Page 4 of Ordinary Secrets

“Don’t you play the guitar too?”

“Yeah. I’m not as good as Trey though.”

“Lies!” Liz reaches back to slap Kevin’s boney knee. “Kevin’s just being humble. He’s amazing on guitar. He’s also our tenor and does most of the creative video editing for our YouTube channel.”

“Impressive! I’m Javina.” She points a finger at her chest, then places a light palm over Arella’s thigh. “This is my bestie, Ari.”

That nickname is still confusing me, because I’ve been referring to her in my head as Arella. I never knew she went by anything else. There are just some things a manila folder can’t tell me—hence why I’m here.

“Are you two from the Los Angeles area?” Liz asks.

“I’m originally from Chicago,” Javina says.

Liz’s jaw drops with a little gasp. “I’m from Chicago too! What about you, Ari?”

“I’ve lived almost everywhere in Cali,” Arella says, all soft and sweet.

“How long have you been in LA?”

“About four years.”

I’ve never been more grateful for Liz. Not only am I learning things about Arella that aren’t in her limited file, but I’m also not doing the work. Liz doesn’t know about my mission. If she did, she’d be doing a hell of a job assisting me. Apparently, I need the help, because I can barely think with this beautiful mystery in my back seat. All the free space in my brain is consumed with trying to sense her.

“So what cover song is gonna be your next single?” Javina asks.

Liz puts on her thinking face. “It’s an acoustic rendition of a Backstreet Boys hit, right, Kev? Are we allowed to tell them which one?”

Kevin shrugs a shoulder. “Why not? It releases tonight for Throwback Thursday. It’s ‘Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely.’”

Javina gasps. “I love that one!”

After she gushes about the Backstreet Boys for a minute, she spits out a long string of questions. When is the next original music video coming out? What’s the craziest fan encounter you’ve ever had? Do you normally get recognized everywhere you go?

Liz and Kevin do a great job answering everything while I contribute nothing. Actually, I stop listening after a while. My mind is buzzing with all the puzzling thoughts I have about the quiet woman behind me.

Is Liz’s mind power working on Arella?I want to ask, but I can’t do that in a car full of Ordinaries. That would break the number-one Zordi law: Never reveal anything from the Zordinary world to an Ordinary. Maybe after sushi tonight, Liz and I can?—

“T?” A gloved finger taps my shoulder.

I jolt, and the car goes quiet. “Hmm?”

Liz dips her eyebrows at me. “I asked if you know where we’re going.”

“Oh.” I clear my throat. “Yep. There’s a tire place just off the next exit.”The one I Googled last week when I came up with this plan.

“Anyway,” Javina says, stealing the attention back, and I’m happy for it. “How far have you guys gotten on your next original album?”

Perking up, Liz shares some general details about our band’s second original album, which we’ve been working on since we released the first one. Liz’s details aren’t anything our band manager doesn’t want us to reveal.

The whole time, Arella stares out the windshield with a blank look on her face. One would think that after observing her for the last four weeks, I’d be sick of looking at her, but I’m not. It’s not only because she’s stunning, either. I’m desperate to know how she’s deflecting my gift and if she knows she’s doing it at all.

If I shut my eyelids, I wouldn’t even know she was in this car. I sense that Liz is happy. Javina is still exhilarated out of her mind. While Kevin’s got a content look on his face, he’s a little anxious on the inside. As for Arella... nothing.

When we arrive at the tire shop, Liz and Kevin opt to stay in the comfort of my car’s air conditioning. I gladly leave the engine running for them, then volunteer to escort Arella and Javina inside.

“Well, aren’t you a gentleman?” Javina says when I hold the door open for them.

I return her smile with my own.

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