Chapter Eight

T h e town hall was on Odessa road, the Main Street through town. Harlow and I arrived there about five minutes before 9 o'clock. Wind whipped through the air as we walked down the sidewalk, and I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to ignore the numbing cold.

The town hall didn't fit in with typical houses in this New England area. Trees surrounded it on three sides and if I didn't know better I would say it was the only house around for miles.

Hearing the loud chattering from outside, Harlow and I followed the sidewalk to the back of the building, there lay a yard. It was big enough to fit everyone from our homeroom. No clouds blocked the stars, making it a perfect night to look for an asteroid.

The only thing not perfect was the temperature. Harlow told me it was warmer than a usual October night in Connecticut, but my blood still felt as though it would turn to ice if I stayed in one place for two long. Hopefully the leggings under my jean, the wool boots that reached my knees and my puffy coat would be enough protection for me to stay alive. Right now, it felt as though it was The Day After Tomorrow. Well, maybe not that cold.

People were gathered around a steel container used for drinks, and I went over to grab one. Hot chocolate came out of the faucet. I gave it to Harlow then gave myself another one. I blew on it to cool it down, enjoying the ringing sensation of the steam rising onto my cheeks.

"I'm going to find Cassius," Harlow said, before diving into the crowd and I lost sight of her.

"Are you excited for the comet?" Someone said over my shoulder. I jumped, splattering a few hot chocolate drops onto the ground, and saw Lee. I didn't notice before, but now under the light of the moon, his eyes looked almost violet.

"It should be interesting." I said, taking a sip of the hot chocolate. The liquid burnt my tongue and scorched my throat as it made its way down.

"Hot?" Lee Asked, eyes dancing with amusement.

"Yes." I lowered on my cup and blew on it. "Very."

"So we're supposed to be going on groups of six to watch the comet," he pushed some hair off his forehead and continued. "I was thinking we could be in the same group, if you want to." There was a hopeful look on his face, and I had a feeling he had been waiting all night to ask. My heart warmed despite the cold, but it could have just been the hot chocolate in my system.

"That sounds great." I smiled so it looked like I was sincere and I wasn't just agreeing to be polite.

Harlow returned with Ducky, and they glanced between us, eyes sparking with a realisation and Harlow's lips riled up into a smirk. I rolled my eyes and shoved her lightly on the shoulder.

"Should we all be in the same group?" She mused, twiddling a strand of hair around her finger.

"Yes," I replied. "Of course." I slung my arm around her narrow shoulders.

Then someone else joined us - Gabriel. He darted between me and Lee to grab his own hot chocolate. A thick silence fell upon us and I took another sip of my drink, glad when it didn't burn my tongue again.

"Does your group have room for two more?"

I rolled my eyes. "Well we only have four people in ours. But couldn't you find another?"

The other person he must have been talking about must have been Scarlett, because she stood at the edge of the deck, her arms crossed and a scowl plastered across her dark red lips. She reminded me of an angry lioness about to pounce on its prey. I glanced away from her.

Given what Harlow said to me about her, i wasn't afraid of her, even though I should be. My theory was that if I could protect myself from her once, I could do it again. And according to Carlo, I was powerful. I had the powers just like she had. Besides, Scarlett messed around with humans, but she wouldn't hurt one of her own - I hope.

Carlo walked to the centre of the yard and cleared his throat. Immediately, the chattering stopped and everyone turned to face him. I silently put my now empty cup on the desk.

"It's time to begin." There was a tone of excitement in his voice as it travelled in every direction. Please put down your drinks, come into the yard and arrange your group on a circle and hold hands. Remember - groups of six. I would have liked for us to all do it in one big circle, but it might have been too dangerous. Take off your gloves so they don't interfere with the flow of energy."

Lee put his cup down and slid over into the moonlight. Ducky bounced into the yard after him as they walked into the moonlight, and I followed Harlow towards them. Gabriel joined up with Scarlett and we stood under the sky.

I pulled of my gloves and shoved them into my pockets, then held Lee and Harlow's hands. Both of their palms were warm and gave me a sense of protection I had never felt before. On Harlow's other side was Ducky, then Scarlett, Gabriel.

When we were all settled, I looked up at the sky and gasped. The asteroid was already streaking through the sky. It was more beautiful than I could ever have imagined. It shined yellow, with hints of blue around the edges and a streak of white trailing behind.

Carlo didn't need to explain what to do next. I closed my eyes and focussed on the energy floating around us. It pulsated from every direction, and instead of flowing into my palms like it did in Homeroom where I focussed on drawing it into me, I found tonight that it was already inside of me- orbs of white that made up a whole.

The light flowed into my palms and joined into the circle then a rush of colours bursts through me - the rainbow, twisting around each other like streamers in the wind.

The comet flashed through my mind, followed by a rush of power that exploded into a ball yellow light. Electricity shot through every inch of my body. Then each of the colours unwound, shining with a brightness they didn't have before. They fled out of my palms and back to wherever they came. I immediately jerked my hands out of Harlow's and Lee's palms when they power faded.

I made eye contact with Lee, and his eyes were darker, and were unnaturally magenta, almost as if he had contacts in. My eyes had alsways been a boring, pale green, but maybe they had changed too.

"What the hell was that?" Lee demanded, breaking the silence. I drew out a breath.

"You felt it too?" Harlow's voice was weak as she glanced around at each of us, twisting her fingers together.

Scarlett nodded. "If you mean the feeling as if i was sitting in a bathtub and someone dropped a hair dryer into it, then yeah, I felt it." She flung her hair over her shoulder and crossed her arms, although she didn't seem as tough as before the asteroid.

"What was supposed to happen?" I asked.

"None of us know," Lee said. He gazed up at the stars, a distant look in his eyes. "We've never done mediation under the Olympian Asteroid before."

"Obviously," Ducky chuckled. "There hasn't been an Olympian asteroid for 3000 years. It's pretty safe to assume we haven't done this before - unless some witch figured out immortality."

Gabriel laughed. "I don't think so. And besides, I think we're the only group that felt that, unless everyone else are just amazing actors."

I looked around to see what he meant. The closest group to us was a cluster of freshman - and they had their heads bowed in disappointment. They must not have felt it. Other students talked and laughed with each other. Some looked to the sky where the asteroid had once been. But not one had the same look of shock and awe that the people on my group had.

Suddenly, thunder cracked through the air, followed by a flash of lightning. Dark clouds swarmed and covered the stats that has been shining so brightly just a moment before. The temperature felt as if it had suddenly dropped 10 degrees. Before I could process what was happening, sleet lashed down on us, the pinpricks coming down so fast it felt like they had created a layer of ice on my skin and clothes.

"Everybody inside!" Carlo shouted, thunder drowning out his words.

My boots slipped as I hurried across the yard, hoping my boots not slip on the mud or the layer of ice forming on the ground. Finally, I made it inside. I squeezed between the rows of people and stood next to Harlow, who still looked rattled.

Carlo cleared his throat. He stood on the steps leading to the upstairs. "Sorry about that inconvenience." He said, projecting his voice over the murmurs. "I was hoping we could stay out longer, but now, you guys can just go home. You have school tomorrow."

"I'll go find my backpack." Harlow said weakly. "I have an umbrella in it." I nodded as she walked away. My eyes searched the crowd and landed on Lee and Gabriel. Lee's smart. He probably figured out what's happening. I waddled in between a group of people towards Lee and Gabriel, but I paused when I realised their conversation wasn't friendly.

"You're such an loser." Gabriel snarled at Lee, who placed his hands on his hips.

"That makes two of us. It takes one to know one," Lee shot back. Gabriel visibly got angry, his eyes narrowed.

"How dare you. In my right mind I would kill you here and now." Gabriel snapped. I widened my eyes but stepped between them. I turned to Gabriel.

"Please. You're dignity is going down the drain. In fact, I think I can hear Scarlett calling. I don't know whether to pity you or hate you." I shot back, raising my finger daringly. Adrenaline pounded in my ears and my heart was beating so loud I thought that Lee was practically gaping st me.

Shock glimmered in Gabriel's eyes. "Excuse me?" They were dark and flashing dangerously. "That's a lot of shit coming out of such a pretty mouth." I kept my eye contact with him, feeling a flush creep on my cheeks by his gaze. It wasn't my fault he was so goddamn attractive.

"I'll point out the obvious because you don't seem to know. We all experienced that - so you two better get along before I slam your heads together."

Gabriel opened his mouth to say something back. I took one more look at him, glancing at his jeans, then said casually, "Your flyer's down." I was internally screaming.

I walked off, spotting Harlow by the door, umbrella in hand.

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