Aspen and the All the Dark-Shadows

Chapter 6: Step-By-Step

"So...you're telling me that you can figure out people's colors just by looking at the color of their auras? You got it from your mother who also could see people's auras? Was that the gist of it?"

I did it.

I told her everything from start to finish. I told her that I could see people's colors. I told her about what happened on the pastry shop in the middle of a snowy Christmas night. I told her about how my mother confessed to me that she could see auras and there's a corresponding meaning in every color. I told her about that except for ...the Dark Shadows... and her Rose-Colored Aura.

"Umm...yeah...that's pretty much of it..."

Her eyes widen and she put her hand on her mouth. Oh my...here it comes...

"Yow! That's cool!" she shouted in a very low voice. I didn't expect this to happen.

I waited for the breakdown.

I waited for the comeback I wouldn't ever in my whole life wanted to experience. I waited for her to stand up and to shout to everyone that I'm a freak and some kind of demon possessed person.

Well that's exaggerating; but I waited for the moment when she would say, "How dare you! You freak!"

I waited for it.

But it didn't happen.

"Do you believe me?" I asked her

"It may be skeptical to some, but I do believe on this kind of abilities. My great grandmother has psychic abilities; her mother has transfiguration while her great grandmother has Healing abilities. I'm not new to this kind of things!'

"I-is it okay?" I asked stuttering a bit.

"Are you freaking kidding me? It's beyond okay! Holy guacamoles!"

"A-are you not disgusted...on me?"

"Why would I?!" she suddenly stood up and faced me up close. Like there's just only 2 inches of our face apart. Oh shit.

"I'm not disgusted, and will never be" she said still up and close personal on my face. Shit, shit, shit. Why is she this close? My heart started to beat fast than its normal beat.

"A-ah. Thanks. Aren't you going to do you assignment?"

"What assignment?" her eye brows met and she instantly back-off from being just 2 inches apart from me. Thank God, now I can finally breath.

"Don't you have any assignments?" this was just an alibi.

"Already finished it" she said proudly taking another bite on her cheeseburger.

"Oh! You mentioned you could see people's auras, hmm let's see..." she suspiciously said while massaging her imaginary mustache. Oh God, this doesn't sound good.

"What's her color?" she excitedly asked while pointing out to the student holding a tray full of hamburgers. It's not obvious that her favorite food is hamburger.

"U-ugh..." I massaged my nape.

I looked at that student and observed her. She looks like a nerd with those big eye glasses, matching braided hair and checkered inspired top. Not mentioning the stack of books at the side of her desk.

The girl looked at me, and suddenly her eyes turned black as if a hue of dark shadow floated in front of it. Oh shit. It's not in front; it's coming out on her eyes!

I immediately let go of the stare and looked down.

I still couldn't see other people's auras, I could still see Dark Shadows...

"B-black..."

I muttered while still looking down.

"Black?" I could sense from the tone of her voice that she's confused and surprised.

I took a deep breath and faced her.

"The truth is... all I could see are Dark Shadows...there's only one person whom I could see an aura..."

Her eyebrows met.

"Who is that person?"

I swallowed the lump on my throat, "You--"

"--Free hotdogs! Free hotdogs!" I was interrupted by someone who shouted free hotdogs all of a sudden. I looked at him and saw a dark hue of cloud on the basket full of hotdogs up to his arms. I immediately looked away.

"What did you say again Aspen?" Amber asked.

"I haven't heard it" she added.

"About the Dark Shadows...he he" I said massaging my nape and trying to laugh. What the freaking hell are you thinking Aspen?! Things might get awkward if I told her that I could see her color, and not just any color but Rose-Colored! Damn!

"What's with Dark Shadows?

"Earlier, I told you about my Mom confessing her ability on the pastry shop when I was young. I was really fascinated by her acquired skill and how she relates colors with people's personalities. On that very same day, I tried to acquire her ability, just to find out if I could also see other people's auras. But what happened that day was instead of getting colorful hues, I got to see horrifying Dark Shadows. What happened that day caused a trauma and a scar on me... and until now I still got it."

There was a long pause after my last sentence. I don't know what to expect anymore.

"Aha! Now I know what to do!" I got surprised by her sudden reaction. She looked so eager and passionate.

"What do you mean?"

"It's a step-by-step process, but firstly let's go somewhere" she stood up, grabbed my hand and started heading away from the cafeteria.

"H-hey! Where are we going?"

"I'll explain to you later, trust me on this one." She took a glimpse from me and smiled.