Prologue
Six Years Ago…
The numbing cold wind hit my flustered red cheeks while I was trying to catch a snowflake. Yes! Finally a little white flurrie landed softly on my tongue. As soon as it dissolved, a numbing sensation hit my cheek. Not wind, something even colder than that. I touched my cheek, realizing it was all covered with the white dusting from the ground. I turned my head to look at where it came from. A person with devious green eyes and vampire-white pale skin stood there, with another snowball aimed at me. This wasn’t just any person. This was Layla DeCaltaldo, who has been my best friend ever since we were three. The snowball in her hand landed on my face with a splat before I could react. “LAYLA!” I yelled at her. She made an innocent face with those devious eyes of hers. “What did I do?” She asked, trying to hide her smile. I looked at my feet. There was some snow. I focused on the white dusting, and without even touching them, they formed into five snowballs. “Laylaaa? Where aaarrrreee youuuu?” I yelled in a singsongy voice. I picked up the snowballs with my hands, realizing that Layla had run away, and that she knew what I was about to do. I ran to the front yard, where I knew she would be.
There she was, hiding in my garage. I took the chance before she noticed me to throw snowballs at her… with my mind. Two snowballs landed on her head, and another in her lap. The two others hit her in the face. I started dying with laughter.
“And that, my friend, is why you don’t mess with Melanie Elaine Robinson.” I helped her up as her angry face turned into a I-will-get-you-for-this face.
“Can I make it up to you with some hot chocolate and my mom’s famous ooey gooey chocolate cookies?” I nudged her. Her scowl turned into a smile. “OF COURSE!!”
Present Day
I smile at the memory, knowing that I had such great control of my powers when I was twelve. But, while I’m staring at this Junewell University acceptance letter, I’m thinking, how am I going to earn that control back?
Chapter One
I decide to lay in my bed and surf the Internet for scholarships under JWU. Since Dad can’t afford to pay for me to go there right now, might as well make it easy on him. He already has so much to do for me and Tyler, my brother. He’s a widower, we lost our mom in a house fire when I was thirteen.
I can’t find anything that could help my dad with the payment, so I’ll just tell him about Junewell when he gets home tonight at eleven or so.
Oh! I forgot to tell you about me. My name’s Melanie. A former Roanoke, Virginia resident, but we just moved to Chapel Hill, NC this year because of a job offer for my dad. My best friend, Layla DeCaltando, is still living in Roanoke, but they come up here every once in a while. Considering it’s a 4-hour drive, it’s not that fun to come to my house for her family. Layla says she is definitely going to JWU, so if I choose it, I’ll have her near me!
I also have a little brother, named Tyler. My old stepmom had him three years ago. My dad keeps looking for someone to fill the right side of his bed, on the same mattress where Mom used to lay. I’ve been telling him to give up for the past two years. Tyler feels like real family. We found him on our doorstep, when our old stepmom divorced with Dad. In a split second, Dad recognized Tyler, and Dad took him under his own wing. Well, technically, I take care of Tyler, but Dad makes the money for it. He’s a professor at UNC Chapel Hill.
Oh, did I mention I had powers? Yeah, when I was eleven, some guy who was wearing a white lab coat gave me this yellow liquid. He said I was “Special”. Being the gullible little girl I was, I drank it, and BOOM! Four powers; fire, water, air, and nature. Layla calls it “Ele-Mel-tal” because my nickname is Mel, and, well, I think you get it.
So there’s a little about the Robinson family.
Chapter 2
Two Months later…
Okay, so I’m officially going to Junewell! I’ve packed all my boxes and am ready to go. I still haven’t mastered the controlling thing, I still throw fire when I’m angry, and when I’m sad, I’ll use my mind to wreck everything. I can’t help it. Tomorrow I leave, and classes start in two weeks.
“Tomorrow’s the big day!” Dad reminds me as I pour myself a glass of tea. The clock reads 6:42 PM. We came over to the DeCataldo’s for dinner tonight. Layla and I, after dinner, are packing our cars together and leaving bright and early tomorrow. My dad made us dinner.
“What do you guys want to drink?”
I make a mental list in my mind of what I need to pour. Mr. and Mrs. DeCaltaldo say water, Layla says Mtn. Dew, and Catherine, Layla’s pesky sister, says Sprite. I made the drinks (including one sweet tea for Tyler and one water for Dad) and sprinted back to the table, eager to eat.
***
The food was so yummy! They make the best food. Layla and I go outside to pack.
After eating and packing, I’m super tired. I snuggle under my sheets, close my eyes, and...
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
It’s already five o’clock? We spent the night in Hustisford since it’s easier. I stretch and get out of bed. Everything in this room is practically empty, except for a bed, a nightstand, a couple beanbag chairs, and the TV that hangs over the bed. Oh, and the outfit I chose for today. I go into the bathroom and put on the little makeup I left. I’ll throw it into the car when I get out there. Mascara, blush, and the tiniest bit of lipstick.
I slip out of my pajamas and into a Junewell sweater from when I went there to visit last year. I pulled on a pair of leggings, since it’s oddly cold right now.
I went down one flight of stairs and into my dad’s bedroom, (aka the guest bedroom). He is awake. I think he has insomnia, because if I go into his bedroom at 3am, he’s staring at the ceiling, or wandering around his room.
"Hey there, sweetheart!" He kissed my forehead. “I really hope you have fun at Junewell. I’ll miss you taking care of Tyler. Now I have to pay for a babysitter--” --He rolls his eyes-- “But anyways, I wanted to thank you for taking care of Tyler, going to the grocery store when I couldn’t, and just- just-” He starts tearing up. I give him a huge hug. “I love you. Call me when you’re out of class. Every single day. Every. Single. Day.”
“Okay. I will. I’ll miss you.”
He literally starts crying.
“Dad, I think it’s time to go.” I try to avoid eye contact, since I’m crying. Don’t cry, my mom used to say. It makes you seem like a wimp. And you don’t wanna be a wimp, right?
Of course, I said no. No one wants to be a wimp.
Thinking of my mom just made the tears more courageous to stream down my face.
“You’re crying, I know it. Mel, don’t hide it.”
I looked up.
….then looked back down.
“I love you, Dad. You know that.” I smiled at him.
“I know. I do, too.”
Suddenly I notice Tyler looking confused at the doorway.
“Hey, sugar!” I pick him up and swing him onto my left hip.
“Mel-Mel, are you leaving?” He asked, concerned.
“Sadly, yes. But, trust me, I’ll be back. Maybe not soon, but I’ll be back.” I smile at him with red, cloudy eyes. “Plus, I’ll always put on those awesome shows with fire!” I spot a couple candles scattered around, and immediately, they light on fire.
“Yay!” Tyler exclaims. I burn them out with a little spray of water.
“I really gotta go…” I tell my family. They follow me downstairs to where Mrs. DeCaltando and Layla are sitting.
“You ready?” Layla asks.
“Of course!” We take turns hugging each other’s parents and our own. We grab our bags, which have our Macs, our phones, and makeup in them.
We say goodbye to each other and get in our own cars. And we're off! Junewell's four hours away.
An hour later, I decide to stop by Chick-fil-a for breakfast. While I’m getting a chicken biscuit, I notice a shady figure behind me. I shrug it off, because lots of people like dark clothes..
The man at the window notices my packed car. “Going to college?” He asks, handing me my diet Coke. “Yup,” I tell him.
“Wisconsin State?” He asks. I forget that I’m really close to Wisconsin State right now.
“Nope. Junewell.” He looks astonished as he hands me my bag.
“Junewell’s almost as hard to get into as an Ivy League!” He exclaims.
I shrug. “Yeah, I guess. Wish me a good three-hour trip!” I give him a ten and a five. “Keep the change!” I yell as I leave.
The shadowy figure keeps following me. I start freaking out. I move over to the turn lane and FINALLY he passes me. I get a glimpse of his face. Tousled hair, dark clothes, piercings, and I think brown eyes. He has a JWU bumper sticker and a packed car. I sigh. Guess I’ll be seeing this creep soon.
Chapter 3
A Couple Hours Later…
Finally! I’m here! Junewell Road…
My roommate’s name is Rowan. We talked over email last month, and she said she would bring the TV and beanbag chairs. I said I would bring the mini-fridge and desks.
***
“Welcome to Junewell. Can I have your name?” The husky voice at the front of Hunckel Dorm asks.
“Melanie Robinson. Dorm 563?” I ask.
“Yes. Here’s your key, and the introductory meeting is tomorrow at 8 pm.”
On my way up to the dorm, I accidentally bump into a guy. “Sorry,” He mumbles. “Hey, wait! You’re the girl that was in the white Mazda,” he yells from behind me. I turn around slowly. It’s the goth guy in black.
“You followed me…” I pointed at him with a furrowed brow.
“Yeah, sorry. You had a JWU sticker on your car, like the ones that we get in the acceptance letters, right? And you had a packed car, plus you looked like you knew where you were going, so.. sorry. Really, really sorry.” He paused for a gulp of breath.
“It’s seriously okay. I didn’t catch your name…” I raised my eyebrows.
“Ethan.”
“Cool. I’m Mel, or Melanie. Whatever you want to call me,” I paused. “I think I’m gonna go to my dorm.” I held up the two boxes I was carrying.
“Okay. See you around?”
“Yeah. See ya!”
***
Rowan isn’t here yet. I set my bed up on the left loft. I also put the mini-fridge in the corner, and had Layla’s help to set up the desks. I decorated the place with white Christmas lights. I ran an extension cord to my bed.
“I think it’s all done,” I tell Layla. “I think so too,” She smiles. “It’s pretty.”
***
I spent the rest of the day with Ethan and Layla touring and looking at the buildings. We’re all freshmen, so this was all new to us. Who knew a girl with such frilly taste would befriend a goth? I smile.
I sit in my empty room. Rowan just sent me an email saying she’ll be here in two days. Hmph! The dean sent me an email saying be here by tomorrow. Guess she’ll miss out!
Chapter 4
The Next Day…
“Welcome to Junewell, students!” The dean, Dr. Lancaster, yells into his mic. Ethan, Layla, and I sit together. “I have something to tell you guys, first of all… this school, secretly, is for Exousions.” Lots of us look at our own friends, seeing if they know what he means. Ethan and I exchange looks, and he shrugs.
“Okay, so apparently none of you know what that means… it’s, uh, it means you have powers.” The three of us exchange glances. You’re serious? Layla has… powers? Her eyes widen and look at me. I just shake my head and look back at Dr. Lancaster.
“I know what you’re thinking. ‘She has powers? He has powers?’ Yes. They do. I’ll read off a list now of your peers and their powers.”
I sit for a little while, until I hear a familiar name. DeCaltaldo, Layla.
“Weather, nature.” Dr. Lancaster smiles.
I nudge her. “Y’know I’m not mad at you, right?”
Her scowl turns into a toothy grin.
“Karnes, Ethan.” We all lean in to listen for his powers.
“Air, Flying.” I poke at him, and he smiles.
“Robinson, Melanie. Fire, water, air, and nature! Congrats, Melanie! Our first elemental of the year!” I blush.
Dr. Lancaster talks about classes and how to get around campus. We already know about this, so a lot of us leave.
I feel like someone’s watching me. We all split up, Ethan going to the boy’s corridor of Hunckel, and Layla going to Fredrick Hall.
I’m so happy when I get to my dorm. The only Elemental here! What most astonishes me is that there are over 6,000 kids that are supernatural! I throw myself on the bed, and open my eyes. I look around, only to notice that MY DORM IS TOTALLY TRASHED! I notice some dead roses next to my door and start freaking out. What is happening?
[CHAPTER 5 COMING SOON!]