“Sure,” I said a bit distractedly. He was so attentive, it was hard to believe I was like a job to him. He was being ordered to get close to me and make me fall in love with him.
“See you later,” he gave me a charming smile and left.
I started heading to the class, admiring the scenery as I went. I still had twenty minutes before my class started. The school was surrounded by mountains. Knightstown was discovered almost 10 years ago. Initially, it was a place for the gifted and had expanded to include the non-gifted. It had an excellent music, academic, and sports program. The school sprawled over thousands of acres. There was a daycare, preschool, elementary school, middle school, high school, and college all in one area. They even had dorms that worked like a boarding school for those as young as 5. I was shocked at the amount of people that sent their gifted and non-gifted children off at such an early age. The local parents were able to pick their children up on Friday afternoons and needed to return them Sunday night. It wasn’t until they reached high school that they could return on Monday mornings.
“Hey,” said a masculine voice that startled me out of my thoughts.
I looked over at the large mature tree to the right of the path I was walking on. Gavin was leaning against it. He looked tired, his eyes dark with circles.
“Hey,” I said hesitantly back.
“What’s your first class today?” he asked.
“Intro to Sociology,” I replied, although I knew he was making just making small talk. His unease was evident.
“Me too. General studies? You don’t know what you’re going to be when you grow up either?” He chuckled awkwardly.
I shook my head. “Honestly no, but then again, technically this was supposed to be my senior year in high school.”
He looked impressed. “I didn’t realize you were that young.”
“I’m seventeen,” I shrugged. “At my last school, I took a lot of college prep and AP classes.”
“So…this time around should be easier, since you’ve already done this…right,” I knew he was extending an olive branch.
“Not necessarily,” I said solemnly. “When I did this the first time around I only had two college classes, and the rest of my classes were over on the high school side. I already did all my make-up work to catch up for the semester before. Now I have to do it again.”
He groaned, visibly relaxing. “That sucks…Do…Can you tell me what happened?” he finally asked hesitantly.
I looked down frowning. “I wish we had the time. We have class soon,” I began walking once more. “And I think Collin has a tracker on me. I overheard a conversation I shouldn’t have last night, and now a few things are starting to make sense…It’s so complicated and I really need a…friend right now.”
“I can be that friend. Why don’t you just leave him,” he said resolutely. Then he laughed a bit disparagingly. “A few months ago, life seemed so simple. Sure, I felt like I might be losing it. Seeing people’s auras and such, but it was somewhat of a normal existence. Then one night I was leaving work late, and I saw these men that could throw fire, lift cars, create this weird dome-like thing. Their auras were so strong.” He stuffed his hands deep in his pockets and spoke quietly. I was sure I was the first person he had ever told.
My breath hitched. What was the likelihood that he ran into men that could wield fire, have super human strength, and create a force field? I knew instinctively he had seen my guys. I smiled up at him. “It’s so complicated,” I groaned. “I think I know the guys you saw. Are you familiar with the Bells?”
He snorted. “Who doesn’t? They’re the kings of this school. This city. This county. I haven’t ever met them, but I’ve heard of them.”
I nodded, a bit chagrined. “I was adopted by Mr. Bell…the first time I got here.”
We finally reached a group of people rushing into the school, and our conversation had to stop.
“With every answer I just got, you just gave me a million more questions,” he said ruefully. “Let me see your phone,” he said holding out his hand.
I looked at him quizzically, but handed it to him regardless.
“I’ll be right back. I might be a little late to class.” Before I could stop him, he was off, weaving into the crowd.
I purposely found an empty spot with a free seat next to it. Gavin slipped into the seat about 15 minutes later. He was late, but so was the professor.
He handed back my phone. “He has a very high tech, expensive tracker in your phone, I can remove it, if you like.” He whispered.
I shook my head. “Not yet,” I insisted. At his look of disbelief, I whispered. “You’ll understand once I tell you everything.”
He nodded but sighed at me as the professor took her place in front of the class room.
I could groan in frustration. Not only did I have no clue about the first thing about sociology, but now I had to make up for any major projects, papers, quizzes, and tests that I had missed. I was going to be up to my ears in school work. This school was unique, because if there was room available in any given classroom, any student could start after the semester began. Thus, the reason why I was starting in the middle of the fall semester…again. I was somewhat suspicious that Mr. Young, Collin, and anyone else involved in this deception had purposely put me in this position.
I was known to be an over achiever and intelligent. They knew failure was not an option for me. Catching up would keep me busy, too busy to meet people. Little did they know, I thrived on challenges and I would surprise them. I had every intention on keeping up in my classes and continue getting good grades. I had until winter break to get full credit for the classes if I was to complete and pass everything required of me.