Inversion Read online

  “We have to go. We have to go now.”

  “Calm down,'' Jacob said. He pulled a small towel from the bathroom counter and dried his hands. “We’re going.”

  “He’s here,'' Carson said through gritted teeth.

  “What do you mean?” His confusion lifted, the look of horror on Carson’s face telling him everything he needed to know.

  “Dammit. Let’s go” He pushed past Carson towards the stairs.

  “I told you I didn’t want to come. I told you this was a bad idea.”

  “Just calm down,'' Jacob said. He navigated through what remained of the party. “I had no idea that Matt was going to be here.”

  “Isn’t he the party type? Haven’t you seen him at other parties before?”

  Jacob didn’t answer.

  Carson’s hands fidgeted at his sides. He stared at the front door. It seemed so close yet so incredibly far away. With the coast clear Carson walked as quickly as he could towards freedom. His heart throbbed in his ears.

  “Calm down, dude,” Jacob whispered into his ear. He placed a careful hand on his shoulder. “It’s going to be ok.”

  Distracted by Jacob, Carson didn’t see the foot that was sticking out in front of him. He fell on to the floor with a loud thud. Laughter erupted around him. Matt emerged from behind his group. He towered above Carson by several inches at the least. His brown hair was short and was neatly brushed to one side. Matt was part of the school’s soccer team and was nearly a straight A student. On the outside he seemed to be the model son but Carson knew that just below the surface he was anything but.

  Matt put a beer bottle against his lips and tilted his head back.

  “What’s up Noble,” he smirked.

  “Screw off,'' Jacob said.

  Matt looked back at him. “Hello to you too, loser. It’s been a while.”

  “You couldn’t just leave him alone, could you,” Jacob yelled at him.

  Matt turned around so that he could fully face Jacob. By now what was left of the party had formed a misshapen circle around them.

  “And you still haven’t fixed that smart ass mouth of yours,'' Matt said. He cracked his knuckles. “You should let me fix it for you.”

  “Try me.”

  Matt laughed. Carson’s blood ran cold, all of the horrible memories between them resurfacing.

  “I see you’re still having other people fight your battles for you,” Matt said venomously.

  Jacob pushed past him and helped Carson to his feet. He hurried a pale Carson through the door.

  “Hey Carson,” Matt yelled after them. “I’ll see you around.”

  CHAPTER SIX

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  IT WAS JUST A few minutes before midnight when Jacob’s car stopped in front of Carson’s house. They sat in silence for a minute before Jacob finally spoke.

  “I’m so sorry,'' he said. His voice cracked from not being used during the entire ride home.

  “I had no idea he was going to be there.”

  “It’s whatever,'' Carson said. He brushed his fingers over his watch.

  “You’re really blaming me for this?”

  “No,” Carson said, looking down at his feet. “I just wish tonight would have gone differently. Especially with Abigail.”

  Jacob felt sorry for him. “There’s always next time, Cars. She’ll get over it soon. Now go get some sleep so we can raise some hell on the trip tomorrow.”

  Carson laughed. “Alright. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  He jumped out of Jacob’s car and ran up the steps to the house.

  Inside, the foyer was well lit. Its white walls reflected the bright light that came from the large chandelier that hung above the room. Carson carefully closed the heavy door behind him. He didn’t need his mom knowing that he was getting back at such a late hour. Carson was surprised to hear two different voices coming from the living room. He tiptoed closer, hugging the walls so that he wouldn’t be seen. He knew his mother well enough to know that she wasn’t happy about something. The voice opposite hers sounded much deeper and older but he recognized it as well. It had been years since he heard that voice.

  “How many times do I have to repeat myself,” Ellie asked angrily. “I have zero interest in going.”

  The other voice was more composed and calm. “This is my life's work, Ellie. It’s going to change the entire world.”

  Carson carefully peered around the corner. Seeing his grandfather standing in the middle of the living room ignited a spark of excitement that he hadn’t felt in a long time. He couldn’t remember the last time he had seen him in person.

  “Your ‘life's work’ Robert? Your life’s work is what drove the family apart.”

  Robert paced around the room, searching his mind for the right words. It was a dangerous game he was playing. Carson knew his mom well enough to know that his grandfather was one wrong word away from being thrown out.

  “Your mother and I made the necessary sacrifices to ensure the future of the world. The world you live in, I might add.”

  Ellie laughed. “I can’t believe what I’m hearing.”

  Robert stopped pacing and took a step closer towards Ellie. Despite the fact that he stood more than a foot taller than her she didn’t blink an eye. Ellie crossed her arms across her chest. Her eyebrows rose up. She wasn’t intimidated in the slightest.

  “Ellie. Listen to me.” He cautiously put his hands on her shoulders. “As mayor, I'm sure you are aware of exactly what kind of crisis this city is in. The rest of the world isn’t any better off. We are months if not weeks away from a total economic collapse that will throw the country back into the dark ages. What I have, what I’ve created, won’t just buy us a little bit of time. It’s going to solve everything.”

  A forlorn look darkened Robert’s face. Ellie stared up at him. Carson could see her biting her lower lip. She only did that when she was thinking hard about something. He wondered how much of the conversation he had missed.

  “Look,” Robert continued. “Come to the museum tomorrow. I’m going to be unveiling the invention to the world and I would love for you to be there. And if you like what you see then I will have one made for you as well. My device alone will power your entire town, forever.”

  “So that's it? I just show up and you’ll solve all of my problems?” Ellie was hesitant, her voice wavering slightly. She had been fooled by him before. There were too many times that he hadn’t lived up to his many promises to her.

  “I know it’s hard to believe but that’s all you have to do.” He exuded confidence. He was so close to getting what he came here for and he knew it.

  Ellie stayed silent. She no longer had a defense against him. He was right. She was completely out of options. Who knows how much longer the town would last without some sort of outside help?

  “I’ll think about it,” was all she said.

  Robert shoved his hands into his oversized coat.

  “I hope to see you there. I know that Carson will be there.”

  Carson’s eyes grew wide. He cursed himself for not telling her. Ellie’s face mirrored Carson’s.

  “I’m guessing he didn’t tell you.” Robert laughed, a deep laugh that filled the large, open house.

  “I got in touch with a few of the schools around the state a couple of weeks ago and invited their science classes to join us at the museum for the reveal.”

  Carson didn’t have to see her to know that her expression had shifted from uncertainty to anger.

  “I hope to see you tomorrow, El. It wouldn’t be the same without you.”

  Robert walked into the foyer, his coat picking up behind him. Carson smiled innocently up at his grandfather.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow,” he whispered. “Try not to get on her bad side.”

  Ellie wasn’t far behind Robert, standing over Carson with her arms crossed. It was her favorite stance when she was angry. She looked ready to explode.
r />   “How much did you hear,” she asked.

  “Most of it.”

  Ellie rolled her eyes.

  “I was going to tell you about the field trip,'' Carson said, following her into the kitchen.

  She pulled a bottle of water from the fridge and pressed it against her head. “When exactly? The trip is tomorrow.”

  “I don’t know,” Carson admitted. “I know how you get when I talk about grandpa.”

  Ellie sighed. “Look. I know how much you love your grandfather and I would like nothing more than to let you spend time with him.” Her face softened a little. “But he isn’t the hero you think he is. He spent years working on his little projects. He missed out on so much of my life. He was so focused on changing the world that he forgot about those of us who were actually in it.”

  “The whole class is going,” Carson argued. “I don’t really have a choice.”

  Ellie put the water bottle back in the fridge and sat down at the counter. She pulled her glasses off and let out a long, tired yawn. Her eyes were bloodshot and watery.

  “He’s right,” she said. “I have no idea how much longer this town has before we really start to hurt. The Huangs’ fishery is basically the only thing that’s keeping this town going. What’s going to happen when it gets to be too much for them?”

  Carson didn’t know what to say. It wasn’t often that he saw his mother this vulnerable.

  “Just give him a chance,” Carson finally said. “Let him show you what he came up with. He said he wants to help so let him help.”

  Ellie slammed her hand down on the counter in frustration. The slap startled Carson.

  “He has let me down so many times. I don’t want to be disappointed again. I can’t take any more of it.”

  Carson wanted to say something else, anything else that would help relieve her of the burden she was carrying. Carson resigned to just giving her a smile and letting her be alone.

  Exhausted, he made his way up the grand staircase that led up to the second floor. His legs felt sore and heavy. He didn’t like how mentally exhausted his emotions had left him. He wanted nothing more than to sleep.

  Carson stopped in front of the first door in the hallway that led to his room. He wrapped his fingers around the cold metal of the door knob. His heart pulsed with intent. He wanted to open it. He wanted to go inside and see the room that he hadn’t been in for a long time.

  Sorry dad, Carson thought, letting go of the knob. Maybe next year.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

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  NICK WALKED THROUGH THE weathered wooden door that led into his house. He was hesitant at first, unsure of what he was going to find waiting for him on the other side of the door. When he finally had gathered enough courage to step through the doorway he found that the house was quiet. Too quiet and too dark. He slowly closed the door behind him, the wood still creaking as it shut. White curtains stained with yellow blotches blew towards the middle of the room. The breeze did little to help how stagnant the air was. Nick slowly made his way across the room, stepping over the dirty dishes that he knew were scattered on the floor. He made himself a mental note to wash them in the morning. A soft spot in the wood flooring groaned underneath his weight. Nick froze in terror. He didn’t dare breathe let alone move. He waited and listened. The only noise came from the useless breeze that was coming in through the open window.

  Nick continued forward, trying his best to avoid any further spots that would give him away. He had just reached the opening to his bedroom when the living room light clicked on. All sense of relief that he felt changed into terror.

  “Where were you?”

  Nick slowly turned to see his father sitting in the large blue armchair in the far corner of the room.

  He mumbled an answer under his breath.

  “Louder,” his father yelled.

  Nick flinched. “I was just out with some friends. That’s all.” He spoke more to the floor than to the foul-smelling man.

  Mark clenched and unclenched his jaw. He stared at Nick through drunk eyes. They were red and puffy. He reached over and lifted a beer bottle from the coffee table that sat beside him. Nick stood awkwardly in his doorway, his fists clenched at his sides. He was too scared to move or even think.

  Mark ground his teeth together.

  “I’ll think of a punishment for you later,” Mark finally said, dismissing him with a wave.

  “Living here is punishment enough,'' Nick said under his breath. He wasn’t as quiet as he thought he was.

  Without warning an empty beer bottle slammed into the wall beside him. Beads of glass narrowly missed him as shards of brown rained down around his head. Nick ran into his room and slammed the door. His back slid against the wood as he sunk to the floor. He kept his feet flat against the floor to brace himself for when his father would inevitably come after him.

  Nick waited. He pressed his ear against the door. The only sound he could hear came from his heavy breathing and racing heart. He fought back the tears that were stinging his eyes.

  Once he knew it was safe to move from the door Nick did so. He opened the single window that his room had. Cool air rushed in, soothing his hot skin. The moon sat high in the sky, partially covered by thin, wispy clouds. He stared up at the moon longingly. He’d give anything to be there, so high up that nothing could touch him.

  Nick stopped himself. It was no use wishing on a dead rock. He already knew that nothing was going to change no matter how much he wanted it to. With his fear finally subsiding the party resurfaced in his mind. He jumped onto his bed. The comforters felt cool and soft. Sleepiness quickly started to take hold of him. He reached beneath the mattress and pulled out a photograph. He held it high above him so that he could see it in the moonlight. He brushed his fingers against its glossy surface.

  Carson’s blue eyes shone up at him brightly, even in the faded photograph. Nick smiled. It was nice to see him again at the party, even if only for a few minutes. He clutched the photo to his chest and turned over to face the wall.

  Tomorrow, he thought as he fell into a deep sleep.

  Tomorrow I’ll tell him.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

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  WHEN CARSON WOKE UP the next morning he was surprised to see sunlight already pouring into his room. Yawning, he pulled his phone from the nightstand. His eyes squinted from the bright light.

  6:25.

  Carson couldn’t believe it. Somehow he had made it through the night nightmare-free. He felt a strange burst of confidence. It was going to be a great day.

  Ellie was already awake when he finally made it downstairs after getting ready. Carson found her deep in the morning paper, her eyes skimming over the small text. A plate of untouched food sat cold in front of her. Carson sat where another plate had been put out for him.

  “Thanks,” he said cheerfully.

  Ellie eyed him suspiciously. “You’re sounding unusually chipper this morning.”

  “Mmm hmm.” Scrambled eggs poked from his overstuffed mouth.

  “Any particular reason why?”

  Carson threw back his head and downed a glass of orange juice.

  “None that you’d care about,” he said.

  Ellie didn’t even blink at the slight.

  “Are you going to ride with me to the museum today?”

  Carson nearly choked. “You’re going?”

  “I am,'' Ellie said. “If Robert is right, and he really did come up with a solution, then I might be able to do some real good for this town.”

  “I hope so,'' Carson said.

  “Me too. For his sake and all of ours.”

  Carson quickly finished his breakfast and threw the dishes into the sink. “I’ll just take the bus with Jacob,” he said, running out.

  By the time he reached the school’s parking lot it was already filled. Old grey busses stood in the middle of the lot, their rusted frames trying to warm up in vain. Carson s
hivered, his breath forming into a wispy vapor in front of him. He regretted not bringing a jacket.

  Carson looked down at his watch. There was still more than a half hour before the busses would leave.

  “Where’s Abigail,” Carson asked Jacob as he walked up to him. He wore an expensive looking black and red jacket, complete with the fur-lined hood. Thick gloves protected his hands from the frigid air. He looked a lot warmer than Carson felt.

  “She’s driving there. Her mom is one of the chaperones.”

  “Oh. I wanted to talk to her.”

  Jacob looked at him funny. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “What? Why not?”

  “She’s probably still embarrassed about last night.”

  “Still? I thought she would have forgotten about it?”

  Jacob laughed. Carson couldn’t tell if it was at him or not.

  “You can’t just do that to a girl and expect her to just forget about it. She likes you. She made her move and you practically shot her down.”

  “Oh,” Carson said. He cringed at the memory of pulling away from her touch.

  “I can’t do this,'' Carson said. His teeth chattered as he spoke. “I have to go inside.”

  “I’ll save you a seat.”

  The inside of the school offered little relief from the cold. Carson kept moving to prevent himself from turning into a block of ice. The hallways were empty save for a few other students that also wanted to escape the cold. Carson had just begun to enjoy the silence when the sweet sound of a piano filled the air. He already knew who it was, the song being the same one he had heard the night before. Carson followed the melody into the band room. Nick was sitting at the piano, furiously playing his song.

  “I keep forgetting how good you are,'' Carson said.

  His sudden appearance startled Nick.

  “Thanks,” Nick said shyly.

  “Sorry for having to leave so soon last night.”

  Nick brushed it off. “It’s fine. I didn’t stay for much longer after you left.”