KOTLC Grady Fanfic Ch.5

Instructions

Chapter 5: <><><><><><><><><> Anger boils somewhere deep inside of me as I try to process what just happened. Did Terik just DUMP me because I manifested as a Mesmer? No way. He knows I would never mesmerize HIM…right? I can’t believe that just happened. I stand there, distraught, staring at Terik as he turns hat corner, not even bothering to cast a glance in my direction. Since I’m facing the opposite direction, I don’t see the kid coming up behind me. I’m pretty sure his name is Abben. He reaches out and shoves me, so hard that I topple to the ground. I take a deep breath, trying not to get angry as I push myself up. Abben smirks at me. “Nobody wants you here, Mesmer,” he says. I don’t meet his eyes as I slowly stand up, afraid I’ll accidentally mesmerize him. “You and your weird ability can go right in Exillium, where you belong.” “Hey!” A new voice joins in, but this one isn’t a boy’s. It’s a girl’s, soft and sweet yet also strong and serious at the same time. “Leave him alone. What’d he ever do to you, huh?” I crane my neck to see the girl that the voice belongs to. She has long, wavy amber hair and turquoise eyes. Along with her green Level Four uniform, she’s carrying a hunter-green satchel that appears to be stuffed with books. Abben smirks. “He’s a Mesmer. What did he ever NOT do?” The amber-haired girl crosses her arms. “Did he mesmerize YOU?” Abben hesitates, then mutters, “No, but—” The girl doesn’t let him finish. “Then what are you getting at?” Abben glares. “Whatever, weirdo. Go back to the rock you live under.” He gives the girl a shove, not forceful enough to knock her over, but hard enough to send her stumbling back a few feet. With that, he walks away, accepting high-fives and pats on the back. (Seriously?) The girl shakes her head, extending a hand to help me up. “Ugh. Abben’s so annoying, right?” I take her hand, hoping my own isn’t shaking too hard. Pretty girls make me nervous, and this girl is REALLY pretty. “Um. Yeah. I guess so.” GET IT TOGETHER, GRADY, I scold myself. The girl rolls her eyes. “Seriously, though. Don’t let Abben get to you. He’s just jealous that you have a super cool ability while he’s stuck Talentless.” “My ability isn’t super cool,” I mumble. “Are you kidding? Being able to control everything everyone does? That’s the coolest ability EVER! If I were a Mesmer, the first thing I’d do is make Abben kick himself to the Forbidden Cities. Maybe I’d throw in Juren and his group of friends, too. Aren’t those kids jerks?” I hesitate, thinking of Terik. Then I say, “Yeah. Yeah, they are jerks.” The girl smiles and sticks out her hand. “I’m Edaline.” I hold out my hand, which is still shaking (dang it!). “Uh, Grady. Grady Ruewen.” Edaline smiles. “Don’t give yourself a hard time about your ability, Grady. After all, I think being unique is better than being normal.” And with that, she walks away, leaving me standing there openmouthed. I can’t tell if it’s with shock or love.