Cyrosphere: Hidden Lives (2 page)

Frost mumbled something as he grabbed the apples and bananas. 

Malcolm laughed as the started to walk. Ginger smiled holding a box of Frosted Flakes, granola bars and canned of mixed vegetables.

Malcolm said, “Most young people wouldn’t have stopped”.

Ginger claimed, “Some people have no manners or sense of compassion. Not us though”.

Malcolm says, “Will you help me back to my house so I’m not out here all day picking up my food”.

Ginger thought she on the other hand was aggressive. She loved a challenge and preferred to be in the midst of a situation or mystery. Trying to uncover the depths of people and not bothering with coy unless necessary. Her father always teased her. Saying she was a modern Nancy Drew or a female Sherlock Holmes.

                                          Chapter 2:

 Ginger was cunning as a cat, ready to pounce and continuous on the lookout of her surroundings ready to notice anything out of the ordinary. Once they helped back him to his house where he let them in. Ginger couldn’t help but notice the house was modernly built and well-designed but had a cold vibe. She always wondered what the inside looked like.

Malcolm responded, “Thanks again”.

Frost responded, “Sure. Ginger, we have to go”.

Frost stayed in the shadows, trying to be as invisible as possible around the pair. Ginger sent him a look that made it clear she was embarrassed by his behavior and to go outside to wait until she was ready to go. Frost felt like a chastised child but he knew better than to argue with her. He walked outside giving them privacy.

Ginger responded, “Sorry about that”.

Malcolm’s back was turned to her putting away milk, eggs and yogurt.

Malcolm said, “No problem. Not everyone warms to me”.

Ginger nodded and looked around the room a second time. Everything was sterile and looked as if it were scrubbed clean numerous times. Ginger couldn't imagine a cleaner kitchen but loved all the white and stainless steel. The silver tile was nice as well.

Ginger claimed, “Your house is beautiful. I feel like I am in a Home Design show or something”.

Malcolm responded, “Thanks my dear. It is lovely isn’t it”?

Ginger replied, “I’d say”.

 
She turned and got a quick glimpse of his study. Ginger saw the pile of books stacked on the floor in various places and the four book shelves filled with books. It looked disorganized but Ginger was sure Malcolm had some type of system to figure it out. Before she could think of anything to say she hadn't noticed he was staring at her intensely. She wondered what he was thinking if but stopped herself from asking all the rumors she heard were true.

Ginger replied, “I better get going with school and all”.

Malcolm handed her a set of keys. She looked at them and knew they weren’t hers’ and had no idea why he was handing them over to her.

He asked her, “Can you house sit for me”?

Malcolm claimed he is out of town unexpectedly. 

Ginger stated, “Ok, so when do I start”?

She would have free reins to his kitchen and the house as long as she watered his plants. That wouldn’t be a problem considering she worked with her father numerous times. Ginger smiled.

 
Ginger said, “Sure, I accept. I have got to rush to school so will be back later in the day”.

He nodded his head as Ginger walked to the end of the drive way. She thought it strange that he would ask her out of nowhere. Before she could give the house-sitting a second thought, her thoughts came to a halt when Frost came up to her. 

Frost asked, “What took you so long”?

Ginger replied, “What are you my mother”?

Frost answered, “Haha. I was worried about you. What did he want”?

Ginger replied, “Strangely enough for me to house sit for him this summer”.

Frost asked, “And your parents will be fine with that”?

Ginger answered, “I haven’t asked but I am sure they will be fine with it. Come on, we have to go”.

She grabbed his hand, looked around assuring no one was watching and used her powers to turn into shadows. She teleport them through the shadows to school so they wouldn’t be late. The
y walked the halls to her locker as he rubbed his stomach.

Frost stated, “I wish you would journey that way”!

Ginger answer, “Are you feeling nausea”?

Frost groaned, and that was enough answer for Ginger. She gave him smelling salts from her locker knowing him well. This wasn’t an emergency but she stilled used her abilities but she was never careless.

Chapter 3
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It amazed Frost at the level of trust, communication and respect Ginger had with her parents. His mom Janice Bryce and his dad John Stovall didn’t think their son was a criminal nor had deviant behavior. True because he has passion and wasn’t a doer like Ginger who ran off to homeroom so should could be on time as the bell sounded. Ginger turns to Frost as she closes her locker.

Ginger says, “See you later “?

Frost replies, “Not today. I have band practice. I will text you later”.

Ginger responds, “Sure thing”.

 Ginger saw Monica Glick down the hall. She is determined, hard- working and speaks her mind to anyone in her path. Monica made it her mission to be the top student in all the classes and sports while hoping to be the class valedictorian by end of term. Monica was the definition of over achiever so Ginger always knew to tag along. 

Ginger was smart as well just not as focused on beating everyone. Sometimes Ginger thought she came off as a snob or that was just her personality traits. She preferred friendship, kindness and joy in her life compared to Monica’s abrasive ways. 

Monica says, “Hi Gin”.

Ginger responds, “You know I hate it when you call me that”.

Ginger places a fak
e smile on her face to hide her disdain. Monica is a fairy with a strong telepathic ability that sometimes gave Ginger unbearable headaches that caused her to lose focus and not be able to block out other’s thoughts or emotions. Ginger was feeling everything and hearing all sorts of secrets that people probably wanted to be kept secret. She was powerful but Ginger had great control when she wasn’t around Monica.

Monica tells her, “Whoops, I am sorry. You know I forget trivial things like that”.

Ginger clarifies, “My name isn’t trivial so please respect my name like I extend the curiosity to you”.

At that moment Hannah Bryton appears interrupting a fight that was brewing. Whenever Ginger was in her presence she felt calm and serene. It was indescrible but peaceful and allows Ginger to feel in control. Ginger beams with a genuine warm greeting.

Ginger to her,” Hi Hannah. How are you”?

Hannah smiles as their group heads to the same homeroom.

Hannah responds, “I am great and ready for that quiz in AP History? How about you”?

Ginger says, “I am always ready for history. I love the past like I am a part of it when I read the material”.

Monica chimes in, “Maybe you were born in the wrong century”.

Ginger answers sarcastically, “Wouldn’t that be something”?

Ginger and Hannah laugh at her. Ginger felt more in control as if she could wield her powers to her will when Hannah was near. Monica walked away irritated to class. She squeezed her hand; Ginger smiled warmly before heading to class glad for a few Monica free minutes.

Later on that day as Ginger left the school enjoying her walk home alone after school. She wondered how Frost was doing in his piano practice. His shy and reserved personality got to be expressive more freely there. Ginger loved to hear him practice but right now she wanted to go home and see her parents. Her mom is a pharmacist while her dad runs a real estate business. During the weekends he did extra work as a carpenter and taught her how to build things.

Ginger says, “Mom, I am home. I’m going upstairs to do homework”.

Sonia replies,
“That is perfect. I’m almost finished with dinner”.

 Her mom was inside baking which isn’t surprising since she loves to cook.

Ginger answers, “Okay, I will be down shortly. I don’t have a lot to cover”.

Sonia yells, “Fine. Your dad should be home shortly”.

                                          Chapter 4: 

Don’t get her wrong it was nice especially since her dad cooks as well. They taught her so she can be well prepared. Twenty minutes later Ginger is back downstairs and sees her mom finishing up in the kitchen. She looks out the window and see Thein was outside tending to his gardening so she went outside to join him. Not feeling in the mood to chit chat with her mom but spend some quality time with dad. Opening the screen door before she steps outside into the cool warm sun.

Ginger says, “Need a hand”?

Thein replies, “From my lovely daughter? Why not”?!

Ginger chuckles and helps him finish up.

Sonia yells, “Come inside and eat”.

Thein answers, “Yes dear. That is the woman I married. Hollering at me constantly as if I am deaf”.

Ginger tells him, “You kinda are”.

Thein shocked, “What”?

Ginger responds, “Don’t worry. You both are old”.

Thein nudes her
as they go inside.  During dinner Ginger tells them about Malcolm’s offer to house sit for two weeks at the start of summer. It was only two days at the end of the year right before her 16th birthday. Her dad agreed but it looked like her mom was preparing for an argument.

Ginger asks, “What is it mom”?

Sonia answers, “Nothing”.

Ginger responds, “Are you sure? Something against Mr. Silverdale or a reason why I shouldn’t take him up on his offer”?

Thein cuts her off. Her mom could have been a public defender at the rate she loved to argue. 

Thein answers, “Not at all. We trust you and this is more independence for you. Being responsible in a real world environment”.

Luckily Ginger was prepared for her mom and any argument she’d prepared but she didn’t say a word as she stood. This wasn’t characteristically like her but Ginger went with it without a second thought before she changed her mind.

Ginger answers, “Thanks guys. I am going to go tell my friends”.

Thein replies, “Go ahead. Don’t help with the dishes or anything”.

Ginger stops on her way to the hall and turn to her father laughing. So that was his game tonight humor. She went upstairs to finish her homework. Get ahead and read the next chapter in Chemistry when she heard a rock thrown at her window. She looked up to see that Frost was on his roof with a walkie talkie. She got hers’, turned it on and laughed because he was a big star gazer.

Ginger speaks, “What’s up loser”?

Frost answers, “Just spending time watching Cirrus and talking to you”.

She laughs and never ceased to be amazed that her bestfriend is so adventurous but only if others weren’t around.

Ginger tells him, “My parents said yes. I got a summer job”.

Frost asks, “Really? I am surprised your mom didn’t raise hell. For a ex Catholic and a devote Buddhist she is hardcore”.

Ginger nods her head.

Ginger answers, “Who you telling? She was a bit off tonight but perhaps old age is softening her resolve”.

Frost laughs and says, “One can only hope in your case”.

Ginger asks, “You ready for summer”?

Frost replies, “You know it. See you tomorrow”.

Ginger answers, “Night. Don’t stay up to late”.

The next day flew by so summer was a day away and her part-time job of house sitting would soon start. Today before school Malcolm wanted her to drop by so he could do a final walk through before he left even though they had already done a few. Luckily when she went down to eat her cereal she was shocked that Frost wasn’t her waiting for her but figured he would meet her at school like they had discussed last night. She could not understand why
he would talk about someone rather than get facts from the source. He’d preferred to listen to gossip.