Mystic Grove Academy

1: Rise of a New Power

Wednesday, September 12th:

Mara Gregson P.O.V.

Ring! Thank goodness this day is over. All I want to do is go home and put this day behind me. The rest of my Spanish class packs up and rush for the exit. Meanwhile, I do what I always do: head for my mom's car in the parking lot. I quickly spot my mom's Acura NSX. "Hey," I wave getting in and fasten my seatbelt.

"Hey dear," my mom waves back as she drives us home. "How was your day?"

"The usual," I try to rest my weary eyes to enjoy the breeze the air conditioning puts out, "I avoid everyone and they avoid me."

"You know that's not good for you. You need to make some friends and give me a reason to fear your safety."

I roll my eyes because she tells me this almost every day. "I know, Mom."

Arriving home, I walk to my room which I painted turquoise - my favorite color - and flop onto my bed. I start in on the pile of homework. I take a quick glance at my right hand seeing my birthmark, three swirling lines, and shake my hand in disgust. "Why do I have this thing?" I almost shout to myself. I tried to cover it up but my mom won't let me use any makeup even though I am 15. She says it makes me unique. "Unique my ass," I think to myself turning to my homework.

2 Hours Later:

I breathe a sigh of relief finishing my homework knowing tomorrow it starts all over again. "Dinner," my mom yells from downstairs.

"I'm coming," I yell back. Joining her at the table, we, it's only her and me, sit to a pasta platter.

"Mara," Mom breaks the stillness in the room, "I am serious when I say you need to make some friends."

I hold up my right hand brandishing my birthmark. "I know but this makes it kind of hard."

My mom just glares at me with these intense eyes. "Honey, I told you that your birthmark is special to you but you'll have to find out why that is."

I hate it when people talk in riddles. "Whatever you say, Mom."

The Next Day (Thursday, September 13th):

I sit at an empty picnic table waiting for the first bell to ring starting another day. I reread a story for my literature class which I have first thing. "I don't get it," I slam my head on my book not understanding the story I'm reading. My mind is going a mile a minute thinking about what my mom and I talked about last night. I feel the shift in the breeze snapping me out of my thoughts seeing four people walk up to me. "Oh no, here we go."

The blonde leading this group of bimbos, Kate Burlough, cracks this creepy smile everybody hates. "We want this table," she hisses at me, "so move, nobody!"

I grab my things and move to another table. I'm not in the mood to deal with them with everything swirling in my head. I need time to think. I immerse myself in my thoughts as my mom's words echo in my head to make friends. I've always been alone so the idea of friends is strange. The wind picks up around me causing me to look up. "What do you want, Kate?" I look at her annoyed that she's still bugging me.

"Why are you ignoring me, nobody?" Kate plucks my forehead in another round of torture.

"I want to be left alone."

Kate pushes me to the ground while her brain-dead minions laugh drawing a crowd around us. "Not today, loser." She stands over me. "What are you going to do about it, Mara?"

I'm trying my best to keep it together but with my thoughts all over the place and now Kate is pushing my buttons, it's proving difficult. I feel my eyes tearing up. "Just leave me alone!"