After last night, I was giddy.  I woke up very early and got ready.  When I checked the clock I realized I still had about an hour until we had to go get breakfast.

I guess Thomas did the same thing because he came in right as I was sitting down on my bed.

“Sorry for coming early.  I guess I was excited to see you.  It seems you were excited to see me, too, you’re already ready.”  He says with a smirk sitting down next to me.  He gives me a peck on the lips and asks, “What are we going to do?”

“What do you mean?”

“Like, are we going to tell everyone about us, or keep it a secret for now.”

“I don’t care.  I wouldn’t mind telling people.”

“That’s great!  I want to tell people, too.”

We talk for a bit until we realize we have to get breakfast.  I take my hand in his and take a deep breath.

“We don’t have to tell people if you’re nervous.”

“I’m not nervous, just…”

“Why don’t we wait a bit.”

“No, no, no.  I want to tell them, please.  Let’s go.”

We walked into the cafeteria hand in hand.  I search around for Tilly and Rob, to gauge their reactions.  Tilly’s jaw is dropped wide and Rob just gives us a knowing look.

We walk over and sit at their table, “Heyyyyy, guys.” I say in a squeaky nervous voice.  I have no idea how they will react.

Tilly leans over and quietly says, “Blink twice if you’re being held hostage.”

I laugh out loud, “I’m not being held hostage.  It’s a long story.”

“Then start telling it!”  Tilly practically yells, “This is not ok, and you know it!”

Of course, Thomas decides to say something now.  “It’s a long story, but just know that we’re happy.”

“You’re happy?  You’re happy!  Jamie went missing for three days, then comes to lunch upset.  You followed him out and he wasn’t at homeroom that night!  Now you’re saying you’re happy!  I don’t believe it!”

“I do.”  Rob finally spoke out.  He’d been silent the whole time.  “It was kinda obvious.”

“It was?” We all say at the same time.

“Yeah.”

“Care to explain?”  By now, Tilly is fuming.  “You didn’t even tell me that when I was freaking out!”

“They can explain themselves.”

Tilly looked at us expectantly.  “Well, go on then!”

“Sorry, sorry.” I mumble.  “Um, we were having some fun while dancing the other night and my powers flared.  We didn’t know what was going on, but we felt a connection.  We kissed.  He left and I cried that night, that’s why my eyes were puffy at lunch.  The next day when my powers flared again, Thomas told me it was against the rules.  We couldn’t be together that way.  I was mad and upset and I cried.  That was after lunch yesterday.  Later, at our power controlling class, Michael came to talk to us.  He told us Thomas was my amplifier.”

“No way!  Finding your amplifier is, like, a one in a million chance!”  Tilly seemed very excited at the new found facts.

Thomas, wanting to tell part of the story, interrupted Tilly.  “Yeah, pretty cool.  Michael told us that it was normal for amplifiers and their partners to feel a connection, exactly like we did.  Apparently it is also normal for there to be physical attraction, as well.  He told us it was alright.”  

“We just wanted to tell you.  I didn’t want to lie to you guys.”  I said, honestly.

“It’s alright, Jamie.  I’m happy for you, I really am.”

“Did you know,” Rob started before getting quiet, “that Michael also found his amplifier?”

“No, he didn’t tell us that.”

“A couple years back, they met when Michael was starting this place up.  Apparently they fell in love and got married.”

“What happened?” I was intrigued now.  Why didn’t he tell us sooner?

“She died.  They say The School was attacked.  It’s the main reason we’re in the air right now.  I think it hit Michael pretty hard.  Many power holders die after their amplifier dies, if they’ve formed a bond.”

“How do you form a bond?” Thomas asks, side eyeing me.

“The power holder and the amplifier must hold a deep connection.  They must know practically everything about each other.  The two, also, need to have control over each other’s powers.  They must learn to share the power that flows between them.  After this they both must accept the bond in a ritual of sorts.  There must be the correct symbols written and incantations said before the power holder and amplifier can accept the bond.  They both need to accept each other in body, soul, and mind.  Then the bond is formed.”

“That’s a lot.”  Tilly says, “How do you know all this?”

“Sometimes it takes years to share the connection it takes to form the bond, sometimes it takes months, maybe even days, if the two tried hard enough.  I read lots of the books in the library.”

This perks my attention even more, “There’s a library here!  Thomas, you have to take me before classes start!”

“I didn’t know you like to read?”

“I love to read.  I used to go out into the woods behind my house and read books all the time.”

“I can’t help with the woods part, but I can get you some books.  Do you want to go now?”

“Yes!  Yes, please!”