The Secret of Zormna Clendar by Julie Steimle (great reads .TXT) 📖

it. It is the one thing that could tip him over.”

“Oh…”

“I don’t know what he’ll do. Betray me to my death as a bargaining chip with the High Class? Or do it himself….”

Jennifer blinked, trying to think about Jeff Streigle. The guy with the freaky eyes and scars? The guy who played around with Brian Henderson with his church group and joked with Todd? But also the boy who when surrounded by the Monroe wrestling team busted a guy’s knee to escape. Would he really betray a scared fourteen-year-old girl to her death over a broken nose or some kind of prophecy? Was he the kind to murder someone?

“That’s stupid. First of all, all he ever does is tease you. Besides, isn’t he rebelling against the High Class? Wouldn’t they go after him also if he turned you in?”

Zormna frowned at her. “It is not stupid, Jennifer. I have been in his way for so many years. He now knows my darkest secret. The very secret that killed my great aunt.”

“Jeff is not going to—”

“You don’t know that!” Zormna backed up. “My parents were murdered. My great aunt was dead before I got here! My uncle was shot on purpose because the secret was exposed! I don’t want to be next!”

“Calm down!” Jennifer pulled Zormna deeper into the empty showers. They were the only ones there, but she was sure the noise would draw attention of any FBI agent searching for them. “Think about this logically. If you die, who would get investigated by the FBI for you vanishing? Huh? My parents, maybe. But he is already knee deep in as someone who knew you in Ireland. You’re his alibi. You know that.”

“You’re right.” Zormna nodded, white-lipped. “You’re right. I’m just panicking.”

Jennifer nodded sharply. “Darn tootin’. Besides, Zormna, Jeff is only seventeen. And he didn’t get all violent after touching your mark, did he?”

Zormna shook her head. “But—”

“No buts!” Jennifer huffed. “However, if you want me to stay away from him, I will. I get that. The guy will do anything to protect himself. But you…you have to trust me more. I know you think of me as a kid because I did not pass some fancy test from wherever you’re from. But I am older than you, and you are being hysterical. Besides, what does all this mean to me anyway? I’m not going to where you are from, am I?”

Zormna sighed, nodding. “That’s right. You’re not.”

“Also,” Jennifer added with a heavy shake of her head, “If Mom and Dad haven’t exposed you, why would Jeff?”

Zormna pressed a hand to her forehead. “I don’t know. Ok! You’re right! I’m just being hysterical! Are you done?”

Jennifer nodded tersely, folding her arms.

They were silent for a while. Then Jennifer leaned closer and asked, “I am curious, though. You said Jeff’s family have been rebels for generations. If that’s so, why haven’t the High Class gotten rid of them same way they are the Tarrns?”

Zormna lifted her eyes, surprised, and said, “Oh. They have. Jafarr is the last one.”

Then she headed out towards the exit.

Jennifer followed her, feeling dizzy. “Maybe Jeff is the one who is supposed to bring about the end of the world then.”

Chapter Twenty-Three: Safety in Numbers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“The important thing is not where you are standing but the direction you are facing.”

—anon—

 

Monday, Zormna did as she said she would do. She joined the many hopefuls in the school gym before class for cheer tryouts. Girls of all sizes and grades had showed up, eager to become one of the few high school ‘elite’. Zormna’s enthusiasm certainly appeared to be authentic. Jennifer lingered in the gym in case Zormna slipped back into her military briskness. Her job was to remind the military girl that she had to remain bubbly enthusiastic like the other hopefuls in order to make the team. ‘Bubbliness’ did not come natural to Zormna after all.

Echoing like a mantra for some strange cult, the cheer they were practicing repeated over and over again. It drew in many to the gym to watch. A medium-sized group that had gathered on the sidelines, imitating them to sardonic perfection. Jessica from Zormna’s Science class was among them.

“I. Can’t. Believe you!” Jessica walked up to Zormna the moment she came into classroom, all sweaty after first-phase tryouts. Jessica rubbed Zormna’s head with both her hands to mess up the blonde’s hair and asked, “So, you’re aiming to join the bubblehead gang? Soldier-girl, that doesn’t seem like you. Did you crack your skull or something?”

“Get off.” Zormna shoved Jessica’s hand away, though she was laughing.  Her curls stuck out mad-scientist like when she sat down. “No. I’m merely testing my strength.”

“Not to vomit?” Jessica asked, plopping down in the seat next to her.

The other girls in the room cackled. But one of the boys leered over with an assessing glance.

Zormna ran her fingers through her curls until they flopped back down like they were supposed to—unruly and windswept. The girls stared enviously, realizing that Zormna never really did style her hair.

“She’s a hottie,” the leering boy said. “She’ll get into the Pennington Pin-ups even if she can’t cheer.”

Rolling her eyes at him, Zormna opened her science book with a thump and plucked out her perfectly completed homework assignment. She spread it out with personal satisfaction. She may be stuck as a high school student, but she as not going to suck at it.

Taking one look at the paper, especially the number of pages in it, Jessica declared with amused annoyance, “Nah. She’s too smart for them. Look at that. She’s written an essay on the entire book—probably calling the writers morons.”

The classroom filled with laughs at Zormna’s expense—the norm in that room. 

Zormna rolled her eyes, offering a few complementary hah’s for their benefit. That was the beginning of plan Safety in Numbers. And she had to endure the bad with the good.

*

Tuesday, the tryouts continued. Zormna was among the callbacks—but she expected that. After all, she did have a flair for the dramatic, and she was an excellent gymnast that could follow a routine. Zormna knew what they were looking for. Showmanship. But after that first day she also saw that cheerleader tryouts was also a popularity contest. Jennifer had explained it once, but Zormna had not comprehended it until the second morning. The established varsity cheerleaders spent much of the time eying over the applicants, picking out their friends and the energetic trendsetter that might fit the squad, or as they put it: the next crème de la crème of Pennington High. Thankfully, it was the coach who would have the final say—leveling out all the things that were unfair.

Most of the time, Zormna practiced next to Joy Henderson. And Joy loved to talk. And her favorite topic? Everything. Joy was a curious chatterbox.

When the varsity captain called for all of the girls in the gym to gather around her, Joy jogged happily with the rest, hooking her arm in Zormna’s. In an odd way, they had become friends—though Joy wasn’t normally the type of girl Zormna hung out with…though as Zormna thought about it, she never really hung around with girls growing up.

“Can I ask you about Jeff?” Joy said, curious and cheerful. “You seem to know him, and hear rumors about you two meeting before in Ireland.”

Zormna blinked at her then nodded. “It’s true.”

Joy drew in a genuinely amazed breath.

So, since the subject was open, Zormna asked, “He spends time with Brian and you a lot, right?”

Joy shrugged. “He comes to church activities occasionally. He’s been at our house a couple times.”

Zormna nodded. “And you’ve been at his house?”

Joy shook her head vigorously. “Nope. But Brian has. It would be kind of weird if his kid sister just showed up for no reason—even if Jeff is seriously hot. I would totally look like a stalker.”

Zormna halted where she was, turning with a wide-eyed look at Joy.

The other girls rushed past her, getting as close to the cheer captain as possible to suck up.

Seeing Zormna’s reaction, Joy laughed, Henderson-style. “What? You don’t think Jeff Streigle isn’t even the slightest bit good-looking?”

Shuddering, Zormna pulled her arms into herself, crossing them over her torso. She shook her head hard. “No. I am sure he is decent enough to look at for a boy his age. It’s just….” She shuddered again.

“That he used to be in a gang?” Joy asked, angling her head nearer in wry curiosity.

The head cheerleader beckoned them all closer, shooting yet another glare at Joy and Zormna that told them to hurry up. Then she made the announcement that when they returned early Wednesday morning they would see if they would continue with tryouts. The list would be up at seven a.m. sharp.

Murmurs rose from the crowd of girls, many of them wondering about their chances to make the cut.

“He’s not a bad guy,” Joy said, whispering even lower. “I know he’s got a lot of scars and that forbidding stare when he is in a serious mood. But really, he’s a…well, for lack of a better word, gentleman. When Brian and I invite him to church, he’s totally cool about it, even when he says ‘No’. The other guys usually make fun all the church stuff we do.”

Zormna chuckled, thinking about what she knew about ‘Jeff’. “No. That one thing, I dare say, he wouldn’t make fun of. I am sure he understands when things are sacred.”

Blinking, Joy leaned back in mock surprise. “Was that a compliment?”

Chuckling more, Zormna headed towards the gym door. “Yes. But don’t let word of it get back to him. Ok? It might go to his head.”

Joy chased after her, laughing.

Leaning against Zormna’s shoulder like Siamese twins, Joy cracked a typical Henderson grin. “I knew it. Somehow I knew you didn’t really hate him. Come on, what is it? Are you stalking him for Prom?”

“No,” Zormna pressed a hand to her forehead. “Heavens no. I am just curious—that’s all.”

They both pushed the door bar to get out of the gym, marching together over the red top.

“I’d go to Prom with him, if he asked me.” Joy sighed, gazing up at the blue sky. It was as cheerful as Joy was. In a way, it was like Joy brought the blue sky with her and was just sharing it with everybody else. Both Hendersons were like that.

Jennifer McLenna veered towards them. She had been watching them the entire time from her usual spot. Her mouth had been in a thin line, and she clutched her books tightly in her arms. Apparently Jennifer caught that last part about stalking ‘Jeff’ for Prom. Zormna stiffened a mite when their eyes met. Jennifer really was the jealous type.

“So, why don’t you?” Zormna replied in a forced casual look off to the side, avoiding Jennifer’s glares. “Go to Prom with him.”

Popping her head down, Joy emitted another sigh. She was so dramatic. “Oh, because…I’m fifteen, and Mom won’t let me date until I’m sixteen.”

Zormna halted where she was, peering at Joy frankly. “You’re fifteen? I thought you were sixteen like Jennifer.”

Glad to be acknowledged, Jennifer lifted her chin.

Joy took a peek at Jennifer, sharing a hasty grin as Jennifer returned a wincing smile. “No. I was born in July. I won’t be sixteen