Chapter 3 - Food Fight!
When the bell rang, Jacob closed his books and walked straight to his locker. It was nearly lunchtime and Jacob was hungry. He closed his locker and turned around to see Jessica hugging her biology book.
“Hi. How was your math class?”
“It was ok,” Jacob scratched his head, “How did you know I was going to math class?”
Jessica smiled, “I just know, silly. Now, lets go get some food.” Jessica put an arm under his and pulled him along.
As they sat along the long lunch table they exchanged their stories of their last class. Jessica laughed as Jacob told her of the book that hit Ricky in the back of the head.
“I told you he would be nice to you,” she said.
Jacob took a drink of his chocolate milk and asked, “How did you do it?”
“Did what?”
“How did you get Ricky to leave me alone? In fact, how did you get him to be nice to me?”
Jessica paused and looked directly at him, “Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have your dreams come true?”
Jacob nodded his head.
“Well, that’s what I do. I make them come true. So…” Jessica picked up her drink then asked, “what’s your ability?”
Jacob said, “It’s nothing. It’s really boring.”
“Oh, come on. Tell me,” said Jessica.
“Ok…I can take things apart and put them back together.”
Jessica looked puzzled.
“What?”
Jessica smiled and said, “That’s it? That does seem kind of boring.” They both laughed at that. Jessica leaned her head on his shoulder.
Then, Jacob said, “So, if my dream was to have a McDonald’s cheeseburger in my hand, then-,” Jacob paused when he saw that he was holding a cheeseburger in his hand.
“Awesome.”
“Cool, huh?”
“That is way cool.”
Jessica smiled more and said, “It is cool, but there is one problem.”
“What’s that?”
“Well, I have to get something in return.”
“Really?”
“Yes, unfortunately. Which means I’m going to need something from you. For that cheeseburger.”
Jacob stopped chewing and waited.
“I want you to start a food fight.”
“Wait…what?” Jacob put his cheeseburger down. “I don’t think I can do that. I’ll get in big trouble and my mom will have me grounded forever.”
“But, you have to. Otherwise, everything I gave you will be erased. It’s the only way.”
Jacob shifted in his seat and nervously looked around, “What about Mr. Arnold. Everyone says he can stop things before they happen.”
“How will he know if you’re the one starting it all? Just do it. You don’t want Ricky picking on you right?”
Jacob didn’t like the sound of that. Jessica was really nice before, but now she wasn’t acting nice at all. She wanted Jacob to do something that nobody would ever try, especially in this school, and all of it for a cheeseburger.
“Why me?”
“What do you mean?” Jessica asked.
“I mean, why did you pick me?”
“I don’t like seeing people getting picked on. You were Ricky’s main target at that point and I figured…” Jessica stopped and her cheeks began to redden, “I don’t know, I figured you had a dream that needed to come true.”
They both sat at the table staring at one another.
“Alright. I’ll do it. But, before I do, I want to know why you need something in return?”
“If I knew that, I would tell you.” Jessica smiled again and wiped her mouth with a napkin. “Well then?” She motioned toward his lunch and waited. Jacob picked up his cheeseburger. He thought of the possibilities and what his mom would do to him. He thought about Mr. Arnold and the rumors about his abilities. Then, he thought about the cheeseburger leaving his hand.
“Food fight!” screamed Jacob and he flung the cheeseburger across the cafeteria. But, as the cheeseburger flew through the air, it stopped. Everything stopped. The kids who were still eating their lunch were frozen in place. The cafeteria lady was still pouring her soup into a student’s cup when she was frozen in place. Jacob wasn’t frozen though. He could still move and when he looked down at Jessica, she was gone.
“Jacob, come here this instant!” Came a shout from across the cafeteria. It was Mr. Arnold. “Make sure to empty your tray and throw away that cheeseburger.” Jacob did what he was told. He emptied his tray and walked over to his cheeseburger. He pulled it from its’ frozen position and gently dropped it in a nearby trashcan. Jacob looked around for Jessica. She was nowhere to be seen. He walked over to Mr. Arnold who was tapping his foot, “My office, now.”
As Jacob sat in Mr. Arnold’s office he couldn’t help but keep his down. He couldn’t look the teacher in the eyes. Jacob knew what he had done was wrong and now he was in trouble. Why did he do it? Where did Jessica run off to when he threw the cheeseburger? Why wasn’t she frozen in place like everyone else?
“Now, Jacob I don’t tolerate that type of behavior in my lunchroom. Especially, a food fight.”
“I’m sorry, sir,” said Jacob, “It won’t happen again.”
“I’m sure it won’t. Should I call your parents and tell them what happened?”
“No!” Jacob shouted as he stood up from his seat. Then, Jacob realized he had shouted at his teacher. “I mean…no. I won’t do it again. I promise.”
“Good,” said Mr. Arnold, “Now report back to your regular class. Don’t let me catch you doing something like that again.”
“Yes sir,” said Jacob and he left Mr. Arnold’s office.