John Maloney's Arc

Chapter 2 of 3

The next morning, John was still turning the bracelet around his wrist when a girl named Samantha jogged up to him on the blacktop. She was out of breath and smiling too wide. "John," she said, "I was thinking — could you come to my pool party?" John froze. His power buzzed awake, ready to peek inside her head and see if the invite was real. Samantha held out a glittery card covered in pearls and seashells. A purple rose curled in the corner. "It's mermaid themed," she said. "I only invited my closest friends. You're one of them." John read the swirly letters twice. His power pushed harder against his skin. He pushed back. He thought of the bracelet. He thought of choosing to trust. "Okay," he said. "I'll come." Samantha squealed and grabbed his hand. She tugged him across the field to show him the setup. A heart-shaped pool sat behind her fence, water shining bright blue. Pink chairs lined the edges. Two older girls in green swimsuits laughed in the shallow end. On a small stage, another girl belted a song into a rainbow microphone with golden trim, eyes squeezed shut with joy. Then John saw them. Three kids from his class, already in swimsuits, already laughing with Samantha's friends. They had not invited him. Samantha had. His chest pinched tight. These could be his team. His team, not hers. The buzz under his skin returned, louder now. He had said yes to the party. But he had not promised to leave with the same loyalties he came with.