Locked

Chapter 2

After a good, long ponder over the issue at hand, I decide that 1) the most likely possibility is that he's immune to locking for some reason, and B) I need to test this theory by trying to lock a few other people before the day is over.
I walk off the bus and find Lilli waiting for me by the curb. She doesn't look particularly sorry about giving up my seat. I walk up to her.

"What was that?" I half-yell. I don't want to be the cause of yet another scene. "You just let that guy take my seat!"

Her face instantly transforms from normal to apologetic and a little surprised. I think I can also see a little bit of anger in there, but it disappears before I can really tell. "Sor-rry," she says dramatically. "I didn't know it was that big of a deal."
"Well I would have liked to sit next to my best friend on the bus, but instead I got stuck in the back with all the random freshmen. So yeah, it's a big deal."

"Look I'm sorry, ok?" She shifts her hold on her books and leans her weight on her left hip. She really is beautiful, and with her blonde hair and blue eyes, she's like boy-nip. But sadly, her shyness wouldn't allow her to show off her looks, unless she didn't realize she was doing it. Like right now. "It's just, he's new, and well, you know how I am around people I don't know." I knew. "Plus, I felt bad for him. He just moved here, and when he asked for the seat next to me, how could I say no? He had no other decent place to sit, and first impressions are important. I didn't want him to think our school was crap."

That's another thing about Lilli. She has a huge heart. When we would ride our bikes to school in the spring, we could be late for class already, and she would still make us stop to help a baby bird that fell out of its nest. Or a cat that got stuck in a tree. Or whatever she saw that needed help. It's a good quality, but sometimes it came back to bite me.
I heave a sigh of defeat. "Ok you're forgiven. But you totally owe me candy at lunch," I say, playfully punching her arm.

Her whole face brightens up and shifts to the more playful mood I'm using. "Ha! No way, Jose!"

"Aww, come on. For me?" I put on a puppy-dog face. "Your best friend?"

Lilli snorts. "Not even when pigs fly!"

An idea starts to form. I could try locking her into buying me something. Sure, I'd never locked her before; I have standards. I never locked the people I loved. But this was a test. For the greater good. I decide to go for it.
I stare into her eyes, and think of what I want. And think. And think. And think. Nothing. Still nothing.

Lilli gives me a why-are-you-staring-at-me-like-that look. "Are you trying to intimidate me with your evil glare so I'll buy you something? Wait, no." She holds her hands up in a 'stop' motion. "I've got it. You're an evil robot bent on computerizing the world, and you're starting by using your evil mind control powers to make me buy you candy!"

I can't formulate a response right away. She has no idea how close she just hit. Because truthfully, I have no idea what I am. For all I know, I COULD be an evil robot bent on computerizing the world. But I sure hope not.
I quickly cover my surprise with a "yeah right" and "if only."

"Come on," I say. "We're gonna be late."

My first class is English. Lilli is in the advanced class. I got stuck in the regular level. I'm the top of the class, and they actually offered to bump me up to advanced, but I claimed that I thought it would be too difficult. Really, I just wanted less homework.

My English teacher, Mr. Travis, is really cool. He's the teacher everyone switches their schedules to get. I was blessed enough to get him by chance. So, it's probably unnecessary to point out that English is my favorite class.
I walk to my class and sit down in my seat. As the bell rings, I notice that the seat next to me is empty. Good. The kid that sits there, Timothy Dowers, is really annoying. He's always making his seat squeak, tapping his pencil, and chewing gum really loudly. And he's always getting sick. Like at least twice a month, for days at a time. I'm telling you, it's not natural. I only feel a little bad about saying this, but I seriously hope the guy has mono or something that would keep him out for a while.

"Alright. So," Mr. Travis begins, "Timothy is sick yet again, and this time he'll be out for awhile." Score. "So, we're gonna have a new student who just moved here from Minnesota. Please welcome Toby Carter."

I look up to find Bus Kid standing by the chalkboard. This can not be happening. First the bus incident, now I have to sit next to this guy.

Mr. Travis is waving Bus Kid--Toby--over to Timothy's seat. Toby walks over and smiles at me like we're best friends. I give him a sarcastic smile and pointedly look over at Mr. Travis starting the class.

We're supposed to be reading 'Julius Caesar,' but I can't concentrate on the lesson with Toby sitting next to me, his smile burning a hole in the side of my head it's so bright.

Finally, the bell rings, signaling the end of class. I didn't process a word Mr. Travis said. I quickly pack my stuff up to head out before Toby gets a chance to talk to me.

"Hey," he says. "Hey--what's your name?"

I sigh. I was too slow.

"Hayley. My name's Hayley," I say, annoyed.

"Right. Well. Do you know where room 227 is?" He shows me his schedule.

227 is a science classroom, near my next class. At least it's not the same class this time. I also can't help but notice that he's in the same lunch period as Lilli and I, and we have the same free period. Not that either of those will matter, though. I sit with Lilli at lunch, and I sit by my tree during free periods. No one else goes outside, so I get to be completely alone when I'm by my tree.

I sigh again and hand him his schedule back. (Today must be the day of sighing.) "227 is near where I go next. Come on, I'll show you where to go." I start walking and he follows. I try being silent on our way, but it's too awkward. "So, you moved here from Minnesota?"

He looks surprised that I actually spoke to him voluntarily. I'm kind of surprised, myself. "Yeah. Why?"
"Oh, it's just that nobody ever moves here. Well, except maybe old retired people."

He sort of laughs. "Why old retired people?"

"I guess because it's so quiet here."

"It is kind of quiet. I've only been here for two days and already I've noticed."

"Yeah, well that's Westhope for ya!"

We reach his class. Mine is a few doors down. "Well, here you are! Room 227."

"Thank you m'lady." He bends forward in an overly-exaggerated bow. "Enjoy your science class."

I roll my eyes and walk to my classroom. And this time, I can focus.