The Young and Gifted

25. goody two shoes

warning: mentions of self-harm

Kaura curled her fists slowly, tendrils of anger and rage uncoiling at her fingertips. She kept her gaze fixed on one corner of the table, to calm herself down. It suddenly felt too hot in the room, too small.

"Now I am not going to get into the details about what he has done because it is a dreadful tale. Ric has restricted me from telling you what happened because of your age but next year I will be able to."

She couldn't hear anything else that the teacher said after that. All she could hear was the snapping of necks, the pulse of life-shattering. All she could see was the light of life drain from large marble eyes, a fractured body. All she could feel was an urge to shatter, break, erupt. The room was getting hotter and hotter by the minute and she could smell the blood leaking down her palm from her nails.

Penelope reached over, taking in the fact that she was digging her fingernails into her palm. "Are you okay?" She tried to take deep calming breaths because she knew if she let the feeling build, the room would explode. Kaura shrugged away from Penelope. She stood up from her seat and charged for the door. "Kaura—"

"It's alright, Miss Park. This is a very sensitive topic for Miss Bennett-Parker herself," Emma said, giving a curt nod to Kaura as she passed by.

She slammed the door behind her and her vision began to disarray. Kaura stumbled down the halls, ignoring the people who were staring at her. She needed fresh air, needed—

She smelt the air before she could feel it. The aching need to explode, to burst into ruins and chaos. Deep down she knew the thing under her skin, her magic was something unfathomable. She struggled to breathe and she leaned against the wall, trying to calm her restless heart. It didn't work.

And through her haze, the sights of a motorcycle before her caught her attention. It flashed again and she spotted feet, the olive complexion of skin, the dark ink and luscious locks of hair. Then her chest began to calm down.

She recognized Mason, trying to start up the vehicle and she raggedly approached him. Kaura didn't say anything as she arrived close. Her previous emotions were wiped away.

Mason turned to her and a small smile tugged at his lips. He ran a hand through his hair and his gaze lowered back to the vehicle. "Any chance you can start up this beautiful machine?"

"For what?"

"Skipping school, obviously."

Kaura narrowed her eyes. But regardless, she brushed her fingers against the seat and the engine thrummed to life. He grinned and began to swing his leg over the vehicle. Kaura chuckled. "Now you owe me."

The grin was wiped off his face as he glanced back at her. "What—"

"Take me with you."

*

Once again, their legs were hung off the ledge, swinging in free air. Kaura and Mason sat at the lip of the tall clock tower, watching over the dormant town before them. Above them, the hands were ticking silently, running down the time of the day.

"So what made you rebel today? I'm afraid to say you're a goody-two-shoes because we all know you aren't," Mason planted his hands on either side of his thighs and leaned back a bit.

"Today I found out that my father was the most infamous criminal known to witches," Kaura answered, keeping her gaze on a group of human friends down below.

"I've heard all sorts of things about Kai Parker."

"I hate it. People know my parents more than I ever did. Caroline was best friends with my mom but she won't answer any of my important questions. Ric won't let teachers tell me about my father's history either so I am in the dark. I get that they are trying to protect me but I have a right to know," Kaura scoffed, shaking her head.