Chapter 18

Instructions

After winning the third round, Mason asked me, “How the heck do you do that?” I thought for a minute. “It’s like playing chess. You want to be ahead of your opponent. I like being six steps ahead, and most of the time, I am.” “Of course you are,” He said, sardonically. “Maybe we could do something that's more your thing.” I said. “Do you play any sports?” “I like basketball.” “Okay, let's do that.” I said, trying to hide the fact that I had no idea how to play. We looked around for a court we could play on, and more importantly, a ball we could play with. After a while, I found one. “Sweet!” Mason said. “Now all we need to do is find a court.” “Right here is as good as any.” I said. The room was huge, and it had some boxes we could use as baskets. “That works.” He said. We found a few bricks and stacked them so high that the pile was about eight or nine feet tall. We sat the boxes on top, then we started to play. I tried to block him from getting any closer to the hoop, but that didn’t matter, he threw the ball straight into the hoop. “Man, I thought you’d be better at basketball.” “Well, uh…” “You’ve never played?” His eyes went wide, and he looked surprised. I shook my head, feeling an awkward smile invading my face. “No?” “Okay, here.” He came up to me and put the ball in my hands. Then he placed my hands where they needed to be. “Okay.” Then he pointed the ball towards the hoop. “Now throw.” I did, and just like a magnet to a fridge, the magnate went straight to the hoop. It made it in. “Wow, that was awesome.” “You’re a natural.” He said. “Thanks.” I looked up, and saw him looking at me, then I realized he was still holding my hands, but for some strange reason, I didn’t care. He was handsome, his short brown hair, with his green eyes. We gradually became close and closer before- “What are you guys doing?” Calvin asked, coming down the stairs. We broke apart. “Uh…nothing.” I said, feeling my face go red. “Just…uh…just practicing some basketball.” “Okay?” He said. “Breakfast is ready if you guys want to come up.” “Sure.” Mason said. We awkwardly made our way up the stairs. We didn’t look at each other at all on the way up. During breakfast, if we did ever lock eyes, we would just stare at each other for a minute, then bury ourselves in our conversations. Later, I went to explore the library, and found Mason reading a book. How to fence. I couldn’t help but laugh. I immediately regretted it. He looked up, and his ears went red. I grabbed the first book I could get my hands on and pried it open. He walked over. “You know that book is upside down, right?” I looked at the book for the first time. The print was upside down. “Oh, yeah…o-of course I knew that…” He laughed. “Well, see you at dinner.” “Oh, y-yeah, see you then.” At dinner that night, Calvin told us he had a surprise for us. “What is it?” Mason asked. “Yeah.” I said. We locked eyes. We both blushed, and looked away. “Well, this is more for the girls, but I guess it’s a win for all of us.” He opened a door to the one room I had never been in. I was always worried it had traps like that other room. Me and Mason went to walk in at the same time, and both stopped. “Uh…A-after you.” I nodded and walked in, I was amazed at what I was looking at. “What is this place?” Willow asked. “This, my friends-” Elly gave him a look. “Right.” He cleared his throat. “This, my friends, and associates, is the girls room!” All us girls squealed with excitement. Except, of course, Elly. She just smiled and stood in the corner, so it was really just me and Willow freaking out. “Oh…my…gosh!” Willow said. “It’s so cute!” “This is so cool!” I said, amazed. “How did you-” “Well, with a few of my Fire friends,” He winked at Elly, “they were able to melt the rocks I created.” “But I thought-” “I can only make them with strong emotions. Well,” He looked over at Elly, but only so much I could see. “I had some pretty strong emotions to think about.” “Wait, do you…” His face went so red, it was hard to cover up. “Jewel, come look at this.” Willow yelled. That’s when Calvin took the chance. When I looked back, he was gone. I sat there, dumbstruck until Willow called for me again. I walked over to Willow to see what she was talking about. “What are these markings over the beds?” “They are the marks of the elements.” I looked at one of them. I was surprised to see it. I had drawn that marking so many times, not knowing what it was. It looks like an M but it had curves crossing it out, and then there were waves at the bottom of it. It almost felt a part of me, but that wasn’t what surprised me the most. What surprised me the most, was that it was moving. “Can you guys see that?” “What?” It kept moving, then suddenly it transformed into words. “What the-” “What?” Willow asked. “What’s wrong?” “You guys seriously can’t see that?” “See what? Jewel, what are you talking about?” “Look, that marking.” “Yeah?” “It just changed shape.” “Jewel, are you okay?”