The last hour of the last day of school dragged on forever. Time was broken—the kids were all sure, as was the teacher, who repeatedly tapped on the side of the clock in a futile attempt to hurry time along. Finally, the bell struck noon, and the kids exploded from the classroom like horses from the starting gate.
Anna, Fiona, and Lula headed for the Ivanhoe Diner right after school. They talked about the sound from the night before as they walked down cracked sidewalks lined with weeds toward the fairgrounds. Fiona was sure it was the same sound they had heard months before. Lula wondered if it had anything to do with climate change. Anna stayed silent. A rip in space-time might be a little difficult to explain.
As they turned the corner, they were greeted by a large neon medieval knight perched atop a run-down drive-in that had seen much better days. The Ivanhoe Diner was a local landmark and a tradition for students on the last day of school. Most of the kids in town had come up with the same idea, and by the time the three friends made it to the front door of the cafe, all the seats inside had been taken.
The three ordered their food and took it outside to a small bench near the entrance. Inside, the diner was all chaos and music blaring and loud voices. Out in front, it was quiet enough to hear the flies buzz in the heat.
“Congratulations, you guys. We’re officially high schoolers,” Lula said, lifting her strawberry shake in a toast.
“Yep. And look at us. Still on the outside looking in.” Anna tapped her plastic cup in return.
“I hear there’s a party at the quarry tonight. A high school party,” Fiona said. “All the incoming freshmen have been invited. Even us, I guess.”
Anna paused.
“I don’t think I can make it.” Anna kicked at weeds that had grown beneath the bench. “My uncle has plans I think.”
“Yeah, I probably can’t either. My brother ruined it for me when he went to a quarry party last year. My parents found him shirtless in a tree,” Fiona said.
Bam!
All three girls jumped at the loud crack against glass and quickly turned to see a figure laughing hysterically from inside the diner. It was Scout, his hands and face pressed against the plate-glass window.
“You’re such an idiot!” Fiona shouted through the window. “You made me spill my onion rings.”
Scout blew air kisses in her direction. Then, realizing he had an audience, he pressed his mouth against the window and blew his cheeks out like a puffer fish. For a brief moment they could see the exact contents of Scout’s mouth, from silver fillings to a chipped tooth.
“Ewww.” Lula’s lip curled in disgust. “That boy is so strange.”
Scout walked casually to the front door of the cafe and poked his head out. “What are you ladies doing out here by yourselves?”
“Avoiding you,” Fiona said.
“Ha, I love you too, Fiona.” Scout strolled outside with his hands in his pockets, then pointed to the onion rings scattered at Fiona’s feet. “Are you going to eat those?”
When the girls didn’t answer, he picked up one of the larger onion rings and knelt before Anna. He took her hand in his own and looked up into her eyes.
“Anna, will you take this onion ring as a sign of my devotion?”
“Sorry, Scout.” Anna smiled and yanked her hand back. “You’re a little too young for me.”
“Fair enough.” Scout stood up and tossed the onion ring out into the street. He wiped the grease on his pants leg. “So, are you guys going to the quarry party tonight?”
“Quarry is off-limits for me,” Lula said. “Don’t tell me your parents are actually letting you go.”
“Are you kidding? I can do whatever I want.” Scout picked up another onion ring and tossed it at a passing car. “And what I want is not to be pummeled by my older brother and his stupid friends. He told me they’d pants me if I showed up tonight. So yeah, I’m not going.”
“What’s the plan then?” Anna asked.
“That’s what I came out here to ask you guys. The fellows are thinking about a game night at my house,” Scout said. “All the cold pizza you can eat. What do you say, Anna?”
Anna’s iCom buzzed. Although she knew the others couldn’t hear, she’d learned not to react too quickly to avoid raising suspicion. The iCom buzzed again and Anna casually glanced down at her wrist, even though she wanted to get up and run out as fast as she could. She looked for a graceful exit instead.
“How quickly can you get here?” Mara’s voice was urgent on the iCom.
“Uh . . .” Anna almost answered out loud out of habit. She stopped just in time but forgot to shut her mouth, which now hung open like a dead fish.
“Hey, Armstrong. Are you having a seizure again?” Scout waved his hand in front of Anna’s face.
“I see you have company. Hmm, I have an idea.” Mara paused. “SID is accessing your cellular networks. Calling now. Answer your phone.”
“Excuse me?” Anna tried to process the two simultaneous conversations.
“I asked if you wanted to come over tonight,” Scout said slowly.
“I said answer your phone.” Mara’s voice in her ear was impatient.
Anna’s phone buzzed in her pocket. She was glad for the reprieve. She raised her index finger in a “give me a second” gesture and pulled out her phone. Mara was on the other line.
“Tell your friends it is time for you to go,” Mara said. “Meet me at the lake in the next thirty minutes.”
The line went silent.
If her friends had been paying close enough attention, they’d have seen Anna’s eyes dilate less than half a millimeter and her pulse quicken. Even though Anna had no idea what to expect, her body was already preparing for what was ahead. Adrenaline had kicked in.
Anna shoved her phone in her pocket. “Sorry, guys. I have to fly.”
She closed her eyes briefly at the pun. She couldn’t help herself.