The Hidden | ✅

Chapter Thirteen

"Hey there, Alex." I said, leaning on the doorframe and observing Alex, who had his now bandaged leg propped up as he lay on the bed, that I assumed was his, and played on his DS.

He looked up and a smirk grew on his face. "Hey there, Snow White. Come to get a good look at the crippled kid?"

"Nah. Just trying to pick at the idiot who got himself shot." I smirked, trying to lighten the mood a bit.

"Well I'm sorry if getting jumped by killers while trying to protect you doesn't get a guy some brownie points."

I laughed as I sat down on the floor beside the bed. I pointed to it with my thumb before asking, "Yours?"

He nodded and pointed to the bed beside his "And as nice as it would be for you to sleep in here too, Ms, Duboise doesn't allow coed rooms so Victor sleeps there."

I rolled my eyes playfully and ignored Alex's previously flirty comment before asking, "How many other rooms are there?"

"Well, Ms. Duboise likes to save lots of rooms in the house for other things like rooms to exercise in, rooms to play in, rooms to watch T.V in, etc. But if you're asking about sleeping rooms, so far she has three put aside for us, this one, which belongs to me and Victor, there's a room down the hall that Evie and Grace share, and there's the room at the end of the hallway that belongs to Hira. She's currently sleeping in a room by herself because she's the oldest, but I'll bet Ms. Duboise will put you in the room with her because you guys are one year apart." Alex said.

"Well...that's a lot of info."

"I don't want to get lost."

"Is that all?"

Alex smirked and raised an eyebrow at me. "Do you want there to be more?"

I scoffed at his words and hit his shoulder. He chuckled and held out his DS to me. "It's a little old fashioned, but do you want to play? Victor won't mind if I snatch up his." He pointed to a black DS on the dresser sitting between the two beds and I smiled, taking the one in his hand.

"Mario kart?" I asked looking at the screen. "Are you asking to beat?"

He scoffed as he powered on Victor's DS. "I could be asking you the same question."

"Oh you're on."

We sat there together and played several rounds on the game, mostly in Verses mode, the Balloon battle being our particular favorite. However, Alex was slightly better than me, getting the edge in our last contest by one point. We were just starting our next round when Victor came to the door. "Hey, guys. Ms. D said dinner is ready if you want any." He sent one of 'those' looks between me and Alex before turning on his heel and walking away.

I handed Alex his crutches with a smug look on my face before he snatched them out of my hand, sticking his tongue out at me in response.

_ _ _ _

I helped Alex hobble his way to the dining room.

Well, by help I mean I walked beside him and laughed as he dropped his crutches. Of course I picked them up for him. I wasn't a barbarian.

Becca had already left, possibly back to her usual spot, so she wasn't going to be present for dinner. When we arrived at the table, everyone was already bustling and fixing together their plates. "What do you want?" I asked Alex as he sat down.

He shrugged in response and said, "Whatever is being served."

"How helpful." I muttered.

As it turns out, Ms. Duboise had made a simple spaghetti dinner with broccoli and corn for the side dishes. I made Alex and I a plate and sat down beside him. But before I could dig in, Ms. Duboise came into the kitchen and clapped her hands very loudly to get our attention.

"Alright, children, alright! It's time to say our prayers. Link up!"

Alex offered his hand to me and I shyly took it, along with Hira's who sat on my other side. "Hira, would you lead us in grace, please?"Ms. Duboise asked.

Hira nodded before starting, "Dear heavenly father, we thank you for keeping us safe as we went throughout our day. Thank you for the food before us and bringing Alex back safe, despite his constant idiocy,"

Alex snorted.

"We also thank you for giving us Circe and letting her have the opportunity to live on to fight another day," She said, and my heart swelled. "Amen."

"Amen." Everyone, including myself, echoed. Before I knew it, the table was full of chatter and laughter. Hira nudged my leg and I turned to her as I continued to eat my spaghetti. "You know what type you are?" She asked. I knew that she was referring to my powers so I shook my head and she raised an eyebrow at me before looking back down at her plate. "After dinner, talk to Ms. Duboise and ask. Once you find out, come to me and I'll help you train to control them."

"But what if I have a power that you have no clue how to help me with? What then?"

She looked over at me and smirked, her bright blue eyes twinkling with something.

Something...strange.

"I think I will."

I jumped as Alex suddenly smacked my arm and playfully glared at me. "I called your name like five times!"

"Well, in case you're blind, as well as crippled, I was talking to her, idiot." Hira said smugly. Alex simply flipped her off, a gesture which made Ms. Duboise glower at him. Evanora lifted her hand and a cob of corn floated towards her.

"No powers at the table, Nora." Ms. Duboise said, pointing a fork of broccoli at Evanora. The girl sheepishly grinned and Victor snickered, which prompted Evanora flick a meatball at him.

Victor gasped, as if that was some high offence and threw a string of spaghetti at Evanora. She glanced at Ms. Duboise, who was paying no attention, before chucking a piece of broccoli at Victor, but he ducked and it hit Alex instead. Evanora's eyes widened as Alex smirked at the girl before picking up a piece of cornbread from his plate and tossing it at her. She opened her mouth in a silent gasp and pointed at him threateningly.

But then her eyes landed on me.

And a smug look crept onto her face.

Before I knew it, a fat ass meatball had hit me in the face. I sighed through my nose and smirked before grabbing a fistful of spaghetti and throwing it at Victor. His chocolate brown eyes widened and he cried out as it hit him in the face.

"FOOD FIGHT!" Hira yelled. And soon it was all out war! Everyone was picking up food and throwing it at one another. Even little Grace had found her way on Victor's shoulders to get in on the action.

Ms. Duboise shot up out of her seat faster than I'd ever seen her move before and slammed her hands onto the table. "ENOUGH!" She shrieked.

Everyone froze in place.

We were definitely screwed.