Silver Cresecent Academy

11. The decision.

I can't do it. I can't risk it. Hurrying down the corridor, I felt the tears start to build in my eyes.
"Ali! Ali, wait!" I heard Alex call after me. He must have followed me out of the room.
"I'm fine, Alex. I just gotta be alone." I called back, still walking away from the office.
"Ali! Come on, talk to me." He shouted softly. "Let me help." I stopped walking and swiftly turned around. Facing Alex but still far enough away.
"You can't. No one can. And it's fine, I'm okay." I said shakily, fighting the tears threatening to spill. "I'm fine."
"No you're not, Ali. If you're fine, then you can do this."
"I don't want to do this!" I screamed, more frustrated at myself for crying. "I can't do it, okay? And I won't." I sobbed.
"You ca-" Alex started.
"I can't. I know I can't. So please just leave me alone." I said quietly, before turning around and walking away. And this time Alex didn't follow me.

************************************
Later that night, when everyone else in my dorm block was asleep, I snuck out of the building. I walked around for awhile, and tried to clear my head. I felt guilty for shouting at Alex. He was only trying to help me. He believed in me and my powers. I'm just so scared of finding out something I don't want to know. I can't risk it.
I found myself at the doors of the cafeteria. Slowly pushing them open, I noticed someone sat alone in the back corner. Their back was facing me so they didn't see me enter the large room. I made my way across the room and stood motionless behind the man.
"I know you're there, Ali." He said without looking back at me. "Come sit." Rounding the table I sat on the opposite side. That's when I noticed that the man was Alex's brother, Nick.
"How do you know my name?" I felt the words leave my mouth without even thinking about it.
"People talk." He shrugged. "So what's wrong with you?" He looked up and met my eyes.
"Nothing's wrong with me." I looked down, not able to lie and keep eye contact. "Why do you ask?" I questioned.
"Well, firstly you're all pouty and sad." He said. "And secondly, you stormed out of that office faster than lightning as soon as you were told you didn't have to do the training." He raised his eyebrows in question.
"I don't know what to do. I feel like I'm disappointing everyone." I spoke, more to myself than the man in front of me.
"How about you forget everyone else and do what you want to do." He said, like it was the most obvious option in the world.
"I can't."
"Then do the training."
"I can't." I sighed.
"All I'm hearing is can't ,can't, can't. What exactly can you do?" He asked. I laughed at this statement. I don't know why but the fact of the matter was he was right. I was scared and just looking for a way out. And missing out on an amazing opportunity and something I really wanted to do because of my fear.
"I'm scared." I said quietly, regretting saying it as soon as the words left my mouth. No doubt Nick would just laugh and tell me to get over it. But to my surprise I saw his face soften. As did his voice when he spoke.
"What are you scared of?"
"The truth." I muttered. Nick's face displayed his confusion, so I explained. "When I was younger my father was sent to battle. He had to leave me with my aunt. He was gone for weeks and weeks. And long story short, he never came back. We received a telegraph to say he was missing, and he was being looked for." I sighed. "That was nine years ago. I don't want to do this thing, and get too involved and find out,that he wasn't missing and that he died. Or that he ran away and left me. I don't want to know. I'm fine with just hoping and praying that one day he will come back. And I know how stupid and naive it is, but I can't help it. I'm scared, okay? I'm terrified." The tears started to fall from my eyes again and I quickly reached up and wiped them away.
"Hey, it's okay." Nick spoke softly. "You know you don't have to be scared. The truth always hurts. But what if you don't do this? You'll regret it. And what if you do this and find your father alive and waiting for you. There are so many 'what ifs', Ali. You just gotta go for."
"You're right. I'm sorry." I said. "You didn't need to see me crying like a baby." Using my shirt sleeve I wiped my eyes again.
"It's cool. I mean, girls are usually drooling over me so I'm used to the wetness." This comment made me smile and let out a small giggle.
"You're not as much of an ass, as you say you are." I said, standing up
"I'll take that as a compliment." He joked, winking at me as I walked out of the cafeteria and back to my dorm.
NICK'S POV:
I watched the door swing back on its hinges as Ali left the cafeteria. God, she was beautiful. Those big brown eyes were gorgeous and luring. But they also held so much pain and hurt deep inside. Her face was soft and delicate, her body matched. She dressed very understated but still managed to catch every guys eye in this school. Including my little brothers. That's why I had to stay away from her. I couldn't have her, I didn't deserve someone like that. So pure and good.
And I can't do that to my brother again. He may hate me, with good reason too, but I don't hate him. So I'll stay away from Ali, and occupy my time with someone else.
************************************
That next morning, I bumped into Ali again. I was walking into the headmasters office to tell him I was in, that I would join the team, when I saw Ali leaving the office.
"Woah, someone's in a rush." I said, stopping in front of Ali as she was rushing out the door. She stopped and looked at me, with those big gorgeous brown eyes.
"Oh...hi." She muttered looking down.
"Do you mind?" I gestured to the door, silently asking her to move in the most dick-ish way possible. I have to be horrible.
"Oh...yeah sorry." She stuttered, stepping to the side and allowing me to go through the door. But before I could enter, I heard Ali speak again. "Hey...er..thanks for last night. I-I've decided to do it." She said nervously. "Join the team, I mean."
"That's great." I said with a small tug of a smile at my lips, acting like i couldn't care less, before closing the door on her face. Good job at being a dick, Nick.
ALI'S POV:
I stood facing the closed door, shocked. What a jerk. He was so sweet last night while I was upset. And when I try to thank him, he becomes a dick again. 'Forget about him, Ali' I thought to myself. 'Go find Alex and apologised.' So I did.
I found myself stood facing another closed door, only this one was Alex's dorm door. I knocked and waited for someone to answer. To my slight disappointment, Mace was the one who opened the door.
"Oh it's you." I muttered without thinking.
"Thanks Ali. Lovely to see you too." Mace uttered jokingly.
"Sorry. I was hoping Alex was here."
"Oh Alex is out on the track field, practising." Mace said.
"I thought we weren't allowed to practise our powers." I questioned.
"Your not supposed to, but pretty much everyone tries to. Most get caught but Alex hasn't yet." He explained.
"Oh well, when he's back can you let him know I need to speak to him?" I asked.
"Sure, I'll tell him." Mace said about to shut the door but I spoke before he could.
"Oh! And I'm gonna do it. The training, the team. I'm gonna do it"
This caused mace to stop closing the door and look at me surprised.
"Really? Wow that's great. I'm sure you'll be amazing. The whole team will."
"I hope so"