Olivia pulled up in the school parking lot and parked her silver 2005 Acura. Her grandmother purchased the used car, for her on her 16th birthday. It was just them, her mother was off with husband number three, spending his money in some foreign country, she couldn't remember the name of. She had only seen her a few times over the years, and could barely remember her face anymore, but her voice was edged deep in her subconscious mind.
It was always phone calls, never visits, or even video chats. It's like she didn't want to set eyes on her. It didn't matter much anymore. Her eighteen birthday was a few months away and her mother wouldn't have a say over her any longer. She would be free to choose her own path and no one would be able to stop her. The thought made her feel warm and fuzzy inside. 'Freedom, was a short distance away.' She thought.
She grabbed her bag pack and exited her car. On the way, she met Alex, her best male friend. "What's up V? You're earlier than usual." He joked, revealing a perfect set of pearly white teeth. He was tall and muscular, of course he was. His family owned a horse ranch outside of town and he had worked it from childhood.
"I thought I'd put in a better effort to be here on time." She lied. In fact she thought she'd be late, with all the hurrying her grandmother was giving her.
"Look who's turning over a new leaf." He said with a little smirk. "Better late than never." She replied, smugly.
"I hear Mr. Reeva is setting a night assignment in Astronomy!" He said excitedly.
"Really?" She replied.
"Yep! My older brother had him last year. He said, that he sets a night assignment between November 29th through December 18th every year." He stated.
'At least I know how I'll be spending my birthday.' She thought.
"Did he tell you the details?" She asked.
"No. He told me I would have to wait and see. The jerk wouldn't even give me the deets!" He stated as if he had been scorned. Olivia laughed at her friend plight. "You know he's only doing it to get under your skin, right?" She asked.
"Of course I do! It's his favorite pastime. Annoys the shit out of me V!" He said frustrated.
"Well you're the one who lets it get to you." She stated. "Thank you captain obvious," he said, taking a moment to stop and salute her.
They both busted out laughing as they made their way into the building and to their lockers. They had every class together. It was like someone purposely gave them the same schedule. Even their lockers were beside each other. She switched out her books for the next few classes and closed her locker.
The halls were full of students making their way quickly to their home room class before the final bell rang. Olivia looked around for her other friend, but didn't see her anywhere. "Where's Alessia?" She asked Alex. He shrugged, "probably still in bed. Dad had her in the stalls last night working her to the bone for coming home past curfew." He cackled, a big grin on his face. "What is with you always giving her the business?" She asked crossing her arms and looking at him sternly.
"Hey she's the one who broke the rules, not me! Why are you always making excuses for my twin?" He said, eyeing her suspiciously.
"I don't make excuses for her Alex."
"Oh yes you do, V!" He stated matter-of-factly bobbling his head back and forth. She huffed and turned to walk away. 'He is so dramatic sometimes.' She thought. He ran to catch up to her, "I'm dramatic, look at your theatrical behavior." She froze and turned to look at him. 'Did she say that out loud?' She thought. "What?" I heard what you said. "I didn't say it, I thought it." She replied. He laughed, "Sure you did. I'm not a mind reader V. I heard it loud and clear." He replied, but something in his demeanor made her doubt his words.
"Look if it makes you feel better, I'll call and see where Less is at." He stated.
"You know she hates when you call her that."
"I do!" He said with a smirk.
She eyed him suspiciously, 'was he trying to change the subject?' He continued to stare back, waiting for her reply.
"Will you please make sure she's okay, for all we know, she's died of exhaustion, from your father's punishment." She replied.
He laughed, "He's not that bad."
"Let me call her real quick, I'll see you in class," and he hurried away leaving Olivia to walk alone.
Once he was out of sight, he exhaled a deep sigh and pulled his phone from his pocket and called Alessia. She picked up on the third ring, "I'm coming, geez hold your horses," "We have a problem," he blurted out.
"What wrong?" She asked.
"She's waking up." He whispered.
"I thought that was the whole point to all this." She stated.
"It is, but…"
"But what?" she asked.
"I just mind read her and she caught me!" He stated.
"How?" She asked.
"How what?" He questioned.
"How did you mind read her without knowing you did, and get caught?" She asked.
"She had her back to me, it was so clear, I thought she said it out loud!" He replied in frustration.
"What did she say?" She asked.
"I think I convinced her that she did say it out loud. I played it cool." He stated.
"Sure you did, brother dear." She said sarcastically.
"I did." He replied.
"I don't see the problem." Alessia stated.
"If she returns to that house and they catch on that she's waking up, they will move her again. We need the thing, to hide it a bit longer." He replied.
"You do know that the closer she gets to her eighteen birthday, the harder it's going to be to conceal it right? Wouldn't it be better to let her get accustomed to it now?" She asked.
Do you have it with you or not?" He asked impatiently.
"Of course I do, I'm it's keeper." She replied.
"Get here quickly, she can not leave here today without it." He stated.
"I'll be there in a sec." The phone disconnected.
He took a deep breath, 'finally' he thought. 'Soon, very soon, they wouldn't have to hide it from her anymore.' He thought to himself and quickly made his way to class.