Naturals

Another Surprise

       The rest of the regular school day passes by quickly.  But the class that I am most dreading is coming last.  It is the class where we learn how to control our “powers”, and judging by the way that I used my powers this morning, it is obvious that I have absolutely no control whatsoever over them 

       I walk into the vast auditorium where all of the classes meet.  I see Mr. Harries at the front of the room, motioning us to sit down in the chairs.  Susan is standing next to me, and we both smile at each other before we sit down.

       Just out of curiosity I flip my head to the right to see what is going on.  My eyes immediately connect with Jack’s and he sends me a cheeky grin that makes me want to drop dead.  I then whip my head back to see Susan looking between Jack and I curiously. 

       Susan then just gives up and shrugs, and gestures me to look towards the front of the room where Mr. Harries has begun to talk to us.

       “This year our program is going to be different than in the past,” Mr. Harries says in his heavy English accent.

       This causes me to pay close attention.  What was going to be different? And why did Mr. Harries not look completely sure about it?

       “During the first few months of school, you all practiced controlling your natural abilities, now we are going to work on the tactic of blending in to the surrounding societies,” he goes on, as he adjusts his collar.

       “As you know, our highest priority is to keep what goes on in the Academy a secret, but locking ourselves out from the outside communities has caused them to suspect something is going on.  That is why we will be hosting a dance here for all of the other school’s in the area this Friday.  We realize that this is on such short notice, but it is so important that we are ready for when they come, and give them absolutely no reason for anyone to suspect anything,” Mr. Harries explains, and follows up with every possible way that this dance could possibly go wrong.

       “We are counting on you all to organize the whole dance with all of the decorations for our winter theme.  We will be pairing you up in groups of two, to work on a certain project.  Now these are the pairs…” Mr. Harries says sternly, obviously noting that there will be no changes of these pairs.

       He starts reading off of what sounds to be a never-ending list.  A few names pop out at me.

       “Susan Appleby and Luke Hemmings,” also “Jack Harries and Marissa Douglas”

       All of the pairs seem to be co-ed and I am bracing myself for when my name comes, but it never does.  I relax as Mr. Harries waves his hands signaling for us to go off with our partners.  I look around confused, not knowing where to go. 

       “Ms. Gilmore please come over here,” Mr. Harries says, and I make my way over to his side.

       “Rory, you will be paired up with Finn, along with doing something for the dance, he will teach you the basics of controlling you natural abilities,” Mr. Harries states 

       I look to the other side of Mr. Harries, and for the first time see Finn standing there with a hollow look on his face.  I glare at him, and he glares back at me, his eyes burning through my head.

       “Well, you two be off,” Mr. Harries shoos us away.

       I walk next to Finn not knowing what to say or do, but keeping completely silent.

     “Well, this is just great I get paired up with you, and my brother gets to be paired up with my girlfriend,” Finn spits out angrily.

       I look over to see Jack with a pretty girl with long blonde hair.  I chuckle a little bit because Jack looks absolutely miserable standing next to her as she talks about something.  He catches my eye and smiles, at me.  His eyes then flash over to Finn, and an unknown emotion spreads across Jack’s face.