The Next Generation

Chapter 25 - Kas

When Zara came down the ladder, her tear-streaked face expressionless, with Charlie behind her, I silently cursed Ethan. Did he take pride in hurting people like this? I couldn't take it. I was just fed up with him, but I realized that if I screamed at him, I'd be no different from everyone else who had done the same in his lifetime. He'd had enough trauma, and as much as I disliked him right now, I couldn't do that to him.

So instead, I bided my time, and, around two hours later, when Zara woke up from her nap, I rushed over to her.

"Hey, you okay?" I asked, concerned. I didn't see any physical injuries, even though she did have slightly puffy lips, from kissing, I guess, but overall, she still looked cute. Now, before you go all, Kas, you like Zara?! Or like, Kas, you're lesbian/bisexual/pansexual?! I'll explain. Zara is cute in general, and I could see why Ethan, (and the majority of the other boys at camp) liked her, she's a beautiful person, and, I must admit, I did have the smallest crush on her. I'm sure all boys and girls like me did too. But, as I got to know her, I started to fade out of my crush. She was cute, sure, but a little too edgy for me, quiet in kind of a brooding way. And yes, I'm bisexual. I do suggest you support lgbtqa+, it's an amazing community. Anyways, I tried to smile reassuringly, but she looked away, breaking eye contact. I sighed.

"Come here," Grabbing her hand, I lead her to the nearest bathroom, where I shut the door and locked it. I heard a scuffle from outside, and rolled my eyes. "Stand back," I told her, and as she hoisted herself up to the sink, I gave myself a running start, and rammed into the door. Judging from the yell and a thump on the ground, I assumed that whoever had been eavesdropping had fallen onto the carpet outside. I opened the door to find Ethan, sprawled on the floor, his hair messy. I scowled. "I hope you know that you're not helping your situation right now," I growled uncharacteristically. I heard C.J whistle under his breath,

"So the bookworm's got an attitude," I glared at him, and shutting the door, I sighed.
"Sorry, I just get fed up sometimes," She sniffled, and looked away. I rolled my eyes. "Yes, the bookworm has an attitude. You're going to have to deal with it if-"

"No, it's not that," She said weakly. "Did you kiss Ethan on purpose?" Dang. Why did it have to be that? I ran a hand through my hair, before turning on the sink and washing them. Who knows what kind of germs there are in here? I sighed. "Zara, Ethan's a great guy, but I don't like him. I don't think I ever will, honestly," I turned off the sink and leaned against the wall. "Why? Do you still have feelings for that jerk?" Zara put her head in her hands.
"I-I don't know," She admitted softly. "I just don't know what to do right now, what move I should make," I blinked. I was like this not a few hours ago, just venting to Sammy, though whereas I seemed to get mad when things like this happen, Zara seemed to get depressed. I crouched down next to her, and took her hands away from her face gently, staring into her blue-greyish eyes, hidden behind locks of flaming hair and glasses.

"You know what you need to do?" I said, continuing when she was silent, leaning in. "You need to stop stressing about boys. We're on a quest to save the world as we know it, and I can't blame you, I was depressed when the whole.... Thing.... happened, but you just need to take your mind off guys. Give them a break. Get a distraction," I realized how close our faces were and pulled away, blushing.

She really was cute, with flyaway strands of curly red hair, pale skin with slight freckles, and scrutinizing eyes were really beautiful, her full lips pulled into a frown as she cocked her head.

"Wait, are you lesbian?" She asked, squinting. I suddenly inhaled. Oh gods, I swear if she's a homophobic-

"No, I'm bi," I replied suspiciously. "Why?" She shook her head, almost... frightened? I wasn't frightened. I cocked my head, and repeated,
"Why?"

"Oh, I was just wondering...." She trailed off, and I blushed, quick to change the subject.

"Uh, I think I know what we can do!" She frowned yet again, looking confused. "To get your mind off boys," I finished, and her mouth curved into an o. I smiled, slightly. C'mon, follow me!"

**

"Why the heck are we on the roof?!" Zara shouted over the wind of us driving across the highway. I grinned, and, checking the sun, my smile widened. I was a sunny day, not a cloud in the sky, which wasn't an exaggeration, and where there was light, there was shadows. I saw Zara shaking and remembered this was where the whole fight with Ethan happened. I was so inconsiderate about that. Stupid, stupid, stupid. I calmed myself down. We would be off in a minute.

"Ok, so, I've tried this with light, and I assume it's the same with shadows. Close your eyes and take my hands," We took each other's hands, Zara a little slowly, as if I could suddenly kill with my bisexual touch. I rolled my eyes. "I'm no different from an hour ago, Zara," She nodded, but hesitantly. I willed myself to calm as I began to speak, channeling the beating rays of sunlight.
"Feel the shadows. Feel them cooling your back, the opposite of sunlight, lurking in dark corners, the reason there are dark corners, and take them, harness them, shape them into something new, take them by the horns. Feel the coldness and embrace it, and don't stop until you're the master, not them," I took my energy and harnessed the sun, calling down it's heat and rays, shaping them into what I wanted. It was easy now, since I'd been working with them for years, but as I opened my eyes, and saw my me-sized songbird, my favorite animal (His name is Jeremey), I could see Zara was struggling, the shadows blob, and breaking off and scattering by the second. "Focus, don't let them win. If they win, they drag you under. And you won't come back," She gripped my hands tighter, and grinned as the shadows largened, absorbing every other slit of darkness smaller than it, before a huge nightingale burst from the weird substance, a little smaller then Jeremy, and landed next to us, the two birds giving each other the stink eye. I smiled, and let go of Zara's hands. She gasped at the two birds, before noticing my smirk.

"I wasn't really going to get pulled under, was I?" She asked skeptically. To tell you the truth, you wouldn't be, but this was the exercise that my nine caretakers used on me, until I could control it. Zara needed a little work, but she was really good and quick.

Hopping onto Jeremy's back, I stroked his glowing feathers as he chirped. I gestured to Zara to get on Harold. Yes, his name was Harold now. She did, still looking for an answer to her question. I smiled mysteriously, before tugging my beanie closer on my head and taking off with a swoosh.

"I GUESS YOU'LL HAVE TO FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF!!"