The Gifted

Chapter 10

That following Tuesday morning I has woken late having to run to class still hungover (man that stuff was strong). Unfortunately for me and many others we started with PE. Quickly getting change into my uniform I joined up with the others who where getting paired up into partners. Rushing over I looked around for Cam but found that he was already paired up with a guy named Jake, that I had briefly spoken to once.

"Lyra, get over here!" Yelled Mr Bronson
With a quick few strides I was standing with the last remaining people to be paired.
"You and you," He said pointing to me and someone to my right.
Turning to my right I was surprised when my eyes landed on Rivers. Of course this would happen to me I thought, it seemed like this apparently wasn't my week. Rivers didn't seem to be thinking the same thing as a grin was plastered across his face.
Rolling my eyes I crossed my arms in front of my chest. "Why are you even in this class?"
I questioned him.
"Well when you rarely come to a class body really notices you."
"Right, try not to be too excited about this," I stated.
"Oh I'm gonna try," Rivers responded walking past me towards a spare mat, turning around I followed him.

Now standing in front of Rivers butterfly's sprung up in my stomach, not because I was scared of being hurt but because of what had happened the last time we had seen each other. Trying to ignore the feelings in my stomach I took a fighting stance. I watching Rivers movements waiting for him to make the first move, as I was smaller and faster I could make a low strike. His feet moved first and with that I dashed forward and struck out my arm and punched him in the stomach. This caused Rivers to stumble back a little but quickly regained his balance. I felt a small grin work it's way onto my face which soon enough fell as he came charging towards me. I tried to move out of the way but wasn't fast enough allowing him to crash into the side of me body. Losing my footing I slammed into the floor.

"Owe?" I exclaimed.
Rivers weight then fell on me as he pinned me down, making my movements minimal. One of his arms was across my chest and the other one beside my head. Our faces were extremely close and I could feel the warmth of his breath tingle across my face. I watched as his eyes drifted down to my lips, suddenly like he was pulled out of a trance he stood up, pulling me with him. Feeling eyes on me I gazed to my left to find Cam watching what had just happened. As soon as we made eye contact Cam quickly swung his head back so fast he should have gotten whiplash. With me being so distracted I felt Rivers body crash into mine again. Oh god I thought, this really wasn't my week at all.

An hour later I was changed back into uniform and made my way to second period, majoring in a magic. Sliding into the chair beside Rivers I had forgotten we had the same two classes today.
"What happened to you, looks like you got beat up?" River jokingly stated.
"I got a few good hits in," I protested.
"You sure did," Rivers said pulling up his shirt a little to reveal a new bruise I had given him. However the bruise wasn't what I was staring at, it was his solid tan abs. Before he could catch me drooling over him I directed my eyes to the front of the classroom.

"Class today we are going to practice our techniques of controlling our magic. People pair up at the back of the classroom. The classroom was divided in half one side for the tables and chairs and the other side used for activities such as this. Large glass windows lined the back wall which faced out onto the court yard. As me and Rivers headed towards the back Mrs Lancaster blurted our some rules and restrictions that we had to follow. We formed into two lines with us facing one another. Me and Rivers were at the end closest to the windows.

"Alright, you have half an hour and then we are going through some notes you'll need for exams at the end of the term." Mrs Lancaster sweetly spoke knowing that everybody hated note taking.
"So who's going first?" I asked Rivers.
"You can," he replied walking closer to me.
"Ok well I'm gonna need your arm."
A waited a second before speaking, "how about you try doing it without contact?"
"But how does that work, I need to form a connection and even you needed to touch my head to use your gift." I stated confused.
"Most of us don't have to have a physical connection but it just makes it easier and less draining." Rivers answered.
"Ok, I'll give it a try." I said.
"Just focus on the person your directing it towards, think about you emotions towards them. Oh and it also helps to close your eyes."

Having once last look at Rivers I closed my eyes and dug for emotions I felt around him, happiness, confusion, attraction. Pulling all those emotions into one I opened my eyes and focused on his face. I pictured forced all my energy into him, and like a gust of wind Rivers stumbles backwards slightly as he was taken off guard.
"Did it work?" I asked in anticipation of his response.
Taking a few strides forward we linked eyes. I was suddenly gone from the classroom and stood in the forest where rivers had taken me the other day.
"What the hell!" A voice said beside me making me jump.
"Rivers? What are you doing here, I didn't think you could came too?"

Confusion was clear on his face and it looked as if he didn't know how he got here either. "This has never happened before, I don't know what you did?" He stated looking around him as if something was going to give him the answer.
Remembering what Gracie had told me I put it together. "I enchanted your powers allowing you to join into the landscape you imagined." I said kinda proud of myself.
"Wow, imagine all the things you can do when your more experienced." He smiled towards me a looked a little in awe.
"I have an idea, why don't you try to pull all my magic away and take yourself out of the landscape?" He asked me.

Thinking it through I decided that nothing would go wrong and excepted his idea. The first thing I did was imagine pushing Rivers out of this landscape and back into reality. Opening my eyes I did a 360 and he was no where to be seen. Smiling I closed my eyes again and focused on the classroom that my body was currently standing in. I visualised the wooden floors and large glass windows, I pictured Rivers standing in front of me with a grin spread across his face. I felt a small gust like someone blew air towards me. Slowly peeling my eyes open I was back in the classroom with the whole class staring at me.
Confused I looked to Rivers for an answer, giving him a slight shrug of my shoulders.
"Lyra, are you aware of what just happened?" Mrs Lancaster asked with a harshness in her voice.

Jumping my eyes from one person to another, some lowering the eyes from mine, I had no clue what I had done.
"Ah no, I'm sorry I don't know what you're talking about." I answered honestly.
"Your gift is augmentation, am I right?" She stated with a few gasps coming from the students.
"Yes it is," I stated not liking being in this situation.
"Well Miss Black by enhancing Rivers magic," Miss Lancaster said gazing at Rivers. "You pulled the power from all the students in the room, leaving then powerless."
My jaw dropped slight but I caught it and regained my composure. "So your saying that when I enchanted Rivers magic I syphoned everyone's magic and used that?"
"Yes that exactly what I am saying." She said with an aggressive tone. It seemed odd that she was angry she was one of the sweetest, calm teachers at this academy.

"Enough excitement for one day, back to the books!" Mrs Lancaster yelled to the class.
Getting a few stares I joined Rivers back at our seat. "Why is she so mad?" I whispered to him.
"Augmentation is rare we don't really know much about it, only that It's powerful and can be dangerous. I think she's just worried about everyone's safety."
Understanding where she was coming from I tried to not take it personally.

The bell had rung and everyone was packing away their things.
"Lyra, I would like you to stay back," Mrs Lancaster stated in front of the few students left in the room, including Rivers.
"I'll wait outside," Rivers said as he moved around the desk.
"Oh no don't worry about it, go have lunch," I insisted.
"It wasn't a question," He said and continued to walk outside.
Waiting as the last couple students left I moved closer to the front of the classroom.
Mrs Lancaster finished whatever she was doing on the computer and came to stand in front of me. " I'm aware that you are somewhat new to being gifted but I need to report this to the head office."

Stunned I muttered out "Wait...what...why, I didn't do wrong."
"No you didn't but this much use of power needs to be discussed. You are very rare Miss Black, we need to make sure you are safe and others around you."
With a nod the phone on her desk buzzed.
"Hello Mrs Dartwood, how can I help?" She said.

Not being able to hear the other side of the conversation all I got was a couple yeses and okays. Hanging up she slid her phone into her pocket. "We are having a meeting with Mrs Dartwood now, please follow me," She stated.
With that we left the room, as she was locking up I walked over to Rivers, "Mrs Dartwood wants to see me."
"Ok, I'm coming," was all he said in reply.
"But do you think she'll allow you to be there?" I said
"Don't worry about that, let's just get there first," he said placing his hand on the small of my back leading me towards her office with Mrs Lancaster following behind.