Elemental Origins: The Complete Series

by A. L. Knorr

  "That's what my mom said too," I added, smiling.

  "On the news it says she went home already," Saxony continued, "but I bet you she's still in the city. They always say stuff like that to throw you off the scent. Maybe we could find out where she's staying and stalk her.” She waggled her eyebrows.

  Akiko snorted. "Good luck with that."

  I squirmed internally. Saxony would flip to know that Rachel was indeed still in town and my own mother would be making a personal delivery to the star. That thought sparked an idea and I made a mental note to ask my mom about it later that night.

  "So, remind me when you both leave again?" Georjayna asked Akiko and Saxony. Both girls had plans to spend the summer abroad.

  Saxony answered first, "My flight is in six days, and Akiko leaves the day after me. So we have to have one last get together the four of us before we go. Saturday night?"

  "Works for me," said Akiko.

  "Me too. You, Targa?" Georjayna said, looping an arm through mine. As always, I felt like a child next to her. Georjie was a good half-foot taller than me.

  "Yup. I have nothing going on. I was thinking about getting a summer job and signing up for one of the summer school courses," I said. "Get a head start with my science credits for next year."

  "That's a great idea, Targa," said Akiko in her soft voice.

  "No, that's a terrible idea!" said Saxony, her long red curls bouncing in protest. "Why would you subject yourself to more school on purpose? Hang out at the beach. Get a boyfriend. Read one of the thousand books on your reading list if you must, but for Pete's sake, don't go back to school."

  Akiko smiled at Saxony's rebuff. She was never offended when Saxony disagreed with her because that's just how they are. They have opposite points of view on most things. Sometimes I don't understand how those two had ever become best friends.

  Georjayna, Saxony and I have known each other since preschool. We grew up together. We weren't always as close as we are now. Sometimes it takes kids a few years to sort out who they like and who they don't, but by the time we hit junior high the three of us were inseparable.

  Akiko lives on the border of two school districts so she'd gone to a different elementary school and junior high than the rest of us. She and I had become friends years later during the second half of Grade 9 when we had a history and math class together. She'd been a loner but was also the smartest kid in math class, so I'd asked her for help since math was my weakest subject. She and I started meeting in the library and she'd tutored me for the rest of the year.

  When Georjayna had a pool party at her house for her fourteenth birthday, I asked if I could bring a friend. When I walked in with Akiko, Saxony and Georjayna squashed the tiny girl with hugs. Unexpectedly, Akiko and Saxony had bonded.

  We arrived at Flagg's and Akiko and Saxony grabbed one of the tables on the patio while Georjie and I went inside to order. The place was abuzz with activity, mostly students who'd had the same idea we'd had. We waited in line for a good ten minutes before our turn came.

  "Two cappuccinos, a flat white, and an iced coffee please," Georjayna said to the redheaded boy behind the till. I recognized him as one of the kids from our school. He was a year behind us. He blinked at her like an owl and then stuttered our order back to her as he punched the buttons on the computer. Georjayna didn't seem to notice but I sure did, he was blushing to the roots of his hair.

  Georjie is leggy, blonde, tanned and looks like a fashion model. On the outside, she's tall and intimidating. On the inside, she's a total geek. She's amazing with computers, cameras and all things digital. She has over five thousand followers on her blog and don't even get me started on her social media accounts. She gets a kick out of it and she even makes some money with it, although it's a complete mystery to me how. The idea of putting my life up online for anyone to look at gives me the creeps.

  "You must have made quite the mad dash from school to get here in time for work?" Georjayna said to him.

  "Who me?" he said, his voice cracking. His look of shock that this blonde goddess was conversing with him made me hide a smile behind my hand. One look at gorgeous Georjayna and most people assume she's a snob. People are always shocked to find out that she's nice, and interested in people no matter who they are. I have seen her stop and chat with a vagrant on the street more than once because she's curious. I'm not sure how she ended up this way because her mother certainly doesn't see the value in chatting with a homeless person. Georjie is the first to admit that her mother is a snob.

  "Of course, you," she said, kindly. "Oh, almond milk for the iced one please. Sorry, I forgot." She put her palm to her forehead.

  "That's ok," he said while fumbling with the milk container and splashing the front of his apron. She chatted with him while he fixed our drinks but he was so distracted that I doubted we'd end up with what we ordered.

  "Thanks a lot," Georjayna said warmly when he'd finished, flashing him a smile full of dimples and perfect white teeth.

  He dropped the foamy spoon he was holding in the sink with a loud clatter. "Welcome," he mumbled.

  Akiko had chosen a table in the shade and was waiting patiently while Saxony was standing in the sunlight and chatting up a cute boy I didn't recognize. I didn't know what they were talking about but she was laughing and had her hand on his arm. She has no shortage of admirers with her curves and huge green eyes.

  The boy looked over at us as we carried our drinks to the table and I watched him visibly wilt as Georjayna walked up and set the drinks down. He shifted his open backpack from one shoulder to the other and a textbook fell out. Saxony picked it up and handed it to him. He took it, said something to her and walked away, giving a last anxious but appreciative look over his shoulder.

  Saxony came and sat down, shooting me with an exaggerated glare. "You couldn't have stayed inside just a few minutes longer? He was cute and you scared him away. Way to go."

  "What are you looking at me for? Blame the six foot blonde, not the pasty brunette," I said, pointing at Georjayna.

  "I'm not six feet!" Georjie said, affronted. She's been sensitive about her height for as long as I've known her.

  "Close enough," said Akiko, pulling the flat white closer.

  "It's not me, it's you," Georjayna said to me, and my jaw dropped. "Did you not notice that every single flipping boy we passed on the way here stared at you like you're a sirloin? I mean, I know you're gorgeous, but gads. Could they be a little less obvious about it?" She rolled her eyes.

  "You're so deluded," I said, shaking my head. "They have pills for that you know."

  "Then you should get on that prescription too," said Saxony. "You've always been blind as a bat when it comes to men."

  "What is this? Pick on Targa o’clock? I have perfect eyesight, thank you very much."

  "Men," Akiko said sarcastically, but more to herself. She was looking down and stirring her drink. When she lifted the cup to take a sip she noticed the rest of us were looking at her. "What? These high school kids aren't men, they're boys," she said simply, gesturing to the world around us in general.

  At barely 90 pounds, Akiko is very petite and her half-Japanese half-Caucasian heritage gives her a racially ambiguous look. To look at her gives the impression that she's tough. But really, Akiko is quiet, hard working, dutiful and humble even though she has a brain like a computer. She also gives the impression that she knows things no one else knows and she's patiently waiting or biding her time until... until what, I don't know. She doesn't talk about her past at all, and not even much about her future. Most times we don't know what she's thinking until she's made a plan and it was right about to happen.

  This summer, Akiko is going to Japan because her grandfather made plans for her to spend time with relatives she's never met. He wants her to learn more about the Japanese side of her heritage. At least, that's what she told us, but it seems a bit strange to me that she should go spend two months with people she doesn't even know, relatives or not. It
's hard to tell how she feels about it. When she told us about it a few months ago, she presented herself as neither happy nor unhappy, just resigned.

  "You're so right," Georjayna sighed, bringing me back to the present. "They are just boys."

  I took a sip of my cappuccino. "Are you looking forward to Japan, Akiko?" I asked.

  She shrugged. "In some ways," she replied. Then she deflected, which is what she always does. "How about you Saxony? Are you looking forward to Italy?"

  Saxony lit up. "Are you kidding me? It's Italy! I can't wait. The coffee, the cheese, the history, the art," she sighed, then added with emphasis, "the Italians. I'm so lucky." We all knew she meant the Italians of the male variety.

  "Don't you mean the diapers, the sippy cups, and the strollers?" said Georjayna. We all laughed, and no one more than Saxony.

  Saxony had applied for and been granted an au pair position for a family in Venice. The family had two boys and they'd wanted an English speaking, live-in au pair to take care of them for the summer. I had a hard time picturing Saxony as a nanny but she insisted that as long as she could give them back at the end of the day, she loves kids.

  "Thank God they're not that young," she said, "I'd have turned them down flat if the kids were toddlers. Thankfully, at six and nine they're past the sticky stage. Besides," she reminded us, "I'll have full room and board and my own apartment." We all agreed, she'd lucked out.

  "What about you, Georjie?” said Akiko. "Have you decided about Ireland?"

  Georjayna's mom Liz was trying to convince her to go stay with her beatnik Aunt Faith in Ireland for the summer. We knew Liz was just trying to foist her off. Liz was very focused on her career. Georjayna used to go to Ireland when she was little, but when her mom made partner all that stopped and its been ages since she's been back.

  "Oh, that's easy," she said. "As long as Targa is here for the summer then I'm staying too. We'll hang out at the beach, catch a few hot summer flicks and binge watch all the new TV series, right T-Nation?" she said, batting her brown eyes at me.

  I smiled at the use of my old nickname. She'd given it to me years ago, shortly after my dad died. I'd emotionally retreated and always appeared to be in my own little world, my own little ‘Nation of Targa'. So, she'd christened me and it had stuck. "Right," I said in agreement.

  Georjayna's wheat blonde hair was in two loose braids and she grabbed one in each hand and pressed them together in prayer, making her look like a penitent milkmaid. "Aye," she said in a strong Irish accent, "cuz if yur leav'n too I promised me Mam I'd go, and last time I was there they talked all funny-like and I could'na understand a single word."

  I laughed. Georjie had always been a talented mimic. "Well, that doesn't sound so bad," I replied. "I'd love to see Ireland, or anywhere in Europe really."

  She continued with the accent, "That's because you've never been to Anacullough, the small town me aunt lives near. Blink and you'll miss it. I'd go crazy." Georjayna crossed her eyes and dropped her braids.

  "You could always come visit me in Venice, Targa," Saxony said, then slurped up the last of her iced coffee. "As long as you don't snore you can share my bed, but if you do I'll push you into a canal."

  "I appreciate the offer," I smiled. "I don't have the money for that but maybe one day."

  We chatted for another half hour before we started looking at our watches and phones. We agreed to meet for lunch at the park the next day and also to get together on Saturday night at Georjayna's house for a farewell dinner.

  Georjie texted her mom for a ride after Akiko and Saxony said goodbye and left to walk home together since they lived near each other. Georjayna and I took the empty cups inside.

  "Your mom is able to pick you up today?" I asked as we dumped our garbage in the appropriate recycling bins. I was surprised because Liz basically lived at her office and left Georjie to her own devices.

  "Yeah, but only because she had a hair appointment at Oasis and just finished. Lucky timing" she replied. Oasis is a high-end salon only two blocks from the cafe. “Mira picking you up?" Georjie asked.

  "Nah. I like walking," I replied, covering for my mom. She might even be out at The Boneyard by now.

  A look of disapproval crossed Georjayna's face. The trailer park was at least an hours walk from the café. I know what Georjie thinks. We've talked about it before. She likes my mom for her devil-may-care attitude but she also thinks she's irresponsible when it comes to me. Mira is the kid, and I'm the adult. She’s not totally wrong about that.

  Chapter 3

  Georjie grabbed my hand as her mom pulled up in front of the cafe in her white S.U.V. "Come on. We'll give you a ride."

  Liz is a high-powered lawyer. Both of us have moms who work too much and we both sometimes wrestle with feelings of abandonment, but in terms of wealth, Georjayna is my polar opposite. She's got everything that money can buy short of a private helicopter, and I'm sure they could afford that too. They have the mansion with the indoor pool and gym, the designer clothes, the gadgets and technology. But Liz never stops working and barely notices her daughter. Trying to oust Georjayna for the summer is such a Liz move.

  "Hey Targa. How are you?" Liz asked, giving me a plastic smile from between the front seats as I got into the back seat; her bluetooth earpiece perpetually stuck in her ear. Her blonde hair looked fantastic. Liz sounded more British than Irish. Georjayna had told me that she'd taken accent correction classes to try and make herself sound more English after she'd moved to London to study.

  "I'm fine, Liz. Thanks. You look nice. How are you?"

  Liz didn't answer. She went back to a conversation with someone in her ear about the 'Michaels file'.

  Georjayna looked at me from between the front seats, rolled her eyes and mouthed 'sorry'. I shook my head and smiled. I knew Liz. I didn't expect anything different.

  "Is your mom still at work?” Georjie asked. “Why don't you come home with us for dinner?"

  I was about to accept when I noticed Liz give Georjayna a hard look, even as she was speaking to the person on the other end of the call. I never really knew if Liz wasn't all that fond of me because I was 'trailer trash' or if she didn't like any of Georjayna's friends. Georjie has explained that it's nothing personal. Her mom is just stressed and busy so she can come across as cold, but Georjayna rarely says anything bad about anyone so I took it with a grain of salt. I suspected Georjie was harboring some bitterness against her mom but worked hard not to show it.

  "No, that's ok. Thanks," I answered. "I've got dinner waiting for me." It was partially true. There was food in our fridge.

  They dropped me off at home and I entered an empty trailer. I hit automatic dial on my cell for Mom's office.

  "Bluejacket Recovery," answered an energetic male voice.

  "Hey Micah, it's Targa."

  "Targa! How are you?" Micah was always enthusiastic when he talked to me. That was because, like most men, he had a thing for my mother.

  "I'm great thanks, Micah. Is my mom still there?"

  "No, she's left for the day. I'm surprised she's not home already. Did you need me to track her down on the radio?"

  "No thanks, I've got her cell. I just thought I'd try the office first." And then I slipped in the real reason I called. "So, is there going to be a trip out to Devil's Eye for Rachel Montgomery?"

  "Man, gossip travels fast," he marvelled.

  "Well, it was all over the news this morning."

  "Yeah, I guess that's what celebrity will do for you. Splash your 'bidness all over the place." He chuckled.

  I waited. There was a brief silence on the other end of the phone, and then, "No, we turned it down. Eric pulled rank. No surprises there. I don't think we'll ever take a job there."

  “Probably for the best though right? Safety first."

  "Yeah. But we got a call from a rich guy in Poland today, so you never know. Maybe that one will pan out."

  "Oh wow, Poland. That would be cool." That was news. I made a mental no
te to ask mom about it when she got back. "Ok, gotta jet. Thanks, Micah."

  "No problem. Take care eh, Targa?" he said, warmly. The guys had issues with my mother, but most of them were pretty nice to me.

  "Thanks." I hung up and wondered why some loaded Polish dude would call a Canadian dive team.

  I guessed that Mom was already in the water and wouldn't be back until late, so I turned on the TV for background noise and searched the web for summer jobs until my stomach started to growl. I made myself a dinner of rice noodles with pesto, broccoli, and some leftover chicken. I made an extra dish for Mom and put it in the fridge. She was always starving when she came home from a swim. I cleaned the kitchen, then aimlessly flipped through the only three channels we got and found nothing interesting, so I read until I fell into a fitful sleep on the couch.

  I was dreaming about a cold sea snake swimming past my face when I came to. Mom was trailing a strand of wet hair across my cheek. "You're back!" I sat up and rubbed my eyes. I glanced at the clock on the kitchen wall. 2:05am. "Did you find it? That was fast."

  "Of course I found it. It's a junkyard spread across the ocean floor for half a mile. What a mess. Those kids really were lucky to escape with their lives. By now, The Boneyard looks like a hurricane swept through a lumber yard with all the wrecks down there. The hard part is in distinguishing the new mess from the old."

  "What did you find?"

  She held out two white fists, clenched shut. "What do you want to see first?"

  I tapped on her right knuckles and she revealed three rings, each set with precious jewels - rubies, emeralds, and diamonds. I gasped. They were beautiful. I tried them on.

  "How much do you think they're worth?" I asked.

  "I don't know, but her manager offered me five grand for their return, plus anonymity of course. So I guess we did alright for your college fund tonight." She kissed me on the top of my head. I didn't need to point out that she'd make more money if she hawked them herself; that wasn't her style.