Elementalists

11) Control

The class ended with the students getting up in a rush. Lunch was next, and everyone was eager for the 30 minute break that was provided.

I followed Calvin to the cafeteria and got in line for whatever horror show Natura was giving out for lunch today. I didn't really mind when the kid on the other side of the glass flopped down the steamy brown mush onto my plate. It didn't smell horrible, so that was step one, but it still looked like it came out the wrong end of a bird.

"mmm, looks like chili today bro" He said giving me a look out of the corner of his eye. In that moment a loud PANG drew my gaze in the middle of the cafeteria. Shaun, Calvin's friend who I met yesterday was standing between tables, his bright curly red hair serving as a beacon of attention. Across from him was an angry looking Garrett, who had a tray at his feet, and a snarl on his face.

"You did that on purpose" Garrett growled, lowering his face like a dog ready to strike.

"Maybe you tripped on your own two feet" Shaun replied. He didn't look menacing, he was tall, but toothpick skinny. The only thing about him that made me weary were his bright grey eyes that seemed to swirl with energy.

Garrett took one heavy step forward, and was about to strike, put all the force of his bulky body toward the curly haired menace when a girl leaped in front of him and put her hands on his broad chest.

"Just walk away, he didn't do-" but Amaris's words were cut off when Garrett whipped a hand out and dragged her behind him with a grunt.

I started to move towards the two teens but an arm shot out and got hold of my shoulder.

"Let go Calvin, I-" But I saw why he had held me back. In the corner of the large room near the double doors was Harken himself, taking in the situation with his arms pulled across his chest.

"There's no point, just let it happen" he whispered.

The cafeteria, usually full of commotion and loud voices had gone down to a shuffle and whispers. Bets were being exchanged, and eyes were wide with amusement. Then, Amaris came from behind Garrett and carefully placed an arm on his upper back and said something softly to him.

Garrett looked to where Harken was and his body loosened, and that smile that I despised so much spread across his face.

"Just a honest mistake then" Garrett said, but clipped off every word through his mask of a smile, and turned back towards the corner table with an arm surrounding Amaris.

Shaun was still standing between the tables, and was breathing hard. Tendrils of air, that I could barely see was whipping around his body unpredictably, like one of those waving air people in front of car dealerships.

Calvin had started over to him, and I followed close behind.

"Can you please explain to me why you would pick a fight with that meat head?" Calvin said, trying to keep his voice down, but the words came out in a loud gasp.

"I woke up to the smell of smoke this morning" he said quietly, his eyes still swirling with a craze that unsettled me. "I opened my trunk and found all of my clothes on fire"

"How do you know it was him?" I asked.

"Because the tournament brackets came out today, and I'm against him in his first matchup"

"Oh, I forgot those came out today!" Calvin exclaimed, looking more excited than angry now.

"Yeah, I guess he didn't expect for me to do anything back" he said with a smile, his body almost uncoiled, and the storm in his eyes died down as he took a seat on a bench.