Talented (On Hold)

Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

Alina sat on a bench in the sun, watching the other kids. Class was out for the day, and because it was Friday, she had no homework to do. Conner walked up to her.

“Go away.” Alina said. “How do I make it more clear that I don’t want to talk to you, ever?”

“This isn’t about me.” Connor replied.

“Go bug someone else, Conner.”

“Look, Zack is really miserable without any of you talking to him. Do you think you could forgive him?” Conner said quickly, nervous that Alina would just brush him off with a no.

“I’m not the one you have to convince. I’m not angry with him. I’m only angry with you.”

“Wait, you’re not? Who do I have to convince, then?” Conner was confused.

“Kaolin’s the one who’s mad at him. Convince her. Wait, no, scratch that, Zach has to convince her.”

“Why?”

“Because Kaolin won’t accept an apology from you, but she will accept one from Zack.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because he’s the one that screwed up, in her eyes. Of course, we both know that it was you…”

“Thanks.” Conner said sarcastically.

“Now, if you’re done, I’m leaving.” Alina stood up and began to walk toward the cliff. Conner followed her. Alina leaned on the wall that blocked off the cliff and looked at the beach far below. A few kids were there, but not many.  The sight of the waves always calmed her down. Her house when she was little was near the water, she remembered. Her parents used to take her to play on the beach. The memory was both happy and sad. Alina turned away and noticed Connor. “What are you, a dog? Stop following me!”

“I’m not following you.” He lied. “Just looking at the water.”

“Yea right.” She said. “I give up. You can stay, but shut up and leave me alone.”

She watched a girl and a boy arguing. They looked like they were in about seventh grade, the girl with straight brown hair, the boy with black hair. They were so close Alina could here every word.

“Can too!” The girl said.

“Can not.” The boy said and laughed. “You can’t do more than hover.”

“Yes I can!” She yelled back.

“Prove it.” He smiled.

“Fine.” She climbed onto the wall.

“Lucy, wait-“ He cried, suddenly panicked.

She jumped. For a moment she hung in the air. “I’m doing it!” She yelled. “Woo-hoo!” She flew in a loop. Halfway through she lost her concentration and began to fall. She screamed as she plummeted toward the beach far bellow.

“Lucy!” The boy screamed.

Alina thrust out her arm with her eyes tightly closed. She twisted her hand. Below her, Lucy stopped falling. She kept crying.

“Conner.” Conner heard Alina’s voice in his mind. “Get help.” She sounded in his head just like he did in real life, just sharper and clearer.

“Can’t you just bring her back up?” He said out loud, not sure he could send a message back to her mentally.

“Not…strong enough. Only strong enough to hold her in one place. Now go!”