Element

✯ Chapter 16

Some uneventful weeks have passed. Thank god. Rhodes is still acting all weird towards me, however, and I don't like it. I mean, he can trust me, right? We used to be so much closer. Well, for the first two weeks of school, anyways. I heave a loud sigh, and drag myself out of bed. An hour before my alarm usually goes off.

Since when do I wake up this early?

I walk over to my dresser. Today is exceptionally cold, for late-September. I pull out my darkest pair of skinny jeans, a white tanktop, and a light yellow v-neck shirt. When I've got the items on, I walk over to the mirror. I smile at my reflection. I don't look too bad. But since when do I really care about what my outfit looks like? I pull on white socks that end below my ankle. It doesn't take me long to decide what shoes I'm going to wear. Black, white, red, purple, gray. I take the gray ones and put them on.

I turn back to my dresser, and select my purple sweater. It's dark purple, without a hood, and a bit baggy. So, perfect for a chilly day like today.

I slip out my door, wanting to go unnoticed. Silently, I make my way down the stairs. We're allowed to be out of the dorms an hour before the alarms all go off, but not many people choose to. I guess that's another strange thing I like to do. But I've been doing it for the past three weeks. It settles me, makes me feel more secure, to be up on top of things.

I walk out of the dorms/offices building.

"Annice, you need to do this. He's the only one qualified to do it!" Is that the principal? Who is he talking to?

"I don't know, Landers. David's a busy man!" Ms. Benting? Wow. It's always weird to hear your teachers being called by their first name.

"All you have to do is ask! Please! Think about it. Technically, the fate of Dimicel could lay in his hands." What is he asking? Are we in trouble?

"Alright, I'll ask, but I can't guarantee anything." I hear Ms. Benting sigh in reply

"Thank you, Annice." I hear Ms. Benting's heels click on the walk way.

Acting quick, I fly up the closest tree. She sits down, on the bench right in front of the tree I'm hiding in. I can't believe my luck! Now she'll know I was eavesdropping.

"You know, I can see you Ramaya."

I sigh. "I know."

"Come down." Ms. Benting sounds tired. She smiles, but it's a tight lipped smile. "Did you hear the conversation that I had with Mr. Algathy?"

"Yes." I can't lie to a teacher, I mean, that, and Ms. Benting would probably see right through me. She sighs.

"Ramaya, do you know why it's getting so cold, when it's not supposed to be?"

"No..." Why is it getting so cold anyways?

"It could just be weird weather, but I have my own hunch. And Mr Algathy agrees. That's why I was talking to him." She leans back against the bench, and tilts her head up. It seems like, for the first time, Ms. Benting is frustrated. She's tense, as if she could almost snap. Whatever her hunch is, it must be a pretty big deal.

*******************************

When it's finally 7:30, I walk into the Dining Room. I'm the first one in, and it feels so quiet. Big rooms like this aren't meant to be empty. Especially when they're made for hundreds of hungry students. I stroll to the serving table, and glance at the three flavors of oatmeal being served today.

I scoop myself a large helping of cinnamon apple oatmeal, and grab a banana from the fruit basket. I set my tray down at the table I usually sit at with Kaelie and Alanna, and go back to the serving tables to get myself a glass of cold milk.