Cevic

Chapter 17

“Bros understand each other like there’s an empathy link connecting them. A bro knows when you’re sad after breaking up with a girl. A bro knows when you want to be left alone because you’re broken inside. A bro knows you’re going to miss him. A bro doesn’t need words for consolation.”

 

 

A weird thing called friendship

 

James and I earned the Evil Eye of Mr. Deloris, who had been preaching the technique of symbolism used in a selected text of Romeo and Juliet. I slunk low in my seat, and after much searching, yanked a pencil out from between the pages of my book and started writing.

 It was hard to believe that just the day before yesterday, I was strapped to a metal table by the throat and tortured by a crazy scientist who threatened to split me up with a scalpel if I didn’t locate Cevic.

 Not to mention that Markus Reynolds was Isha’s uncle.

 Not to mention the lack of sense in King Decus’s order given to Rezia that forced me to sit at this creaky desk when tomorrow night was the day.

  If anything went wrong tomorrow night, all our efforts would be ruined. We could not possibly wait for the next full moon nine-oh-clock. Everything could go wrong.

  It gave me the nerves to even picture going back into the house.

Markus wanted answers. What answers could I give? I could give a really good lie, fabricate a story about how two Cevicïans secretly landed on Earth and kidnapped and killed his dad- if it didn’t anger him further.

  Learn to play a game could mean fabricate a story.

Absent-mindedly, I drummed my fingers against the edge of the desk.

  Mr. Deloris cleared his throat. “Jamison, tell me about the assignment I gave the class over the weekend. In detail.”

  Eyes diverted to me, and Mr. Deloris crossed his beefy arms. I immediately and easily pulled on a mask of nonchalance, but inside, I was scrambling around in my brain, trying to remember what he said. There was nothing, because I had not been listening at all.

  Next to me, James bent down, and expertly feigned tying his shoelaces, while speaking in a low murmur.

 “Romeo and Juliet excerpt 14 analysis. Maximum word count: three hundred.”

 As I echoed after James, a little smugly, “Romeo and Juliet except 14 analysis. The maximum word count is three hundred, sir.”

  Mr. Deloris shot James a withering look. “Smart move, Lee. Class, I must emphasize the importance of…”

  James coughed, and grinned thinly at me. He knew the reason of my distraction. How could I listen to the importance of some human Literature while my king was dying?

  My throat felt salty, and I took down the homework on a wrinkled piece of foolscap paper, steadying my breaths. Although I didn’t welcome Rezia’s nags with welcome arms, at times like this I yearned for her presence.

  Just looking at the alert, open brown eyes and confident, squared shoulders would give me hope, no matter how little it was. She was a warrior inside out.

  Throughout class I struggled to not zone out.

Rezia had mentioned Decus had chosen me for a reason. Bravery? Cross out. Brains? If I had even half the brain cells Rezia had.