Catalyst (12 page)

Day three of having Mitis as a companion was going to be awkward and confusing. I let the warm water soak deep into my skin before finally washing my hair and body and forcing myself from the shower.

I dried my hair and pulled it up in a high pony tail, before pulling on a pair of dark jeans, a teal long-sleeved shirt, and my red tennis shoes. It was time to go. When I went back into my room, the list was gone.

My list was not on the nightstand. It was there last night. I looked in the drawers and under the edge of the bed. It wasn’t there.

Pursing my lips into a thin line, I set out to find Mitis.

The search didn’t last long. He was seated at the breakfast nook in the kitchen, munching on some toast. I smiled, staring at the chunks of golden butter, still not fully melted, that slowly soaked into his meal. He eyeballed me, which made me cross my arms over my chest. That movement drew his eyes from mine down to my chest, which made me clear my throat. That noise made him smile. He kept chewing his food, mouth closed but lips upturned, which made me growl in frustration. “Where is it?”

“What?” he said with a mouth full of bread.

“The list. Where is it?”

“Why do you want it?” Mitis reached for a glass of orange juice.

“It’s mine.”

He swallowed the sweet juice, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down with each gulp. “I’m your companion. I’ll hold it for you.”

“Not necessary.”

At that time, Sonnet decided to grace us with her presence. “What’s not necessary?”

Mitis and I glanced at one another, his eyes daring me to tell her, mine begging him not to say a single word.

“Nothing,” we replied together.

She huffed and went about preparing her breakfast, which consisted of peeling a ripe, red apple. Mitis slid from the bench and washed his plate. He dried it and put it away before walking out of the room.

Sonnet watched us carefully. “Trouble in paradise?”

“There’s no trouble, Sonnet. And this is hardly paradise.”

She smiled. “Don’t I know it.”

I hated her. “See you at the bonfire this evening!” I wiggled my fingers at her before exiting the room myself. The look of aggravation I’d put on her face was worth the accidental interaction with her this morning.

Mitis was lacing his boots by the front door. “Going somewhere?” I asked.

“Yep.”

I huffed. “Me, too.” Trying to move around him, he moved his body to block mine. “Move, Mitis!”

“I am,” he replied with a chuckle.

I tried to go the other way, but he moved to block my path again.

“Calm down, Seven. We’re going together so get over it.”

He straightened up to his full height and extended his hand. Mine found his and let his fingers wrap around it, squeezing it gently.

“Let’s go.”

“Fine,” I relented. “Let’s go.”

I closed the door behind us and stopped abruptly when I turned around and saw what was waiting on the front lawn. Two bicycles: one red, one blue.

Mitis approached the red one and motioned toward it, bowing regally, “My lady, your chariot awaits.”

I giggled. “Very cool chariots, Mitis. Thank you.”

We each climbed onto a bicycle. Pushing the pedals forward, I began to teeter and balance myself without planting my face into the concrete. It had been years since I’d been on a bike, but you know what they say, you never forget. And I hadn’t. And it was so much fun!

We pedaled down the sidewalks, through the Elite section and across toward City Center. The buildings seemed to grow with each passing block until we were in the thick of it and the towering structures blocked out the light of the sun’s early light.

Dodging pedestrians and other bicycles, we maneuvered through the maze of concrete marveling at the sight of it all—until I saw it. My father’s building. The Anderson Center loomed darker and more ornate than the others. It was the tallest and by far the grandest of all those we’d seen. There couldn’t be more than a dozen, but this was ridiculous. How had he been able to do this? Have a building named after him? Sure he was an Elect, but at what cost?

Things like this cost much more than money. Souls were at risk in such transactions. And it looked as though my father, my parents, had sold theirs.

Mitis had moved to stand beside me, his blue next to my red. “You okay?”

“Yeah. I just…I’ve never seen this before.”

“You haven’t? Ever?” Mitis didn’t believe me. His tone gave that much away. I shook my head, still gaping at it.

“I promise you, Mitis. I’ve never seen this building.”

Swallowing my fear, I ticked my head for Mitis to follow me. “Let’s go explore some more.”

“Sure.”

We pedaled away, never escaping the shadow cast by my father’s wealth.

I wanted to put as much space between that building and myself before more of a wedge was forced between me and Mitis. He was already intimidated by our home. I couldn’t imagine how he felt now that he’d seen where my father worked, and my parents lived. Their condo must be located at the top of that very skyscraper.

We rode until I could barely push the bicycle forward anymore. There was a small park ahead, in an area of town near the Elite section, but still not across the invisible line that marked it. “Want to take a break?”

“Yes, please.”

I climbed off the bike with quivering legs and leaned it against the trunk of a tree. Mitis leaned his beside mine and looked around. There was a food vendor across a long, grassy square. “Would you like to try some fruit?”

I sighed. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to eat. I just didn’t want to ruin the day any more than it had already been ruined. Awkwardness had formed a bubble around the pair of us—only barely visible, but still present.

The sun was directly overhead. Midday. Toeing off my shoes, I let the blades of cut grass tickle the soles of my feet. Mitis just watched me; his lips turned up in a slight smile. “What? I’m going to enjoy this. And I’m going to enjoy it barefooted.”

“Watch out for dog poo,” was all he advised as he sauntered away toward the small tent, leaving me slack-jawed. As I tried to catch up with him, I kept my eyes trained on the grass, avoiding any suspicious piles of grass or questionable things.

He chuckled at me. “I was only kidding, but if you want, you can hop on.” He patted his back over his shoulder.

“Hop on what?”

“My back. I’ll give you a piggyback ride.”

“You’ll what?” I laughed nervously.

He sighed. “You need to add this to your list. Trust me, it’s fun. Just put your arms around my neck.”

I didn’t move my feet. I didn’t want to touch him again, for fear that I wouldn’t want to stop. “Seven, put your arms around my neck. Now.”

Stepping up behind him, I put my arms around his neck.

“Hold on tight, and jump up onto my back, throwing your legs around my waist.”

“No way,” I said, trying to let go of his neck.

“I warned you not to let go.”

All at once, Mitis grabbed the backs of my thighs and lifted my legs around his waist. I couldn’t help but hold on, locking my arms tight around him and squealing as he ran through the grass.

“Ease up. Can’t. Breathe!”

“Oh! Sorry! Sorry.” I loosened my death grip on his neck, and he looked up at me and smiled. It was like the sunrise. Different, but spectacular every time he let his guard down. He took off running again at a sprint, and I just held on and laughed until my belly hurt.

The food vendor’s tent was simple, white, and its canvas cover rippled when the wind hit it, the awnings flapped and fluttered. A young man was bent over, emptying a crate of apples into a basket when Mitis set me down. I was still giggling, and that sound must have drawn his attention away from his task.

“Seven Anderson?”

“Michael Dillon?”

He smiled just as I had remembered. We had been friends in school. Michael was one year ahead of me, but we shared an English class before I had to stop attending. Sonnet had also been in that class and had done everything possible to keep his attention on her.

Michael was blond, like her and she had said that the two would make beautiful blond babies together. Unlike Sonnet, he was laid back and kind. I don’t recall a cross word ever passing his lips. He was friends with everyone equally and everyone enjoyed his company.

“How’ve you been? I haven’t seen you in a couple of years.”

“I’m well,” I lied.

Michael’s eyes slid over me appreciatively, not in a creepy way, but just in acknowledgment. “You look well.”

Mitis’s hand found my hip.

Michael also looked Mitis over. “Hey man,” he said, extending his hand to my companion, whom I had to nudge and beg with my eyes to behave.

Mitis shook his hand briefly and nodded.

“I heard your family got a companion. Is this him?”

“It is. This is Mitis.” I smiled.

Michael returned the expression and asked what we would like. Mitis asked for a sandwich since ham was available, and two peaches.

“Do you have any drinks, Michael?”

“I have water, sweet tea and lemonade today.”

“I’ll have a lemonade. Mitis?”

“We’ll share,” he smiled. Mister-mark-his-territory was back.

Michael chuckled, poured a plastic cup of lemonade and handed it to Mitis along with a bag of food.

We turned to leave, and I was concentrating on the grass again before I turned back to Michael.

“Are you going to the bonfire tonight?”

Michael laughed. “At the lake? Nah. But if you want to go to a real party, hit the old warehouse at 84th and Second. From the outside, it looks abandoned, but if you go down the alley, you’ll find an entrance. It’s not fancy, but it’s fun.” He glanced at Mitis, then winked at me and turned back to his chore.

“Hop on.”

“No, you’re carrying stuff.”

He grinned and shoved the drink and bag at me. “You’re carrying stuff. I’m carrying you.” With a grumble and a giggle, I took the items from him, wrapped my arms around his neck and let him carry me over the grass. He took his time and not a drop of lemonade was spilled. We stopped next to our bicycles, chariots, and I sorted the food.

Mitis pulled the list from his pocket and handed me the pen. I looked at him questioningly but unfolded the paper.

“Number fifteen,” he said, pulling our food from the bag. He didn’t even need to read the list. He had memorized it. With the pen, I scratched through number fifteen. Belly laugh.

1.    
   Go swimming.
   
2.    
   Sleep under the stars
   
3.    
   Go to a party
   
4.   
   Dance with a guy
   
5.    
   …in the rain
   
6.    
   Make a mess
   
7.    
   Have my first kiss
   
8.   
   Drive a car
   
9.    
   ….really fast.
   
10. Walk the perimeter of the wall
    
11.  
    Go to the market
    
12. Drink alcohol
    
13. Get a tattoo
    
14. Blend in
    
15. Belly laugh
    
16. Hold someone’s hand
    
17. Give a random person a hug
    
18. Help Mitis
    
19. …and his friend.
    

20. Leave the city.

Mitis took the pen from my hand and the list from my leg and scribbled. Then he marked it out.

21. Take a piggyback ride from a really hot guy.

I couldn’t help but laugh. We ate with smiles, glances and grins beneath the tree. I even took a nap lying on the soft grass, my head in Mitis’s lap. I dreamt that he combed his fingers through my hair. When I awoke, and the sun had moved farther into the western sky, Mitis stood and offered me his hand. “Let’s go get you ready for your first party.” I accepted, stood, and dusted my pants off.

We climbed onto our bicycles and pedaled toward home. “Where’d you get these?” I asked.

He smiled. “From your basement.” That meant that they were ours. I had no idea we even had them. I wondered what else was in the basement and whether Mitis had found any skeletons in the closets.

When we wheeled up the drive to the house, I could see all the lights were off. Sonnet was gone, which was a very good thing. “Go get ready and do your girly stuff. I’ll put these up and be right behind you.”

I giggled but let him take the bike from me, and then headed up to do my “girly stuff.” That ritual consisted only of me applying a little bit of eye shadow and a dusting of powder over my face, before swiping a deep plum color over my lips. I changed into some tights, a short, denim skirt that I borrowed from Sonnet’s closet, pairing them with a tank top and dark purple, V-neck sweater. Some low on the ankle, grape-colored tennis shoes made everything better.