Into the Beyond Books 1-3

Upon returning to his locker Lewis heard Mr. Gray's muffled cries. He undid the lock and opened the door to find Mr. Gray already out of the backpack. All of Lewis's books and school supplies were strewn about the bottom of the locker.

"I was stuck," said Mr. Gray.

"I thought you could just open a portal or something," said Lewis.

"I can only open doors in weak spots," he said.

Mr. Gray hopped out of the locker with a pouty scowl on his face. He followed Lewis on foot to lunch after Lewis finished repacking his bag. Lewis bought a turkey sandwich from the deli and made his way into the cafeteria. Kenzie spotted him from across the way and waved.

"Sit by Kenzie," said Mr. Gray.

Lewis was feeling disillusioned to the wonders of Kenzie. "Do I have to?" he asked.

"Do you want to get snipped?"

Lewis headed over to Kenzie. "Heyyy," said Kenzie. "Madam Defour is SUCH a drag."

"Always agree," said Mr. Gray with a smile. "You know."

"I know," said Lewis to both of them at once.

"She's like, 'parlay frech-swa'. I mean how rude is that?!"

"Mhm," said Lewis as he sat down beside her.

Kenzie leaned in close and whispered in his ear. "I didn't get all I wanted earlier."

Lewis raised an eyebrow.

Kenzie dove in with an unexpected kiss. It definitely caught Lewis by surprise. He chocked slightly on his own spit and almost fell off the end of the bench seat as she smushed her face against his. It wasn't disgusting like the night before, but it was hard to enjoy kissing her when every fiber of her being had grown to annoy him.

Lewis, eyes still open as Kenzie prodded at his clenched teeth with her tongue, spotted Landon walking into the cafeteria. His arm was in a sling and he was glaring around back and forth as if searching for someone. Lewis hadn't expected to see him back in school so soon.

He didn't wish to solicit anymore hate from Landon for being around Kenzie, especially since he wasn't enjoying the experience. He immediately coughed into Kenzie's mouth to make her pull away from the kiss.

He leaned around Kenzie to see if Landon had spotted him yet and found the bully glaring directly at him.

So much for not pissing him off....

Lewis braced himself for a confrontation. Landon stared him down for a good ten seconds, but then walked away without so much as a word. Lewis wondered if perhaps Landon hadn't seen the kiss after all. The intimidating stare could have just been Landon's response to him being next to Kenzie. Lewis wasn't usually that lucky, but he was following Mr. Gray's instructions, so maybe it would all work out for the best.

Mr. Gray was staring at Lewis now as well. "You don't have to put up with Kenzie anymore," he said. "Her part towards your destiny is played out."

Lewis blinked several times. He was beyond confused. Mr. Gray had been pushing him towards Kenzie hard since he first appeared. And now he's just done? It didn't make any sense—nothing had even happened. All he's done is make her like me by having me agree to all the stupid things she says, and now her part is just 'played out'?

Lewis pretended to tie his shoe so he could lean under the table and have a word with his little troublemaker. "What do you mean she's played out?" he whispered.

"Exactly what it sounds like," said Mr. Gray. "You're done with her—finished—you can kick her to the curb—her destiny lies elsewhere," Mr. Gray waved his hand as if saying something mystical. "She is horribly annoying."

"I know," said Lewis. "But why did you even have me going for her in the first place if you're just going to have me end it now?"

"You don't need to end it," said Mr. Gray, "just ghost her."

Lewis blinked several more times. He sat back up. "I have to go," he said.

"Whaat?" asked Kenzie.

Lewis stood up and walked away

"Ok! See you later," said Kenzie.

Mr. Gray hustled to catch up to Lewis as he exited the cafeteria.

Lewis finished his sandwich while on the move to his last class of the day—math. He sat down outside the classroom and waited for lunch to end. Mr. Gray crawled into the opening of a nearby vending machine and retrieved several candy bars. After crawling back out, he silently handed one over to Lewis.

"Chocolate helps with heartbreak," said Mr. Gray before laughing hysterically.

Lewis definitely wasn't heartbroken. He unwrapped the bar and took a bite. "Good riddance," he said with his mouth full. The turn from practically obsessing over Kenzie to despising her presence had been sharp. Lewis figured that had been Mr. Gray's intention all along. He couldn't imagine how his disillusionment to the wonders of Kenzie would ultimately change his future. Even less so, he had no idea how anything that had happened in the last day could possibly lead to him saving humanity from the Agares.

Math went by without a hitch. Mr. Gray spouted the answers to all the problems on Lewis's worksheet so that he wouldn't have any homework later. Lewis still didn't trust him, but he was enjoying him more now that he wasn't being asked to do anything uncomfortable.

After school he met Jenny at the metro bus stop and informed her that he wouldn't be riding back to the motel with her.

"Why not?" she asked.

"I'm going to walk back. I just need to clear my head."

"That's like three miles," said Jenny. "Whatever. I'll see ya later."

Lewis headed towards the field to meet with Josie. Mr. Gray was still following on his heels. "I really would like to be alone for a while," Lewis said to him.

"Fine," said Mr. Gray, "hurry back, though. There is much we need to do tonight." He quickly stepped over to a bush and opened a portal to the Beyond.

Once Lewis was certain Mr. Gray was completely gone he continued on to the other side of the field.