"Headmaster Tirain, I need to talk to you sir." I said, leaving Doyle on the other side of the door. It took about ninety seconds to convince him that I needed to talk to the headmaster alone. The man that sat in the desk in front of me was middle aged and looked like a younger version of Denzel Washington.
"Yes, ma'am. How may I help you?" His voice was deep
"Sir. My name is Iberis O'Malley, and I'm your new scholarship student."
"Ah, yes. I look forward to seeing you in the fall Ms. O'Malley. What is it that you need?"
"Well sir, this is going to sound a bit paranoid, and a little strange maybe, but there is a favor I need to ask of you," Headmaster Tirain looked at me intently and I knew that I had caught his utmost attention, "Can you not tell people I am a scholarship student? I don't want to be treated differently around here and I don't want people to look up my name and find out that I come from a whole different world than this one. So, on the rosters, can I be known as Rose O'Malley?"
"I completely understand why you want to hide your identity, Iberis. If I was in your position, I might do the exact same thing, but before you sincerely ask me to do this, think of the consequences of hiding who you are. What if people found out your real name? What would happen then?"
"I figure that I can handle it. Rose is my nickname anyhow. I'll be fine sir. Please don't say anything about my real name. I'm not Iberis anymore. I'm Rose."
"Alright, if that's what you want. I look forward to seeing you in August, Rose," he said.
"Yes sir. Thank you, sir. Thank you so much," I said walking out the door, holding myself back from hugging the still waiting, (I don't even believe it), Doyle.
"So how did your 'switching of the identity' go?"
"Swimmingly." He cracked a smile, and pulled me towards the main door.
"Alright madam. So tell me. Why do you need so badly to switch your identity?"
"Everyone has secrets, Doyle. This just happens to be one." Just then the alarm on my phone started to play "Abraham's Daughter" and it hit me. I'd been here too long. Riley. Crap.
"I have to go. There is some place I've gotta be. But I'll see you around alright?" I didn't wait for his answer. Riley, Anni, Grover, and Lyla wanted to meet me at two o'clock and it was already one forty-five. It was a really long walk to the park. I was almost running but Doyle kept pace with me, walking steadily next to me.
"Do you need me to drive you somewhere? My ride is on the lot." He said pointing. I didn't want to be late but I didn't want Doyle to have to explain to Saedi why he was driving off in his car with me. He saw the look of doubt on my face, I'm sure, and he took my hand and led me to the lot.
"You don't have to do this. I don't want you to get into even more trouble with Saedi." I said as we walked
"Oh, tush. You have somewhere to be or not?" We stopped at a motorcycle. It was beautiful dark blue Harley with a chrome finish. No way. Before I could say a word he was already on and handing me a helmet.
"Okay, one ride." I heard him chuckle before he started her up. I got on and I felt the bike humming deeply beneath me. I wrapped my arms around Doyle's stomach and I felt safe, even on this monster.
"Where to?" he shouted over the noise.
"Adelaide Park!" I yelled, and we sped off with the wind whipping my clothes back against my body. I leaned into Doyle and held on for my dear sweet life.
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Surprisingly, we made it there before my friends and we sat around and talked like friends until they did show up. We didn't ask questions about each other because that was sort of off-limits for now, but we did talk about music. He tried to talk about television shows and movies, and I played along like I understood what he was talking about even though I didn't. We didn't have cable. We had a television and a VCR and that was it. When Riley, Anni, Grover, and Lyla showed, I introduced them with great dramatics.
Riley was of average height, but he made up for his average-ness in strength and skills in martial arts. He was training to be a Marine and I couldn't be any more proud of him. He was my first best friend and I would have jumped in front of a bus for him. He had bright red hair, pale, freckled skin, and light blue eyes.
Anni, the smallest of us, was the oldest, the smartest, and the most stylish. She had chopped raven hair and green eyes. Today she was sporting a red and black mini-skirt and black button up shirt with a purple tie. She was wearing knee-high socks and black flats. She looked like a doll. An incredibly weird doll, but a doll, nonetheless. She had personality and she didn't take any crap from anyone. That was what I liked about her. She had gotten an offer to go to W.A. but she turned them down immediately on account of her wanting to stay with her boyfriend Sam.
Grover was tall and bulky with shaggy brown hair that hung over his eyes and sweet brown eyes. He was intimidating to others. But to those of us who knew him, he was just like a teddy bear. He was a shoulder to cry on and couldn't resist sweets to save his life. He was a passive person, and he didn't like to hurt people. It hurt him inside to hurt people outside. We all loved him, especially Lyla. He was epileptic, but he always kept a positive outlook on his life.
Which brings us straight to Lyla. Lyla is our adviser, the person we go to when we're having troubles. She always gives the best advice. Lyla compliments Grover perfectly, that's why they are so great together I guess. She was clumsy and tripped over flat surfaces, and ladybugs. She was amazed by the little things which is why she was hilarious to some and great to us because she didn't ask for much, and none of us had much, except Anni.
Sadly, Anni sort of fell all over Doyle. If I didn't know him as much as I did already in the past hour that I had spent with him, I would be falling all over him too. When he said he had to be going Anni insisted he stay, and then she looked at me for back up. And I did.
"Stay with us. We can play on the merry-go-round." He smiled at me.
"Thanks, but I've never been a very big fan of spinning."
"Let me rephrase that. How about you push us, and we have fun. Either that or you could step out of your comfort zone and ..." I let him finish. He shook his head.
"No, I have to go or Saedi is gonna well, you know." He let me imagine what would happen if Saedi found out he was hanging out with me more than a few minutes.
"Who the heck is Saedi?" Riley asked.
"His girlfriend. Very possessive," I told him knowingly. Doyle put his hand up as he walked away, waving at us.
"So, I get the feeling you like this very hot, very lovely soul that we just met," Riley asked.
"No! I just met the guy, excuse me for bringing him along to see you guys. Gosh!" I knew I was blushing and my friends laughed at me like crazy.
"You guys suck, leave me alone," I said pouting and turning away from them. I guess they all silently agreed upon it because they pounced on me, one at a time. Riley first, on my right, Lyla on my left, Grover next to Lyla and Anni in front. They wrapped me in this close knit circle of friends and smiled at the happiness all over my face. They backed up and we all put our hands in, each sounding off our "names" as we did so.
"Rufus," Grover said.
"Daisy," said Lyla.
"Teddy," Riley shouted.
"Carl," Anni yelled.
"Steve," I said in a deep voice. We threw our hands up in the air and ran to the merry-go-round, Riley and I lagged behind.
"So, do you like him?" Riley asked me, sheer curiosity covering his voice.
"No, you know I don't," I said jokingly. Riley released a long sigh and untensed.
"Good, wouldn't want you giving up on me."
"You know I wouldn't do that Teddy, dear," I said, using his nickname. Riley was my best friend. And no matter what anyone thinks about this certain exchange, I wouldn't have it any other way.
