The Trickster and the player

hi. I'm biki. This is my first attempt at a novel. Please let me know what you think of it. If it really sucks, then I'll drop it. If it only partially sneezes, then maybe I can improve it.  thanxx, Biks, xxx

“These high heels are bitches,” I said managing to stand but afraid that one step would cause me to lose balance fall onto my arse and accidentally spear Sophie in the eye with the stiletto heel. “Considering they're going to win me a detention and have me slapping around barefoot all day why can't I just go into this college wearing trainers?”

“It's all about image,” said Sophie, suppressing a giggle with a cough and a well placed array of fingers in front of her face. “You're suppose to be a player and you gotta look like one, at least until the college hits you with the uniform rules.”

“I thought only guys were players,” I said leaning forward to grab the wardrobe, and then taking baby steps until I stood close enough to grab a leather jacket and throw it over my shoulders.

“You think that way because you grew up in one of those bible belt hick towns. In the city girls take as many scalps as the guys.”

“Really? How many have you taken?”

Sophie played with the promise ring on her finger, a curving whorl of silver and jade and then held it up close to my eyes. “This baby means I stay faithful to Stephen. So, unfortunately I can't take scalps, or anything else that needs taking.”

Yeah right, I thought, it has nothing to do with the fact that you've got a pudding bowl hairstyle, that you're 20 kilos overweight and have boobs that sag like a leaking balloon. I didn't say that, of course. I'm not brutal with my honesty. And when you consider I've got the figure of a rake with bresticles that look like golf balls from where they hid under my tee-shirt – it made good sense not to diss others. I'd get it back tenfold. And, well, I liked Sophie.

“This is shite,” I said looking at myself in the mirror. “I look like a 10 dollar whore.”

“No, you're good looking, god knows the boys see that, I just can't believe you don't notice. Perhaps you're so used to guys with their tongues hanging out in hicksville that you think they're naturally like dogs on a hot day.”

I laughed, as I pulled the denim skirt down a fraction. If the hem was any higher the guys would be criticising the colour combination of my panties, skirt and tee-shirt.

“Me good looking? Hey, I'll pay you to say that – weekly.”

“I don't need paying, honey. It's true. You're one handsome girl, despite having puppies up top a eggcup could cover, and all the physical grace of a three legged reindeer. Now look, think of this as an acting class. You gotta go into this college and pretend your a hard nailed babe who hunts guys for fun and tosses them aside like once used rubbers when you've had your fun.

I pursed my lipstick covered lips and saw a strawberry where my mouth used to be. “I know that's the plan. But why? Why make me out to be something I'm not. I'm afraid Brett and his gang will see through me in minutes.”

Sophie looked me once up and down and made a face that looked just like a bulldog who'd been offered a substandard bone. “You're right, it's not you, and I'm as afraid as you are about this. It's not as if you're OSCAR material is it? This is going to be hard for you to pull off.

“Thanks, I was hoping for contradiction.”

“Sorry. But you're right. You know what I figure?”

“No.”

“Shiels wants you out.”

“The Director of Trainees?”

“No, Shiels the Burger guy on the Corner of West Street. Yes, of course Shiels. Who else got their clothes made invisible by you in front of a hall full of people?”

The image that entered my mind of my first week in the TRICKS academy made me wince. Not only was my ability to sense what unusual power I'd manifested on a particular day weak back then. I'd also not been good at controlling that power. Heck, making Director Shiels clothes invisible was nothing compared to some of the disasters I'd made 3 years ago. Back then, before TRICKS had discovered me I'd accidentally levitated a neighbours bullock onto the roof of their barn, turned a duck pond's water into wine and formed a circle from a ripe field of corn that had the local newspaper reporter searching for aliens.

Since then, luckily, I've gained more control over my ever changing special ability. Unfortunately it's correspondingly dropped in strength too. Some days all I can do now is stop a bubble rising in a glass of cola.

“You think Shiels ordered me to adopt a bad girl persona because she's still sore from 3 years back and wants me to fail at this assignment so I get kicked out? Really?”

“Yes, and you are at the last chance saloon as a trainee, so failing this assignment would get you kicked out. What with your, well, less than super super-powers and inability to fight your way out of a giant fortune cookie you haven't been a star pupil.”

I put my hands on my hips and felt like a slapped hornet. “The fortune cookie exercise was pathetic.”

“You straight D on every combat test, not just that one.”

“But I'm great on the other courses.”

“People like you need to be able to take care of yourself. You need decent powers or the ability to kick booty or both. That, or you need brill techie skills so you can become support staff like me.”

I pushed myself away from the wardrobe and took a step, then another step on those ridiculous high heels. “I'm going to succeed,” I said. “I'm going to prove that this Brett guy is behind the jewellery robberies, or discover the culprit if it's not him. I'm going to succeed with this and graduate as an agent at TRICKS.”

I stepped forward again with my fists clenched. But, my ankle wobbled, I saw Sophie's smile falter, I felt my balance go, the room jerk, and then I was falling. In panic I invoked my power for today and the next thing I knew I became insubstantial, passed through the floor, dropped through space, forced myself partially tangible and crashed into the bed of the room below mine.

I found myself looking into the eyes of fellow trainee agent and know-it-all Todd Smart, who sat at his computer with his trousers around his ankles, his hand frozen near his waist and an action packed video on his screen.

“Um... couldn't that get dangerous if you accidentally invoke your freeze ability,” I asked.

If you like this, please please vote or comment or fan me or something. In fact, if you've got ideas how this story will turn next.. tell me!  Biks xxx