Chapter 1

Chapter 1

A Chapter by T. A. Meyer

 

Chapter 1
                I’m not exactly sure when it started.  At least, I can’t put an exact date on it.  It probably happened numerous times before I even realized anything, small things spread out over my childhood.  A random toy here, a baseball there.  Nothing too drastic.  I guess you could say I finally noticed I was different around my fourteenth birthday, but by then I was able to control some of it.  Once again, it started small.  A bowl of cereal or a fork.  A couple of times the remote control when I was feeling particularly lazy.
                I guess I should explain. Hi, my name is Gavin, and I’m a teenage freak. Very AA, isn’t it? Though my problem is hardly a fondness of drinks and a good time. Rather, I seem to have the ability to move things with my mind. And yes, I know what you’re thinking. Well, half of you. You’re thinking that it sounds amazing. Yeah, well, try having it happen to you. What seems amazing immediately turns frightening once you realize that you’re breaking the laws of physics. Suddenly, it’s not quite so exciting. I could go into a lot of self-analysis about the complex swirl of emotions I was forced to endure, but I take it your reading this journal for reasons other than a psychology class. The only important thing is that I eventually came to terms with it. I even enjoy it, at times. If nothing else, I’ve become ridiculously good at basketball. Which reminds me, I still haven’t decided if that’s cheating or not. I mean, it is slightly unfair when I can put any shot into the hoop at will, but it isn’t like I chose to be this way. You don’t accuse a tall guy of cheating for using his height, do you?
                But I digress. My story isn’t really about basketball. Though at times, I wish it were. My life would have been so much simpler if I had never opened that email. I still haven’t decided if simpler is better. It was October, but that’s about all I remember of the night itself. Considering my social life had been slightly lacking, I was at home on the Friday night when that fateful letter made its way into my computer. I almost dismissed it as junk mail, but I had never seen any kind of mail from a boarding school before. Intrigued, I opened it. I can still see that bright, eye-catching bulletin in my mind. Bailey Academy for the Gifted. However, it was the first line, rather than the heading, that truly caught my eye. We know you’re different. And we understand. We want to help. At first, I was freaked out. I almost shut off my computer after those three sentences. But gradually, I forced myself to calm down, reminding myself how cautious I had been. If nothing else, this was a random, practical joke that just hit a lucky mark. Chances were they didn’t know anything. Nervously, I glanced back over the rest of the email, gradually growing less and less convinced of my practical joke theory, and yet growing more and more interested. The email promised a school full of more teenagers with … unusual talents. Apparently, if I was to take this email as factual. I was quite as unique as I once thought. After I finished reading the email several times, I closed it out and returned to the video game I had been playing. Though I couldn’t bring myself to ever hit the delete button.
                For the next couple of days I continued on with my normal life. Or at least as normal as my life can ever get. And still my mind kept drifting back to that email. As suspicious as I was, it still was ridiculously inviting. I am a teenager after all; I have read X-Men. Despite my better judgment, the proposal seemed interesting, even exciting. Over the next week, I found myself drawn to my computer more and more, reading over that email so many times I practically had it memorized. We can help you. We can provide you with an understanding of your condition. And we can provide you with others who understand. That last line, more than anything else, was a major draw. It killed me to keep my secret from those closest to me. Maybe I wouldn’t have to hide it my entire life.
                It wasn’t long before I finally gave in, and called the number at the bottom of the email.   A bored secretary dutifully took my call, put me on hold for the required 5 minutes, and eventually told me to be at a local coffee shop at 7 the next evening. Thrilled and terrified, I tried to continue on with the rest of my day, though it was certainly hard to concentrate on calculus homework. I went to sleep that night, still not entirely sure if I’d actually follow through with the meeting.
                And yet, come 6:55 there I was, dressed in jeans and a button-up shirt, nervously glancing around. Luckily, it was a pretty public place. I didn’t think anything too terrible could happen to me. Several people entered the shop, none meeting my expectations. Though, I wasn’t exactly sure what I was expecting. An extremely attractive girl glided through at one point, though I noticed with a sinking heart that she was accompanied by another guy. Figured. I waited for several more minutes, before I finally decided to give up. I had to face the facts. I didn’t live in a comic book world, no matter what seemed to be happening to me. The best thing I could do would be to forget about this entire thing, and go on with my life. I stood up from my chair, and made my way towards the door when a stiff hand grabbed my shoulder. I spun around defensively, knocking the hand from my shoulder, only to find myself facing the guy who had walked in with the angel earlier.
                “Good evening, Gavin,” the man replied with a slow southern drawl. He was tall, lean, and had a slight bohemian look to him, probably enhanced by his goatee and rimless glasses. However, the man didn’t stick out nearly as much as the girl standing next to him. Tall, curly dark brown hair, large brown eyes, and strangely exotic features characterized one of the most beautiful girls I’ve ever seen in my life. She smiled as she met my eyes, and I was surprised my legs didn’t buckle.
                “I’d hate for you to head out before our meeting,” the man replied, gesturing towards the table I had just left. “And I apologize for our slight deception earlier. I wanted to observe you for awhile. See how you were reacting to this whole ordeal. I have to say, you seem far more composed than the majority of the students I meet with. I commend you on your bravery.”
                I sure didn’t feel all that brave, as my ribs still seemed more like the walls of a butterfly exhibit, but I appreciated the comment nonetheless.
                “Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Dr. Thomas Harrison, and I’m a professor working at Bailey Academy. And this is Analise.” The girl pushed herself forward, offering a well-manicured hand.
                “The pleasure is all mine,” she purred slightly, her smile wide and her eyes bright as she shook my hand.             
                “Yeah, me too,” I managed to stammer, amazed that my brain was able to function well enough to get my vocal chords to move at all.
                “I’m glad you decided to meet with us,” she continued, her eyes never leaving my face. “Bailey is such an amazing place. I just know you’ll love it.” At the moment, I didn’t think I’d disagree with her.
                “Analise is student at Bailey currently. The administration thinks it’s a wonderful idea for potential students to meet with some kids their own age, as well as a teacher,” the doctor explained, taking a seat at the table and ordering several various items from a near-by waiter.
                “Plus, they like taking me along whenever they meet with boys,” Analise whispered to me, as though it was a personal secret only we shared. Every word this girl uttered sent little shivers down my spine.
                “I certainly can’t imagine why,” I managed to stammer, amazed at my own ability to conduct a semi-intelligent conversation. Analise laughed, the noise cascading through my ear canal like the finest of Beethoven’s movements.
                “Enough of the pleasantries, for now at least. You both will have plenty of time to socialize at later points in time, I hope,” Dr. Harrison cut her off, smiling condescendingly at Analise. Quickly, he shifted his attention back to me, the light from the candles behind us reflecting off of his glasses. “Now Gavin, I want to assure you that we have only your best interests at heart. You’d be surprised to learn that you’re not alone in this world. Above anything else, we recognize that all of our students are human beings, not some strange mutants nor freaks destined for a circus show. In fact, we feel that the gifts you have been given are remarkable, and that this is merely Darwin’s evolution at work, establishing the next adaptations in the human species. I’d be lying if I told you that we knew exactly how all this is happening, though I can promise you that we are conducting extensive research. However, that is not the point of Bailey Academy.”
                The man was interrupted as a waiter brought drinks, placing several varieties of sodas and coffee drinks on the table. Dr. Harrison motioned for me to help myself, though I was hesitant. Analise, however, instantly reached out to grab what appeared to be some kind of latte, and instantly began to devour it. I reached out and grabbed what appeared to be a Pepsi, though I nervously began to play with the straw, folding it into various shapes.
                “You see,” Dr. Harrison continued, “at Bailey are goal is to teach you all to harvest your unique talents in such a way as to be able to benefit society as a whole, while still allowing you to grow and thrive as normal teenagers would. Outside of the special training, Bailey is a typical boarding school, with free time, classes, dances, and various other high school activities. We aim to give you the most normal experience possible, while at the same time accommodating for the abnormal that is associated with such a school.”
                At this point, the waiters brought out what appeared to be a miniature barbeque pit, which they promptly set on fire. Alongside came a platter full of graham crackers, Hershey’s chocolate, and marshmallows. Apparently, this particularly coffee bar specialized in s’mores. All three of us reached for the small wooden skewers, impaling various marshmallows on them before holding them out over the small fire.
                “Now, according to our records, you are a … um… telekinetic?” Dr Harrison asked, consulting a small vanilla folder that had appeared on the table. I nodded slowly. “Would you mind giving us a small, how shall I put this, demonstration, for us?” He asked hesitantly. When he noticed that I seemed a little less than enthused, he hurriedly continued. “Don’t worry. It doesn’t have to be anything large or extravagant. Something small will do. We just typically like to see it live and first-hand, if possible.”
                I looked around nervously. “I’m still not really sure if I should,” I muttered. My entire philosophy up to this point had been to try to stay as low key as possible. Now didn’t seem like a good time to expose myself. Not until I knew more about these people.
                “Here, Maybe this will help ease your mind,” Analise cut in, quickly blowing out of the fire from the small pit for the s’mores. Grinning mischievously, she winked at me, waving her hand as the fire-starting gel quickly lit up again. “I believe the technical term for me is a pyrokinetic, or some other such scientific nonsense. I, on the other hand, prefer to see myself as one damn good Boy Scout.” This girl was growing more attractive by the second. “Now, how about you give it a try?” She looked at me, and under that gaze, I couldn’t help but do anything other than what she asked.
                “I guess it can hurt,” I replied, turning my concentration away from her and onto one of the marshmallows still left on the tray. I tried to visualize it floating in my head, urging it to move, and gradually, it began to float slightly in the air, hovering for a second, before collapsing back to the ground.
                “Very impressive,” Dr. Harrison grinned, nodding his head. He was obviously pleased. “You definitely have the potential.”
                Eager to impress Analise, I piped back up. “Please, that’s nothing. You’d be surprised at what I’m able to do now. I’m getting to where I can even move multiple things at once.” Smiling confidently, I glanced over at Analise to see if my comment had the desired effect. She returned my smile, nodding in approval. Dr. Harrison, meanwhile, merely raised an eyebrow.
                “Is that so? Hmmm, very impressive indeed. I’m not sure if I should share this information with you, but I don’t see how it can hurt anything. Despite the hundred or so students we’ve seen pass through our halls at Bailey, there has never been one with your … talents. I sincerely hope you accept our offer of admission, and I strongly suggest that you give said offer serious consideration. We’ve compiled this package for you to give to your parents.” He handed me a hefty manila envelope. I sneaked a glance inside, noticing several brightly colored pamphlets.             
                “To the majority of the outside world, Bailey is merely a top flight boarding school aimed at giving its students the best education possible. Your parents will see it as nothing more than a full scholarship to a renowned school. Luckily, you’re a pretty good student. It’s slightly more difficult when the student is failing several classes. Then we have to be a little more … creative … in justifying the scholarship. Meanwhile, this is for you.” He handed me a separate envelope, this one white and smaller. “That, on the other hand, contains everything else about Bailey that you should and you alone should be interested in. Now, I believe this meeting has gone on long enough. So please, Gavin, give this some thought. I know it might seem scary, but it is the best possible opportunity for you. I’ll see you again, here, next week?” he asked, raising the eyebrow again.
                I merely nodded, pushing myself up from the seat and grasping the dual envelopes firmly in hand.          “Until then, Gavin.” Dr. Harrison shook my hand, before turning and walking briskly out the door.
                “I, personally, hope you take the offer as well,” Analise said to me, grinning. She leaned in, kissing me on the cheek, and putting her lips close to my ear. “You’re far cuter than most of the boys I’m forced to interview with.” With a shy grin, she turned and walked out, leaving me practically drooling. Bailey was seeming like a better idea by the second.


© 2008 T. A. Meyer


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Added on July 8, 2008


Author

T. A. Meyer
T. A. Meyer

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16, and an avid reader. I've been writing since I was 10, though not near as often as I would like. Want to know anything else? Feel free to ask. more..

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A Book by T. A. Meyer