First Meeting

Be calm, talk what is necessary and be cautious. It’s all I need to keep this year from the three boys and their stupid rules unnoticed. Just three things that will keep Mika McFly from turning his intimidating eyes on me and doing the same thing he did to Patrick.

“Calm, quiet and cautious” I repeat to myself again on the way to school. It’s my first day of class sophomore year and all I want is to remain anonymous walking the halls of Jackson. I know, with total clarity, that if Mika finds out that I am the sister of the boy who confronted him, nothing good can happen. Calm, quiet and cautious.

“Four eyes, are you still here?” The driver asks when he sees me get off.

“I wonder what will happen if McFly finds out you’re Patrick’s little sister?” Surely nothing good. His mocking laugh is heard even as he closes the bus doors and starts the engine.

Calm, quiet and cautious. I inhale deeply. Jackson is the same as he was the year before, when Patrick could bring me in his car. The same guys, the same problems, the same privileged parking for Los Tres.

– ASTRID!

-I feel a blow to my shoulder that causes a pre-heart attack in me. I turn to find James Cooper at my side. You’re still just as skittish as you were last year, Four Eyes. James Cooper;

I couldn’t describe what I feel every time I see it. He is the kind of outgoing and very charismatic guy. It is not within the world of the popular; however, he has no need to bow his head when The Three make their appearance. Thanks to him, everyone calls me by my new nickname…

“Yes. Some things never change… I guess.” I shrug.

“Like you,” he laughs. And these old lady glasses you will never change them, right? I shake my head smiling. Well… if you changed them you would stop being Four Eyes, so you better keep them. Is that a compliment or is it just sarcasm? I keep the question to myself as I listen to the well-known and well-recognized engine in Mika McFly’s car. All the normals present outside of Jackson, including James, we cleared a way for them to the entrance of Jackson

– Rule number 1: Do not touch them without their permission. No one can touch the three most popular and feared kids in Jackson. Do they have a god complex? We all see them get out of the car and follow them until they pass, then out of obligation we lower our heads and look at the ground

– Rule number 2: Don’t look them in the eye. Our “deities” believe they are too perfect for someone who does not belong to the world of “the people” stare at them like idiots. Or in some other way.

My brother made the mistake of doing it and suffered the consequences. Ha, how could a mop like me look at them? And finally, while we see out of the corner of our eye how they walk among us with an air of sufficiency, self-centeredness and arrogance, we all keep a funeral silence

– Rule number 3: Do not talk to them. No one is good enough to talk to The Three. Talk to them? Not even joking! They dominate every hallway within Jackson. They are capable of doing everything to be respected and enjoy their social status. If it weren’t for the fact that this is his last year at Jackson, no one would resist his tyranny. As the school gates close behind them, everyone huddles together to watch as they walk with authority through the school corridors.

“That was… strange,” James murmurs. The two of us are the only ones who aren’t huddled together like chickens in the corn to see The Three. How are you?

“Hurrah,” I smile nervously.

-ASTRID! ASTRID!! Professor Scott’s screams bring me back to the painful reality: the baseball field. I put my cell phone in the pocket of my shorts and look at her. It’s your turn to bat, Fisher. Try this time to hit the ball and not the air like last year. Laughing, Lizzy hands me the bat. Yeah, last year I sucked at sports. I got the worst average and almost failed the bouquet. Who on this planet can fail sports? NOBODY except me. I take the bat with both hands and look for the best position to hit while remembering the advice Patrick gave me last year:

“Imagine that the ball is the person you hate the most in this world.

” And like a slow motion movie, I watch the ball coming right at me; slowly, it becomes the perfect face of Mika McFly. So, I hit with all my might.

-HOME-RUN! The teacher shouts, following the course of the ball with her eyes. Nice shot, Astrid. Now go get the ball. My smile disappears at his command. First time hitting the ball, but I have to go get it at the other end of Jackson’s yard. I sigh in resignation and hunched my shoulders. I drag my sneakers across the field until I’m stopped in my tracks when I discover that the ball is in the hands of none other than him. Standing a few feet from me, tossing the ball into the air and effortlessly catching it with his hand, Mika McFly looks at me like I’m a bug or worse. I lower my head feeling a lump in my chest that contracts and causes my heartbeat to speed up.

-This is yours? -asks me. I hear his footsteps approaching me and I nod with my head down. “Excuse me?” I did not hear you. “

Y-yes…” I stammer, trying not to break my voice. It I feel. He is silent. He walks around me and stops at my back again. His breath moves my hair. With his free hand, he grabs a strand of my hair and brushes it away from my face. “What could I do with you?” He asks close to my ear, I hide my head between my shoulders when he does. “What fun game could I play with a little girl like you?” He stands in front of me and throws the ball to the ground. I think today is your lucky day. Pick it up I don’t expect him to change his mind and bend down to pick up the ball, but as I do, my phone falls out of my pocket and the screen lights up.

The photo of Patrick and I that I have in the background is exposed. Before taking it, Mika grabs my hand and takes the phone for me.

“Patrick Fissher…” he murmurs more to himself. A distorted smile spreads across his lips and he looks at me. You’re Patrick’s little sister, right?

Minimarket

Astrid felt her throat dry, as if she had walked on the arid desert under a scorching sun.

The truth was that his dangerous path began from the moment that Mika McFly fixed his ill-intentioned gaze on the photograph of the young woman.

During the day she had worried about every possible cause to be discovered by him, which never crossed her mind that her cell phone would give her away. That photo that cost him so much to convince his brother to take it, was the trigger that fired the bullet. It all happened fast and yet, the image of Mika was etched on his retina. The cold contact of his white fingers against her neck, removing the bow that bound her hair, was the last memory of their meeting. And, finally, his deep voice full of cynicism:

“I’ll take this,” It was the last thing he deciphered before taking his cell phone and fleeing back to the camp.

Baseball, with the ball in his other hand. Calm, quiet and cautious… She arrived paler than usual at the sight of her classmates and teacher, who looked at her questioningly but did not ask anything. Astrid handed the ball to the teacher to sit on the bleachers later. It was when he realized that his hands were trembling. Could Mika McFly really have that effect on her? No. Mika McFly had that effect on everyone, and he did on his brother…for a while.

He walked through the empty halls of Jackson. One of the things that he liked the most about skipping classes was that he could walk freely without having to put up with the long-suffering looks of others hitting the floor of the building. Or having to breathe the same air as them. He hated every one of the students, except for his two friends.

However, he did not deny that being him could have its privileges. How to get to the middle of classes without being scolded by the teacher. He stopped in front of the door of the class a few seconds before entering.

Inside, in the last seats, were his two friends. Jax slept leaning his head on the table, he was exhausted from having to satisfy his two favorite girls in Jackson with vain flattery and bad taste compliments; his other friend, Chase, was slumping his entire body over the back of the chair while his eyes were on the slim, stooped figure of a blonde girl sitting a few seats up. Little did he know about her, but enough to know that it was another stone in his path, and that of his spoiled sister.

-Where did you get that? Jax wondered, looking at the pink bow with red dots around her wrist.

“From your sister?” Mika gave a tiny smile at Jax’s quip. Astrid’s frightened face crossed his thoughts.

“I got it out of my new toy,” he reported, eyeing the girl's bow. My new entertainment. After a boring class on the upcoming classes, activities, and the dance, the first day of school concluded. Astrid finished changing out of her workout clothes and came out of the locker room cleaning her foggy glasses. She made a shy sign to April and Lizzy, classmates, to receive a pat on the back from James.

“Hello, Stanton,” he greeted her, smiling broadly. Astrid’s heart sped up for a moment at the thought of running into McFly one more time.

“Stanton’?” He questioned putting on his glasses to see clearly the face of his partner. James was more energetic than usual, with that charismatic smile that melted more than one in his course.

“He’s the highest-paid baseball player, babe. It is popular culture. Astrid nodded slowly, picking up her partner’s nickname. Liz said you hit!

“Y-yes,” he shrugged, feeling his cheeks heat up. I still don’t assimilate it… How has it been for you?

-Nothing bad. I have a gift for sports,” he commented jokingly. The two headed toward Jackson’s exit, parting ways outside the school. James Cooper had to use his friends, and sometimes his father’s car, to get home, while Astrid had to walk to the nearest bus stop to go to the convenience store where she worked every day after school.

Arriving at the bus stop, he sat down on the bench. The place was just as remembered it. The broken and worn roof, the advertising palette scratched with graffiti, obscene drawings, ripped posters and anarchist symbols. And how to forget that dumpster full of waste and smelling of urine. Everything the same as it was three months ago.

-Hey! Called a voice from a car. From that car. Just looking at it made Astrid’s heart squeeze, causing a sudden pain in her chest. His lungs were gasping for air, so his breathing quickened. His hands trembled along with his chin. It was Mika calling her from her car in front of her. Unconsciously, she lowered her eyes with the false idea that she was not calling, but she was the only person at that location.

“Get in,” he ordered with authority. Astrid clenched her jaw so he wouldn’t notice she was trembling. Her eyes wandered for a few moments until he spoke again. You are deaf? I said go up. NOW.

I sigh raggedly. Where were your friends? Mika was alone in his car, so questions about their meeting invaded his head. She opened the car door and got in silently, unable to look at him. I was out of Jackson, the rules didn’t apply; however, Mika’s figure wreaked havoc on her.

“Where are you going, Patrick’s sister?” he asked in a singsong tone that struck Astrid as heavy with tares. He blinked a couple of times before answering. She really felt tiny, even more than with the others.

“Mr. Harry’s minimarket…” he muttered with a thread of voice that he thought he couldn’t hear, but he did. Mika sped up and all the way didn’t say anything. When he parked the car in front of the sliding doors of the minimarket where he worked, he never thought he would be so happy to see them; seeing the cashier who was always scolding her, the disoriented college student stocking the shelves, and the store manager.

She thought Mika would take her under a bridge, suffocate her, and cut her dying body into pieces to feed to the dogs. But not. She got out of the car doubtfully. Closing the car door, he noticed that Mika was wearing his tie on his wrist, but he didn’t dare to say anything, because he didn’t expect him to get out of the car too.

-Who is the manager? He asked, looking inside the minimarket. He walked haughtily inside being followed by Astrid as if he were a duck following his mother. The wealthy boy’s brown eyes fell on an elderly man in a suit.

“From today, Fissher, I will make your life a misery." Astrid saw with terror the smile that Mika outlined and knew that what she Had just said was not just any joke. And so it all began…

Who rules?

ASTRID

I pull out my cell phone to check the time, but all I can do is see Patrick’s picture and shudder at the memory of Mika McFly’s macabre smile. Just thinking about him, a restlessness is born in my chest. How far can you go with your pride to want to make life impossible for me too? I can’t understand him… or maybe I find it difficult to penetrate the mind of a being like him.

Giving a listless sigh I put my cell phone back in my pocket. I forcefully grab the basket with merchandise to replenish the shelves. Mika should be doing the heavy lifting, or rather the rookie work. I don’t know how he did it, but I guess a few bucks got the manager to hire him and leave his job to me. Well, I prefer to replace things that having to fake a smile when serving a customer.

Today has been one of those days and I still can’t figure out what Mika intends to do to me. After leaving the manager’s office with that lopsided grin, he hasn’t said a word to me. I hope it continues like this… “Wow! He exclaims in a satirical tone. It has placed itself in front of me causing me to feel like an insignificant ant. I can’t control it, Mika makes my life feel miserable

- I see you’ve finished putting things back.

-I lower my head, raising my eyes a little I can only see his lips curve in a strange way. Why are you looking at me? He asks, bending down a few inches to look me in the eye. Someone of your ilk does not have the right to look at me, not even the sole of my shoe, do you understand, Little Bird? Birdie. Well, he gave me another nickname. With no choice, I nod slowly, closing my eyes at the connection with his. “Well, you learn fast,” he says.

Instantly a pang in my heart triggers a new sensation. I wish I was like Patrick, without mincing words. Without fear of saying what I think. Mika is a bloody despotic, careerist bastard. Too bad you still don’t know how to do your job well.

Hearing his words, a question arises in me, however, I get the answer right away. The things on the shelf that I just replenished have been thrown on the floor by him. I widen my eyes in surprise to see all my work literally lying on the floor.

“Good luck next time, Little Bird.” Clenching my jaw to the point of sore gums, I close my eyes taking a deep breath. You could see this coming… disaster, Mika… EVERYTHING. I could have told my parents to change schools, but they were too busy with Patrick and our two-month-old little sister. I had a premonition of being discovered, but I preferred to keep it to myself. These are the consequences. I put things back in their

Place. Mika watches me from across the shelf, enjoying my double duty, arms crossed and my stupid bow on her wrist. Surely he worried about having everyone away to do his “mischief” or he has bought them with his overflowing and dirty money. MIKA Little Bird. It’s the perfect description for someone like her.

Astrid Fisher; his last name has been engraved in my head ever since that haughty little insect appeared before my eyes. Guts; is what others said about him, but for me it was the act of rebellion of a dog. Well, now I don’t have a dog at my full disposal, but I do have a bird that I could teach to sing if I wanted to. His only elusive figure amuses me. Their expressions of horror unsettle me in a way I never thought would happen. What’s wrong with that little bookworm? I think submission. That’s what makes it more interesting. I could mold her my way without objection or qualms. But I had to lower myself to their level. If I want to do this, I’d better do it the right way.

A few minutes from ending this hell to stop faking a friendly smile with others, I find my new little birdie picking up his backpack to go back home. After slinging her bag on her back, she turns to find me standing in the doorway, blocking her path. A horrified face appears before my eyes, causing me to smile. She stops in her tracks in front of me, ducking her head, looking down at her feet in embarrassment.

“Ex-excuse me,” he says quietly.

-Why?

“I-I want to go out, I have to go home,” he stammers. I’ve heard it perfectly, but it’s not enough for me. -Sorry? You talk like normal people, Birdie. Sing for me! She shrugs her shoulders.

“I want to go home… please.”

He pleads almost in a breath.

“First, lace up my shoes,” I order politely. She raises her head disoriented.

- None of my shoelaces are undone. Untie them and fasten them again,” I suggest in a passive tone. She looks lost, confused. Quick, if you want to go home. Little Fissher does as I say. It takes at least a minute to do it.

Standing up, I catch the scent of her hair, like I did when that ball landed at my feet while I was skipping class. She is a girl with good physical qualities, if you can appreciate her well. But too quiet to be noticed, and too insignificant for someone like me to manage to treat her as her equal.

ASTRID Can go now? -I ask looking up to a fixed point. I dare not even look at a part of his face again. Although I have been more than close before, to the point that his breath tickles my neck, having him this close and facing me causes me some caution. Even more so when he is someone as unpredictable as Mika.

“You’re despicable…” He shakes his head, I catch it out of the corner of my eye. His sudden insult doesn’t sit well with me, but I’m too tense to do anything about it. You and your brother are. Beings that involute the earth with their mere presence. Do you think you’ll get anywhere? He mentioned… He mentioned Patrick. I clench my fists. Inside my head a sea of thoughts prevents me from listening to their insults. My breath hitches and, when I least expect it, it seems that my arm has a life of its own and orders my hand to plant a slap on Mika’s perfect face.

“Don’t ever talk about my brother again!” I warn him, feeling my chest swell and cheeks burn. A lump in my throat increases and I think I’m about to cry, but I hold back the tears without a second thought. He will never make me cry. NEVER. I push him aside walking towards the exit of the minimarket, without saying goodbye to any co-worker. I just want to run away from the place. I pick up the pace before Mika reacts to my slap, but feeling his hand holding me back, I know I may have made the worst mistake of my life. I’ve screwed up big time, Patrick.

He pulls me causing me to look him in the face, yes or yes. And even though I’m not willing to do it, he grabs my chin forcing me to look him in the eye.

“Don’t forget,” he mutters,

“I’m in charge of this story, Little Bird.” And finishing his sentence, he approaches my face and kisses my cheek. Take a rest. As I let go, all I do is watch as he turns his back on me back to the minimarket, while with one hand I cover the cheek he kissed.