Chapter 1 - Powers

The H-bus floated to a stop right on time. I climbed up the white tile steps that slide out from beneath it and picked a white plastic bench. The whole bus smelled like antibacterial wash. There were a few other kids who climbed on as well. One of them was my best friend Canda. She slumped into the seat next to me with a depressed look.

“Canda, your face is going to be stuck like that,” I teased.

“It already is stuck!” she said. “How am I supposed to survive without you? When you went on vacation last summer I almost died from loneliness!”

“No you didn’t. You spent most of the time with Jeremy. And, because I left, you got yourself a boyfriend. You don’t need to make such a big deal out of it,” I reassured her.

“Well, that was just one summer. You’re talking about… about moving away! You’re moving all the way to Germany! And you never write to me when you leave either. It’s just not fair,” she complained.

I sighed, “Canda, you’re acting like a little kid. I’m not moving away. It’s only for two years– ”

“– two years!”

“Yes, two years. No vacations. But I’ll be back for your graduation! I promise.”

“Sure, sure,” she said. The bus slowed to a light stop on the corner of my street. I stopped at the door and hugged Canda.  

“I’m going to miss you, Em. Please, please, please write me,” she whispered. “I really will go crazy if you didn’t write me.”

“I will. I promise. I’ll write you at least once every two weeks. I can’t promise anything more than that,” I said while backing down the stairs. I waved goodbye as the bus floated away.

When I got to my driveway there was a shiny new Hover sitting there. My stomach flipped because our old car wasn’t anywhere to be seen. I typed the security code into the padlock on the frint door. It hissed open. Once inside, I heard laughter coming from the kitchen. Mom’s laughter was beautiful.

“Curious and curiouser,” I muttered. “Mom, I’m home!”

“Your home, Em! Come into the kitchen I have your dinner set out,” Mom said, poking her head out of the kitchen door.

“In a min,” I called. I ran upstairs and threw my backpack onto my bed. Stopping at the hallway closet, I pulled out a pile of towels. There was an old air vent which I pried open. I peered through the metal slats into the kitchen which was directly below me. I could see Mom leaning against the left counter, and Rusty, a guy from Mom’s work, was with her. They were cute together and Mom tried to pretend nothing was happening but something obviously was. I flipped the slats closed and sat on my heels. Slowly, I put the towels back and walked downstairs.

“Hey, Em, Rusty helped me make dinner so you should really like it. He took a year of cooking at the Swiss Ac., you know. I’d like to see you two make a– ” she stopped abruptly.

“Mom?”

“Sorry, I just keep forgetting that you’ll will be going to Germany. Even though you leave tomorrow,” she smiled sadly with tears in her eyes. “Earlier today, at work, I almost booked you for a weekend at the DubPark. You’re going away for two whole years.”

“Why does she have to go?” Rusty asked. “And for so long?”

“Because she will never get an offer like this ever again, and she deserves to go. This school is considered one of the best. It has amazing learning facilities and professors and students. They are very picky when it comes to who can attend. In fact they only send letters to a handful of students and then they have tests that they have to pass in order for them to actually be accepted. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Right, once in a lifetime opportunity that uses two whole years of my lifetime. I am going to be nineteen when I come home. Two whole years older… and supposedly a lot smarter.
                                   ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

After a big meal of hamburgers, fries, and milkshakes I slumped onto my bed. Rolling over, I slipped my jeans off, clapped off my lights and snapped on my night lamp. I sighed and dropped my glasses onto my half-moon nightstand. I picked up the worn letter from the School:
"Miss Emily Moore,

You have been selectively chosen to attend the School for Aiming the Physically and Mentally Advanced Teens. There will be a test on August, 18. If you wish to attend there is an airvessel leaving the North American International Airport on August, 12. All your tickets are ready for you. When you arrive at the airport go to the front desk with your entire luggage and hand them your ticket. They will escort you to our private jet. You will then fly directly to the school.

You will be quizzed for three days. If you fail the tests you will be disqualified. If you are disqualified you will be given six hours to leave the premises and be on the plane. If you pass the test your schedule will be presented to you. You will be given classes according to your test results.

I sincerely hope that you are adequate. It would be a pleasure to have you join our other students. Please consider what you will be adding to our facility if you choose to become a student. May your body and mind be in the best of conditions.

Wolfgang Brahms
President of the School for Aiming the Physically
and Mentally Advanced Teens"

I read through it a couple times then fell asleep.
                                     ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

Standing in my room looking at all me luggage made me sad. I had everything packed into two suitcases, a backpack, and a messenger bag. A text message blinked across my phone screen.

Canda: When are you leaving?

Me: In a couple of hours…

Canda: I’m going to miss you!!! Make sure you write
to me and tell me what you do over there!!!

Me: Miss you too! Bye!

I was sitting on my bed when my mom came in. “Hey, there,” she said, “How are you doing? Looks like you’ve got everything packed up.”

“Yeah,” I sigh.

“You don’t have to go you know… I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to stay,” Mom said giving me a sideways hug.

“Yeah, I know but I think that I should at least try it out… After all I don’t know if I will even get in. And they can’t hold me against my will, so if I don’t like it I can always come home,” I smiled encouragingly. Mom smiled but tears were already floating in her eyes.
                                      ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

I wiped tears from my eyes as I sat down on the plush seat of the fancy LaserPlane. It was one of the newest model of airvessels. There was a refrigerator, a table, a flat screen Aqualens TV in the wall, and a box of tissues on the seat next to me. I had used three tissues when someone came in. A tall boy, with sandy blonde hair, a crooked nose, and a basketball hooked under one arm. He slouched into the chair across from me and flicked his bright blue eyes, plus a silly grin, at me.

“Yo, what’s your name?” he said addressing me.

“Emily,” I said looking out the window.

“I’m Cameron. You look familiar. Ever been to Australia?” He asked, squinting his eyes at me.

“No,” I answered slowly, but now that I look at him, he looks familiar too. “Do you live in Australia?”

“Yep, and you?” He asked simply.

“I’m from Alaska. You’re going to the School, too?” I asked.

“Yeah, Alaska? Really? How’s the new country thing going? I hear the U.T. of C. is giving you guys a hard time.”

“It’s fine. The Canadians aren’t really that bad to have as neighbors. They just don’t like us taking advantage of their… loose laws when we import things.”

“Said like a true Alaskan,” he said winking.

“What-” I was interrupted by a mechanical voice over the intercom: "We are ready for takeoff so please take your seats. Once we have achieved maximum height feel free to move around the cabin, help yourself to the TV, food, drinks, and anything else in your vicinity. In case of an emergency please grab your Personal Flying Device from the wall and await further instructions. The PFD’s are located on the South wall near the emergency exit. Thank you for your attention, please enjoy the flight."

The plane purred and moved silently over the tarmac. We were off to Germany.