“Girls… I didn’t mean to interrupt. I knocked, after all.” Mr. Nook began. He looked up to be shocked. Monticlaire was practically on top of me, our faces dangerously close to one another. Only would could assume that we were up to something.
I just hope he wasn’t assuming the worst. Mr. Nook cleared his throat.
“Your mother and I are kindly asking if you could turn down your TV, it is very loud. Your mother also told me to remind Monticlaire of the option to either sleep in Novella’s room or downstairs on the couch. Novella, you know where the extra blankets and pillows are. Again, I apologize for interrupting,” Mr. Nook uttered in a fast yet serious manner. He fastly shut the door, leaving Claire and I alone again. I gazer into her silver eyes, which were piercing right through mine. Uh oh.
Claire quickly scampered off and away from me, her hand sliding out of mine in the process. She tucked herself away at the corner of my bed, looking out the window of my room.
“Claire, are you okay?” I spoke, nudging a bit of hair away from my face.
“I’m fine. I’m tired. I think I’ll sleep on the couches downstairs.” There was a tinge of anger in her speech. This worried me. Had my dad scared her? Was she about to do something that my father wouldn’t have liked?
Was… she about to kiss me? I… didn’t know…
“You don’t sound okay. Are you sure you want to sleep on the couches? There’s plenty of room here on the floor if you want to—”
“No,” Claire shot out. “I’ll be fine.”
The girl quickly gathered her things and left the room in a flash, closing the door as well. I blinked, scooting up to the end of my bed. I covered my face with my hands, but quickly pulled them away. My right hand was scorching hot. My left was ice cold.
My eyes widened as I pulled both into view. Everything in the room stopped moving. “No… no, no please…” I silently stuttered, staring at my hands.
She left. She left me because of my hands. Because of my powers.
Because of me.
Silent tears fell from my eyes.
She hates me… she hates everything about me too… I don’t blame her, because I do too…
I hate these powers… I really, really do…
“They’re not mine…”
-~-
At around eleven o’clock at night, I went downstairs to check on Claire. My parents must have placed some pillows and blankets on the couch, since Claire was already wrapped up in a few on the couch. I sighed as the previous events of the night came rushing back into my mind.
“Maybe you were trying to do something. Maybe you were just being silly. Maybe… you want something more,” I whispered. I took a deep breath and breathed it out again.
Getting a glass of water for my efforts, I slowly crept back up the stairs. Maybe tomorrow would be different.
Maybe, maybe, maybe.
-~-
I shuffled into the car with Claire by my side. She didn’t say a word. I could tell that my mother noticed the awkward silence that fogged up the car.
“Did you guys enjoy your sleepover?” she asked, putting the car into reverse. It remained quiet for a few moments, besides the items in Claire’s bags jiggling back and forth in the trunk. However, Claire did finally chime in.
“Yea. It was fun,” she said coldly. My mother and I both shivered at the same time. “I had a great time,” I chimed in, trying to clear the room.
It didn’t work.
“Alright, well, I’m happy you guys got to spend time together. Let’s head off.”
My mother drove towards the high school with a determined look on her face. I couldn’t tell why, but it must have been because of our short conversation. I caught quick glances at Claire, but they were all the same: a boring, soulless expression. I sighed, propping my head up against the side of the door.
We arrived at the high school, pulling up in front of it. There weren’t very many cars around, only the stray one or two. We must have been early.
Monticlaire swiftly got out of the car, grabbing her things from the trunk.
“Text your mom that you’re at school, Monticlaire. I hope you have a wonderful day at school!” she exclaimed, giving her a wave goodbye. I frowned, then thought of something.
Without hesitating, I hopped out of the car as Claire was putting earbuds into her ears. “Claire! U-uh…” my hands were heating up as usual.
“Maybe you wanted to stop by the homeschooling building later today? I-I don’t have to work, The Nook is closed.” I anticipated her answer. Maybe this would make things better.
“We’ll see.”
She then turned and walked off. Hmph.
“C’mon, Novella. Your father and I have to talk to you,” my mother said from the car. I breathed out and slid back into the car.
I ruined it.
-~-
“Now, Novella, you know what I saw last night wasn’t right,” Mr. Nook began, sitting down on the sofa. “I couldn’t tell what you two were doing.”
“I-I didn’t know what was going on either! She was just getting really close to me, and…” My voice was starting to tremble.
“That may be true, but you were in control. I didn’t like what was going on, at all. That girl was up to something.”
“She was just being really friendly! I don’t know how else to put it...”
My mother crossed her arms in the corner of the room. “Does she know about your powers?” My eyes lit up in sudden fear.
“No! I’ve been trying to hide them as much as possible, but they just keep appearing, and I don’t know what to do, so I just…”
“And that’s what we’re afraid of, Novella!” Mr. Nook said furiously, rising from his seat. I sunk further and further into mine.
“If she finds out about your—and frankly our—powers, then we’re done for!” he was heating up. “She has no right to know!”
“I have to say that I agree with him, Novella. These powers aren’t to be known by the common person. We’re… special,” my mother uttered from the corner.
“That’s why we’re apprehensive about you going to prom with this girl. Not only is she… strange, to say the least, but you’re going to go to a place where your powers can be exposed. You even admitted it yourself—you can’t control your powers yet,” Mr. Nook spoke. I could tell where they were going with this, and it made me afraid. I tried to stand up for myself.
“But Dad! I can control my powers! At least, I can try before the prom… and I know Claire might seem weird to you, but she’s the only friend that I have!” Starting to sweat, I pushed both of my hands down on the armrests of the chair. One side was being scorched black, while the other was turning a lighter color.
“Your attitude at the moment seems to deny this. The answer to prom is no, Novella. I’m not changing my mind.” I hesitated for a moment before I stood up myself.
“I HATE THESE POWERS!” I angrily proclaimed. Tears welled up in my eyes as I got up and escaped from the room. I hastily grabbed my backpack and fled out of the door, crying my eyes out once more.
My mother turned to the side, not daring to say another word. Mr. Nook groaned, shaking his head.
“Walton…” Nicole whispered, producing a couple of her own tears. Mr. Nook treaded over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. Steam rose steadily from his hand.
“She’ll get over it. She’ll understand,” he said quietly.
“No, Walton, you don’t understand,” she shook his hand from her and turned to face him. “She needs this. It’s her powers that are holding her back,” Nicole cried out, her demeanor growing colder.
“I know that, but what would you rather happen? For our history to be known to the world or for Novella to be happy?” Mr. Nook unwisely asked. Nicole gasped, frowning at the man.
“I can’t believe you just asked that question. You know that Novella should always be happy, Walton! But she’s not! She hates her powers! Who gave her those powers? US!” she loudly ranted, pushing through the man and up the stairs in anger and sadness.
Mr. Nook was left in the living room to reflect on what had just occurred. He heaved out a heavy breath and stepped into the kitchen, leaning on the counter.
“Well… this isn’t good at all…”
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