Pretty Boy Psycho

Flight.

I jump up and down on the spot gearing myself up to mount Sunshine. Being tragic at combat means I’d like to be a strong flier. For two mornings straight, I’ve gotten up extra early to practise. Morning one I screamed as Sunshine galloped across the bridge, held onto him way too harshly so we had an extra bumpy fly round. Morning two I screamed again but managed to loosen my over-tight grip so Sunshine was able to breathe easier. Too bad it didn’t help his balance though.

With mini griffons jumbling round my stomach I get onto my ride. Hold onto a tuft of feathers, on the back of Sunshine’s neck, real gentle. I refuse to throw my arms round his neck today no matter how nervy I get. “Third time lucky, right?”

Shoot we’re off. The scream forces its way out as wind whips through my hair, wrapping at my shirt. Sunshine’s talons clatter over the bridge, he springs, I go, “WAAAH,” and wings flap. Sitting up straight is so hard when full instincts tell me to hunch over and cling tight. I close my eyes trying to remember how exhilarating flying above the clouds was with Geordie. Hey, didn’t I fully let go then? That was different. I had Geordie to grab hold of me if need be; must be the thought of being alone and falling which scares me. I’m sure Sunshine wouldn’t let me fall.

I keep my spine straight. Open my eyes. Loosen my grip some more. Sunshine shunts to the left. I yelp. After the shunting he hovers a moment then flies forwards, slow but smooth. Sitting straight is helpful. No more silly noises leave me. Smiling I watch the clouds as we drift through them.

After a slow successful flight we drop several feet. My stomach lurches. I spoil our progress on descent as I pretty much strangle poor Sunshine. He lands with a massive crash which has me fall off despite my grip.

From on my back I stare up at Sunshine; he nudges my face with his beak “I thought that flight went rather well.” I give him a reassuring pat as I sit up. Flick my hair about hoping I don’t look too weather swept. As I reach for my comb I realise the sun has gotten quite high, well past dawn. My heart gives a startled jolt. I’m gonna be late for my first class with Clover since the choosing.

Jumping up I make a mad dash for Cloud High, sweeping my comb through my hair as I go. Grab my satchel from where I dumped it by the bridge. Make for the main doors however spin round to see if Sunshine is following me. He sure is.

“Sorry I don’t think you’re allowed in room one hundred and one. You’ll have to wait out here for me.”

The other three griffons leave to do their own thing. We don’t see anything of them at night. When I went for my first secret lesson with Master Hugo I found Sunshine lurking round these main doors as though waiting for me, then he followed me to my midnight lesson. When done he took to lurking round the main doors again. Feeling guilty leaving him on his own I invited him inside and took him to my room. I’m guessing griffons aren’t allowed inside the fortress. Luckily no one’s noticed me sneaking him in at midnight and out at dawn. He doesn’t do any harm. Just curls up in the middle of my floor on a rug to sleep.

Wishing Sunshine could come to class I carry on without him. I run through reception, hurtle down corridors, burst through our classroom door, and skid into my seat.

“You missed breakfast again. Where were you? I gave your door a knock,” says Danny.

“Hanging out with Sunshine,” I say as Clover sweeps into the room.

The classroom feels ever so empty seen as only us and the logistics team are here. Logistics is made up of Tanya, Lee, and Collette. Looks like the two girls are getting close as they have their heads together whispering.

“Has anyone seen Charlie this morning?” Clover nods her head at Charlie’s empty seat. When no one answers she glares at us.

Geordie rocks on his chair. “What? We don’t know where he is. Snubs us, don’t he?”

“I wonder why.” Clover sits at her desk. “Today we’re going to work through a scenario. Plan what we’d do for a disaster. Let’s take the late Alex Harlington for example. Let’s say he’s being tortured by General Midnight at The Plaza in Lundune. She’s demanding a ransom. What do you do?”

I raise my hand. “Tell the Harlington’s to pay it. They earn plenty.”

“Never give the opposition funding. Next.”

“Take him by force,” suggests Collette.

“How? Midnight has squads round The Plaza.”

Before how can be answered Charlie slopes through the door.

“Hi,” says Tanya. “We saved your seat.”

“I’m not logistics.” Charlie sits at my old lonely table.

“Charlie maybe you can give us an example of what you’d do if Alex Harlington was being held hostage at The Plaza?”

“No idea. Probably wait round to see what logistics wanted me to do.” Bash, bash, Charlie tips the contents of his satchel onto the table. Picks up his nearest note book and tears out a page. Ignoring him Clover moves onto quizzing Lee.

Wriiip goes a history book.

Clover’s temple ticks.

“Charlie you should sit with us. We still need to work together,” says Tanya. “We’d appreciate your ideas.”

“My ideas are worthless because I’m doomed to trail round after those three.”

“What’s wrong with us three? At least we’re ain’t predictable teacher’s pets,” says Geordie.

Wriiip. A historical piece of text turns to confetti. I get up from my seat and crawl round on the floor, picking up shredded pieces of book.

“What are you doing under my chair?” murmurs Charlie.

“I could make a totes amazing collage with these torn up sentences. Have you anymore?”

Clover flips. “Books are becoming rare, expensive. Are not for turning into frivolous art. If you cannot take your role in my class seriously I do not want to see you again, Corey West.”

“I’m the one shredding the book,” groans Charlie.

“You’re having a meltdown. I’m letting it slide. Corey out.”

Geordie slaps my shoulder. “You’re banished awesome.”

“Banished?” I wail. “But I was only…” I stare at the torn up pieces of paper in my hands.

“This lesson’s a joke.” Geordie bends down to whisper in my ear. “Do you think Cain Dacota listens to logistics? Clover’s bitter ’cause we made it as field agents. She knows we’ll go the same way as Cain and Jordan. She’s letting Charlie’s actions slide ’cause she wants to use him to manipulate us into doing what logistics want.”

Geordie makes his follow me hand gesture and stalks out the classroom. Collecting all the shredded up history book I can carry I scramble after him. Naturally Danny wanders after us.

“Sorry I got you kicked out of class,” says Charlie as he stumbles out room one hundred and one. “I was trying to get myself in trouble.”

Slam. Geordie shunts Charlie into a wall. Holds him there. “Tantrum over eh? Get back in there and do your work like a good boy. You’re well in with Clover. Can do no wrong.”

Danny tugs at Geordie’s arm. “Leave him.”

“Why? He’s nothing to do with us.”

“He’s a field agent.”

“He’s Clover’s pet.”

“He’ll be flying with us.”

“Like he said in there he’s doomed to trail after us.” Geordie pushes Charlie further into the wall.

“Quit trying to make like you’re hard,” says Danny.

“I am hard. Mental.”

“You didn’t look too hardcore when Sad got hold of you. If Charlie hadn’t come along -”

“-I’d have been tortured,” yells Geordie sounding his fiercest. “Logistics boy left me to rot. They call our Corey a coward, but he was the only one who dared to come after me. Then Clover span it so Corey looked bad for taking action rather than reporting the incident. Field agents are supposed to take action not make reports to their superiors.”

“There’s no need to shout. We get what field agents and logistics do.”

“And Charlie’s just logistics with wings. So can get back to class.” Geordie gives Charlie a shove towards room one hundred and one, but his shove goes too far, and Charlie ends up touching down on the floor.

“You can be a real jerk sometimes,” says Danny as he offers Charlie a hand.

“You’re the jerk befriending him. Don’t think I haven’t noticed you sniffing round making nice. Well it ain’t happening.”

“What’s not happening?”

“You ain’t bringing him into my clique.”

“Your clique?”

“Yeah mine.”

“I’m allowed to have other friends you know.”

“Yeah sure; they don’t come into our triangle is all. They can watch from the side lines.”

While Danny and Geordie have a blazing row, I watch Charlie knowing exactly how it feels to be left out. Must be awful thinking you were logistics bound then get thrown in with us three.

“Screw you Danny Kaito. Waltz off with him if you think I’m so mental.”

In a furious temper, Geordie shoulders by Danny and storms off down the corridor. I make to run after him but Danny tries to stop me.

“There’s no talking to him when he’s in this kind of mood. He’ll only be insulting. Might even strike out at you.”

“I’m not afraid of Geordie.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Trusting Geordie one hundred percent I run after him through reception. He heads outside. I carry on following. Watch for a moment as he kicks out at the ground. Something in my fabulous judgement of people is telling me Danny getting friendly with Charlie digs deeper than field agent business. Something’s hurting. I’ll find out what and fix things.

Speaking Geordie’s language, I go right over to him, despite him looking like he wants to kick out someone’s guts. “We could use Charlie.”

Geordie snorts. “Do one Al or I’ll end up going mental at you.”

“You won’t silly.” I reach out. Give Geordie’s shoulder a tap. “As I was saying Mister Mental we could use Charlie. He could be our logistics.”

“What you talking about?”

“We’ve got your attitude, Danny’s casualness, my ultra trendy style, but we lack the smart one. If we had Charlie on side, he could come up with plans. We wouldn’t have to follow them if we didn’t want to mind. That way there won’t be a rift.”

“What you getting at?”

“Danny likes Charlie; wants to be friends. You’ll drive him off if you won’t accept Charlie in some way.”

“Shut up.”

That temper is flaring up. Yay I found out what the problem is. He’s scared of losing his best friend.

“Danny thinks the world of you. He told me about you helping him when his mum developed the affliction and how you got him into Cloud High.”

What I am trying to get at hits home. “You think I should let Charlie tag a long?”

“I think you ought to give it some thought. He’ll be forced on us anyway so we may as well make the most of him.”

“I guess. It’s just…”

“What?”

Geordie hooks an arm round my shoulders. “Never mind. I’ve been thinking now we’ve got griffons you can travel further afield with your art.” He gives the area a quick look over to see no one’s about. “Harlington’s have a natural gift for making money.”

“I’ve not made much.”

He’s about to say something else about money but is distracted as Sunshine bounds over to us. Rubs his head against my hand.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh.

The three of us dive out the way as Chunk lands with a massive thud, shaking the ground.

Tear. Tear. Tear.

Chunk rips up the earth in the spot Geordie was kicking. There’s soon a crater as dirt flies.

“What you doing that for?” asks Geordie.

Purring Sunshine rests his head atop my shoulder.

“Is he purring?” Geordie shakes his head. “What sort a griffon purrs?”

“A cute one.”

“He ain’t a cat, Al.”

Sunshine purrs louder then skips round Chunk in a circle. When Chunk sends dirt flying at him, he nips his tail, which has Chunk swipe for Sunshine’s face, which has him retreat behind me.

“He’s only playing.” I smile at Chunk who nearly ploughs me down but fortunately a sideways glance from Geordie manages to subdue him. Starts clawing a new patch of earth. “Has he let you fly him yet?”

“No. He better do in Zel’s class ’cause I ain’t riding Bramble.”

I crane my head back. “You must be itching to soar into blue sky.”

“Whoa we don’t go above the Cloud Barrier,” says Geordie as we make our way to flight practise.

“You took me.”

“It was a one off. I rarely go above the cloud line. I will when fully trained. It’s way too open up there when Thunders have control of the skies with their skeletals. Only a naïve idiot would venture above the cloud line without finishing Cloud High. You get me?”

Not really seen as Geordie took a major risk taking me to see what the sky looks like. I nod anyway. “Chunk’s probably always above the clouds.”

“Possibly. Thunders usually only target griffons with riders.” Geordie’s attention snaps onto Danny who’s several meters ahead of us, walking with Charlie to flight practise. I hope our little chat will have had some sort of impact as Geordie jogs to catch up with them. “You can be his friend if you like.”

“I know. I can have whatever friends I like without asking your permission.”

“I mean he can join our clique if you want him around.”

“Our clique is it? I thought this was your clique. What’s the catch?”

“No catch.”

“The catch, Geordie.”

“He’s clever right? So, we use him as our own personal logistics advisor. He can plan stuff out so we won’t have to bother with real logistics.”

“How about being friends purely to be kind?”

“He’s your friend not mine. I’ll try to tolerate him.”

These two are like a couple of bickering old dears. They have failed to notice Charlie’s sloped up the hill, into the trees, in a direction away from the paddock. Leaving those two bickering all the way to the paddock, I brush through trees and shrubs in Charlie’s footsteps. Find him with heavy frustrated eyes, underneath a willow tree.

“Are you skipping class?”

Charlie massages his temples. “Please not you.”

I lean my weight into the willow’s trunk. “Geordie said you could hang out with us. Cool right?”

“That’s the least cool thing I ever heard.”

“Don’t you think Geordie’s amazing?”

“I think Geordie’s a heavy handed thug who bosses everyone in contact with him.”

“Sure, he’s got some strange habits.” I impersonate the follow me gesture which gains a twitch of a smile from Charlie. “When you ignore his signals it’s funny watching him glare at you.” I relax down the tree. “Must be hard to move into a new team especially when you were leader of your old one.”

“Logistics was my thing. What I wanted to do. Hotaru has ruined my life. Aren’t you mad at Sunshine for knocking you away from relief?”

“I’m grateful because I get to do the same classes as my best friends. You’re still logistics. Actually you’re even more so than if you didn’t have Hotaru.”

“How do you work that out?”

“Do you think we’re going to take any notice of logistics? Geordie does what Geordie pleases. Meaning your ideas are gonna be more productive up there than down here don’t you think?”

“Err…”

“We think Clover wants to use you to manipulate our team. Using’s bad. Surely you’re better off using your ideas for yourself rather than being told how and when to use them.”

There’s a long period of silence. He must be having deep thoughts. After a couple of minutes, I reckon he’s had enough thinking time. “Everyone wanted Hotaru. I’d have been honoured if he’d picked me as his partner. Hotaru must see something real special in you. He has been ignoring trainees for years. Everyone’s been too dumb for him till you came along.”

“Thanks Corey.”

“What for?”

“Being cheerful. I should have been kinder to you on your first day.”

Yay Charlie’s perked up; merged out of his mopey bubble. Comes with me to flight practise. When we arrive at the paddock Hotaru’s there; is snubbing his rider. They’ve had a rocky start. I think that’s about to change as Charlie approaches the put out griffon.

“Sorry I’ve been disrespectful. Being chosen as a field agent came as a shock. I hope we can start afresh.”

Hotaru narrows his eyes and clicks his beak as though super peeved off then butts Charlie’s hand like he did when he first chose him.

“Hello Hotaru. I look forward to working with you.”

While Charlie fusses over Hotaru, and Geordie and Danny continue bickering I mount Sunshine, ready for my lesson. I’ve got to really concentrate. Get some proper practise in. Remember what I get taught.

Wow we’re jumping with excitement, raring to go. “Ahhh!”

“Did I tell you to mount?” Zel pops up beside us. “You’re usually hiding behind the fence.”

Zoooom. “Bye-e-e!!!”

“Wait for me. I’ll come with you,” calls Zel.

Too late to wait. We’re off.

Stay straight. Stay straight. Balanced. Hold on but not too tight. Remain straight. We’re airborne. I’ve managed to keep from clinging round Sunshine’s neck. He goes slow for me, well for a moment. When I’m comfortable, sitting peaceful, he ups the speed a notch.

“You’re doing great.” Charlie flies beside me. “Use your knees to grip and try to move in the direction you’re wanting to go. Would following me help with your turning?”

“It’s worth a try.”

I follow in Charlie’s path. Mirroring his movements as he flies Hotaru. This is a helpful exercise. To say this is Charlie’s first time on Hotaru he’s ever so relaxed riding him. Some people seem to be naturally gifted at everything. When I’m more comfortable with riding, Charlie leaves me to practise flying in circles by myself. Zooms off so fast Master Zel is unable to keep up with him on her retired griffon. That’s sort of naughty for him. Not quite. He comes back when called.