the Rarity

Chapter 6

It's only been a week since the new Executive Order has been issued and I swear I'm going to suffocate from the tension surrounding the compound. Every trainee and trainer seem to be looking constantly over their shoulders. Rumors and suspicions are being thrown around between everyone, friends or otherwise. Luckily for me, Hadley and Matthew have tried to basically ignore all of the rumors and focus on training and literally anything else.

I have been most worried about my training since I still can't seem to get anywhere with my powers. Adding to that is that we are a week away from the halfway point of our training. Six months in and I somehow how can't maintain any water formation larger than a bubble the size of a softball. It's not for the lack of strength or power or effort. It's almost as if I am limiting my own power, preventing myself from doing more. But of course, I can't talk to anyone about that since I would most definitely be arrested for literally just having more power that I didn't ask for.

As I walk to dinner after training, I feel the crisp November air on my face as I walk back to the main building from the waterside. Six months ago, the warm, summer air of May kept the waterside training comfortable and manageable, but with the cold fall air, I've begun to wonder when we would move training inside to prevent getting sick. I have always had bad allergies and constantly being outside in the cold isn't helping.

The smell of warm, comforting food fills my nose as I walk into the Dining Hall, quickly grabbing a bowl of Tomato Basil Soup and heading to sit across from Hadley at our usual table. Most days I am the last one at our table since I have to walk back to the compound from training, but Matthew appeared to be nowhere in sight when I took my seat.

"Hey. Have you seen Matthew? It's not like him to be the last at the table. Or not even in the dining hall when it's dinner time." I ask Hadley with a small smile knowing Matthew's love for food.

"No, I haven't actually. Last I saw him was when we all left for training again after lunch." She replies, slight worry in her tone. As if on cue, Matthew comes walking up to us with a tray and the biggest chicken wing and smile I have ever seen. Matthew was always the smiley type but even with all tension around recently, I have never seen him quite like this.

"Hey guys!" he says, looking down at his food almost as though he is trying to hide his smile.

"Well, hey. What's with the big smile? I don't think I've ever seen you smile this much, ever. What's going on?" I ask him, a small smirk on my face from wanting to be nosey about what has gotten one of my best friends so worked up.

"Oh, uh, it's–it's nothing." He interjects, a slight blush rushing to his cheeks.

"Oh, come on, Matthew. We all know that's a big load of bullshit!" Hadley adds with a smile matching mine. "We also know that you are too honest to hide whatever it is so come on. Spill!" Hadley and I both lean in with expectant looks of excitement. We all need a bit of a pick me up with everything going on recently.

"Well, uh..." he starts, blushing even more with red spreading across his freckled cheeks and heating the tips of his ears. "Um..."

"Matthew, what's wrong? You know you can trust us." I add, reassuring him.

"I know, I know. Ok fine. There's uh – there I this... guy. In my elemental group-"

"Oh, My, GOD!" Hadley almost screams, causing a few heads to turn. "You have a crush! This is the sweetest thing ever!"

"It is!" I add, loving how flustered he is getting by thinking about a guy he has come to like. "Matthew that is so great! What is he like?"

"What does he look like?" Hadley adds to my questioning.