Strange Thoughts

Part One-Chapter Seven-Aleya

I'm back at the treehouse again. I'm leaning against the wall, thinking. Sometimes I think too much. I think very deeply, and that's a good thing, but sometimes I think too deeply and confuse myself. I'm worried I will completely over analyze the situation and make a huge mess out of things.

The treehouse has become my new place to sit and think. I used to do it back at the broken bridge, but I feel like now I am finally getting away from the past and getting more involved in the future. For five years, I dwelled on the voice, wishing I didn't have this power that sets me so far apart from everybody else. Now I know I can use it for good, to help people like Gray.

Gray is my anchor right now. Whenever I'm upset, I just think about him. He just learned that a crazy and maybe evil scientist is his mother. I visit him everyday, and bring him hot chocolate and cookies, even though it is warm outside.

I talk to Cody too, and Mimi and I are becoming closer friends. I'm glad, because the better I know her, the more I know I can rely on her. She is definitely best friend material.

Cody has a huge ego compared to Gray and Mimi. He definitely isn't the right person for his power, but I have to take what I can get. At least he is hardworking, but he has too much ambition. I don't trust him nearly as much as Mimi.

I've found no information on Dr. Claire. She isn't online, no profiles, no social media, her name doesn't appear on any website. Part of me thinks that Dr. Claire isn't her real name, but I saw Mr. Parker's face when she walked in. He must know who she is, after all she is Gray's mother.

I don't get how someone with such bad blood can be as great of a person as Gray. Mr. Parker is lucky that Gray turned out as he did, it must have made it a lot easier to hide the secret.

I believe that there is some kind of identifier in Dr. Claire's eye. It must provide some basic information about us, based on how we act and what we say. She also managed to figure out that I was in her head, and that's not a good thing.

I don't know what lab she comes from, but they must have some amazing technology. It's probably dangerous as well.

My head floods with what happened with Gray. I can see Gray's puffy red eyes, and the layers of mascara running down Mrs. Parker's face. Mrs. Parker probably would've never imagined that happening. She must of thought he was adopted. She loves Gray as much as any mother would love their child.

I hear the banging sound of feet climbing up the ladder. I jump up, not sure who could be coming up here. I let out a sigh of relief when I see brown curls, and a pink cat ear headband.

"Hey, Mimi." "Aleya! Guess what I found out!" She didn't give me any time to guess. "I talked to my parents, since Dr. Claire knew them. They know where she works. They gave me an address." Mimi and I started jumping up and down happily like we are little kids. who just tried chocolate ice cream for the first time.

"Mimi, you texted urgent. What's up?" Cody was standing at the doorway of the treehouse. "We have an address of where Dr. Claire works. We can walk there from here!" Mimi pulls out a wig and a kit of makeup.

"Help me get Aleya ready, and we'll walk there. She'll wear a disguise, so Dr Claire won't recognize her."

Mimi proceeds to apply thick layers of makeup to my face. Soon enough, I looks like I'm about to go be in a clown beauty pageant. She hands me a mirror.

"This is perfect! Dr. Claire will just think I'm so random teen who lacks good makeup skills!" I say sarcastically. I put the wig on my head, hiding my dark hair with light brown.

"You look like a different person!" Cody approved. Mimi beamed. "What should Your name be?" "How about Angela?" I say. "You can act really obnoxious and tell Dr. Claire that your mom named you that because you look like an angel." Mimi laughx.

"Perfect." I say. She gives me the finishing touch, a pink feather boa. Cody hands me a small walky talky. "Keep it in your pocket and use this clip to press down the button so we can hear everything your saying. We won't say anything unless we really have to, we don't want Dr. Claire to know that we are listening to your whole conversation."

"Let's go!" Mimi says. "Follow me!" We follow the dirt path all the way down to a highway, and follow the highway up to a street with many shops.

There is one building that stands out from all the rest. It's dark purple and tall, with maybe fifty visible windows that you can see from the front.

I peer inside the door, and almost scream at what I see. "It's Matt! Matt, my tutor. Matt, kind hearted, afraid of little girls having crushes on him!" I start to hyperventilate a little bit.

I walk backwards, and Cody puts firm hands on my shoulders. He steadies me and then lets go of me. "Aleya, it will be okay. As long as I'm here, it will be okay." "He seemed so innocent when I read him! I yell." "He might just be working as a receptionist." Cody reassures. It doesn't work, because of who I see next.

"It's Brian! Aubrey's liar boyfriend!" Cody and Mimi's eyes widen. "Aleya," Cody says. "When you go in there, just keep an eye on them as well, if you can." "I will." I say.

"Is everything going to be okay?" I need reassurance. I'm scared, this woman, this scientist, is too much for us to handle. We are the only ones who can handle it. It's two controversial thoughts, battling against each other in my head. I don't know which one I should let win.

"Everything is okay. Everything is going to be okay. Everything will always be okay." Cody murmurs. "Thank you, Cody."I say. "I believe you." "As long as I'm here, I promise everything will be okay." Cody stepped forward as if to give me a hug. He hesitates,his expression darkens, and then he steps back.

"Okay Aleya, you have to go in. Mimi and I will be able to hear everything that's going on."

I take a couple steps, and then more, until I'm in the building.