THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

Project.”
    How could I answer that? I was none of those things, but I was here for the stupid project. Had it not been offered to others, like Gabby? I lifted my shoulders and let them drop.
    “Ah, the rare humble academic. Found a suitable computer yet?”
    I shook my head.
    Tony kept his back to us when he said, “Fat chance of Sacagawea pickin’ a decent computer.”  He sent a pompous smile over his shoulder and told Gabby, “Why don’t you call up your fairy godmother, sweet cheeks? See if a magic wand can help her.”
    When he returned to whatever held his attention, Gabby’s lips curved up. She touched her finger to her lips, looking as though a devious idea fueled her thoughts before she whispered to me, “Put your hand out and see which computer calls to you.”
    I lifted an eyebrow. Was that really how it was done?
    She released one of her bubbling laughs that bordered on scary then lifted her shoulders in a what-can-it-hurt motion.
    I sighed and turned back to the table. I had no reason to treat her with caution or condescension the way Nicholas had, because she seemed nice and harmless. I put my hand out and waved it over the top of each laptop.
    “Ah, for love of Einstein, are you two for real?” Tony complained, crossing the room, a scowl on his face. “What are you doin’?”
    Gabby rounded on him with an expression of excitement. “Perhaps she’ll prove that you techno-ites are not all full of dull stuffing,” she taunted. “Rayen is using her sensory skills to select the perfect computer, which requires the unique ability of energy touch. Please don’t try it or you might hurt yourself and I wouldn’t be able to help you. My magic wand only works if you possess a heart.”
    I smiled, playing along with her teasing while I searched for a computer that showed some promise, anything to get Tony off my back. I mean, what could it hurt to go along with her? It wasn’t like I knew what I was doing anyhow.
    Tony smacked a hand on his forehead. “Oh, no, don’t tell me you’re one of those woo-woo students from the east wing.”
    Gabby struck a pose with one shoulder cocked up and her chin held high. “Careful or I’ll call my flying monkeys.”
    “For the love of...” Tony mumbled, pulling out a small handheld device he started thumbing. “Say your name’s Gabby, huh?”
    I’d seen those handheld units used earlier. Communication devices. A phone . Tony could call someone and– 
    I moved to reach for him, but my extended hand yanked toward a laptop, jerking me forward with the motion.
    My fingers gripped a scuffed-up machine in the second row that had a scratched black case. Weird. I caught Gabby’s startled look, but she said nothing so I wasn’t going to acknowledge it. I lifted the computer and made room for it on the front of the worktable.
    Oblivious to us, Tony waved his phone, chuckling. “Oh, yeah, this explains everything. Gabrielle Lin.” He glanced up, his flinty gaze more calculating than friendly this time. “You don’t look Chinese.”
    “Oh, dear, really? Because you certainly appear to be the spitting image of an A-hole.” 
    “Ah...major screw up.”  Tony focused again on his phone screen. “Says here you’re sixteen.” He eyed her up and down as if doubting her age then went back to reading. “Psychological profile...delusions, antisocial personality syndrome, alien...they got that right. What planet you from, babe?” 
    Right then and there I decided that if I ended up staying here I’d figure out how to build a computer from scratch on my own before I asked Tony for anything.
    Prancing around happily, Gabby ignored Tony and snagged the wire attached to the laptop that had responded to my hand. Had pulled me to it. I hadn’t even felt heat inside me this time. Did that happen with others...or just me?
    She stuck the metal prongs at the end of the wire into the wall. Must be the power source.
    I tried to concentrate on what was happening with the laptop, but my mind still worked on what to do with that threat outside our room. What was that bird-beast doing?
    I once again considered using Tony’s phone to call in help, but who would we call? Teachers? Dr. Maxwell? I’d been warned not to cause any trouble. Besides, I knew better than to try convincing the Jersey Jerk that a rabid, shape-shifting, predatory threat was loose in the hallway. Tony wanted a reason to get rid of me and that beast might morph into something else by the time