“Look, it’ll be easy,” Tranquility said. “You’ve got your bachelor’s in criminal justice. You’ve got a good grounding in English, in psychology, in logic, in rhetoric… in fact, your course history’s kind of all over the place, but given your lack of real-world experience or accomplishments the sheer breadth of your educational background could only be a good thing. You and I will be spending some time together, prepping for the LSAT, working on strategies for essays and interviews… we’ll be spending a lot more time together. You’ve got a lot going for you as a wunderkind, but that can end up being a liability if we don’t approach it right. Needless to say, we will not be relying on Daddy’s name for this.”
“I’ve already taken the LSAT,” Perfect said.
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“I have,” Perfect said. “I was curious. I wanted to know what it was like. Plus, logic games.” She shrugged. “It sounded fun at the time.”
“Fun,” her sister repeated, shaking her head. “Perfect… you realize that when we apply, all your scores are going to be reported?”
“Is 161 that bad a score for a teenager?”
“It’s… damn it. When you do things on an impulse, because they’re ‘fun’, you’re not only failing to live up to your potential, you’re disrespecting everybody else who takes the test, who works and struggles…”
“Who said I didn’t work at it? Working at things is fun for me,” Perfect said.
“I said,” Tranquility said. “Because I know you’re capable of more than that. Perfect, we’re all… well, you know we are. Darkwells. We’re gifted. Special. Daddy doesn’t like to acknowledge it, but you know he knows he’s one, too. He’s the man who broke the senate’s filibustering record by reciting The Count of Monte Cristo for twenty-nine hours. From memory.”
“He told me he’d planned on doing The Fellowship of the Ring, but he realized that morning that could cause a copyright nightmare,” Perfect said.
“Right. He did that without preparation. He could be using that intellect in any number of ways, but he chose to use it in the service of the people. He’s a hero. Divinity is, too. She saves lives. I do, too, sometimes.”
“What if I told you that I save lives?” Perfect asked.
“You and Mr. Buttons?”
“Maybe. Sometimes,” Perfect said. “Maybe we go out at night and look for people who need saving. Maybe I’ve got a costume. Maybe the reason I’m never home when you come to my apartment is that I’m at my secret headquarters with my team of superheroes, trying to unravel a plot to destroy the world.”
“Perfect… you’re smarter than this,” Tranquility said. “You’re reacting right now, not thinking. I’m going to take you back to your friend now, but I want you to think about this and I want you to realize that I have nothing but your best interests at heart. Dee cares about you, but she isn’t… she doesn’t try to understand you like I do.”
“And your understanding is that I should be a public defender.”
“Law school will challenge you like nothing else has,” Tranquility said. “I know you think tests are fun and homework’s always been a game to you, but law school will make you work your ass off… at things you’re already very good at, and in areas where you’re kind of deficient. The law is a social profession. You’ve got a lot of social science credits under you belt, but you don’t have a lot of experience with social arts. This won’t just get the others off your back, it’ll give you direction and it will make you better.”
“Funny, Dee wants to make me better, too.”
“A better person, I mean, not healthier,” Tranquility said. “There’s nothing wrong with you the way you are, Perfect, except that you’ve lacked focus, but that’s not your fault. You’ve never had a guiding hand. Daddy cares, but he’s so busy. You’ve never had a mother’s influence…”
“I have the same mother as you and I’ve had quite enough of her influence,” Perfect said. “Stop the car.”
“Let me take you back…”
“Stop the car or I’m getting out anyway.”
“The door locks are electronically controlled,” Tranquility said.
“I can open them in twelve seconds,” Perfect said. “In three seconds I’m going to start. One… two…”
“Pull over to the curb,” Tranquility said to the driver. Her voice grew gentle as the car came to a stop. “Perfect, you have to grow up sometime… and I’d like to help you do it, if you’ll let me.”
“I am an adult,” Perfect said. “I’m not a child… I’m especially not your child. If you want to help me, keep the others from interfering in my life.”
“I’m trying to…”
“Only by monopolizing the opportunity,” Perfect said. The locks clicked open. She swung open the door and started to slide out of her seat. “Someday, Trey, you’re going to be surprised to learn how grown-up I am, but when it happens it will be my decision because I’m ready to tell you, not because you or Mother demanded it as payment for my continuing freedom… and frankly, that day’s never going to come until I think you’re mature enough to handle it.”
“Perfect, that childishness is beneath you,” Tranquility said, but Perfect left the car and slammed the door shut, walking briskly back in the direction of the cafe. She got there to find Dani sitting glumly, a mug of hot chocolate and a half-eaten Belgian waffle in front of her.
“Perfect,” Dani said. “Is everything okay?”
“Just ducky,” Perfect said, sitting down across from her. “You know, you never did tell me how old you are.”
“Perfect, I…”
“And that’s what I’m going to hold to, in the event that something tragic happens,” Perfect said. “Welcome to the team.”
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