Synectica

Chapter 2

        The weekend passed, and Monday morning Netta woke with a start the next morning as her alarm clock went off. Mechanically, Netta rolled over and hit the snooze button. She lay on her back and stared at the ceiling. She could still picture the scene perfectly as if the images were burned into her mind. Netta rubbed her eyes and sighed. She swung her legs out of bed and trudged half asleep to the bathroom down the hall. She could hear the groggy voices in her head of her foster brothers slowly waking up as well. She washed her face and then got out of the way as her foster brothers, Nick and Luke, raced to get to the bathroom first. The winner was usually determined by whoever could punch the other one first and hard enough so that they could get a few seconds' head start to dash into the bathroom and lock the door. Netta scurried into her door frame just as she heard the usual banging coming from their rooms and then the two 17 and 18 year old boys running and hitting each other as they made their way down the hallway. Nick, the shorter and younger of the two, dodged a blow from Luke and then stuck his foot out under him, snickering as Luke flapped his arms around to regain his balance. Nick quickly ducked under him and into the bathroom just in time to slam the door in Luke's face. Luke pounded the door a couple times and then stopped when his mother yelled up at them to stop. He crossed his arms and pouted as he leaned up against the wall. He noticed Netta standing in the door way, watching the whole event. Netta tried to shut the door quickly, but he got to her quicker. He stuck his foot in the door and leered at her.

        "What are you looking at you little brat?" he said, towering over her. Then he grabbed her wrist and kicked her behind the knee so that she fell on her knees in front of him. He grinned nastily at her and then walked back to the bathroom, muttering something about her being "In her rightful place."

        Netta quickly got up and locked the door as soon as she was out of his arm swinging distance. She sat on her bed with her heart pumping and hot, angry tears in her eyes. She blinked them away and went to her mirror to continue getting ready. Sometimes she felt like she could never fit in with any family. And she never knew why. She had never told her family about her gift, but even so, there was something she could always feel when she was near them – like she wasn't one of them. And it seemed that they had picked up on it too.

        At school, Netta exchanged her history book for her chemistry notebook at her locker between classes. She smiled when she saw her friend from down the hallway.

        "Morning, Netta!" said Charlotte as she reached her friend. Charlotte had been her closest friend for years and could read people like a book. Netta sometimes worried that she would find out about her secret.

        "Morning, Char," Netta said pleasantly. "How'd it go studying for your World Civ test last night?" Netta paused. "I assume you made lots of flashcards," she added with a smirk. Charlotte rolled her eyes dramatically and lightly kicked Netta in the shin.

        "Hey, there's nothing wrong with my method of studying," Charlotte said defensively while Netta rubbed her shin.

        "All I'm saying is that making forty flashcards is a tad bit excessive," Netta said reassuringly, similar to the way one talks to a confused child.

        "Shut up," she said indignantly as she crossed her arms over her chest and scowled. Netta nudged Charlotte's side with her elbow and she let a smile crack through her scowl, though she swatted her Netta's arm back. "We should get to class," said Charlotte. Netta nodded in agreement and they scurried off to their first period chem.

        They parted as Netta went to Mrs. Lyon's regular chemistry class and Charlotte full on sprinted to Mr. Vasari's honors chemistry class. Charlotte was always top of her class in chemistry, even at the honors level. That was helped by the fact that she was extremely competitive, always looking for a way to beat the other chemistry genius in her class, Daniel. Netta always got a kick out of trying to match her with him because of how angry it made her. Her face would turn bright red and she would pin Netta with a stare that yearned to rip her to head off; which would in turn make Netta laugh that much harder. Netta watched Charlotte's wavy honey-blond hair streak behind her as she turned the corner and then Netta turned to walk to her own class.