
Daniel cleared his throat. “What?” Suddenly he was embarrassed that she had seen his chest. He felt even warmer.
Vanessa blushed. “I didn’t say anything.”
Daniel sighed. Maybe he really had gone crazy. He was haunted by a weird-looking girl and he was hearing voices.
He’d much rather be a superhero, but he wasn’t crazy enough to see that as a real possibility.
Vanessa opened the gate to her yard and raised a hand. “See you later.” She looked distressed, which gave Daniel an unpleasant sinking feeling in his stomach.
“Bye,” he said, getting back onto his bike. He pedaled over to his driveway and directly into the garage. The door was always open when his mother wasn’t home. She had recently started working shifts at the hospital again.
That was fine for Daniel. The fewer people around, the better. If they discovered how different he was, they’d lock him away.
It won’t come to that, he thought with grim determination. I’d run away first. That would just mean I’d get to L.A. a little sooner.
As she stood before her mirror, Vanessa tried to cool down with the help of a fan. Shaking her head, she tried on a third bathing suit. “No, this one makes me look skeletal!” Her hip bones were clearly visible through the fabric. I’m far too skinny. Not feminine enough, she thought, frustrated. She stepped out of the swimsuit and finally decided on a white bikini. At least this one made her breasts look a little bigger. “That’s probably why Danny doesn’t want to come to the lake with me,” she muttered. “I’m as flat as a little girl.” It had been so hard for her to even ask him.
Sighing, she looked over to the window. She had shut the blinds earlier so that Daniel wouldn’t see her changing clothes. In some ways, it was convenient that they both had the attic rooms. As children, they had sent messages to each other in Morse code using flashlights … but that was a long time ago now.
Her heart heavy, she shook her head again. He doesn’t want to go to the party with me, either. Damn it, if I weren’t so shy, I would have pestered him until he agreed to come!
Vanessa bent over her desk to pull on the cord t
hat raised the blinds. She saw that Danny was also sitting at his desk, which was likewise directly in front of his window, so she grabbed her binoculars. She could easily recognize him without magnification — he was only a few meters away — but he still wasn’t wearing his shirt, and she wanted a closer look! She had gotten a quick glance at his muscular abs earlier, and her curiosity had been piqued.
It looked like Danny had just emerged from the shower, as his black hair was dripping wet. Dark, tangled strands fell across his face, enhancing his rugged attractiveness. Arms folded behind his head, he was leaning back in his chair and staring at the ceiling.
The sight of him made Vanessa go weak in the knees. “Wow!” She was so absorbed in the view that she didn’t care that a paper clip was pressing painfully into the elbow that was leaning on the desk. If I could just bury my nose in that raven-black hair and kiss that slender neck, she fantasized, still staring at him through the field glasses. For a seventeen-year-old, he was amazingly muscular; she had only really noticed that today. The last time she had seen him naked, they were five-year-olds in a wading pool. It was a pity that he didn’t want to go to the lake — she could have gotten an even better look at him. Vanessa was happy that for once he wasn’t over by his computer, where she couldn’t see him as well. Usually, the blinds in his room were shut the whole day long.
They used to go out together often, for ice cream or on other kid excursions, but more recently their relationship had changed. They weren’t kids anymore. Unfortunately. That made things more complicated.
Every morning when Daniel rode to school, she watched for him, and she kept watch on him in the schoolyard as well; she would have liked to be constantly at his side. It had been this way ever since junior high. Whenever she saw him, her stomach tightened with excitement, so much so that sometimes it was hard for her to eat anything. When she went to bed, she thought of him — his dark grey eyes and the dimples in his cheeks when he smiled. She was lucky that schoolwork was so easy for her; otherwise, her grades would have suffered from her inability to get Danny off her mind.