S E C R E T (A Mindless Behavior Story)

Chapter 2

Adrienne

Controlling these powers is harder than I imagined. I thought my parents were exaggerating, but they were right; all day I’ve been trying to control my powers from flaring out and staying unnoticed.

I walked into my 3rd hour, with Mr. Stein, feeling a tad bit uncomfortable under his stare might I say. I took my usual seat in the back, noticing as Craig walked in as well. I avoided his eyes, trying to mind my own business and keep a hold on my powers.

As the lesson began to settle in and I was in my zone taking notes, a pestering sound kept bugging me.

“Psssst. Pssst. Pssssssssssssssssst.”

I slammed my pencil on the desk slightly, snapping my head to the left to find no other but Craig leaning over.

“What?” I asked, cocking my eyebrow up, you know, trying to look normal. He looked a little taken aback by my sudden addressing of him. “Uh, nothing. I mean, I just wanted to apologize for this morning?” He sort of stuttered. I sighed, smiling the slightest half smile. “Apology accepted.” I expected him to smile and turn back to his own business, but instead his began to bulge, focusing on my desk.

I snapped my head and noticed my pencil starting to lift of the table and into the air. I gasped, slapping it back down with my hand, a rather loud slap. I avoided complete eye contact with Craig.

I hope he didn’t see too much

“Excuse me, Adrienne, Craig—do we have an issue back there?” Mr. Stein paused his lesson to give us his undivided attention. I shook my head rapidly, fear written all of my face. I again, I felt like I was being scrutinized under his stare until he turned back around to the board.

I kept my pencil in my hand, staring at the board and acting as though nothing had happened. Mentally, I face palmed myself ‘cause I knew there was no way Craig _wasn’t_ going to leave me alone about this.

*

Sitting on the bench in the locker room, I bent over to tie my laces, getting ready for cheer practice. The girls were real happy to see me after my little 2 week absence. I stood up and took a deep breath, hoping nothing funny would happen. It’s just a 30 minutes practice; I can control my powers for 30 minutes, right? I hope.

“Adrriiiiiii,” my fellow cheerleader, Stacy, ran up to me and gave me hug—even though it felt more like an attack! I wrapped my arms around her, laughing as we tottered to and fro on our hug.

“We missed you,” she said, playfully tugging my ponytail. “Aw, I missed you guys too,” I smiled big, looking around the gym, watching everyone stretch and such. I took my spot near Stacy, easing myself into a split to stretch my limbs. Ugh, 2 weeks made my muscles feel foreign to these exercises.

“Alright ladies, up!” Coach Nelson yelled, blowing her whistle. I hopped on my feet, placing my hands on my hips as I rotated my neck in a slow circle.

“Alright, Adrienne, we’re going to practice the flip, alright?” She yelled my way as I ran up toward her. Two other girls came up behind me, getting ready to pop me in the air and grasp my legs. I remember this move well enough.

As they lifted me up, I posed in the air with my arms, practicing my facials as if I was really in front of a crowd.

“Okay, ready Adri?” One of the girls said and I nodded, prompting myself. The flipped me and I twisted in the air, readily landing. I smiled big, throwing my hands up in my final pose.But something was wrong.

The first thing I noticed was everyone’s astonished faces.

The second thing noticed was the fact that my feet hadn’t slammed on the ground yet…I was floating!!!

Once I realized, I stumbled forward, landing on my feet only to totter and land on my bottom. How am I going to play this off?!

“Adrienne..what just happe—were you floating?” Coach asked as she held a hand out for me to stand up. Before I could answer, everyone was buzzing me with questions and comments.

She was floating!

Is she okay?

That’s not even normal!

I ran my hands over my face, sprang up and ran all the way to the double door exiting, busting through into the locker room. I grabbed my things hastily and busted outside in the late afternoon sunlight, pounding the pavement hard, making my way home

Ugh, I’m gonna have to quit!

*

Craig

“Craig, leave!” barked Mr. Carter. He maneuvered his hand to close the door, but I stopped it. Looking at my hand, then back at my face, he sighed.

“Please, Mr. Carter. I just wanna talk to Adrienne,” I pleaded. Even through all the pleading, he gave me the deadly stare. I just didn’t get it— he always welcomed me in. We had a little bond, but I guess the bond was leaving.

“Now,” he said patting my should, “I’m sure your mother is worried sick that you’re not eating.”

“Not really. She didn’t cook, anything.” I sent him a cheesy smirk for his failed wit.

He hesitantly stands by the door before grabbing the door. “Uh, bye, Craig.” Soon I was in the background of the setting sun as his door was closed.

However, Mr. Carter didn’t stop me from seeing Adrienne, yet.

I ran into my house avoiding my mother’s and father’s awkward greeting. Then, I went to a second case of stairs which lead to my room door and walked there. Stopping at my window, I looked in Adri’s room and saw her crying.

“Adri?” I yelled. “Are you fine?”

There was no reply so I took my might to climb out of my window and clinched on to the tree that settled in front of me. Then, I stepped my foot on her window seal and eventually sat down.

Teary-eyed, she got up reaching to pull down the window, but I grasped the window before she could. She was no match against my strength.

“Go home!” she shouted.

“No,” I said, turning my feet around to face her completely. “Not until you tell me what’s wrong. Did Issa break-up with you? If so, I’ll punch him in the face for you.”

“It’s not him. I just don’t feel good.” She sighed, wiping away her tears.

“I could run to the store and get you some cough syrup!”

She placed palms on her face. “Ehh. I’m not really sick.”

She most be depressed about something, I thought. Maybe she need someone to talk to. I could talk to her.

“So are you—”

“No, I’m not depressed and no, I don’t wanna talk to you right now!” she snapped.

I stared at her in disbelief. “How did you know I was going to say all that?”

She quietly mumbles something to herself, not wanting me to hear it. “It was a coincidence. Forget it so leave!”

I got up and came to her ear, whispering, “I know something is up, but I’ll be next door if you need me. Bye.” I didn’t mean to make her do so, but she shivered.

Before I made my way back to the window, I noticed she was panicked—no wait, anxious? Or maybe it was me being distracted by her so-called sliver eye contacts.