Hidden Within

Chapter 2: Impossible

Another day at the most despised place of children and teenagers alike. School.

I don't use my locker, so I head to my first period class after I get off the bus. When I get there, Xavier is already in his seat.

He glances up but only for a split second. "Hey, Alivia."

Xavier is one of my closest friends. I may be his only friend. I never really asked.

He is the nerd of our grade, but he is not unattractive like stereotypical nerds you see in movies. He has scraggly yet kept blond hair, bright light blue eyes, he has defined cheekbones, and is always clean-shaven You may think his lanky 5, 7 & 1/2 could not play sports, but he is actually really good at basketball. Mainly, his his downfall is that he can have a habit of bragging about his academics. Not to mention, he is pretty antisocial. Now, if you get to know him like I have, you'll find out he is pretty loyal. Unfortunately, no one but me has done that since he moved here freshman year.

"Hey, Xavier," I say. Placing my backpack in my chair, I start getting out my history stuff. We do our own thing in silence. I take my seat beside him, and our teacher comes in the classroom soon after.

When the first bell rings, signaling that everyone needs to get to their classes, our classmates start filing in: Dotty, Parker, Owen, Brad, Brenda, Carrie, Bailey, Colby.

Colby smacks the back of Xavier's head as he goes to his seat in the back of the classroom. I let out a growl in Xavier's defense.

Smirking, Colby says, "Ooh. They let the dog out of the pound." I did not think he would hear me.

I glair at him, and turn back to the front of the room.

Colby is a jerk. I remember when he wasn't. We used to be friends when we were little. Then he became the bitter, hotheaded, and annoying person he is today.

History goes by without too much trouble. I have to get my notes from the teacher after class because he for got to print them out before class. Luckily, most of it was review, so I could follow along.

By the time lunch rolls around, I am starving. I sit at the table that Bailey usually goes to. Because I bring my lunch, I am at the table by myself while everyone else is buying lunch.

I catch a glimps of Colby coming my way. Acting like I don't see him, I continue to stack the cheese and ham Lunchable. He sits down beside me, and I can feel my anxiety rise. His six foot robust frame towers over me even when we are seated. "So you aren't going to growl at me this time?" Colby asks. I continue to ignore him. He frowns. "Can you speak?" When I only turn to stare silently at him, he scoffs, and walks off with his tray of food.

Moments after Colby leaves, Bailey takes her seat beside me.

"Are you ok? What did Colby want?" She asks genuinely concerned.

"I'm fine. He's just being annoying," I tell Bailey. She has been my best friend since kindiguarden.

Bailey warns me, "Let me know if I have to kick him where the sun doesn't shine."

I smile, knowing she is completely serious.

She may only be 5,2 &1/2, but she can kick anyone's butt. No one messes with her, and she does not mess with you. The number one way to get on Bailey's nerves is to mess with me. She is extremely protective of me because I am likely the most innocent senior in this school. Most people know me as the weird quiet, kid, and I am fine with that. I do not need their approval. I have my few friends that I can count on. That is all anyone really needs.

"What are you doing this weekend?" Veronica asks.

Bailey perks up and answers, "I am going to the river with my cousins. It isn't exactly warm enough to swim, but the guys want to go. Hanna and I are just tagging along." They continue their conversation. I only get in a few words here and there. Bailey's friends are not exactly my friends. A few of them are, but I do not talk much to most of them. Some of her friends, I have never even spoken to. For example, Trina usually sits on the other side of me, and we have never said a word to each other in our lives. I am sure most of them only tolerate me because I am Bailey's best friend. If I was not, I probably would not know where to sit since Xavier usually eats in Mrs. Howard's classroom.

The last class of the day. Science.

I get paired up with Gabby. She is fine, but she kind of annoys me. She is a bit snobby, especially around Sofia.

We are doing an experiment to show the differences in densities. By putting vegetable oil in a clear cup then adding colored water, we are supposed to see how denser liquids, such as water, will sink below the oil as the oil rises to the top.

We poor the engrediances in, and wait for them to separate. It takes a few minuites for them to settle, and Gabby and I do nit speak. I will only speak to her about the project.

I sigh zoning out until the liquids are finished with the oil on top.

In my concentration, I focus on the oil as if at my focus, it will become denser than the water. When the oil sinks under the water, I snap out of my focus, and the oil rises once again.

I glance all over the room to see if anyone noticed. Did anyone else's oil and water have that reaction? Nothing else is out of the ordinary. This is freaking me out! My eyes move frantically across the room. Gabby is looking at me like I am nuts. I guess she noticed I was looking everywhere.

When the class is over, I get up to ask Mrs. Howard about the incident.

When I reach her desk, she is grading some of the tests from her last class. I cast a
shadow on her work, and she looks up and smiles at me. "What can I do for you Alivia?"

I stutter, "I-I was just wondering if there was a way for the oil to sink below the water a-after the water and oil separate, and the oil is on top?" It comes out a little confusing, but I know she understood what I meant.

Slightly tilting her head to the side, Mrs. Howard confirms, "No. Not unless the oil suddenly becomes denser than water." Not thinking anything of it, Mrs. Howard returns to grading her papers, and I am left very confused.

I know what I saw, but it is impossible.

I ride home, deep in thought, with my face pressed against the glass of the bus window.