“Never mind,” Brendan said. When he saw her puzzled expression, he quickly said, “I’ve got a spare set at home and we’re late already.” He moved to the scooter before she could protest and swung his leg over it. He wrapped his arms around Kim’s waist. She throttled the scooter up and they sped away.
Brendan clung on for dear life as Kim swerved through the trees, the grip of the tires precarious on the dew-slicked grass. He tried to concentrate on the newfound acuity of his sight rather than her breakneck driving. He thrilled at the detail in the trees and leaves, the intricate patterns in the clouds. When they came to the road, Kim didn’t slow down, timing their arrival at the intersection perfectly with the changing of the lights. She shot through a crosswalk, weaving deftly among pedestrians and cyclists and skidding to a stop at the front steps of the school.
Brendan dismounted, his knees wobbling. “Thanks for not doing any wheelies.”
“No problem,” Kim said with a wink. “Next time!”
“Ooooo! Look at Brendan and his girlfriend.” The mocking voice of Chester Dallaire assaulted Brendan’s ears. “Or is it boyfriend? I can’t tell! She’s more like a guy than a girl!”
Chester sat on the steps with a pair of his cronies, Dean Spitz and Abdul Khun. They all shared an appreciation for the finer things in life: bullying, vandalism, and body odour.
“Like you’d know a real girl if she bit you on the butt, Chester.” Kim dismounted and rolled the scooter to the bike rack.
“Nice helmet, chrome dome.” Another round of guffaws. This was truly choice bully comedy.
“It takes so little to delight a tiny mind. C’mon, Brendan.” She walked straight up the steps past Brendan.
“Hey.” He pointed at the scooter. “Aren’t you gonna lock it?”
“I say it again: who would dare steal from me?” She glared pointedly at the three boys in front of her. They reluctantly slid out of her way and she climbed the steps. Brendan went after her. He reached the top step when he felt his foot catch on something. He sprawled on his hands and knees in front of the open doors of the school.
The laughter of Chester and his buddies swelled. Brendan angrily pushed himself to his feet and picked up his bag. He smouldered with anger. Chester did things like this to him every day. Today, he wasn’t in the mood. He’d really had enough of falling down and tripping and running into things. He turned around to glare at Chester. When Chester looked into Brendan’s face, the laughter died on his lips. Brendan felt as if Chester could see a darkness in his eyes, as if he didn’t look helpless or scared. He was furious and Chester was uneasy.
“Brendan,” Kim said, pulling at her friend’s arm. “Don’t bother with them.”
Brendan jerked free of her grasp. He stared Chester down. “That’s the last time I let you get away with anything, Chester.” He pointed at the bigger boy and spoke in a voice that he scarcely recognized himself. “Get lost!”
The instant the words were out of Brendan’s mouth Chester’s face went slack and his eyes became blank. His voice was totally flat as he said, “Right away.” He then turned and set off at a dead run. Abdul and Dean stared after him as he sped across the parking lot, turned up Avenue Road, and disappeared behind the Museum of Ceramic Arts. Abdul and Dean looked at Brendan, their faces filled with confusion and dread. Robbed of their leader, they shuffled up the stairs, keeping well away from Brendan as they hurried into the school.
Brendan was oblivious to their reaction. He shivered. He felt as though he’d just run a marathon. He reached out to grab Kim’s shoulder, slumping against her. “Wha…? What just happened?” Brendan felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him. He gripped Kim’s arm to stop himself from falling. “Whoa.”
“Just take a deep breath, Brendan. You’ll be okay.”
In a moment, Brendan was feeling better. He looked up to find Kim staring at him. “I can’t believe it,” she breathed.
“What can’t you believe?” Brendan asked.
“Do you know what you just did?” she hissed. “Do you have any idea?”
“I didn’t do anything,” Brendan said, confused. “All I did was tell him to get lost.”
“You really don’t understand.” Kim shook her head. “This is all happening too fast.”
Brendan was tired of the cryptic comments. He pointed an accusing finger at her. “That’s it. I’ve had it. I don’t get you. The more I think about you, the more I think you have some weird agenda.”
Kim didn’t say a word. She scanned the front of the school to see if anyone was watching.
“We’re going to have this out right now,” Brendan continued. “Either you tell me what’s going on or-”
“Or what?” She smirked at him.
Brendan couldn’t think of a good threat. He changed his tack. “I heard you talking to Greenleaf.”
Kim stiffened. “What are you talking about?”
“In the auditorium yesterday! I heard you talking about me.”
“Eavesdropping isn’t very polite,” Kim said quietly.
“Tell me what you were talking about,” Brendan demanded.
“I can’t do that,” Kim said.
The bell rang. Classes were starting. Neither of them moved. Class was forgotten.
“Well, maybe I should go and talk to Mr. Greenleaf.” Brendan started up the steps.
Kim stepped in front of him, blocking his way. “Oh, no you don’t!”
“Why not?” Brendan was secretly delighted that he’d hit a nerve. “What’s he going to tell me?”
Kim was about to respond when she was cut off by the harsh voice of Ms. Abernathy.
“What’s going on out here?” She stood in the open door of the school, glaring at the two truants. “The bell has rung. You are both late.”
Brendan froze. He had never been on the receiving end of a tongue-lashing by Ms. Abernathy. He had only watched others be dressed down by her. He tried to speak but all that came out was a strangled squeak.
“I asked you a question!” Ms. Abernathy barked. “What is going on out here?”
Brendan tried to clear his throat and make an excuse but Kim cut him off. “We’re having a private conversation.”
Brendan had never seen such an expression of complete shock on a human face before. Ms. Abernathy stared in disbelief. “No one speaks to me in that manner.”
“Well, I just did,” Kim said evenly. “Deal with it!”
Brendan thought the vice-principal was going to have a heart attack. Her face turned an interesting shade of puce. Her eyes bulged with outrage. “You… You… You…” the woman stammered.
“We’d like to finish our discussion so why don’t you run along,” Kim said. “Now!”
Ms. Abernathy quivered with rage. She reached out and grabbed Kim by the arm. “You are coming with me, young lady.”
Kim looked slowly down at the offending hand and then back into Ms. Abernathy’s eyes. “First of all, I am not young. Secondly, I am not a lady. Thirdly, take your hand off me if you ever plan on using it again.”
Ms. Abernathy’s mouth dropped open. She was about to speak but something in Kim’s eyes made her snap her mouth shut with a click. She let go of Kim.
“Better,” Kim said simply. A peal of thunder rolled across the sky. The three people on the steps looked up. The sky was clear. There was no imminent threat of rain, just a few white clouds drifting. The thunder rolled again.
“That’s odd,” Ms. Abernathy said softly.
“Uh-oh.” Kim’s voice was filled with dread. “This is gonna be bad.”
Brendan didn’t understand. He looked up into the sky again. Without any warning, a finger of lightning lashed downward from the empty sky, blasting into the middle of the sidewalk with a deafening bang. He was thrown from his feet, skidding along the steps and smacking into the metal railing. He tried to blink away purple spots from his eyes, the aftereffect of the lightning strike. When he could see again, he found himself staring at the most beautiful and terrifying woman he had ever seen.