“You need a hobby,” Hailey grumbles, puffing her pink-and-blue bangs out of her eyes.
“Hot boys are my hobby,” Lauren shoots back. “Speaking of hot boys, where’s your boyfriend, Mel?”
I just shrug. I’m too tired to care. I’m dating Emmet Winterbourne. He’s rich, the captain of our basketball team, and the star of the water polo team. That’s Emmet for you.
It’s not common for a senior, especially one as popular as Emmet, to notice a sophomore. But for some reason, he likes me.
The Winterbournes are old money and well-respected. He’s from the right family and perfect for me, or so says Mom. When he kept asking me out four months ago, Mom told me to say yes, so I did.
“I think he’s with the team, cleaning up the mess they made at John Winston High,” I tell Lauren, leaning on her as we climb the few steps to the main entrance.
John Winston High is a bigger school than ours. It’s a public high school and our biggest rival. Despite having more money and better facilities, we lost the last championship to them.
The rivalry escalated after our loss. The teams started playing pranks on each other. At first, it was just stealing flags or hanging up banners and making fun of each other.
Now it involves fights and property damage. Last night, I heard that our team dumped garbage all over their gym and spray-painted the walls.
“They started early this morning and will probably be there through lunch and after school. I think the coaches have had enough, no matter how much money their families donate to the school,” I explain.
“No offense, but your boyfriend is an idiot,” Hailey declares.
“None taken,” I tell her. Emmet’s not too bad, but he can be a bit snobby and an idiot at times.
“All boys are idiots, especially hot ones,” Lauren adds. “That’s a given.”
“Speaking of idiots, where’s that lovely sister of yours?” Hailey never hides her opinion that Luella is an idiot too.
I spot Luella’s robin’s-egg-blue Miata next to a white Mercedes and a red Audi, but I don’t see her. She, her friend Jesse, and a few other girls usually hang out near Emmet’s group of friends.
On mornings like this, they’re usually near where Emmet parks his car or if they’re inside, they would all be in front of Emmet’s locker. Right now, I’m not surprised that Emmet’s silver GT Roadster isn’t here.
The moment we step inside Belfountain Academy, I feel it—a strange energy in the air, making me buzz in response. I look around but I don’t see anything unusual.
Luella and Jesse are standing just outside the office door, talking about something. She glares at Hailey as we walk past. “What are you looking at, freak?” she snaps at Hailey.
I think the one person Luella hates more than me is Hailey, and the feeling is mutual. I don’t remember if they ever fought over anything specific, but Luella and Hailey have been enemies for as long as I can remember.
Hailey smirks and says, “I thought I was looking at a donkey’s ass, but then I realized it’s just your face.”
Oh my God! I face-palm, and Lauren bursts out laughing. Luella gasps. Her face quickly turns bright red with anger.
I grab both Hailey and Lauren by the arm and drag them away before Luella recovers and comes up with a comeback.
Not that I think Luella will ever let this go. I’m sure she’ll come up with something when she catches up with us later.
When we reach my locker, I take a deep breath and lean against the cool metal, exhausted. The initial surge of energy that I felt is now gone, and fatigue and pain seep through my body like poison.
I don’t understand what’s happening.
“I’m sorry I insulted your sister again, Mel, but she started it!” says Hailey.
She probably thinks I’m upset about what just happened as I stand there in silence. I’m actually wondering if I can make it through the day.
“Real mature, Hails,” says Lauren. “Not that I don’t think it’s funny.”
“And are you really sorry?” I ask Hailey. My lips curve up into a grin that I can’t hide.
“No. Not really,” answers Hailey honestly, after a pause.
“I don’t think you are, either,” I say as I push myself off the locker to unlock it. I transfer the books from my bag into the locker slowly while Hailey throws everything into hers haphazardly.
While my locker is neat, Lauren’s is cute, and Hailey’s is a disaster.
“Oh, ummm…wow,” Lauren breathes.
I turn to look at Lauren who’s standing beside me like a statue. Hailey is also staring at something behind me without blinking, which is rare for Hailey.
I suddenly notice that the hallway has grown quieter than normal. I follow her gaze to two tall figures striding confidently down the hallway. It’s clear, even from here, that they’re unusually handsome.
Easily the most attractive boys I’ve ever seen. No wonder everyone is staring.
One has messy, raven-black hair that contrasts greatly with his very fair skin. From where I’m standing, I can see his prominent high cheekbones, sharp angular jaw, perfectly straight nose, and full red lips.
Something is happening to me as I gaze at him. I’m drawn to him, but it’s not just because of his good looks; it’s something else. The energy in me is pulsating, barely contained.
I have to tear my eyes away from him to study the other one next to him who also has fair, flawless skin, but his hair is very pale ash-blond with light golden streaks.
His features are sharp, his hair slicked back from his handsome face, a few golden strands falling over his thick eyebrows. There’s a glow about them, an otherworldly aura that makes them seem out of place. The air around them crackles with energy, growing stronger as they approach.
When they’re about ten feet away, the black-haired one stumbles. The energy within me surges, wild and uncontrollable. He looks around, his gaze meeting mine. His eyes are electric blue, bluer than the sky. A white-hot spark shoots through me, zapping my fingertips. I clench my hands and hide them behind my back.
His eyebrows furrow in confusion before he dismisses me with a glance. He turns to his blond friend.
His friend gives him a questioning look, his bright green eyes scanning the crowd before they continue their walk.
As they pass, I notice the black-haired one has his arm around Luella. He’s looking at her as if she’s the only one who exists.
A wave of red-hot fury surges through me, blistering energy shooting from my body to my fingers. I’m shaking, struggling to contain it.
“Excuse me.” I rush to the nearest restroom, leaving Hailey and Lauren calling after me.
The restroom is empty, probably because the bell has already rung. I hold out my hands. They’re shaking.
White lights flicker between my fingertips, zapping and angry—like they’re snapping at each other. I don’t know how lights can seem angry, but they do.
I close my eyes, trying to control my emotions and the raging energy. Why am I feeling this way? Why is that boy affecting me so much? Why do these two boys seem so different from everyone else?
A low, sinister laugh echoes around the empty restroom. My eyes fly open. The overhead lights flicker. I grab my bag and run out without looking back.
I don’t want to see, and I don’t want to know, what kind of creature laughs like that. I avoid restrooms for a reason.
“Where were you?” Hailey asks as soon as I join her at the lunch table. Lauren leans in closer, waiting for my answer.
After the restroom, I went to see the nurse. I told her I needed to lie down because I wasn’t feeling well.
She offered to call my parents, but I told her they were away and that I didn’t think it was serious. She left me alone after taking my temperature.
I’m sure my parents will hear about it later, but I’ll deal with my mom when I have to.
“I was at the nurse’s office.” The truth is, I don’t trust myself around my classmates when I can’t control my energy. I know I could hurt people; I just don’t know how badly, and I don’t want to find out.
“Are you feeling okay now?” Lauren asks, looking concerned.
“I’m fine now. Just a bit tired, that’s all.” I place my tray next to Hailey’s.
Our lunch table feels empty and oddly quiet today since Emmet and his friends aren’t here.
Hailey is sitting next to me while Lauren is sitting across from me, next to CeeCee and Georgina. CeeCee and Georgina are dating Emmet’s friends.
“I was worried when you didn’t show up for history,” Hailey says. We have world history first period. “Did you know the new students are in our history class?”
“Oh, you’re so lucky!” Georgina exclaims.
“I know, right?” CeeCee agrees. “So, I heard the dark-haired boy’s name is Ruen and the blond’s name is Finley. Both of them are so hot. I swear, if any of them wanted me, I’d leave Remy in a heartbeat.”
Remy is her boyfriend.
“Better not let Remy hear you say that,” Lauren warns.
I feel the same energy I felt this morning spike again before Hailey snickers. “Well, I hate to break it to you, CeeCee, but it looks like they’re already taken.”
She’s staring at the table in front of us, where Luella and her friends usually sit.
Luella, the two new boys, and her best friend, Jesse, are carrying their trays to the table. Luella can’t take her eyes off the boys, and they’re giving her all their attention.
Jesse looks like a third, or rather fourth, wheel, trailing behind them like a lost puppy. None of them, not even Luella, are talking to her or even sparing her a glance.
They put their trays on the table and Luella sits on Ruen’s lap. His eyes, bluer than the sky, are locked on her green ones.
“I’m not feeling well again,” I tell my friends. “Excuse me.” I get up and rush out of the lunchroom.
I’m in a restroom stall, leaning against the wall as angry sparks shoot out from not only my fingertips but my entire body—burning, scorching my skin. This has never happened before.
I hear rustling sounds in another stall and a giggle that doesn’t sound human. I bang my head against the wall. God, I hate restrooms! But I can’t be near anyone or let anyone see me like this.
Lunchtime is almost over, and I already missed a class this morning. I can’t miss another one, or they’ll call my parents right away.
The bell rings, signaling the end of lunch. The sparks that have been tormenting me slowly fade, leaving me feeling drained.
Suddenly, a thick, green puddle of liquid begins to spread across the blue bathroom tiles, seeping from the neighboring stall into mine. Tiny tendrils of smoke rise from it.
The stench of urine, amplified tenfold, fills the air and I gag. It’s inching closer to my polished black shoes. No, no, no… I back away, fumbling with the stall lock.
The giggling grows louder, more unhinged—something is apparently hilarious. As soon as I manage to unlock the door, I bolt.
“Your work is coming along beautifully, Melissa,” my art teacher, Ms. Collins, comments.
“The vibrancy of the flowers really pops, creating a sense of excitement and drawing the eye in, while the foggy hills in the background add a dreamy quality,” she continues. “Well done.”
She moves on to the next student, and Hailey leans over to examine my painting from behind her own canvas.
“Even though it’s not really my style, I have to admit it looks amazing. You’re really talented, Mel. I wish I could step right into your painting,” Hailey says.
“No, the painting is all wrong again. It doesn’t do the real thing justice. The actual place is so much better. So much better.”
I scowl at the painting. It’s frustrating that I can’t seem to capture the image or even a fraction of the feeling this place stirs in me.
“You mean this place is real?” Hailey asks.
The grass is a vivid green—the greenest you’ve ever seen. The air is sweet with the scent of flowers. There’s a lake with water so clear it seems bottomless, yet you can see right through it.
Mountains rise up on the other side of the lake, but the clouds hang so low that their peaks are hidden. Sometimes the fog is so thick, the mountains vanish completely.
Everything is breathtakingly beautiful; it’s beyond words.
Last week, I used pastels to depict the same scene. The week before that, it was acrylics. In the weeks prior, I filled sketchbook after sketchbook with it. Each time, I was left feeling frustrated.
Today, I’m working with watercolors. Maybe next time I’ll try oils. Maybe one day I’ll be able to capture it. Maybe one day, I’ll stop feeling this overwhelming sense of longing, emptiness…and stop feeling so trapped.
I return to an empty house. My parents are out. Madison is spending the night at a friend’s house. I’m not sure where Luella is, but she’s not home yet. Mrs. McEwan, our housekeeper and cook, hasn’t arrived either.
Exhausted. I’m so worn out and weak that I crawl all the way to the kitchen. Maybe I’ll just lie down on the kitchen floor until morning.
