Prep School

Chapter 28

I sit on the mat across from Jameson.
He smiles as I sit down.
"Hello Aria. How are you?"
"I'm fine, sir. How are you?"
"I'm good. Are you ready?"
I take a deep breath. "Yes."
His sky-blue eyes pierce mine, reading everything behind them. Literally. Guardians like him have special abilities.
Jameson smiles again. Then he scowls. His eyes burn as they change color, from blue to a murky brown. His hair grows out, from a corn-silk blonde into a streaky brown.
I suck in a breath.
His face contorts into a girl's face. Lilo's face.
"Freak," he spits.
I stay quiet.
"You think you're important, don't you? With your freakish powers. Are your parents freaks, too?"
I stay silent, clenching my fists.
"What about you little boyfriend? You can name your kids Freaky and Freakier."
My fists clench tighter.
Jameson looks at me, waiting for what I'm going to say.
"Like you're ever gonna fit in," he flips his hair.
"Freak," he taunts.
"If I'm a freak, then what are you?" The words come out of my mouth the second I think of them.
Jameson's face goes back to normal. The hair retracts into his skull and goes back to blonde. His features shift back into a man's.
He smiles sadly.
"You still cannot deal with people your own age. You can deal with anyone older or younger, but never the same age."
I lower my head, staring at my hands.
"I'm sorry.... It's just, I guess it's my instinct to say something back."
He sighs. "Practice some more. Breathe. Relax your muscles."
Again with the breathing.
"I know that you think it's boring. But give it a try. It'll help you out."
Jameson gets up. "It's time for us to leave. Come."
He leads me downstairs where Zane's waiting, reading a book.
I raise my eyebrows. "Were you really that bored?"
Zane looks up and grins. "I like books, sue me."
I grin back and we walk to the car.
I get into the seat, waiting for the car to start. It doesn't.
Zane turns to look at me.
"How'd it go?"
I sigh. "I need to work out some kinks, that's all."
"Let me guess, can't deal with people your own age?"
I narrow my eyes. "Were you eavesdropping?"
Zane shakes his head. "Viky has the same problem. He's a sweet kid, but you do NOT want to see him angry."
"Hmmmm....."
"Hey, can I ask you something?"
He looks at me seriously, his eyes piercing mine.
"What really happened? Before the tree."
I sigh. I don't want to tell you.
Zane reaches over and grips my hand.
"Tell me. Please."
I sigh again.
"It was Lilo."
His brow knits. "Lilo?"
"She followed me into the bathroom with her friends."
"And?"
I let out a breath. "They ambushed me."
"That's what these welts are? The marks their hands made? And the bruises?"
"Punches and nail scratches."
"What did you do?"
"What do you think?" I ask softly.
"Fought back," he whispers.
I nod slowly.
"I hope you beat them up bad."
I look at him, surprised at the anger in his voice.
His hand feels colder, like ice.
His other hand tilts my chin.
I look at his blazing eyes.
"No one should treat you like that," he says savagely.
"Like you're not worth something. Like you're not a person."
I move closer, look him straight in the eye.
"Because you are worth something. You're worth something to m-"
Zane stops and takes a breath.
"I'm sorry."
"No. You're fine."
I move his hand from my chin and grip it tight.
"You're fine," I whisper.
He smiles then turns to start the car.
We crack jokes about Lilo's hair and Harmswell while we're driving.
We crack up at my impression of Harmswell giving out detentions.
When we get to my house, Zane gets out of the car and walks me up the stairs to the door. As I pull out my keys, he starts to walk back to his car.
"Wait!" I call after him.
He turns around. "Hmmm?"
I walk up to him and stand on my toes.
I kiss him on the cheek. I can feel his face heat up.
"You're worth something to me too," I whisper.
I walk back to the door and see Zane smile as he walks away.
I go up to my room and plop onto my bed.
What just happened?