OUTCAST

Chapter 13: Gwen

  BANG! CRASH! I jumped, looking around my dorm room. Everything was still. I heard feet pounding from outside my dorm. I was confused. Was there a fire or something? Alye woke up as well, looking just as confused as me.

           "What's wrong?" she asked.

           "I'm not sure," I admitted, walking over to the door. 

            "Wait, don't open it!" Alye cried.

            "Why?"

            "We're-we're not dressed yet, we're still in our pajamas," Alye murmured, blushing. Oops. That might have been embarrassing, opening the door in my pajamas to face a bunch of kids.

           "Sorry," I said. Alye and I changed into our uniforms quickly, and brushed our hair and teeth. As we did, the footsteps grew louder. I could hear some yelling. What on earth was going on? As soon as we could, I opened the door, and blanched. There were swarms of kids walking down the halls. They were holding signs, and telling things like:

            "We're not safe until they're gone!"

            "They don't belong at NorthStar!"

            "Save us from the witches and warlocks!"

             "We want NorthStar back!" My heart dropped several notches when I saw who was leading the chants. Ash Summers and Jace. Why couldn't they just leave us alone?

            Some of the signs read 'Magic not sorcery' and 'We're not safe here' 'We like our minds the way they are' 'Freeze the outcasts' 'Don't let electricity become a weapon'. The signs cut deep, I couldn't believe it. People thought we were a danger? I couldn't help but wonder if given the chance, my father would be out there too. Why did everyone hate us? I blinked back my tears, and was about to shut the door when some kid cried:

           "There's one! Look! The ice one!" The chanting grew ten times louder. 

            "We're not stopping until they're gone! Throw them out, we want our school back!" I felt awful as more tears blurred my vision. Don't cry don't cry don't cry- But then the door closed. The noise was turned down. I could no longer see the faces of hatred staring. I turned around to see Alye, wearing a strange expression.

            "Don't listen to them." I continued to try not to cry, and Alye looked concerned. "They're just...mean people. Okay? Don't listen to them Gwen." I began to hiccup, and I couldn't stop. My face burned with shame and embarrassment. I was such a baby! Alye probably thought I was the most obnoxious person ever. Thoughts spun throughout my head, jumbling up everything. I couldn't think. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't escape. Mom and Dad hate me, I know it! Alye and Zeldon do too. I'm the biggest baby, I won't ever have friends. Those kids are right, I'm a danger and a freak- "Gwen, stop!" I heard Alye say firmly. "I can hear your thoughts, give yourself a break. Zeldon and I don't hate you! You're a good  friend. Don't listen to yourself, or those kids." I took a ragged breath, and a few more tears slipped down my face. I looked up.

            "I-I'm sorry," I said in a shaky voice.

            "Gwen, it's okay, you're allowed to be upset. You don't have to apologize."     

             "I'm such a baby," I moaned.

             "No, you're not. Don't tell yourself that," Alye commanded. I suddenly realized that Alye was right. I needed to get a grip on myself. A loud knock startled both of us. I wasn't going to dare to open it. Alye didn't look like she wanted to either. The person on the other end pounded louder. Would those kids break down the door? Where was Headmaster Rieson?