The Awakening

Chapter Eighteen

As we land the plane Andrew takes my hand and doesn't let go until we get to our dorms. I'm glad he doesn't to because I was afraid our extra night might cost us, but we seem to be alright. I guess everyone assumed my accident was enough to owe me one. As we walk into the dorm room I am relieved to see Emma, and the other girls all there, but I am not so relieved to see Devil. I also spot Frost, but what confuses me the most are the three other boys sitting at our table that has seemingly gotten larger.  I let go of Andrew's hand and run over to Emma.
"I was so worried about you," I tell her, giving her a hug, but she throws me off of her.
"You don't have to worry about me anymore, I don't need you," she tells me, her expression not changing.
"What?" I ask confused. "Emma are you mad at me?" I don't know what could have happened, but I know this is not the Emma I left a couple days ago. 
"She said she didn't need you," Devil snaps taking her hand, which finally makes her smile as she places her head on his shoulder. I look at the other girls for help, but they all give me the same confused look that says I have no idea. I take a step back into Andrew who places his hands on my shoulders. He moves me to the other side of the table where two seats have been saved for us.
"Alright, now that we are all here why don't we figure out what is going on," Frost says, raising his eyebrows at the three newcomers who could not look more different.
"I'm Cody," the smallest of the boys say, while I look him up, and down. He has blonde hair, green eyes, and when he smiles you can see two small dimples just below the corners of his lips. "This is Jack," he points to the boy with light brown hair, hazel eyes, and a blue bandana wrapped around his head, covering a bit of his pushed back hair. "And this is Ethan," he says pointing to the last, and tallest boy. He sits with his arms, and legs crossed. His hair is getting black, and his eyes are an icy blue that reminds me of Frost's, while his lip has been pierced, and a tattoo sleeve covers his left arm. Just looking at him gives me shivers, and I feel like he has the words bad boy written all over him in black inc. The only thing similar about these three boys is the muscles that look like they are ripping their skin, and the gemstones implanted into their chests. Cody has a white stone, Ethan has a light orange stone, and Jack has a dark purple one.
"Do you know what your powers are?" Frost asks, impatiently, like he was expecting them to give him the full story in one go.
"Obviously we know what our powers are, we have only been locked up in this prison for over a year, letting them beat us into a weapon," Ethan growls, not seeming pleased to be here. My hands start to fidget as I get nervous due to his harsh voice, ad the new people. I'm not shy, but I don't trust them just yet. Andrew seems to notice my nervousness because he puts his hand on my knees, and slowly moves his thumb back, and forth, calming me. I know he didn't grab my hand because we haven't told anyone anything about us, but I wish he had. Maybe I can talk to Emma about it later, and also figure out why she was so upset with me earlier. It's not like her to just snap at me like that. She sometimes gets frustrated, but I almost always know what is on her mind. I hate that she won't look at me, but what I hate even more is how close Devil is to her. His arm is wrapped around her shoulders, and she cuddles into him, which is something I don't see very often. She hates physical contact, even when it comes to him. Usually, she will only put her head on his shoulder, so this seems like a little much, especially seen as it is in front of everyone. I turn my focus back to Cody as he starts to speak again.
"Well, we don't really know much of what is going on. One day we were in school, and the next four of these huge men showed up in our outside phys ed class. We tried to stand up to them, to tell them to leave, but we ended up getting thrown in a car, then a plane, before getting here. Beat us up, made us into their assassins, and sent us on some missions to retrieve some weird boxes," he explains, and we all nod, understanding exactly how they must have felt.
"That happened to the five of us too, except we were called to an assembly, and Emma here got taken down, with a gun to her head, so I tried to take her place, but then these here buggers joined in, and they brought all of us here," I say, leaving out the part that it was Frost who had the gun to Emma's head. Now that I think of it, I look to Devil as he gives Frost, an evil stare. I roll my eyes, knowing that he had done nothing to stop it in the first place. I know she's my best friend, but I'm really not understanding her motives. I feel Andrew gives me knee a light squeeze, and I turn back around to look at the three new boys. They also look to be about our age. They must have been taken slightly before us if they have been here for over a year. We have been here for almost a year as well, in a couple months that is. It's crazy to think of how so much has changed.
"I'm gonna start dinner," I mumble, not wanting to sir in the past anymore. "Emma wants to help?" I smile, but she only gives me a blank stare, like she didn't even hear what I have said to her.  "Emma?" I try again, and I see one of the muscles in her face flinch, but Devin snaps his fingers in front of her eyes, and she goes back into a blank stare.
"She doesn't want to be around you," he hisses again, and I look at him in disbelief.
"Hey, you can't tell her what to do, that's my best friend you asshole," I snap back at him, and Emma flinches again at the sound of my voice, but it doesn't last.
"I don't want to be around you," she questions as Devil takes her hand in his own.
"Emma..." I whisper, and out of the corner of my eye, I can see how shocked the girl's faces are.
"I don't-" she stutters a bit. "I can't be around you," she gets out before returning to a blank stare, and I know by the way the light in her eyes disappeared after she was so particular with her words that something is wrong.
"I'll help you, Ella," Andrew interjects, sensing the tears that are wanting to fall. I just nod, and turn away as he comes over, places his hand on my back, and gives me a soft kiss on the top of my head. It makes me feel slightly better but seeing this the tires one more time.
"He is obviously the weakest one here, we could take him," he says, which makes me laugh. He seems pleased that he was able to make me smile, so he pulls me into the kitchen, and I search through the fridge.
"Ooh, let's do chicken fried rice," I say, pulling out the chicken, peas, and corn that is lying on the top shelf on the fridge. He nods in agreement, and we get to work. I make Andrew cook the rice because I don't want to burn it, and every once and a while he will come up behind me, wrap his arms around my waist, and place his head on top of mine. I guess if they didn't clue in before they have now, I think, mixing some spices into the chicken I am cooking. Once it is done Andrew backs off to pour it in the pan, along with the peas, and corn. We have to dig through the fridge until we find the soya sauce, but once we do, we drizzle it slowly onto the rice, making sure not to put on too much. Sophie and Kate set the table while, Andrew brings the food over to the table, placing it on a tea towel that I have laid out. It smells good, so I hope it tastes good too, and when I try it I am not disappointed. Everyone has a second bowl, so I'm guessing it was good, but once it's done Emma leaves the table to get ready for bed. Devil follows her around like a lost puppy on the streets. This annoys me, but even though my turn is supposed to be first I wait until Emma is done before hopping in myself.
"Want me to join you?" Andrew asks slyly, walking up behind me, and slowly moving his hand down my waist.
"Not today," I answer back, and he nods. Nothing against him, I really just want some time to myself, and the shower is one of the only places I'm going to get it. I strip, and turn the water hot, allowing the steam to touch my body before stepping all the way in. It's nice here. There is no noise, or chatter, just me, and my thoughts. I think about many things like my last mission, and how I almost die, hoe strange Emma is acting, and lastly, I think about Andrew. Even though I know I shouldn't I know in my heart I am falling in love with him. Everything from his dreamy eyes, to his soft voice, gives me butterflies. He makes me feel so strong, and weak at the same time, the also makes me feel safe. There's something about the way his body feels wrapped around me, his muscles tight, and his heart strong. I feel safer in those small moments. I feel like I can finally let my guard down for just a second, and if anything were to happen, he would be there, protecting me. Once my head is clear, I step back out, dry myself off, and throw on some pyjamas. I see Andrew and Frost sitting on the couch, while Jane and Jack do the dishes, and everyone else must be in their rooms because I can't see them. That is until Sophie comes out of our room to take her turn in the shower. I walk over to Andrew, not worry about my damp, knotted hair, and sit next to him. He doesn't complain about the water, and instead instinctively puts his arm around me, and I feel that safe part of him again.
"Andrew?" I whisper in his ear. "Can you leave your door open tonight? I don't know if I'm going to be able to sleep," I admit to him, and he pulls me slightly closer.
"Of course," he promises, giving me another soft kiss on the head. I like that he doesn't always go for my mouth. I think it's cute that he does these small things, it makes me feel happy, and I can take all the happiness I can get.
"So what's up with you, and Emma?" Frost asks, seeming genuinely interested.
"I don't know," I admit sadly. "When she left everything was fine, but now I don't know what to do. I can't just pretend like everything's okay because it isn't, but how am I supposed to reach her? She is in such a weird state," I tell them, and they take all f my words in.
"Are you sure nothing happened between you two? I mean, I know you were super close and stuff, but nothing?" Frost questions and I can see he is really trying his best to help.
"No, nothing. It's so weird, but you were on the mission Andrew, did you see anything off?" I turn to him, hoping for something to go off of.
"I didn't notice much, I left before we really got into anything, and I didn't really know them before as you did," he tells me, and I can see he is upset for not being much help.
"Oh, well I guess I should get to bed, it's been a long day," I say, standing up, but Andrew pulls me back down for a light kiss goodnight. When I get into our dorm I notice that Emma is already asleep, so it doesn't surprise me when her hand hasn't been hanging down in between the bed. I'm starting to miss her though. It's weird how someone can be so close but so far at the same time. She is right next to me, but I can't quite seem to reach her. I close my eyes, and eventually, I fall to sleep.