I hesitantly took the seat across from her and she leaned down as if made sure that we were both equal in height, as if trying to show that she wasn't a threat. "First, I want to hear your questions," she started. "I'm sure you have a thousand and I want to answer to my best ability." 

I grabbed the notebook I had been writing random things in since I returned home from school the previous day, and her eyes widened when I motioned to the fifty-three scribbled out notes. "I have a lot," I told her sheepishly. 

"It's a good thing we have some time then. Usually first day is for rules and regulations, but I figure you're not exactly itching to abuse your ability so we can skip over that until tomorrow if it's truly needed." 

"Okay," I replied and looked over the questions. Some were super dumb, and I couldn't help but ask my first question, "Am I going to burn myself?" 

While I thought it was a stupid question, she grew serious. "Obviously fire is a dangerous tool. As long as it's used correctly in the right hands, no one should get hurt." She sighed. "Have you heard of everblaze?" I shook my head. "When pyrokinetics were allowed to manifest once more, everblaze was completely still against the law to summon. It's almost impossible to control an everblaze flame and extinguish it." 

"Really?" 

"Everblaze is the reason the ability was ruled out in the first place. It killed plenty of pyrokinetics who summoned it by burning them alive, and as of now pyrokinetic is still the only known ability to have killed elves without the previous intention to kill." I got confused at that last part until I saw her swallow and I realized that in the rebellion way back, she must have seen people die at the hands of other elves abilities intentionally. She took a deep breath. "I can promise you I will never teach you how to summon it, but it is a flame you could summon on your own. I am warning you not to. It has extremely dangerous repercussions. Not only legally, but it could harm you and everyone around you." 

"What about normal flames?" I asked. "Will those burn me?" 

She sighed. "It depends how trained you are and what exactly you're doing. Sophie told me that in the middle of a fight with a pyrokinetic her father, who as you know is a mesmer, convinced someone to burn themselves. Also, that same person set a fire to their home that killed his fiance but only left him scarred. 

Of course, I knew what she was talking about. With so few elves to have died, the ones who have are like scary stories told to children so they keep careful. But still, I had heard the story of Jolie Reuwen multiple times besides that. It was even mentioned in a history book that included "modern" history of Sophie Foster. 

"Okay," I replied before looking back down at my notes. "Will I get to learn how to like... suck in fire and get rid of it?" 

She laughed lightly. "You can't absorb fire, Nova. You'll learn to control fire. But you'll also learn that certain flames are almost impossible to control." 

I nodded and then looked down at my next question. "Is pyrokineticy just fire or is it heat as well? Because I went to my parent's restaurant this morning and when I was near the oven I could feel the heat calling to me." 

She nodded. "I think I've mentioned this to you before, but it's almost the same as hydrokineticy except instead of water, we're drawn to fire. Since you're best friends with Blythe Song, I imagine that you've met her aunt Linh Vacker?" I nodded. "Have you noticed how Linh is able to feel out how moist it can be inside a room. It's the same way we can feel out how warm it can be inside a room." 

We continued to go back and forth on different questions after that, and Marella tried to successfully answer as many as she could. There were a few that stumped her, because it was topics she hadn't even thought of trying out, so she simply said we could work on those as our lesson progressed. 

"You see, I know all you want to do is learn how to control them," she had told me, "but aren't you at least interested in learning the extent of what you can do?" 

I didn't have a reply, because I didn't know what exactly I thought. But soon enough the session was done and I was taking home a book on pyrokinetics she had check out for me and disguised so it didn't look suspicious I'd be holding it. 

When I sat down at study hall instantly the first thing I wanted to do was turn to Blythe and tell her everything, and I almost did. What stopped me was seeing Eamon sit across the room surrounded by his normal crowd. I looked to Blythe and she was intently studying a book on phasing, which she had manifested in back when we were in level two. I figured she had mastered it after so long, but she still took lots of time in her day to work on getting even better. She was determined to become a stronger guster than her mother, who was strong enough to part water--a feat very little gusters had the strength to do. 

"Are you free after school?" she asked me, not looking up from her book. 

"I'm not sure," I replied, still looked at Eamon from across the room. Suddenly we locked eyes and he smiled lightly at me before turning back to his best friend beside him. I jumped slightly when I heard his voice in my mind, Ready to admit you want to talk about your ability session with me? 

We locked eyes once more and he sent me his signature smirk before pretending to open a book. I turned to Blythe to address her question. "I think I might have something to do straight after school but maybe a little bit after?" I wasn't sure what to say. I still wasn't sure about hanging out with Eamon, who was still looking through whatever textbook was in front of him. 

He quickly pointed to his head before tilting his chin towards me, as if asking a question before transmitting the previously unspoken words, Can you open your mind to me so I know what you're replying? 

I slightly nodded my head at him as Blythe told me, "That won't work. Are you free tomorrow? I know your parents have you help them on Wednesday nights but right after school you'll be free, right?" 

I nodded my head at her. "That'll work," I said before we both returned to our books. 

Well, I instead looked at Eamon. Are you going to come after school? he questioned me. My mom said she'll make some cool snacks. She's an amazing cook. 

My parents literally cook for a living, I held back a snort in reply. 

Oh yeah. He frowned. Well, either way are you coming? I want to know a lot about this too. Aunt Marella doesn't talk about her ability a lot but I find it super cool. 

I shrugged. I mean. . . I really thought it over for a moment and knew because my mind was open to him, he knew what was racing. I guess I'll come over. But first I'll have to go to my house to drop some stuff off. 

Cool, I'll come with, he offered. 

I gave him a nod. You can come if you get out of my head now so I can study. 

Aww, but your mind is so interesting, he fake cooed before grinning at me and I knew that he was no longer reading my thoughts despite his joke. I smiled back at him before looking back at my book. 

"What were you smiling at?" Blythe asked me, confused. 

"Nothing," I replied. 

She looked in the direction I had once been looking in and her eyes widened. "Eamon is staring at you right now," she informed me. "Is there something going on there?" 

I shook my head. "No," I told her, and it was true. Because nothing was happening between us. 

"Are you sure? Because I know that in a year we're all allowed to apply for our matchmaking lists and maybe you're trying to get out more-"

"Stop talking," I cut her off, chuckling. "Nothings going on between us. I promise." 

She narrowed her eyes but nodded. "I thought you hated him." 

"I thought I did too," I told her. "But after we smacked into each other we had a normal conversation and I guess he's not too bad. He still calls me Poopy though and it makes me want to ram his head into a wall." It felt nice to at least open up about something to my best friend. 

"Well, he's honestly not worth it. I've literally been stuck around him my whole life. I don't recommend you get involved. He's literally a carbon copy of his dad but instead of getting the nice caring genes that redeemed Keefe Foster, instead he's only the pain in the butt part. He's very manipulative. You'll notice if you continue to hang out with him." After that she stayed silent, and I wondered if she was mad at me but when study hall ended we said our usual goodbyes and I hugged her before she went to her house. 

"Ready to go Poopy?" Eamon came up beside me. 

"One day, do you think you'll call me at least Novena, even if you can't say Nova for some reason." 

He pretended to think about it. "What if I call you Poppy, like your middle name, instead. It'll mean more later on if I give you a nickname at least." 

"What?" I looked at him in confusion but he only winked so I let out a sigh. "I'll take Poppy." 

"Ready to go?" 

I sighed. Ready as I'd ever be to spend an entire afternoon with not only Eamon Foster, but the rest of his family as well. 

***

sorry this is late my friends. work and school have been kicking my butt. also i'm starting to apply for college. life is messy y'all don't grow up :(

also i started a 30 day writing challenge and so far i've been doing great. for the month of october i'll be posting a letter to someone a day. it's the book on my profile entitled "thirty letters from the[my?] heart" so if y'all wanna read it it's there and ig it'll help you get to know me a bit more if you want. 

chapter question: what do you want to be when you grow up?