She was only 8 years old.
8 years old and she saw her mother get killed by a drive by. From that day poor Nova has been traumatized and has been to foster home to foster home. At the age of 12, Nova has anger and trust issues, never letting anyo...
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N O V A
So the boys and me decided not to do the magic trick act, why you ask?
Because they suck at magic tricks.
So we decided to try something a little different...
The final bell rang, and for once, I didn't rush to leave.
I walked with them.
That alone seemed to surprise all three of them more than anything else I'd done that week.
We ended up on the second floor, slipping into an empty classroom—one of the older ones. The whiteboard was stained with ghosted marker lines that never fully erased, and the desks were carved up with years of names, hearts, and boredom etched into the wood.
Kai shut the door behind us like we were about to do something illegal.
Cisco immediately climbed onto the teacher's platform, arms spread wide like he was addressing a crowd.
"Gentlemen," he announced dramatically, then glanced at me, "and Senorita ."
"Get off the desk," I said flatly.
He ignored me.
Levi, meanwhile, was already scanning the room like he was planning a heist. "We said no desks this time," he muttered. "We need objects."
That was all the permission Kai needed.
He crossed the room in two strides and grabbed the big blue recycling bin from the corner. Flipping it upside down, he struck it with his palm.
A deep, hollow thud echoed through the room.
His eyebrows lifted. "Oh. That's nasty."
"Why are you like this?" Levi muttered under his breath.
Cisco hopped down and began rummaging through supplies. He grabbed two thick textbooks and clapped them together.
Sharp. Clean.
He nodded approvingly. "Not bad."
I drifted toward the back counter near the sink and picked up an empty plastic water bottle. I gave it a shake. Nothing.
My eyes landed on a jar of paper clips.
I poured a handful inside and twisted the cap shut.
Then I shook it again.
A soft, crisp rattle filled the air.
I tested the rhythm with my wrist. Quick, controlled.
A maraca.
Kai pointed at me like I'd just proven his point. "See? She's the genius."
"I'm not the genius," I muttered, even as I kept the beat steady.
