Andrew waited a few moments before trying to go out and talk to Liza. But just as he was about to go find her, Quinn went barreling past him, muttering to himself. Settling back into his chair, he rested his head on his fist to the side to make it look like he was asleep. Under his eyelids, his eyes crackled with blue energy and a nearly invisible double of himself stood and followed Quinn's path out.
Andrew knew that if anyone saw his apparition that they would chalk it up to not sleeping well the night before and so he wasn't worried about anyone seeing it. But still, he was cautious. Liza had seen it and wondered. If he hadn't disappeared when he did before, she would have realized it wasn't just lack of sleep she was seeing.
By the time he made it to where Quinn and Liza had their heads together, they were deciding to go somewhere and put the plan in motion. Startled, Andrew didn't bother going slow to return his double to his body. It snapped back in, it was moving so quickly. He opened his now brown eyes and stood, expecting to head out of the library at full speed.
Unfortunately, a teacher of his had another idea.
"Andrew, could I speak with you, please?" His World History teacher wasn't very happy about his grades. But Andrew had already graduated long ago and didn't really care. He was only there for Liza anyway.
"This really isn't a good time, Mr. Mentman."
The man was thin and looked like he had never been young. It was as if he came out of the womb looking that old. Andrew wondered how much of the World History he taught from personal memories and how much came from the text. The papery thin mouth curved in a painful smile. Andrew was surprised he didn't hear the dry lips as they moved across each other.
"It is always a good time for education, young man."
Exasperated, and feeling the urgency of getting to Liza, Andrew racked his brain for a way out of this.
"Of course, sir, always. But right this second, I have a test that I'm late for. Could I schedule a time later where we can sit down together and hammer out all the details that you want to do?"
"Appointments? Ah, well, I guess I can't keep you from a test. Tests are what lets us know where we stand. Important things, those."
"Very. Now, if you would excuse me."
"Yes, yes. Stop by my classroom after school. We'll talk then."
"Yes, sir." Before the man could come up with something else to say, Andrew booked it out of the library and wildly looked around, hoping to see Liza. He wasn't going to be able to do this alone. Closing his eyes, he sent out twelve apparitions of himself to look in as many areas as possible at once. He had to find her. He had to know what it was she planned. And he possibly had to stop it.
