Chapter Nine

"G o o d morning, class," Carlo called upon the homeroom the next day as I plopped into my seat. "Now, would any body like to share their experiences from east night's asteroid?"

My heart plummeted and I fought the urge to look towards Scarlett and Gabriel, instead staring straight back at Carlo.

A small freshman girl rose her hand into the air. "I felt something," she said when Carlo called on her. "It wasn't much but it was something."

"That's wonderful!" Carlo smiled at her and she sat a little straighter in her chair. "Hopefully you'll be able to take what you've learned and use it in future lessons." He said. "Would anybody else like to share their experiences?"

I glanced at Harlow, expecting her to want to share what we felt, but she was avoiding Carlo's gaze, looking down at her fingers as she cracked them nervously. Gabriel and Scarlett leaned back in their seats, obviously not wanting to input. Lee was sitting in front of me, so I couldn't see his expression but he rested his hand on his chin which showed he didn't want an input either.

Instead, a Junior boy raised his hand. "We felt something. I think the energy was more easily accessible."

Carlo raised his eyebrows. "Really? Did anybody else experience this?" Murmurs of agreement ripples around the classroom.

"Good. Anyone else?"

Ducky finally spoke up. "We felt an electric jolt." He pushed his fingers together then pulled them apart to imitate a bolt of energy. "Everything was normal then all these colours connected to us and the. - BOOM, electric shock. It was pretty cool."

Carlo furrowed his eyebrows. "Really? What did the rest of you feel?" He asked, looking between Harlow and me, to Gabriel and Scarlett, then back to Ducky and Lee.

"Yeah," Scarlett said. "He pretty much covered all of it."

Carlo looked back at me, and I nodded, as did Harlow, Lee and Gabriel.

"Interesting." He mused, gazing at the wall at the back of the classroom.

"Is that... normal?" I asked after a moment.

"The asteroid hasn't come round in thousands of years." He replied. "There's no way of knowing what's 'normal'."

I wrapped my arms around myself. Wasn't Carlo supposed to know this stuff? The elders were in charge - and if Carlo - Who was an Elder himself - didn't know what to expect, then how would we ever understand what happened tonight in our circle?

I thought asking would give me answers, but instead I left Homeroom with more questions than ever.

***

I gripped the tray in my hands and walked stealthily towards Harlow's table. It was only her and Ducky on the table. I felt the eyes of many people watching me, as if waiting to see which table I would sit at and that would determine my hierarchy.

"Jeez," I Said, sliding into the bench bedside Ducky. "I felt like I was on a catwalk."

Harlow blinked sympathetically and reached across the table to place her hand on my shoulder. "You'll be fine. That's probably the only time you have to do it." She lowered her voice. "The humans can sense that we're more powerful without realising it, they like to watch us."

I nodded and looked down at my food. I took a bite of a fry that was too salty and kinda cold, then grimaced and put it back on my plate. Yuck.

"And I was all like running across the pitch, and this dude comes out of no where and is like 'kapow' and I'm on the floor." I look up and see Lee talking with another guy, both laughing about something. Lee caught my eye and blinked. He said something quietly to the guy and Lee sat down beside Harlow opposite me.

"Hey." He said.

"Hiya." Harlow said shortly, pushing one of the chips around her plate. I felt the other boy staring at me, so I turned and looked right at him. I don't know if it was my face or the glint in my eye but he turned and walked away. Lee drew our a shaky breath.

"Thanks. That guy never quits following me. It's kinda creepy."

I flashed a smile and opened my mouth to reply when I felt a tap on the back of my shoulder. I jerked and spun, coming face to face with Gabriel.

"Can I talk to you for a sec'?" He asked. There was this look in his silver eyes, it seemed almost apologetic. Please. Gabriel - apologetic? I glanced back at Harlow as if asking for advice. She had a slight smirk on her face and gave me the tiniest nod with a small jolt of her chin.

"Sure?" I said like a question, rising to my feet. He managed a small smile and pulled my gently by the wrist. The hairs on my spine rose and I felt as if I was on stage and it was the final number. Everyone was watching.

He let me out of the cafeteria and into a quiet hall. I swapped the wight from one of my sneakered feet to the other.

"Yes?" I was self conscious, and fully aware about how it was just me and him, plus how close he was standing.

He cleared his throat and crossed his arms, before uncrossing them and scratching the back of his head. "I-er... I just want to say I'm sorry."

My eyes widened. God, I wasn't expecting that. I tilted my head to the side. "Why? Because of last night? I'm sorry too - what I said was a little too much and we were all shoc-"

He put his hands on my shoulders and sparks zipped up my arms. My muscles tensed. His hands were so warm on my narrow shoulders. "That's not what I meant," he said, flicking the hair from his eyes and unaware of how much he was making me die inside. I almost forgot how to breathe. "I wanted to apologise for what I said in art. I think you got the wrong impression. I didn't mean lesser species as in humans, but as in monsters and mythical creatures."

I put my hands on my hips and breathed steadily. "Oh yeah? And what did that freshman kid do to you?"

Gabriel rolled his eyes. "He called Scarlett a loser but he also insulted my family. I didn't mean for it to go so far. I was about to step in when you came hurting towards us. That was really brave, by the way."

I smiled, my cheeks hot with pride. He loosened his grip on my shoulders and let his arms hang loosely by his jeans. "Alright then,"

He held out his hand. "Friends?"

My heart stung slightly, but my heart pushed me towards him and I wrapped my arms around him on inpulse. What am I doing? I screamed at myself as I wrapped my arms around his neck in a tight hug. His body was basically a hot water bottle as I pressed my head into his neck. I was hot and flustered, but after a moment of tense surprise, Gabriel melted into the hug as well, pulling his arms around my hips.

Electricity buzzed through me, like the energy but more real, my eyes widened as it zipped from my heart to my brain, then down my arms. It started to tingle uncontrollably, making my hands quiver slightly. Then, I felt the pressure of what ever it was building up inside me, realise with a sharp, loud zap.

"Woah." We drew apart suddenly as Gabriel hissed in surprise. "Was that your electric shock?"

I looked down at my hands and shrugged, a wave of embarrassment flooding over me. "I don't know."

"How did you do that?" His voice was filled with awe. I shrugged then tossed my arms across my chest. I didn't reply. Fear got into my blood and wound it's way over my body. Weren't these powers supposed to have limitations - one of them being we couldn't do anything in the physical world?

"It's alright," he chuckled and I replaced a breath. "Maybe you could do that again in fencing or something? Out-zap your opponent."

I raised my eyebrows, cracking my fingers. It was a nervous habit of mine, but I never got out of it. "Yeah. Maybe. But I don't think it would help in Tennis."

"You're a tennis player?" He seemed amused. "How long have you been playing?"

"Ten years," I said casually, even though I knew it was a long time. "I was on the team back in Louisiana, and I think it's about time I would start up again. I was thinking of joining the Falcon Bridge team this spring."

"You'll get in." He said confidently. "The top seed is Scarlett and she's only been playing for five." I felt a twinge in my stomach. I didn't want to be a judge of character but there was no doubt in my mind that Scarlett used her abilities to help her play.

"Say, there's an indoor club at Falcon High, it's on Saturdays at 10 in the Henderson Centre if you wanted to join?"

I smiled at the thought of getting to play again. "Maybe."

"Well, if you wanted to, it's in the Gymnasium - ends at 11:30." He gave me one last charming smile and waltzed away. Leaving me dazed and fazed and standing like a lemon in the middle of an empty corridor.

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