Alchemist Academy: Book 1 Read online

  My heart pounded as I thought about my dad dancing with my mom in our old kitchen. I had grabbed at their legs and joined in. I couldn’t remember why we’d been dancing, but they had seemed so happy that night. That was the last night I had seen my mom.

  I walked to the kitchen table, and the presents sitting there brought me back to the present. I had gifts to wrap.

  The first gift was a new video game of some sort; I didn’t really pay attention. Then, the trading cards Spencer loved to collect. I stuffed some paper over them and plopped them on the pile. Next I pulled out an iPad. The white box gleamed and the Apple logo shone as I ran a finger over it. I had asked for this gift, laughing, knowing I would never get it, or any present for that matter. To give it to Spencer felt like another punishment. I would’ve read books and used it for learning, while he’d just download games and muck it up with Cheetos residue.

  I opened the box and slid out the iPad. It shook in my hands as I thought about Spencer throwing it around carelessly. Janet knew he wouldn’t care about this gift as much as I would. She knew I wanted it, but she was giving it to him, and even worse, making me wrap it for him. I could hear her stupid laugh in my head and I felt rage building inside me.

  The screen cracked.

  I gasped and looked down at it, bringing it close to my face in disbelief. It couldn’t have been me. I hadn’t pressed hard, not hard enough for cracks to spread over the whole screen. I stared at it and wiped the fingerprints off the screen like I was cleaning up a crime scene. I knew I had broken it and I knew it was my anger again. I must have some uncontrollable muscle spasms when I got mad, I figured. This time I hadn’t even gotten that mad. It must be getting worse.

  I glanced around the kitchen and stuffed the iPad back in the box, making sure to seal it back in place. With any luck, Janet would blame the broken glass on shipping.

  With the gifts wrapped, I went to the back yard.

  A couple of white folding tables had been placed on the grass. A few bags lay on them, full of Spencer’s decorations. The backyard wasn’t very big, but it had a white privacy fence around the perimeter, plenty of space to hang the decorations.

  I rummaged through the bags and was pulling out the tablecloths as I heard my neighbor start up a lawnmower. I sighed and realized I’d be dealing with that noise the whole time. The air started filling with dust and bits of grass as that unseen person pushed the mower through the grass. I saw the top of his head move past the fence, brown hair bobbing over the white pickets. Mrs. Crabtree had probably gotten herself another landscape boy.

  I turned back to the decorations, a Star Wars theme this year. I shrugged and draped the cloth over the table. I pretended I was setting up another kid’s party. Maybe the nice girl down the street, who was about Spencer’s age. She’d appreciate these decorations.

  Lawn Boy was doing another pass near the fence when the lawnmower sputtered and died. He glanced at me before he disappeared behind the fence but in that split second I caught his eyes and part of his face and wondered what the rest of him looked like. Oh, well, let him figure out that mower and I could get these decorations up.

  Next, the streamers. The vinyl fence seemed as good a place as any other. I pulled out pieces of tape and stuck them on my lip. I unwound the streamer and yanked a strip off my lip.

  “Ouch!” It had ripped some skin off my lip and I tasted blood in my mouth. “Son of a—”

  “You okay?”

  I fell backward and landed on my ass.

  “Oh my God, you’re bleeding.” Brown Hair leaped over the fence and landed on the grass next to me.

  He was gorgeous, and I stammered for words. I touched my lip and looked at the blood on my finger.

  He reached down, took my hand and pulled me to my feet.

  “Who are you?” I asked.

  “I’m Mark, your neighbor.”

  “No, you’re not. Mrs. Crabtree lives there.”

  “Not anymore. My mom just bought the house.”

  “I didn’t know she was selling it.”

  “My mom has a way of convincing people.” He laughed, and his bright smile made my stomach warm. He looked down at our hands, still entwined. I let go of his and he smiled again. “You have a first aid kit in the house?” Mark looked behind me.

  I sucked on my bottom lip and felt the damage with my tongue. It didn’t feel too bad, and the salty, metallic flavor was already dissipating. Could you bandage a lip? Besides, I didn’t know this guy. I wasn’t about to go inviting him into my house.

  “I’m fine.”

  “You sure? Let me take a look.”

  His hand touched the side of my face and I jerked back. I didn’t like being touched, even if it was some hot guy with his hands on me. “Sorry,” I said. “I just need to get these decorations up.”

  “Well, let me help you. Decorations can be dangerous, you know?”

  I stared at him, trying to use my best psycho detector. He was about my age. His clothes were stylish. Clean shoes. Most importantly, his eyes had some sorrow in them … even if he tried to mask it with his perfect smile. I couldn’t tell if he was being honest with me, but he didn’t seem dangerous.

  He chuckled. “I only came over here because I heard a yelp.”

  “I didn’t yelp.” My hands went to my hips.

  “Call it what you like. It sounded like a yelp to me. Like a puppy calling for its mom.”

  “My mom’s dead.”

  Well, that happened. I couldn’t spend one minute in a normal conversation before ruining it. He’d probably leap back over the fence.

  His expression blanked out for a second and then he looked hurt. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it. I lost my dad a long time ago.”

  A fellow half-orphan. I wondered if he’d gotten the fairy tale evil step-parent to boot.

  The subject needed to be changed away from my mom. “I don’t think you’re a psycho.” The words tumbled out of my mouth and I felt even dumber.

  He ran his hand through his hair and smiled. “You never know. I could change on you at any moment.”

  “Just so you know, I know kung fu.”

  “Ooh. I’d better be on my best behavior, then.”

  I grinned and felt something deep in my gut. I wanted to keep the banter going, but I took out my phone and looked at the time. Crap, I had ten minutes to get all the decorations up. The chatting would have to wait.

  “Get those streamers up on the fence,” I commanded.

  “Yes, ma’am.” He saluted.

  I rolled my eyes. “I’m Allie, by the way.”

  “Pleasure.” He bowed, then went about putting up the streamers.

  I busied myself with setting up the tables and organizing Spencer’s presents. And every chance I got, I watched Mark. His fit body showed through his thin t-shirt and I wondered what he might look like with that shirt off.

  The thought of it shocked me. Not the image I conjured up, but my actually thinking it and conjuring it. I had to stop watching him.

  We finished with a few minutes to spare. I’d have to go to my hideout soon. I didn’t want to be anywhere near the celebration of Spencer’s birth. “Thanks, Mark.”

  “No problem. It’s kind of fun setting up a kid’s party.”

  “Not if you knew the kid.”

  “I don’t have a sibling, but I’d be happy to help out with their birthday.”

  I didn’t want to explain my crappy situation. I’d probably already given him enough reasons to be wary of me with the whole “my mom’s dead” thing. I didn’t need to pile my home problems on top of it.

  “He’s my stepbrother,” I said with disdain. I hoped it didn’t come off as too bitchy, but I couldn’t help it.

  He nodded. “My mom never remarried.”

  “Well, thanks for your help. But I’d better get going….”

  “How does a guy go about getting an invite to a party like this? With all these decorations we put up, I bet it’s going to be a
smash.”

  He wasn’t making it easy. I might as well scare him off. It wasn’t like he’d be interested in me anyway. “I’m not invited to the party, so I can’t really invite you. I have to stay away until it’s over.”

  He raised an eyebrow, probably waiting for me to say I was joking. God, I wish I was, I thought. His expression changed to a question as he realized I wasn’t.

  “If they aren’t expecting you to be here, then they won’t know you’re missing.”

  “Missing?” I did know some kung fu, and stepped sideways in a defensive stance.

  He laughed. “You aren’t the trusting type, are you? I meant we should ditch this party together. It’s my first day in Summerford. Maybe you can show me around?” He raised his hands. “I promise, I’m not some psycho. I just find you interesting. I think it’d be cool to get to know you better, seeing as we’re neighbors now.”

  My face flushed. I turned away.

  “Mark?” a woman’s voice called. I knew that voice and turned back around.

  “Over here, Mom.”

  A familiar stern face peered over the fence. “Oh, you found a friend already?”

  “Mom, this is Allie.”

  Her eyes narrowed and I wondered if she recognized me from school.

  “Hi, Ms. Duval,” I said. “We met at school today.”

  Mark’s eyes went wide. He stared at his mom. After a few seconds, I wondered if I should say something more.

  Her gaze passed over him and landed on me. “Oh, yes,” she said, and smiled. “Allie, nice to see you again.”

  “I can’t believe you.” Mark stepped closer to his mom.

  “It’s time to get back home. I will not have foot-tall grass growing around a house I own, and you’ve got a lot of unpacking to do.”

  “Just a minute. And I only have one bag, Mom.”

  “Mark, now.”

  He took a deep breath and turned to me. “Sorry, Allie. We’ll have to postpone that date.” Then he leaned in close and whispered, “I’ll meet you at the side of your house in thirty minutes.” Winking, he darted to the fence.

  Date? Meet him in thirty minutes, and he was hiding it from his mom? I hated being part of anybody’s lies, but I felt trapped.

  “Alright … nice meeting you,” I offered lamely.

  He climbed over the fence and hopped down to his side.

  I stared at the fence, breathing through my mouth and thinking of the things he’d said and done. I was probably reading too much into it, but I almost thought he’d been flirting with me. Actually, I was sure of it.

  The front door of the house opened.

  Janet was home.

  I ran through the kitchen and opened the door to the basement, eased the door closed behind me, and tiptoed down the stairs. Light was shining in through the small basement window, illuminating the pile of laundry next to the mattress on the floor. Just like I’d left it last time, and the musty smell still remained. How pleasant.

  I reached behind the paint can on a shelf and pulled out my tattered copy of A Tale of Two Cities, then rushed back up the stairs and inched the door open. I watched as Janet walked into the kitchen. Quietly, I crossed the family room to the side door. I knew she hadn’t noticed me because she hadn’t screamed, nor was I given some mundane, last-second chore to do before her horrible friends arrived.

  The side yard had grass on the ground, and was only a few feet wide. I liked it there. A fence enclosed the whole thing and I found it to be a quiet place I could escape to and read.

  The loud air conditioner kicked on next to me. So much for being quiet. I sighed and moved away from it. If I got lost in the book enough, I wouldn’t hear it.

  Who runs the air conditioner when it’s only seventy-five degrees?

  Fifty pages in, I set the book down and looked at the top of the fence. It had to have been thirty minutes by now. The party guests had arrived and a cackle of laughter flooded out from Janet and her friends. The little one should be opening his presents soon, and the thought of them finding the broken iPad sent my heart racing.

  There was a tap on the fence and my new best friend jumped over, landing next to me. Warm air blew past me and carried with it the distinct smell of Mark. Like soap with a hint of something else I couldn’t place.

  “I came to rescue you.”

  A lump formed in my throat and I croaked out, “I don’t need a rescue.”

  Mark glanced back at the gate blocking the party from me. “I just spotted your little brother opening presents.”

  “Stepbrother.”

  “Fine, let’s get out of here. I promise to get you back before either of our moms notice.”

  “Stepmom.”

  He reached out and offered both hands. I placed mine in his and he pulled me all the way up to my feet. Wiping off my butt, I glanced down the narrow fence line toward the sounds of the party. I heard the oohs and aahs from the crowd as Spencer opened another present.

  “Come on,” Mark said. His soft hand enveloped mine. I normally didn’t like it when someone touched me, but this… this was okay.

  I followed him to the front gate and he let go of my hand to open it. He’s just being neighborly, I reminded myself. Then why is he looking at me like that? Each time he did it, my stomach fluttered and I sucked in a quick breath.

  We walked past all the parked cars and down the street lined with houses. Each house was the same design, but each owner seemed to take pride in their lawn and the small landscaping differences.

  “Where to?” he asked.

  I shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “Oh, come on. There has to be somewhere you go, somewhere unique.”

  My eyes lit up. “There is, but you have to promise to not tell anyone else about it. It’s sort of my little space away from it all.” I gave him a stern look and waited for his nod.

  “I can keep a secret.”

  My hands grasped at each two-by-four nailed into the tree. At the top of the makeshift ladder, the hatch door flopped open with a little push and I climbed through into the room. I took quick inventory of anything that might be embarrassing. I grabbed my worn copy of Fifty Shades of Grey and tossed it out the window just as Mark’s head popped through the hatch door.

  “Aren’t you a bit old to have a tree house?” Mark asked, looking around.

  “You can be seventeen and still enjoy stuff, you know.”

  He hoisted himself into the room and hit his head on the ceiling. “Ouch.” He rubbed his head.

  I saw judgment spreading across his face as he scanned the room. It had a single chair by the window and a pile of books stacked next to it.

  “It’s awesome. Did you build this?”

  “Nah, I was just walking in the woods one day when I found it.”

  “So, naturally, you claimed it?”

  “I guess. I’ve never brought anyone out here before.”

  “Until now? Well, I’m honored to be your first guest.” Mark bowed and then walked to the window. “You can see the rooftops from here. Isn’t that red one yours?”

  “Yeah, I think so.”

  “Oh my god, you’ve read To Kill a Mockingbird?” He picked up my tattered copy.

  “Yeah, like five times.”

  “Atticus Finch is a hero of mine.”

  “Most of the boys around here wouldn’t know Finch from Potter.”

  “I’m not most boys.” He set the book down and stared out the window. He had a wonder to his look, like he absorbed everything with an infectious positivity. Even the dark clouds around me felt brighter with him around.

  “No, you’re not. Where did you come from?”

  “We … well, we….” he stammered, then tried again. “We came from Baker, California. Home of the world’s largest thermometer. What about you?”

  “I’ve lived here most of my life.”

  “You like Summerford?”

  “God, no. The people here are awful. The school is terrible.” I didn’t know why I
was trying to make it sound so bad. Was I trying to be cool?

  “It can’t be all bad. A pretty girl like you… In a town like this.”

  His calling me “pretty” set off a mixture of alarms. Bridget had mastered the use of sarcasm to such a high degree that it felt natural to question any compliment sent my way. I touched my straight black hair and looked at my pale skin.

  “I….” I didn’t know what to say, and glanced at the hatch.

  “You don’t take compliments well, do you? What would one of the boys in this town say? How about, ‘You look as fine as a polished John Deere’?”

  I chuckled. “They might say, ‘You look as fancy as a pig in a parade.’”

  He laughed. “I have no idea what that means.”

  “I don’t either.” I smiled. I couldn’t help but smile when he did.

  He took a step closer to me. “I know we just sort of met, but I feel like I know you. Is that crazy?” he asked.

  His soft eyes melted my insides. I felt the same comfortable way. It seemed stupid, but I did. Like an idiot, I wanted to tell him all about my family and my problems at school. Of course, I bit my tongue.

  Mark turned from the window and rubbed his stomach. He took in a quick breath and opened his mouth but then closed it.

  “You okay?” I asked.

  “I’m fine.” He took his hand off his stomach. “I’m sure it’s nothing, but I just have to ask you something about my mom. She visited you today at school, right?”

  “Yeah, for some strange chemistry experiment. She had each of us mix up something.”

  He moved closer. “What did she have you do?”

  “We poured something that looked like water onto a pile of flaky stuff in a bowl.”

  He rubbed his chin. “And then what happened?”

  “Why does it matter?” I crossed my arms.

  “It’s the difference between our relationship being simple or complicated. Did it just melt into a liquid?”