Grey and Gold Eyes

Eleven: Lucas

I'm actually looking forward to going to school for once. If only to see Prim.

When I get to our room neither Prim nor Katy is waiting. Not that I expected them to be here before me. I don't know if they're late or early.

The guys are already here, sitting in yesterday's seats. They have saved a seat for me, and seem to be playing a little game when I arrive. Drake sees me first and waves me over, pulling me down and into my seat when I get close enough.

"What's up?" I ask, shrugging off my bag and casually studying the group. There's Drake and Jason from yesterday, Alex Taylor and Noah Nichols from OHS, and a new guy I don't recognize sitting in a circle as if playing Dares. But it wasn't Dares they were playing; just a question and answer game—Would You Rather.

Noah is talking when I sit down. "Would you rather... not understand or not be understood?"

A few people say hi to me as well but most, like me, are confused by the question. It takes me a moment before I answer. "Not be understood," I say.

"Why?" Noah asks. "What's the point of it anyway, if no one understands you?"

Before I can reply Jason answers, "Not understand."

"Again, why?" Noah grins at us. "If you can't understand, that means you can't communicate."

"The smart ones can explain stuff to me," Jason says.

Noah groans. "You can't understand, meaning no matter how hard they try to explain to you something you won't get it."

"Not be understood because at least you have the satisfaction of knowing you're right even though they don't get it." I shrug and laugh. "Tricky question."

I'm sitting facing the door, waiting for Prim to arrive. I keep checking the time, too, and see that by the time Prim and Katy walk through the door together, the bell is a minute away from ringing. They sit down in the same seats as yesterday and the bell rings before I can stand up.

I have to wait through two long hours of class before I'm able to talk to them.

Recess finally comes, and the people rush out of the room. A few stay in the classroom this time, but they keep to themselves. They won't bother us.

I creep up behind Prim as she and Katy are talking about something. Their tone seems serious, but before I can change my mind I put my hands on Prim's shoulders and call out her name loudly.

Prim jolts in her seat more than I expected her to. She actually looks like she is about to scream until she sees me. "God, Luke, never do that!" she says. She looks really shaken. I can't imagine why.

"Sorry, sorry," I reply. I can't help feeling bad now.

Both of them seem troubled and I don't know why. I sit down next to them and ask, "What's the matter?"

Neither of them replies at first. Then Katy says, "Nothing. Just a nightmare." Prim seems to be even more troubled and says, "Just couldn't sleep."

I know that they're not telling the truth but don't push them further. I wonder if they're thinking of the same thing. "By the way," Prim says cautiously, "did either of you notice anything strange about the moon last night? Just curious."

Katy sucks in a breath and obviously did notice something but isn't sharing it. She shakes her head repeatedly. I stare at her as I answer Prim. "No," I say. "Why?"

"Nothing," says Prim.

I'm fed up with this. "Okay, you two are obviously hiding something. From each other and from me. Spill."

The two seem alarmed at what I said. They look to each other and say simultaneously, "We're not hiding anything!"

Drake chooses this moment to walk in. "Hey," he says, more to me than to anyone else, "Ma'am told us to tell you guys that after recess our class is held in the Physics lab. The map of the school is on the bulletin board; just check."

As soon as Drake leaves, Katy immediately stands up and suggests going to the lab already even though the bell hasn't even sounded yet. Prim, of course, immediately agrees.

I can do nothing but agree as well as they head out to the bulletin board for directions.

Apparently we just went to the lab because the teachers keep the projectors there. We get there before anyone else arrives and choose a seat near the front, next to the projectors.

It really doesn't really make a difference to me that we're going to be in the lab instead of the classroom but Katy and Prim find this as the perfect opportunity to talk about anything other than my question.

I keep trying to ask about it but they keep changing the subject until the teacher walks in. She tells us to turn off the lights and close the curtains and waits for us all to come in before starting the lesson.

As soon as she flips a switch the room changes. The walls of the room are covered in bright sparkling stars and planets. I think we are supposed to be from the point of view of the sun because I can count all the eight planets revolving around us. It's so realistic that I can't believe how it's possible. I don't think it's a projector—it must be something else.

I reach out to the wall, to a bright blue star in the distance. When my fingers touch the wall the star dims and vanishes. But when I take my hand away it ignites again. I trail my hand across the stars and watch in amazement as the stars disappear and light up in a pattern.

I look over at Prim. I expect her to be astonished by this, or at least interested in it. But her face says something different. She looks uncomfortable. Maybe even scared.

"Prim," I say, and her eyes linger on the wall for a moment before looking at me. I stare at the same spot she was looking at and see the moon, hovering behind the blue, white, and brown planet that is Earth. I wonder what it is with her and the moon.

"What?" Prim asks. I silently take her hand and trail it across the wall, writing her name. This time when I touch her it's more of electricity than heat. As I'm finishing the last letter I have to let go. My skin feels like it's burning and I imagine it's the same for her as she jerks her hand from the wall with a whimper.

A split second later the walls go black and acrackle comes from the ceiling. A fire starts from above and starts spreading along a hidden wire down to the wall. Everyone starts screaming and running to the door while the teacher tries to get them under control.

I stare at the flame and try—and fail—to stop the memories rushing in.

I know I can stop it.

I know I can.

But I can't.

Prim is screaming my name but I can barely hear her over the voices in my head overwhelming me.