Crossed Spells

Chapter 13: Growing Suspicions (Part 2)

The morning dragged on slowly for Lucas, his mind constantly oscillating between his father's warnings, Shade's comforting words, and the anticipation of seeing Aria again. When the bell finally rang announcing the lunch break, he rushed out of his classroom, eager to join his friends in the cafeteria.

He quickly spotted Aria, sitting at their usual table with Ivy and Marcus. His heart leaped in his chest when she looked up and smiled at him, silently inviting him to join them. As he approached, he noticed that the atmosphere seemed unusually excited, even for a game day.

"What's going on?" he asked as he sat down next to Aria, noting the animated expressions on his friends' faces.

Ivy, beaming with enthusiasm, was the first to respond. "Haven't you heard? The principal is going to make a special announcement today!"

Lucas frowned, intrigued. "An announcement? About what?"

"Nobody knows exactly," Marcus chimed in, "but rumors are flying. Some say it's about a new exchange program, others are talking about a special event..."

Before Lucas could ask for more details, a sudden silence fell over the cafeteria. Principal Harrington had just entered, heading towards the center of the room. He cleared his throat, drawing the attention of all the students.

"Dear students," he began, his voice carrying easily in the attentive silence, "I am pleased to announce that the Ravenswood High Winter Ball will take place exactly two months from today."

A murmur of excitement ran through the crowd of students. The Winter Ball was one of the most anticipated events of the school year, a tradition at Ravenswood High.

"This year," Mr. Harrington continued, "the theme of the ball will be 'Starry Night in Ravenswood'. We hope that all of you will participate in this magical event. More details will be posted on the information boards in the coming days. Thank you for your attention and have a good day, everyone."

As soon as the principal left the cafeteria, the place exploded into a cacophony of enthusiastic exclamations and animated discussions. Lucas turned to Aria, noticing her confused expression.

"What exactly is the Winter Ball?" she asked timidly.

Lucas smiled, suddenly remembering that Aria was 'new' to Ravenswood. "It's one of the biggest events of the year here," he explained. "A tradition at Ravenswood High."

Ivy, who had overheard Aria's question, chimed in enthusiastically. "Oh, you poor thing! You've never heard of a Winter Ball?"

Aria shook her head, looking a bit embarrassed. "We didn't have this kind of event at my old school."

"You're going to love it!" Ivy exclaimed, her expression changing from surprise to excitement. "It's an evening where everyone dresses up elegantly, there's music, dancing... It's magical!"

Lucas nodded, adding: "It's true, it's quite a special event. Couples form, dresses are chosen weeks in advance, it's like a mini prom."

"It sounds... interesting," Aria said, clearly trying to appear enthusiastic despite her evident uncertainty.

"Oh, don't worry," Ivy reassured her, patting her hand. "I'll help you prepare everything. We'll go shopping to find the perfect dress, I'll teach you the traditional dances... You'll see, it'll be the best night of your life!"

Aria smiled, seeming a bit more at ease. "Thanks, Ivy. I'm sure it will be great."

Lucas observed this exchange with a mixture of amusement and anxiety. The idea of Aria in a ball gown, dancing under the stars, made his heart beat faster. But at the same time, he couldn't help but think about his father's warnings. Such an important event, with so many emotions at stake, wasn't there a risk of triggering their powers in an uncontrollable way?