Carly

Carly still couldn't believe that rushing a strange kid to the hospital was how she would make a friend. KP started talking to her more when she asked how he ended up with more injuries after leaving the hospital. He insisted he was fine. How could anyone be fine after looking like he did? Either he didn't want her to worry, or he's been in one too many fights securing the school.

Nathen and Tom still hung out and walked to school with her. They were really nice and cool to be around. That still didn't stop Carly from subconsciously watching them. Nathen specifically. Maybe it was his straightforward nature. How he's so nice to her. It was something that kept her wondering.

"Hey, KP!" Carly called out when she spotted him after getting to school. It's become a regular thing for her to find him doing his walk around the school in the morning.

"Hey there Carly."

"So like, do you get paid for doing this?" She asked. Everyday that week, he's done the same thing. He was being seriously used if he wasn't getting paid or getting some kind of extra credit for it.

"You mean security? Not exactly. You can call this kind of a discipline committee that no one here really cares to be a part of aside me. So that's why I'm the one doing checks. As you may or may not know, here in Midtown, it may or may not be the safest place to be."

"No kidding." She said. She thought back to a news story she saw the other day about a stolen car being set on fire in an abandoned lot. She really wishes she could get that taser since anything could happen.

"There are a lot of crimes around here with the lack of officers in the area. I offered my help to the school to help keep some peace around here. My father is one of the few police officer around and I have special training, so don't worry." KP assured her.

"Just how did this even happen? You know, how did everything go downhill?" Carly asked. She's been there long enough. She's already seen and heard more than she wanted. It was time for her to start asking questions.

"With the way everything is evolving, I say it was bound to happen." He started. "The people here aren't as fortunate as Uptown citizens and everyone else. Lots of companies stop coming and many people lost their jobs and hopes about what would come of here and went elsewhere in search of better opportunities and living."

When Carly was younger, she and her parents drove through Midtown often. It was nothing like it was now. The change was so drastic. Whatever happened between then and now had to be monumental.

"Don't think everyone else has it good. As you can see, we couldn't keep up our living in Uptown." She told him.

"No matter where you go or where you're from, there seems to always be hardships for some."

"You can say that again."

"You don't seem too upset about being here though."

"Well, I was at first. But no matter the situation, I try not to let it affect me too much. I'm not as narrow minded as you may think some people from Uptown are. But I have what I call a sixth sense for understanding and reading between the lines if that makes sense to you; and there's definitely something worth understanding around here that I want to figure out."

Carly thought back to all the news reports she's already heard. She still thought about her first day and that girl who heard that mind numbing noise that only seemed to affect them. She's been there a week and can already confirm most of the rumors.

"There certainly is a mystery around here." KP said. Carly wasn't sure if he was just humoring her or agreeing with her.

"So that means you should always be prepaid for anything right?" KP reached into his pocket and grabbed something. Carly just watched not sure what he was doing.

"Do you believe in magic?" He asked. It seemed like a serious question. Carly raised her suspicion meter when he held out his hand. "I want to give you something that is considered to be like magic."

"You want to give me a bracelet?" She looked at what laid in his palm.

"It's not just a regular bracelet. I was given some of these as they are a symbol of good luck, and I want you to have one."

It was completely unexpected and sort of strange for him to give her something. But the silk black and white weaving and what looked like flakes of silver made her take it from his hand.

"Whenever you feel like your luck is running low, just hold on to that, say the words, 'keep my peace' and slowly things should start to get better." Carly looked to the bracelet then back at him with obvious disbelief. There was no way a simple bracelet could have special powers.

"This is really pretty and nice, but I'm not super big on the power of superstition, magic, and good luck charms. I'll keep this though. Thanks for it. You're not coming on to me, are you?" She said jokingly.

"That would certainly be an odd way of showing it if that was the case," he laughed. That made her relived. She wants to try and get used to her new town before she goes looking for any relationships.

"Just make sure you don't lose it. Those are real silver flakes said to have been hand shaved from china. They're rare to come by and I have some of the only ones made." He added.

Suddenly Carly felt really awkward about this. Maybe he was trying to come on to her. He seems really serious about this bracelet. If magical powers were real, she would've figure them out a long time ago to avoid the move to this place to begin with.

She may have to start watching out for him too.

"I'll be sure to hold onto it." She told him slipping it on her arm. She looked at it as the flakes of silver sparkled with the sunlight as she moved her wrist. KP had been looking at it too.

"I'm glad to have gotten this to you now. Classes should be starting soon though, so you should get going."

"Don't you have classes too?"

"My teachers know my situation. So they don't mind that I'm more or less a few minutes late. I don't want to be too late though, so I'm going to head around back and finish my rounds. I'll see you later."

KP stole one last look at her new bracelet before taking off. She started to wish she asked more about this bracelet. And what's a guy like him doing believing in magic?

Throughout the morning, Carly couldn't help but find herself playing with the bracelet when she was bored in class. She thought to talk to KP more when she saw him at lunch, but walking into the cafeteria, she didn't see him standing in his usual spot against the wall. He's usually the first one in the lunchroom.

The other students were taking advantage of his absence seeing two guys throwing stuff around at a table. No one lets anything get too far away from their hands when he's in here.

"Carly, over here." She looked to see Nathen and Tom sitting at the usual table.

"How's school treating you?"

"It's going alright. I still haven't made any new friends or talked to anyone for that matter." She expected it would take a while, but no one ever seems to actually try talking to her other than them.

"Just give it some time. They'll warm up eventually."

"Yeah I guess I shouldn't expect anything right away. Hey, are you alright?" Carly looked over to Tom who was showing pain on his face. Nathen quickly took his attention to him.

"I'm fine. I just got a bit light headed. Don't worry about me." He told us.

"You know you're prone to getting sick. You sure you're okay?" Nathen asked.

"Yeah, it's cool. I'll be alright. I see your friend isn't here monitoring the cafe." Tom said obviously trying to change the subject.

"I don't know where he is. I haven't seen him since this morning."

"Carly." Just as they were talking about him, KP comes in the lunchroom and heads over to them.

"Oh, there you are. We were just talking about you."

"I was looking all over for you. You dropped your ID in the hallway. I was told you were upstairs."

"I didn't even realize I dropped it. Thanks, but I don't have any classes upstairs. I came straight here." She told him. KP parted his lips to say something, but hesitated.

"My mistake then. You must have been mistaken for someone else. Here you go." KP handed her the ID, "I have to get going." He turned and left back out the lunchroom. He seemed to be in a hurry.

"Dude, you really don't look so good." One of the other kids that were sitting at the table was talking to Tom. Carly looked back over to him to see he looked even worse than he did a moment ago. He grew paler than he already was. It looked as if the life was being sucked out of him.

"Maybe you should go home early. You really aren't looking well," She told him, "Here, drink some water." She reached into her bag to hand him a bottle of water she had. When she shifted in stance, her ID fell out her other hand and slid on the table next to Nathen's arm. As soon as it made contact with him, he made a sound and jerked back.

"What was that?" She froze looking at him.

"Nothing, just a little static shock. But you know, I think Carly's right, you should go home," Nathen looked at the ID then directed his attention back to Tom, "I'll help you out. Sorry Carly, I should make sure he gets out of here okay."

Nathen seemed a bit more riled up. He helped Tom out of his seat and they were soon out of the lunchroom. Carly stood confused holding the water bottle in her hand.

She reached for her ID to take a look at it. Other than some of the flakes from the bracelet seeming to have stuck to it, she didn't see a reason for something made of plastic to be able to shock him like that. She sat at the table looking to the doors KP, Nathen, and Tom left out of. Neither of them seem like they'll be back soon.