STATIC; JR [2]

4.2

We all stood on the crowded basketball court, searching for our next water element among the mass of our peers. 

"So, how do we find them?" Jake asked, eyes squinted from the sun and nose scrunched up in confusion. I watched Felix gently tap a black pen against his notebook, appearing to be lost in a deep thought. 

Sam perked up beside Jake, crossing his arms over his broad chest expectantly. "What made you choose us for your magic family?" He questioned, peering over to the Goth. 

"Well, it wasn't an exact science." He offered, giving a light shrug in response. He turned his gaze toward the two boys, clearly only addressing them for this part of his explanation. When he continued, I understood why. "First, I had to establish your elements." 

He sought out the three boys, but Felix never looked for me; albeit I surprised him with my true power when the time came. I didn't surprise myself with it until later on. 

Jake gave a cautious mumble, not really knowing what to say. 

"It's like star signs." Felix elaborated. "Everyone is born with an elemental nature, but what I really had to find was four elements with magical potential. 

Sam nodded, showing his understanding. I knew where Felix was coming from, but it was awfully difficult to wrap my head around. Sometimes it was still tough for me to even recall that magic existed; the concept of it was just as foreign to me now as the first day I heard about it from Felix, and with so many little details involved, it was kind of hard to keep up with. 

Then, as I fell into an interested trance, Felix began to explain to us how he knew that the three boys were what he was looking for; Jake locating a kid he was bullying, Sam stopping a girl who had her nose in a book from walking into a wall without paying any real attention, and Andy who had such a pure form of intelligence that other elements just couldn't match. 

"I mean, I knew that Andy was a nerd, but this was different; and I was right. You all have magical potential." He finished, closing his diary with a small clapping sound. I noted that he seemed a little smug, and when he looked down at me, the smirk grew even wider. "Even you." He added. 

Before I could retort, Jake spoke up and lifted a careful arm up to point out what he had seen. "What about Mike?" He wondered aloud, causing all our eyes to fall on the sweet boy. He was reading underneath a tree with his backpack on the ground, alone as he usually was. 

Felix started to flick through his book, trying to pinpoint any details about the element we were looking for. "He does have a similar intelligence to Andy." The boy admitted before trailing off, staring straight ahead like something shiny had caught his dark eyes. "Lachlan!" He exclaimed, a light smile gracing his face. 

Sam's face, on the other hand, fell completely. "No!" He whined. "Not him, anyone but him." 

Jake waved his fingers absentmindedly in Sam's direction, essentially dismissing him. "You don't get much closer to water than the captain of the swim team." He mumbled, shrugging at Felix, who seemed remotely pleased. 

"Great." He said. "Now we test them." 

Just as we all started to walk off, a noise from behind stopped us; it was a girl. "Hello." She said, the word so common yet the voice who spoke it so unfamiliar. 

We all spun around to lay eyes on the girl. I had never seen her before, but I was not a very observant person, so perhaps the other boys had? 

The way she simply just stood there was terribly awkward, and her posture was definitely not that of a teenager. Her gentle smile told me that she was much too poised and proper, especially for a place like this. 

"Hi?" Jake mentioned, stepping closer casually. I hated the slight smirk that came across his features when he glanced at her; a pang of jealously shooting through me like a spark of... electricity? 

The girl's smile grew a little bit wider and then she raised a dainty hand, one finger pointing at us. "Behind you." She said, and Jake turned around just in time to catch a football that was flying directly toward his skull. Sam only jutted out of the way, but Felix and I flinched so hard we rocked into each other. 

Jake didn't bat an eyelash. 

"Good catch." She said, her lips twitching up into a playful grin. I tried not to think too much of it, but when Jake threw the football into the air and caught it again, I knew something was up; he was showing off. 

"Thanks for the heads-up." He mused, the endearing smile I loved so much now directed at this strange and random girl. 

Then I felt it again, that terrifying little spark that shot through my veins at an alarming rate. It started off in my stomach, and I shuddered as it made its way into the tips of my fingers. 

I did my best to seem inconspicuous as I inspected the pins and needles that wrenched beneath my nails, and just as I began to drop my arms again, I swear I saw them glow. 

Felix stood next to me with a puzzled and almost hurt expression. His eyes flickered down at me as Jake stuck up an actual conversation with the girl, but the sound seemed to be muted. Then, quite abruptly, Felix turned around and snatched the football out of Jake's arms and projected it in the girl's direction. She took it hesitantly as a peculiar coat overtook her features. I tossed a glance over my shoulder and saw both Trent and Dylan calling out for one of us to give their ball back. 

The girl kicked it but not towards the boys; it got carried by the wind and landed somewhere near Mike, who didn't appear to notice its falling. 

Strangely enough, then she took off without saying another word. The way she walked was also unusual, something alien I didn't really want to see again but feared I would have to. 

Felix grabbed Jake's arm roughly, tearing him away from the new girl who had caught his attention. "Come on." The boy grumbled, shoving him forward as Sam and I followed in tow. 

He thought I didn't notice, but I saw Jake turn his head to seek out the girl as he waddled along in a daze, and it tore me up inside.