A Revolution In Shadow And Blood

I Ditch School to go to School

Two days later, everything is ready to go. Karly is packed up, my parents have talked to her parents, which went as well as we could expect, and now all she needs is a ride to Enterprise Academy. Over the past couple days working with her, I learned that she's a sophomore, and hasn't gotten a drivers license or a car yet. Mom talks over the problem as I eat cereal next to Karly at the kitchen island. Mom says that she doesn't have the time to make an eight-hour round-trip drive, as she has a meeting in a few hours that she can't miss. She's the vice-president of a club that provides shelter and supplies for run away or homeless teenagers. That's how she's been able to help people who manifest gain control. I've helped out at a few of her events, and it's pretty cool what she's doing.

Dad left for work an hour ago, at seven o'clock, so he obviously can't drive Karly. I'm not sure what he does for work, because whenever I ask my parents, I can never get a straight answer. My theory is that he helps out the Enhanced police with keeping order. Just like humans have people that break the law, so do the Enhanced, though our criminals usually do it on a...grander scale.

Through a mouthful of cocoa-puffs, I say as casually as I can, "Why don't I take her?"

Mom looks at me. "You have school."

I shrug. "So? I haven't missed a single day this year, so one day isn't going to hurt anybody. Besides, I don't see anyone else here that could take her."

Mom frowns. "I could call up Dara, ask her to do it..."

I roll my eyes. Dara is a good family friend; she and Mom happen to be the only known living Elementals. I interrupt her. "Dara lives over an hour away. It's totally out of her way, and you know it. Just let me take her."

Mom sighs, rubbing a hand on her forehead. I hide a smile because I know this move. She only uses it when she knows I'm winning the argument. After a moment where she seems to be arguing with herself, she finally says, "I guess it would be OK if you take her..."

I jump out of my chair, pumping a fist in the air. "Yes!"

I grab Karly's shoulder, practically dragging her out of her chair as I head to the front door. I swing my backpack I previously packed and placed discreetly next to the front door over my shoulder, and grab one of Karly's suitcases with my other hand. Karly follows quickly, grabbing her other suitcase and her backpack, and we head out the door with my Mother close behind us.

"Wait a minute! What are you doing with that backpack!" she says, pointing an accusing finger at me.

I shrug, dumping the luggage on the back seat of my jeep. "It's just in case of an emergency, Mom." I climb into the front seat, trying to hurry away before Mom can say something logical and stop me. I continue, "You never know."

Karly follows me, dumping the luggage in the back, then climbing into the passenger seat. Mom looks at me, her hands on the window rim, her eyes searching mine. "You're going to stay there, aren't you?"

I don't bother answering. She's known me for eighteen years, and knows me better than anyone else, including Dad. I really want to go and experience some small part of the Enhanced world before I'm too old to do it this easily, and she knows it.

She sighs, then smiles at me as only my mother can. "Just be careful."

I grin, knowing she's letting me go. I really couldn't have asked for a better Mom. "When am I not?"

Mom rolls her eyes, but smiles at me as I pull out of the driveway before she can change her mind. Just as I'm turning onto the street, she calls out, "Love you!"

I grin and shout back, "Love you too!"

Then we're on our way, diving head first into a world that I know would change my life forever.