Chapter 18

The Calling Cards

When we headed to Mrs. Dallas office, I was hoping we were going to see the mountain shift like I saw three weeks ago. The mountain was already shifted and her door was wide open and waiting for us.

Inside, Mrs. Dallas was standing next to her desk. She had a note clutched in her hand and a curious look on her face. She welcomed us in with a smile then had the door shut behind us.

“Have a seat Mr. Jonathan Young, and Mrs. Shelly Wilson.” She said.

As our parents sat down me and Rachel stood behind them.

“I apologize for interrupting your reunion this evening, but we have some urgent business that needs parental permission to execute.” Mrs. Dallas said.

She then handed my dad the note she was holding. I could only make out a few things in the brief second I was able to read it. But my dad took the liberty of reading it aloud.

“To Mrs. Dallas, Dean of MVA…

I would like to speak to a student of yours at our offices in town when it is convenient for you and the party involved. We have questions regarding our current investigation on a suspect. Please write back as soon as possible about Ryder Young visiting me. If we do not hear back soon we will make a more formal request on his behalf.

Ranger Graham, lead Investigator of the SPD.”

“Why does he want Ryder?” Mrs. Wilson asked.

“That is a good question. Perhaps you could enlighten us, Ryder?” Mrs. Dallas asked me.

If there was a moment where the dean of your school asked you a question you didn’t wish to answer… this was it.

“He is probably going to ask me how I captured Maxwell White the first time, and if I could do it again…”

“Maxwell White?” My dad asked.

“First time?” Asked Mrs. Dallas.

“How did you capture Maxwell White?” Asked Mrs. Wilson then she finished: “Never mind, I do not want to know. What we should be wondering is how does he know it was you?”

“That is a good question, did you tell him, Ryder?” My dad asked.

“No, only my friends and Mr. Tony knew what happened. He contacted Graham on the video screen and told him to move Maxwell White to the super prison, but it was too late. He told him one of his students was the reason why they captured White. But he didn’t give any other information.” I said.

Mrs. Dallas rubbed her face with her hands before she spoke. “So Graham has been trying to figure out which student it was so they could do it again. But how did he do it…?”

“Could Tony have told him?” Mrs. Wilson asked.

Mrs. Dallas shook her head. “No, Anthony wouldn’t have. He found out another way.”

“Are you sure Almira? Tony has a history…” Mrs. Wilson said.

“Mrs. Dallas in this school, Mrs. Wilson. And no Anthony would never help the SPD. He’s too much of a rebel. He probably only contacted Graham to stop Maxwell White from escaping and killing someone else. Radar hates the SPD but he hates criminals more.” Said Mrs. Dallas.

Rachel kept her silence while this conversation went on. Neither of us really knew what to say, but I was hoping to hear more information on why Tony didn’t like the SPD.

“So what are we going to do then?” My dad interrupted. “Are we going to send Ryder to the SPD?” He asked.

“If we don’t, he won’t ask nicely next time.” Replied Mrs. Dallas. “You read the message, next time they will send a formal request. That means next time will be a summons. It would be best to send him now while he is friendly.”

“Are you going to send him alone?” Rachel asked.

“No! That is why I asked both of your parents to come. I need permission to send Ryder, and Rachel to the SPD. Will you give it?” Mrs. Dallas asked our parents.

Mrs. Wilson was the first to answer; “What if we refuse?”

“Then next time when the summons comes, Ryder will have to come alone. At least this way we keep some form of sway in this matter.” Mrs. Dallas replied.

Mrs. Wilson and My dad looked at each other, then shrugged. “I guess we have no choice.” My dad stated.

“Would you be willing to accompany Ryder to the SPD, Rachel?” Mrs. Dallas asked her.

“Of course! When do we go?” Rachel answered without hesitation.

“I will give them a reply. Then they will send us a date. When that comes I will meet with you again.” Mrs. Dallas said. “For now, Ryder, and Rachel you may leave my office. I need to speak to your parents, and have them fill out permission forms.”

We acknowledged her request and said goodbye to our parents. As we headed out the door I turned and asked Mrs. Dallas a quick question.

“Can you give me permission for dueling? I have a feeling I will have people requesting daily here pretty soon. Might as well get it over with…”

“If I give you permission, then any student will challenge you. There are rules according to accepting that challenge, are you sure you are ready for it?” Mrs. Dallas asked me.

“Yes, your husband can be my witness… I am ready!” The words came out of my mouth, but I didn’t feel any regret. I knew that after the training program Nitro and Mr. Dallas put me thru, I was ready for anything a teenager threw at me.

“Yes, and I agree with you, Ryder. Just wanted to make sure you thought you were ready. But heed my warning, the former number one: Stephanie Thompson is no pushover. She is also very stubborn and won’t give up easily. She will challenge you the moment she finds out your unlocked. Be ready!” Mrs. Dallas said.

I nodded and began to turn around but Mrs. Dallas spoke up again. “Oh, and my husband says Hi!”

I turned and smiled, then Rachel and I left the office from inside the mountain. As we stepped outside the door I could feel my stomach growling with the rumbling of the mountain.

“Is it dinner time? Because I’m starving!” I asked Rachel.

She laughed and grabbed my hand and we ran to the cafe.

When we arrived in the cafe, there were only a few students left behind. But in the corner sitting by himself was one guy I was hoping to see.

Jared was sitting at a round table by himself, reading from the page I gave him before I left. As I came up to him though, he noticed me and jumped from his chair.

“Ryder! Dude where have you been?” He asked as he gave me a huge bear hug.

Practically taking my breath away, I was unable to answer him till he put me down.

“You have seriously changed everything for me, bro. I don’t know how I could repay you.” He said to me.

Before I could answer, Rachel spoke. “Jared… I am really sorry about how we treated you when Ryder disappeared. Will you forgive us?” She asked him.

Jared smiled. “Are you kidding? I was worried about him too. I’m just glad he’s okay. Did you practice your power, Ryder?”

“You have no idea… what about you? Hows your new stuff working out?” I asked.

Jared beamed at me. “You have given me hope. Something most fire powers don’t get too often.”

“I’m glad I could return the favor,” I said with joy. “I’m hungry, is it okay if we leave you be for now and you can show me your new skills later?” I asked.

He looked at Rachel then back at me. Then he got this mischievous grin on his face. “Of course! Come by my room sometime later and I’ll show you.”

I rose an eyebrow toward him for his grin, but I am definitely not going to bring up any unwanted conversation.

Rachel and I said our goodbyes and grabbed some food. As we sat down and started eating we began to notice that most of the students that were there when we arrived had left. Now it’s just us, Jared, and two other students who were far enough away we couldn’t hear each other’s conversations.

Rachel sat right next to me as we ate. Everything was going well in my mind. I just spent three weeks working my tail off to hone my new powers, I now have a wicked six pack, and the girl I have liked and never thought I had a chance with is sitting next to me willingly.

“So now that you are number one, does that mean your too cool for us now?” Rachel said with a laugh.

I just stared at her while I ate my food. My sarcasm was going into overdrive…

“You know it! Now that I’m number one, girls are finally going to come my way. Dustin should be careful because all of his eighteen girlfriends will try to date me now…” I said in my most sarcastic conceded voice possible, and after a minute we both started laughing so hard that food was almost coming out our noses.

“What are you going to do when girls do come running?” Rachel asked seriously while she chewed her food.

My mind is racing. “Is she asking because she wants to know where we stand?” I asked myself in my mind. “I wanna know where we stand,” I asked myself, but I was certainly not going to ask her.

“Well… What would you do?” I asked

Rachel gave me the look I gave her a minute ago. The are you seriously asking me that question look.

“Ryder, a different guy has asked me out every week since we got here. Don’t even get me started with what happened before we got here.” Rachel said in a sad woe is me kind of way.

I laughed at the idea of guys lining up to be where I am right now.

“What’s so funny?” Rachel asked me with a slight grin.

“Nothing…” I said trying to hold in my laugh. “I’m just surprised I haven’t been beaten to a pulp yet,” I said while giggling.

Rachel held it in as long as she could, then she about spits her drink from laughing… “Wonder what they are going to do now that I am hanging out with the new number one.”

“Probably weep and moan. Who knows they may hold a memorial service because you’re off the market…” I said. Now that was not what I meant to say, but sometimes words come out before you think about them. It doesn’t help when you have been asleep for a week.

Rachel just looked at me mouth closed and no movement. Then she asked; “Are you saying we are dating Ryder?”

If there was ever a moment when you needed a good interruption, this was it. Strangely enough one came, just wasn’t one I was expecting.

A young, dark-skinned woman came up to us. She had long dark hair pulled up into a ponytail and very deep brown eyes. Her clothes looked like something they were showing in the newest magazines. She was very pretty, and hard to look away from.

“Rachel, has Ryder come out of the H-wing yet?” She asked.

Rachel seemed to be distracted when this girl asked because just by listening to her voice I could tell Rachel wasn’t looking at the person.

“Yes Stephanie, he has. Can you leave him alone though? He just literally got out.” Rachel stated.

Then something clicked in my mind. “Wait! Hold up! This is Stephanie Thomson? The person who was looking for me?” I asked.

Stephanie then noticed me. Her surprised face was almost amusing, but also kind of offensive. It was the kind of look that said; “This guy is the number one? No way!”

“Your Ryder Young?” She asked me.

“Yep! I understand your surprise. I’m kind of surprised myself, to be frank.” I said with a shrug.

“I’m not surprised, in a manner that you may think. Just by looking at your physical appearance, I can tell you have a decent frame. What surprises me is that your the guy who no one had ever heard of till three weeks ago.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“You don’t seem invisible like I assumed you would be. You kind of stick out due to your body…” Stephanie said.

Now my mind is either really foggy or really clear because several things were happening at the moment. One was Rachel looked ticked… Another in my twisted confused mind, it sounded like Stephanie was hitting on me.

“Is there something you need Stephanie?” Rachel asked grudgingly.

“Yes! Ryder, can you duel yet?” She asked without a second to spare.

“Sure! When, and where?” I asked ignorantly.

Stephanie smiled… Not sure yet if that is a devilish smile or an innocent one.

“You’re cute! No wonder you have been hanging out with him Rachel. We have to submit a request for battle. Then when it is accepted we can be told when. The where is always the same. It will take place in the arena. There will be a teacher to judge our duel and anyone who wants to watch has to pay the entrance fee.” She said to me.

First thought in my mind was; “Definitely devilish!

“People pay to watch our fight?” I asked.

She then winked at me. She is really laying it on. “Of course! The new number one versus the former. This duel will be a huge seller. We may have people from around the country showing up. Sponsors would love to see it hoping they can score the next big thing.” She said.

“We get sponsored?” I asked in surprise.

“Well, yeah! Where have you been Ryder? When in the academy, we can sign sponsors to represent us. You can get a clothing deal, a shoe deal, even an energy drink or food deal. I have five sponsors right now. Because of them, I hardly ever have to buy clothes. They just send me the new trends and I start them here.” She said so matter of factly.

Rachel was finished with her food, and her arms were crossed. Stephanie must have noticed and seemed to enjoy the attitude Rachel was giving off.

“Anyways Ryder, I will submit the application. Then we can meet up so I can give you some information. How does that sound sweetie?” Stephanie asked me with a nice grin on her face.

“Okay! Sounds good!” I replied.

Then Stephanie waved and left me and Rachel at the table.

I looked at Rachel to find she was just looking down at her plate. She looked livid, and it was easy to tell why at this point.

“You okay Rachel?” I asked.

Without hesitation she replied; “Yep, finish your food. I’ll see you in class tomorrow Ryder. Goodnight!” Rachel said rather abruptly.

“Goodnight…” I said but she was far enough away I doubt she heard me.

I sat there for a second, and many thoughts were flying thru my mind. But the main words that came out of my mouth was all I could really say; “What in the world just happened?”