01

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a really bored girl with above average intelligence must be in want of trouble.

I’m here to tell you that the aforementioned truth is not the truth. Trouble is a magnet for bored girls with above average intelligence. But of course my sister, Arianna, didn’t want to hear any of it after she came home from the parent-teacher conference with a sour look on her face.

« Hi ! » I chirped.

« We need to talk, » she said in a threatening tone, brushing her sleek blonde hair out of her face. Arianna was a classical beauty. She had long blonde hair, porcelain skin and sharp blue eyes, exactly like mother. Me, on the other hand ? I took more after my Israeli father. I had tanned skin and thick dark hair. Sometimes people would ask if I was adopted whenever I was out with Ari and mother.

« Are you positive ? Maybe we can talk later ? » Like when there isn’t any steam shooting out of your ears.

She huffed. « So I met your teachers, » she said.

« I assumed you would, » I nodded. « That’s what parent teacher conferences are held for. »

« Don’t act smart now, » she warned.

« Who said I’m acting ? » I asked with a tone of false incredulity.

She sighed, « The teachers did mention you had an ego problem and a superiority complex. »

I only shrugged in response. It was probably true. Sadly, I didn’t really care enough to dwell on it.

« So we need to talk about your little adventures in school, » she said.

« I’m a legal adult, » I said, slightly annoyed. « Stop babying me. »

« No legal adult carries powerful magnets into the physics laboratory. Want to explain that first ? » She asked, putting her hands on her hips.

« Oh, yeah. It was a prank, nothing major. Nobody even got hurt so I don’t really understand why you guys are raising a hue and cry about it-« 

« Why did you do it ? » She asked with exaggerated patience.

« I was bored, » I admitted. It was funny though, every instrument that came in the magnetic field went haywire. I nearly giggled as I recalled the students and the teacher scurrying across the lab to find an instrument that worked. Some guy thought there were ghosts too.

Well, I always believed that if life wasn’t entertaining enough, you’re not living it right.

« And you thought the best way to entertain yourself was to mess with an entire class ?! » She demanded.

« Well…yes, » I answered. « How can you not find something like that entertaining ?! »

Ari’s palms curled into fists. « You can’t keep doing stuff like this, Kes ! You’ll be off to college in a few months ! You can’t keep acting this immature ! »

« I’ll mature when I’m in college. Why not enjoy till then ? » I countered. « And it wasn’t really my fault, what do you expect if you leave a bored kid with above average intelligence in a physics lab-« 

« Above average, huh ? You’re being modest, » she said sarcastically.

« Glad you appreciate my efforts, this entire thing is too tiring. Lowering my intelligence to fit social acceptance criteria can be quite taxing, » I said drily.

« That’s why I put you in sociology, not that it worked, » she said.

« I thought sociology was about how to get along with people, » I admitted.

« You’re the only one who would need a class to tell her how to get along with people, » she sighed.

« They have classes for that ? »

« They’re called correctional facilities, » she said.

« Ah, okay, no, » I replied.

« Your sociology teacher claims to never have seen you in her life, » she continued. « And then she proceeded to show me your exam papers. »

I winced. « Did she now ? »

« Yes, the best one was the test last week-« 

« Don’t remember, » I said.

« There was a question in which you had to describe a system where everyone in the society contributed for its welfare-« 

« Still don’t remember, » I told her.

« You should. Your answer was ‘Communist Russia’. »

« Still don’t remember, » I repeated.

« Pretending you don’t remember doesn’t mean you never did it, » she snapped.

I let out a heavy sigh. This was Arianna whenever I was in trouble. Accuse, reason, realize nothing was going to change and repeat. At least the accuse part was done with.

« Kes, look I’m leaving for the middle of nowhere tomorrow, you need to take care of yourself. Three days, is that too much to ask ?! » She demanded.

« I’ll be fine, Ari. I can handle myself, » I told her.

« Oh really ? »

« Just because I act immature at times, doesn’t mean I’m brick stupid, » I reminded her.

« I know, and that’s what scares me, » she confessed.

« Why ? »

« Because you tend to get overconfident at times and that is dangerous, » she told me.

« I won’t, » I said. « I can manage three days, thanks for the vote of confidence, sis. »

« Do you want me to stay back ? » She asked.

« No, » I grumbled. « It’s fine, I’ll call you before I act on anything, » I promised.

« I may not have reception. »

My jaw dropped at that. « Ari ! »

« What ?! It’s in the middle of the Himalayas, what did you expect ?! » She said defensively.

« Ari ! »

« You’re the one who tells me to live a little because life is short ! » She said.

« Doesn’t mean you shorten it ! » I yelled. « It’s the Himalayas man, God knows what all can happen. Do you know that area is prone to landslides ?! »

« Kiddo, you’re overreacting. I’ll be fine, » she insisted.

« Now who’s behaving irrational ?! » I pointed out.

« Even if I had reception, there’s nothing you could do. Plus Cavilleri will be there too, » she said.

« You’re Mafia ex ?! » I demanded. « Ari ! » What in the name of God was wrong with her ?! She was supposed to be the rational one !