Strange Thoughts

Part One-Chapter Five-Aleya

I unfurl the paper that Cody had given me. There is an address on it, written just neatly enough that I can read it. I make a mental note about Cody's handwriting. He needs to work on that.

It's quarter till' 3, so I grab my backpack and go downstairs. I grab a chocolate chip granola bar from the pantry, my sweatshirt from a small mudroom by the door, and my phone from where its charging by the cream colored wall.

"Mom! I'm heading out!" I yell. "Don't be out too late, and don't ignore my texts!" she responds. I roll my eyes.

I run out the door. I begin to run down the familiar street that leads to Gray's house, however when I get to the normal turn, I take a sharp left. I have never gone this way before, but the paper says to, and Cody wrote the address on the paper.

The smooth road leads onto a dirt path. Undergrowth winds around the path. I try my best to avoid trampling the plants, but it is quite a challenge. I have no idea why Cody is making me walk down this path. Why couldn't he have chosen an easier place to go?

I walk for ten minutes. I am starting to get worried. Maybe I should head back, but then what would Cody think? I don't want to chicken out. I don't want to make a bad first impression. He is already close to Gray, even though they've only known each other for a few days. Cody could tell him anything.

Finally, I see a old, wooden sign. The sign has an arrow painted on it. I look to wear the arrow points, and my jaw drops. There's a ladder hidden in the trees. It's made out of metal, but painted to look like the bark of the trees in the red oak forest.

I lift my foot up onto the first rung of the ladder. The rungs are very spaced apart, and I am short for my age, so it's a challenge for me to climb it. I hoist myself up, rung after rung.

I peer my head into what seems to be a tree house. I enter cautiously, I have no idea what's waiting for me.

The treehouse is gigantic. It's one vast room, walls padded with camo painted cotton. The floor is made with metal, so the sun that manages to shine through the canopy of trees above bounces off of the floor, causing just the right amount of heat. I take in the crisp smell of the forest.

"Took you long enough." Cody is leaning against the side of a wall, raising his eyebrows at me. "Where did you find this place?" I ask. "I did my research." His eyes are hiding something. I want to know what it is.

"Is it an old army base?" I ask. "It's not nearly big enough for that," Cody responds. "Let's move on to what we are here about."

"I want you to team up with me. Two readers are better than one. We will learn everybody's secrets, and use them for good. We wouldn't want information in the wrong people's hands, right?"

"That would be intruding into people's privacy," I puzzle. "I already do that too much as it is. It's not right to know people's private information, I don't think there are supposed to be people like us on earth."

Cody gives me an exasperated glance. "I believe, that we are here to keep people in line. Look at everything that's going on. Terrorism, mass shootings, hunger, and so much more! We can help these people who otherwise, would have their lives taken."

"Cody, we are only thirteen. Should we really be making this decision ourselves? Even if I agree, where would we find the resources to get close to possible withholders of world changing secrets, and what would we do with the secrets? Do you even have a plan?" "Isn't it obvious?" Cody inquired. "Gray! His dad is a millionaire! Gray is the key to everything!"

"That would be using him!" I accuse. "I bet you're using me too! Am I the key to Gray? Do you even need me for any of this?" Cody looks at me seriously, and then his gaze softens. "You are the key to everything, and frankly, I would rather have you on my good side then my bad side. You can get pretty defensive, pretty fast."

"I am not defensive!" I snarl. "You just proved my point." Cody says. I have no idea how he can be so calm when I want to slap him across the face. It bothers me, a lot.

"I thought that maybe you were a decent person. I guess I was wrong!" I turn to leave the treehouse. I look back at Cody. Cody has his mouth open like he's about to say something, but he doesn't. He smiles.

I turn back around. I almost scream. A girl is crouched on the top rung of the ladder. She smiles at me. I back into the treehouse.

"How did you get up here so fast?" I ask. "I went quite slow, actually." she chuckles. "I guess you just never noticed me."

"Hey Mimi," Cody says. "I'm glad you could make it." "So, this is the girl you told me about, the reader?" Cody nods, and looks at me expectantly. I have no idea what to say. I raise my hand slightly.

"That's me." I look at Mimi. She's a pretty girl, with mocha colored skin, darker than mine, and big, brown eyes. She has a catlike stance, bouncing on her feet, crouching like she's ready to run. It's like she's afraid of something. Maybe she is.

I eye her cautiously. Mimi's curly hair is down in pretty ringlets. They bounce everytime she moves.

"So," I ask. "Are you a reader?" "Me?" Mimi says. "No. I wish. I'm a good friend of Cody's, and he wants me for his plan. I'm happy to help. It sounds like a great adventure." Her friendly smile fades. She looks at me with narrowed eyes. "Cody already swore not to read me. It's your turn to do the same."

"Don't worry," Cody says. He rolls his eyes. "She won't read you, if she's sworn or not. She believes reading is intruding on people's privacy. I've been having trouble getting her to help us."

I don't think Cody sees it, but Mimi is looking at me with a new respect. She gives me a quiet nod.

"We are only thirteen, there is nothing we can do. That's what I've been trying to tell Cody!" I hiss to Mimi. Of course Cody overhears, I see him look down angrily. "Cody, Aleya's right. I know you have powers, but we won't be able to really make a difference until we are older." Mimi agrees.

"Look," Cody says. "I know this sounds cliche, like something coming out of a superhero movie, but we are the future. It is our job to stop all of the stupid bad stuff that's going on. Because we have the powers, we have the opportunities."

"I don't have a power." Mimi says. Cody looks her in the eyes. "You are the most agile and flexible person I have ever met, your mother is a contortionist for goodness sake. Show Aleya." Mimi proceeds to do a backbend into a backflip into another backflip across the treehouse floor. I pretend not to be impressed, but widen my eyes at Mimi and mouth woah when Cody's back is turned.

"Fine. I'll help you, when you have good plan. Also, you are going to have to do the mind reading. I'm not." I say. Cody leans back against the wall, a smile on his face. "I knew I would get to you eventually."

"I'm in too. At least for now." Mimi says. We look at Cody expectantly. "A famous scientist is coming to Gray's house in a couple of days. Gray told me that he's going to invite Aleya and I to dinner that night, I asked if I could bring a friend, so I'll bring Mimi. We will read the scientist-" I cut him off. "You, will read the scientist." "Fine, I'll read the scientist. That's only the first step. I'll decide the rest, later."

I'm pretty sure that Cody has no idea what he's doing, but I'm intrigued. I'll go along with this, until it becomes completely ridiculous. I will go along, until he makes me use Gray. I will never take Gray for granted.