Chapter One

Buzzing

The new school began and ended on the first day. Being the first person walking out of the class, I wanted to get to my locker to get the rest of my things so that I can start doing my homework. The students just stand there, talking to their friends before they go or just walk together, when I get to my locker I begin opening it then BOOM! I opened my eyes to see manure that smelled of rotten eggs inside my locker as I heard laughter. I turned around to see Ariel and her idiomatic friends, one of them was filming. "Ha…ha…ha" Ariel laughed. "That was hilarious, Regina, that was a great idea on the first day of school."

Ridley smiles while holding her camera in her hand, "why thank you, Ariel." Regina said, as I slammed my locker, wiping the manure off my face with a sleeve of my jacket, that when everyone laughed. Turn away from my locker and walk away, having my head down ever since school started Ariel becoming bullied in this school, rule the school if you wanted to say… She's never picked anyone else beside me, she's the most popular girl in school and the queen bee as well.

Stepping out of the school building, walking down the steps going towards the drop-off where my mother, Zendaya Newton-O'Sullivan, is waiting for Ariel and I. This is how my life is going to be? Getting bullied by the one person who supported your family?… The world is never perfect, people are never perfect, my mother saw me as she got out of her car "Henry? Sweetheart what happened?" My mother asked me, I didn't say anything, I just opened the passenger door, got inside and closed it. Ariel acted like nothing happened just saying hi to my mother, she called mother. Her father Mitchell and my mother Zendaya have been married for two months. I've been fatherless for the last six years of my life. I love my mother, and I'm happy for her that she's found someone to love her, unlike my biological father Matthew Winston who I haven't seen for over six years disowned me because of what I am, a Clairvoyance.

I contact my first spirit when I was nine, a little boy about my age but never knew that he was dead, my father becoming mystified and wondering who I was talking to, on that day both of my parents were arguing that my mother kept that secret from him and called his own daughter a monstrosity.

Unfortunately they divorced, my father disowned me and my mother changed my last name into her maiden name Newton. We had to move out of my father's house, move back into my grandparents Mophues and Amarantha Newton, my mother had to get another job so that she could help my grandparents with the bills, food, etc… While my mother was at work, my grandparents had helped me with my ability to communicate with spirits helping them to cross over to the other side, they helped me for the past two years but sadly my grandmother Amaratha Newton passed when I was twelve years old, she was my grandmother/mother figure.

Three years after she passed, soon it was my grandfather who was my best friend. He was also old age. Grandpa Morpheus has always told me to be careful when I'm around people that some do not know about Clairvoyance or say some of them will use the gift to get money.

I was lost in my thoughts. My mother got inside the car, "Henry, sweetie, what happened?" She questioned

"It's only a prank, mom." I lied to her, Ariel doesn't know why I lied to my mother. It's like she's waiting for me to tell her, but would my mother believe me? "Can we just go home now, I just want to take a shower." my mother just nodded at me and turned the car to drive off. I know my mother has worried about me since my grandfather passed, she doesn't even know that he's spirit is around, only that I can see him. I remember when I asked Grandpa about Mom, why did she never get her Clairvoyance? He said it skipped her and passed on to me, guessing never to skip a family member before.

An hour later, I got out of the shower, had to wash my hair maybe about 10 times to get the smell out of my hair, brushing my pitch black long hair, putting it in a bun, putting on my sweatpants, and a sweater opening the bathroom door to turn off the light. I walked across the hall towards my bedroom to step inside and closed the door when my grandfather's spirit appeared, I turned to see his spirit standing there.

"You've been ignoring the spirit's again, haven't you?" Grandpa Morpheus asked me

I just shrugged at him. After he passed, I just stopped helping the spirits when I'm around people, walked towards my deck, pulled out my chair sitting down, turned on my laptop and began working on my homework. There was a knock on the door, "Henry, sweetie… Mitch wants everyone outside, he got a surprise for us." My mother said, a sigh, getting up and walking towards the door, opening it to see her standing there. I resemble my mother. She's in her mid 40s, everyone mistakes her as my sister when we're together. Our gazes locked on each other touching my head, a vision appeared to see my mother how sad she was when grandpa died, she tried to stay strong for me and the family.

I step out of my bedroom, following her, wondering what is surprising? I felt a hand on mine when I looked down to see my mother's hand, I squeezed her gently knowing that I loved her. When we stepped outside when I heard Ariel, "You can't be a serious dad? This piece of jerk can't be my birthday gift." I stopped to see an old rusted beat up 1967 Chevy impala, wasn't sure if the paint is red?

Mitchell sighs and turns to his daughter, "Ariel, I got it from the CTC's Auto Ranch… you know how much a car is now these days, so I picked up this baby so that we can build it together." He said, my step-father is Irish-American, 5'9", fair skin color, dark brown hair, and blue eyes, notice when I first met him. He has this dark shadow spiritual around him. "What do you think, Ariel?" Her brother's looked at her, back to their father. "What will help me build it?"

She puffs "As If… I'm not getting my hands dirty fixing up a beat up old rusted stupid car, I'm going to ask mom to give me a car." Ariel says, turns around and walks back inside the house.

"Boy's?" He asked his son's

"Sorry, dad, I'm not interested." Stark said

"Me either." Kit said

"No way." Sam said

I watched them turn around going back inside the house, Mitch is having a hard time with his kids since he had full child custody of them, they've spent every two weeks with their mother. I walked towards the beat up old car, it needed a lot of work on it and which part that needed for the car as well. My mother noticed that I'm studying the car. "Henry, um, do you want to help me build the car with me? Mitch asked me as I stopped right in front of me.

"I know a lot about cars, maybe I'll give it a try to help you out." I replied to him as he smiled as his eyes lit up like fireworks that he's going to spend time with me. He wanted to hug me, but I moved away.

"Sorry… I'm just delighted that I'm going to spend time with you." He said with a smile on his face, I smile a little. "So, I thought we could put the car in the garage so that we can work on it. I'm going to look up some parts for it, and you can keep the color for the car, If you want. Can my father help us out?"

"Okay." I told him

My mother came up standing by Mitch, "On Friday, weekends so you have to do your homework." She said, "Mitch, would that be alright?"

"Of course, love." He said, "I can't wait to spend time with you, Henry." I know he wanted to hug me, "My kids don't like these kinds of things very much when I buy a beat up car at the ranch." I kind of felt bad for him, he's trying to spend time with his kids.

I excuse myself turn around walked inside the house going up the stairs to do my homework, I hear Ariel talking to her mom on the phone, telling her how her dad brought an old beat up rusted stupid car for her birthday. I roll my eyes, walking past her room, going

towards mine. I stepped inside my room, closing the door behind me, when my grandpa Morpheus appeared in front of me.

"Are you going to give it a try? Spend time with Mitchell." Morpheus said

I walked towards my deck and pulled out the chair, sitting down. "Maybe, grandpa... mom said, only on Fridays and weekends to help him out. You were the one who taught me how to fix cars, Grandpa... So, I want to help him out with it, maybe make a bond with him." Turn on my laptop, an HP Elite Dragonfly Laptop that Mitch and my mother got me for my birthday this summer. Also, a camera from Mitchell's father, a Nikon-D7500 DSLR 4K Video Two Lens Kit with 18-55 mm and 70-300 mm lenses-black. It was nice of them to give me these gifts, but I wanted to spend time with my grandpa, who was at the hospital at the time. I hear a whine at my door as I turn around, push my chair, walk toward the door, open it to see my American Akita Silver dog. I named him Geralt of Rivia, I called him Geralt for short, from the book called the Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski. My dog stepped into the room and went to lay down by my bed. I closed the door and walked back to my deck so that I could begin working on my homework.

Not long after mom called us for dinner, I finished some of my homework, stepped out of my room as Geralt followed me, and Ariel stopped to notice my dog following. Walking down the steps, Ariel doesn't have pets, but she ignores my dog when he's around me. The boy's love my dog, they've always played with him.

When I got downstairs and walked around the staircase heading towards the kitchen, Mitchell had already got Geralt's food ready for him. Maybe later, I'm going to have to take him for a walk before I go to bed tonight. All of us took our seats at the table. "So, Kids, how was school?" He asked us, I just shrugged at him, "Boys?"

"Good." They said together

"Ariel?"

"It was good, I'm going to join the cheerleader team next week." She said, suddenly her phone went off as my mother grabbed the basket behind her.

"Y'all know the rules, kids, no phone at the table." My mother said as Ariel whine took out her phone, putting it inside the basket, the boy's did the same. I left my phone in my room like I normally do. Mitchell put his phone in the basket as my mother turned to me, "Henry?"

"My phone is in my room." I respond to her

My grandpa says it's rude to have your phone at the dinner table, I've always left it in my room while I ate dinner. My mother put the basket up behind her, we all began eating our food. Mom was talking to Mitchell as I was lost in my thoughts, thinking about what college I wanted to go to. I really want to get a scholarship, maybe I'll join soccer this year?

After dinner, I told my mom that I'm taking Geralt for a walk, putting on his leash. He waited for me to open the door. He stepped out as I did the same, closed the door behind and locked it. Grandpa's spirit appears in front of me, pulling Geralt's leash a little to go, leading the way.

"Henry, when are you going to tell your mother, That I'm still here?" Grandpa Morpheus said

"She'll get rejected again and get a second divorced again, and say Hey Mom, Grandpa's spirit never crosses over." I said to him without people around, my dog looked at me. "All I wanted is for my mother to be happy, She found someone to love her."

"You're putting your mother's happiness before yours?" he said

"Who could love someone who has Clairvoyance, Grandpa. When dad was with us, he never loved me, he rejected me when he found out what I had. You think Mitchell is going to accept me?" I said with a sigh coming out "you think his kids are going to accept me?" Would anyone accept me? While I walked with my dog, stopping at the stop sign when I notice a family moving in, my dog barked at me as I looked down "I'm glad you're a dog, Geralt…" talking to my dog, without looking at the neighbors turn around as Geralt follow, he might not understand, but he knew what I'm going through. It's getting late, and I have to shower again and head to bed for the night.

Mom dropped off Ariel and me at the school, telling us to have a good day at school that she'll pick us up. We both got out of the car, closed the door when I felt an odd energy that I've never felt before? "Henry, sweetheart everything alright?" My mother asked me as I turned around facing her.

"Everything is fine, mom." I told her "see you after school." Stepping away from the car, I walked towards the building, after my mother left as I looked inside my book bag to see if I had everything for my classes. Without looking where I was going, dumped into someone from behind, everything inside my bag had fallen out.

"Oh dear, I'm sorry… sweetie." A voice that sounded like a Danish accent said "let me help you." She helped me gather my things.

"Thank you." I replied to her

"Your welcome, sweetie." She said

We both stood up, picked up my head to see a gorgeous woman, that's even seen before well I had seen many beautiful women around. "Hello there." She said in a nice tone in her voice.

"Hello." I replied to her "I'm sorry."

"No, I should be the one sorry… I'm trying to look for the main office here." She said "I'm a new creative writing teacher."

"Oh, please follow me. I can show you the way the main office is." I offered to help her, she nodded with a smile. She has beautiful long wavy blond hair that is almost gold, her skin is cream color, her eyes blue, she's about my mother's age, maybe 40s, 5'6".

I opened the door for her as she stepped inside as I walked behind her "The main office is there." I point the main officer to her.

"Thank you, sweetie." she walked towards the main office as I decided to grab breakfast for myself, I haven't eaten yet. I turned towards the cafeteria, when I entered

everyone's eyes were on me, as they began laughing at me. I looked down, thinking that Ariel and her friends posted the video online.

"It's smelly Henry." One of the students said

Great, I'm the laughingstock of the whole school, I can't let it get to me as I walk towards the line to grab breakfast for myself. I dug in my bookbag, while waiting in line, grabbed my book that I was reading last night Divergent by Veronica Roth.

The bells ring to get to class, stepping into my creative writing "hello." I heard a turn to see the woman I've met this morning? "Please have a seat." walked towards the back of the classroom, when I felt this weird connection that I've never felt before? It's like an invisible string, shaking it off and going to go set down. Everyone started to step inside the classroom and take their seats "Good Morning, Class… I'm your new Creative Writing Teacher, Mrs. Iversen." Mr. Iversen said, the door opened to see a young boy step inside the classroom. He's about 16-17 years old, he's an attractive young boy, he has fair skin, short dark brown hair, and blue eyes. He's slim and athletic, 6'0" for his age.

I hear his Danish accent mix with Swedish accent in his voice "Sorry, I'm late." He said that when I felt it the connection was coming from him, that when he's blue eyes locked on my turquoise eyes. Everything around us vanished, like no one was in the room beside us, shaking away this feeling.

When Mrs. Iversen spoke up, "Everyone, please meet my son Felix Iversen." She said as everyone gasped that this boy is our teacher's son. They began asking question about where are they from or why they move, Mrs. Iversen giggled "Alright, one at a time… Mr. Iversen, please have a seat." Her son nodded his head walking towards the desk trying to find an empty one, I looked next time crap there is one that was empty.

Don't seat next to me

And He had taken the empty seat next to me, crap why me. His eyes on me as I pay attention towards the front, and I've noticed all female students are glaring at me, I sigh… great. My life is going to get even worse. One of them is friends with my step-sister, and I'm sure they're going to tell her. "Today Class, I want every one of you to write a short story. It can be romance, horror, action, poetry, or you can mix all together." She said, One of the students raised their hands. "Yes"

"Can we spare up with someone?" One of the students ask

Mrs. Iversen looked at us, as she put her arms together wondering what she's going to do, she knew all the females wanted to spare her son. "Spare up, huh? Since I'm your new teacher, I want everyone to work on their own today, and maybe I'll spare everyone up." She said "And I'm looking for the best writing in the classroom."

One of the male students asked "Is this a challenge, Mrs. Iversen?"

The teacher smiled, "What if I am?" She said with excitement, everyone began cheering.

"It's on, Mrs. Iversen." they all said

"What do we win?" the female student question

She thinks of something, I'm sure none of these kids doesn't even like to read… they think it's boring, I read every single day to keep my mind off of things. "I'll surprise y'all." She said "Now, let's begin our lesson for the day." I have to think of a short story, I'll think of something.

****

School ending, I think class went pretty well… Ariel didn't bother me today, not sure what that was about. Waiting at the dropped area when mom's car pulled up rolling down the window "Sorry, sweetie… I had to grab a few things for dinner tonight." my mother said "Mitch's father is coming over for dinner tonight." Martin O' Sullivan is coming over? Ariel came up opening the passenger door getting inside, as I opened the door from the back of the car, getting inside. "So, girl's how was y'all day at school?"

"It was good, Mom… we've gotten a new student at our school today, and he's from Denmark." Ariel said, mention Felix Iversen "And his mother is a teacher here too."

"Really, from Denmark that is far from home." My mother said "Henry, how was your day?" look into the rearview mirror, my only responses just shrugged. "Ariel, would you like to help me cook dinner?" My mother asked her, as usual she goes on.

"No, I can't… My mother is picking me up at the house, I'm going to spend time with you." She said Ariel can be spoiled sometimes. I don't know about her brothers, they only care about Dungeon & Dragon board games.

I looked out the window of the car, saw Felix from afar. He's blue eyes locked on my turquoise eyes once again feeling the connection, it's more like… Gravity moves, like it was only him and I are the only ones.

I felt the car move, our gaze never left as the car moved further away from him… I don't know about this feeling, what if it's love at first sight? I really don't want to think about it, I'm still young and not too crazy about boys like Ariel and her hell hags of friends of hers. "Henry? Sweetheart?" I heard my mother said as I turn away from the window "Do you want to help me cook dinner?" She asked me "Like old times?'' While driving, it's been a while that mom and I haven't cooked together.

"Sure, Mom." I told her, My mother smiled from the rearview mirror as I dug in my bookbag grabbing my air pads, took out one earpiece sticking into my ear and looked at my iPhone 12 to put on some music. I put on my favorite band Daughtry; their newest album came out on September 17, 2021, of last year. My second favorite singer is Dua Lipa who is from London, England and is also a Model as well. After I get home, I have to take Geralt for his walk and feed him as well. Mom and Ariel are talking as for me, I've always listened to my music.

After we got home, Ariel's mother was waiting for her, it's not even the weekend yet, and she's going to spend time with her mother. My mother was kind of hurt, that she's trying to spend time with Ariel. I have gotten out of the car, when Mitchell's father came up to me "Hey, Henrietta." Martin O' Sullivan said, He's Mitchell's father and the grandfather of Ariel, Stark, Kit and Sam. Martin is in his late 60s to 70s, he's about 6'4" tall, light brown hair close to having gray, blue eyes, he's fair tan skinned.

"Hey." I responded to him, "It's nice to see you again."

He smiles "You as well, Mitchell told me that you're going to help him to work on the car this weekend?" I nodded at him "Great, He talks about you a lot since he started dating your mother back then, and now he still talks about you." Mitchell talks about me? "He cares for you, I can see it in his eyes." Ariel came up as Martin looked at his granddaughter "Ariel."

"Hey, Grandpa… What's bringing you here?" She asked, Martin always brings gifts for his grandchildren, he notices right away that he brought her something.

"Hey, Ariel. Your gift is inside along with the boy's gift." He said Ariel turns around running inside the house while her mother is waiting for her. Martin looked at me "And I got you something, too Henrietta."

"It's Henry." I told him "I preferred Henry."

"Henry, alright Henry." Martin said "Mitchell told me you like to read?" I nodded at him, he turns to his car grabbing a box of books "Well, My wife Sally doesn't want this anymore, and I've thought of you." he held the box in his arms as I open the lid of the box, picked up a book Dune Chronicles by Frank Herbert, I never had these books. "I'm sure, you'll like them."

"Thank you, Martin." I told him "I never had these books before."

"Sally loves these books, she knew Ariel wouldn't like them, so we wanted to give these books to you." He mentioned his wife, who I met only once. He wanted to take those to my room. I don't normally let anyone in my room beside my mother and my dog. Martin and I walked inside as Ariel stormed out of the house looking all mad. I wonder what was that about? Mitchell came downstairs with a sigh, Martin went up to him. "Everything alright?"

Mitchell turns to his father "It's Ariel, She doesn't like the gift you've got for her, and she doesn't like the junk car that I want her and kids to help me build for her birthday. It's like the kids are going against me for no reason." He said, Mom went up to him touching his arm. "At least Henry is here to help me out." turned to me with a smile, it was a small smile. Bark! We all turned to my dog, Mitchell laughed "You as well, boy."

"He's a beautiful dog, you have." Martin said, patting my dog's head "What's his name?"

My mother spoke up "She named him Geralt of Rivia from the book called the Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski. You can call him Geralt for short. The boys and Mitchell like him, they help out a lot, but Geralt is more attached to Henry." Geralt came up beside me, I patted his head. "Sweetie, why don't you go take him for a walk. And I'll wait for you." I

nodded at her, wanting to go put up my things, Martin followed so that he could put the box on the bed for me until I got back.

After my walk with Geralt, I went to wash my hands and now I'm going to help mom with dinner. She wanted to make a recipe for Shrimp and Chicken Alfredo, Geralt was with Mitchell and Martin in the living room having a conversation. Mom was cooking the chicken as I'm putting the frozen shrimp in the cold water bowl, when Mitchell came in "Henry, sweetie?" He said, I turn away from the shrimp, as mom turns away from the chicken. He's nervous. "Um…" he was completely nervous, turned my head to the side, and heard my mother giggle.

I'd turn to my mother who was still giggling "Henry, Mitchell wanted to know if you would like him to adopt you?" My mother asked for him, adopted me?

"Yes, Your mother and I have been talking for quite some time now… and maybe it's time that maybe you want to take on the family last name?" He asked me, I didn't know what to say, I mean that is nice of him.

"You want to adopt me?" I question him

"Yes, more than anything… I know you never had a relationship with your biological father." He still doesn't know what I have, mom is keeping a secret from him. "If you want to take your time to think about it, it's fine with me." Mitchell turns around headed back to the living room where his father is and my dog. After he steps out, I turn to my mother the look I've given her.

"Sweetie-"

"You haven't told him?" I question her

She sighed "I can't tell him, without your permission. And It's not my place to say either. I want to respect you sweetie, I know it's been a rough patch since my father/your grandfather passed." She mentions grandpa, as I turn to see his spirit standing next to her.

"Mom.?" I called her as she turned to me. I want it to tell her that he's still here and to stay quiet for a moment, turn towards the entrance toward the living room. Turn back to my mother, "Grandpa, is still here." I whispered to her.

"He didn't cross over?" She whispered back

"No, he didn't want to leave… He wanted to stay and help me, but I annoyed the spirits every time I saw one." I admit to her "I stopped helping since he passed." I want it to tell her about this weird connection that I felt towards that new boy Felix. But she wouldn't understand because she'd not a Clairvoyance. I didn't say anything else to her, went back to getting the shrimps piling off the tail off it.

Dinner was ready, the boys didn't go with their mother, they were too busy playing Dungeon & Dragon in Stark's room. I went to feed Geralt, put his food bowl by his water bowl, stood up, turned around and walked towards the table pulling my chair. "Zen, Henry, this food looks great." Martin said "and Mitchell when you want to start building the car?"

"Tomorrow, I'm going to let Henry do her homework first before we start building up the car, she handed me a list of parts for it too." Mitchell said, Martin looked at me.

"You know how to fix and build a car, Henry?" He asked

I nod "Yes, I learned it from my grandfather, he had an old 1972 Chevrolet Truck." I told him.

"Mitchell told me about your grandfather Morpheus, right?" He said, I nodded "Is that his name?"

"Yes, he was named after a graphic novel The Sandman by Neil Gaiman. The Sandman is the God of Dream, goes by Morpheus." I told him, I remember when I first asked Grandpa Morpheus about his name, he told me that his father was named Morpheus as well.

"Wish I could have met him… I'm sure he and I would have gotten along well, I'm sorry for your loss Henry and Zen." He asked me and my mother "Are there any other families besides y'all?"

"Well, my mother's side of the family, They's dead when I was born. I didn't have any other relatives. I'm an only child." My mother said

"What was your mother's last name?" Martin asked

"My mother's maiden name was Lundgren." My mother said

Lundgren, that Swedish last name? "Grandma was from Sweden?" I question as my mother turns to me.

"Yes, I guess she's never told you… You have descent in Sweden and Irish descent as well, and for Morpheus he's American, also he's apart Australian. You are of Swedish, Irish, American and Australian descent."

"I never knew that?" I said, never know I have those within me, I wonder if anyone of decent family had Clairvoyance? "Wait, I thought grandpa's last name is Newton?"

"Well, He's mother's maiden name… he changed it, actually his maiden last name was Oceania." Oceania? I never heard that name before.

My mother didn't say anything else, as we all went back to eating… I think I like that last name Oceania, I wanted to know more about the Grandpa family tree. I see Grandpa's spirit behind mom, he was listening to the conversation. I saw a smile on his face, maybe I'll talk to him tonight when everyone's asleep. I went back to eating, still felt the connection towards Felix once again.

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