The Maplethorn Initiative (Book 1, The Maplethorn Series)

The Pier

Holding both arms out in front of himself, Cam inched forward until he could feel his palms tingle. The feeling grew stronger as he approached the concrete planter that rested on the Lashton's small front porch—eventually becoming so strong he couldn't take another step. The dead stalks of last year's flowers snapped and bent, but the planter would not budge.

With one hand still pointed at the flowers, Cam aimed his other hand at the garage. He thought pushing against the house might provide enough force to move the giant flowerpot—and it did! He was rewarded with the grinding sound of concrete on concrete as the planter slid into the bushes.

"Wicked," Keegan commented from behind the screen door.

"Thanks."

"How are you going to put it back?"

Cam stared at the lopsided planter in dismay. He hadn't thought about moving it back until Keegan said something. "You could come out here and help me?"

After about five minutes of grunting, sweating, and swearing, the boys had rocked the pot back into place.

"Answer a question, Drex?" Keegan said, breathing heavily.

"Sure. What?"

"Are you avoiding me?"

Cam ran a hand along the side of the planter, checking for damage. "Uh, what do you mean?"

"You've been acting weird ever since your girlfriend went home."

"Weird how?" Cam asked, continuing to hunt for chips and cracks.

"It just feels like if I'm inside, you're outside," Keegan said. "If I'm upstairs, you're downstairs. Did I do something?"

"Well, okay..." Cam dusted his hands on his sweatshirt. "I know this isn't your fault, but—"

Keegan hooked his thumbs into the pockets of his jeans. "But?"

"Sometimes, I wonder—like when we play video games—am I playing because I want to, or because you're making me want to?"

Keegan's features settled into a frown. "You think I'm making you do stuff you don't want to do?"

"No! I mean, not on purpose. You keep saying you can't always control it, so sometimes I just wonder." Cam shrugged. "That's all."

"That's all, huh?"

"I'm really sorry. What would you think if you were me?"

"I don't know." Keegan reached for the door, heading inside. "I guess stay out here then."

"Wait!" Cam shouted, catching the screen door before it closed. "Let's go kill some zombies, okay?"

•  •  •

Prita returned on Saturday, bringing a small package wrapped in yellow paper with blue polka dots. She pushed it across the kitchen table toward Cam. "Open it!"

Cam did as he was told and was soon holding a shiny, white smartphone. "Thanks!" he beamed.

"It's so you can always call me when you need to," Prita said. "Plus, the internet and texting and stuff."

Cam pressed the home button, and the screen blossomed to life. "It works!"

"I had the guy at the phone store set it up," Prita explained. "It's prepaid."

Cam laid the device on the table without taking his hand off of it. "Uh, how much do I owe you?"

"Seriously, Cameron?" she chided. "Do you even have any money?"