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compliments. My friends at Rent-A-Kid were used to my art. So were my teachers, for that matter. Being around new friends who found my talent impressive made me long for the life I had planned before I discovered the truth about Rent-A-Kid. Had the Sarah Lawrence College art program really accepted me? What would they say if I called to check on my application? Any chance my tuition was actually paid?
    I mentally kicked myself in the head. Of course not, dummy. They never intended for me to leave the medical clinic. Why would they shell out money for an education I'd never use?
    My old dreams were gone, and I needed a new plan, one that included Drake and our baby and, apparently, Brad. They loved it here, but did I? Would I want to stay in this area? The constant sun and Barbie Doll girls walking around didn't bother me... much. Maybe that would change. My pale skin and brown hair didn't exactly scream local, either, but whatever. If I couldn't handle being different from everyone else, I had bigger problems than hair color and lack of pigmentation.
    I could get used to it here. The perfect weather, scent of salt-water and ever-present sound of crashing waves soothed me, even if I didn't love everything about Southern California. Like the sagging palm trees with their bloated hula skirts that lined the streets. Why did people like them so much? Palms had to be the ugliest trees ever.
    Drake nudged me from the backseat. "What are you thinking about?"
    "Can't you just slip in and find out for yourself?" I countered, more harshly than I'd intended.
    He softened his voice. "Sometimes I like to have actual conversations."
    "Thank you," said Brad. "Someone is finally considering my feelings in all this."
    "Yeah, dude, because it's all about you," said Drake.
    "Palm trees," I blurted out.
    "Palm trees?" They both spoke in unison.
    "Yes. Horrible, ugly, abomination of nature palm trees! That's what I was thinking about."
    Drake laughed. "Here I thought it was something serious."
    "This is very serious. Have you seen those things?" I gestured to the outside, where they all lived, hundreds of eyesores littering California's coastline.
    At Rent-A-Kid, we had real trees: pines and aspens and Douglas firs, trees that stood tall and proud and filled the air with the heady scent of woods.
    I missed my life there at times, as strange as that may have seemed. Life had been good, at least the parts that passed as normal for my friends and me.
    I glanced down at the sketch in my hands. The scary man's eyes stared at me as if trying to read my mind.
    Nothing felt normal anymore.
    "Drake, I think it's time we tried to link to Luke and Lucy. We need to tell them what's going on."
    "Are you sure you're strong enough? Last time it took you days to recover, and you've been sick for weeks."

    "I know, but I have a bad feeling about all this. We need more information."

Chapter 7 – Lucy
     
    The large man in the dark suit glared at Lucy. "Tell me about her friends. Who did she hang out with? Who would she contact on the outside for help?"
    Lucy crossed her arms over her chest and gave him her worst evil eye. Such a stereotype, as if he'd just walked off the set of Men in Black . He just needed the sunglasses to complete the look. "I've told you everything. Sam didn't know anyone on the outside. None of us do. How would we? As for her friends—we were it, and really only out of pity. She was a total loner. We felt sorry for her."
    Mr. Black— Could that seriously be his real name?— was the new "Head Grunt" at Rent-A-Kid. His brown, high-and-tight crew cut screamed ex-military, as did the way he stood at attention and wore his suit as if it were a uniform. He towered over her, probably going for the intimidating look, his beady brown eyes staring at her over his crooked nose.
    He slammed his meaty fist on the table. "Look, smartass, I've got a guy questioning your brother. I may not have super powers like you freaks, but I will find out if you're