Stay Strong

Chapter Fourteen

I've put a lot of thinking into this we thing that was brought on by Nikkolai. I've come to a conclusion that I'll never have a legitimate we. But much to my dismay, Nikkolai has found himself very interested in Carly.

It's Friday night and soon I have to leave to make it home in time Homecoming. I already have dress pants and a shirt at home from when Valentine took me shopping, she made me get dress clothes too. All the clothes on earth are very different from the gray jumpsuits at battle school and Eros.

The sky is growing dark as night approaches. Alai brought me to the airport where he left me with my one bag and well wishes. Alai left about a half hour ago and my flight has been delayed because of windy conditions and a storm that's brewing outside of the airport terminal building.

The air is thick and muggy, but bearable to a certain point, at least the indoors has air conditioning. I look around and I'm found with the same situation as in the park a month and a half ago, except for Lexus, the pretty blue bird.

People shove past one another, knocking people's bags out of their arms, causing young children to lose their parents. More than once I've had to go and chase down a mother who didn't notice they lost their child somewhere in the hustle and bustle of Greek traffic.

A loud crack if thunder rattles the airport just as the announcer mentions flight 398, my flight. The whole place is illuminated even more than with the ceiling lights as a huge bolt of lightning strikes a good mile and a half away from the air port.

There's shrieks of terror as the terminal goes dark as the power goes out. Immediately I feel a sharp buzz in the pocket of my shorts and pull out the phone my mother gave me.

There's a request to video chat from Carly, so I answer it.

"Hey Car. What's up?" Her bright face shows up on the screen and the glow of the phone hurts my eyes in the dark room.

She shrugs and shuffles what I believe is a laptop that she's using for the video interaction. "Not much." Another crack of thunder is heard and lightning is seen closer than before. I see Carly's face shrink as she winches away from the screen. "What was that, Drew?"

"My guess is there's a lovely party in the sky going on right now." Her eyes widen,"Its just a thunderstorm Car."

Carly sighs and rolls those perfect eyes, "I know that Drew."

I grin, "Of course you do." I look out the window as another strike of lightning hits outside. I look back to the phone and to Carly, "What time does the formal start?"

Carly shrugs, "I think like eight? Maybe seven? I've never gone before! I'm so excited." She squeals and I hear a door slam I'm the background. She turns and glances in the direction of the sound. "Well, I guess my brother is home."

I search Carly's face for any kind of wayward emotion, I find nothing. "What's his name? Alex?" She nods.

A few seconds later I see a college aged man walk through the room Carly's sitting in. He's got that same reds hair like a flame on his head, threatening to burn everything around him.

"Hi Alex." She says cheerfully as the figure walks by.

He walks back a few places, looking suspiciously at what I assume is my face on her phone, "Who are you speaking with Carlotta." He doesn't say it as a question, he's says it and expects an answer. Carly's mood immediately changes as soon as he asks.

"My f-friend. An-Andrew." He frowns and narrows his eyes, "En-ender Wiggin."

Alex's gaze hardens on me, I can feel his gaze across an ocean. "And why are you talking to Carlotta Ender?"