Sparks

Chapter 1

"Miss Bennet, if you would be so kind as to actually participate in class, it would be greatly appreciated."

I looked up, staring into twenty-seven snickering faces and one exasperated teacher. I sighed, rolling my eyes, making my disinterest obvious to everyone. The other kids continued to stare, no longer in amusement, but in confusion. I was brand-new, I had only been here for a month.

"Well, Mrs. Tillet", I started, my words like dual edged swords, "perhaps if you taught with any vigor or elegance I would be slightly more inclined to pay attention. Until then, however, I will content myself to something more pleasurable, like plucking my eyeballs out." I yawned, and added, "now be a dear and continue droning on, would you? I have other things to attend to."

I began to twiddle my fingers, playing with the golden snake that adorned them, its ruby-red eyes glistening as the sparks began to charge up under my skin.

My classmates' mouths gaped, incredibly in awe of my gall and daring. I glared at them, displeased with their obtrusive behavior. They quickly shifted in their seats, turned around, and gulped.

Mrs. Tillet sputtered, chocolate brown bun quaking as her wrinkled, porcelain skin reddened in rage. Her navy-blue dress began to flutter around her calves as she barreled towards me, black mary-janes clicking, icy blue eyes piercing my vivid forest green ones.

Anyone else would have shuddered, began to stammer apologizes, saying anything to avoid consequences, but not I. I simply gazed upon her somewhat frail form as she pointed a shaking finger at me, livid, and I looked up at her, nonchalant and utterly in control. I started to fuel the sparks, allowing them to fester above my skin and onto my hands.

"You, you... Miss Morgan Bennet, you will be heading to the office right this instance! Your behavior in this class has been unacceptable!"

"Mmm, no."

"Excuse me?!"

"No. as in, 'I'm not going, and I'm afraid that there is nothing you can do about it.' Do you understand now, Mrs. Tillet?"

"Do I understand?! DO I UNDERSTAND?! What I understand, Miss Bennet, is that I am in authority here. This is my classroom, and you are my student, so you will do exactly as I say the very instance that I say it. Now, the office!"

I sighed. She was being so difficult, so now I was going to have to do something about it.

"No. I'm not leaving. Your incompetence as a person, let alone a teacher, is prevalent and palpable if you think that you can force me to leave. I assure you, I will be doing only what I would like to do when I would be pleased to do it. I do not intend to go to the office, nor do I intend to allow you to speak to me in such a rude manner. Now, if you'll excuse me, I do believe that you have a lesson to finish teaching."

Needless to say, Mrs. Tillet was furious. She stared at me like a fish with her mouth open wide enough for a boar to enter. She had absolutely no words, let alone comprehension of the previous events, so I smiled up sweetly at her, speaking to her as if she were a young child no older than five years old. I could feel my sparks pulsating, dancing over my fingers and spilling across my hands, so I knew that I was in control. She couldn't stop me now, no one could.

"Mrs. Tillet", I began, my smirk displayed across my face, red-orange lights spilling over my hands, begin to dance across my arms, "I do believe that we have had a bit of a misunderstanding. You seem to believe that you are in charge of me, which I can assure you, you are not. Now, I'm going to continue twiddling my thumbs, waiting for your class to end, and you are going to go back up to the front of the room and instruct the class. Do you understand?"

Mrs. Tillet ambled back up to the room in awe, oblivious to the world, as most of those that I affect often are. She opened her mouth, like an unhinged door, and closed it quickly. She shook her head, and continued to teach the class. My sparks began to disappear, leaving only confidence in my abilities and satisfaction behind.

I wiggled down in my seat, content, with my classmates completely in shock. When I looked up, there was one boy staring at me, and he couldn't stop. I think he saw my sparks.