Bionic Chaos [Leo Dooley]

Chapter Four

I'm always excited to go to play practice after school is over, but not tonight. Tonight, I just want to go home and go to bed. I definitely didn't sleep well last night because my older brother came home from college, telling all of us that he dropped out for some reason only known to him. The aftermath of that meeting went through the early hours of the morning, with my parents arguing and my brother yelling. All that resulted in me getting no sleep. Fun times, right? Not really, but it's whatever, I guess.

When I enter the back of the stage, I see that most of the people that are in theater club are already standing there. They all look like little lost puppies, wandering around, looking at the small back room behind the stage. A lot of these people look new, so I assume that they're freshman. 

"Ms. Gray is running a little late," I tell everyone as I set my backpack down underneath the table. "She has to do a few errands before getting here, but she told me that I can start rehearsals without -"

"I'm here!" a voice announces behind me. I whirl around, annoyed that someone has interrupted me, and find Adam Davenport making his way over to the rest of us with two trays full of coffee balanced on his hands. A wide smile is on his handsome face as he takes everyone in. "I'm sorry I'm late, but I thought everyone would like coffee."

"That's so generous of you," Reese says with a large grin on her face. She walks over to Adam, taking him by the arm and leading him over to the table that we have set up with some snacks and other types of beverages.

I can't believe the audacity of that girl. First, she thinks she's the best actress at this school, but that's a total lie. Second, she's really trying to flirt with Adam. That girl has eyes as big as satellites, but her brain is about the size of a peanut. She only focuses on outward appearances, not what's truly on the inside. In Adam's case, it's a freak who has strange abilities.

"Okay, I finally got the list of people I want to act in this play," Janelle says after she takes a coffee for herself. She has a piece of paper in one hand, her eyes scanning it. "I'm obviously going to be the lead." 

My blood boils at the thought of her leading the play, but there's nothing I can do about it. Ms. Gray, the theater teacher, said that I can't be the star of every single play here and that I needed to give other people a chance to be the star for once in their life. I suspect there's more to why she doesn't want me to lead this play, but I don't know for sure whether or not she hates me.

"The rest of you can look at this piece of paper for the other roles," Janelle continues. She sets her coffee on the table to hang up the piece of paper on the board next to the table. "After you all check to see if you got a part, we'll have a bathroom break before getting into play rehearsals."

Reese rolls her eyes at Janelle's back. I hate that girl with a passion, but right now, I respect her for not liking Janelle, either. Ever since Janelle join the theater club last year, she's been acting like she's the best and that she is the real reason why people come to these plays. It was easier with just me and Reese fighting for all the lead roles, but now we have another opponent to take down before focusing back on each other. 

I approach the board and see that I did end up getting a minor role in the play. A deep sense of satisfaction runs through me when I realize that Reese hasn't gotten a role at all in this play. Instead, she's part of the crew who will run the lights and sound. At least one of them didn't get a part in this play.

Most of the people in theater club all head toward the doors that led to the hallway. However, Adam is one of the only people who hasn't joined the others going to the bathroom. Instead, he grabs his coffee and heads a little closer to the stage, near the curtain that is currently down. This is the perfect time for me to catch him in the act.

When Adam thinks he's alone, he lets out a sigh of relief. I don't let him see me hiding in the shadows of the curtains so I can catch him in the act of doing a bionic task. I just hope that he will do one soon before everyone else gets back from the bathroom break.

The only interesting thing Adam is doing right now is scrolling through his phone, which sucks. He needs to do something with his bionics now so I can get it on video to show to the entire world that three freaks were living among us all. 

Adam lifts his coffee up to his mouth before spitting it out on the ground in front of him. One, that is extremely gross. Two, one of us is going to have to clean that up before Ms. Gray comes back from running errands. She makes all of us theater people clean up our messes since we are the ones who created them, giving our janitors a little break here and there. 

"Ugh, this coffee definitely needs to be warmer," Adam mutters to himself. His eyes dart around for a second, as if he's looking for anyone who might be around. He doesn't see me standing here, obviously, because he focuses back on his coffee.

And right before my very own eyes, he stares at the coffee in his hand and red lasers shoot out of his eyes. There's a very concentrated look on his face as he continues to aim his laser eyes at the coffee, probably allowing it to get warm so he can enjoy it better. 

I quickly turn my phone on to get a video of this creature standing before me. However, just before I can even go to my camera, someone runs right into my back, causing me to drop my phone to the ground with a loud crash. I don't bother looking at Adam right now; instead, I'm worried that my phone is completely shattered. 

Sure enough, my phone screen is cracked in multiple places. At least it still turns on. That gives me hope that it'll be just fine. 

Glancing up, I see that Leo kid that was with them the other day at Tech Town whispering to Adam about something. It looks important because Leo's eyes are wide as he tells Adam something. I try to sneak a little closer, but they have seen me by now, especially because Leo ran into me a minute ago.

"We have to go now," Leo says to Adam, tugging on his arm, trying to pull him away from the stage. "The mission -"

Leo goes quiet as I join the two of them. Somehow, his eyes grow even wider, giving him the appearance of a fish out of water. "Where are you going, Adam?" I ask with a frown. 

"I have to go home," he says, pointing in some random direction. "My, uh, sister needs help with, um, choosing her outfit for a date."

What a smooth reply. I cross my arms over my chest as I stare up at him with questioning eyes. "Why would you need to help your sister pick out an outfit for this date?"

"Because -"

"Because he's best friends with the guy she's going out with," Leo says suddenly. I turn my attention to him. He's about as tall as me, just a few inches taller. He is still tugging on Adam's big bicep. "And she needs his help now! So, let's go!"

"Tell Reese that I'll try to come to some of the other play rehearsals," Adam calls over his shoulder as he walks toward the door with Leo. "I am the most important person in this play, so I'll make sure to come to the other ones!"

"Sure."

I turn on my heel with a sigh. I really wish I could have gotten a video of Adam using his bionics, but I would have to try some other time. This is turning out harder than I thought. But I guess all investigations like this are harder than they seem. I know that if I do get things like that on camera, I'll get rich if I share it to the media. If I get enough money, maybe then I could finally apply to a performing arts school to better direct my craft. And that's all that I really want to jumpstart my career as an actress. That's the only reason why I'm trying to expose these people; it's so I can finally get out of this life and into the one I deserve.