Balloon City, Chapter Two

Balloon City

Chapter 2

   Meggie liked driving at night. There was something so peaceful about gliding through the darkness, seeing lights from the buildings. Tonight, Meggie just felt nervous. It had been strange when she'd found the note in her locker. 

    You are invited for a special tryout, tonight at 8:00 pm. Go to the auditorium. Someone will direct you from there.

   Luckily, Clarissa had gone out again, this time with some guy named Jim. Meggie had considered not going to the tryout, but then realized that she'd be driven mad, wondering what would've happened if she had, and in the end had finally decided that there could be nothing wrong with it. The only question was, what was this “special tryout” for? 

   Meggie guided her Corolla into the high school parking lot, and parked it. As she slipped out into the night, she realized it was rather chilly out. She wondered if there was time to go back home, and get a jacket, but when she checked her phone, there wasn't. With a shrug, she walked quickly over to the entrance, and made her way through the dimly lit hallways to the auditorium. 

   Empty.

   No, wait... Meggie spotted someone. As she walked quickly over to the person, she saw that it was a boy; no older then herself, and rather small in stature. Only slightly taller then her. He was watching her, she noticed. 

   “ Hi. I'm Meggie Earlson?” Meggie said, rather shyly, and wishing that her voice wouldn't sound so squeaky. The boy didn't look the least bit familiar, and she wondered if he was also waiting for the special tryout.

   “ The name's Minato. Come on.” the boy turned and walked off briskly into the shadows. 

   Meggie followed him quickly. He led her straight to a door which had a glowing EXIT sign in red letters above it. Minato barged right through. Meggie hesitated for a moment.

   “ Um, this is the exit?”

   Minato didn't even stop, just kept walking. 

   Meggie shrugged and ran after him. The hallway was bright with light compared to the auditorium, and she found her eyes watering at the sudden light. Minato had already reached the end of the hall, and was standing at the door waiting. Meggie realized that he looked Asian, with his thick, black hair, and dark, almond-shaped eyes, and now that she could actually see his face, knew that she definitely had never seen him before. He held the door open for her, and she slipped through with a quick thanks. 

   And then she was suddenly in darkness. The door shut behind her, and she heard only the soft shuffle of Minato's feet on the floor behind her. There was some more shuffling and loud bang, followed by a grunt of annoyance, and then a click, and the bright light of a flashlight shone full into Meggie's face.  She squeezed her eyes shut and winced. Minato quickly lowered the flashlight, apologetically, and then began weaving his way around what Meggie now saw was a room, crowded with boxes. She followed after again, watching him carefully, and not letting herself lose sight of the light. And then there was another door.

   Minato slipped inside and killed his light, and then looked at Meggie. The room which she stepped into, reminded her of an aquarium, with its dim lighting, and tanks of strange creatures against the walls. 

   “ What is this place?” Meggie asked softly. 

   Minato gave a funny, half-smile. The first indication that he had a sense of humor. 

   Meggie looked at him. “ I'm here for a special tryout.”

   Minato just nodded. 

   Meggie groaned. “ Could you use words, maybe?”

   A blank stare.

   Meggie didn't say anything, and Minato started off again, walking around a large tank of jellyfish, to another part of the room. Meggie followed. Towards the middle of the room, was a large table, covered in diagrams and drafting tools. A man was standing next to it, his bushy, dark eyebrows furrowed in thought. He looked up at the sound of their coming footsteps, and gave Meggie a small smile. He was young – not more than thirty – and had a muscular build, though not stocky. 

   He held out his hand for her to shake. “ Professor Louis Des roches.”

   “ Meggie Earlson.” Meggie said, shaking his hand. She felt dreadfully confused. What kind of tryout was this? 

   Professor Des roches stepped back and nodded at Minato. “ You've met Minato, of course.”

   Meggie nodded. 

   The professor looked thoughtful. “ Well, you see Miss Earlson, we have called you here, because we think that you could be of some use.”

   Meggie felt sick. “ Use? Just what kind of use?”

   Professor Des roches turned back to the table, and picked up a sheet of paper. I believe these are your scores, am I right?” he held the page out to her.

   Meggie took it. It was all of her tests scores from the last year. “ Where did you get this?”

   “ Me and my assistant, Minato, here have been working on a top secret project, which is being funded by the San Francisco government. Stuart Hall High offered us this lab in a closed off part of the school, where we could work secretly without any students interrupting. In addition I am alerted if a particular student is doing notably well, and could be useful in the project. As I happen to know certain things about, which I'm not entirely sure that you know yourself, I've decided that you would do well here.”

   Meggie was stunned. What could he possibly know about her, that she didn't know?

   “ You're surprised, I know.” Professor Des roches said, noticing her stunned expression. “ I've seen that you are exceptional at math and physics. For now, let me just say, welcome to the lab.” 

Balloon City, Chapter One

Balloon City
Chapter 1


   September was a wonderful month, sixteen-year-old Meggie Earlson reflected dreamily as she drove  to Stuart Hall High School, Monday morning. The sun was shining beautifully, making even the most dreariest parts of San Francisco seem to sparkle. A scattering of leaves, carpeted the streets and sidewalks, and the feeling of fall filled the air. Meggie had felt so awesome that bright, sunny, September morning that she'd even worn a sun dress and sandals.
   Meggie guided her shiny, white Toyota Corolla into the high school parking lot and parked it neatly between a blue pickup truck, and a snazzy, silver sports car. She grabbed her favorite, denim bag, and popped out of the car, taking a delightful breath of fresh, morning air. Then she sighed, and brushed the wrinkles out of her sun dress. It was a new one – pale yellow, with white daisies scattered all over it. Tucking a loose strand of her light brown hair behind her ear, Meggie hurried off to the school's main entrance.
   The hallways were crowded with students – not unusual for a school morning – and Meggie had to dodge and jostle and shove her way over to her locker. Gripping a worn notebook, she turned to access her predicament. She hated shoving her way through a crowd, and as her class wasn't for another few minutes, she didn't feel the need to hurry off. She spotted Chloe Martinez, who's perfect, glossy, black curls, and large, dark eyes made her the most attractive girl in the school. And she knew it. By Chloe's side, stood the new boy – Aramis Rock. Aramis had moved to San Francisco that summer, and pretty much every girl in Stuart Hall High that Meggie had talked to was crazy about him. However, Meggie had to admit – Chloe and Aramis looked like they were made for each other. Like Chloe, Aramis had thick, black hair, and awesome, dark eyes, set off nicely by his tan complexion. Apparently, (if the gossip was to be believed) they had met shortly after Aramis moved to San Francisco, and had been dating since. Meggie stood for a moment, watching with warm fuzzies, and possibly a hint of jealousy (although she couldn't be certain about that), until she realized that the crowd around her was moving now, and most of the students were hurrying off to their classes. Meggie went with them.


                                                                            *


   Meggie opened her locker and pulled out her panda-shaped bento box, and her thermos. The cafeteria, as she walked into it, was crowded as ever at lunch time, but she spotted an empty table over in a far corner of the room, and quickly made her way over there. She had just pulled her cheese sandwich out of her bento box, about to take a large bite, when Amanda showed up.
   Amanda had the fine surname of Kessler, though a good three-quarters of the Stuart Hall High population believed it to be Blabberton or Noseworthy. It was plain that Amanda was nosy. If anyone had a secret, they could bet on it being announced throughout the school as soon as Amanda got a whiff. Even if it was something particularly embarrassing, the whole school was sure to know, in no time. Nobody liked Amanda Kessler. Beyond her nosiness, she was rather stout, and always wore a pair of ugly, pale pink, bedroom slippers – the kind that flaps at the heel – that could be heard coming three halls away, because of their annoying, distinctive flip-flopping sound. It didn't help that she walked with a heavy step.
   “ Hey there, Meggie!”
   Meggie cringed and looked up reluctantly from her sandwich into the broad, grinning face, which leaned uncomfortably close to Meggie's. She could smell the scent of peppermint on Amanda's breath.
   “ Hello Amanda.”
   “ Mind if I sit here with you?”
   The words that Meggie had been dreading. “ Yes, I do! Go find a different table!” she wanted to say, but stopped herself in time. There was no saying what story Amanda would concoct about her if she said such a thing. Her mind raced, thinking up a good excuse to say no. She couldn't think of one. “ Go ahead.” she said to Amanda, rather grudgingly.
   “ Gee thanks a lot!” Amanda exclaimed, plopping down into the chair opposite Meggie, with a loud whump sound. “ You know, Meggie, I think you're probably one of the nicest people I've ever met!” Amanda opened her lunch box (which looked more like a suitcase to Meggie) and pulled out some things which were apparently her lunch.
   Great, Meggie thought as she hunkered down in her chair, nibbling at her sandwich miserably. If Amanda thinks I'm nice then -
   “ But I gotta say, Megs, you're pretty darn good at keeping your secrets to yourself! I've know you for over two years now, and I still know barely anything about you!” Amanda torn open a bag of potato chips and crammed a pawful into her mouth, giving a loud laugh at the same time.
   Meggie took a glug of milk from her thermos, thinking mournfully about what Aramis Rock would say if he saw her sitting with Amanda Kessler. He'd probably shake his head and think sadly about how many silly, gossipy giggle-puts there were. Lumping, of course, Meggie into that mix.
   “ And I know you've got some,” Amanda continued, in her annoying, rambling way.
   “ Some what?” Meggie asked dumbly, jolted out of her thoughts by Amanda's loud, obnoxious voice.
   “ Secrets!” Amanda said with another laugh which vibrated in Meggie's bones.
   “ Oh.”
   Amanda rambled on and on, telling Meggie all the latest gossip (as if Meggie wanted to know!), while Meggie sat and listened in silent suffering. Meggie learned that Elias Goodyear had an in-grown toenail, and that Selena Renell had gotten her hair done at Marguerite's Fine Hair Salon, and that Aramis Rock had given Amanda and her informants a tough time figuring out information about him. Amanda had tried to stalk him on Facebook but Aramis had blocked her. Meggie was disgusted that Amanda had such nerve as to try to find out all of Aramis' secrets.
   “ So, Meggie, what have you been up to lately?”
   Meggie opened her mouth to answer and then realizing, snapped it shut again. She wasn't going to fall for such tricks. “ Nothing much.”
   Amanda looked greatly disappointed.
   Meggie didn't care.


                                                                         *


   It was raining as Meggie drove home. The rain poured down in sheets enveloping her little Corolla in a blur. She hurried to get home, and burst inside, almost tripping on her sandals. The house was dark, and Meggie hurried around, snapping on lights, and then after changing into dry clothing, poked her nose into the refrigerator. She was hungry. After digging around a bit in some of the cupboards, Meggie discovered an old granola bar, and skipped lightly back to her room with it, ready to lose herself in a book. She knew that she really aught to do homework, but she just didn't feel like doing it right then. Swiping a book off of her bookshelf, she plopped down in her cozy, zebra-striped chair and buried herself inside it.
   It was almost two hours later, when Meggie heard the door open and her mother's voice filtered into the room.
   "Meggie! Meggie? I'm home, sweetie!"
   Meggie sighed and put down her book. Her mother came over to the door.
   " Hey honey. I'm going out with Jeff Lacey again, so you're on your own for the evening." Clarissa Earlson walked away into her own room, still talking. "You can do that, right?"
   Meggie rolled her eyes. Mom and her boyfriends. It wasn't like Meggie was child! " Jeff Lacey, Mom? Who's that?"
   Clarissa gave a funny chuckle as she came to back to stand in front of Meggie's door. " My new boy-friend! I thought I'd told you about him."
   Meggie didn't say anything, and Clarissa walked back to her bedroom. A few minutes later she came back, wearing a dress made out of some kind of shiny, blue material.
   " Well, sweetie, I have to run now. See you tonight!" She gave Meggie a quick hug, and then hurried off, leaving Meggie surrounded by the scent of petunias.