Stranger Than Fiction

Chapter 3

"What do you mean you're just like me? Do you have telekinesis also? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Slow down. I tried to tell you, but you ran away. I didn't come straight out and tell you today because I had to be sure what I saw was correct. Also, I don't have telekinesis."

"Well then, what can you do?"

"I can read minds."

"How do I know you're not lying? Wait. Please tell me you're not cause if you are then..." I trailed off.

"Here, I'll prove it to you. Think of a number between 1 and 1000." I did what she said. 127.

"There."

"127."

"How did you--"

"I told you, I can read minds. That's how I knew the answer to Mr. Duncan's stupid science question. That's also how I knew that he was gonna take me to the principal's office."

"That's crazy."

"I know. Just think. There might be more like us out there."

"Do you think we could find them?"

"Find who?" said a deep voice from the door. Mr. Johnson, our social studies teacher.

"Ummm. Find Derek, Rich and Sara," Allie said quickly. I looked at her gratefully.

"Okay," he said slowly. "You may leave now, dentition is over." He left the room as Allie and I packed our stuff.

"That was close," Allie said as soon as we had left the building.

"You're telling me."

"He didn't believe us though."

"Makes sense that he wouldn't. How does mind-reading work anyway? Like, what if I don't want you to read my mind?"

"Can you come over? We can talk more about this then. My parents aren't home so we can talk without the possibility of someone hearing us."

"Sure. Just let me call my dad and tell him," I said. I pulled out my phone and dialed his number. He didn't answer so I left a message. "Hey dad. I'm going over to Allie's house so, um, call me if you need anything. Love you. Bye," I hung up. "Let's go."

The walk to Allie's house seemed to take forever. We walked in silence, not wanting to say something about our strange powers. When we finally reached her house, the first think I noticed was her front yard. It was only flowers. No trees and almost no grass.

"Allie..."

"My parents really like flowers," she said simply, as we walked into her house.

"Okay," I said slowly.

"Want something to drink? We have lemonade, water, and, um, that's about it."

"No thanks."

"So..."

"So, like I asked earlier, what if I don't want my mind read?"

"Hungry? We have, um, food," she said not getting up to even check.

"No..."

"Are you sure? Cause I--"

"Allie," I said, interrupting her. "I don't need to be able to read minds to know that you're avoiding the question. Why can't you just tell me?" She sighed.

"I don't know."

"Don't know what?"

"How I people can prevent me from reading their minds. I mean, I guess you could try to block me out or something, but nobody's ever tried. You see, some people's minds are easier to read than others. Mr. Carter's mind was harder to read than Mr. Duncan's."

"Hmmm. Why don't we test that out? I'll try to block you out and you tell me what number I'm thinking of. Okay?"

"Ready?" I nodded, already concentrating.

"Ummm. Your number is..." she paused, squinting in my direction. "29?" she asked eventually.

"Yeah. It took you a while though."

"Your mind was really hard to read."

"So I guess your theory was correct." She nodded.

"Guess so."

"So how many--" my cellphone rang. It was my dad. Allie noticed and didn't say anything. "Hey dad. Yeah. Sure. Wait what's wrong? Oh my gods. I'll be over there right away. Love you. Bye."

"What happened?"

"There was an accident and..." I trailed off as tears began to swim in my eyes. I looked down. I did not want Allie to see me crying.

"Hayden," she said softly. "you don't need to tell me." I looked up at her and took a deep breath.

"My mom is dead."