CHAPTER TWO

“It’s tonight!” A blonde girl shrieked as she dashed past me. “Sorry!” I shrugged.

“What are you gonna wear?!” Her friend shrieked back.
“My blue dress. Adrian said it’s his favorite color!” 

“How come you got a date? I asked like everyone!” Her friend pouted. I rolled my eyes. Who takes an actual date to a dance? I figured I would sit and eat at the dance. Nope, I wouldn’t dance, or talk to anyone. Okay, so you might be thinking I’m an introvert or anti-social. You are half right. If I could have friends, I would. But, I was afraid someone would find out about my secret. It could be dangerous, to them or to me. I hadn’t used my abilities at school at all, except to pull a few pranks. (Okay, maybe more than a few, but we’ll just say a few)

“Are you going?” A girl with mousy brown hair asked me.
“To the dance? Yeah.” I said.
“Do you have a date?” She asked. “You look old enough.”
“Uh, no.” I was wondering why she was interested in my dating life.
“You are very pretty.” She said, “You should have a date.”

“Thanks.” I answered. We stood quietly for a moment.

“I’m Molly.” She whispered.
“I’m Natasha Smith, but I prefer Nat.” I replied.
“I’m thirteen, how old are you?”
“Sixteen.”

“You could go out with someone. You look lonely a lot.” Molly suddenly looked nervous. “I gotta go, it was nice to meet you.” She dashed away. Well, that was strange. I don’t think anyone has ever just come up to me, told me I was pretty, said I should be dating, then said ‘You look lonely, gotta go.’ I wondered if she was just saying that or if she genuinely thought I should be dating. I shook myself out of these thoughts. I didn’t really want to date. As far as I was concerned, guys were gross and annoying. I should know, I have a little brother. 

“What are you doing?” A voice behind me snarled. I turned around and tried not to moan. It was Violet, the leader of the heads of school. They were just as vicious as they were pale, like they haven’t seen the sun in a hundred years.

“Finding my seat to eat some lunch.” I said as politely as I could. One wrong move and I would be punished. Violet was the leader of two other women who ran the school. Violet liked violet. She wore a dark magenta dress that went down to her feet, that had tight sleeves, and a little ruffle at the end of the sleeves where a few pale fingers stuck out. Her long flowing violet hair ran down her back, and was pushed back by a golden crown. 

Next to her stood Nova, a short but very evil lady. She was only like four feet tall. She had a red dress and red hair that  was piled all over her head. She had flowing sleeves, and on her small, pale hand, there was a ring with a large red stone. 

Towering over her was Victoria, the final leader who had only joined the other heads of school a few years ago, I think. She had white blonde hair like mine, except hers was long and icy looking. She could be the snow queen for all I knew, with her icy eyes and ice blue dress. She wore a silver necklace with a big navy blue stone.

“Vell, hurry, and aren’t you going to ze dance?” Nova sniffed.
“Yes, ma’am.” I said.
“The dance is important.” Victoria said icily. “Wear something nice.”

“I’ll wear a dress.” I smiled. Violet wrinkled her nose.
“Good enough, now, come along, girls, we have to prepare too.” Violet flicked her hand in the direction of Nova and Victoria. As soon as they left the dining hall, the noise returned as people began chatting with their friends again. Molly had disappeared. I sat down and ate my sandwich and went to Mr. Reign’s class.
“Good afternoon, class.” Mr. Reign said. “Today, we are going to help you prepare for the dance! You may either go into groups to discuss what you will wear, or stay in your seat and watch me show you different hairstyles!” Everyone went into groups except me and some guy.

“You know how you’re doing your hair?” He whispered as Mr. Reign struggled with his computer.
“No.” I answered.

“I think I’ll just keep mine like it is.” He nodded seriously. He had blonde hair a little darker than mine that was untidy and stuck up in random places, and bright green eyes and fair skin. 

“Victoria told me to look very nice,” I said. “I hope she accepts your hair as ‘nice’.” The boy smiled.
“Oh, she will, I heard she can be pretty charming.” He said sarcastically.

“Only when someone from outside the school comes in.” I snorted. We laughed quietly.

“What is your name?” He asked softly.

“I’m Natasha, but if you call me Natasha I’ll punch you.”
“What am I supposed to call you, She-who-will-punch-me-if-I-say-her-name?” The boy asked.
“No, you can call me Nat.” I said.
“I’m-” I didn’t get to know his name, because Mr. Reign had figured out the computer, and was now showing us how to make a fishtail braid.
“Sir, how am I supposed to make a braid?” The boy asked.
“Um, sorry, but your hair is a little short.” Poor Mr. Reign. He didn’t know what sarcasm was. When class was over, I tried to follow the boy, but he disappeared. Is everyone I talk to going to disappear? No, unfortunately, Violet and the other heads of school wouldn’t disappear. Unless they did. I crossed my fingers.

“Go back to your side of the school!” One teacher was calling. “Go get ready, you have two hours before the Christmas dance starts!” I hadn’t even processed that it was Christmas Eve. I missed my mom and my dad and my dog . . . not really my brother. I got to my room and picked out a simple dress, it went to my knees and was white with some flower designs. I brushed my hair and put it in a side ponytail. I slipped on my looks-nice-but-are-actually-comfy shoes. I looked at myself in the full length mirror, trying to ignore the girls talking next to me, and then thought of Mr. Reign’s face when he saw I wasn’t wearing a fishtail braid. I smiled to myself and headed downstairs.