Can't Wait to See What Happens

Photo and Graphic by Annie Wilson

8:55 AM - Sunday, November 2, 2014

Flood Mansion, Pacific Heights, San Francisco

Paco couldn’t believe it: the way they’d pulled everything together so quickly, the organization of everyone, the place that was a palace that was supposed to be a school. Meg had set the table to be facing the front door as people came inside. She thought it showed a true welcome, and that there was no getting around them. Raj, Mark’s tech genius, had a table a few feet behind them where people would turn in their phones — they plan was that they’d sign a release and allow their phones to be downloaded — but that would only happen after they’d been told about Alexa’s death. Up front, they’d just turn them in because phones and devices weren’t allowed in the meeting. The phones would go in a Ziploc bag and sealed by one of the labels they’d put their signature on; the signature would have to be ripped to break the seal. It was simple, but both he and Meg thought it would work. None of the seals could be ripped until they’d signed the release. 

Right before nine o’clock the first student arrived. Petite, fire red hair in a messy bun, and dressed for a dance class with an oversized hoodie over her leotard and tights.

“I’m Mackenzie Zinn.” She was full of dimples. Meg checked her name on the list on the clipboard, and then spun it around for her to fill in her email, phone number, and signature.

“Hi - I’m Meg. Do you have a nickname or do you go by Mackenzie?” Meg asked sweetly.

“Zizi? Z-I-Z-I.” 

“Okay, perfect.” Meg filled in a name tag. “We’re having everyone wear these - it’s more for us than you guys, but we appreciate it.” Zizi shrugged and reached for the name tag, slapping on her hoodie in the center. “Are you a dancer?”

“I used to be.” She answered quietly. “I’m just heading to gyrotonic later.” Meg smiled at her.

“Cool. It shouldn’t take too long.” Zizi hoisted her bag to her shoulder. “I’m going to have you check in your phone over her with Raj - there’s no phones allowed in the meeting.” Zizi pulled a face but proceeded along to the next table to turn in her phone, place it in the plastic bag and seal it with her signature label.

An Asian girl arrived soon after and check-in began again. She was in baggy jeans and a hoodie too, with her hair tucked inside the sweatshirt. She wore large sunglasses but pushed them up to the top of her head. A small Chanel bag hung from her wrist while she carried a venti Starbucks cup. Paco only knew it was Chanel because of the two Cs back-to-back on the front. Imogen had a vintage one and she’d told him about the designer being important, but beyond that and the two Cs, he couldn’t remember a thing.

“I’m Mary Jane Wong. But everyone knows I’m MJ.” She was assertive, somewhat serious, but with a twinkle in her eye. Meg filled in the name tag and ushered her on to Raj’s phone check in. Paco and Meg exchanged glances as the next pair came in the door: two tall boys, lanky, and moving slow. One had chestnut brown wavy hair and the other a mop of blonde with dark roots, the long, blunt bangs hanging sideways across his forehead. Paco had been standing to the side, letting Meg handle everything, but he moved forward slightly to hear what they said; the blonde looked like the Teen Wolf boy from the photo with Alexa Thomas. The dark haired one with blue eyes started first:

“I’m Dash Reilly.” Paco saw the kid actually wink at Meg, and saw her blush slightly in return. 

“Dash? Is that short for something?” Meg shot back, in complete control.

“Dashiell. Like, Dashiell Hammett. Ever heard of him?” He was condescending.

“Sure. The Maltese Falcon, Red Harvest, The Thin Man…Hollywood punch-up writer, plead the fifth at the HUAC hearings, Communist Black List.” She looked him right in the eye. “Also…a truly legendary drunk.” His eyes were narrowed with annoyance. “Is your last name R-I-L-E-Y or R-E-I-double L-Y?”

“Double L.” One side of his face was almost in a sneer. 

“Great.” Meg with a big smile. “Let me send you over to Raj.” She threw a thumb over her shoulder toward the next table. Dash Reilly moved along quickly. The blonde mop-head stepped forward slowly. He had the movement of a boy still getting used to his height and length — overly careful, trying not to bump into things.

“That was awesome.” He said to Meg in a whisper, giggling a little. “Dash is so full of himself.” His brown eyes shone with laughter. Meg gave him a conspiratorial smile.

“And you are?” 

“I’m Seb - Sebastian Podesta.” If the name struck a chord with Meg, you wouldn’t know it.

“Great, thanks for coming Seb. Should I put Seb on your name tag?”

“Sure.”

“Alright - follow your friend Double-L over there.” Seb Podesta chuckled and moved on.

Paco tried to hide his grin. Another pair came in the door, this time two honey blonde girls; they were similar in height and looks, but had different movements. The first had her hair down past her shoulders with huge sunglasses on, hiding the top half of her face. Her mouth was slightly open, even as she spoke, lips a pale shade of unnatural glossy pink. She wore a baggy cable knit sweater, jeans, and boots. A compact handbag went across her body - it was bright red, small on a long strap that was red, tan, and dark green in stripes that ran the length. Where MJ’s bag had two Cs, this one had two big Gs. 

“Hi - do we check in or what?” The girl asked breathily, her mouth open. 

“Yes. What’s your name?”

“Oh. I’m Tally - Talbot Briggs?” It was a question. Meg checked her off of the list and spun it around for her to sign.

“Welcome Tally - is that  -?”

“T-A-L-L-Y. Yeah.” She said impatiently. “Name tags. Seriously?”

“Yes. Sorry, there’s just so many of you.” Meg said placatingly. Tally Briggs huffed. “I’m going to send you on to Raj at the next table. You’ll have to check in your phone.”

“WHAT?” She said softly, but with a razor-sharp tone. Clearly no one had ever taken Tally Briggs’ phone.

“No phones in the meeting. That’s the rule.” Meg said sweetly. Tally scoffed and rolled her eyes, moving forward. The next girl was more athletic, loose-limbed, and easy. Her hair was long but in a high pony tail. Paco tried not to notice her very long, athletic legs, set off by tiny neon pink runner shorts barely covered by an oversized sweatshirt that had the Georgetown logo across the front. It almost looked like she was wearing nothing but the sweatshirt. The sleeves were so long they bunched up over her hands. 

“Hey - I’m Carolina. Carolina Parker.”

“Any nickname?”

“No. Carolina’s fine.” She signed herself in and moved on to Raj. The next was Charlie Dagonet. Paco almost didn’t recognize him out of his fancy pajamas. This time he wore dark blue jeans and a dark gray ribbed sweater with a set of buttons at the shoulder - they’d been left unbuttoned. He didn’t carry a thing which seemed to make him a little more vulnerable. 

“Charles Ashford Dagonet.” He offered. “Charlie is fine.” Meg smiled at him.

“Thanks. I’ll send you to Raj to check in your phone.”

“Sure.” He moved on. 

A few minutes later another girl arrived, with messy curly hair almost to her waist. Paco couldn’t figure out if it was brown streaked with blonde or blonde streaked with brown. Either way the ends were dyed shades of pink and purple - like she’d dipped the ends into pots of dye. She wore leggings and barely broken-in sneakers with a cropped t-shirt and a flannel plaid shirt that looked like something borrowed from a boy. A gray sweatshirt went around her waist. A well-worn, scuffed leather bag hung across her body but Paco couldn’t see any brand initials. 

“Hi. I’m Jennifer Tyson.” She said to Meg softly. Paco thought she sounded a little spacey, but thought that could just be a part of her whole messy vibe.

“Hi Jennifer. Thanks for coming.” Meg said to her, smiling. “What name would you like on your name tag?”

“Jen’s cool.” She said signing in.

“Okay Jen, here you go. You’ll need to check in your phone with Raj at the next table.”

“I have to check in my phone?” She seemed bewildered.

“Yes, no phones in the meeting. We need your full attention.”

“Is everyone handing in their phone? Really?” 

“Yes. In fact, I think you’re the last - everyone else has already left theirs with Raj.” Meg offered reassuringly. Jen Tyson scoffed. 

“Ugh. I can’t believe this. So lame.” She rolled her eyes. Paco noticed that her voice was low and sort of scratchy, unlike the moderated tones of Tally or Carolina. Jen Tyson moved on. Finally, a late arrival came through the door, a boy and an older man. The resemblance was clear that they were related. Ash-colored hair that almost had no color was cut the same: shaved fade on the sides and thicker on top, but the flat color made it look thin overall. Small, cold, color-less eyes was also common between them, as was the soft paunchy-ness of their bodies, although the elder was much further along with this attribute. The younger had a bit of fitness about him just due to his youth, but you could see his future standing next to him. Both were wearing 49ers jackets and hats with somewhat baggy jeans and dock shoes.

“Hi, welcome in. Thanks for coming.” Meg said with a smile."

“I’m Jim Hartman, this is my son Tripp.” The older man said. This was the first parent who had decided to join the meeting.

“Great - can you sign in please with your full name?” She offered him the list. “What name should I put on your name tags?”

“I’m not wearing a name tag,” the father said. “You can put Tripp on his - T-R-I-P-P.”

“Thanks - here you go.” She handed over the name tag. “Please check in your phones at the next table.”

“Check in phones?” It was the father speaking again, but both of them looked at her askance. “Why?”

“We need everyone’s full attention in the meeting.” The man rolled his eyes and looked at his son.

“C’Mon Tripp, let’s go.” He said, prodding his son forward. “How long is this going to take?” He asked Meg, annoyed. “We have tickets to the game.”

“It shouldn’t take that long. We really appreciate you being here.” She smiled again, giving him some sweetness. They moved to Raj’s table and handed over their phones like the rest of the group. Paco moved over to confer with Meg quietly and make sure everyone was there. It was nearly 9:10 and they needed to start.

“Thanks for that Meg - you were amazing.” He said quietly.

“Are you kidding? I can’t wait to see what happens now.” She smiled at him, gathering up her supplies.