Over speakers came a male voice, “This is your pilot speaking. We are on final approach to Coronado naval base. Temperature is about 55 and clear, the sun not quite over the hills to the east. Please fasten your seat belts.”
A car was waiting, a rather tired looking army Hummer. Leaning against the fender with arms cross the huge man watched as the plane taxi, close. Pushing off the trunk, crossing to the plane’s door, he help drop the stairs.
Snowy unstrapped Jack, as she sang to him softly waking him from his sleep.
Mal was the first down the steps, giving the big guy a kiss on the cheek. “Ton of stuff in the hold,” she said. “And BE CAREFUL! It’s mostly instruments”
“Crap, Mal, I haven’t broken anything today… yet.” Instead, He returned to the hummer, dropping the tailgate
Mal reentered the plane making her way to the sleeping cabin, looking to Jack, “How’d you sleep?”
Jack smiled at Mal, “Just like a baby.” They gathered their coats heading to the exit holding hands.
“You MIGHT want to unload your fragile stuff yourself,” she tells them as she stepped onto the tarmac after them.
“That would be all of it.” Jack stated releasing Snowy’s hand, heading for the hold quickly.
“If Goliath over there,” Mal hooked a thumb at the huge guy “he’ll make it so your drum kit fits in a matchbox…”
“Hey!” the man exclaimed.
Jack started grabbing the equipment running back and forth, trying to make it so the big dude didn’t touch much.
Snowy stood at the bottom of the stairs just watching
The big guy approached Snowy with a grin. “I’m Nat Ryan. I’ll be your driver this morning.”
“You’re the driver every morning …” Mal muttered.
“Call me Icy,” She walked to the car and closer to Jack.
“Okay …” he sounded a bit unsure.
Mal shrugged.
Jack finished place everything in careful.
“Anyway, we’ve got you set up in house near the school. The garages have great acoustics.
Jack opened the door for his cuz.
“I’m Jack. Pleased to meet you Nat”
“Jack, right?”Nat asked
“No, Nat, I think surfing is out so stop looking at them like new students!” Mal laughed.
Jack helped Snowy into the car. Jack opened the door for Mal.
Nat climbed behind the wheel and started the car. “I wasn’t sure if either of you cook,” he said, “but gran and Miss Keely said they’d wipe you up some breakfast.”
Jack buckled up next to Snowy, “That’s okay, we cook.”
The hummer rolled off the tarmac and out onto a road that circled the perimeter of the base.
“Well, you should find about anything you need then but breakfast at least will be ready when we get there.”
“Would you happen to have a map of this city? I will need to get around. I don’t think flannel is right for this weather.” Jack spoke.
Nat grinned “Live here all my life, never had a map.”
“We’ll get you one,” Mal offered.
The Snowy exchanged glances, than Jack spoke again, “We only have our winter gear and it’s already spring here, we need lighter clothes”
“Chris knows her way around pretty good,” Nat says, “And she’s got the car… if you need someone to take you around.”
“If you could get us a couple of mopeds we will be fine.” he stated. Jack nodding to Snowy, “And of course some bike locks.”
Nat managed to stifle a snicker “Um…not a good idea in this area. You’ll get run over. We aren’t as bad as LA, but it is getting close and the only real way to get places is on the freeways.”
“I don’t have my drivers license yet. We need transportation,” Jack informed them.
Mal added, “If I can borrow the car, I can take them about, Nat.”
“Whatever you guys want, it’s up to you.” Nat agreed.
Jack smiled brightly at the idea as Snowy elbowed him.
Mal asked Nat, “Think Chris will give it up?”
“I’ll send her on a vampire hunt.” He jested.
Jack shot Snowy a look, “Fine we will get settled in first, than the shopping anything else?” he spoke to Snowy. “We will take our chance on the mopeds” he stated “But the ride for shopping would be greatly appreciated.”
“Okay,” Mal says, “no problem. Mall okay?”
Jack looked at Snowy, speaking to them, “We should be able to find something. I don’t need much, but you know how women are.” he chuckled.
They cross a VERY high bridge before getting into the city proper. Then follow the coast line, turning out onto a rocky peninsula
Mal gave Jack a look. “Buddy, you just bought a whole lot of trouble.” She laughed.
“You have never been shopping for Sno… Icy before.”
“You’ve never been shopping in California!” Mal smiled.
Nat rolled his eyes. “Took the girls two hours just to buy ONE bathing suit and there were five of them.”
“You might need a van. I have been shopping for her before.” he just grinned.
“I’ll take the boards out of the back, you’ll have room.” Suggested Nat.
Jack faced Snowy again. They both nodded their heads.
They drove alongside a wall for a few blocks then turn up to a gate. It automatically slide open and Nat drove thru into the gated community.
“Why the security?” Jack asked.
The houses are all Spanish in design but each is uniquely different. Nat pulled into the driveway of a house that looked new. “Because just because WE are metas, doesn’t mean our families are.”
An old black woman and a younger white woman come out of the house, all smiles.
“That’s Gran and Miss Keely. Gran is Bell’s grandmother and Miss Keely is Paige and Josh’s, mom.” Mal told them.
Jack popped out the door leaving it opened, than opened Mal’s door. He returned to his door helping Snowy out.
Gran came up to Nat as he climbed out. He leans WAY over giving her a kiss on the cheek “Breakfast on the table and groceries will be here about ten.” She turned to Snowy and Jack, “Oh, my! Such beautiful children!”
Jack headed to the back opening the tailgate “Are we sharing this place or is all ours?”
“All yours,” Mal told him.
He started unloading the back into the drive.
“Snowy greet them,” Jack ordered. “Snowy… Icy greet them!”
Gran offers a hand “I’m Gran to everyone, dear.”
Snowy spoke, “Pleased to meet you… Gran”” she took her hand, barely shaking it. “I wish to be called icy.”
The younger woman smiled “I’m Keely Te … Everyone just calls me Miss Keely.”
Nat opened the garage door. He returned picking up anything handy
Icy nodded to Keely, then headed to the pile grabbing their bags and parkas.”
Jack started moving the pile into the garage.
Mal says “Once we get this all in the garage, we’ll give you some time to settle in. Is eleven too early to go shopping?”
Jack nearly sang it out, “Never to earlier to be with you.”
Jack gave Icy a stern look, she huffed turning to the ladies, and “Can you show me to our rooms?”
“Of course” says Keely, heading into the house, Gran and Mal following.
Jack sighed as he sat on a case, watching the women go into the house.
“Big change, huh?” Nat asked.
He stood back to continue on in his task. “Big, is an understatement.”
“I am sorry about your uncle… her dad…I know what its like..”
“She just lost her dad, she’s being a little clingy. She will get better.” Jack tried to reassure himself.
“She has you, that’s gotta be a big help.” Nat offered.
“No, I just lost mine a year ago,” It pained him to mention it.
“I lost mine about two years ago.” Nat said
“Hey death is part of life, It happens to everyone. Just wish…” he set the last case down, “We should join the girls. Before Snowy gets upset. I mean Icy.”
“Look, anything you need or want, just ask, I’ll make sure you get it.” Nat smiled, “Including the mopeds.”
“We need the mopeds, till I can get a license, than a truck or van. I hope I can get one here. I know I can pass for older. I already have.” His mind swirled, he needed to think.
Gran set up huge breakfast up, as she got out plates, Keely showed Snowy the rooms.
The place was a four bedroom, two and a half baths, living room, den, dining room and kitchen. Back yard is landscaped with a riot of flowers.
“You’re not 15 1/2,” Nat observed.
Jack shook his head, “We will be 15 in November.”Mind giving me your number.” He pulled out his cell, “Hope it works here.”
“We don’t need cell phones.” Nat informed him.
“Why no cells? How do you call each other?”
Nat reached up to his ear, pulling out a small earplug “We each have theses. Works on voice command. Tell it on then tell it who you want to speak to. You can also say ‘all’ and everyone will be on line with you.”
“I’ll stick with a cell too. Not like the only people we will be talking to will have them” he closed the main door heading to the side door,
Nat stuck the ear plug back in place. “Oh!”
“I still have met the head dude to get that type of stuff.”
Nat pulled out an envelope from his shirt pocket, just a little larger than a playing card. He handed it to Jack “You have met the head guy.”
Jack looked in the envelope seeing ID’s and credit cards. “Thanks, so you are the leader of the misfits?”
“No, I am the Director of the Minuteman Project and the leader of Team White.” Nat corrected him. “The only misfit we have is Josh.”
Jack looked closer at the id, he was disappointed it is his legal age. He shoved the envelope in his back pocket, “Add two more to the list.”
“We’ll see.” Nat commented.
Icy picked the front bed room, plopping both bags on her bed. Returning to the dining room she looked at the food disappointed in the selection. The table was filled with a banquet of breakfast foods but there was very little that they could eat.
Jack entered the house with Nat.
“Weren’t sure what you’d like so…a little of everything. ooo, I see it is time to go,” Gran said.
Jack smiled at the women. “All your hard work is appreciated.” He took a seat.
“If you need us, I am across the street.” Gran offered.
“And I am next door” Keely added.
Icy still silent sat giving Jack a look, but forced out the words, “Yes it is lovely.”
Mal snagged a scone as Nat kissed both women on the cheeks as they left.
Mal joined Jack at the table. “Uh oh, rules time…”
Jack waited till the women were gone, removing the food from table tossing it into the fridge leaving only fresh fruits. Icy started eating the fruit.
“Mal, you make it sound like I am going to read them a huge book!” exclaimed Nat.
Jack ate an orange, “Go head and say them.”
Nat avoided the chairs “But she is right. We have a few rules and most of them are for your own good. I hate the term. Okay, here goes, the big one, no using your powers in public … that should go without saying.”
Jack started checking out the house as he listened.
“We try to keep a low profile ”
Mal snorted orange juice.
“Hey, I got better!” Nat complained.
“Okay, we TRY to avoid it, it isn’t like we are going to come down on you or anything.” Nat added.
“So how old is emancipation in California,”’ Jack asked. “Look we know, don’t use your powers, keep to yourself, don’t let your friends find out. We been under those for the past year, I’m the one that messed up twice.” he returned for a banana. He slowly peeled as he eyed Icy eating her assortment of fruits. Snowy eyed Nat.
“Okay…14 is special cases… Yours is special, trust me.” He assured the two.
“Are we allowed to bring who ever we wish to our house?” asked Jack.
“It is your house the moment to stepped inside and NO, there is NO surveillance in the house.”
Jack shot Icy a look of warning, she rolled her eyes at him.
“Okay..rule 2…this one is a no shitter, never break unless death is eminent rule.
This one is all about trust. You two have to trust me, or Mal, to back you up, to even save your lives and we have to trust you to do the same. So, rule two, NEVER, EVER use any Mental power on a teammate.” He was watching Snowy.
Snowy wasn’t phased as she ate her fruit in silence, Jack looking a little more on edge.
“Rule three … almost as important as two… I need to know the extent of all your powers. That is me, not the government.”
Jack became visibly upset, “NO, the deal was she didn’t have to show unless she wanted.”
“I need to know how you can use those powers in a team. Look, I know what you mean, it is very hard to trust someone you just met. I am not saying you have to do it right now, or even next week. You will come to a point you feel you can trust me, or Mal, then you can share.” He tried to calm Jack.
“I don’t care if you see mine, hell I’ll blast something right now.” he stated, “No one pushes her.”
Nat held up a hand, “No one is pushing her. Look, You have a lot of time. No one, not even me, expects you to tell anyone anything. It is only important for consideration in a team. If you have a power to make people not see the whole team, can you see that is useful? Or like Mal, open a hole in a bank vault or wall to let the team thru. Not only can she get a team in, but also out. Honestly, we don’t tell Miller or the government everything. I don’t want them to have that kind of power over us. We share as teammates.”
Snowy huffed as she shot Jack a look. Standing up, she took her plate to the sink. “Tell him jack. We will break it.” she stated while trying to wash the dish with just water.
Jack shot her a look, “Be quiet, let him finish.”
“Because we only have each other to protect us from being used as what Wren fears, weapons. No one is ever going to use us like that, not while I am still living and believe me, I don’t die easily?” he guaranteed.
Mal nodded, “I feel the same way.”
“Don’t mind her, it is something Mal told her, Nothing we can’t work out.” Jack commented, his head hurting.
“I guess you might have gathered by now, Mal is my second in command.
And ICY, anything you tell Mal you don’t want me to know about, just tell her. I trust her completely to do as you ask. And I will never ask her to surrender those secrets unless a total disaster is coming, I mean like a lot of death.”
Icy ignored him, as Jack spoke, “I think she feels she has shared to much already.”
“If you think Mal told me anything about your powers, Ms King, she didn’t. One of my meta powers is…hard to explain. A lot is just observation, but a lot is instinct. Sometimes it just takes a photo. From there, it is experience and deduction based on the way people act, or react.”
Snowy looked at the giant, “I don’t trust you, I barely trust her. Jack seems to think I need to be more direct to you. Any more info you would like? Any more rules you need to tell us?” she spoke.
“This one you already know … don’t trust Miller.” Nat added
“That one is a no brainier, you really think us that stupid!” she was upset.
Jack moved to her side wrapping his arms around, whispering,” be calm.”
“I received a photograph of you after that wreck. I received reports of witnesses about you, Icy. We have some teammates with mental powers and they told me a lot about those. People report being compelled to rescue your father, even if they had family also in the wreckage. I’m sorry, I just put things together.” Nat said.
“Yes I did it and would do it again,” she said defiant.
“Not faulting you, never and I understand. There is nothing I wouldn’t have done to save my mother, even if it meant showing the world I could lift a building.”
“You don’t have to worry about it happening again because there is only one person I will make that mistake for.” she spouted off.
Jack piped in, “Icy, not that much.”
“No one will ever make you do anything you don’t want to do. Period. You don’t even have to do any service at the end of your schooling with us.”
“Please excuse her, she has been without enough sleep” he released her.”May be I can pick up everything for us alone. She needs rest.”
“Computer, order what you need. There’s an icon on the desktop for a ‘shopper’ anything you order that is local will be here sometime later today.” Informed Nat. “Not all of us can go out in public all the time. The mopeds will be here as soon as we can get them. We’ll leave you two alone. and from the bottom of my heart, welcome.”
They looked at each other, neither had touched a computer except to type in school assignments and it had been her father that would set that up for them. “I am sure, we will find a way to make this work out and be no trouble.” Jack tried to assure.
Mal snorted, “We have Josh for trouble!”
Jack whispered to himself, “and us.”
Nat headed for the front door, Mal hanging back “Sorry about not telling you about things he comes up with, we all just kinda got used to it. Watch Sherlock on the BBC and you’ll see the way his mind works…”
“I am sure I can help Icy adjust as soon as I get adjusted,” He didn’t seem convincing.
She handed Jack a card “My cell, if you do need something, call.”
“You can bet on a call.” he gave her a killer smile.
Mal explained, “You’ll never find anyone more sincere than Nat, he worries about not just us and the teams but every meta. He never wants to see us enslaved by governments.”
“We know what other countries do to the gifted. It won’t happen to us.” he assured her. “Still pick me up for the mall, I need to learn the area. That is if he will let you,” he requested.
Mal lifted an eyebrow, “Let me? You really don’t understand him. I’ll swing by about eleven, you can’t miss the car.” Mal headed out the door, Nat was waiting in the hummer
“I’ll be waiting with bells on I just need to get her settled in.”
Mal called back “Normal clothes, please!”
Snow huffed, ” I don’t trust him. I don’t like it here. I want to go home.”
Jack waved and shut the door. Turning to her. “Look, we don’t have many options. We have to make this work till we are able to find a better plan. I can’t do that if you won’t be a little friendlier.”
She plopped on the couch, “You better get me an agent. I need to get back to work. I am not crazy about anything she told me.”
“Snowy, you are not giving this a chance. Just give it a month. Who knows you might find a boy friend or even maybe just maybe a female friend?” he sat next to her holding her hand, then pulled her to his chest, “I am doing the best I can.”
“I will try. My head hurts, it should be soon.”
“I know, you take a nap and I will unpack our gear. Maybe if you sleep, things would be clearer to you. We have to try and hold off as long as we can. We can’t let the change happen yet.”
Jack laid her down on the bed with the duffels still sitting on her bed and hummed her to sleep. He then moved to the fridge scraping all the pancakes , waffles, bacon and sausage and cold eggs into the disposal. He turned it on to leave no evinced. Moving to the sink he rewashed Snowy’s plate and the rest of the dishes.He went to the garage, unpacking only their instruments , mics, and amps, shoving the rest against a wall.
Heading back, he looked at the computer and stared.”Okay what did dad do?”
Twenty minutes later the computer came to life. He stared at the icons, pressing the only one he knew and a blank word document opened. “Well at least I have it on.”
He left the blank document up and went to the thermostat cranking down the heat, disrobing as he walked to the shower to take a nice cold shower. Wrapped in a towel he went to Snowy’s room. Pulling out a clean t shirt and pants. He dressed watching her sleep, wishing he could help her trough the nightmare that he knew played in her mind.
Some hours later, came the sound of tires on the driveway and a low rumble of an engine. Jack headed to the front door to check out the noise. There was a station wagon looking car in the driveway but it looked really old. It was a cream color with wooden side panels. Mal climbed out of the driver’s side, walking up to the front door.
Jack smiled, “Hello beautiful come on in. I just need to get my boots on.”
Mal entered the house, playing with the key ring as she waited.
Jack grabbed his dirty pants taking out the envelope. He pulled out the credit card and his new id, stuffing hers back in. “That is a crappy picture of her, she will never carry it.” He stomped on his boots, shoving his stuff in his back pocket. “I need to find her an agent as soon as we can. I’m ready. Do know what the limit on this thing is?” he asked.
“Before we go,” she said “When I called you Jon, you requested I call you Jack, please have the cutesy to call me Mal rather than beautiful or sweetie or any other expression that might take your fancy. And I suggest you do the same for the other members of the team. Some might get violent otherwise.”
“As you wish.”
“Now, I think the initial is usually set at five thousand.”
“Can you cancel that food order I need to buy things we will eat.” He requested.
Mal informed him, “You can do that from the computer before we go.”
“I got it on, you can?” Jack asked.
Mal raised an eyebrow then crossed to the computer. Using the mouse she dropped any open programs and double clicked the icon at the center of the screen.
He watched what she did.
With a few clicks, she came to the account information and selects “pending orders” she hit the cancel order the looks at him. “You sure?”
“So that’s how that thing works.” He commented, “More than sure. Doubt anyone could shop for us anymore.”
Mal gave him a long look, “You can’t use a computer?” Mal clicked on confirm. The screen popped up, order cancelled.”
“Never had an interest in them, to many other things to keep us busy.” He didn’t know how to explain the real problems they had with them.
“You are going to have some trouble then.” Mal just shrugged “We’ll we got a couple hours, Snowy …er….Icy going to be okay?”
“She will let me know if I am needed.” He assured her.
“Okay, let’s get going then.” Mal headed for the car.
“Can we stop at a small appliance store, we need a few items.” Jack ran ahead of her opening her door.
Mal give him another look before going outside. “I think there’s an HQ or Lowes at the mall.”
He held the door till she got in, then ran around to sit in the passenger seat up front.
“Hint, never open a door for Bell. She’ll assume you want to get into her pants.” And Rachel might slug you. With Bell, it is personality, with Rachel, reflexes.”
Mal started the car. The engine was NOT stock, she turned the key, nothing happen, then still turning the key she stepped on a silver knob protruding from the floorboard, the engine started.
“Then I will take the brute force, I am not changing the way I am.” he chuckled, “I had this one girl try to rip me to shreds till Icy stepped in.”
“With Bell, you’ll be deaf for a week, with Rachel, just unconscious for about the same length of time.” Mal backed out, turning onto the street, pointing the car at the gates.
“I half way wish I knew what you said to her. She is demanding to pick her own labels.” Jack commented.
“What are you looking for first?” she asked.
“I need a high end women’s fashion store.”
Mal half smiled, “That’s NOT in the mall.
“Trust me, I know. First I buy her clothes and shoes and under things. Than we need the food. Than the appliances to cook what I buy. You have a good health food store? Than we can head to a thrift store for me. When does your farmer’s market open here?” He hoped to get everything quickly.
“So, what kind of fashion?
“That’s where you come in. I can’t tell one year fashion from another, but I know what she will wear.”
“There’s one, well, several, in the Mall parking lot. Hmm…I am not the one to ask about fashion, I just go with whatever Wren suggests. I’m a college professor’s daughter not a supermodel’s. She took me to this place up the beach, Pebbles…I love the place.” She considered.
“I’ll just get a couple of dozen outfits and let her go nuts on this card when she feels up to it.”
“As for a thrift store…there’s one near the cottage, just up the beach, we’ll go right by it on the way to Del Mar.”Mal told him.
“Where ever you take me is fine. I need to learn the area. Oh and I need to get new locks.”Jack mentioned. “She can’t go in rags to meet a new agent. They do expect the proper look at all times.”
“Just a sec…On, Nat.”Mal activated her ear wig, “Hey, farmer’s markets? No he way yo Del Mar? 9th street, cool, thanks! Off. Okay, three birds one stone! Why to need new locks?”
“The locks because no one gave us keys and I rather no one have a spare set.”
Mal laughed, “They are in the desk drawer. No other sets. Doesn’t mean Miller will not get in if he wants. Though… I think the one time he did, the guns were a bit much.”
“We definitely need a hardware store than, I need to booby trap the house.”
“Jack, What are you afraid of?” questioned Mal, “Someone hunting you guys?”
“Not sure but our parents traveled a lot with us. We saw 1st hand what they do to gifted. Uncle John refused a few projects because of it.” He looked at the floorboard as they drove. “They always knew we were gifted. They said once someone finds out, that we would be hunted. If nothing else than by asses like Miller, Who knows how many are out there.”
“Last year, two guys broke into Shannon’s place. Her mom killed one, and she turned the other into beef jerky. There was this guy broke into the cottage, Nat nearly ripped his arm off. Miller hushed everything up, not a peep. If someone breaks into your place, call Miller to pick up the bodies.” She continued, “All the housing security has been improved. They added panic buttons in every room. There is an actual SEAL team on call to give us any aid we need. You’re not out in the wild by yourselves any more, WE, me, Nat, any of us, will protect you from anyone, even the government.”
“No worries we can handle our self.”Jack reassured himself, “If I didn’t let us be caught, we wouldn’t be here.”
“You want to get out? You know a safe place for you and her?”
“No, I need time to think.” He rubbed his forehead, “They thought they had time to set stuff up for us. I am not one to hide. This seemed like the best option for now.”
Mal rolled through a street crowded with tourists and beach goers, even at only 68 degrees people are in bathing suits.
He looked at the sun.
“Beautiful day.” she commented.
“I guess.” he said
Mal turned into a strip mall, parking in front of a Salvation Army Thrift store. “Don’t like the sun much, do you?”
He shook his head no as he spoke, “I wanted to do her first.”
“Okay, we can go there first and hit this on the way back.”
Mal backed up, nosing back onto the street. “So we’ll hit the farmer’s market or the clothes first, they are only a few blocks apart.”
“Clothes, it will take the longest.”
“Okay…maybe I’ll pick up a couple things too.” Mal giggled “If I don’t Wren will make floor paint out of me for missing a chance.”
“When do I get an ear thing?”
“OH!” Mal opened the glove box, handing him a piar of matching plastic boxes. “One thing, keep it off if you don’t need anything. Miller is listening and no, it is not a tracking bug. The designer is one of us.”
He looked at the boxes and then at his clothes. Jack shoved them back in the glove box, “I’ll get them when we get back.”
They traveled up the coast quite a way before she turned into a parking lot for a single store. Mal climbed out of the car but doesn’t bother to lock it. Frowning he watched her exit but quickly jumped out to get ahead of her.
“Get used to it, Jack,” she says with a smile, “Not all of us are Wren.”
“Never,” he raced to open the store door for her.
Obviously a very high end boutique, luxurious chairs a loveseat, tea, wine, and small snacks. A sharply dressed woman of about forty met them at the door.
“Miss Thornquist! A pleasure, as always.” The woman greeted Mal. “”Ms Collins not with you today?”
“No, Mrs. Rollins, not today but we have a young girl in desperate need of a few vital items, from the inside out.”
The women looked a little puzzled at the lack of said young girl.
“Do you carry size zero and 5 shoes?” Jack asked, not use to being in this type of store.
Mal touched Jack’s hand “Slow down, Jack…this isn’t off the rack!”
“We just have so much to get and I don’t know when she will awake.” He seemed uncomfortable.
Mal shook her head “Jack, you are shopping for a young woman, nothing is quick about that.”
Mrs. Rollins smiled, “Size zero, anything in particular? Formal, semi formal, dinner party, casual?”
“Yes, guess like six of each, must be the latest greatest but not to revealing more …..” Jack didn’t know how to describe the look she liked.
“Shall we set up a variety perhaps?” Suggested Mrs.’ Rollins as she sort of gave Jack a little look down her nose.
“Yes, I think that is fine, Mrs.’ Rollins, shall we start with formal?” Mal answered for him.
“Please, have a seat” the woman gestures to the loveseat. Annie, formal please.” Mrs. Rollins offered, “May I pour you some tea?”
Jack takes a seat with Mal giving her extra space on the seat as he replied, “No thank you.” Under his breath he grumbled, “This as bad as having to wait out front on the runway.”
The first girl stepped through a curtain, walking toward Jack with a smile. As Mrs.’ Rollins described the outfit, the girl turned, showing it off from every angle.
He didn’t even noting the girls, his eyes on only the clothing. Jack sat back watching the show, speaking up only when he liked one. The picks were very lightly sexy dress, all breathtaking.
A parade of clothes, at least ten of each type, formal, semi- and so on. In some cases, as many as twenty were in a line. As Jack made more selections, the girls started coming out in pairs and even threes.
“I have six, next please” He turned to Mal, “Mal do they have the under things too?”
Mal whispered something to Mrs. Rollins.
The girls started coming back out in bra and panties sets. Jack eyes seemed to shift, quickly he stood and requested, “Mal just pick six okay,” He walked out the door for some sun. It wasn’t the clothes they wore that made him flee but all that body heat in a small area was getting to him.
A few minutes later, Mal came out, “Um…Jack…”
“Coming I have the card.”
She held up a hand to stop him.
“What?” he asked.
Mal informed him, “The bill is $83000.”
He seemed to go a little paler, “Ouch, okay I can put some back. You said five k right?”
The girls who modeled the clothes began to file out carrying boxes and boxes. Mal opened the back of the Woody, as the girls carefully stack things inside.
Mrs. Rollins followed the last, “It was so nice to see you again, Ms Thornquist” She handed Mal a small bag.
“I haven’t paid?”he said a little confused.
Mal smiled as the woman disappeared back inside. “A welcome gift from the team.”
Jack scooped Mal into his arms hugging her, “She is going to love it, thank you.”
“Wow, killer, easy. We might have government backing but well, we have other means too … Wait!” She said as she listened to her earwig.
He released her, “I am sorry, just we are a very touchy feely family and well. It’s how we did heartfelt thanks. Charging it to Miller?”he chuckled.
Mal held up a finger saying, “Cool, We’ll stop by in a bit.”
He tried to organizer his to do list, “I guess food should be last appliance store and thrift store.”
“Okay, farmer’s market! They have the biggest strawberries! And the oranges…I can eat a dozen a day…okay I DO eat a dozen a day. Hey, I like driving Woodrow but that’s a bit of back and forth.” Mal remarked.
“How should I know, I am not from around here.” Jack shrugged his shoulders.
Mal listed the order, “Farmer’s Market, Ace Hardware, then a surf shop, then the thrift shop.”
“Take me where you wish” he paused and asked, “Surf shop?”Why a surf shop?”
“Yeah, a place called Bingo’s, just a pick up for Nat.” She looked into the back of the car. “Man, that’s pretty full…better keep it to a couple crates of veggies and fruit.
“So he is at the beach?”
Mal laughed. “Were else?” Is the sun … no … sun not required … Nat is a beach bum, born and raised. Short of a…no, a hurricane wouldn’t stop him…short of death, he’ll be at or near the beach.”
“Is it a private beach?”
“Nah, Mission Beach.” She said, “Only ‘private’ beach is Blacks…and that because it is hard to get too … and nude.”
“I can do nude,” Jack said. He had never been ashamed of his form, though nude was much cooler. At that moment he wished for cooler.
Mal gave him a look, “Last time, too many creepy old old guys. Farmer market we go” She climbed in the car, starting the engine. “Strawberries, Cherries, oranges, avocado…good time for that stuff..oh, wait, it is California, any time is a good time. You guys don’t eat meat?”
“We will eat fish, lobster, shrimp, things from the lakes and oceans. Some cheeses, goat cheese is agreeable with Snowy and homemade peanut butter on homemade bread. You know, we are health food nuts in our gifted way. Need a good health food store or co op. We don’t use the junk flour from supermarket or eat any processed or can food.”
“I haven’t been to this one but if it is like the others, you’ll find all that stuff.”
Mal barely stopped the car as Jack jumped out moving quickly into the market. He grabbed a little everything. Stopping at the fish cart, he picking out four different kinds, one of any other seafood there, limiting himself to the two creates she had told him.
She picked up a bag of oranges, a half gallon of fresh squeezed, some pineapple and a basket of cherries. She followed Jack around eating cherries as she goes, careful to drop the stones in the waste baskets.
“Mal, can you see if they can just deliver the bread maker, the food processor, the blender, and the espresso machine?”
“You can order all that from the house.” She suggested.
He grunted, “Guess we can just get them now.”
“I’ll order it for you.” Mal offered.
Jack loaded the food, “Thank you, this is taking longer than I thought. It’s hot.”
“I imagine you can get most of them at the hardware place.” She commented, “I got used to it. Maine isn’t exactly the sunny northeast.”
“Okay, not like the one Uncle John went to. Hardware store you got hardware.”
“Hey, big city” Mal grinned as she pulled into Lowes.
Jack again hit the ground, near running. Picking up speed but not too fast, he lapped the isle grabbing new locks, screws, tools, till he hit the wonder of wonders the appliance section. He came to a dead stop, just amazed at all the gadgets.
“Okay, easy, no grill this trip… Woodrow is getting full and we don’t want him to vomit it all up.” Mal cautioned him.
Breaking from his revelry of the isle, he returned to his mad dash loading the cart with a blender, a food processor, bread machine, espresso machine and all the stuff that went in the espresso machine.
“God, how do you drink that mud?” Mal examined the espresso machine, “Give me tea, anytime.”
“It’s the only thing processed we do eat or drink. Snowy got hooked on it when we were kids; it helped us get through things.”
“Hey, we better move, you got fish in the car.” She reminded him.
“Yeah, let’s get an ice chest for them.” He rushed the isles grabbing a cooler, than to the check out.
“Nat swims with them but he doesn’t like his car smelling like them!” she stated as she followed.
“I don’t want them smelling up her clothes, she would kill me.”
“Death is a little harsh don’t you think?” she kidded, “Maybe a nice finger or two?”
“You don’t know Snowy like I do.” He jested back.
“Sure I do! She female, covers anything!”
Making it to the car he grabbed the a cooler, transferring the fish and give them a nice blast of instant freeze hiding his action within the backseat.
Returning to the road, the cars around them slowly packed up in a slow moving cluster, “Aaa! Damn… Rush hour.” Mal avoided the freeway, which looked like a high speed parking lot, a continuous line of ten million cars all moving at 70 MPH bumper to bumper.
Jack hummed softly to himself, the sound sweet, as he tried to calm himself.
Mal pulled into a parking lot. The beach is just a few dozen yards away. “Let me do this pick up, back in a couple minutes.” She hopped out, walking out to the boardwalk. Mal disappeared around the corner and into the crowd.
Jack waited, watching the store front. The sun beaded down on the car. Making a decision he headed for the store hoping for some air conditioning. He bumped into Mal as they both took the corner from opposite directions. She dropped a leather wallet. He picked it up handing it to her.
“Oh… Um.” Mal pointed back at the car, a couple of guys have opened the back and were grabbing boxes. “Oh boys.”
Jack acted without thinking, freezing the boys feet in a block of ice.
“Neither of you look like a size zero.” As she saunter towards them.
Mal shivered, looking at Jack, “What was that?!”
Jack was out the door, head to the thief’s “HEY!” Jack was now thinner and covered in icicles, “Those are my Cuz’s Hand them over.”
The two guys were trying to get their feet out.
“Jonathan!” Mal snapped, closing in. She took a box from the guy, placing it back in the car. Glaring at the two she tells them, “He’s new in town; just in for a visit and you two are ruining it for everyone.” She looked down at the melting ice. “You spilled the cooler!” Mal smiled at the two, taking the other box. “Now let’s just not involve the police, shall we?” Mal leaned towards them. “This one box had $2000 in girls’ clothes in it…that’s grand theft in this state. I think that’ five to ten in 1O. Do we need cops?” Mal kicked at Jack’s ice and it shattered, “Run along boys….”
After a second look at Jack and then a longer one as Mal, they took off running.
Jack grabbed his head, climbing in the car to pick up the cooler, shifting back to normal. “I think I need to go home now.”
Mal settled back into the driver’s seat after closing the rear door. “Well,” she began as she back out, “What was that blast of cold….it was like -20 and I know a -20” Mal held out the wallet to him.
“It happens when I activate some of my powers,” Jack looked confused, “I overreacted. I am sorry. Just things are changing again. I need to get back to Icy.”
“Well, that might not be noticeable in the great white north but in San Diego that was about a common as a snow storm.”
“There might be one.” Jack warned.
“Oh, lovely but it will ruin the tourist season,” She joked, not realizing he was serious.
“You want me to take that for you?” he looked at the wallet.
“Just take it, it’s for you and I need to shift!”
Jack took the wallet, look at it.
“It doesn’t bite, open the damn thing.”
Jack opened it up. Inside were two drivers licenses, and four credit cards, the pictures on the license are very good and clear. The name on them was Jack and Snowy but the last name was Hartford. Both had a birthday two years earlier then real. Included was also a pair of birth certificates, born in Alaska, making them twins. “OH MAN this is perfect!” he exclaimed.
“Nat told you, we’d take care of you.”
“Just have to get Snowy on board, she is changing too.” he informed her.
“We all have them, just in case the government gets stupid. You’ll find out other stuff as we go along.”
“That is between us.” added Jack.
“Between ONLY the Minutemen, even Mark was up for it and he’s a military asshole. Okay, not totally and asshole…but partly.”
“Nat said you could keep secrets, I don’t want anyone knowing we are changing.” He was concerened.
“Sometimes, we have to. You mean the ice cube look?”
“Yes I haven’t got full control yet , getting there”
“I won’t tell anyone if you don’t want me to.”
“Yeah and Snowy is going through a lot. Ben was always my back up with her.”
“Ben?”
“Her bbf, besides me”
“Where is he?”
“Hopefully, safe back in Gaylord with his family. No idea what the government might do to him.”
“Is he meta too?” she asked.
“He didn’t know.” He lied to her, feeling guilty as he did, “No, we are it in Gaylord. At least in my school.” He lied again, he curled to the open window looking out.
“The why would the government care?”
“They might think, they were hiding us, than start digging around to find more. My folks said they would be nothing they wouldn’t do to get their hands one.”
Mal started back down the rocky peninsula, “That’s not our government. Nat would know. We’ve been looking into…a group…that we think hunts metas.”
“If you where raised, taught it, how much trust can you have when the golden goose flies in at your lowest point.”
Mal followed the wall to the gate
“I trust you, you have loving kind eyes. Snowy doesn’t trust anyone but me.”
“Watch it with the eyes, killer,” she said as she pulled into the driveway.
“It is what made me agree, it was your eyes “fact is fact”. ”
Mal shook her head. “Let unload this pile…”
“I’ll get it.” Jack open the back, grabbing some of the clothes and headed to the door.
A golf cart with a security guard driving rolled up “Miss Thornquist”. He didn’t look like a ‘normal rent a cop, this one looked hard as steel and was armed with something more than a teaser. Climbing from the cart, he walked over to her, holding out a small white card. “From Miss Collins.”
Mal took it with a smile. “Thanks, Ray.”
Jack continue with the multiple loads, unloading the car.
Mal came back to Jack. “So, Icy up yet?” She flipped the card back and forth against a finger.
“She in the bathroom. She will be out in a moment. She knows we are home.”
“HEY You!” An attractive black girl was marching across the street toward Jack.
Mal looked out to the street ….”Ah…Bell …”
Snowy appeared in the doorway wearing one of Jack’s flannel shirts.
Jack called to her, “The Team bought you all this Snowy. Open them.” He turned to the young lady approaching.
Before Mal can say anything Bell asked in a lot quieter voice, “I hear you guys play.”
“Yes, we more than play.” Jack eyes lit up.
Mal stepped over to Snowy and handing her the card.
Bell smiled, which almost knocks Mal on her ass “You feel like jammin?”
“When don’t I! But I need to unpack the food. Head in the garage pull out what you need. This will only take a second.”
Snowy looked up from the boxes, a tear in the corner of each eye. She whispered, “Thank you,” as she took the card. The card has the number of a nationally known talent agency, one number is handwritten.
“Shit,” Bell says “I need acrostic or electric?”
Jack shoved the crates in the fridge, leaving the door open and headed to the Garage.
He pulled the other cases out, “I need a good drummer too.” He handed her a case. Quickly he uncrated other instruments, Drum set read: “Snowy and the drifters.”
“Philly alley stink? you gotta come over to my place…or you gonna wake the babies. Babies, them what cry when I jam! All does people t’other side the wall. They call da cops, cops can’t come in here, dey get all mad. I got me a studio, Soundproof.”
“Nat said we had the acoustics garage, so I think he would make it sound proof for the neighbors.”
Bell laughed “Ain’t if I playin’!
“Who cares, I need to play, what do you know how to play?” Jack asked.
“You guys ain’t into the lounge lizard shit are ya?”
“We are into everything.”
Bell asked, “You did hear I say STUDIO, right? Recordin’ gear and all.”
“We got to see if we work first.” Jack wished Ben was there he was the one that handled requiting players.
“I ain’t no street musician no more.”
Jack stated, “I am not going to get recorded unless everything is perfect”
“Ah, shit, I was hopin’ you could tell ME to stop tryin’ ta get it perfect!”
“Just need the right players that can join with Snowy,” He commented, “Hell no, never stop trying for perfection.”
“Hey, you gotta prove you self ta me, not the other way around. Bell pointed out.
“Name a song on the radio, just pick anything.” He was willing to try.
Mal spoke up, “I would say I’ll leave you in good hands … but it is Bell .”
Bell snarled at her “Kiss my ass, clear girl!”
Mal laughed stepping over to Jack.. “Don’t get all weird now ..” She leaned over and kissed him lightly on the lips. “That’s just a welcome.”
“Shit, clear girl…robbin the cradle?”
Icy stood in the doorway watching the three.
“Says Q’s favorite wet dream.” remarked Mal.
“Fuck you, Mal!” cursed Bell.
“Truth hurts.”
“What is age but a number” Jack added
Mal waved as she headed for the car. She called back, “In this state, so is 15 years.”
Jack watched the car pull away.
Bell eyed Jack, “So…what’s up? Ice queen two don’t go kissin’ on no boys .”
Icy looked at the girl “I’ll kiss any boy I please.” Mistaking Bell’s words to be aimed at her.
Jack watched Icy go back in the house and back at Bell.”I need to help her, we haven’t unpacked yet. Think we could hook up tomorrow?”
“You better make sure one ain’t surfer boy…you be at 60000 feet wonderin’ how bad it gonna hurt when ya hit da ground.” Bell shrugged, “Whatever. What flew up her butt?”
“Hey she just lost her dad a day ago, cut her some slack.”
“Aw, man, sorry…dat suck.”
“Yeah , he dies and we come here, just waiting for his ashes. She is my last living relative.”
“I got some practicin’ ta do, catch ya tomorrow.”
“NOON?” he asked
“Shit, who get up dat early? 12:05.”
“Okay 12:05″Jack slapped his head. Jack took out his cell phone, calling Mal.
Mal answered, “You forgot them, didn’t you?”
“How did you ever guess?”
“I duuno, a phone call instead of a comm call?”
“I do like my back up, it’s more private.”
“You ever hear of the NSA? Because they have sure heard of you.” Mal stated.
“If you head back this way, no need to come now. I have a crisis on my hands.”
“Good, I was just getting ready to step into the shower, gotta wash off the fish.”
“Enjoy the water. I need to tend to Snowy.” Jack smiled.
“See ya tomorrow.” Mal said.
Jack hung up the phone, heading into the house. He entered her room as she hung up the clothes.
“Snowy she didn’t mean anything by it.” He assured her.
“Jack my head still hurts.”
“Yeah, we are doing it again.” He hung his head, “Mal saw Jack Frost true form, I lost it today.”
“It is almost over.” She tried to convince herself, “We are both gaining more control. The change has to be over by now.”
“No, this is the worse than it has ever been. We are still in change. We got to get ready for it.”
They gave each other a hug, separating to put things in order, she taking care of her clothes, him in the kitchen making them some real food.
Jack slapped his forehead again, “I forgot the sun block.”
The two raised their voices in two different rooms singing amazing grace. Snowy heartbroken at her lose. Jack placed the food on the table, eyeing the computer. Sitting in front of the computer he stared at it blankly. His perspiration coming dangerously close the machine. He cranked the AC as low as he could.
Making the evening as normal as he could for her, he tried to ease her in their new home. They ate and practiced songs, going through the sheet music. She stayed calm as she tried to adjust, her head pounding.