Blue Monday

Chapter 13 - Top Of The World

***GIDEON***

When Fionna and I come back to her apartment building after our grocery-shopping expedition, we arrive at the same time as two other young people I know too well. Steve Walker and Freddie Krause, both having apparently just returned from a night of shooting down scrivs on the Wall.

Or whatever those things are out there.

The first thing Steve does when he sees my face is drop his bike helmet. He actually recognizes me, and he's so shocked, he can't even speak. It's Freddie who does it for him, and then Steve runs forward, scooping me up in a bear hug. He's a tad bit shorter than I am now, I notice. Neither of us are tall dudes, but it never really occurred to me before how not tall he was.

"Oh my God," Steve whispers. "Dani?"

I shake my head gently. "No. Gideon." It's almost becoming second nature to me, reintroducing myself to dead people I knew before.

"You died too?" Steve asks. "How?"

"Cool your jets, Steve," I say, pulling a couple of inches back so I can look him in the eye. "I'm not dead."

"What?" Steve's jaw drops all over again.

"How does that work?" Freddie asks. "If you're not dead, then how'd you-"

"I brought him here," says Kyle, who's just come around the corner.

"What?" Freddie asks.

"Why?" Steve asks. "Why'd you bring a live person to the Second?"

"I can't explain it all now," Kyle says, putting his hands in his pockets. "But if you'd like, you can come to my place later today. I'll tell you everything I can."

"Really?" Freddie asks, crossing his arms.

"I was kinda supposed to tell you eventually anyway," Kyle says. "I'll just tell you this for now - whatever they've told you about what you guys are doing on the Wall, it's a lie. Those aren't evil dark creatures you think you're killing off every time you fight like you did today."

Steve and Freddie have no words to respond to this.

"Yeah, huge shocker. I know." Kyle turns to me. "Gideon, you wanna come with me? There's something I've gotta show you first."

I shake my head. "No thanks. You think I'm gonna trust you to be alone with me for any length of time, you lying shithead?" Kyle averts his eyes, and I can see he's hurt by my words. "I'm sorry," I say, looking down in shame.

"Being brutally honest, huh? Don't worry." Kyle waves his hand. "I get it. I haven't done much to help you trust me." He disappears into the building, leaving the rest of us all awkwardly standing out there in the dark.

"Well then," Fionna says, clapping her hands. "Wanna go up to my place? We got snacks."

I shake the shopping bag I'm holding. "M&Ms, Snickers, Ruffles. Fionna told me you guys like the barbecue kind?"

Steve laughs and elbows Freddie. "Nah, it's pizza-flavored Pringles we like."

"I'm one of only three people in the world who likes them," Freddie says.

I start laughing myself. "Oh my God, I just saw that movie the other day."

"Which one? Disturbia?"

"Yeah."

Fionna laughs as Steve opens the door and stands aside so we can go in. We exchange glances and roll our eyes, but let Steve go ahead with his gentlemanly thing. "One of these days," Fionna says, pausing just long enough to wave hi to the doorperson, "I should get that movie from work so we can all sit and watch it."