Bait and Switch Ch. 07

Thanks to AJ & MT for their insightful edits.
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‘It seemed like any other Monday, except for the whispers and stares I received as I walked around campus. In one way it was an improvement, no one calling me dweeb, or nerd, but it was also a little disturbing.

Had someone discovered my ability? Had Gina told someone? I remembered Lindsey saying I was the talk of school, and that had been before I’d told Gina, so I doubted she’d told anyone. I walked towards a couple guys talking, to see what was up, but when they saw me coming, they fled. In consternation, I stared after them, wondering what in the world was going on.

No one seemed willing to talk to me about it, and those that were willing to talk to me, didn’t know. The whole thing was starting to give me a headache, and it was then that I remembered old Mrs. Polkins. I walked into her office, and found her sitting behind her desk, a faint smile on her face.

I told her I had a headache, and just needed some Tylenol. I watched as she moved around. It seemed like she was moving faster, but that may have been hopeful thinking. I’m certain the roots of her hair were darker, not gray, but there wasn’t enough there to tell what color yet. Her cheeks sagged a little on her face, but there looked to be fewer wrinkles.

I checked her switches, turned up the elasticity of her skin, as well as her metabolism, but left her other two switches alone for now. I thanked her for the painkillers, and left her office. I tried to remind myself to check up on her from time to time and see the progress she makes.

Standing right outside, was Robbie Mortensen. By the look he gave me, I knew he’d been waiting for me. I decided that running wasn’t an option, and besides, I should be able to handle him.

As I walked up to the jock, I noticed his eyes looked haggard and sad. He looked like a man that had been to hell and back, only he’d brought hell with him. For a moment I felt sorry for the role I’d played in that, till I remembered all the bullying I’d received at his hands.

“What’s up, Robbie?” I asked, trying to sound unconcerned.

The big man examined me for a bit, arms folded across his large chest, and his brow furrowed. “You been working out?”

I almost laughed. Could THAT have been what all the stares were about? I still couldn’t see a difference in myself, though I had noticed things seemed lighter than they used to be. As I thought about it, even my shirt had seemed a bit smaller when I’d put it on this morning. Despite this, all I said to Robbie was, “Maybe.”

“I don’t know why I’m doing this. Maybe I feel sorry about what I did to you, but you don’t seem to be hurting from it. For some reason I feel like I owe you though, so I’m warning you.” He took a deep breath, and I tensed. What was he going to do, threaten me some more? “Derek means to pay you back, and make you hurt. It is all over the campus. He seems to have it in for you.” Before I could say anything in response, he turned and walked away.

THAT must be why everyone was looking at me. They didn’t want to get caught up in whatever Derek had planned for me. I wondered if they were also supposed to keep me in the dark or if that was just the unintended side effect. Had Robbie just crossed some boundary to help me out? I resolved to keep my ability in reserve, so that I could use it if I needed to, on a moment’s notice. I didn’t want to get caught unawares, or weak.

An idea occurred to me, and I recalled that I could sense my switches. I walked to a quiet spot, and cast my mind out, feeling for the switches that were Derek’s. If he was anywhere close, I would know. I was shocked to find him on the other side of campus. Not shocked because he was far from me, but because I could feel his switches from so far away. My ability truly was growing. I also found Gina off to my left, not as far, and Robbie moving further away. I felt others too, but concentrated on Derek. If he was over there, I was safe.

My phone rang then, and my mind came back to me. Shanna was on the other end.

“I just heard something, you should know,” she said without preamble.

“About Derek? Yeah, I just heard. I’ll be fine though, don’t worry.”

“Oh, okay. Hey, are you working tonight?” She asked, sounding hopeful.

“Yeah, I tried to get this week off so I could study for finals, but Bradley wouldn’t hear it.”

“Great! About you working, that is. Not about Bradley. I’m working too, I’ll see you there.”

Shortly after I got a text from Gina, warning me of the same thing, but she wasn’t worried either. She knew what I was capable of.

The rest of my classes seemed a blur, as I concentrated on keeping track of Derek. Luckily I didn’t have any finals today, with my mind so preoccupied.

Dennis gave me the same warning when I got home, and I only laughed. When he looked surprised at my response, I said the same thing I told Shanna. He didn’t look convinced but that was fine with me. I had a couple hours till I started my shift, so I played a few games, before getting ready.

The snow was lightly falling as I drove to the restaurant, and I couldn’t help but smile as I thought about the last time Shanna and I had worked together. The snow was still piled high on the sides of the road from that storm, though the power was likely to stay on tonight.

Shanna greeted me with a smile as I walked in the back, and I gave her a quick wink. I suddenly wondered if this was Shannon, and realized the only way for me to tell them apart was when I was sleeping with one or the other. I could use my switches though, to tell them apart. I easily made a small switch that would make her happy when I moved it, and noticed that it was already on. There, that should do it, I thought with satisfaction.

Despite it being a Monday, it was a busy night, and Shanna and I had little opportunity to talk. Bradley seemed to be on a rampage, as he bellowed out orders, and chewed one cook out for being too slow. He left Shanna and me alone, though, so I didn’t mess with him. I needed to save my strength for whatever Derek had in mind. I could just faintly feel him off to the east somewhere.

When the restaurant finally closed, Shanna waited for me in the parking lot with a smile. We kissed for a while in her car.

“We need to stop,” she told me breathlessly after a bit.

“Why,” I asked, cupping her cheek in my hand, and pulling her face back to mine.

“Because my sister is home, and I’m getting pretty horny and I don’t want to do it in the car!” She laughed her wonderful little laugh as she pulled away from me.

“We could go to my place,” I whispered.

“Didn’t you say you needed to study for finals?” She tried to sound serious but I could see the mirth in her eyes.

“Sure.