The Gifted

Shocking News

Carmen above**

Authors' note***** 

Hey guys, Its Kat here...I just wanted to say this is my very first book, so please be kind when reading. I'd love for anyone to comment as long as it's nothing hurtful. Also, I've been working on this idea of a book for a long time, and have finally put it down in words. Sorry, if it starts out kind of messy, but it should get better as it goes along. Feel free to correct any spelling mistakes I may have made.

End of Author's note*****

Carmen's P.O.V.**

I was sitting on a soft black chair in the amphitheater next to Shawn, Khalene, and Cody. We were all waiting for Ellie to join us from her mother's office. It was the first day of tenth grade for us at Cambridge Private School for the Gifted Elite, otherwise known as C.P.S.G.E. -Literally gifted. C.P.S.G.E. accepts kids with extraordinarily powerful magical abilities from ages nine through twenty. From there you can move up to their college.

Ellie and I were accepted into the academy when we were ten, and have been attending here ever since. Shawn, Khalene, and Cody have been attending since they were nine.

My mother has long chestnut hair, pretty peachy skin that turns to a nice tan in the summer, and dark brown eyes that almost look purple. She is a very famous actress and plays in lots of great movies. Sometimes I've been on television with her when she was being interviewed for various things and talk shows, but that was mostly when I was younger. When I was allowed to go to some of her interviews the reporter usually asked me a couple questions about my mom, and what it's like to have a famous parent. You know, since I never knew my father.

Three seconds before the bell rings Ellie races into the amphitheater sporting all her binders in her hands. Khalene and I start flagging her down as Principal Hample walks on stage with a microphone in his right hand welcoming us back.

"Welcome to C.P.S.G.E. home of the Cambridge Crows. As you all know, we only admit students with strong and unique abilities. Many of you come from powerful families, some of you don't and that's okay... it makes you unique. For those of you who are new here, we test your ability periodically throughout the year to chart your progress on how strong you are... We also train and teach you to live hidden in the outside world. This will be the 283rd year we have been teaching." He paused for a round of applause the teachers delivered before continuing. "As of this year, we have enrolled a total of 516 students, and have lost 108 due to graduation, transfers, and Zeroes."

Zeroes were the kids who didn't make the power cut or just weren't enhancing with their abilities. I've only personally known three people who became Zeroes and last I heard they were being enrolled at Winton High Private Academy. W.H.P.A. is the school where kids go if they're not very powerful. That's the school I would have gone to if I hadn't developed my ability so strongly at the end of fifth grade.

Ellie quietly sinks into her chair to the left of me, I almost didn't notice her. "Hey what took you so long this morning?" I whisper continuing to stare at Mr. Hampton. Ellie wasn't at breakfast this morning which was unusual because she loved food just as much as she loved nature and wasn't known to miss a meal. A few minutes after our Principle started talking about the Zero process I glanced at her.

Ellie's lips were tightly pulled shut and she remained to gaze ahead deep in thought. "Ellie?" I ask again more unsure. She jumped turning towards me, "Sorry what were you saying?" She spoke a little too loud and several people in the rows ahead of us turned around. "Ms. Sanders please refrain yourself from talking." Mrs. Anderson chastised from the back wall, still guarding the door against students who wanted to leave early. (The beginning year assemblies were known to be quite dull.) She was a strict teacher who taught advanced English and always wore her dark greying hair in a tight bun, I had her this year. Of course.