Chapter 2
She must have been staring for too long because the boy gave her quizzical look.
She quickly glanced away.
"No problem," she shrugged.
Only it was a problem.
It was a big problem.
She couldn't walk down that street anymore.
She would have to avoid Ryker and Nolan for several months at least, maybe for the rest of her life.
"Don't worry about them, they're idiots."
Idiots that were likely planning how best to rip Lyra apart.
The blue-eyed boy looked about her age, although it was difficult to tell since he was so skinny and short.
One corner of his mouth curved upward into a crooked smile.
"Kaelen," the boy said, his voice still a little hoarse.
"What?"
"My name," the boy as he extended his hand, "I'm Kaelen."
She stared at the hand for several seconds before grasping it and giving it a firm shake.
"Lyra," she smiled, he had an odd accent, "you're not from around here are you?"
"I'm from Aotearoa," he said, "I moved here about a week ago."
He opened his bag, and pulled out a clump of burgundy coloured rock.
He showed it to Lyra and her eyebrows furrowed in confusion as she wondered what he was doing.
"It's for you," he said, that crooked smile appearing again.
Lyra hesitantly took it.
She observed the rock with a cautious curiosity.
"It's a volcanic rock," he said, "it's from Mount Pyre."
Lyra looked at the boy, eying him suspiciously, "Why?"
"To say thanks for helping me," he answered with a nonchalant shrug, "you won't believe how many people just walked by."
She hummed thoughtfully, glancing back at the rock and rolling it around in her hand.
This boy was rather odd.
She looked at him and he looked right back at her, staring even, a kind smile on his lips and gratitude in his bright eyes.
Very odd, she concluded.
Lyra smiled back, but normal had never been something she favoured.
The boy glanced down at his wristwatch – it was the Spiderman edition she'd been wanting for months now – and his eyes suddenly widened.
He heaved the hefty rucksack back onto his shoulders.
"I need to go or my mum's gonna kill me," he said, and as he started jogging away, he glanced back at her, "Oh, and Lyra?"
"Yeah?"
He grinned, "Happy birthday!"
He hopped over the low fence and zipped down the street, disappearing when he turned a corner.
She stared at him, her eyebrows furrowing once more.
How did he know it was her birthday?
"Oh," she mumbled, "the badge."
Lyra glanced back at the rock.
She smiled and shoved it into her pockets of her jeans.
2:32 P.M.
When Lyra opened the door to her small dilapidated house, she–as usual–heard the sound of laughter mixed with an eighties song steadily playing in the living room.
She took off her shoes and dropping her bag by the coat hanger, she crept forward.
She paused near the living room door, where she could see her mother chatting with a man she didn't recognize.
Lyra frowned, her mother had brought along another one of her friends.
Lyra knew by now that it was best not to disturb her at times like this.
She hopped up the creaky staircase and into her bedroom.
As she eased onto her bed, she heaved a loud sigh.
Lyra felt something dig into her thigh.
She reached into her jean pocket and out the volcanic rock the boy – Kaelen – had given her.
Lyra held it up into the golden bars of sunlight that streamed in through her bedroom window.
As she observed it, quietly admiring its burgundy shade and the flecks that sparkled, Lyra thought about the blue eyed boy from Aotearoa.
It was a sad thought really, that this small piece of volcanic rock was the first gift she had ever received.
"Birthdays suck," she muttered.
Wednesday, May 19th 2004
Stormhaven, Fairhaven
4:15 P.M.
Last week, Lyra's school had announced that it was starting a class for gifted children.
Students with the highest scores in the upcoming tests would qualify.
There were twenty places in the class for each subject and Lyra was determined to make into either Maths or Physics.
She knew she could it, because honestly, a good portion of the students at her school weren't too bright.
Lyra knew she could easily get in one of the gifted classes.
All she had to do was study hard for the impending tests and she was in. Of course, that was easier said than done.
She always had problems concentrating, especially a warm day like this.
Lyra flicked through her physics textbook, trying to find the page on electric currents.
She sighed and wiped the sweat from her brow.
It was scorching hot in her bedroom, the air was humid and damp with the faint scent of cigarettes.
Too much of the afternoon light had flooded in, it drowned her in its blistering heat, making it hard to focus on anything.
She would pass out if this heat continued.
Lyra slid off her bed and started to stretch her arms and legs and once the feeling in her limbs returned, she yanked the curtains shut.
It killed all the burning sunlight that had flooded the room.
She slumped back down onto her bed, and went back to reading the textbook.
Now, electric currents --
"Lyra!" Elara shouted from downstairs, making her jump.
"Lyra!"
She sighed, closing her eyes for a few seconds before she answered.
"Yeah?"
"Come down!" she ordered.
Lyra slid off her bed and opened the door.
She trudged down the creaky steps, wondering what Elara could possibly want.
In the kitchen, she found her mother leaning against the counter, a lit cigarette in her mouth and a glass filled to the brim with whisky in her hand.
She pulled the cigarette from her mouth.
"Lyra, my little darling," she said, blowing out a puff of smoke.
"I need you to buy me a packet of cigs."
Lyra fought an exasperated sigh.
It was no secret that Elara Thornewood was an avid smoker and drinker.
Lyra would say her mother was an alcoholic but the last time she'd said that, she was given a look that meant she was five seconds from getting smacked if she didn't get out of her sight.
She couldn't go a day without an alcoholic drink or her hourly dose of nicotine.
If she didn't get it then she would snap and hiss at anyone who dared to come within three feet of her.
"Who's gonna sell me cigs?
I'm underage," said Lyra.
Elara gave her a pointed look.
She took a long gulp of the honey-coloured whiskey and let out a satisfied sigh.
She said, "You know the charity shop next to the post office on Silverdale Lane?"
Lyra nodded.
"There's a convenience store between the two," Elara said, "just ask for a guy called Gus and tell him I sent you, he'll give you the cigs."
Lyra frowned, "Elara, I –"
Her mouth twisted into a scowl.
"How many times do I have to tell you?" she snapped, "Stop calling me that.
I'm your mum, so call me Mum."
Perhaps if she started acting like a mother, Lyra might just consider it.
Elara pulled out a handful of cash from her purse and passed it to her daughter.
"There's eighty dollars," she said, sucking on her cigarette and letting out another cloud of smoke.
"Buy three bottles of Lombard Whiskey, four packets of cigs, two packets of painkillers, and....a pack of apple ciders."
Lyra glanced at the money, then back at her mother, "Can I buy some candy if there's change?"
"Knock yourself out," Elara shrugged, "Go on then, what are you waiting for?
Be quick, I have someone coming over in an hour."
Lyra left the kitchen.
She slipped on her dusty converses, and shrugging on her jacket she left the house.
She skipped down the steps and hopped onto the cobbled ground.
She paused, titling her head up to inspect the afternoon sky.
The leaden clouds from this morning had floated away and left the sky a bright cerulean blue.
Lyra stuffed her hands into the pockets of her jacket and began her walk to Silverdale Lane.
"Lyra!"
She turned around, expecting it to be her mother but was surprised to find it was the familiar blue-eyed boy running over to.
When he finally caught up with her, he doubled over, breathing hard with his hands on knees.
"Kaelen," she chided him, "why do you run when you know you've got asthma?"
"No...I..." He shook his head, "No....my... my..."
Kaelen dug his hand into his jean pockets.
He yanked out his inhaler and popped it into his mouth.
She waited with an impassive expression as he sucked in long deep breaths.
"My...my asthma is getting better," he coughed.
Lyra rolled her eyes.
"Sure it is."
"It is," he insisted.
He had to let out another a string of coughs before he could speak, "W-where are you going?"
"Gotta go buy something for my mum," she replied.
She turned and continue her walk down the street, "You coming?"
Kaelen nodded and despite the fact he'd almost had an asthma attack he proceeded to run after her.
"Lyra!"
"What is it Aotearoa?"
Kaelen frowned, "Don't call me that."
"What?
Aotearoa?" Lyra grinned, "What?
Don't you like being called Aotearoa, Aotearoa?"
His grimace confirmed his dislike for the nickname.
Lyra couldn't help but laugh.