"Wha- Raven? Raven!" I scream into the silence of my bedroom, knowing that she won't come back, but I try anyway. Why did she just leave? Just disappear into thin air just like everything else in my life? She seemed melancholy about whatever I said. Did I say something mean and not realize it? I can't seem to remember exactly what I had brought up before she left. Something about passing powers to someone, but I don't see how that's bad.

As I glance back over to the clock, I realize that I am missing school and lunch is probably almost over, considering I left around that time. If I miss class, people are going to start to suspect something, plus I don't want to get in trouble for ditching class. I jump off the bed and feel a sharp prick in the bottom of my foot.

"Frick!"

I reach below my bare foot and find a bobby pin laying in the palm of my hand. Raven. I shake away my thoughts and quickly gallop down the stairs, pull on my shoes, and run out the door. I run as fast as I can and to be honest, this is probably the most exercise I have ever done. My thighs are in immense pain and my lungs feel like they are on fire. My legs are becoming numb as I reach the school building and realize that I'll have no way to get in. I circle around to the back of the school to see if there are any open windows or doors. I feel like I am a criminal trying to break in, which I kind of am. I just have to get in undetected, so I don't get into trouble and quietly get back to class to learn, just like any other student. Maybe there will be a janitor outside and I can ride inside their garbage can to the inside of the building. Sounds like a scene from some sort of comedy movie.

As I am thinking of several possibilities and outcomes of those possibilities, I notice one of the gym teachers on the roof of the building, picking up a few stray dodge balls that had landed on the roof. A plan instantly formulates in my head and I find myself racing to the bike rack by the side of the building. I hoist myself up onto the metal railing and lean my hands onto the bricks to keep myself steady. I notice several bricks conveniently jutting out from the wall on the corner of where two sides of the building meet. To reach the corner, I inch myself towards it by sliding my feet cautiously along the metal rail, careful not to slip. Once I reach the corner, I grasp my hand around one of the rough bricks and put my foot on another. The first time I try to lift myself up, I loose my balance and fall back onto the rail, keeping myself from the ground by holding tightly to the wall. I catch my breath for a few seconds before pulling myself up on the bricks again. Each time I move one of my limbs to grip a new section of the brick, I take a few seconds to take a deep breath and continue. Once I reach the top, I wrap my arm around the edge of the roof and look back down. It seems like I had climbed Mt. Everest, but it was only around 9 feet, which is mildly disappointing, but when I feel the breeze of afternoon sway through my hair and the sun tan the skin on my arms, I know I made it.

I swing myself over the ledge and onto the gravel of the roof, crouching down before surveying the area around me. The gym teacher has clearly departed and all that's left is the rocky rooftop and a door on a small brick structure in the middle of the roof. I casually walk to the metal door and wonder if lunch is over yet. As I twist the knob, it gets stuck and I rattle it for a few seconds before considering the possibility that the door is locked.

"Crap."

I then remember earlier when Raven used a bobby-pin to get into my house, which she said she learned from her brother. Her brother. Is that why she left? She got really uncomfortable when I mentioned it the first time, but I didn't say anything before she abandoned me. Unless... what if one of the people who passed their powers on was her brother. Does that mean he died? Now I understand.

I reach into my pocket and grab the bobby-pin I found on the carpet in my room earlier and slide it into the lock. My fingers twist the pin around, trying to mimic how Raven slipped the pin into the lock and jiggled it precisely to click the lock open. After minutes of trying to move the pin around, I give up. I slide my back down the door in frustration and hopelessness, pressing my face into my palms. Suddenly I hear the click of the lock and I quickly stumble to get up. In disbelief, I twist the cool knob and the door responsively swings open. Trying not to think about it too much, I hastily descend into a dark abyss of stairs. There are about two flights of stairs before I reach yet another door. I couldn't open the first door alone, but another door is going to be impossible. I curl my fingers around the knob uncertainly and twist it, but to my surprise this door swings open, just like the last one. Did the gym teacher do this? Maybe he was lazy or maybe...

My thoughts are interrupted when a group of students pass by in the hall and I am snapped back to reality. I hide behind the door until the kids pass. Then, I quietly close the door to the roof and sprint to what class I assume is next. English.

By the time I reach my English class, I am out of breath and have to lean against the wall to regain my calm manor for what trouble may ensue. I take a deep breath and push the door open. Everyone in the class turns their head and attention toward me, making me stagger a bit, but I steady myself, take a small breath, and walk to my seat in front of Ethan and Ashley. I sit down with a slight creak of the desk, letting the silence of the classroom swallow me whole.

"Ahem." Mr. Swinburne clears his throat before continuing. "Luna, do you have a pass?"

"Not...necessarily."

"Would you mind telling the class why you're late then?"

"Uh, no thanks."

"Well, if you don't tell the class, I-I will, um, I'll call home. Yes that's what I'll do! I'll call your parents."

"Fine. I-I was-um-I forgot my backpack-in my locker." I suddenly realize that my backpack is still outside in that alley, just waiting to be stolen.

"So where is your backpack Miss Luna?"

"In- in my locker." The whole class laughs and I slump further into my seat.

"Alright, well let's all get back to the lesson class, if there are no further interruptions." I honestly thought I would get into more trouble than that and am relieved by only minor embarrassment as my punishment.

"Hey." I feel a finger tap my shoulder from behind. I turn around and am met eye to eye with Ashley.

"Hey, what?"

"Why were you late to class?"

"No reason."

"No seriously, why?"

"I was hanging out with a friend, outside by the bike racks."

"Who were you hanging out with?" I try to think of what to say. I can't say Raven. It just doesn't seem right to tell Ashley about her and it would spark further questions.

"Lucas," I blurt. A lie. I just told a lie and I don't know how I will ever cover it up.

Her eyes widen in surprise, but soon her eyebrows crease into what I can only describe as jealousy. I turn around and watch as Mr. Swinburne babbles on about the inciting incident of a story. Why did I tell Ashley that I was hanging out with Lucas? Now she is going to want to gather evidence about our relationship and purposely try to ruin it. I just wanted a nice friendship with him, maybe even more, but now it's all ruined because of this stupid lie.

I scowl back into my seat, barely paying attention to the lesson until the teacher mentions the project due at the end of the hour. I completely forgot about the project that Raven and I never finished last night! On top of being late and publicly humiliated, I will be even more humiliated by having a late assignment. I bury my face into my hands which turn to fists trying to hold back the tears that are beginning to prick my eyes.

"Hey, Luna." I look up with blurred vision and see a faint outline of someone standing over me, but when I blink away the tears, I realize it's Raven. I quickly look around to see everyone frozen in their spots and look back up at Raven who is already leaning down to look at me properly. She takes the pad of her thumb and carefully wipes my tears away, never looking away from my eyes once.

"Wha- Raven, I thou-" I sniffle, but am interrupted when I am pulled into a warm hug. I can smell the scent of a field of lilacs and the warmth of a crackling fire. I sink into her embrace and let my tears stain her dark hoodie. When she pulls away, I can physically feel the warmth leave my body and the feeling of safety retreat.

"You okay?" She asks in a soft, soothing voice.

"Yeah, I just thought you were mad at me cause-"

"I'm not mad, I was just reminded of something that happened to me recently. Now, let's get that project done." She smiles and gets up, starting to walk through the jungle of frozen bodies toward her desk.

"Was it your brother?" Raven stops in her tracks and slowly turns around to meet my eyes with a surprised stare.

"Wh-what?" Raven stutters.

"Your brother. Did it have to do with your brother?"

"No! Yes, I just- let's just do the project, okay?" The sudden coldness from her is startling and I can only do what she says and follow her to her desk. "So I remembered that we hadn't finished the project and decided that since you know of my powers now, we can easily finish it on time by, you know, pausing time." The sudden change of mood confuses me, but I play along if it means getting the project done on time.

"Yeah," Is the only thing I manage to say.

"So where did we leave off?" Her eyes now contain shimmers of delight and determinedness to get the project done as she waits for my answer.

"I'm pretty sure we only did like three questions." I force a laugh which only evaporates into awkward silence.

"Yeah."

"So do you just want to do this over texting like last time?"

"Sure! I'll get my phone and worksheet out, I trust you'll do the same?"

"Yup." I twist through the rows of still bodies and it still really creeps me out of how they are just, not moving. They almost seem dead. When I look down to retrieve my worksheet from my backpack, I realise yet again that the bag is still outside. I am really forgetful at times. I sigh and turn back around only to find Raven laughing.

"Hey! Stop laughing! I'm sometimes a bit forgetful, but it's not that hilarious!"

"It's just-I-I have your backpack right here!" She is wheezing now with laughter and I don't quite understand how this is a laughable situation. I storm over to her and yank my backpack from beside her, plopping it down next to me. I ruffle through the contents and pull out the slightly crinkled page, ready to work. I take my phone from my pocket and open our conversation.

Raven: Ready?

Luna: Yup. First question. What happened to your brother?

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AN: hi, so sorry about not updating and stuff, but i won't give excuses because that's besides the point. thank you all for reading and i can't believe that this story is almost to 1k reads which is crazy!

i try to make each chapter around 2000 words which is part of the reason why it takes longer, but if you guys want me to update more frequently i can do shorter chapters around 1000 words. the reason i like to do longer chapters is because it is easier to split the book up into larger sections than many small sections. it makes it more organised in my opinion. but i know it takes a really long time to update so let me know if you would like shorter chapters for more frequent updates because i would be more than happy to do just that. :)

on another note, as i am approaching 1k, i had promised a q&a, so whenever i hit 1k, the following chapter in this book will have a section where you can ask questions for the q&a. for now just let me know if you would like the q&a to be in this story as an additional chapter thingy or if you want it separate from the book and for me to create another book for things like q&a's and other similar things. thanks so much for everything peoples! be sure to check out the stories in my bio(idk if that's what you call it on here).

さようなら(bye)!

-MoonSpirit :)