Primed: A Kayla Madison Story

Primed Part 19

CHAPTER NINE: ELECTRICITY AND ESPIONAGE

I must have been extremely restless during the night dreaming about how I'd get into Mr. Wu's office because when I woke up in the morning, my hair was in the shape of a rat's nest—although I'd never seen a rat's nest and didn't think I wanted to see one.

I tried to style my hair like Alyssa Prime's bouffant with silky curls trailing down one side. However, I realized she must have her own super abilities when it came to styling hair because even though I tried to give my hair more body by teasing it, it still looked like a poorly formed pumpkin perched on top of my head instead of an elegant hairdo. I brushed out the disaster and settled instead on a French braid. It wasn't perfect but at least it seemed presentable. I dressed in another set of the school uniform's long navy-blue skirt and white blouse while wishing there was a matching school hat.

Considering I was in a different dimension, there was nothing too unusual about school. Sure, there were lanterns instead of fluorescent lights, chalkboards instead of SmartBoards, and fountain pens and paper instead of laptops, but all-in-all, it still felt like school.

Jake was waiting for me outside my last class. It was good to see a familiar face even though we had technically just met. I only wished I didn't have to worry about whether or not his father was involved in something underhanded that threatened others.

"Hello, Kayla. You are looking lovely this fine day. That hairdo is quite fetching on you."

"Thanks." I couldn't believe how many times I kept forgetting the formalness of this world. I cleared my throat. "Thank you, Jake."

"Shall we take our leave?"

"Certainly." I hoped that my lack of sophistication on Earth Prime would be compensated by a friendly smile.

Jake escorted me to his waiting coach with yet another horse and matching carriage this time in gray. Both the horse and the carriage appeared to have a gradient of gray that was lighter at the top and became darker toward the legs and wheels. The seats of the carriage were tufted cranberry leather.

"Seriously, how many horses and carriages do you have?"

"Are you referring to those on the island or the aggregate from all our properties?"

I was sure he could have given me a detailed response to the question but the twinkle in his eyes showed he was more interested in my company than answering a question about horses and buggies. I was surprised how much I enjoyed his attention. It was also confusing. I didn't understand how I could be attracted to this Jake but not the one back home. I realized I was taking a bit too long to answer so I waved off the question with grin. "Never mind."

***

On the way to his house, Jake shared stories about his childhood and his ongoing sibling rivalry with Jacqueline. I was so engrossed in his humorous accounts I was taken aback when we ended up near the Regional Council headquarters.

Jake guided the horse across the street from the headquarters, toward the tall hedges, where I had originally spotted him the other day.

The horse clipped-clopped up the drive. It was paved with bricks forming the same family crest on his carriage. As we pulled up, one guy went right to the horse, another one went to Jake's side of the carriage, and a third came to my side. A fourth person was at the door to receive us. They were all dressed in very formal suits. Their vests were a dark gray and black checkered fabric and the Wu family crest was embroidered on the area where a chest pocket would have otherwise been located.

On my world it was Glorietta Bay Inn. Here it was Jake's home. On both worlds it was beautiful off-white building with decorative cornices, carved window frames, and embellished edges that gave the appearance of a strong but elegant structure. The second and third floors of Jake's house had been significantly expanded with thin Doric columns supporting grand balconies on upper floors.