Celestial

chapter 9

A/N: Sooo how's meh story going so far. Guys this is the chapter you've been waiting for if you know what I mean.

    I just don't understand. I feel so left out. Yesterday, Jordan Ronsoon received his Gift. Influence of nature. That's a cool Gift. They say at Hippoplum we're equal, but look what happened to me. I was harassed by cats! Along with that, the other day I saw a second year bullying a first year because their Gift was just being really really good at math.

     The only people who haven't gotten their Gifts are Emma and I. Emma doesn't seem so worried about it though. What if even when I get my Gift it will be something weird like speaking whale? I hope it's something totally cool like Mr. Elmer's or yes, I hate to admit it but, Suzanne Garfield's.

    Speaking of Suzanne, yesterday Will and Hunter brought up the orange cat scene and started calling her Garfield. It caught on and now everyone calls her that. We even caught Professor Nunes call her that during class, but then she coughed awkwardly and continued teaching, ignoring the snickers and glances cast at Garfield.

    During Gift Control I just watched everyone work on their Gifts. Emma kept talking to me, but I zoned out when I saw Garfield's face turn bright red at something Hunter said. Yes I know what you're thinking. But wait Aspen, you said Hunter doesn't have Gift Control with you. But here's the funny bit. Hunter kept telling Will to draw a bunch of monkeys in class, not stuffed but real, and using his Gift, Hunter talked them into hanging off the ceiling and defecating (learned that word from Emma) on Professor Kaplan's head. So long story short, they both got a warning for Gift misuse and they got separate class schedules. Then, Garfield started summoning a whole swarm of bees at Hunter.

    At first Hunter was caught off guard, but then he came back to his senses and began panicking and running away. What an idiot. Running isn't going to do anything.

Use your Gift idiot. Hunter met my eyes for a second as he processed what I said. Then he said something- no he buzzed something and the bees began circling around back at Garfield. Garfield was taken aback probably thinking how on earth he was doing that since she doesn't know what his Gift is. Then, while Hunter was buzzing and Suzanne was controlling, I felt mostly bad for the bees. They were all just going back and forth like when a toddler tries working a remote controlled helicopter. Suddenly I did one of the bravest things I've ever done. I went up to Garfield... and smacked her butt.

    She looked at me like I was totally crazy, but all I did was smirk because what she didn't notice was that she lost her focus on the bees. Her eyes widened when she realized this and as she turned around, all of the bees attacked her at once and stung her face. She screamed so loud people covered their ears. The whole time Professor Nunes was standing there with her mouth agape. Then her face contorted in fury.

    "DETENTION BOTH OF YOU!" she boomed at Hunter and Garfield. I slinked back to my desk, thinking she didn't notice me. But she did.

    "And you Ms. Grace are being let off with a warning as you did not break any rule except that you should not be slapping your classmate's tushies." I flushed at this statement.

    "Actually she made me lose my focus," Garfield protested.

    "You should not have had any focus to lose in the first place," Professor Nunes fired back. Emma started oohing her. I suppressed a smile. I'm trying so hard not to laugh and cry right now, Hunter said. Tell me about it, I replied.

    Later in the gardens that day, Emma and I were recounting the story to Will. (Garfield and Hunter got a detention and three day suspension. They have to clean hippo poop.) Then all three of us sat in silence because we all had a Celestial History exam soon. WIll stared off into space while Emma muttered names and dates to herself. I was so focused on my Celestial History homework that all of a sudden my pencil started floating in the air. I gasped sharply and then it dropped. I looked up to see if they had noticed and both of their eyes were wide open, especially Emma's.

    As if it was rehearsed, we all rose at the same time and began running to Professor Nunes. At first, when she saw Will, she had a look of disapproval on her face, but then she saw our alarmed expressions and she focused.

    "What? What's happened?" she asked.

    "Aspen- pencil- homework- focus- floating- air-" Emma panted since she ran so fast. Somehow Professor Nunes understood and she nodded. She motioned for us to sit down and tell her exactly what happened. Emma explained the whole thing. Well after she caught her breath.

    "What were you feeling when this happened?" Professor Nunes asked.

    "I was doing my homework. And I was stressed about the exam. And really really focused."

    "Ah. Focus is the key thing there. In the three years I've been teaching here I've never heard anything besides focus or concentration. You know like your friend here, Will, he was focusing on drawing a valentine card for his friend. And Ms. Garfield, she was trying to train her cat." At the mention of the valentine, Will blushed and glanced at Emma, but when he saw me looking, he looked away quickly. Oh my god he has a crush on Emma. That explains all the stuffed animals. But why was he making a Valentine's card in August?

    "So what exactly is my Gift?" I asked.

    "I think you have some telekinesis. That's a pretty rare one so treasure it. Own it. And if you practice, you can become more powerful. And what's our school motto?"

    "A Gift is a Gift only if it is good," I recited.

    "Good. So use your Gift to do good, Aspen. I see potential in you. Now go back to your room. It's getting dark." As we almost left the room I heard her say, "And Aspen. Congratulations." I nodded and walked away.

                                                                               ***               

    As Emma skipped away ahead of us, I nudged Will with my elbow. "So you like Emma huh," I said.

    "What! No! I don't know what you're talking about!" he said quickly, which made it all the more obvious.

    "Look," I said, "Just because I was holed up all my life doesn't mean I wasn't a girly girl who was totally into romance and was obsessed with The Fault In Our Stars like every other teenage girl on the planet. Plus, I won't tell. You're my friend as much as Emma is."

    "Fine. I admit it. But promise not to tell?" he asked.

    "On one condition. We don't tell Hunter that I got my Gift. I have a prank in mind." He grinned and pretended to zip his lips secretively.

A/N: Sooooo that's it for this chapter. Opinions on Aspen's Gift? Do you think it's good. I think I have some ideas in mind for it. Comment and vote!