The Forgotten

It's Just a Game

I follow Shain to a car that is not the one we rode to school in today. This one is black and is has silver and gold flames on the sides. In the driver's seat, there is not a professional. It is the muscular boy from the cafeteria. He watches me closely. I roll my eyes.

Shain and I get into the back. Will is riding in the front. A tall girl who reminds me of a dancer sits in the seat behind the guy. I suppose they must be the siblings, York and Jersey. I'd never for the life of me be able to guess which one's which.

Everyone is grinning, except Will and me. Probably because we don't actually know what we're going to be doing. I fake a smile and hope it passes for raw excitement.

"Are you okay?" Will asks, sounding concerned. I stop trying to fake smile.

I lean back in my seat. Will is still watching me. I give him a genuine smile to assure him I'm fine. The boy who is either Jersey or York backs out of the drive. Then I remember something.

"Where's Jess?" I ask without thinking if Raven should already know. Shain waves her hand dismissively. Jersey or York's sister is the one to reply.

"He said he's gonna meet us tonight," she says, almost to the group rather than me. "I think he wants to show off his new car. He turned sixteen yesterday.

"What day is it?" Will asks. "Today, I mean."

Jersey or York pipes up from the front seat, "It's the fifth of June, Friday." He says the actual day of the week with relish. I've heard that most people get to take off work/school on Saturdays. Well, not where I'm used to. We had to put in two hours of work Monday through Saturday in addition to three hours of school work, whether you accomplished anything or not.

"So?" Will asks, "what exactly is this game?"

"We can't tell you here," Jersey or York's sister hisses. "Mom and dad might have the car bugged." My eyes widen. Parents actually recorded their kids conversations! I guess with kids with these...

No one has a conversation until we reach the mall. There are a surprisingly lot of cars in the parking lot. It is eight o'clock on a Friday night. I wonder if other teenagers in there are playing "the game".

Jess drives over and parks next to it. He's driving a bright orange European car.

"Like?" he asks me flirtatiously. I give him a smile.

"Not especially," I reply. Will snickers and Jess throws him a look.

We all get out and head for the mall entrance through one of the department stores. I've never been inside a store before. This is pretty impressive.

Once inside, Will asks again about the game.

"So what exactly is this?" He looks a little nervous. "If it's one of those shop till you drop things..." He trails off. I realize why instantly. He's not from a rich family. He doesn't have the money to buy a bunch of crap. I might have the money, but nothing in this store is worth my time.

Shain laughs. "Of course not, silly. Watch me." She walks over to a display of gemstone bracelets. She takes one out of the bin, which has a weird senor thing on it. She takes off her necklace, which is made of garnets. She sets it into the bracelet's bin and slide the bracelet on itself.

Will's eyes widen. So do mine, but no one notices.

"What?" Jess asks, looking at a mannequin wearing a motorcycle jacket. "Never played before."

Shain turns to the girl.

"Jersey, it's your turn." While Jersey heads off to shoplift, Shain explains things to Will.