Friday, March 11, 2044

McDermitt, Nevada

       “Mr. Arlenton, stay a moment.” Mr. Henderson called from the front of the classroom as the bell rang and the other students started packing up. Kaelin flipped his textbook shut and grabbed his notebook, shoving his pen through the spiral binding.

       He stepped up to the desk. Mr. Henderson waited until the other students had filtered out before speaking.

“Rough morning?”

       Kaelin shrugged. It wasn’t any rougher than the others.

       Mr. Henderson waited, but Kaelin added nothing and the man sighed. “You did pretty well with the linear functions, but you might want to spend some more time on the polynomials. I think you misunderstood a step in solving them.”

       Kaelin grimaced, watching him point the mistake out on one of the homework sheets.

       “This homework will keep your grade where it is. If you want to resubmit it with the corrections, we can push it up to an A-.” Mr. Henderson passed the papers over. Kaelin flipped through. It wouldn’t be hard to make the corrections.

       “When do you need it by?” Kaelin asked.

       “If you can get it to me Monday when you turn in next week’s homework, I can get it in the books. Oh, and I almost forgot,” Mr. Henderson tugged open his desk drawer and pulled out a small bottle. “Try this on your locker.”

       It was nail polish remover. He didn’t ask why Mr. Henderson had it. He just took it and muttered “Thanks.”

       Mr. Henderson nodded and started picking up his belongings, stacking files and notebooks into his battered leather briefcase, flipping the brass closures up. Kaelin slid into the hallway, weaving his way through the crush of students. He kept close to the wall when he could, tucking his arms against his chest to make himself a smaller target. It did little to stop the pointed elbows from digging into his sides. Pushing through the final wave, he made it to his dinged, rusted locker.

       It had been covered, again, in snipped up pieces of dirty magazines, his face glued overtop those of the naked men. In glitter, someone had painted the words Fag and Homo. It happened every week.

       Kaelin ripped off the pictures, letting the paper fall like vulgar confetti around his shoes. The glitter glue normally stuck for days, until it softened enough for him to chip away. But with a liberal dousing of the nail polish remover, today it brushed off. Only a random spray of glitter remained, the words illegible.

       He tugged open his locker. It was empty, until he added the thick, heavily abused pre-calculus book, the only textbook he had. He’d stolen the money for it from a snobby woman at the park. She’d left her purse just sitting there, teasing his itchy fingers.

       Before he closed the locker, rough hands shoved him forward and his forehead smacked into the metal, sending the door colliding into the locker beside it. The loud crash echoed down the hall, drowning out Kaelin’s curse. His head throbbed, a thin stream of red spilling into his eye.

       A second pair of hands knocked his notebook to the ground. He didn’t need to look to know who it was. Garret was the oldest son of Kaelin’s foster mom. They weren’t related, which was for the best. He didn’t think he could handle having a brother with that much stupid in him.

       “Aw, what’s the matter, pretty boy? Someone decorate your locker for you?” Garret said, sneering. Kaelin knew if he looked he’d see glitter crusted along Garret’s fingernails.

       Kaelin just knelt to grab his notebook, shifting enough away that the kick he knew was coming only glanced along his chest.

       “Ouch. That hurt. So much.” Dumbass, he added silently, standing before they could try again. He dropped the notebook into the locker and slammed it shut.

       “Why don’t you just go live with the leeches, fucking mattress muncher.” Garret snarled. Kaelin would happily go live in Sidrea, with the vampires, if it meant leaving here.

       Kaelin shoved by them. He passed his classroom and slipped into the bathroom. Wadding up a handful of paper towels, he pressed them into the throbbing cut. It wasn’t deep. Wouldn’t even scar. Kaelin turned away when his eyes caught his reflection.

       He didn’t need to see it. He knew what he looked like. Hair that fell too long for a boy, not quite blonde and not quite brown, eyes that sat somewhere between amber and mud, a mouth that looked too much like a girl’s. He wasn’t tough enough to be intimidating, and didn’t have the right sort of androgynous look for a gay boy.

       He was pressing the last paper towel against the still oozing cut when the bathroom door opened. He froze, but it was just Garret and his cronies, again.

Kaelin forced a cocky smile and leaned against the sink.        “Aw, it takes three of you to find your dick to piss, Garret? One to hold it for you, one to shake it?”

       Garret scowled, face twisting with disgust. “I ain’t no fag.”

       “No, you’re too ugly.” Kaelin turned away to wash his hands. He wished they just get it over with.

       Garret’s friends stepped forward to grab his arms. Even with Kaelin holding back, it took all three of the boys to get his head submerged in the toilet. Mrs. Wringle’s words circled in his head with each kick he doled out. Stay out of trouble, boy. No fighting this time. One more slip-up, and you’re done.

       Kaelin gagged as water flooded his mouth and nose. He thrashed in the bowl, vision darkening before they finally yanked him out, wet hair dripping down his face and onto his shirt. His head slammed into the rim of the toilet and he cried out, ears ringing.

       Garret dropped him onto his back, sneering down. Kaelin kept his fists at his side. Forced himself not to break the boy’s bones one by one.

       Garret tugged a wad of something from his pocket, shoving them into Kaelin’s mouth. The taste of rubber coated his tongue as he gagged again. He spat into his hands, a handful of colored condoms coating his palm. He flung them away.

       “Just a few gifts for you.” Garret and his friends snickered, leaving as the tardy bell sounded.

Kaelin let his head fall back to the tiles, the cut on his head throbbing. But he jerked to his feet, hands slamming the stall door shut, when he heard the bathroom door open again. His hands were shaking as he pushed the lever to keep it closed.

       Please don’t be…

       “Kaelin…” Daniel’s voice was pitched soft but mocking. Kaelin wiped his clammy hands on his jeans and held his breath, hoping maybe, for once, Daniel would overlook him. A second later, Kaelin flinched as loud banging clattered the stall door on its hinges.

       “Come on, Kaelin, I know you’re in there.” Daniel said. “Better open up. Unless you want me coming over tonight instead…”

       Kaelin reached out and slid the lock, letting the stall door swing open.

*           *           *

       Kaelin missed two classes. But he couldn’t miss fourth period. He sank into a desk near the door, slouching down to avoid the eyes. Mrs. Riley applied a new layer of lip gloss to her already moist lips and grabbed a stack of papers off her desk, throwing one in front of each student. Kaelin flipped through his to scan the exam questions. It didn’t take him long to bubble in the answers and write out one of the essays on the back of the test. He was the first one finished, as always.

       He stood up and carried his exam up to Mrs. Riley’s desk, sidestepping the outstretched foot waiting to trip him.

       Kaelin passed it over to the teacher, who gave it a bored skim before throwing it onto the other side of the desk.

       “Can I go to the library?”

       She rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”

       A few seconds later, he heard chairs grating behind him as another student stood up. He made his way the few halls over to tug on the library doors but they were locked. He sighed, shifting his weight.

       Three more hours until school would be over. Lunch, then study period and gym. He had his homework for the week finished already, and he skipped gym whenever he could get away with it. His eyes scanned the empty hallway.

       There was no point in staying. He’d given the last of the money he’d pinched from the corner store to Kiana for her lunch, so he wasn’t going to eat anyway. If he started walking now, he could make it to the elementary school just a bit earlier than he’d planned. It might be cold but he’d be alone.

       He had his hand on the door handle when the Principal Simmons snapped from behind him,  “Kaelin Arlenton, where do you think you’re going?”

       Kaelin’s lips twisted down. “I don’t feel well?” It came out too much a question.

       “I was looking for you. There’s someone here to talk to you.” Kaelin glanced at the Principal, shying away before he could stop himself. The man looked too much like his son. Too much like Daniel.

       “Is it Mrs. Wringle?” Kaelin asked. His caseworker was the only person he could think of who would come to his school. It certainly wouldn’t be his foster mother. Mrs. Fowler spent all the time she wasn’t at work either asleep or using.

       “Mrs. Wringle and some friends.” Principal Simmons shifted impatiently. “Come on, boy. They don’t want to be kept waiting.”

        He hadn’t gotten in trouble lately, hadn’t stolen anything since the purse two months ago. Hadn’t gotten arrested. But there must be something he’d forgotten. Maybe Mrs. Fowler had complained. Mrs. Wringle only showed up if he was in trouble. He followed the Principal towards an unused classroom.

       Mrs. Wringle was sitting at a desk near the window. Her legs were tucked primly beneath the desk, her slate-grey hair pulled into a tight bun. Her lips were pursed in what was meant to be a smile. Kaelin turned away, glancing at the pair of strangers. A dark-haired man in his late twenties sat at a desk near the front, frowning at the cracked whiteboard. A stern man, hair just as dark but eyes green, stood behind him.

       Kaelin wavered in the doorway, taking in their expensive suits, the shiny shoes, the watch that probably cost more than most people’s cars. The sitting man glanced up. He stood and approached with a friendly smile, hand outstretched.

       Kaelin eyed it. He didn’t want his grungy hands anywhere near the gold cufflinks, the cashmere shirt.

The man withdrew his offer. “Sorry, I thought most humans…well, never mind, anyway. You must be Kaelin?”

       “Yes sir.”

       “I’m Principal Landler. I’m in charge of Rimidalv’s Academy.”

       “I’ve never heard of it.” Kaelin glanced at Mrs. Wringle. Was it some school for delinquents? Was he being sent away again? His heartrate sped up. He couldn’t be sent away.

       “You wouldn’t have, it’s across the border.”

Kaelin flinched. He had to mean the Nevada-Sidrea border, it was the closest one. But that meant Principal Landler wasn’t a human. He was a vampire. It was almost funny. Kaelin had always assumed if he met one of them, he’d know it. There’d be fangs, or…or glowing eyes, or whatever. Principal Landler looked normal.

       “Now, no need to be frightened, I don’t bite…. usually.” Principal Landler smiled at his joke and Kaelin tried to smile back. It was more of a wince, but whatever. It was close enough.

       “I haven’t crossed the border in over a year, sir. They made it quite clear that I shouldn’t return and I haven’t.” Kaelin’s voice audibly wavered. He’d been lucky that the border guards had been preoccupied with something. He’d only climbed the wall to get Kiana’s teddy bear from where Garret and his friends had chucked it over. He hadn’t thought about how he was getting back across until it was too late. Unlike the human side, which had trees butted right up it, the vampires maintained the fifteen-foot clear vision area between the wall and literally anything that could have helped him cross back over. Of course, it wasn’t the vampires who were worried about people slipping over, it was the humans.

       “Don’t worry, son. We’re not interested in silly pranks, it’s all forgotten. We’re actually here to talk to you about an experiment we’re working on.”

       “I don’t believe in human research, so I’m sure I wouldn’t be interested.”

       “Kaelin!” Mrs. Wringle hissed a reprimand. “These men came a long way to talk to you and you will listen!”

       Kaelin flushed and pushed his hands into his pockets.

       Principal Landler just smiled. “Don’t worry, Mrs. Wringle, I’m not offended. One of my favorite students plays with sarcasm often as well.” The man looked back at Kaelin. “It’s normal to resort to sarcasm when you’re afraid.”

       “I’m not afraid.” Kaelin argued. It was a lie. He was always afraid. But it wasn’t Principal Landler that he was afraid of.

       The principal smiled. “Have you heard anything about negotiations between the vampires and the humans?”

       “For dinner rights?” Kaelin mocked. “No, I try to stay away from the tabloids.”

       “I don’t know, some of the tabloids are good to read if you like a laugh.” Principal Landler mused. “But I meant the attempts to show peace between our two species.”

       “No.” Kaelin said. “I haven’t heard anything.” He couldn’t afford to waste money on newspapers and it wasn’t like Mrs. Fowler had a TV.

       “We are looking for a human student to transfer across the border to Rimidalv’s Academy to finish out the school year.” Principal Landler explained.

       “And you want to know who’s an asshole so you don’t pick them?” Kaelin suggested.

       “An asshole would fit right in with some of our students. We want you to come. Even though you aren’t one of the assholes.” Principal Landler answered.

       “I think you picked the wrong person.” Kaelin frowned.

       “I don’t think we have. We’ve gone over your records. We think you’d be perfect for the position.”

       Kaelin glanced at Mrs. Wringle. “Did you get me mixed up with one of your other cases?” If the vampires had seen his records, there was no way in hell they’d still want him.

       Mrs. Wringle smiled. “Of course not, Kaelin. But you have to admit, you’ve been doing much better since you came here. I’ve seen real improvement from you.”

       Not by choice. She’d told him if he got in any trouble, at all, he’d go to the Juvenile Detention Facility…essentially, a prison for wayward kids. And he wouldn’t have cared, if it wasn’t for meeting his foster sister, Kiana. But he knew if he left, she’d be alone. Sick as she was…he doubted she’d make it. He couldn’t risk getting in trouble anymore.

       “We see your potential and we’d like to give you the opportunity to reach it.” Principal Landler added.

       “There are other kids here who don’t have records.” Kaelin muttered. “Why me?”

       “Why not you?” Principal Landler rebutted.

       “My file’s an inch thick.” Kaelin answered. “I don’t get good grades.” A million other reasons he could list if he wanted to.

       “We have students at our school who have thicker files than you and worse grades. I don’t think your file defines who you are. You have no real ties to this school. Being in the foster system means you’re used to being shifted around. I don’t think it will disturb you to switch mid-schoolyear, like it would for some.” Principal Landler answered. Kaelin wondered if this was some kind of school for delinquent vampires.

       Before he could follow that thought, though, the mention of the foster system made everything else click.

“You want someone who nobody would miss if there was an accident.” Kaelin clarified bluntly. “Someone disposable.”

       “Kaelin! That’s not what he said. You should be more polite—” Mrs. Wringle scolded.

       “That’s alright, Mrs. Wringle. He has every right to question. He’s the one who has to attend the school. He needs to know that he will be safe when he goes there.” Principal Landler interrupted before turning back to Kaelin. “That’s not how I would have put it. There are risks but I don’t believe that you will be in any danger there. Naturally, the Academy would pick up your tuition and any other expenses. We offer one of the finest educations in the nation, human, vampire or otherwise. Our graduates continue to be accepted into every Ivy League college across the nation, even since our exposure. And, if the year goes successfully, you’d of course be welcome to finish out your senior year there as well. This is the chance of a lifetime.”

       “Where is this Academy? I mean, I know it’s across the border, but where? Would I be able to walk?” Kaelin asked. It was a twenty-minute walk to the wall as it was.

       “Well, part of your tuition covers living expenses. We have dorms, but given your situation, we also have a few nice studio apartments close by. It’s all taken care of.” Principal Landler answered.

       Any thought Kaelin had of taking the offer vanished. Who would take care of Kiana if he left? Mrs. Fowler barely remembered when he was there.

       “I’m sorry, sir, but that’s just not possible. I can’t leave Kia—” he rephrased. “I have responsibilities here. I just can’t pick up and move. Otherwise, I might have considered it, but the way it is…” He shrugged his shoulders. He had more than just himself to think of.

       Principal Landler looked at him for a moment, his expression searching, then turned to the other man. They exchanged a glance he couldn’t interpret before turning back.

       Principal Landler spoke slowly. “Well Kaelin, our academy is located close enough to the border that it would be possible for someone to drive you to and from campus, although it would have to be one of ours, for security’s sake. If that was your only concern, then we can still make an agreement.”

       Kaelin still hesitated.

       “Mrs. Fowler’s already signed the paperwork.” Mrs. Wringle said. “I can override her permission, if you insist on being stubborn, but if I do that, she would no longer be able to remain your guardian.”

       “She’s getting paid,” Kaelin frowned. “Isn’t she?”

       “That’s none of your concern.” Mrs. Wringle answered.

       “She’s getting a small fund to help with the inconvenience of you not being there to walk the other children to school, or get them off the bus.” Principal Landler replied, ignoring Kaelin’s caseworker.

       “So I don’t have a choice then.” Kaelin shoved his hands deeper into his pockets. “When do I start?”

       “The student will be at your house Monday by seven. School starts at eight. He’ll have everything that you’ll need.” Principal Landler said.

       “Is there a uniform?” Kaelin asked.

       “We don’t currently have a uniform. There is a dress code but it’s probably close to what you have here. I’ll make sure your guide has a copy of the student handbook.”

       “Where do I sign?”

       Principal Landler held out the contract and he added his name to the bottom.

       “I think once you get settled, you’ll really enjoy the school. If you have any problems, my office door is always open.” Principal Landler offered.

       “That’s what they always say.” Kaelin muttered. Every single school said it, every adult promised to listen, but no one followed through. “Can I go back to class now?”

       Principal Landler nodded, glancing at Mrs. Wringle. She frowned. “I need to speak to you about your attendance.”

       Principal Landler gestured for the other man, the quiet one, to follow him out, leaving Kaelin alone with his caseworker.

       Kaelin sighed and flopped into one of the desks, tuning out the lecture.