CHAPTER SIX:
ANCHOR

AURELIA STOOD THERE, HER ARMS crossed over her chest as she stubbornly looked at the woman that stood there in front of her. Raven had been standing there for ten minutes with Aurelia, both of them deciding that they would do the session outside. Today the blonde was being more stubborn than usual. She didn't want to take off her bracelet.

"You're letting fear consume you, Aria." Raven told the woman, placing her hands on her hips as looked at the young girl.

"Can you really blame me?" Aurelia questioned, mumbling the words as she tightened her arms around her frame.

"I can stand here all day." Raven told the woman. "But I don't think you want to do that."

"I don't want to do this." Aurelia sternly told the woman. "There's literally no point in doing something if it's never going to happen."

"It's not happening because you won't let it happen, Aria." Raven told her, making the girl frown slightly. "You fearing your powers has scared you enough to the point where you have it set in your mind that you'll never have control. You cannot think like that."

"So, you want me to lie to myself?" She cocked her head slightly.

"I thought you were supposed to be the most optimistic, happy-go-lucky person that walked the halls of this place?" Raven spoke with a sigh. Aurelia rose an eyebrow at the woman.

"I smile more than half the people in this school, and I'm actually nice and welcoming. I never said anything about optimism." Aurelia told her. Raven gave the blonde a blank look and Aurelia looked at her for a moment before sighing. "If I destroy the building somehow, it's your fault." She pointed a finger at the woman before mumbling words under her breath and taking a few steps away from Raven. The girl glanced down to her bracelet before sighing. "Here goes nothing."

She pulled the bracelet off of her wrist, clenching her hand into a fist before dropping the bracelet to the ground and slowly exhaling. She felt the power activate in her veins, blood being replaced with vibrations before she closed her eyes. She could feel the vibrations that were surrounding her, and all she needed to do was concentrate and just breathe. Or at least, that's what Raven was telling her to do. When the vibrations started falling from her fingers, she opened her eyes, watching as it hit the grass in front of her violently. And just as she thought she was doing it she began to panic. Before her powers could send her flying into the air, Raven grabbed a hold of her wrist and quickly put the bracelet on her.

"I always get close, and then I―︎"

"You panic." Raven said with a sigh and Aurelia nodded.

"I don't mean to." The blonde had frustrated tears in her eyes as she fisted her hair. Raven frowned as she looked at the girl. She knew that Aurelia was afraid of her gift, she was afraid because she knew how much damage could truly be done. She was afraid, and it seemed to be the only emotion she felt. Aurelia wiped the tears away and looked over to Raven who's eyebrows were furrowed. Aurelia frowned slightly. "Raven?"

"I think I know a way to help you." Raven told her, moving so that she was standing in front of her once again.

"How?" Aurelia questioned, frowning.

"I want you to try again." Raven told her. "But this time I want you to think of something or someone that makes you happy. And maybe if you focus on that person or thing, it'll help you to gain control."

"Kind of like an anchor?" Aurelia questioned.

"Exactly." Raven nodded her head, pointing to the girl. "Don't think about anything else. Don't think about the fear. Don't think about the possibilities that could happen. Think about your anchor."

"How will I know who or what my anchor is?" Aurelia frowned.

"Just close your eyes. And whoever brings you comfort, or whatever does, just focus on that." Raven told her. Aurelia just looked at her for a moment before shaking her head.

"Are you sure about this?"

"Aurelia―︎" Raven warned.

"Okay, okay." She put her hands up in surrender before rolling her shoulders and sighing. "Focus on someone or something that comforts me." She pulled her bracelet off her wrist once more, feeling the vibrations once again before she closed her eyes. "Focus. . ." She whispered the word to herself and allowed the first thought to pop into her mind. To her surprise, it was Jean. She replayed when the two first met, having a conversation with one another, Jean teaching her how to shoot a bow and arrow. She watched as Jean's smile flashed into her mind, her smirk as she had caught Aurelia staring at her.

"You're doing it." Raven breathed. Aurelia slowly opened her eyes, the redhaired woman still in her mind. She was doing it. In fact, there was now a huge hole in the ground from how she had kept the vibration focused and steady.

"I'm actually doing it. Holy―︎!" Aurelia looked up at Raven, widely smiling before glancing down at the hole once again. "Hey, I should uh, probably stop before I hit an underground pipe or something." She looked up at Raven who was already looking back at her, clearly impressed. Aurelia frowned. "What?"

"Aria, look." Raven nodded her head. She looked down only to see the vibrations were no longer there. She looked at her hands with wide eyes before looking back up towards Raven who had a proud smile on her face. "See, I told you."

"I, uh, I can't believe that that actually worked." Aurelia spoke, bending down and picking up her bracelet.

"One day without the bracelet." Raven spoke, making Aurelia look up at her with wide eyes. "One day. If anything goes wrong, just slip it back on." Aurelia bit her lip before hesitantly putting the bracelet in her pocket. "Sessions done for today. Great job."

"Thanks." Aurelia smiled before turning to walk away.

"Hey, Aria?" Aurelia turned her head to look at the woman. "What'd you think about?"

Aurelia smiled before turning her head away. "Jean. I thought about Jean." With that, the woman pushed her hair off of her shoulders and walked away.