Secret

Chapter Two

As I walk back into the kitchen, I suddenly feel the most scared I've ever been. Maybe it's because I haven't talked to a stranger in forever, but I just have a bad feeling.

"Do I have to do this?" I ask.

"Just get it over with," Mom replies.

"You'll be fine," Dad says.

I gulp and head over to the doorway, where a young woman stands. She looks exactly like a business woman, with a nice suit and shoulder length brown hair that's as straight as a ruler. Her eyes match her hair, and she wears a sweet smile that only means trouble. I've seen her for a second, and my first impression is not to trust her.

"Uh, hi," I stammer. "I'm Cassidy."

"I know who you are," the woman replies. "But you don't know who I am. I'm Ms. Carol Meyer, the director and founder of MAD: Massachusetts Academy of the Distinct." That doesn't sound too inviting, I think.

"Is this a school? Because I'm home-schooled, and I don't plan to change that. Thank you for coming and I appreciate your visit." She stops the door I'm closing on her, causing for me to sigh at the realization she won't be leaving anytime soon.

"This isn't any ordinary school, Cassidy," she interrupts. "It's a special school."

"I don't have any special needs, as you can see."

"I didn't say it was a special need school," Ms. Meyer corrects. "It's a special school for kids like you."

"Like me?" I ask. There's no way she knows about me and being able to fly. Mom and Dad make sure no one outside of the neighborhood know, after the incident with me and Lindy. Even so, there's no way other kids could fly, or else I would have been aware of it or any "special school" Ms. Meyer is part of. She doesn't know anything.

But she does, somehow. "Kids that have special abilities. You can fly - a very unique gift, if I may add - while some can control the weather and some can make plants grow with a thought and so on."

"I can't fly," I lie. "You must be mistaken."

"But I'm not," she says. "I saw you flying a couple nights ago. You don't have to hide anything."

"Cassidy Emma Woods!" Mom calls from behind me. I hate it when she uses my full name, and she knows it, which is why she uses it whenever I'm in trouble. I feel like kicking myself, too. Had I known that a strange woman would come to be about a strange boarding school, I would have let Mom and Dad lock me inside with pleasure. Too late.

"Well, if you're trying to convince me to become part of MAD, then I refuse," I reply.

"It's a great school-"

"I said no," I repeat. "Goodbye, Ms. Meyer."

"Think about it, will you?" she asks, which actually means, Whether you like it or not, you're coming to MAD, and I know your parents will agree, so don't even try to object.

"Fine," I fib, although we both know it's not true.

"Thank you, I'll come back tomorrow morning to hear your answer," she says, and then leaves. I know that she'll only come back so that she can take me away.

Mom walks into the room, and Dad follows. "Cassidy! I am very disappointed in your rude behavior."

"I'm just not interested in a school called MAD!" 

"Still, you should have been-"

"Let her choose," Dad interrupts. "All we're saying is that we love you, and want what's best, and we think that it might be good for you to be around other kids like you. Wouldn't it be cool?"