4
Cleavage
THE next morning I came down to breakfast a little early in case my aunt was finally ready to listen only to discover she’d already left for the elementary school where she taught—a full half hour earlier than usual.
“She said she had papers to grade or something like that,” Uncle Louie told me when I asked. “Oh, hey, if you’re making toast, make me a piece, too.”
I was sure Aunt Theresa had really left early to avoid talking to me, but there was nothing I could do about it now. I got out another piece of bread and put it into the toaster.
“Mum told us this morning how many new Echtrans are coming to Jewel,” Molly whispered excitedly when she and Sean joined me at the bus stop a little later. “Sean and I already knew about NuAgra, of course, but didn’t realize it would be that big.”
“Yeah, definitely more people than I expected.” I tried not to show how irked I was that they’d been told more ahead of time than I had. I mean, I was the Sovereign.
“Hope these people have been a lot better briefed on how to act than some of the, uh, tourists we’ve had,” Sean said.
“Kyna said the ones coming here got extra briefings.” I didn’t mention the three I’d met on Sunday.
Sean dropped his voice lower, since the two sophomores from our stop were headed our way. “That’s good. But if any seem at all out of line, you can count on me—and Molly, of course—to run interference. Keep them from getting too close or…whatever.”
I smiled up at him. “Thanks, Sean. Hope that won’t be necessary, but it’s good to know you guys have my back.” I infused all the gratitude I could into my voice, hoping to ease some of the lingering hurt I still sensed from him. It seemed to help a tiny bit.
When our bus left the outskirts of town to trundle through the cornfields I reached out for Rigel, since we hadn’t “said” much more than goodnight to each other before I fell asleep last night. Are you at school yet?
Just got here. What’s up?
Hoping we can talk before class, that’s all. Meet you out front in a couple minutes, okay?
He was waiting near the curb when our bus pulled up and greeted me with a quick kiss as soon as Sean’s back was turned. It bothered him, too, that Sean was having trouble adjusting to us being a couple again.
“So?” he said, linking hands as we turned toward the school. “What did you want to talk about? More stuff about these newcomers?”
“Not exactly.” Keeping my voice to the sub-whisper only he could hear, I quickly told him about the “edited” report the Council sent out Saturday. I got pissed all over again as I spoke but Rigel took the news surprisingly calmly.
“It’s not that big a deal, M. Seriously.” Just like on Sunday, he wasn’t nearly as upset as I was.
“It doesn’t bother you? Really?”
“Not much. It’s enough—more than enough—that I helped keep you alive and safe. Along with, y’know, the rest of the world.” He grinned. “It’s awkward enough at school and around town when people treat me like some kind of hero just because of football. This would make me feel even weirder.”
Together, we entered the school. “I get that. I do. I feel awkward when people treat me so differently because of the whole Sovereign thing, too. Still, it’s not fair they didn’t give you credit when you were a real hero.”
“Sounds like you didn’t get as much credit as you should have, either. But hey, if the Scientists want to be the heroes, I say we let them. If keeping a low profile means we can be together without an audience more often, I’ll take that trade in a heartbeat.”
He leaned in for another kiss as we reached my locker, which distracted me for a few seconds. But only a few.
“I don’t know, Rigel. You saw what happened downtown Sunday. I was really counting on that statement to change people’s minds, prove to them we have to be together. I’m worried if we don’t do something to counteract all the lies that have been spread, what happened back in Nuath could start happening here. Especially with all these new Echtrans coming to Jewel—”
“It’ll be fine, M. You’ll see. We’ll just have to prove it to them a little more slowly, that’s all.”
“No, that’s part of what I wanted to tell you.” The warning bell rang, so I spoke more quickly. “Last night I insisted the Council send out another statement, telling what really happened, and they said I could write it myself. I’ve already started a rough draft.” Several, in fact, but I didn’t say that. “I was thinking you could help me make it better, less awkward. Then—”
His frown stopped me. “I don’t know, M. Let’s talk this through before you do anything we can’t take back, okay?”
“Um, okay.” I was confused and a little disappointed by his reluctance. “Lunch in the courtyard? We can talk more then.”
As the morning went on, I tried to discreetly tap into Rigel’s thoughts to figure out why he was so resistant to setting people straight. But all I picked up were a few memories from last week and a growing sense of determination. Surely over lunch, when we could again talk face to face, he’d tell me what was really going on.
“So,” I said as soon as we were seated on the stone bench with our sandwiches. “Have you thought more about what my statement should say?” Thankfully, the courtyard was deserted, even though it was sunny and not too hot after Sunday’s rain.
The look he gave me was wary—and worried. “Yeah, M, I have. And…I don’t think you should send one at all.”
“What? Of course I should! Why would you say that? Do you want those crazy ultra-traditionalists bad-mouthing you—or worse? Remember what they did to you in Nuath? And that threatening note your mom got—?”
“I remember.” He put his hand over mine, trying to calm me. “But that threat was about me getting my memory back, which is a done deal now. Everybody already knows about it. Anyway, I’d much rather deal with a few insults from people who don’t know any better than risk them trying to separate us again.”
I stared at him. “But don’t you see? That’s exactly why—”
“No. Think. Remember how the Council and even some of the Scientists reacted when we generated those electrical bolts for their tests? They were scared. Shoot, we were scared! Some Council members even argued we should be kept apart so we couldn’t accidentally hurt anyone. Do you really want everyone to know what we can do? How do you think the Echtran Enquirer will spin that?”
The Council Royals had said something similar last night, I recalled.
“Didn’t Shim already publicize what those Scientists found out about our graell bond, at least in Nuath? We haven’t gotten flack over that. Why should this be any worse?”
“He didn’t share that part. Dad told me. Just the genetic affinity stuff and a hint about our mental link. Besides, according to my folks people were so busy freaking out about the Grentl, nobody paid much attention anyway.”
I let out a little huff of frustration. “Yeah, but now that the Grentl are gone people will be looking for new gossip, you know they will. We don’t have to say we were heroes. That’ll sound weird coming from us, anyway. But can’t we at least tell everyone it was our bond that kept the Grentl from carrying out their plan?”
“How, without mentioning the electrical thing? Really, M, I think we should just let it go, at least for now. See if any of the stuff you’re worried about actually materializes. Anyway, we should eat. Lunch is almost over.” He unwrapped my tuna sandwich and handed it to me.
I kept arguing with Rigel—silently—for the rest of the day but he refused to budge. He was convinced the risks outweighed the possible problems. I knew he’d feel differently if he thought another statement would make me safer, but the one most likely to suffer from us not saying anything was him—which didn’t give me much leverage.
I could tell he was starting to get irritated when he made me promise not to distract him during football practice. I decided to just go home so I’d be less tempted to break that promise—and because I was getting irritated, too, and hated being on the outs with Rigel about anything.
My frustration over Rigel’s stubbornness made me even more determined to make Aunt Theresa talk about the whole Martian thing. I even rehearsed an opening for when she got home, but she didn’t give me a chance to use it.
“If you’ve finished your homework, Marsha, you need to run over to the antique store to have your photo taken,” my aunt said as she walked in, without so much as a hello.
I frowned. “Just me?”
“Yes, they’re doing individual pictures rather than the Court as a group. Scheduling issues, they said.”
Maybe if I got it over with quickly, there’d still be time to make Aunt Theresa listen. Taking my bike since that was faster than walking, I headed over to Duncan’s Antiques on Topaz Street. I touched base with Rigel on the way, hoping he could meet me there, but he’d already made plans to go later. So I couldn’t keep pestering him?
It turned out Mr. Duncan only wanted to snap a picture and ask me a few questions, so I was back home less than twenty minutes after I left. Plenty of time to help Aunt Theresa snap the peas for dinner…and get her talking. This time I planned to try an indirect approach.
“I was thinking maybe we should tell Uncle Louie about, y’know, everything this evening,” I suggested, sitting down at the kitchen table with my bowl of rinsed peas. “I know on Saturday I said we shouldn’t, but now, with all these new people coming to Jewel—”
My aunt turned from the stove looking startled. “Tell—? I’m sure I can’t imagine anything we’d say to him about…anything. Especially considering that your uncle has never been known for his discretion. Why, even back in high school—” She broke off, shaking her head.
“I really think he should know.”
After his record-breaking sales day yesterday, it occurred to me that some of the newcomers might try to use my aunt and uncle—and friends—to curry influence. I’d seen enough of that sort of thing back in Nuath to know Echtrans weren’t above such tactics.
“You don’t know him as well as I do, Marsha.” Aunt Theresa turned away from me. Again. “If a situation arises where it becomes important, we can tell him then. For now, I would prefer not to.”
I huffed out a frustrated breath. “Obviously, since you won’t even talk about it yourself. How can you—?”
“That’s enough, Marsha. Are those peas ready yet?”
“Almost,” I grumped, even though I’d barely started them. Much as I wanted to make her talk to me, years of habit kept me from pushing when she used that tone. I let it drop. Again.
When Uncle Louie got home he was nearly as upbeat as the night before, crowing that he’d sold two more cars that day. I was half-tempted to defy my aunt and just blurt out the truth to him, but I didn’t. Even though I now doubted it would be possible—or safe—to keep him in the dark indefinitely.
Aunt Theresa was in the kitchen like usual when I came downstairs the next morning, but she seemed as determined as ever to act like everything was perfectly normal. At first, anyway.
“About time,” Uncle Louie exclaimed as I poured my orange juice. “They’ve finally printed something in the local paper about that new company. Sounds like the mayor’s taking all the credit for getting them here,” he added with a chuckle. “No big surprise, since he’s up for reelection this fall.”
He went on to read part of the article aloud. The description of the research NuAgra would be doing to increase crop production and decrease reliance on pesticides and fertilizers was almost verbatim what I’d been told by the Council Monday night. Taken straight from their press release, I assumed.
When Aunt Theresa glanced my way as he read, I raised my eyebrows and nodded significantly. The alarm I’d already sensed from her increased, but then she turned away to begin slicing a banana with mathematical precision.
I sighed.
“Did you see the article about NuAgra in this morning’s paper?” I asked Molly at the bus stop a little while later. Sean was apparently getting a ride to school with a buddy, as he did more often than not these days.
She shook her head. “We don’t get the local one. What did it say?”
“The exact same story the Council told me they were putting out for public consumption. Uncle Louie thinks it’s great but I doubt everyone in Jewel will feel the same. Especially since they’re not hiring.”
“Mum and dad were talking about that last night. Hope it won’t—” She broke off as the bus rounded the corner and the other two kids from our stop came jogging up.
We clearly weren’t the only ones excited—and a little apprehensive—about so many new people moving to Jewel. It was already the main topic of conversation when we boarded the bus and when my friends Bri and Deb got on a few stops later, they immediately joined the discussion.
“My dad says we’re getting eight new students at school tomorrow,” Bri announced as they slid into the seat across the aisle from Molly and me. “They’re supposed to be registering today.”
“Eight? Really?” Nara’s report had only named seven.
Bri misunderstood my surprise. “I know! Wacky, right? It was a huge deal to get three last year.”
All of whom were also Echtrans, though of course Bri didn’t know that.
“He says the middle school is getting two or three new kids, too,” she said. “How awesome would it be if we got another sports phenom like Rigel or Sean?”
She was obviously joking but that actually wasn’t unlikely at all, since Echtrans tended to be stronger, faster and smarter than the average Earth human.
“Yeah, that would be awesome,” Molly agreed with a grin when I hesitated. “Then it wouldn’t all be on Rigel and Sean to prop up their teams.”
“Not that I’m holding my breath,” Bri said. “I mean, how many more can there be out there like Sean and Rigel?”
Not only had Rigel completely revitalized our football program last fall, Sean had taken our formerly-lame basketball team to State last spring. They were both dramatically better than any other athletes at our little rural school, but were they above average for Martians? I suddenly realized I had no idea.
Rigel met me at my locker. “People were going nuts on my bus about the NuAgra thing this morning,” he murmured as we walked to Pre-Cal.
“Mine, too. It is pretty big news for a town and school this small. That’d be true even if they weren’t, y’know—” Aliens, I finished silently.
He slanted an amused glance down at me. “Tell me you don’t still think of us that way?”
“Duh. Of course I don’t. But if other people knew, what would they think?” Aunt Theresa, for example.
“Good point. We all just need to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
“All is right. I hope these new kids paid attention during that extra training the Council—”
I broke off as Matt Mullins, one of Rigel’s teammates, caught up with us.
“So, didja hear? All those new students are supposed to be starting classes tomorrow.”
We both nodded. “Do you know anything about them?” I was curious how different sections of the gossip mill were spinning things.
“Not really,” Matt said, “but I think I saw one of them in the office when I went past it just now. At least I hope so, because wowza! She was gorgeous. Her mom was pretty easy on the eyes, too.” He waggled his eyebrows.
It was announced during first period that the new students would all be registering today, so between classes that was almost the only thing people talked about. Even the teachers seemed excited when they told us, in both Chemistry and Lit, to expect new classmates the next day.
As the day went on, everyone who managed to catch a glimpse of one of the newcomers registering made a point of reporting back to their friends.
“O. M. G,” I overheard Amber saying to the other cheerleaders at lunch. “I am so glad it was my day to help in the office second period. Four of the new students are guys and every one of them is to die for! I don’t know if I’m going to be able to handle so much gorgeousness in school every day.” She fanned herself vigorously.
The others immediately started peppering her with questions, but I stopped listening when Bri, Deb and Molly joined Rigel and me at our table. All three were speculating excitedly about the newcomers, though I assumed Molly’s curiosity was for a different reason than Bri’s and Deb’s.
Or maybe not. “No kidding, Bri,” she said as they set down their trays. “I saw two of the new guys earlier—I think they might be twins?—and wow. Wish I knew what year they are and what classes they’ll have.”
It occurred to me that Molly hadn’t really been around any Echtran boys except Sean and Rigel since leaving Bailerealta a year ago. No wonder she was looking forward to meeting a few more.
Maybe Sean will connect with one of the new girls, too, Rigel sent, picking up on my thought.
I glanced over to where Sean was sitting with some of his basketball teammates from last year. Yeah, that would be really nice.
If nothing else, it would help me feel a little less guilty over what I’d inadvertently put him through over the past year.