Chapter #8

Aurora's Pov

The Next Day

I had gotten out of my room and was on my way to class, students were flooding the hallway as usual finding their way to their various classes, sometimes I wondered how it was possible for me to reach my class that was furthest down the hall.

"Aurora!" Someone called from behind me, giving me a feeling of déjà vu that was too early. It was Stacey.

"Morning Stacey." I greeted.

"Hey! Are you okay?" She looked concerned. What could she be talking about?

"Yeah, why?"

"Well, I saw what happened yesterday at Scarlet's party."

That provoked anger in me, making my mind race with the images that was now the past, that was a night I didn't want to remember. It was when I had reached my room that I realised that not only had I yelled at the most popular, suave guy in school, I had also managed to embarrass myself doing it. But I had no regrets.

"It's okay, I'm over it." I said. Alexis wasn't even that mad, nothing a little water couldn't fix.

"Sorry though, you must have felt embarrassed."

"A little, but I'm just glad I won't see that guy again."

Stacey's next response shook me, she laughed.

"You should consider yourself lucky." She smiled.

"Lucky? How?" What was she talking about? How can I feel lucky if some jerk dumped wine on me?!

She didn't get a chance to answer though as the bell rang for classes to begin. We picked up speed and marched into our Power Mastery class.

"For your next lesson, we'll be testing your ability to fight off someone who is stronger than you, either by slight advantage or by further experience. When you find yourself in this kind of situation, don't focus on defeating your opponent, try to maneuver your way into outsmarting them." Mrs Vidia started shortly after we found our seats, I picked a seat somewhere in the middle. Not too far or close.

"How are we gonna do that?" Kyle and Kendall asked from behind me.

"I'm glad you asked. I've invited some of the best seniors to be your practise partners. Your task is to try and land an attack on them, with and without powers." She walked into the door on the other side of the room that led into the practice room, her rough hair bouncing beneath her head, signaling for us to follow.

We obeyed and entered the next room, but the next face I saw was too soon. It was Dylan.

I couldn't help but give out a long, loud sigh which drew everyone's attention. I blushed slightly, my day was going just great. The only thing that could make this greater is if I was paired with him.

The seniors were lined side by side with eight boys to match our number. Scarlet and Stacey immediately gave swooning sighs at the sight of him, I just rolled my eyes.

"Meet seniors Wayne, Felix, Sam, Lance, Mac, Cameron, Eris and Dylan." Mrs Vidia introduced while they gave a little nod of acknowledgement, except Dylan who sent a smirk my way. I ignored it while Mrs Vidia continued. "You will practise one at a time so others can observe, first up are... Cameron and Brandon."

They walked to the middle while the rest of us moved to the side of the titanium room.

I folded my arms and watched as their began combat. The first round was without their powers, before two minutes Cameron had Brandon on the ground. Some wowed, some clapped, but I just watched. I hardly had enough time to see him catch Brandon off guard, it happened that fast.

"Next round!" She announced, allowing them to use their powers. I furrowed my eyebrows, not certain of Cameron's power.

"Electricity." Whispered Dylan who had come and was leaning on the wall beside me, I must have not noticed. I immediately felt irritated.

"What?"

"His gift is Electricity." He answered.

"I didn't ask you."

"But you were wondering it."

"I thought I made myself clear that I didn't want to talk to you."

He didn't respond and I thanked God in my mind for that. Brandon placed his hand on the titanium floor and soon his whole body was armoured with it, I had never stopped being amazed by that.

"Why do you find it so hard to forgive me?" Dylan opened his big mouth again. I was shocked at the questioned, I turned to face him.

"Why do you find it so hard to apologize?"

"I did apologize."

"No you didn't."

"Yes I did."

"If you're so sure you did, then why won't you leave me alone?" I asked.

"Because I don't want to."

"That's not a real answer."

"Yes it is."

"No it's not!" Ugh! Why is he being so childish? Why won't he just leave?!

"You're so--"

"...Aurora and Dylan!" Mrs Vidia called." Since you two are so keen on interrupting my class, why don't you come next."

I hadn't even noticed that Cameron had already beat Brandon, Dylan distracted me, again. Oh God, why is this happening to me?! All eyes were now on me alone.

"Maybe I should practice with Dylan instead, since I'm far more experienced." Scarlet announced, she was obviously trying to have time with him and I was actually happy for that.

"My mind is made up. Both of you get over here." She commanded.

Some of them laughed while Scarlet gave me a hateful glare. Dylan just looked at me, arms folded like he was waiting for me to go first.

I gave a short sigh and made my way to the center of the room as he followed behind. She blew on her whistle, I turned to face him and took a fighting stance but he just stood casually waiting for me.

I looked around, noticing that my classmates full attention was on me.

I took a step forward and threw a punch in his direction but he easily ducked it, the smile still on his face. It made me angry. I threw more and more attacks his way but never landed a single blow on him.

"You're not attacking!" I was now panting.

"Neither are you." He answered, he was smiling wider as if he was hiding laughter.

"What's so funny?"

"Watching you fail." His smile grew wider. Why wasn't Mrs Vidia doing anything about this? My eyes drifted to the side, she wasn't there anymore. Wonderful.

I was getting tired of this. I then remembered how I had outsmarted him last night. My eyes ran up and down him, trying to access the most effective trick.

Before I knew it, a smile made it's way up my face. I hoped he didn't notice as his friends and the girls were cheering him on. I threw a punch his way again, he sidestepped just as I expected and as his face came across my elbow, I bent my arm sharply and slammed it into the side of his face. He immediately cringed at that.

Silence fell across the entire room as my mates watched me with jaws dropped. I don't know why but I started to crack up into laughter. Dylan's dumbstruck face was too entertaining.

Mrs Vidia blew on her whistle. Where did she come from and how did she see this? "Begin round two!"

At her command, a hole had opened a few feet beside me, filled with water. I drew a large amount and made it tower over me. Dylan's face hardened as he massaged his jaw, that felt satisfying.

"I guess I deserved that." He said.

"You deserve way more than that." The smile finally fading off my face.

"Does that mean you forgive me?"

"Nope." I murmured and shot two blasts one after the other at him, but just before they hit him he moved.

I kept shooting more blasts as he kept dodging, with a smile on his face the entire time. I was smiling too, but because I had another plan which he didn't know. By the time there was water all over the floor I immediately blew all over it, instantly freezing the floor around him.

"What the--" His surprised expression was far too entertaining, I found myself laughing again.

"Take one step and you'll fall."

"A little ice won't stop me from--"

I didn't let him finish his sentence as I sent a blast of air out of my hand directly towards him, it was enough to make him loose his balance and topple over the frozen floor on his back. I smiled to myself. Justice has been served. The whistle sounded.

"Nicely done Aurora. You've managed to outsmart your opponent with and without the usage of your abilities." Mrs Vidia came over to me. The other students gave me an approving clap, all except Scarlet, staring daggers at me with her arms folded.

"Uh, thank you, Mrs Vidia." I looked over and saw Dylan still trying to get on his feet on the ice but failing. I rolled my eyes and waved my arm over the floor, melting the ice and pushing the water back into the hole. I didn't know why I was doing this, being nice to him. I walked over to him.

"Now am I forgiven?" He asked when I reached him, still smiling.

I offered him my hand. "Still no." I hadn't forgiven him, but I was still a fair fighter.

He accepted my hand and I helped him to his feet.

"Listen, what happened last night was really an accident. And I shouldn't have said what I said, I'm sorry." His expression was suddenly apologetic.

At first I was shocked by his sudden apology, but that's what I was waiting for at the end. I was about to answer when Mrs Vidia called.

"Scarlet and Eris, you're next!"

I hadn't noticed but his hand was still clutched around mine, firm, just like last night. I didn't know how to respond, I pulled my hand away and joined Stacey.

"Aurora, that was amazing!" She was practically bouncing on the spot. "How did you know what to do?"

"Thanks, I don't know, the idea just came at the last minute." I really didn't know how I thought of it. "I'm sure you'll do great when it's your turn."

"We both know that's not true." She joked, but I could feel the tension in her words. I laughed either way.

"She's right you know?"

I spiraled around and saw Dylan again. Stacey was blushing hard. Did he have this effect on all girls?

"Not a lot of people have succeeded when fighting me."

"Are you always this proud?"

"Yes." His answer was blunt.

"Even when complementing people?"

He shrugged. After everyone had completed their practice, the bell rang.