the boy

POV: Lydia

Kelly yelped as I collapsed. A sudden migraine split my skull in half. I could feel the lack of air as if someone had their hands wrapped around my throat. All I could do to keep from screaming was bite down on my scarf. The people around me seemed oblivious to my suffering and continued walking forward in the line as if nothing was wrong. At least it didn't cause a scene. The thought was reassuring but I gasped again as another wave of pain radiated down my spine.

Kelly leaned down and rested her cold hand on my forehead. "Breathe, Lydia. It will go away, it will go away, just hold on-"

She was cut short when she saw a boy about our age stare down at me.

"Are you okay?" After a few moments I realized that his question was not out loud.

I winced as searing heat throbbed inside my head, praying that it would pass. Something cold touched my forehead, soothing the pain just a little bit. My eyes fluttered open to see him standing there with a soft smile. He took a slow, deep breath, and I did the same. As if by magic, my migraine began to disappear.

His smile widened as he helped me up.

"Are you okay?" He asked out loud with genuine concern. "I mean, if you were trying to make that fall catch attention, it definitely worked." My heart started to flutter when I heard him speak.

I was drawn into his dark blue eyes, gray flecks scattered in them like splintered glass. Without thinking, I glanced up and down at him, kind of drawn to how fit he was, following his tanned skin and brown hair-

Lydia, what are you doing?! Now is not the time! Stop being stupid!

"Shoot, I'm sorry if I caused you harm. I suppose your presence was alarming to me as well." He said it out loud and in my head, sending a small wink in my direction. There was something about his general... I didn't know how to say it, but I just felt freer around him. I felt happier- WAIT DID HE JUST SPEAK IN MY HEAD?!

"That's okay," I said, pretending to speak shyly, but I had to know. I hadn't met anyone who could do that too. Maybe I could send a message back to him.

"Alright, how are you doing this?! Are you some kind of psychic? What can you do?"

He gives me a smile that is both mischievous and friendly.

"Alright, you got me. Guess I was just a bit excited to meet someone else who can do this kind of stuff too."

"Did you think that I might be using those skills for something, say, not so good?"

"Why? Are you?"

I paused before continuing. "Can't say that I am. So... what do you do, specifically?"

"I guess you could say I have imaginative powers. I just think about something happening, then voila. It just depends on how hard I concentrate. You?"

"Oh great, I can't top that."

He started to scan me up and down slightly.

"Hey hey hey, what are you doing?!" I quickly covered my chest. "Don't you even think about it!"

"Whoa whoa, I ain't gonna do anything. That's sick. I won't, I promise."

"You better not."

"Trust me on this one, at least. Now weren't you gonna tell me what you were? I already did my part of the deal here."

"Um....I just call myself a mathematician."

"Okaaaay... what the heck is that? Aside from someone who knows how to use their cerebral matter."

"Well, I pretty much love math to death. But when a problem gets tough, sometimes I can see the problems right in front of me, with the numbers sort of surrounding me." I sighed a little bit as I thought more about it. "I can just feel energy around me when it happens. It's.... god, it just feels like pure victory when a problem is finally solved. Oh and I happen to be at least ten times faster and stronger than the rest of humanity. And it's it's not just math problems but situations as well."

"That's definitely pretty cool."

"Not as cool as yours. So what's your name? You even got one?"

"Jay Stanton. And yours, Einstein?"

"Nah, less fancy. Just Lydia Gale."

"Well, hello, Lydia."

"Hello, Jay."

I blushed and his smile got bigger. I couldn't believe I had a conversation this long with a guy. There wasn't anything about him that had put me off within a minute. He wasn't dense like most other people were. When was the last time I even smiled like this?

Kelly pushed us apart.

"Oh my god, the line's finally moving! I thought we were gonna see a movie!" She jumped up and down in a frantic attempt to call my attention back to her."My god, what are you two doing?! Telepathy?! You've been staring at each other doing nothing for longer than normal!"

Jay smiled again "Calm down, young freshman. We'll see the movie." He backed away from the line "Follow me."

He put his hands out and a rope gently twists itself around my waist and leads me away from the line.

Kelly groaned but followed me without further complaint as I walked after Jay. He lead us away from the theatre and the crowd of anxious people to a grass field. He then turned around.

"Okay, close your eyes," He ordered and then gave a small laugh. Kelly suddenly turned red.

"Oh no! Ooooooooooohoho no no no no no! I know where this is going!"

Jay snickers "No, that is not going to happen today, but, if you would like to teleport with me and Lydia into the theatre, you might want to close them."

Kelly did and Jay snapped his fingers. For a heart fluttering moment nothing happened. Then a sudden feeling of immense pressure surrounded me and I fell to the ground for the second time today. I waited for the migraine to come back, but it didn't, to my relief. Instead, I hear Jay give a warm chuckle.

"Not the most graceful swan in the pond, are you?" He leaned over and helped me up.

"Dear god, you're cheesy," I said with a laugh.

"Aw, give it a rest. You love it anyway,"

"Hmmmm....." I smirked at him, then leaned in close until we were just a breath away. "No."

He burst into laughter at this, about to say something before Kelly ran to the nearest trash can and emptied her breakfast and lunch into it.

"I...don't feel so good... I might need to go home." She turned and rushed back to the trash where she threw up more bile. A smell like fish and rotten eggs started to make itself known from the trash bin. Jay's smile faded.

"Most people do have a sickened reaction to their first time. You will feel better soon. Here, I can take you home." Jay walk forward and gently grabbed Kelly by the waist and they both disappeared.

I waited for about fifteen seconds before he reappeared and walks towards me. His kind smile had faded and been replaced with a sinister sneer. My migraine returned like a horse's kick upside the head. I couldn't even bring myself to stand anymore. I fell, but this time he didn't come to help me up. Instead, he walked towards me and knelt down.

"Oh my love, never forget." he reached down and yanked my chin up so his lips were bare inches from my own. "You belong to me, from now until the end."

My vision turned hazy, the distortions almost painful to my eyes, and then it all became black.

I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing and the feeling of hot sweat pressing my shirt to my back. The door closed with a light clique coaxing me from under the covers. My roommate was long gone into slumber. Someone else had been in our room.