Heterogeneous Chapter 2

The artificial gravity on the bike kept me from lurching which made me feel a little safer, as Henri zigged and zagged between the other hover-cars cruising along the road. When he slowed down at a set of traffic lights, he called over his shoulder; “what’s your address?”

“Argyle Apartments on Macquarie Street!” I shouted through the helmet back.

Luckily that was all the information Henri needed, as I couldn’t remember street numbers or any other specifics. As soon as the lights turned green? Henri gunned the hover-bike’s engine and zipped off, over-taking the hover-car in front.

I started to feel comfortable because even though I vaguely felt the inertia of our movements on the bike? The artificial gravity kept us safely planted on the seat. I wasn’t game to let go of Henri’s waist though, as he zoomed along full steam ahead.

He pulled into the driveway for my building’s underground car park, as I put in my security code into the car park’s security gate. The gates parted and then Henri slowly glided down the steep, concrete driveway, down two levels until he found an available park. Once the bike was stationary, he turned off the artificial gravity which made it easier to climb off as the engine powered down. We were quick to take off the helmets, as I passed Henri a look of amazement.

“Tres bien!” I beamed like a little girl who just got off the roller coaster ride at an amusement park.

“Je vous en prie.” He smirked.

This made my eyes widen even further, “Parle vous Francais?”

“Une petite.” Henri smiled softly. “My surname is Lofoten, which is Norwegian. My great great grandfather on my father’s side comes from Norway and my grandmother on my mother’s side came from Quebec, so I know a little Norwegian and French.”

Then he proceeded to help me off with my jacket first, before taking off his own. Then as Henri put these into the security compartment under the seat, he pulled out the both of our school bags.

I led the way over to the lift to go up to the eleventh floor where Papa’s and my apartment was situated. Once I let the both of us into my home, Henri politely waited in the living area as I changed in my bedroom.

“So why is your name Roanne-Sabre?” Henri called out whilst he sat on the couch. “Roanne is French but what’s Sabre? It sounds Italian.”

“It is Italian.” I called back as I put on my swimmers. “Sabre is the name of my adoptive parents Aunt B and Uncle Declan.”

“You mean that your Dad is…” Henri began but I interrupted.

“Papa is my biological father. He and Mama divorced and when Mama died earlier this year? The Sabre’s adopted me and I lived with them for a couple of months. Then Papa appeared and I hadn’t seen him for twelve months because I found out my Mama and Grandmamma had been blocking his attempts to contact me. So I thought I should live with him for my last two years of High School and when I go back to Earth to attend University? Then I’ll be with the Sabre’s and Kevin again.”

“Sounds fair.” He said congenially.

I came back out of my bedroom wearing thongs, denim shorts and a lemon cotton shirt undone but just tied into a knot over my swimmers.

“Is this alright for beach volleyball?” I queried.

“Er yeah, you look good.” Henri stood up.

He watched me shove my purse, phone and towel into a cotton carry bag as together we walked towards the automatic front door. It slid open and Henri let me walk through first. Once the door slid closed, I punched in the security code to lock it again and we headed back towards the lift.

Henri was quiet on the way back down to his hover-bike parked in the underground car park, which made me wonder if I had divulged too much about myself?

“My family is a little unusual.” I laughed uneasily.

“Trust me, compared to mine? Your family’s pretty normal.” Henri snickered.

I wondered what he meant by that, especially after I saw the house that he lived in.

On Henri’s hover-bike we zigged, zagged, zipped and zoomed down the busy streets out of the city, into an expensive beach-side suburb on the southern outskirts. The houses here were almost mansions, with large gardens. Henri pulled into the driveway of a huge, pale orange house, with lush tropical gardens including a small fountain. He powered down his bike once we were inside the garage that was so big it could park four hover-cars.

When I followed him from the garage and into the downstairs area of his house? I found the house had marble tiles, tall ceilings with crystal chadeliers and a massive gourmet kitchen Uncle Dec would fantasize cooking in. Henri opened up his large, triple door refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of orange flavoured soda. Whilst keeping the fridge open, he poured me and then himself a glass. He even pulled out some nibblies such as some smoked salmon, smoked oysters and olives from the fridge and then a packet of mini-toasts from his pantry.

“Wow…!” my mouth fell open in surprise. “What’s the special occasion?”

“Special occasion?” Henri gave me a funny look. “Er, my Mom always keeps these kind of things in the house. Dad hates artificial meals so we hardly ever use the food synthesizer.”

“The food doesn’t taste the same, no.” I shook my head in agreement. I happily ate the food he shared, before I noticed Henri pausing to watch me eat. “Ouis?” I looked questioningly his way.

“Oh it’s just when Kit and Sarah come over, they complain that they don’t like this kinda thing and ask for popcorn or potato chips instead.” Henri shrugged it off.

“I like those things too.” I shrugged as well. “Perhaps I was kind of spoilt living with the Sabre’s? Uncle Dec loves to cook and I used to go to school with gourmet sandwiches or snacks he made for me, Looch, Soph and Sues.”

Henri smiled at this before he pushed the food closer in my direction. “Servez-vous.”

We finished off our mini-picnic then Henri led the way to the upstairs of his house, via a large, curved staircase in his even larger foyer. We walked down a long carpeted hallway, passing several sets of wooden double doors until he stopped at a particular set. He opened the doors and let me inside, as I found myself in a huge bedroom.

It was mostly tidy but with a couple of clothing items on the floor and an unmade King-sized bed. An entertainment system, with a music player and an Internet TV was on another wall. The colours of the room were camel such as his carpet, curtains and sheets, with the furniture a dark brown.

“Oh, is this your bedroom?” I faltered.

He’s not going to undress and change clothes in front of me is he? But then I received my answer when he disappeared into his walk-in wardrobe which was also connected to his ensuite, to change in.

“Make yourself comfortable, I’ll be out in a tick.” Henri called from his ensuite, before shutting the door.

I wandered over to his desk, where a large flat, touch-screen, crystallized-component, computer sat. But I wasn’t interested in the new technology, I wanted to see the photos that surrounded it. I helped myself to looking on each of the pictures as I tried to gage more about this person who seemed good looking, popular, loyal to his friends but not loyal to his girlfriends.

There was one photo that looked like a seven year old Henri was standing with his family. They were all dressed in snow clothes in white surroundings, indicating snow fields somewhere. His father had his arm about his mother, as Henri and an older brother and sister stood in front of them. So Henri is the youngest in his family?

This was the only family photo on display, as the rest were photos of Henri with Mohid, Ivan and Juan. There was a photo of the boys when they looked to be around five years old, making a sandcastle on the beach. There was a photo of the boys on a camping trip when they were around seven years old. There was a photo of the boys when they looked to be around ten years old, riding hover-bikes in the country. There was a photo of the boys holding surf boards on the beach when they looked to be around thirteen years old. There was a photo of the boys windsurfing in the waves at their present ages now. Well Henri and Ivan appeared to be those ages, with Mohid a year older and Juan a year younger.

No wonder I sensed that the four boys were the original group, with Kit and Sarah as the add-ons. These four boys appeared to be as close as brothers, as they grew up together. Now I understood why Henri, Ivan, Mohid and Juan had their separate friends to sit with in class, but when classrooms didn’t divide them they would all come back together once more. It reminded me of how Kevin was close to Lucia and Xenthe, as the three bonded over their supernatural differences.

Just then I heard the ensuite door open and Henri walked out barefoot, in a pair of dark blue jeans and a white t-shirt. He dropped his uniform into a laundry basket and prepared to leave by putting on a pair of thongs as well as grabbing a towel, his wallet and his sunglasses.

“You’re not going swimming?” I enquired. Henri paused just as he was passing to pull down the top of his jeans a little way to reveal his swimmers underneath. “Vraiment?”

“Ouis.” He gave a wink as he walked over to his bedroom door. “Are you ready to go?”

“D’accord.” I followed him out of the room.

~~~~~~~

Henri powered down his hover-bike in a small, gravel car park in between Mohid’s and Ivan’s parked hover-cars. As I removed the jacket and helmet and handed them over to Henri, I looked around. We were at a quiet, out of the way beach, away from the busier sections a couple of kilometers down.

As Henri and I walked down the sandy path which led past the casaurina and palm trees; I found myself soon standing on a breathtakingly white, sandy beach with the clear water in the form of large waves crashing onto the sand. Just up from the water, Mohid and Juan were putting up a beach volleyball net.

“Henri! Mali!” Sarah turned to wave us over.

She, Kit and Ivan were standing together talking as it looked like everyone had gone home to change into beach clothing before coming here.

“Hey.” Henri greeted perfunctory as we rejoined their company.

“This beach is so beautiful!” I commented as I was still looking about impressed.

“Aren’t you glad you came now?” Kit poked me in the side.

“Can you do me a favour?” I pulled out my phone. “Can you please take a picture of me by the water as I want to send it to Kevin.”

“Sure.” Kit took the phone from me and I moved a little away to stand closer to the water.

I felt a little idiotic and even Ivan joked, “they don’t have beaches on Earth?”

“I guess not in Alaska.” Henri replied. “This must be some kind of paradise which Mali’s boyfriend is missing out on.”

“Lucky you,” Ivan muttered to Henri, which earned an elbow in the ribs back.

“There we go.” Kit handed my phone back and I looked on the picture she took before sending it.

“Thanks Kit.” I smiled, but then I asked nervously; “it isn’t too cheesy or cliché or anything, is it? Sending a beach photo to somebody in Alaska?”

“He might die from jealousy, but other than that it should be fine.” Ivan chuckled.

After I sent the picture, I tucked my phone back into my jeans pocket.

“Are you ready?” Mohid called us over.

“So how are we going to do the teams today?” Henri asked back.

“I want to be on Ivan’s team.” Kit grabbed hold of his arm. “I didn’t like the last game when we had to play against each other.”

“Neither did I. The loser would purposefully miss the ball to give you extra points.” Juan said darkly, which made Ivan push him away.

“OK how about this,” Sarah began, “the couples play on one team and the single people play on the other.”

“Yay!” Kit clapped her hands excitedly.

Mohid looked towards Juan, Henri and myself as he asked, “is that cool with you three?”

“But they’ll be doubly handicapped.” I warned. “It won’t be just three against four, but I’ll be so bad that it would be like four against two.”

“Don’t worry Mali, I’m afraid of the ball. Half of the time, Mohid hits it for me.” Sarah giggled.

“Yeah and every time I even try to hit the ball, it never goes where I want it to. With us three being so bad, it will be like it’s just the boys really playing the game anyway.” Kit agreed.

“You can’t complain about that, can you?” Mohid snickered to Henri.

“Game on!” Ivan cried out.

Next we took our places behind the net, with Henri, Juan and myself on one side and Sarah, Mohid, Kit and Ivan on the other. I purposefully went to stand in the back corner to try to avoid the ball, as Juan and Henri stood up near the front. I noticed Sarah did the same as me with Mohid standing beside her, then with Ivan and Kit up the front of their team.

Just as Mohid prepared to serve, my phone beeped out I had a message.

“Sorry! Sorry! I just have to check.” I pulled my phone out, making everyone laugh.

“Aw, what? You’re disqualified!” Ivan called out.

“I’ll ‘disqualify’ you in a minute!” Henri called back.

“Put your game where your mouth is, you player.” Ivan retorted.

They jokingly threw a couple more insults in each other’s direction but I was reading my message.

R U ON A BEACH? – Kevin asked.

I laughed at his slow take on the picture I sent previously before I text messaged back; YES. I’M ABOUT TO HAVE GAME OF BEACH VOLLEYBALL. WISH ME LUCK!

I was just about to put my phone back into my pocket when it beeped again.

“C’mon Mali, I’ll age before this game starts!” Juan cried impatiently which earned a shove by Henri.

WHEN WILL U BE HOME? AUNT B & UNCLE DEC WANT TO CALL 2 SEE HOW FIRST DAY SCHOOL WENT. I’LL BE WITH THEM – Kevin asked.

I wasn’t 100% sure but to be on the safe side I said; CALL ME IN 3 HRS.

Then I put the phone back into my pocket as Mohid served the ball. Henri jumped up to hit it back, which Ivan then parried. As the game progressed, I saw that Kit tried to participate with Ivan helping her out. Sarah even had a few attempts with Mohid giving her a hand. When it came to me? Henri and Juan scrambled to try to reach the ball when I squealed and ducked away.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” I apologized over and over. “Maybe I should just sit this out?”

“Maybe she’s right?” Juan shrugged, but Henri whacked him on the arm to shut up.

“OK, you can be our designated server and Juan and I will play defense.” Henri carried the ball over to the ‘corner’ I was standing in.

“I’m much better at soccer.” I said weakly as I took the ball from him.

“You are?” This made Henri’s face light up. “Then we should have a game of beach soccer next time.”

“Bon.” I gave him a small smile.

“C’mon Mali!” Ivan called out.

“Show us what you’re made of.” Mohid tried to encourage.

“Yeah, c’mon Mali! You can do it!” Kit joined in.

“Give me an ‘M’! Now give me an ‘A’!” Sarah started to chant out my name, as everyone erupted into laughter.

I punched the ball over the net and the next round began…

…when our game finished, Juan, Mohid, Sarah, Ivan and Kit stripped down to their swimmers and rushed into the crashing waves to go for a swim. I stood on the edge of the water, just enjoying the feel of the tide lapping at my feet. The size of the waves scared me which I was sure would make me look like a bigger freak after my pathetic play at beach volleyball.

“Swimming isn’t your thing?” Henri remained dressed as he stood beside.

“I like swimming in pools.” I shrugged, which made him chuckle. “You should go in with everyone else.”

“Nah.” He shrugged. “I can swim any day.”

“Isn’t today ‘any day’?”

“Exactly.” He said simply. “I swam yesterday. I swam the day before. I swim something like four times a week, either at the beach or in my pool.”

“You have a pool?” I looked back in surprise.

“Yep.” He answered. “The next time you’re over you can go for a swim if you like.”

“Bon.” I said again.

“I’m sorry you’re not having a very good time.” Henri said earnestly.

“Ouis, but I am. I’m just sorry I’m not that fun to be around.” I said quietly. “I’ll understand if at school tomorrow you guys don’t speak to me again.”

Henri let out a loud laugh, before he scoffed, “or if you don’t speak to us for dragging you down to a beach you didn’t want to come to in the first place?”

“Non, I’m glad I came.” I promised. “This beach is so beautiful and you and your friends are friendly and funny.”

“How about this; after school tomorrow you come over to my place to hang out and swim in the pool?” He offered.

“D’accord.” I smiled shyly at his invitation. Then I turned and walked a little away, over to the ball which was sitting next to the folded up net. “How about a game of beach soccer?”

“Tres bien!” He grinned.

I started to jog down the beach, towards an imaginary goal post with Henri jogging up beside. He tried to slip his foot past mine, to steal the ball? But I angled the ball away. Henri next jogged up on the other side and tried to steal it again, but I did a 360 degree turn to block him before kicking it completely away. The ball hit the pile of seaweed I had imagined as my goal.

“She shoots she scores!” I did a little jump to celebrate.

“Not bad.” Henri arched his eyebrows in surprise. “You’re pretty good, did you used to play on a team in Alaska?”

“Not at Alma High School, non. I played on a team in Nara though.” I admitted.

“You should try out for the team here.” Henri commented, before he jogged off to retrieve the ball.

He next began to kick the ball back down the way we came, as Henri made out that the folded-up net was his goal. I jogged up beside and tried to steal the ball which he blocked. So I tried the direct approach by running out in front before I faced him.

Henri warily continued to jog towards me, keeping the ball close to his feet. I tried to zig-zag past, jutting my leg out which hit the ball away but unfortunately the rest of me hit his side.

WHAM! It was like I had just run into a cement wall! I lost my balance as I toppled over, almost winded.

“Shit! Are you OK?” Henri cried out in alarm as he immediately stopped.

He reached down and effortlessly pulled me to my feet which wavered. He kept his hold on my arms until I steadied myself.

I stared upon him, speechless. Henri seemed to be just as strong as Kevin, but how could this be? Kevin is supernaturally strong as Lokoti Werewolves have fifty times the strength of a human.

“Mali, are you OK?” Henri asked again in concern.

“Hey, what happened?” Ivan called out, coming out of the waves.

“Mali, are you alright?” Kit asked, as she and her boyfriend came out of the water.

“Ouis er, I mean yes I’m fine.” My face flushed at the commotion I accidentally caused.

“What happened?” Juan asked, dripping wet and walking up onto the sand.

“Mali ran into Henri.” Ivan told him.

“Shit, are you OK Mali?” this made Juan’s eyes widen in alarm.

“I’m OK, I’m alright!” I said hurriedly.

“What’s up?” Mohid enquired, as he and Sarah also came up onto the beach.

“Henri knocked Mali over.” Juan told him.

“What?” Mohid looked on Henri.

“We were playing soccer.” He told his friend.

“It was my fault!” my face was now bright red. “I ran into Henri when I tried to get the ball away from him.”

“It worked too.” Ivan sounded impressed, looking on the ball sitting further away. “It looks like Mali’s specialty is playing soccer.”

“As well as running into her opponents.” Kit giggled.

“Maybe that’s her tact?” Sarah joked along.

“I’m OK, I’m alright,” I promised, “please don’t let me interrupt your swimming.”

“I saw your leg work, you’re pretty good. Maybe you should try out for our soccer team?” Ivan recommended.

“That’s what I said. I couldn’t get the ball away from her when she had it.” Henri agreed.

“Now this I wanna see.” Ivan chuckled as he next jogged over to the ball to give it a gentle kick towards me. “C’mon Mali, we saw that beach volleyball isn’t your thing so show us exactly what you’re made of.”

The incident was now forgotten and as Kit and Sarah began to dry themselves? They stood back and watched a mini game of soccer start up. Henri and Juan joined my ‘team’ as we played against Ivan and Mohid. The three boys ran around in their board shorts, with Henri taking off his top to just run around in his jeans.

I ran down the beach towards the pile of smelly seaweed, keeping the ball close. Whenever Ivan or Mohid tried to steal the ball, I was able to use my feet to angle the ball away. When Ivan tried to run in front and steal it that way? I stopped short, back-kicking the ball behind to Henri who next ran past and kicked the ball into the ‘goal’.

“Woo hoo!” Kit and Sarah cheered and clapped, as they sat on their towels and sun baked as they watched.

Mohid walked up to where I was standing in the sand to clap me on the back. “Soccer training runs Monday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. Our games are on either Friday nights or Saturday mornings. So, are you interested?”

“But don’t I have to try-out or anything?” I asked puzzled.

“You just did.” Juan chuckled.

“I mean, doesn’t your Coach have to see me play first?” I queried.

“Not if you have four of the team’s top players to vouch for you.” Ivan replied.

I felt half elated and half nervous by the confidence these guys seemed to have in my soccer playing ability. I shot off a look to Henri, to find him grinning in agreement with his friends.

“Est-ce vous voulez?” Henri aked.

“Ouis.” I confirmed.

“Huh?” Ivan gave Henri a funny look.

“She’s in.” Henri announced.

“Alright!” Mohid whooped. “Now come on! Let’s get in another game before dark.”

“C’mon guys!” Ivan turned to Kit and Sarah who were sitting it out. “If Juan and Henri have Mali on their team, we’re gonna need some more girl power to even things out.”

Kit giggled at her boyfriend’s invitation as she and Sarah stood up, tied a sarong each about their waists before they jogged up to join the foray.

~~~~~~~~

It was nearing 6.30 PM as the sun began to set and we seven walked away from the beach towards the car park.

“Hey do you guys wanna come over for a bar-be-cue dinner?” Mohid invited. “My Mom will be making those Tandoori Chicken Kebabs that everyone likes.”

“Oh yum!” Sarah’s eyes widened by the sound of it, as she walked hand-in-hand with Mohid.

“Sounds good. I’ll just message my parents and let them know.” Kit agreed, taking out her phone.

“Mali? You wanna come too?” Henri looked my way.

“Oh no, I can’t.” my face fell, as I checked the time on my phone. “I told the Sabre’s and Kevin I would be home soon for their call tonight.”

“So? Tell them to call you tomorrow night.” Ivan shrugged it off.

Oh…I couldn’t do that. Video-phone calls were expensive and with the different time zones between Earth and Eurasia? What if they couldn’t call tomorrow night instead? I don’t want to be rude and let them think that I’ve forgotten about them already because of my new friends.

Henri saw my face fall, so he said; “I’ll drop Mali off, then I’ll come over.”

“Are you sure, Mali?” Juan needled. “Mohid’s Mom’s Tandoori Chicken Kebabs are legendary.”

“Thank you for the invitation, Mohid.” I turned his way. “But my adoptive parents will be calling me long distance from Earth.”

“No problem.” He smiled in understanding. “We’ll see you tomorrow at school then.”

I followed Henri over to his hover-bike where he unlocked it and doled out the black helmets and safety jackets. Then he climbed up onto his bike first, before turning to help me on after him.

“See you tomorrow, Mali.” Kit called out.

I threw her and Sarah a wave as the hover-bike rose into the air and Henri hovered out of the car park before zooming off down the road.

As we rode along, he turned on the Internet Radio and an old 1980’s song came on. I think it was called ‘Hymn to Her’ by a band called ‘Pretenders’.

“Oh I like this song!” I accidentally squealed in excitement.

Henri turned the volume right up, as we cruised up the quiet beach-side road with the song blaring.

I turned my head and looked at the large red sun and the smaller, bright orange sun; slowly sink from the pinkish-purple sky into the turquoise horizon of the ocean. This beautiful sunset coupled with this song, coupled with cruising on the back of a hover-bike? I think I was going to like living here on Eurasia after all…

“She will always carry on…something is lost, something is found... they will keep on speaking her name…some things change, some stay the same.” I found myself singing along.

Then to my partial surprise, when the song ended Henri hit the ‘repeat’ function to play the song again. I felt his leg move as his foot tapped along with the beat. I wasn’t sure if he could hear me singing or not, but he didn’t seem to mind if he could.

Listening to this song on full volume, we zipped through the traffic and into the darkening city.

Henri powered down his hover-bike on the side of the busy road, outside my apartment block. Together we climbed off and as he took off just his helmet? I took off my helmet and safety jacket.

“Merci for the ride home.” I said appreciatively as I passed him the helmet and jacket to put back in the compartment under the seat.

“No problem.” Henri gave a small smile. But just as I turned away to go inside, he stopped me. “Hey Mali, what’s your phone number?”

“Oh er, it’s sequence 539 omega 12.” I told him, then I pulled out my phone. “What’s yours?”

“It’s sequence 537 omega 08.” He answered.

“Well um, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow at school.” I farewelled.

“See you.” He stood and watched me enter the building before he climbed back onto his bike.

I went up via the lift to my floor, walked down the corridor and my apartment’s automatic door immediately opened upon my approach; indicating it wasn’t locked because Papa was home from work.

I heard Papa talking to someone and he sounded cross and coincidentally so did the gruff, male voice who was speaking to him. After a second, I realized Papa was talking to Uncle Dec via video-phone.

“I told you Sabre, I don’t know where Mali is!” Papa snapped.

“Wouldn’t it be a good idea to ask your kids where they’re going before they go out?” Uncle Dec retorted sarcastically.

“I wasn’t home from work when Mali came home from school!” Papa sounded annoyed. “I saw her school uniform was lying discarded on the bedroom floor, indicating she came home to change before she went out again.”

“Why weren’t you home when Mali came home from school? What are your work hours?” Uncle Dec demanded. “If you’re going to be away from home all of the time then what’s the point of Mali moving in with you?”

“Declan, please.” I heard Aunt B’s voice try to soothe the tense situation. “Jean Paul, Mali text Kevin that she was at the beach with her school friends.”

“Well she didn’t text message me!” Papa fired up indignantly.

Oh oh…I forgot to let Papa know I was going out! Dung! I am an imbecile!

“I’m home! I’m home!” I cried out, racing through the front doorway and into the middle of the living area. I stood beside Papa and looked on the large crystallized screen of our video-phone by the wall. There I saw Aunt B, Uncle Dec, Lucia and Kevin all standing together in the living area of the Sabre’s house in Alaska. “Hi Uncle Dec, hi Aunt B, hey Looch, hi Kevin!”

“Mali!” Kevin beamed upon the sight of me. “Hey, is that sand on your clothes?”

“Ouis! I just came from the beach! I went there after school with Henri, Mohid, Sarah, Ivan, Kit and Juan.” I gushed. “We played beach volleyball and I was hopeless at it but then we had a game of beach soccer. The boys think I should join their soccer team!”

“You’re gonna play on the school soccer team?” Lucia asked impressed. “Way to go, Mali!”

“So did you have a good day at school?” Aunt B enquired.

“Ouis! Tres bien!” I told them excitedly. “The classrooms there are completely different, as they’re like small, indoor amphitheatres. Well, except the science labs or art rooms, or woodshop, or cooking classes…”

“What classes did you have today?” Uncle Dec asked.

“English, History, Math, Science and Art.” I recited my time table. “And Kevin and Looch? My English teacher Mr. Scott is really nice! He’s not bitchy like Miss Broadbent.”

“Language, Mali.” Papa frowned, as he listened in to my day.

“Yeah but Miss Broadbent is bitchy.” Kevin stuck up for me.

“All that’s missing is her leash and her feeding bowl.” Looch agreed.

“OK kids, cut it out.” Uncle Dec tried not to laugh. “So do you like your school uniform, Mali?”

“Not particularly.” I screwed up my face in distaste. “But the good thing about wearing a school uniform is I don’t have to worry about what to wear to school anymore.”

Looch laughed at this as she sat on the arm of the couch in her lounge room.

“Can you send me a pic of you in your school uniform?” Kevin asked brightly, when Uncle Dec nudged him.

“I’ll send you the picture tomorrow, if you like.” I tried not to blush.

“Have you got everything you need for school, like text books and everything?” Uncle Dec moved the conversation along again.

“Ouis Uncle Dec. I have all of the school-issued homework programs. They don’t have text books at Trinity Academy like they did at Alma High or my old school in Nara.” I told them. “Everything is computerized and Kevin and Looch? You should have seen my Ancient History class on pyramid building! The 3-D holographic presentation was so realistic, it was like we were watching an actual pyramid being built.”

“Really?” Aunt B sounded impressed.

“And Aunt B? My History Professor mentioned the names of Dr. Bianca Worthall and Dr. Bianca Wisetail and their work on the subject during his lesson.” I said proudly.

“Are you for real?” Aunt B asked excitedly. “So when you were learning about pyramid building, it went into some of the funeral ceremonies and other religious implications of their construction?”

“Mum!” Looch whined. “Not now.”

“C’mon B, save the history lecture for the history lectures you get paid for.” Uncle Dec wrapped his arms about his beloved wife’s waist.

“Oh OK.” Aunt B said dejectedly. “Mali? Move back home so I can talk to someone about history again.”

“Yeah!” Kevin’s eyes lit up by the very suggestion. “Move back home so we can be together again!”

Papa cleared his throat as he threw the Sabres a dirty look, before he turned and walked away to go and do something else. With his departure, I mirrored Looch by sitting on the arm of the sofa so I could be seated and still see them.

“How’s Junior year at Alma High?” I asked Kevin and Looch.

“Boring.” Kevin said flatly. “There’s no pretty girl with the pretty aura to stare at in class anymore.”

“Same ole, same ole.” Lucia sighed. “Junior year is just the same as Sophomore year, only we’re closer to graduating. Xenthe has started drawing caricatures during class.”

“He has?” I giggled, as I could imagine the kind of funny but cutting pictures he would draw of the teachers and students he didn’t like.

“You should see his caricature of Miss Broadbent.” Kevin guffawed. “At least in his pictures she isn’t missing the leash or feeding bowl.”

“Great work kids, we can see your education is really paying off.” Uncle Dec rolled his eyes.

“Dad, think of it as exploring our creative abilities.” Looch joked.

“I’ll explore my disciplinary abilities in a minute!” Uncle Dec joked back as he ruffled her hair.

Just then I heard Susanna’s squeals as she excitedly ran up to the video-phone screen in her Alaskan home. “Mali! Mali! Mali!”

“Susie-Q!” I reached out my hand to touch the screen, as her excitement to see me again touched my heart. “How are you Sues?”

“Mali, I’m doing pottery at school!” Sues exclaimed. “I’m making you a pottery bowl.”

“You are?” I asked brightly. “You’re making me a pottery bowl?”

Uncle Dec released his wife to pick up Sues and pull her away from hogging the screen. He bounced his large seven year old daughter on his hip, as his wife wrapped her arms about his lower back. The sight of their family unit made my heart hurt that I was once apart of that.

“Are you enrolled in Music?” Kevin next asked.

“Ouis, my music lessons are tomorrow and Friday.” I answered. “How is Hugh and Katrina and your parents?”

“Mom and Dad are OK, so is Hugh. Mom and Dad are always asking about you.” Kevin smiled. “Katrina wants to come and visit you. She says she’s always wanted to visit an alien planet.”

“She would be welcome.” I promised, when Papa loudly cleared his throat in the other room to show his displeasure. “Any or all of you would be welcome to visit. But there are three moons in orbit and every two to three days it’s a full moon.” I warned.

“Yeah, we know Mali.” Uncle Dec sighed with dissatisfaction.

“Could we visit on a day that’s not a full moon?” Kevin turned to look on Aunt B questioningly.

“I don’t see why not?” she next looked on her husband.

“Or Mali can come and stay with us on weekends and school holidays.” Uncle Dec redirected the conversation.

“Yeah!” Kevin agreed exuberantly. “Mali could come home this weekend!”

“Excusez-moi…” Papa objected as he marched out of the kitchen to come and stand beside me, “…Mali is not about to travel for 14 days on an interstellar passenger ship, just to visit for a WEEKEND.”

Just like Papa didn’t know about Kevin and the Sabre’s being Werewolves? He also didn’t know about Aunt B and Uncle Dec being the last Circulators in human history. Papa wouldn’t even know what a Circulator was. So the little fact that Aunt B and Uncle Dec can instantaneously phase through time and space to disappear from Earth and reappear a moment later on Eurasia? Was not available to him.

“But Mali wouldn’t be coming to see us on a space ship…” Susie-Q started to argue back but Uncle Dec shushed her.

“Shhh Susie-Q.” Uncle Dec said gently, then he said to both me and his youngest, “leave matters of transportation to Mommy and Daddy.”

“I know that Daddy but how come Mr. Roanne doesn’t?” Sues started up but this time it was Looch who came to the rescue.

“Come here Susie-Q.” Looch quickly stood up, pulled her little sister from her father’s arms and carried her out of the room.

“Jean Paul if this family is going to visit Mali on a weekend then we know we have to come to Eurasia to see her.” Uncle Dec fixed Papa with a steely-glare. “Then for her summer break, Mali can come to Alaska.”

What I sensed though, was if I did visit the Sabre’s on a weekend? They would instantaneously phase to Eurasia and pick me up from Papa’s on the illusion they were in town. Then they would instantaneously phase me back to Alaska.

“Fourteen days from Eurasia to Earth and then fourteen days back? It hardly seems worth it.” Papa said coolly.

“I don’t mind…” I began but Papa cut me off.

“Summer holidays in Alaska may go for nearly three months but here on Eurasia, school holidays are set out differently.” Papa said curtly.

“Mali, can you please leave the room? We need to have a private talk with your father.” Uncle Dec’s voice lowered dangerously, as he took a threatening step closer to the video-phone’s screen.

Oh oh…Uncle Dec’s territorial European Werewolf behavior didn’t appreciate Papa trying to manipulate my visits with the Sabres. Dung! I didn’t want the parents to fight over me, now what do I do?

“I don’t mind the 14 day trip to Earth, really Papa.” I looked anxiously on my father.

“Mali, you’re not traveling alone for 14 days from Eurasia to Earth and then back again!” Papa refused.

“But it would be worth it when I visit the Sabre’s for 28 days once I’m there…” I tried to point out.

“I am not about to let a 16 year old girl travel by herself economy class…” Papa interrupted me but then he was interrupted by Uncle Dec.

“Mali’s 17 years old, you Jackass!” he snapped. “And if B and I pay for Mali to travel by passenger ship? Then you can bet your life it would be First Class NOT Economy and one of us would be with her! And another? Legally speaking Mali is OUR daughter, a little thing called ADOPTION ensured this fact when WE were there for her and YOU weren’t!”

“I’ll see you in court!” Papa pointed angrily at Uncle Dec’s furious face on our video-phone screen. “That adoption was done illegally and with out my consent!”

“The Judge ruled you negligent you idiot!” Uncle Dec fired back. “You weren’t around to refute the adoption process!”

“I told you I was on Eurasia for the job interview and I didn’t know about Kita’s death!” Papa’s face reddened.

“Listen pal, Mali wanted to spend her last two years of High School with her father? Then fine, she’s spending the last two years of her school years with the incompetent, useless, son-of-a-bitch for a father! But one phone call to our lawyer with Hodge Endeavor and she’ll be back so fast in Alaska it’ll make your head spin!” Uncle Dec threatened.

“Just you try! I have a lawyer of my own, Sabre! I could sue you for harassment!” Papa shouted back.

As my shoulders and neck muscles tensed up so much that I got a tension head ache; the lights in our apartment started to fluctuate and even the video-phone screen was interrupted by static. Our lounge room went dark, before the lights came back on again after a second or two.

“What in the world…?” Papa looked about in surprise.

“Mali, are you OK?” Aunt B cried out worriedly. “Alright that’s enough you two! No more fighting!”

Now Papa turned and looked on me in further annoyance, realizing just as Aunt B had that it was my stress at this situation, which was doing this to the lights and electrical equipment.

“Mali?” Kevin called through the static. “Mali, we can’t see you anymore…”

Then the line went dead, drowned in further loud static.

“Mali!” Papa exhorted in indignation. “What did I tell you about losing control of that curse of yours? You could have given yourself away to the Sabres!”

My tension head ache was harking on the side of agony, which made me as well as the lounge room light explode! Simultaneously as I stood up to face-off Papa, the plasma-powered light globe fractured and sparked inside the glass light fitting.

“They KNOW about me, Papa! And they’re not afraid of me or my gifts! Aunt B was even helping me train my telekinetic ability!”

“Oh did they just?” Papa turned sour. “Is that why they’re so anxious to get you back? To use your freakish powers to their own advantage…”

“I’M NOT A FREAK!” I shrieked. “The Sabre’s never made me feel like a freak! They made me feel like I fitted in and belonged! And they LIKED my frizzy hair!”

With that I spun on my heel and stormed out of the living area and into my bedroom. There, I fell face first onto my bed and let my hot tears spill into my pillow. My skin felt hot as well, which I tried to absorb the coolness from the sheets.

My phone beeped out several times, alerting me to several text messages that poured in no doubt from Kevin and the Sabres? But my head was hurting too much to move it.

Mondieu! I had such a nice day, it was just typical of my luck for it to be ruined as such. I remember when I grew up in Nara, when I skipped home from school if I had a good day which was made so by not getting bullied? I would slow before I reached the front door, when I heard Mama and Papa’s yelling from inside. When that happened, I used to turn around and run to Grandmamma’s house. There she would mind me and I would help her with her gardening or making up herbal remedies, until a couple of hours later Mama would come to pick me up.

Then after Mama and Papa’s divorce, Mama and I peacefully lived together. I had Kevin, Lucia and Xenthe at school, or I would go to their houses afterwards. Either Mama would pick me up on her way home from work or one of my friends drove me home. When the Sabre’s adopted me after Mama’s death? The Sabre’s house was never quiet thanks to Susanna’s hijinks and giggles, or Sophia’s tantrums and yelling. But it felt like home and more importantly, it felt like MY home with Aunt B and Uncle Dec. I got to hang out with Looch permanently and she quite happily drove the two of us to school, stopping to pick up Kevin and Xenthe along the way.

Now I was scared the old days of fighting were coming back. I don’t want anymore fighting, it was one of the reasons why I chose to live with Papa again. I would never dream of telling the Sabres this, but I wanted to get away from the violent altercations because of the Sabres being Werewolves. They would always have skirmishes with other beings in the supernatural. Now it was Papa who was riling up the dust clouds and I didn’t know what to do. I was looking forward to being just a ‘normal teen’, not a gifted Seer or the girl with the aura.

“Mali?” Papa poked his head through the doorway.

“I have a head ache!” I snapped tearfully, to make him go away.

I heard him leave but then he came back again thirty seconds later. He sat down on the bed beside, holding out the glass of chilled water and some paracetamol. Slowly I sat up, wincing as my head pounded harder from this activity before I took the liquid and tablets from him. After I swallowed them down, Papa put the empty glass onto my bedside table as I lay back down again.

“Mali,” he began, “the next time you go out after school, can you please text message me where you’ll be?”

I did deserve this lecture, even if Papa did have poor timing. I managed a nod as I closed my eyes, whilst rubbing my temples.

“What do you mean that the Sabre’s know about your ‘gifts’ and were training you?” he next asked suspiciously.

“Aunt B is a ‘Seer’ too.” I answered whilst keeping my voice quiet.

‘Seeing’ was apart of her abilities as a Circulator, but it was the Sabre’s request that Papa was not made aware of their supernatural qualities. I thought by just saying Aunt B being a ‘Seer’ was putting it mildly.

“I see.” Papa cleared his throat. “So when you lived with the Sabre’s, you felt like you were with kindred spirits?”

“Ouis.”

“Mali, you’re my little lamb. Of course I don’t see you as a ‘freak’. I only asked for you to keep this side of your nature disclosed because I remember when you were a little girl? You used to cry when the other children called you ‘witch’ or other names.”

“I cried because they said it in a hurtful way, sometimes whilst throwing rocks.”

That made him pause, as I listened to him take a deep breath. “Mon cherie, I truly want you to be happy. I want the two of us to make a life here.” Papa picked up my hand and held it. “You had a good day at your new school and made friends, ouis?”

“Ouis.”

“Then I want you to enjoy a normal life for as long as possible. I know your ‘gifts’ are growing in power as you grow with age. But before they take over your life like they did with your Grandmamma? I want you to enjoy life’s other delights.”

I could see his logic, even with this blinding headache. “Ouis Papa.”

“Good girl.” He patted my hand, before he stood up. “Would you like dinner in half an hour?”

“Um, non. I’m not hungry.”

“Bien.” He shut my door on his way out.

Just then my phone began to ring and I thought it must have been either Kevin or the Sabres, trying to contact me another method? So I rolled over, picked it up from my cotton carry bag and I answered it with my eyes closed.

“Ouis?”

“Er, Mali? Voici Henri.”

“Henri.” I smiled with my eyes closed. “Comment allez-vous?”

“Bien.” He chuckled.

“Are you at Mohid’s barbecue?”

“No, I changed my mind and went home.” Henri sighed. “I felt like having a quiet night and eating my Mom’s cooking instead. She’s making squid ink linguine with smoked salmon and pine nuts.”

“Mmm, sounds nice.” I admitted.

“Yeah, it’s one of my favourites. What’s yours?” he asked congenially.

“Um…” I faltered as I massaged my temples again, “…almost anything Uncle Dec or my Grandmamma makes.”

“Cool.” He chuckled. “Er, Mali are you feeling OK? You sound like you’re almost whispering.”

“I have a headache.”

“Oh, sorry.” Henri sounded guilty. “I’ll go and let you rest then.”

“Merci.” I said softly. “I’ll see you tomorrow at school?”

“You sure will.” He signed off. “Take it easy.”

We both hung up and then just before I put down my phone again? I noticed that the screen was lit up to alert that I had several text messages waiting.

R U OK? WOT HAPPENED? – Kevin

I’M SORRY MALI, I’LL KICK UR UNCLE DEC INTO BEHAVING BETTER NEXT TIME WE CALL – Aunt B

R U OK MALI? – Lucia

R U FEELING ALRIGHT? – Kevin

That last message made me pause, as I lowered my phone and stared up at my ceiling. Could Kevin Wisetail sense my illness? Was he using his Lokoti Werewolf mating practices to empathically sense my headache? Could he do this even from another solar system? Now that IS supernatural.

I HAVE A HEADACHE – I sent back to Kevin.

Within ten seconds his reply came back as – CAN I GET U ANYTHING?

A laugh escaped as I looked on his words. That was Kevin, always sweet even if a little vague. I wasn’t sure how he would be able to get anything for me, being fourteen days away by traveling faster than the speed of light? Unless of course he ran and got this ‘anything’ for me from the chemist in Alma and then hounded Aunt B or Uncle Dec to instantaneously phase him here? Then that would really give away my friends and family’s supernatural side to Papa! So I changed the subject slightly.

CUD U SENSE MY HEADACHE? – I sent to Kevin.

KINDA, I JUST HAD THIS INKLING THAT UR NOT FEELING URSELF – he replied.

This made my eyes water and my nose run, as I typed back into my phone – I MISS U SO MUCH KEVIN

I MISS U MORE – He responded within a second flat.

~~~~~~~~