Extraordinary

Chapter 13: A New Friend

I fully recovered, and I went back to class, which was art. I LOVE art. It's my next favorite class after French, which is after science. We're creating self portraits, and you either make it comic book style or surrealism style. I made it surrealism style, and I'm a professional scientist in the picture. I have a lab coat and goggles, and behind me is a bald person, obviously diagnosed with cancer, getting out of bed and smiling. I have what I thought was my magnificent healing serum in my hand.

So much for curing cancer.

Today, I'm outlining my portrait in Sharpie when Ms. Farell, the art teacher, told us all to settle down.

"We have a new student." she says. "She's moved here to Tremont, Colorado, all the way from California. Her name is Reece." Ms. Farell gestured to a girl with flaming red hair, a bold, freckled face, and fire in her eyes.

Not literally, though. Figuratively. Hopefully figuratively.

"Hello! I'm Reece, as you all now know. Sorry, Ms. Farell-" Reece gestured to her subject, who looked a little taken aback. We had never had a new student as bold as this. "But, I really, really don't like art. If you mess up, then whoever's the expert says 'there's no mistakes in art'. I don't agree. If you strive to do your drawing right, and you mess up, it's a mistake, right? That's why I don't like art." She smiled, then asked, "Where do I sit?" very innocently.

Ms. Farell gawked at her for a minute, then shook herself out of her daze and said, "Over there, next to Aurora. She has an empty seat next to her. Aurora, please make yourself known by raising your hand."

As I raise my hand, I'm terrified. What if Reece is just another Clarissa? She's from California, after all. Or, what if she becomes friends with Clarissa?

I can NOT let that happen. Then there'll be 2 people on my enemy list.

Reece walks over to my table and sits down.

"Hey, Aurora," she whispers to me. I almost jump, surprised. I didn't know Reece was even capable of whispering.

"Yeah," I whisper back. What is she thinking? Is she going to be mean to me?

Wait. I can know all those things. I have superpowers. Duh.

"She seems nice. I wonder if she's like me. She seems like me. Seems like the type to have them. I'll ask her what she likes. Maybe we can become friends." Reece thinks.

Huh? Seems like the type to have what?

"What do you mean?" I blurt. Instantly, I'm embarrassed. Now she'll know about my powers!

"What do I mean? Oh, about how I don't like art? Want me to explain it to you?" she says.

Phew. Cover almost blown.

"No, thanks. It just came to me. I understand." I say, so relieved that I could just hug Reece for misunderstanding me.

"Okay. So, Aurora, what do you like to do?" Reece says.

"Well, I love art, French, and science, so you could say I like to draw, speak French, and do science experiments," I say rather timidly.

Come on, Aurora. Let's make a friend. Come on.

"Cool, well except for the art thing. I like to play all kinds of sports. You name it, I play it. I'm also interested in volcanoes, which are awesome, and forest fires. I wonder how they become so big and how they start. Someday, my job will be either a fire woman or the first female coach of the San Francisco 49ers, who are my favorite team. Colin Kaepernick is so awesome. He's said to be one of the best QBs ever."

I stare at her blankly. Who? What's a QB?

"Oh. You don't understand. Colin Kaepernick is the quarterback for the 49ers. I'm guessing your favorite football player is Peyton Manning, right? Since you live in Colorado?"

I stare at her even more blankly. "Who are these people?"

Reece sighs exasperatedly.

"Sorry, I'm not really into sports. But I do like volcanoes," I say, regaining some confidence. "I always wonder how lava is formed. Maybe it isn't because rock is heated up. You know what I mean?"

Reece's eyes brighten again, almost burning with that fire in them. "Yeah, I totally agree." She glances at my portrait.

"Woah, that's really good! I'm not really into art, but you don't need to be an expert to know that's amazing!"

"Thanks!" I say.

I eavesdrop on her thoughts again.

"She'll totally be a great friend. Score!"

I smile to myself.