Mr Hook's Big Black Box

Marco Schmidt: Responsibility

Ferrari had just said some pretty weird stuff. I knew it was no time for jokes, but I couldn't get over this little voice that said all this sounds like she's testing how far I'll believe. Even after everything that happened, I thought maybe the massive theatre act by the psychology department sounded more likely than what my friend was telling me. And she was one of my best friends, as much as I kept jeopardising our rivalry with inappropriate thoughts or comments. She was, after all, the only other Kendo master in the school, and if I offended her neither of us would have someone to spar against.

Before I could decide how seriously to take that story, Dwayne came in. Monty was behind him, looking really worried. I was going to go ask if she was okay right away, but I didn't want to offend Dwayne after he'd come up with such good plans to hide the Box on both of the last two days. We probably would have been caught by someone, maybe beaten up quite badly, if he hadn't used his brain, and I felt I kind of owed him.

"Want a coffee?" I offered, but he was already speaking.

"Marco, you need to talk to Monty. We'll wait for you here."

"Got you," I nodded. I guessed right away that it would be about what she'd told me in confidence. "You might as well have my drink, I've not touched it." I knew he loved the coffee here, though I never really understood what was so special about it. And I was already starting to think I shouldn't have gotten a refill if we were going to be haring across campus again any time soon, investigating missing cheerleaders or whatever other craziness this week brought us.

I hurried out of the café without waiting for a reply. Monty was standing just outside the door. Now, I didn't know this part of campus, this was one of the engineering and computer buildings. I'd only been in the little coffee shop a few times, and usually used the door that connected it to Summers Avenue outside, but one academic building was pretty much like another. People waiting to be let into a lab, or a lecture, or whatever, meant there was bound to be an alcove along here with a couple of sofas in. Somewhere we could talk, if Monty didn't want the bustle of the coffee shop to overhear. People might still walk past, but if it was about what I thought it was, then it would more likely be Dwayne that she didn't want to think she was crazy. Letting me in on her secret must have been hard enough, so I guessed she'd want to leave it a while before telling anyone else.

I was right, there was an L-shaped purple sofa slotted into an alcove where it almost, but not quite, fitted. The heater on the wall opposite was painted a similar shade, so I guessed that some designer working for the department had decided that was a good way to make this building stylish and recognisable. I sat down, and Monty perched beside me. We were still within sight of the café doors, so we could catch Ferrari and Dwayne when they came out.

Which they were now doing. It hadn't even been a minute since we left the shop, but they were striding along the corridor like they were late for a meeting. Dwayne was leading, and I smirked a little. Not because of his erratic gait when he was trying to rush, but because I realised I hadn't seen Ferrari following someone else many times before. She always liked to be the one in the lead, or the one in charge.

"We're going to check something," Dwayne said as he strode past. Or they were going to do something. I didn't quite hear, but I got his meaning well enough. "Give us a call if you want to meet up when you're done."

"Sure," I yelled back. I didn't know if I had his number, but I'd been calling Ferrari every week to organise sword practice sessions. I had her on speed dial, though I had no idea what she might say if I ever actually told her that.

"So, what's bothering you?" I turned to Monty, "Have you been hearing..." I realised soon after I started that sentence that I had no idea how I was going to finish it. I didn't want her to think I was judging her, or had any less respect.