"Ugh! Let go!" I ordered, again. Nothing changed.

* Pick me up. *

I can't! I was going crazy in my head. I was stuck inside my open locker and talking to myself. This wasn't normal. The moment began to suffocate me.

"Please let go of me. I need my hand back," I tried to reason with it. Nothing, no response. I felt insane talking to it, but I was quickly approaching the end of my emotional rope. A long, sad sigh slid from my mouth. I was now feeling the moisture of a nervous sweat breaking all over my body. Maybe it would help.

With a final gasp of hope, I asked it one last time. "Please let me go...I need my hand back...I wish I had my freedom..."

A burning sensation rolled over my knuckles and wrist. Instantly, my hand was free. I clutched my fist to my chest, amazed that it had let go. My palm was coated in fresh sweat. I stared at it hard, studying a stunning side effect. Inside my palm was a lightning storm of bright gold lights, that raced around, tracing the lines of my hand. They danced just under the skin, painlessly. It was unbelievable. I pulled my fingers together into a hard fist, and the lights died away. I closed my eyes and shut the locker door in a loud crash.

"See, I just needed to sweat my way out," I convinced myself, with a grateful smile. The happiness melted away as I turned around to find I wasn't alone.

"Did you just say you sweated your way out of your locker?" Felicity asked, disgusted. Not her, not now. Her face crinkled up as she waited for my response. Her twisting curls dangled along her big brown eyes. I slid my backpack over my shoulder, still holding my hand in a sweaty fist.

"I guess so."

She looked at my closed fist. "You are a strange, strange boy, Lucas."

"Wow Felicity, you sound like you're crushing on me a little!" I teased. I couldn't help myself. One of my greatest joys in this world was getting a rise out of her. She flinched violently in an over exaggerated spasm at my suggestion.

"Dream on!" she cringed. I started to laugh. She turned around and stormed off toward the exit. I quietly followed her with a smile on my face. She made her way to her parents car in the parking lot. I threw her a polite wave, and she stuck her tongue out at me and climbed into the pa.s.senger side of the vehicle. I laughed even harder and stole a quick glance at the palm of my hand. It was normal again. I gently rubbed it with my other hand and made my way to the Holy Lands.

Desert Vista High School was home to the big and brash Thunder football team. Their football field was big, green, lush and touched by the divine. Most students referred to the field as special or blessed. I just called it, the Holy Lands, the highest grounds. A thunder G.o.d's territory. Taylor's territory. I called him Thor for a reason. With a football in his hands, he was unstoppable. Legendary. He was so good at the game that the local sporting scouts had been following his football career since he was twelve.

One of the biggest games of the year was this weekend and the entire school, community and state of Arizona would be watching his every move. The team practices after school had become like a pep rally on steroids. More than half the students were here.

"Luc!" Taylor called to me from the field. He trotted up to me with a bottle of water in his big strong hand.

"Hey, T. It looks like half the school's here this afternoon."

He shrugged, "Oh well, whatcha gonna do?"

"Sorry, I'm a little late...I was..."

"It's fine." He took a long drink from his bottle. From over his shoulder I could see Roland and Morgan off in the distance. Roland was tapping away on his black laptop, trying to block the afternoon sun from its screen. He wasn't having much luck with it. Morgan stood still, watching Taylor and I with giant doe eyes. She softly shifted her weight to one side and waved our way.

"I hope you didn't get in too much trouble today." Taylor looked at me worried. He was always looking out for me. The big brother I never had.

"Nothing I couldn't handle," I joked. My mind raced back to earlier as I stood in the school hallway, staring into my open locker and my hand locked inside of it. My smile faded. From behind us, a crowd of smitten girls approached us. They squealed with nervous excitement.

"Good," Taylor smiled, with relief. As he did, he was surrounded by the infatuated group of girls. They were all attractive and willing to flaunt that fact in front of him. He was used to the behavior by now, but still found the attention uncomfortable. He's spent the last few years dealing with the perks of his celebrity, and it didn't hurt that he was so freaking good looking.

"Ahh...Big Country! You look like you're ready for the big game Friday night," one of the more obvious girls announced, with a wicked smile. The rest of them giggled on cue. Taylor tensed over, instantly. He secretly hated his fame.

"Yeah, I guess," he mumbled. His head lowered a little and he quickly stole a glance over toward Roland and Morgan. The twins sat in the gra.s.s watching every detail unfold. Roland had a silly grin on his face. Obviously, he enjoyed Taylor's celebrity, even if it was only from the outside. Morgan on the other hand, looked like someone had punched her in the stomach. She hated Taylor's popularity with the girls of the school. She hated his reputation as a ladies-man, but the thing she despised the most was, she was 110% head over heels, in love with him.

"What are you doing after the game, Country?" another girl flirted. The nickname returned and so did Taylor's emotional wall. He put on a large, but fake smile. I sighed watching his ever growing nervousness. The crazy thing was, everyone had tagged him with this reputation of the ultimate player, heartbreaker extraordinaire, but nothing could be further from the truth. Sure, he had his fair share of dates and temporary girlfriends, but he treated every last one of them with absolute respect. He was a complete gentlemen. Chivalries last remaining soldier. I respected him, completely.

"Well, Country, what's your plans for the weekend?" I prodded, with a mocking tone. His steel eyes looked at me with contempt. He never liked when I used his nickname in public. I smiled bigger knowing I was pushing his b.u.t.tons a little. His face filled with a wry smile.

"Call me," he winked, and handed his phone number to a girl. I don't think he even knew which girl he handed it to. He was just showing off. Proving that he was in the 'big leagues' while I spun my wheels chasing after a girl that barely knew I existed.

"Oh...my...gawd!" The girl grabbed the paper with a scream, and the group of girls ran off delighted.

"Show off," I said, and punched his arm. He laughed, lightly.

We both made our way towards the familiar patch of gra.s.s where Roland and Morgan waited. I figured I'd share the exciting news of my day...well, some of the news.

"So, you're not going to believe what happened," I bragged.

"What?" Taylor asked, with his eyebrow raised.

"I did it. I talked to her."

"Olivia?" he gasped.

"Yes."

"You finally found your nerve?" he laughed, aloud. "It only took you four years!"

"Shut up!" I turned red. "Her band is playing tonight. We're all going," I insisted.

"We are?" he asked, testing me. The twins walked up, Roland with a smile and Morgan wearing a pout. I pulled from my back pocket the folded up flier and handed it to Roland. I followed it up with a confidant wink.

He s.n.a.t.c.hed up the paper with a loud cheer. "Unbelievable! You did it! You finally did it!"

"It was amazing, Ro, we b.u.mped into each other in the auditorium. She even knew my name!" I said. Morgan's eyes rolled around in her head just long enough to look away from Taylor and find my goofy grin.

"See, I told you, Luc. You could do it. You just needed the right push," Morgan said, as fact.

"Thanks, Mo," I smiled.

"No biggie. After all, she's just a girl," she said, and then found Taylor's eyes again.

"Just a girl?" I mocked.

"Uh oh," Taylor mumbled.

"And a strange one at that," Roland added. I knew he was just giving me a hard time, but it still hurt a little. Why were the Saint twins ganging up on me? And before I could stand up for myself, Morgan came to my rescue.

"Be nice, little brother. He can't help it," Morgan warned, softly. "I know how that feels..." she mumbled, even softer. I think I was the only one who heard her. Her yearning eyes found Taylor's again. He returned her glance, puzzled. She blushed.

"Don't get me wrong," Roland continued. "She's absolutely gorgeous, but what's with the dark and gloomy vibe?" Roland motioned with his hand and pointed across the football field. I turned to find Olivia exiting the school, guitar in hand and a sulk in her step. My mouth fell open.

"She's an artist, Ro. She has a deep soul. She's real..." I drifted off. Roland and his sister shared a goofy smile with each other. They had been witness to my crush for too long. I ignored them and took a tiny step toward her, ready to call out her name across the gra.s.s. She was much too far away to hear me, but I didn't care. My right hand began to tingle and I glanced down to see the spinning fireflies under my skin again. Quickly, I shoved both of my hands in my back pockets. Roland watched me as if I was insane.

"Lucas, I love you like a brother, but sometimes...you're strange," he laughed.

I smiled, "So I have been told."

Olivia walked across the parking lot as a bundle of questions entered my mind. Did I really make an impression on her today? Did she find me annoying? A thousand what ifs haunted me. She paced back and forth, circling the parking lot. Whoever she was waiting on was obviously running late. Even from this distance, I could tell she was not happy about it. Maybe I should call out to her...maybe just a wave.

"Earth to Lucas. Hey brother, can you hear me?" Taylor snapped his fingers in front of my face.

"He's lost, Tay. We'll never get him back. Not today. Especially not tonight," Roland joked, from behind me.

"Be nice you two," Morgan warned, politely.

With a loud screech of its tires, a weathered sports car slid into the parking lot. It was dark gray and idling loudly. Whoever was behind the wheel honked the horn twice. BEEP! BEEP! Olivia looked annoyed with the driver, but slowly reached out for the car door. I stepped forward, forgetting my friends completely. If only she would look my way, turn around and see me. Just for a tiny second, so I could wave to her. I closed my eyes and wished that she'd at least give me one last look. A quick gust of wind brought the smell of the football fields freshly cut gra.s.s into my nose. A calmness settled inside my chest. When I opened my eyes she was staring directly at me. She was easily 150 yards away, but there she was, eyes wide open. Locked onto me like laser beams.

I mouthed one single word, silently, "Hi." My right hand began to vibrate as if I was still grasping the magical stone from my locker. She c.o.c.ked her head and pulled out the two sticks that were holding her long hair in a messy bun. Dark brown hair fell all around her shoulders and back. She was a dream. Her hand raised up and offered me a slight wave just before she entered the car. I stood mesmerized. The rumbling car spun its tires again and sped out of the parking lot.

"I'll pick you up at 6:30, Romeo," Taylor said, walking up to me. I barely heard him.

"Okay," I blinked. My hand tingled with static.

"Swift! Get your golden boy muscles over here!" Coach Kitna bellowed. He stood tall in the middle of the field, with a whistle in one hand, and a clipboard in the other. Taylor watched me for another moment before tossing his water bottle to Morgan. She scooped it up with an awkward smile born of embarra.s.sment. Taylor ran off in the direction of his team and Morgan's eyes followed. He turned around, running backwards with ease.

"Proud of you, Luc!" he called out. It filled me with pride. Only Taylor could make me feel that way. One of his many hidden superpowers, I guess.

I pointed at him with a dizzy smile across my face. "Bring the thunder, Thor!"

LEVEL 06: Crushcrushcrush.

Walking up to the school entrance and hearing the first hint of music pouring from the doors, almost made me forgive Taylor for being late. Football practice had run long and he barely had time to cleanup before tonights concert. I raced through the front doors, heading straight for my locker, trying to shake off the last few hours of my day.

"Pick me up," I said, under my breath.

After football practice I made my way home with my head in a fog. I was still on a high from my run in with Olivia, but I couldn't shake the feeling of having my hand stuck to that mysterious rock earlier. I spent two hours pacing my bedroom. My neighbors, the Anderson's, spent two hours watching me with expensive binoculars, pace my bedroom. I didn't care though, I was too haunted by my secret. What was it? What did it want with me?

"Wait! Where are you going, Luc? The auditorium is the other way!" Roland called down the school halls. His warning only made me run faster.

"Lucas?" he called out, again. Morgan watched me worried, but never relinquished her position by the side of Taylor and his freakishly well-defined arm.

"I'll just be a minute!" I yelled over my shoulder, in a full sprint.

Taylor pulled the twins toward the music. "Come on you two. He's a big boy. He's just nervous about tonight."

"I guess," Roland shrugged.

"Tickets are on me," Taylor smiled. He marched for the auditorium doors. Morgan melted and followed without hesitation. Roland slowly did the same.

With three quick spins of the dial on my locker's combination lock, I frantically opened its door. I wasn't ready for what I saw. The stone was now the size of a brick, and had sunk almost the entire way through the bottom of my locker. It was darker now, beyond black. Thin silver ridges were cut like lightning all over it. These new ridges were moving in a serpent like motion, just under its glossy surface. Their movement was creepy and unnatural. The lines swam through the blackness slow and beautiful. I rubbed my eyes, trying to focus harder on this strange jewel.

"What are you?" I whispered.

* Pick me up. *

"I can't."

* Pick me up. *

"Am I going mad?" I was losing it. I couldn't afford to do that though. Not tonight. Not her night. From down the hallway the auditorium doors flew open, unleashing the rumble of drums and music. My chest filled with a heavy urgency as Olivia and her bandmates called to me.

My hand gripped tightly around the edge of my locker door. "I have to go."

* Pick me up. *

"I can't. I need to see her." Great, I was pleading with a piece of science fiction in my high school locker. Yup, I was crazy. Straightjacket time. No one would ever believe this. Not even Roland, and he was the biggest sci-fi geek in the Southwest. Would anyone understand?

* She will. *

"What?" I whispered. This impossible thing was talking to me. Not aloud, but in my head. Oh G.o.d...I was going nuts. I leaned my head just inside the locker opening.

"What did you say?" I asked, again. My voice was soft and shaking.

* Olivia will understand. *

I froze with fear. "What are you?"

* Pick me up. *

I began to shake.

* Tell Olivia. *

"What?"

* Trust no one else. *

"Okay." I slammed the locker closed with a metallic crash. My heart was beating at twice its normal rate and picking up speed. I ran down the hall in a half crazed panic. I almost ran back out the front doors of the school, but forced my sneakers toward the auditorium entrance. With a lump in my throat, I slowly reached out for the door handle.

"Where do you think you're going?" a familiar voice cursed. Reality slammed back into me as I recognized the voice in a matter of seconds. I let a long, annoyed breath escape my lips and rested my shoulder against the faded wood of the door.

"You can't go in there!" Felicity cursed.

"Felicity, not tonight...please. I can't do this tonight," I warned, in a forceful whisper.

"I don't care. You're not allowed in there!" she said, way too loud. I turned to find her hateful eyes staring at me.

"Why not?" I asked.