The Keepers

Chapter 5

"Where do you go after school every day?" Lilly asked me the next morning in the bus.

"I told you I joined the book club and study group," I replied. It killed me to not be able to tell her where I was going. We have been friends since 1st grade and have always told each other everything.

"Then I'll join!" Lilly said excitedly, "I haven't seen you in months and now I still never see you."

"You can't join," I told her nervously, "It's full, I already asked."

"Why do I get the feeling you are hiding something from me?" She asked. She didn't get a feeling, she knew. I am a horrible liar.

"I don't know," I replied trying not to show that I was hiding something.

"At least sit withe at lunch today," she said.

"Deal," I told her, "I'll sit with you every day at lunch. I can never find you. Meet me by the vending machine and we'll get in line together."

"Great!" She said as we got off the bus.
Later in homeroom Alex invited me to lunch too.

"C'mon," he begged me and Gabe, "Marcus said we had to do it on our own time."

"I already promised Lilly!" I argued.

"And I just don't want to," Gabe added.

"Your friend can join us, I guess," Alex noted.
"Fine!" I unwillingly agreed, "but I'm sitting with Lilly and you are joining us. If you want to do this so badly."

At lunch I met with Lilly at the vending machine, we got our food, and sat down. Soon enough Alex came over dragging Gabe behind him.

"Hey Jess!" Alex said sitting down.

"Hey," I replied.

"Who's this?" Lilly asked

"Oh," I realized they hadn't met, "They're just some guys from the book club. This is Alex and Gabe. Guys this is Lilly, my best friend."

"Wait you invited them to lunch?" She asked looking angry, "You are already spending your time after school with them. This was because we couldn't hang out! Forget it!" She got up and left.

"What was that all about?" Alex asked.

"She's upset because we can't hang out after school 'cuz of training..." I started.

"You told her about training!?" They both interrupted in unison.

"No, of corse not. Will you let me finish?" I scolded, "Anyway, I promised her that I'd eat lunch with her because we can't do anything after school. She probably got mad because I'm spending even more time with you guys so that's double time for you and half for her. That's kinda how she works."

"I wouldn't be here if someone didn't make me." Gabe said motioning to Alex.

"It's fine, once this time manipulation thing works I can say I quit the club and hang out with her after school," I told them. We didn't say another word all of lunch.

After school I went into the empty classroom and Gabe was there. He made a portal an held the door for me. He was being surprisingly nice to me. I even think I saw him smile for a second.

During training, Marcus made Alex and Gabe read some weird books. I worked on leaving people unfrozen while freezing time.

"If you think of the people you want to remain animated, they won't freeze along with time. That's all it takes," Marcus instructed, "Go ahead, try it."

I went through the regular routine but thought of Alex and Marcus. I looked over and Gabe wasn't moving but Alex flipped a page. I walked and tapped Gabe on the shoulder and he didn't move.

"It worked!" I yelled. Alex looked up and closed his book. He stood up and walked towards Marcus, a little behind me.

"Well done," Marcus said, "you are advancing much faster than I expected. Ok let's move forward an extra day. Now try adding a person. Just do the same thing but think of one less person. Try freezing one of us."

Alex walked up and whispered in my ear, "Freeze Marcus." I didn't see what difference it would make so I tried to freeze Marcus. The first couple of times it didn't work. Eventually I looked up and Marcus was frozen.

"Ok," I started, "Why'd you have me do that?" Alex didn't say a word. He just walked towards me. When he reached me, he pulled me close and kissed me.

And I kissed him back.

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Ok so I just have to say, if you like my stories, follow my Wattpad Instagram account @_Simple_Writer_ , I post when stories are updated and will probably ask for your input on the stories every once in a while.
-K
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