Everyone in the group was chattering away, but every now and then, Rose would shoot me these glances. Ugh, her staring was really getting on my nerves. Just stop, please. And then, as if on cue, she gave me one more look. I couldn't take it anymore, so I looked back at her.
"What's up?" I whispered, trying to figure out what was going on.
She hesitated for a moment, clearing her throat before speaking. "Well, it's just... hmph," she began, her voice softening. "I still don't like you, but thanks for the fries. And, um, sorry about... you know, being rude when I tripped and fell on you" she whispered back.
Wait, hold on. Was she actually apologizing? That's not something I'm used to hearing. "But get use to fighting in such anyways" rose hummed.
I looked at her with a raised eyebrow and she proceeded with her explanation.
"Well, you see, for the entrance exams to get into the school, they require us to showcase our magical abilities. But once you're actually in the school, there's a lot of sparring and physical contact involved," she clarified.
"Hmm, that's interesting," I responded, raising an eyebrow. "Can I ask what your magical ability is?" I looked at her with a questioning expression, hoping for an answer. She only smirked in response.
"You'll find out," she said mischievously, booping my nose playfully before returning to the conversation with Alex, Nate, and Leah. I was left speechless, trying to process what just happened. Did she really just boop my nose? What the actual...?
Alright, everyone, get ready! It was like a scene straight out of a movie. A commanding male voice echoed through the entire venue, announcing the start of the tryouts. The excitement in the air was palpable, and it was contagious. Alex couldn't contain his enthusiasm as he sprang to his feet, grabbing Leah's wrist and pulling her along. Not wanting to be left out, Leah reached for Nate's hand, and in a chain reaction, Rose grabbed mine.
My heart skipped a beat as our hands connected. I glanced at Rose, feeling a slight blush creeping up my cheeks. She turned her head, her high braided ponytail swaying gently in the breeze. And then, she winked at me. My mind went blank for a moment, caught off guard by her playful gesture.
In that split second, I couldn't help but wonder what her wink meant. Was it just a friendly gesture, or did it hold a deeper meaning? I couldn't deny the flutter of excitement that surged through me. It was as if a door had opened, revealing a world of possibilities. Little did I know that this small moment would be the catalyst for something much bigger, something that would change the course of our lives forever.
"Now let's go kick some ass emo", rose smirked. Oh, she definitely had a bit of a teasing edge to her voice when she called me out, labeling me an "emo" and challenging me to toughen up, all with that playful smirk.
But here's the deal, it's just... odd for me. I'm not accustomed to this kind of interaction plus so quickly? I don't get how people just make 'friends'. See, growing up, it was always Alex and me. We'd spar, grapple, and it was all good because he's like a brother to me. But this? With someone else, and a girl no less, it throws me off balance. It's an unfamiliar dynamic, and I'm still trying to wrap my head around it.
And speaking of being thrown off, my mind was so wrapped up in these thoughts that I completely missed the moment we stepped into the ring. That's when Nate let out a sigh, lamenting about the long wait ahead to demonstrate our abilities to the teacher. His groan snapped me back to reality, and that's when I saw it. We were not just the last group to make it, but I was the ultimate straggler, the very last one in line. Great. Just what I needed. I mean, it's one thing to be first and have everyone's curiosity, but last? That's when the pressure's on, and all eyes are on you, expecting something grand. I really hope it doesn't turn out to be a spectacle. I'm not exactly the type who enjoys being the center of attention.
"hey you ok emo...you look kinda pale", a familiar annoying voice said....it was rose....
"yes just thinking", i said ignoring the emo part, while i looked and saw that it already began and guess who the first person was....hm any guesses....yep its danny the jock/bully. It's like he's got a VIP pass to always be the center of attention.
i looked over to see Nate, he looked like he'd seen a ghost. Seriously, next to him, my usual pale vibe seemed like a summer tan. It's got me thinking, what on earth did Danny do to get that kind of reaction out of the kid.
just as I'm trying to piece it all together, I see a teacher heading Danny's way, ready to put his ability to the test
Hold up…
waiiitttt a damn minute....the teacher is…
"what the actual fuck" i blurted out only to have some people look at me annoyed...whoops.
"told you it might've been professor hes obsessed with conducting experiments and he loves figuring out new abilities and strengths", she said casually.
t-this professor was the creep in the bathroom...god can it get anyworse....actually i shouldn't say that, if i didnt have bad luck id have no luck at all so i don't wanna push it.
anyway the professor put his hand out and a purple substance begin to flow up from it and he told us that we needed to be able to put it out with our ability, well this is perfect for my type of ability but do I really want to do it...if i didnt alex would never let me hear the end of it so i have no choice.
well the 'creep' professor walked to danny in which danny smirked and froze the purple substance...great cold...i fucking hate the cold, as i began to think i unconsciously grabbed the metal necklace thats the shape of a star....the necklace that was my sisters.
as i was off in my own world i began to feel a nudge on my arm causing me to flinch in surprise.
"hey emo hes close stop zoning out", ngh i looked to see rose talking to me once more...
"yeah sorry", i quickly let go of my necklace which had caught her eye but she let it be.
"ok your turn", the 'creep' professor said as he looked at alex, with a confident smirk Alex extends his finger, from which a flame emerges directed toward the professor's hand. The professor, with agility, sidesteps the fiery projectile, acknowledging the display with a nod of approval, and proceeds to approach Nate for the next demonstration.
Nate, feeling a mixture of nerves and determination, glanced apprehensively at the professor. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned water from the air, skillfully manipulating it to form a bubble that enveloped the mysterious purple substance. As the bubble dissipated, the purple stuff vanished into thin air. Impressed, the professor nodded in acknowledgement, recognizing the strength of Nate's power when wielded correctly.
Leah, with a wide grin adorning her face, awaited the professor's approach. As he presented her with more of the mysterious purple substance, she wasted no time. With a swift motion, rocks emerged from the ground, attempting to ensnare his hand. However, the professor deftly evaded the rocky grasp, earning a nod of approval.
As the professor approached Rose, he conjured more of the enigmatic purple substance. Suddenly, a gentle breeze started to stir, gradually growing stronger. With a forceful gust, the wind extinguished the purple stuff, leaving Rose triumphant. The professor acknowledged her with a nod, recognizing her control over the elements. Then, he turned his attention to me...
he lit the substance once more as he stared at me with a creepy smile, i smirked at him and leaned close to his hand anddddd blew it out.....he froze, stunned by the fact that i just did that. but then regained his composure and looked at me he looked like he was about to say something but was interrupted by a smack.....the smack was alex...hitting me in the back of the head.
"be serious here you idiot", alex warned me causing me to sigh....and he says im to up tight.
He ignited the substance once more, his presence looming over me. "No worries, young one. When I said put it out, I was referring to your special talent, kid," Professor Liam's voice was calm, but his grip on my shoulder was anything but—it was intense, almost punishing. Despite the pain from his touch, I focused on the task at hand as he held the substance near, waiting for me to use my abilities. His painful grip didn't phase me; I had dealt with worse and wasn't about to let him see me flinch.
With that, I gripped his wrist that held the goo and began to feel the familiar tingle once more as I shot it into his hand, the one conjuring the strange purple substance. Almost immediately, his wrist went numb, much like the sensation you get when your arm falls asleep and becomes utterly useless. The numbing effect caused his ability to falter, as he could no longer feel his hand to control it. He looked at me with a smirk, a mix of amusement and acknowledgment in his eyes. After a moment, he nodded, releasing his grip on me, seemingly satisfied with what he had received. His smirk lingered, hinting at a deeper understanding or perhaps a plan, as he stepped back, still watching me intently.
With that, only half of the kids, a mere 25 out of 50, managed to pass the test. Alex and I were among the successful ones, but to my dismay, some of the other undeserving individuals also made the cut. It seemed like the universe had a twisted sense of humor. As we gathered together, the air buzzed with excitement and chatter. Conversations filled the room, each participant eager to share tales of their abilities.