We endured another hour of snacking, talking and pretending, and I was almost enjoying myself when Mary sashayed toward us, wearing a gorgeous black dress that left her shoulders bare and hugged her chest and hips in all the right places. Her blond hair fell in ringlets down her back.
She puckered her lips at Luke and moved in a way that revealed her well-toned thigh and ample cleavage. Luke ignored her. I hid a smile.
Mary scowled and looked at me. "Sam, you're back. We've missed you. Are you feeling well?"
Did she really care? I kept my answers brief. "I'm fine, thank you."
"I hear you're heading off to Sarah Lawrence soon. You must be so excited."
Did she know something? Why the change of attitude? Niceness and Mary didn't go together, and I didn't trust it at all.
But, regretting my behavior in the bathroom so long ago, I tried to play nice too. "Yes, it'll be quite an adventure."
"Well, be sure to keep in touch." She walked away before I could reply that I would. Her shallow mind mused about the hottest boys in school. 'Gotta get my hands on Luke... how can he resist me?'
I chuckled at that.
Lucy pulled me away and demanded my attention. She stole the night in an electric blue gown that wrapped itself around her slim figure like saran wrap. Luke had matched his bowtie to her gown, completing the look. They made an unforgettable pair.
"Looks like Mary finally learned her lesson after the cafeteria and bathroom scenes. It's about time."
Before I could reply, an achingly familiar voice interrupted my thoughts.
'Sam, can you hear me?'
"Drake! Oh, my God, I've missed you. What happened? Where are you?"
'In another hospital. I don't know where. I've been trying to talk to you, but you haven't replied.'
In my hospital, they'd given me an IV. Could it have been something to control my powers? I could still read Dr. Sato's mind, and kids on campus, but maybe it prevented me from linking long distance.
"I think they did something to me so I couldn't talk to you. I'm out of the hospital now, but I'm at my going-away party. I'm supposed to be leaving for New York tomorrow."
'You were in the hospital? What happened? Are you okay?'
He had no idea about what I'd been through or that I was pregnant. What to tell him? Ahh... I so did not want to have this conversation.
My hand went to my stomach again.
"Sam, you okay? You look pale. Come sit down." Luke guided me to a chair and Lucy brought me some punch. Gar hovered nearby, trying without success to blend in.
"Hey. I have to talk to my friends for a minute."
'Sure.'
I spoke in our language. "Drake's okay. He's in some hospital. But I... I have to tell him about the baby."
They nodded sympathetically and watched over me while I linked back to Drake. "I need to talk to you about something, but I don't know how to say it."
'What's wrong? Are you okay?'
What could I do? I just blurted it out. "I'm pregnant. And it looks like you're the father."
And that is how I turned the whole world quiet for a moment. Drake sat in mental silence. Luke and Lucy looked heartbroken. And the rest of the world disappeared.
Drake broke the silence first.
'I believe you. And I think you're right. I think they're... um... harvesting me for reproductive purposes.'
Despite how horrible everything seemed, I couldn't help but laugh out loud at his choice of words, at how proper he was trying to be. Lucy and Luke eyed me curiously. I explained what Drake had said. Lucy smirked, and Luke laughed.
I sobered up pretty quickly, though. How could he be so certain? "What did they do to you?"
'I can just tell that things were done to... parts of me. I didn't know what to make of it until now. How do you know you're pregnant though? They didn't tell you, did they?'
"No, but I overheard some of the doctor's thoughts. And Luke saw the records. That's why they took you. You have incredibly strong and rare para-powers. And I can tell. My body is different."
Luke and Lucy interrupted our conversation with a glance over my shoulder. I turned to look.
My bodyguard headed our way. "Is everything okay?"
I smiled as sweetly as I could. "Of course! Just tired from all the partying."
Gar nodded and walked back to stand in my shadow.
He may have been committed to protecting me, but he still worked for them.
***
The night crawled on. After the formal dancing, the music picked up and included songs our age group actually knew. I declined all offers to dance, instead spending my time with Lucy, Luke and Drake. His presence was like finding a fresh water lake in the middle of the desert. I couldn't get enough of his voice, his thoughts, the weight of his mind in mine.
My headaches had become less severe the more I practiced remote linking. My powers were getting stronger, more controlled. Before, everyone's thoughts inundated me, but now I could tune out people selectively. Such a relief from all the inane clattering. Most people didn't understand, bombarded with their own thoughts, unable to find peace in even that. To have that multiplied by everyone around me was hell. And people generally weren't very interesting. Most of their thoughts were recycled, replaying on an endless loop.