The Company

Chapter Two- Attack of the Stockphoto Finace Guys From the 50's

What made me happy was that that class was my last one. Lionel, Blaine, and I left the class together. I kept a not-so-sharp eye out, and Lionel promised he would as well. I mean, my eyes were about as sharp as Snakey's personality, but maybe Lionel's were better.

The gym was packed, so as always, some of us had to sit on the floor or under the bleachers.

We were the losers under the bleachers, three of us and maybe a couple of other guys that hated me. I put a headphone in, and Lionel asked me for the other one.

"You like the oldies," he said with his same confident smile and chunky peanut butter voice. "The oldies are good. MCR is one of my favorite oldie bands."

I gave him my own smile. "Mine too. The oldies are the best! I don't really like any of this new music."

"Yeah, it's all about sex and drugs," Lionel said. "The words mean nothing. But the oldies, the oldies make you think. MCR, twenty øne piløts, all that. They have meaning. It's just amazing."

"Well, have you listened to Pretty. Odd., though?" I joked. "It's good, but it's all pretty much weed-induced."

Lionel let out a laugh, just as chunky peanut butter as his voice, but a little sweeter. "Okay, true."

I like the way this guy thinks. At least he doesn't hate me.

I brushed my hair out of my eyes again. "What do think this dumb assembly is about?"

He shrugged. "Probably something about drugs or bullying. Isn't that what most assemblies are about, anyway?"

Blaine laughed. He had such a crass, rough laugh, unlike Lionel's.

I like Lionel's laugh better.

A peculiar group of guys were standing on the stage, all in matching suits that were, for some odd reason, maroon-colored. They had weird black ties that were so mismatched from the outfit it almost hurt. It almost hurt as much as their crappy, Stockphoto smiles and totally symmetrical standing position.

"Hello there, Fitzgerald Academy!" the one in front greeted, his voice as suave and clean as the way he looked. "We're here from the Austin Research Company to tell you that your school has been chosen to be a subject for our newest scientific study!"

There were a few cheers from the science majors. I looked over at Lionel, and he was looked not so intrigued, but worried.

"A study?" he asked me. "What kind of study?"

"I'm not sure," I replied.

"This can't be safe," Lionel said. "Why would they come to an academy for the gifted for just a scientific study?"

Blaine chuckled. "They do that a lot, newbie. Since it's an academy for the gifted, they wanna keep checking up on how gifted we are. They did one with your boyfriend there on band kids versus kids that aren't in band. Kid came back with a practically fried brain from all the MRIs and stuff! It was so funny!"

I gave a nervous chuckle. "Hah, oh yeah, it was...wait, did you say boyfriend?" My face went hot, and I noticed Lionel's cheeks turn a nice shade of pink.

"He-he isn't my boyfriend," Lionel stuttered, looking down. His hair fell into his face almost comically, almost ruining the moment, but not. It put a small smile to my face, just a small one.  "We just met, f-for crying out loud!"

"Yeah, right," Blaine joked. "He needs to take you out to dinner first! Or how about a little bit of Wavelength and chilling? Huh?" He laughed again.