STATIC; JR [2]

1.8

After leaving Andy, my time was spent with Oscar. He was a pretty cool person, but that was something I already knew. I told him that I really liked his comic, and that he was an amazing drawer. He smiled, unsure of how to reply to such a compliment before laughing quietly. He told me about the school, and what it was like when we were gone. Apparently the teachers went into hard core parental mode, and they made sure everybody was accounted for before and after every single class. I made a joke about it, but Oscar didn't seem to find it that funny, because his eyes drifted away from my own, and his entire face fell. I softly called his name, confused and anxious because of his reaction. He didn't verbally reply, but his mouth fell open as dreaded shock coated his features. I followed his gaze, cracking my neck unpleasantly in the process. When I saw what he'd been looking at, I realised that his expression and lack of response was completely warranted.

I didn't even mean to talk, but his name came out in a mumbled, strangled whisper. "Oscar..." We didn't look at each other, because Andy had taken our attention and he wasn't giving it back. He was using magic, in one of the most public places possible. He had a ball of water just hanging in the air, and there was this pained look on his face as he tried to concentrate on it. The Asian boy was clearly jealous, because he kept his eyes on the pair of Goth teens toward the edge of the party. Suddenly, the transparent sphere didn't appear as the same shape. Andy had transformed it into that of a love heart, and now he was smiling. It was insane to watch, and when he calmly swayed back and forth on his heels, I almost fell off my chair. Oscar edged forward a little bit, trying to manoeuvre himself out of the way of people nearby. Unexpectedly, the heart faltered, and when it did so, Andy's face dropped. Any trace of happiness had disappeared from his face, and now he was struggling to keep hold of the contorting ball of water. It zoomed back and forth in the air a few feet from where he stood, and I was amazed that nobody had seen him yet. I was also amazed at the fact that Oscar and I were yet to do anything, but there was something about the situation that made me feel like it wasn't my place to intervene. What happened next was lucky and unlucky at the same time, kind of good and kind of bad. After Andy had lost all control over the magic he held over his palms, it had completely rebelled against his commands and hit him straight in the face. He was standing there, drenched from the chest up. My mouth was agape, void of all moister as I listened to the humiliating laughter that erupted from the crowd around me. Andy's face was red, the embarrassment colouring his cheeks.

Finally, I looked to Oscar, who stared back at me with the same regretful gaze. From the corner of my eye, I saw the small clump of people separate as Jake emerged. His features were hard, puzzled. I didn't get to study him for very long, as Felix had stolen my attention. The Goth ran toward Andy, practically leaping at the mortified teen. Others still continued to giggle, but the five of us were the only ones who stared with distressed eyes. I shouldn't have been able to hear what Felix was saying, especially against the bounds of laughter, but the way he was whispering somehow made it easier to decipher his words.

"What are you doing? Everyone could have seen that." Felix's voice was a low hiss, and that seemed to shame Andy even more. He didn't say anything before Felix turned his head, sending the waiting crowd a full smile. He was good at faking, but that wasn't new to me. When he met Andy's gaze again, his whispers were no longer forced past his teeth. I couldn't hear him anymore, but the shattered expression on Andy's face made me believe that I shouldn't want to.

It was a startling act, something out of character for someone like Andy, but it didn't stop him. He reached out, quickly snatching Felix's bag and yanking it off his shoulder. The Goth yelled at him to give it back, but Andy had already left the party. The laughter never ceased as the Asian boy ran off into the forest that surrounded the area.

"What's going on?" Sam asked, making his way over to where Felix stood. Jake and I had approached him as well, but Oscar stayed put.

"Andy took my bag, with the Book of Shadows and the talisman." Felix's reply was just one long string of noise, but Sam seemed to understand clearly enough. The only response he gave was a vague look of horror. "We have to go after him."