Masquerade

A Series Of Unfortunate Events

       

           Tick-tock tick-tock the steady click of the clock only got louder. It was out to get me I just knew it. To help my case Luca kept stealing glances in my direction every now and again.
       My gift, as Anna had put it, had something to do with this. Maybe it gave me heightened senses. I'm not completely sure what it does to be honest. I just hope it isn't dangerous.
The wretched Ms. Crist made me partner up with the one person I was trying to avoid. We were supposed to be chatting and planning how we were going to do the project, but me, being the edge lord I am ignored his presence completely. I belittled him like an obnoxious younger sibling.
"Laurie is it?" He asked me seeming determined to converse with me.
"It's Laura please and thank you!" I replied not damaging his confidence in even the slightest.
"We are going to be spending a lot of time together for this stupid thing, could you at least try to not be an ass?"
Me, an ass? He was the one trying to be Mr. Save the damsel in distress. I guess I was being a little defiant. Suppressing the inner diva isn't always easy you know. It would be better for my sake if he doesn't get close. We are in two different worlds anyway.
He's Mr. Popular Handsome Athletic Richboy and I'm, well, me. This new found gift is dangerous and I can't risk any emotional spikes blowing my cover. Through the course of the morning I found it easier to control the heat if I kept my breathing steady and my mind void of emotions. Any time I feel a strong emotion my palms pool the inner fire that won't diminish. Not exactly but you get the point.
    "You know what, ask what you want if it'll get you off my back." I crossed my arms and leaned back in my chair.  
     He winked and asked me "Are you single?"
      That little prick, no manners on this one. I scoffed and turned away in clear distaste.
     After ages of waiting, the bell finally rang and I could get the hell out of that stress nest. That class had done nothing good to me or my future.
I begin my trek across campus to my annoyingly distant locker. I swear they hired the counselor off the street. All she's good for is giving hugs. She placed everyone's lockers in the worst possible locations. While walking down the hall, my head begins to feel fuzzy and my vision blurs. I avoid bumping into others the best I can without clear focus. I could hear a low hum vibrating in my ear. There were dots speckling my vision blinds my line of sight. The people around me contort into lanky shadow beast. No conversation can be picked out the crowd as it melds together into a loud buzz.
Then I feel it, an uncontrollable urge to let it free. To release the built up tension I've been bottling up inside. I know I can't, not here, not now. I don't know what it is except the nagging feeling that it's dangerous. I collapse in the hallway knocking into students on the way down. I catch a few scattered whispers of concern before I faded into the pitch black void of unconscious.

I felt a bit fuzzy when I start coming to my senses. The bright light burns my sensitive eyesight. 'Why am I asleep? Am I still at school?' I can't block the sudden rise of anxiety building in my chest.
I snap up and and quickly analyze my surroundings. There are many vintage looking cabinets and posters promoting healthy eating on the walls.
'Oh! I must be in the nurse's office, but why?'
      My thoughts are interrupted by the  doorknob jiggling. In walks a frail lady wearing space cat tee shirt and a white lab coat.
      "HELLO DEAR ARE YOU FEELING WELL?" The women practically screamed in my face.
      "YOU TOOK QUITE A TUMBLE THERE, LUCKY THAT HANDSOME YOUNG MAN CAUGHT YOU WHEN HE DID!"
       "Excuse me if I may ask but why am I here? I don't remember a thing." I honestly asked the nurse.
      "OH DEARY YOU FAINTED OF DEHYDRATION IN THE HALLS!"
      "What time is it now?"
      "I DO BELIEVE THAT IT IS-" she was cut off by the loud shrill screeching of the bell. "TIME TO GO!"
      I grabbed by bag and got out of that room before that lady busted my eardrums. As I walked down the hall some people were pointing and staring at me like I was some freak show at the circus. "Ahh!" Somebody grabbed my wrist and as if on instinct I spun around and gifted them a hard jab to the abdomen.
My eyes widened like a dear in the headlights. 'I know how to fight?' I thought to myself. The person I happened to assault was none other than Luca himself. He was currently hunched over on the floor panting and cradling hides stomach.
'How hard did I hit him?' I quickly scurried away from that situation. I'm not completely fond of unwanted staring. I was panting by the time I made it to Anna's dinky little car.
She gave me a questioning look as I slid ever so gracefully into the passenger seat.
"Anna we have so much to talk about you don't even know."

"Spill!"

"I was partnered with Luca on a project and now there I no possible way to avoid him."

"Why are you upset about that! Most girls would kill to get to spend time with him."

"You don't understand how dangerous this is for me. For the part of the day that I was awake if I felt an emotion too strongly  the heat in my hands would grow hotter. It's wild and untamed."

"When we get to my house we are are going to have a thorough examination of what  you can do." She told me.

I gave her one last sigh before I just zoned out staring at the passing blur of landscape. Anna's family was quite loaded but humble as she is denies it to keep from drawing attention to herself. The beat up Mini Cooper she drove was her first car. Her parents bought her a fricken Lamborghini for her sixteenth, but she didn't want humble as she is. Her older sister knew exactly what she wanted a bought her this little beauty.
We pulled up the long winding dirt road to her beautiful mansion. It was an old plantation home that was restored by her father's real-estate company. Anna and her mother loved it so much they moved into it.
The place was like a second home to me. I was here so often that her mother was used to seeing us when she came home from work. Anna was the only child that still lived at home, so we had the house to ourselves for a few hours.
"Lou, I think it would be smartest to take this to the back yard. your power seems like it may be a bit explosive." I dropped my school bag on the kitchen island and sprinted towards the back door. I need to let out this feeling of pent of unease.
She walked around through the lovely foyer and kitchen then out the back door. She lead me to a clearing in the large expanse of grass that is her backyard. I was rather peeved she was taking so long.
"Okay Lou, ITS TIME TO SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO!" She yelled into the afternoon.