Talented (On Hold)

Chapter Fifteen

This chapter is dedicated to ms.greenowl for her...emotional...comment. 

Chapter Fifteen

“Hey, have you seen Alina?” Kaolin asked Zack.

Zack was confused. “Didn’t she come back to class? I know she skipped gym, but I thought that was because she didn’t want to deal with Connor.”

It was after class, and Kaolin, Zack and Gage were standing in the garden. Connor wasn’t there, probably sensing that they were all still mad at him. Scientia was perched on Kaolin’s shoulder.

“I thought so too, but I have math with her, and she didn’t come, even though Conner’s not in that class.”

Zack was getting worried. “Has anyone seen her since she ran off?”

“I don’t think so.” Gage said.

Kaolin spotted a boy walking across the grass. “Hey, I have an idea. Jay!” She called.

“Yes?” The younger boy ran over, his backpack bouncing against his back.

“We can’t find Alina. Do you mind helping us find her?” Kaolin asked.

Jay’s face brightened. “Sure!” Jay was very grateful toward Alina and her friends for saving his friend Lucy, and had been looking for a way to repay them. Suddenly the air around Jay seemed to waver, and suddenly two Jays stood there, then four, then six, as some of the them split into more.  

“Do you think this is enough?” All the Jays said. “I can only make six so far.” Jay was a duplicator. 

“That’s great, Jay.” Zack said. “Do you think you guys can search the school and meet us back here in half an hour?”

“Yes!” The Jays said. Then they all ran off.

Zack turned to Kaolin. “Great idea, enlisting Jay. His Talent will be really helpful. I’m going to look in the library. Gage, will you take a look from the air? And Kaolin, will you check Alina’s room? We’re probably worried about nothing.”

At that moment, Connor walked over. “Hey, what’s going on?”

Kaolin glared at him. “We can’t find Alina anywhere.”

Connor frowned. “Well, she’s probably off sulking.”

“No, Alina doesn’t sulk. You might, but she doesn’t.” Kaolin replied.

Zack stepped in between them. “Stop it.” He said to Kaolin. “Let Alina deal with him when we find her.” He then turned to Connor. “Will you swallow your pride and help us look? It might be nothing, but we still want to check.”

“Hey.” Gage said suddenly. “Don’t we want to check the woods? Alina goes there when she’s upset.”

“I’ll do it.” Connor muttered.

“I will help as well.” Scientia told Kaolin. “Let the bird-girl check the forest by air, while the beast-boy goes by foot. I will check the rest of the schoolyard.”

Kaolin relayed her message to the others, and they agreed Scientia’s plan was smart. All of them set off.

            “Alina?” Kaolin called, knocking on the door. “Alina? Are you in there?” There was no answer from inside. She pushed open the door. The room was empty. No one was there, and it looked like Alina had not come back to her room at all that day. At that moment, Kaolin’s cellphone rang in her pocket. She pulled it out. “Hello?”

“Hey, you said you’d call me at 4:00, and it’s 4:45 already!” Kaya’s playfully irritated voice echoed in Kaolin’s ear.

Kaolin sighed. She had hoped that it was Alina, calling to explain where she was, but it was nice to hear Kaya’s voice. They had been calling each other frequently. ”Yeah, I know, and I’m really sorry. We’re kind of busy here.”