Mind Over Matter, Chapter 2

"Mom! I'm home!" I kick off my shoes and drop my bag infront of the hall closet.

"Put your shoes away and pick up your bag." I roll my eyes but do as I'm told. I don't want my most recent privilege revoked. "Oh, hi Jarrod. Gemma, remember our agreement." I nod and lead Jarrod up to my room. I drop my bag on the floor and kick it for good measure before I remember that the brochure is in there, so I rifle through my bag and plunk down on my bed. Jarrod sits beside me, reading over my shoulder.

"Sounds a little too good to be true to me. I mean, they pay our way there, pay for our living and food, let us leave whenever we want, and pay our way back? And if we stay the required amount of time they pay for tuition fee for whatever school we want? I dunno Jarrod. It sounds fishy."

"Not really. Military does the same thing."

"I guess. So what do you think?"

"Well, I think you should at least try it. It says right there you can leave whenever you want, so if you don't like it, you can just come home." I nod.

"But what will I do without my trusty sidekick?" Jarrod laughs and squeezes my shoulder. "Sorry but I can't stay long. My parents need me to watch the kiddies while they go out."

"That's okay. You'll probably be told to leave soon anyway."

"All right, so then I'll see you tomorrow?" I nod.

"Yep. Where else would I be?" Jarrod laughs as he leaves my room. Now to tell the parents. I haven't the slightest idea as to how I'm going to do that. They don't know about what I can do, and I don't really want to tell them, either. I flip the paper over and Liz's number jumps out at me. I take my phone from my pocket and dial it. Liz finally answers on the 6th ring.

"This is Liz."

"Hi, Liz. It's Gemma Slate."

"Oh, hi!"

"Yeah, um, I'm in."

"That's wonderful."

"Only one problem."

"What's that?"

"My parents don't know anything about this stuff and I am not telling them."

"Don't worry. That will be all taken care of. I have different sets of information for the parents."

"Different, like how?"

"I can't discuss it right now, but I can stop by a little later if you'd like."

"Uh, sure, okay."

"I just have to do a few things and I can be there for about 5. How does that sound?"

"That's fine."

"Okay, great, I'll see you then. Bye now."

"Bye." I hang up and slip my phone back in my pocket.

"Hi Gemmy!" I groan as my kid sister comes running into my room.

"Hi Sophie."

"What's doing?"

"Nothing. Where's mommy?" Sophie shrugs while looking around my room.

"Don't know. Come outside Gemmy! I want you to see something!"

"A surprise?" She bobs her little head.

"Yes! Come!" She grabs my hand and practically pulls me out of my room. I follow her to the backyard where a hole about a foot deep is waiting for me. I look at Sophie and sigh.

"How did you get a shovel?"

"I found it."

"Where?"

"Over there." She points in the general direction of the back shed.

"You know you're not allowed to play with stuff like this. You could hurt yourself. Now help me fill the hole back up, then we'll wash up and get you changed for supper." She pouts but helps me anyway. After she's cleaned up and changed she goes to her room to play while I go down to the kitchen. I should probably tell my mom that Liz is coming over, in half an hour. "Hey mom."

"Hi sweetie. What's up?" I sit on the floor beside the fridge.

"Someone came to see me at school today."

"Oh? Who?"

"Her name is Liz. She's from North Carolina."

"And she came to talk to you? Why?"

"Some program they're working on I guess. They want me to go there."

"Oh, I don't know. That's clear across the country."

"I know. She's coming over to talk to you and dad."

"When?"

"At 5."

"Well, we'll see. I'm not making any promises." I nod. I had expected as much.

"I'm gonna go upstairs." My mom nods, already sidetracked by dinner. I head up to my room and flop down on my bed. I'm surprised to find that I really want to go. What Jarrod said earlier has stuck with me. I won't have to hide anymore. I'll be with people just like me. That can do the things I do. I sigh. All in a perfect world.

Mind Over Matter, Chapter 1

I thunk my head down on my desk and sigh dramatically. No one turns to look. They're all used to my unusual behaviour. I sigh again and sit back up, flipping my hood up over my head. Just as I'm about to put my headphones in Jarrod walks in the room. I watch him as he saunters across the room, finally making his way to his seat, beside me.

"Gemma, my girl. What's up?"

"Nothing interesting." He flips my hood back and I give him a look. I don't like it when people touch me or my belongings.

"There that's better. So what are you doing this weekend?"

"Same thing I've been doing for the past 3 weekends. Nadda. I'm still under parental supervision."

"Come on, seriously? When are they going to free you?" I shrug and rest my chin on my hand.

"No idea. I hope it's soon though. My sister is grating on my last nerve."

"Ich. No kidding."

"I'd sneak out but, you know." Jarrod nods, a serious look on his face.

"Okay people, quiet down. Today we're heading down to the computer lab to work on our independent projects. You're all to go directly there, Cameron and Joseph, and you're all to bring the necessary work, Cameron and Joseph." I hear snickers from my classmates. "Gemma you're wanted in the main office. Everyone, head on down." Jarrod gives me a questioning look as we're leaving the classroom and I just shrug.

"I'll see you later." He nods and we part ways. As I walk into the office the secretary and the janitor are talking in hushed voices, which they stop as soon as I open the door. My curiosity peaked, I walk in. The secretary points in the direction of the principals office, Mr Gardener. I stop at the door and tap lightly on the wall. Mr Gardener isn't alone. There's a woman sitting in one of the two chairs in front of the desk. I've never seen her before.

"Ah, Gemma, come in and sit down." I walk in but I don't sit. "Or, not. Okay, Gemma, this is Dr Liz Wood. She works at a Research Centre in North Carolina." I raise my eyebrows.

"North Carolina? That's not exactly down the street." Liz smiles at me.

"No, it's not, is it? That must mean you're pretty important if I flew all the way to Nevada just to talk to you."

"And why exactly am I so important?"

"Do you know what parapsychology is?" I'm slightly alarmed but keep a bored expression on my face.

"No. What's that?"

"It's the study of psychic abilities in people."

"What, like moving things with your mind?"

"Among other things."

"You think I have some psychic ability?" Liz's smile grows a little.

"Oh, I know you do. In fact, I know exactly what you can do."

"Hit me."

"You're a Telepath. You can communicate with people through their minds." Huh. Liz extends her hand. There's a brochure type thing in it. "We're conducting studies on people with talents such as yours and we'd love to have you join us." I take the brochure but don't look at it.

"And if I say no?"

"Then you say no. It's completely voluntary. No one is going to make you do anything." I get the impression that she's not telling me the 100% truth.

"And if I say yes, what exactly does that mean? Do I get out of school?" Mr Gardener makes a strange sound in his throat.

"It's all there in the information I gave you. If you have any questions, please call me on my cell." Liz gets up and leaves the office and I'm left with Mr Gardener.

"Well, off you go back to class, Gemma." I exit the office and walk down the halls. I'd sign myself out but that would just prolong my grounding, so I stick the paper in my bag and join my class in the computer lab. I sink into a seat beside Jarrod and nudge him with my foot. I tap my temple, telling him I'm going to talk to him with my mind. He closes his eyes for a few seconds before nodding. I think of the "magic word" and I'm in his head.

I'm in.

What happened?

This woman from some research lab in North Carolina came to talk to me about my telepathic ability.

What?

Yep. I guess they're doing studies on people like me. People with psychic abilities.

What did she say?

I accidentally shrug.

Nothing really. She gave me some info and told me to call her.

Are you gonna go?

I don't know. I guess I'll have to read the stuff she gave me.

Well I think you should go.

Why?

You'd be around people like you. You wouldn't have to hide what you are anymore.

I guess so. I don't know. I'll think about it.

"Gemma, Jarrod, are you two working or do I have to separate you?"

"We're working." I open up notepad and an internet explorer window to make it look like I'm doing something.

Oh I forgot to tell you some good news. I'm allowed people at the house after school, but only for a couple hours.

Great. I'll swing by after school then.

"Gemma," I jump when Mrs Laken speaks directly behind me. "Let's see what you've got so far." I nudge Jarrod with my foot again, telling him that I'm breaking contact. I withdraw myself from him and give my full attention to my teacher for the rest of the class.