The Wasp Chronicles #1: Into the Hornet's Nest

Clément's Curiosity Part 1: Observation

Clément: So there we were, the bus had a flat and we were chillin' on Miami Beach in Florida. I was at least. I was standing on the rickety observation deck above the dunes, watching the sun in its descent past the horizon. I'd like to think that I looked quite dashing just standing there leaning on the railing with my windswept hair framed against the scarlet sunset. Probably not. Whatever. I was the baritone section leader and a junior. I wasn't the most popular kid in the band, but I had my fans. Most knew me as 'Spazz', the nickname Justin L. Tom gave me after I went crazy one pep rally. I just fell and had a pretend seizure, just thrashing and flipping and flailing on the gym floor for one of those random school spirit competitions. The whole school looked at me and roared with applause. And then there's those times when someone tries to take something from me or snatch something out of my hand... in seconds, I'll have them on the ground with the object in question back in my hand.

But despite all this, I'm a very calm, quiet person. I never have a temper or anything. And I love to read, write, and draw. I gazed out at the other LEHS band members on the beach. Stella was standing chatting with Justin as they watched Zeke and Marc trying to hang ten. Jared was wincing and pulling crabs off his legs. Jacques and Sophie were conjoined at the mouth at the foot of the boardwalk. Louis was hanging out with Bruce and Joey as they walked down the beach. Louis has been my friend since freshman year.

He's one of, if not the best, trombone players in the band, and we've done a few brass duets together. A lot of students try to make fun of Louis behind his back or keep him out of their social circles; I don't know if they think he's weird or what, I just think they are ignorant. Like Zeke... he's always saying something to put Louis down, but it's clear to me he's just jealous. He's jealous of Louis' youthful state of mind, his skill, and his lack of problems (compared to Zeke's own life). A handful of kids... like me and Stella... we see Louis as he truly is - a creative, funny, and considerate dude who's a beast on the trombone. I was suddenly aware of someone beside me. It was Nicholas Ivywood, chugging a Mountain Dew. "Sup Clément?" He said, discarding the bottle in the nearby trash receptacle. "Hey Nick" I told him. From there, Nicolas launched into a rant on some kid he thought was annoying. I don't know who; I never listen to him. He talks to me all the time about people he hates, and I've learned to tune him out. I nod and laugh when it seems appropriate, while all the time looking for an excuse to end the conversation. Nicholas paused, and I looked back at the beach. I would've loved to go build a sandcastle or draw a giant dragon in the sand or something, but it would have looked too nerdy. I looked back at Nicholas to see that he had pulled out another Mountain Dew. Something caught my eye behind him.

There was a bald man dressed all in black with his back to us, trying to pry open the backdoor to a building with a crowbar. It looked like an office building. "Look" I told Nicholas. He looked where I was pointing and shrugged. "What do you expect? It's Miami!" He replied. I heard laughing and turned to see Marc and Zeke coming up the boardwalk. They looked like they were heading to the bus to get towels or something, and they didn't notice as the bald guy broke the door off its hinges and went inside. I approached the building and peered inside. There was a dark, cobweb covered hallway ending in a staircase. The bald guy was disappearing up the stairs. "What are you doing, Clément?" Came Marc's voice from behind me. I turned to see him and Zeke looking over my shoulder. Nicholas was behind them at a distance. "Some guy just broke into this building..." I answered. "And you're going after him?" "Well..." All things considered, it wouldn't be very smart, but I was curious. "I'll go with ya!" Zeke declared suddenly, and he walked in. Marc hesitated then followed. I looked at Nicholas who raised his eyebrows, and I went in after Marc and Zeke.