101 Portals

- Blue-

Chapter 3

Pete's POV

I quickly flush, apologizing over and over to Chris. He waves them off, a talent he's had since the second grade. I know he's had some family troubles, but I certainly don't know the half of it. I turn back to my computer monitor, watching as numbers fill the screen in long lines of code. Nicole, being bossy as ever, demands that I recheck them.

"My numbers are fine, Scotch Tape." I frown at her. She throws a withering glare at me.

"Ha, ha, very funny, Peter." she spits. "Now hurry up and get back to work. I roll my eyes, and place my hands back over the keyboard, typing numbers over the open darkness of the screen. Pausing for a second, I shoot a quick look over at Chris. He's still characteristically bent over one of his many sketchbooks. On one of her bad days, Nicole will demand why he's even part of the club, if he doesn't contribute, but I know what service he can provide. Chris, being so adaptive when it comes to a skill so simple, yet so complex as drawing, he'll be the first to travel into parallel dimensions. I expect that he'll be able to use his quick thinking and planning skills to serve as sort of an ambassador.

Serenity, on the other hand, serves absolutely no purpose. Sure, she's pretty enough, but other than that, she's completely useless. Jane tells me all the time that Serenity knows a good way around machines. But basically, we're doing all the work for her. To put it simply, we're making complex calculations to give her instructions. All she has to do is follow them. And I don't like people who can't excel the way the rest of the club can.

Chris quickly excuses himself to go to the bathroom, and he leaves his book lying on his chair. I'm not allowed to look inside of it, but this time, I take a shot. I crack the book open.

"What's that, Nissi?" Serenity peers at the book, using my nickname that I so severely hate. Her question turns Jane and Nicole around, and before I know it, we're all peering into the book. Chris' comic, despite a spelling error here and there, and a few scribbled out figures, spells out a clear story.

Turning the pages, we read in horror as Chris' comic paints out a story of a wicked family. It doesn't seem real, but it makes him seem like those Disney Princes in the movies. We read about a French boy whose beloved parent left them. His family uses him as a slave. And of course, how could we forget the cruel sibling?

Yep. I'm talking about Tyra the tyrant. She's really popular, and athletic. She's funny enough, and never really crossed me, but this is a whole 'nother story. Flipping through the pages, we see a sister who is worshipped by her parents, worshipped by her classmates. She never lifts a finger at home, doesn't have to care about grades. Briefly, I wonder if Chris knows French. I turn the next page to read more, when a voice from the doorway comes, and I recognize nervousness in Chris' voice. He stands in the frame.

"What are you all doing?"