Wes glanced at the chalk-streaked table, the fading colors of their imaginary world smeared under his fingers. Jayde watched him, wondering what wild idea was floating through his mind now. He had that faraway look again, the one that meant something was brewing.

"You ever feel like there's more out there?" Wes asked suddenly, leaning forward, his eyes locked onto hers. "Like... way more than just this?"

Jayde raised an eyebrow, caught off guard. "You mean more than school? Sure. I think about it all the time."

Wes smirked. "Not just school, Jayde. I'm talking about... more. Things we're not told about. Things that are hidden."

She hesitated, the seriousness in his voice sending a shiver down her spine. "What do you mean, hidden? Like some conspiracy theory?"

"Not quite," Wes said, standing up and throwing his backpack over his shoulder. "Come with me. I wanna show you something."

Jayde blinked. "Now?"

Wes grinned and held out his hand. "Now. You trust me, don't you?"

For a split second, Jayde wondered if she should be doing this. But this was Wes. The guy she'd been spending all her spare time with, the guy who could turn any mundane moment into magic. So she stood, slipped her hand into his, and let him lead the way.

---

They left the library through a side door that led into the shadowy, less-trafficked part of the school. The hallways here felt older, like they hadn't been touched since the place was built. Wes led her down a narrow stairwell, each step echoing through the silent, dim corridor. Jayde's heart pounded faster with each descent, but she said nothing, trusting that whatever Wes was up to was worth it.

They finally reached a plain door at the bottom of the stairs. Wes reached into his pocket, pulling out a small, silver key. He slid it into the lock with practiced ease, pushing the door open with a soft creak.

Jayde stepped inside cautiously, her breath catching as the room lit up. It wasn't just any old storage room. This place was filled with strange symbols and markings etched into the stone walls, glowing faintly in blues and greens. Books, some bound in cracked leather, lay strewn across a large wooden table, along with candles and jars of what looked like herbs and powders.

"What... what is this?" Jayde asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Wes turned to her, his face suddenly serious. "This is part of what I've been trying to tell you. Magic is real, Jayde."

She blinked, taking a step back. "What? Magic? Like, spells and potions? You can't be serious."

"I'm dead serious." Wes moved closer to one of the walls, tracing his finger along one of the glowing symbols. "This is ancient stuff. Magic's been around for centuries, but it's kept hidden. Most people don't know about it—only those who are gifted or... connected."

"Gifted?" Jayde's heart raced. "Wait... are you saying you can do magic?"

Wes smiled, his eyes gleaming with something she hadn't seen before. "Yeah. I've been able to for a while now. My dad taught me when I was little."

Jayde tried to process it all, her mind spinning. She wanted to laugh, call him crazy, but the glowing symbols and strange books in front of her made it hard to deny.

"Why are you telling me this?" she asked, her voice a little shaky.

Wes looked at her, his gaze softening. "Because I think you can do magic too."

Jayde blinked, her throat tightening. "Me? No. That's—"

"Jayde, your dad can do it," Wes interrupted, his voice gentle but firm. "That's why you can too. It's in your blood."

The mention of her dad sent a shock through her. "My dad? What are you talking about? My dad doesn't... He's just a regular guy."

Wes shook his head. "That's what he wanted you to believe. He's been keeping it from you. Your dad is part of something bigger, Jayde. He's one of the leaders of the resistance."

The air seemed to leave her lungs. Resistance? Magic? Her dad? "What resistance?"

"There's a group—people who use magic to fight back against the ones trying to control everything. They're protecting the world from the real threats—people who want to use magic for all the wrong reasons."

Jayde felt like the floor had just dropped out from under her. This was too much. Way too much. "My dad... why didn't he ever tell me?"

Wes stepped closer, placing a hand on her arm. "He was protecting you. But now, with everything happening, I think he's been preparing you for this. You're not ordinary, Jayde. You've got power."

She swallowed, staring at him in disbelief. "How can you even know that? How would I know if I had... magic?"

Wes smiled again, this time a little more mischievous. "There's a way to find out."

He turned to the table, sifting through the clutter until he pulled out a small stone, smooth and polished, with intricate runes etched along its surface. "Hold this."

Jayde hesitated but slowly took the stone from his hand. The moment her fingers wrapped around it, she felt a strange warmth pulse through her body, starting from her hand and spreading outward, like a quiet hum vibrating in her bones.

The runes on the stone glowed faintly, responding to her touch.

"That's it," Wes said softly, his eyes wide. "You've got it."

Jayde stared at the stone in her hand, her thoughts a whirlwind. She had magic? Her dad was part of some secret resistance? None of this made sense, and yet here she was, holding a glowing rock that was responding to her.

Before she could even begin to process what that meant, the door to the room suddenly burst open, and Kyle stormed in, eyes wild with panic. "Jayde! What the hell is going on here?"

Jayde whipped around, her heart hammering in her chest. Kyle's eyes darted from her to Wes, and then to the glowing symbols on the walls. His face was pale, a mixture of fear and confusion written all over it.

"Wes," Kyle said, his voice low and tense. "What are you doing with her?"

Wes raised his hands, trying to calm him. "Kyle, relax. I'm just—"

"Just what?" Kyle snapped, stepping in front of Jayde protectively. "What are you dragging her into?"

Jayde, still holding the stone, felt like the walls were closing in. Kyle was her best friend—he'd always looked out for her. But now she could see the fear in his eyes. Not just for her, but of Wes.

"Kyle, it's okay," she said softly, placing a hand on his arm. "I'm fine. He was just showing me... something."

"Something?" Kyle's gaze flicked between them. "Jayde, do you even know what's going on here?"

Wes frowned, stepping closer. "Kyle, you don't understand—"

"I don't need to understand," Kyle shot back. "I just know Jayde shouldn't be mixed up in this."

Jayde stood between them, her mind racing. She could see the tension in Kyle's body, the way his fists were clenched at his sides. But Wes wasn't backing down either. He seemed completely unfazed by Kyle's outburst, like he'd expected this.

"Kyle," Jayde said quietly, "it's not what you think."

Kyle looked at her, his expression softening just a little. "Then tell me what it is."

She hesitated, glancing back at Wes. There were so many things she didn't understand yet, so many questions still swirling in her mind. But one thing was clear: nothing was ever going to be the same.

"I think... there's a lot I need to figure out," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kyle's shoulders dropped slightly, his fists unclenching. He didn't say anything more, but the worry in his eyes spoke volumes.

Wes, standing beside her, gave her a small, encouraging nod. "We'll figure it out together."