Handy Hiding Place (NaNoWriMo 2014)

Chapter 21

I don’t know why so many universes exist, and I don’t know why I have access to all of them. I don’t know how I was created or why, but I can safely assume that my purpose is to locate those with powers and help those people to discover those powers. I don’t know why there are people with powers. To me, the answers to these questions are not important; they are just fun to consider. It is amusing to watch what is happening in all of the universes, and I sometimes visit these places. I wear many masks and go by many names, and very few people ever recognize me. That is why I was surprised when someone recognized my speaking voice by remembering my writing voice, and yet she doesn’t know she has found me. How can someone find me but not see me? I suppose this only happens when they notice something they weren’t looking for in the first place. I think the things you find when you are not looking for them are most intriguing. Vague thoughts aside, soon I will be meeting another group of kids. I’m very excited. I’m certain they would be too if they knew to expect this event.

Going back to school after winter break is never a fun time except maybe for the people who like to model the clothes they got for Christmas. In the lunch periods leading up to the day Zak and Lexis would join the other two for lunch, Amelia and Quinn had some time to themselves. Sometimes they talked about the story Amelia was trying to write for Zak. Every time she said something negative about it, Quinn would offer her encouragement. Eventually, Quinn was editing Amelia’s drafts and giving her suggestions for the plot. With Quinn’s help, Amelia felt more confident about where the story was going.

Other times, they would have conversations that mostly involved the two of them laughing. They could easily make each other laugh. Then they might have a conversation that was a little less silly, maybe when talking about homework and projects that they found ridiculous or when raising questions about the cafeteria food. There was also the occasional serious conversation. This might be Quinn educating Amelia about the fluidity of identity or the two of them questioning the morality of some decisions made by adults and friends. No matter what they were talking about, the two of them enjoyed each other’s company very much and seemed to never get sick of talking to each other. These conversations even began to continue at home over the phone and by video chat. They loved to talk to each other. Then one day, Zak and Lexis finally joined them for lunch.

“Valentines Day is coming up,” Amelia remarked, to which everyone replied with a laugh or a groan. “What?”

“We’re all single Amelia,” Lexis reminded her. “Why would we care about Valentines Day?”

“Well, it’s not just for dating people, you know,” Amelia informed them.

“What does valentine even mean?” Zak asked.

Lexis pulled out their phone and looked it up. “It’s a person you love.”

“See? It doesn’t say the person you’re dating, it says someone you love,” Amelia beamed. “I love you guys.”

“Aww,” Zak replied softly.

“I think people make Valentine’s Day all romantic though,” Lexis replied. “Dude, remember when we were in elementary school and you had to get cards and candy for the whole class? When did this candy holiday turn into this other thing?”