Who: Calvin and Rosie What: Finding common ground over hating powers. Where: At school When: Tuesday, September 13
It looked like an invitation to something important. The envelope was made of thick, richly textured paper and the address was written in caligraphy: Calvin's name, but not an address he recognized. He turned over the envelope to see who it was from, but as he did the world spun out of focus and split in two, like he was watching two different movies on two different devices, one in front of each eye. It was like watching a kaleidoscope, everything colliding and combining into unexpected patterns that didn't make a lot of sense.
Calvin focused. It took effort and concentration, but Calvin managed to push one of the realities aside. The invitation faded, and he heard a teacher saying "Calvin, if you can't contribute to class, just go out in the hall. I'll talk to you after class."
This was real, wasn't it? Calvin glanced down to see what he was wearing, and it was something he remembered putting on, so this was probably today. "Calvin," the teacher said in a tone that would brook no more delays.
Calvin grabbed his backpack and left, ignoring everyone else and whatever their expressions or whispers might have to say. This was becoming far too common.
He sat down with his back against a locker and stared across the empty hall, but there wasn't enough there to keep his attention and he could feel the future hovering just over his shoulder. If he turned his head, he would probably see it.
He pushed himself to his feet and started pacing, and the next thing he knew he was walking down the hall, trying to outrun the vision. It caught up with him as he was pushing through the door to the outside, and as his body came to rest with his mind off in the future, the door swung back and tossed him to the floor, where he lay still, not really there at all except in body.