POWERS OF NATURE Book 1 - Into the Storm

Chapter 9

Stephanie walked out the front of the school, her eyes narrowing against the white glare of the light. The sky was still thick with clouds, but the sun shone behind it, causing the bright whitish light. The sun seemed to be warring with the clouds, each one pushing for control of the sky. It mirrored the feeling inside of Stephanie. The earlier feeling of power, of having people wary of her, had felt strangely exciting and it scared her. But she didnt want to feel guilty about it either, didnt want to walk around the school ducking her head in embarressment. Stephanie was done with stilling her emotions and thoughts to please those around her.

Frowning at herself, she walked to her car, ignoring the throng of people until she noticed a girl standing near her car. She pulled up short, before stepping slowly forward, her keys clutched tight in her hand and waited.

She vaguely remembered the girl from one of her classes, and from a few lunch breaks. She had short brown hair, which felt straight like a curtain along her face. Her face was thin and angular, but there was a softness in her light brown eyes that seemed out of place on her regal face.

The girl took a deep breath, before smiling slightly. "Hey, Stephanie, right?" Stephanie nodded once, looking around but no one else was paying attention.

"I'm Rachel. We've hung out, well sort of, with Mary." Stephanie felt bad that she didn't remember her. "Can I help you, Rachel?" She asked, warily.

"I just wanted to say, I think you were really brave, standing up to Mary earlier. No one else has had the guts to do it. What you did, made us all realise that we can't just let her push us down." She took another deep breath and shrugged at Stephanie's bewildered look.

"The way I see it, there's two months left here. Why should I, should you, put up with it." Stephanie gave her own shrug and unlocked the car, throwing her books onto the back seat.

"I always thought you were just like her." Rachel said.

"I was." Stephanie replied softly, thinking again about how she didn't even remember Rachel.

"But you've changed."

Stephanie looked back at Rachel, but she was already walking away. She got into her car, and left, thinking about what Rachel had said.

Have I changed? She thought as she drove. Maybe. Stephanie hummed along to the radio, thinking about the last week. Maybe the journals, and Matt, had played a part in her change, or whatever. She felt different, she couldn't deny that.

Her mind flashed back to earlier with Matt, and her heart picked up. He did serious things to her mind and emotions. She couldn't wait to see him, but at the same time she was nervous. Something was going to happen, she could feel it. The air felt charged, like the calm before the storm. Stephanie could only hope that she didn't get stuck in the middle of it.

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Pulling into the driveway, Stephanie noticed Matt's beat up blue truck In her usual spot and she rolled her eyes. "Over eager much?" She mumbled, glancing at the clock on her dash. It was only just after 4pm, she hadn't expected him to be there so early.

Sighing as she mentally prepared herself for what was sure to be a long evening, she walked into the house, the sounds of Ed Sheeran crooning around her and made her way to the kitchen.

She found her mom sitting at their little breakfast table, and Matt standing at the stove, the two of them laughing. "Hey, I'm home." She said, giving Matt a small glare before hugging her mom briefly. He responded by giving her a cheeky grin and she had to stop herself from pulling a face at him. It would only encourage him.