Chapter 1: The First Day

Aesha's POV

"Guys, it's okay, really. It's too cold if you sit here." I protested.

"We're your best friends, Aesha. It's okay. We'll sit here." Kennedy said, while she and Brent took their seats across from me.

"As long as you don't freeze our lunch." Brent said, eyeing his food carefully.

I laughed. "Of course not." Kennedy had a smile on her face, too.

"But," I sighed. "It's Autumn...and cold. You know me when it's cold."

Kennedy spoke up. "Exactly. You're all cheery and giddy when the season's cold."

"What she said." Brent agreed.

I just shrugged. "Well then, it's not gonna be my fault if you get hypothermia, or something."

Sky blue light glowed in my fist. I tried hard to extinguish it.

"It's uncontrollable in Autumn and Winter." I whispered.

"Don't worry about it Aesha. Just relax." Kennedy assured me.

*******

Everyday, I'd dress as if I didn't feel the cold winds, as if everyday's a warm one. Like today, it's a little cold outside and I'm dressed in white tights with a simple yellow t-shirt. I added a white top (which I really didn't need).

Yes, I didn't mind the cold. Ever. Put me in the middle of Antarctica in a tank top and short shorts, I don't care. I love it.

But on the other hand, the heat pains me. It burns so much.

So Autumn and Winter are the best seasons for me.

Sitting with two of my best friends here in the cafeteria was worrying me. What if I freeze them? What if my powers go crazy?

But they really insisted.

"I'm still worried guys." I panicked.

"We know you, Aesha. You trained yourself well." Brent said, his fork halfway to his mouth.

I ran my hand through my light brown hair. "I don't know...."

Kennedy shrugged. "As long as your eyes are brown, not blue, then it's fine."

They looked a little uncomfortable. Brent rolled down the his jacket sleeves and Kennedy reached for her sweater. I gave them an apologetic face. "Sorry." I whispered.

I can't blame them. It's the 1st week of November and it's getting colder and colder everyday. So am I.

Kennedy pointed to the center table. "Hey, what's up over there?"

Most of the students in the cafeteria were crowded around the center table which is also known as the popular table.

They were crowded around one guy. One popular guy. He was talking and they seemed to be attracted to him. This was not like any normal school day.

"Isn't that Cole Rogenson?" Brent guessed.

I nodded. "Cylene's younger brother."

"Why is everybody around him? That's weird." Kennedy said.

I couldn't agree more. When I met Cole- or known about him- there seems to be something weird about him. Yeah, he's the most popular student in our year, along with his girlfriend, Willow Thompson but I just naturally hated him. I never known him that well but I bet he's a big jerk.

We all decided to ignore that whole scene.

******

 "Hello?" I spoke through the phone.

"Hey. I'll give you a ride today. We'll hang at my place." Cylene said.

"Finally! It's been a week." I said.

I can hear a laugh on the other line. "We'll need to talk about those powers of yours. It's almost winter."

Cylene Rogenson, Cole's older sister like I mentioned before, was a goth rockstar. She wore dark clothes and she's the lead guitar player of this band called Purple Angels. Occasionally, the band would play at school and almost everybody loves their rock music. Especially Brent, Kennedy and I. Yeah, she's one of my best friends.

"Cylene's giving us a ride." I informed Brent and Kennedy after school.

"It's about time," Brent complained. "If I have to walk home another day, I swear my feet will fall off."

Kennedy giggled at his words and I smiled.

Cylene's purple-black convertible pulled up in front of us. "Thank you for abandoning us for a week, Rogenson." Brent joked again.

Cylene rolled her eyes."Shut it, Frinnate. The band needed a ride."

Kennedy and I laughed. "So,uh," Cylene said, "do you mind if my brother comes along? His bike broke down, so I need to take him home."

As if on cue, Cole was heading towards us, both his hands  in his pockets, trying to look cool. What a show-off.

I started to the front seat, beside Cylene but Cole shoved me aside. "Move it. " He said.

"Jerk." I mumbled and went on the backseat.

Through the ride, Cole was in front of me. I caught Cylene glancing at me and Cole worryingly from time to time. I glanced at the mirror, and saw him busy with his phone. It's really weird when he's near me. Heck no, not the butterflies but it was something else.

Suddenly, it was warm around me. My coldness dissapeared. It's autumn! Why the heck is it warm in here?

The air conditioner was turned up high and it's freaking hot! But of course Brent, Kennedy and Cylene didn't seem to mind. I turned up my power, bringing back the cold air. But I can feel the heat fighting the cold. It's autumn and cold. So my element definitely won. 

The ride was unsurprisingly quiet. Usually Cylene wiould play one of Purple Angel's CDs and all of us will sing along. Or we would talk about the day and joke around. Basically, Cole was ruining this ride.

~~~~~~~~~~

We stopped in front of the Rogenson's mansion and we all got out.

"I'll be in my room." Cole said, rushing inside.

The rest of us headed to the mansion's attic, where we always hang out. Cylene fetched her electric guitar and music equipment.

"So...your powers." She reminded me.

"Yeah, yeah. These two keep telling me to relax but I can't." I gestured at Brent and Kennedy. I brought out a cold snowflake on the palm of my hand. "You know how it is during Autumn and Winter."

Cylene shook her head and plugged her guitar. "The problem is, you're worrying too early. It's too early, ice girl."

I wasn't convinced. "Please, Cy. You gotta help me."

Cylene thought for a moment. "Mmmm....What if just this once, you relax and then tomorrow, you could worry all you want." Brent and Kennedy nodded in agreement of her plan.

"No."

"Aesha, it's autumn and winter. Two seasons when you're not grumpy. Two seasons when you're carefree and happy. The cold cools you down." She pointed at me. "This isn't like you."

My three friends looked up at me with pleading eyes.

I rolled my eyes. "Fine. Just this once."

"So shall we have a music jam?" Brent suggested.

"Oh yeah. Aesha can sing this time." Kennedy said.

I'm not that good at singing but we always have music jams whenever we hang out. 

I nodded. "I'll sing 'I Knew You Were Trouble' by Taylor Swift." And so Cylene played her guitar and I grabbed a mic.

Once upon time
A few mistakes ago
I was in your sights
You got me alone
You found me
You found me
You found me

I guess you didn't care
And I guess I liked that
And when I fell hard
You took a step back
Without me, without me, without me

And he's long gone
When he's next to me
And I realize the blame is on me


Cause I knew you were trouble when you walked in
So shame on me now
Flew me to places I'd never been
Till you put me down oh
I knew you were trouble when you walked in
So shame on me now
Flew me to places I'd never been
Now I'm lying on the cold hard ground
Oh, oh, trouble, trouble, trouble
Oh, oh, trouble, trouble, trouble

No apologies
He'll never see you cry
Pretend he doesn't know
That he's the reason why
You're drowning, you're drowning, you're drowning

And I heard you moved on
From whispers on the street
A new notch in your belt
Is all I'll ever be
And now I see, now I see, now I see
He was long gone
When he met me

And I realize the joke is on me       

I closed my eyes feeling the song the whole time. I let the cold and icy energy flow through me. I allowed myself to be carefree. 

But then at some point during the song, the music stopped. Why did it stop? I was in heaven.

I opened my eyes and felt them turn icy blue. That's when I saw why it stopped. The air was cold, -or colder than before. Icicles hung from the ceiling. Crystal-like ice covered every spot on the walls. And the floor was covered in a thin layer of snow. My friends weren't freezing-thank goodness- but they were staring at me with disturbed expressions. I glanced at my hand. Like I expected, there was blue light coming out.

"Absorb. This.Now." Cylene said.

I obeyed. With one raise of my hand, all ice and snow came to me, enveloping me in comfort. I love absorbing ice.

Meanwhile, Cylene was busy massaging the bridge of her nose. Brent and Kennedy stayed quiet. "Aesha, what did you do?! You have to try controlling those powers!" Cylene shouted angrily.

"You were the one who told me to relax!" I snapped back.

"I know but you went overboard!" 

My two friends watched as Cylene and I fought. Their heads moved back and forth.

"It's not my fault is it?!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.

Cylene was shocked. Of course this wasn't like me during the cold season. Luckily the cold rubbed on me easily so I cooled down. "I'm sorry, Cy. Something's just pissing me off. I can't help it."

Long silence......until there was a knock on the door and Cole popped out.

"And the trouble walked in." Cylene teased.

"Guys it's so loud....and cold. I can really hear you screaming from the first floor." He said, eyeing Cylene.

She rolled her eyes. "It's okay now. We're cooled down."

"Turn the AC off then." He said. Wait, why does Cole need his sister to just turn off the Air conditioner? I'm sure it's not so cold that you can't go near the AC.

"I'll go." Cylene walked out the door. Cole stared at me with a hard expression on his face. Then he followed.

When Cylene was gone, I got a message from Mom:

I'll need you to watch the twins for me. I'll be gone until midnight.

Cylene came back and I told her that I need to go home. She nodded and said, "I'll give you a ride there."

"No need, " I protested. "You can drive Brent and Ken home. I'll just walk."

I went out of the mansion and felt the cold air. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author's Note:

This book is mainly about Aesha. She has more POVs than Cole.

-Vireen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Cole's POV

This day was killing me. Literally.

It's freakin' autumn and almost winter. Those two seasons I freakin' hate. So it puts me in an angry mood.

I boosted up the heat in myself as I entered the cafeteria. There waiting for me was Willow. "Hey, Cole." she said and kissed my cheek. Then started twirling a lock of blond hair and batting her eyelashes. Which I hate. Believe me, it's not because of the cold that I'm thinking of this. I don't even know how we ended up together. As if the two most popular students in the year always ended up together. But I hid my anger.

"Hey." I said, heading to our table.

I was talking to my friends when that huge crowd came near me. 'Cause I'm hot. In two different ways.

Anyway, they seemed to like the warmth I was giving off even though they didn't realize that I was doing it. They were just attracted.

Autumn and Winter were two seasons that I can control my powers but the cold always bothered me. The most delightful experience I could have was being in the middle of a hot desert, sweating my brain off while eating chili. But it's cold and it's pissing me off.

The people crowded around me until lunch was over. And at least the scene warmed me up a little.

~~~~~~~~~~~

"No!" I complained. My motorbike's jacked up. I kicked it in anger. "Why does it have to be now?!"

Fortunately, there weren't people around to witness me, Cole Rogenson, talking to my vehicle.

I dialed a number in my phone, thinking this was the next best option. I do not want to be stuck outside in the middle of the cold air.

"Hello?" Cylene said.

"Sis, pick me up now. My bike's broken." I said.

"Hmm.....no. I have to pick up my friends. It's been a week."

I glared. "What do you want me to do?! Walk home? You know it's autumn!"

She burst out laughing. "Whoa, bro. That cold is definitely getting into you. I was just kidding."

I hung up.

I walked towards her friends. I barely know them and one was kinda weird for me. I just feel she's weird and I feel like I have to hate her. And so I did.

When that straight brown-haired girl whom I hate reached towards the front seat, I shoved her aside causing her to stumble a few steps back.

"Move it." I said rudely.

Her hazel eyes scowled at me and I heard her mumble, "Jerk."

I smirked in victory.

The whole ride, I found it agitating. At the beginning, I warmed up the car to make the others comfortable in this autumn day, as well as myself. I heated up, but there was the cold. The terrible cold kept on fighting and in the end, since it's autumn, the cold won. It kept me mad throughout the rest of the ride.

~~~~~~~

 I went straight to my room, shutting the lights off and started placing candles in a circle.

I stood in the middle of the circle and summoned my power. Flames danced above my palms. The candles lit up and every second, the flames rose higher and higher. I was starting to feel relaxed and happy. 

But then all the flames died and I was stuck in the cold again. The hairs on my arms stood up as I felt that it was colder than before. I started to be weaker and grumpier.

Then there was the screaming. "It's not my fault, is it?!" I heard all the way up from the attic. I recognized it as weird girl's voice. 

I angrily marched up to the attic and it felt colder and colder each step.

I knocked on the door and interrupted the sudden silence. I complained about the screaming and the AC. Why not I shut it off? I'll need Cylene to turn it off 'cause I'll probably freeze my head off or blow up in anger if I do.

"How you holding up, bro?" Cylene asked me, reaching for the air conditioner.

"It's cold..." I grunted, folding my arms over my chest.

Cylene stared at me worryingly. "Turn up the heat anytime, bro."

I went staight back to my room. 

I glanced outside the window and there was weird girl, walking out the house and trudging on the sidewalk.

~~~~~~~~~~

Author' Note:

Longest chapter I've ever written!!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D

Well.......so far.

 This book isn't related to the previous book/s at all. Only a little relation...I guess. 

This is dedicated to MissSilhouette 'coz she wrote the most amazing books. The books that made me discover wattpad. :)

That's Aesha on the side >>>>>>

-Vireen