Elementals, #1

by Sydnie Beaupré

  Elementals

  Part one

  Sydnie Beaupré

  Copyright © 2020 Sydnie Beaupré

  All rights reserved.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Part One

  Part One

  Like any exceptional story ought to, ours starts with Once Upon a Time, but before we can get to that, we need to start with that...

  I loathed to admit it, but I was nervous.

  Standing at the foot of the stairs that lead to Building B – one of the various buildings that Maywood Crest Academy was comprised of – I took a deep breath. My latest (and last, thank God) set of guardians whose names I’d already forgotten at the moment, had conveniently given me no money for the trip to New York from Illinois, where my last foster family had been.

  Where I was from originally wasn’t important to me because I didn’t actually know where that was anymore.

  I was suddenly startled by the sound of laughter. The sound was coming from a pair of good-looking girls to the left of me, a few steps up.

  The girls were going down the giant steps on the opposite end of the staircase than me; I was on the left, and they the right. The two girls were equally tall, but they were each other’s opposite in every way. The one on the left dark in hair and skin, where the one on the right was white-blonde and incredibly pale. They seemed nice. Ridiculously wealthy, sure, but nice.

  They caught me looking at them, and they gave me a quick once-over.

  “Are you lost?” the one on the right asked.

  “Yeah,” her companion echoed, “You lost?”

  I blinked. Maybe they weren’t so nice...

  “I go here,” I told them, “why? Do I look too poor?” and damn it, my damn accent was thick as hell.

  They noticed.

  “Where are you from? Sounds like you’re from the mountains,” the blonde asked.

  Her friend smacked her on the arm. “You can’t ask people that, Shel!”

  I grinned, real big, almost like I was barring my teeth. “I’m the one scholarship case they accept every few years,” I answered. Then, because I’m hot headed, I added, “Got a problem with that?”

  “A Hick? No. No problem. Just try to keep up,” the blonde scrunched her nose. Her friend looked as if she wanted to say something to admonish her, but chose to stay silent.

  “Let’s go,” Blondie said, “we’re supposed to be in gym class early to talk to coach.”

  The dark-haired girl sighed and followed her friend the rest of the way down the stairs.

  I wanted to die. After eighteen hours of traveling by Greyhound, and half an hour via the school shuttle, I’d been utterly exhausted when I arrived on campus. Quite honestly, I wanted to chug a cup of coffee, find my dorm room, and just hibernate for the rest of the day, but it was with a huge sigh that I began to trudge up the steps so that I could at least get some coffee in the Dining Hall before classes started.

  I’d just been by the campus book store and had ordered a sizable number of books, which were admittedly not all school related – lucky for me one didn’t have to pay right away, or else I’d have had a mental breakdown because I was seriously in need of some new reading material.

  Maywood Crest seemed like it was going to be my worst nightmare come true, because not only did I have to worry about making friends, which I’d never been particularly good at, but I was pretty sure I was going to be forced to share a room. In the past, albeit at foster homes and not a fancy boarding school, that had ended pretty badly for me. Based on the girls I’d just met, I assumed a school like this was sure to have cliques. To be fair, I supposed I’d be here until graduation, so maybe it’d be different. Maybe I could make friends.

  Something warm and solid bumped into my back, causing me to let out an alarmed squeak.

  “Watch where you’re going, short stuff; stairs are for walking.”

  I turned around to see who it was, and I had to look up to see his face because of his great height, and oh boy did he look pissed off. Great. My first day at a new school and I’d already made two enemies and looked like I was about to make a third. And, he was really handsome. Like really freaking handsome.

  Okay, he was hot.

  I blinked at the cross-armed giant, unsure of what to say.

  “Uh...”

  “Do you not understand English? Could have sworn we didn’t have transfer students here.” He sounded completely annoyed, which flustered me even more than his looks. He heaved a sigh and shook his head, mockingly. “Or are you just that dumb.”

  Anger spiked through my veins, hot and intense. “Yes, I understand English, you...” I looked him over, messy dirty blond hair, brown eyes that looked like they’d crinkle at the corners if he smiled – which I guessed he wasn’t going to be doing any time soon, considering the death glare he was sending my way – the classic angsty tough guy with baggage. I had no time for his angst and baggage when I had tons of my own.

  If he wasn’t looking at me like I was his next victim, I guessed he could probably pass for somebody who sort of was laid back, judging the way he was dressed – scuffed up skate shoes, jeans, and a grey shirt under a comfortable black hoodie. His clothes didn’t look particularly expensive, and though I could recognize the name brands that they belonged to by site, I noticed that they were worn. He’d had them for at least a few years.

  “Guess I’m just that dumb,” I told him.

  He rolled those chestnut eyes at me and tittered, as if I was nothing more than a petulant child, making it harder for me not to lose my temper. “Let me know when you figure out what you wanted to call me,” he drawled. “In the mean time, you really oughta –”

  “Greyson!” My eyes moved to the girl who’d cut douche bag off and they widened in shock. She stood a few steps behind him and was seriously his double. I knew, without a doubt, that she was his twin.

  “Listen,” I found myself saying, trying to tame my anger. “I just got distracted is all. New school. New faces.” I moved aside. “Sorry I got in your way.”

  The guy sighed, and the tension in his body melted away like ice in spring as his eyes roamed over me, evaluating me. I felt like a piece of art at an auction waiting to be bid on, only instead of please bid on me, I was thinking please don’t hate me. Yeah, he made me want to punch him in the gut, but isn’t that what angsty tough guys do? He mustn’t be very good with people.

  “Yeah, well, just don’t stop walking when there’s people behind you, short stuff,” he said after a moment. “It causes traffic.” He tugged his earlobe awkwardly and gave me one last once-over before continuing his way up the steps. “I’ll be seeing you around, then, short stuff,” he tossed behind his shoulder.

  I didn’t want to like him, I swear, but a part of me was happy that he seemed to have calmed down and forgiven me. Why did I have to have hormones?

  His sister jogged up the stairs to where I was standing, an apology written across her features. “That was his way of apologising. But I think you figured that out, by the look on your face.”

  I hadn’t realized I’d been broadcasting any emotions on my features. I wasn’t used to anybody noticing how I felt – nobody cared, usually.

  “I’m Emma. You’re new here, right? I saw Shel and Kendra and they were talking about the new girl, so,” she beamed at me and stuck out her hand, “I came to meet you! They’re bitches – well, Shel is. Kendra’s nice when she’s alone, I guess. But from the way Shel was talking, I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

  I nodded, and looked at her hand for a moment, hovering between us with a slight tremble. She was clearly nervous and feeling guilty for her brother’s actions, and she seemed genuine, so I shook it. Thi
s earned me a huge smile, and her eyes crinkled at the corners like I suspected Greyson’s would, if he ever smiled.

  “Callie.” I told her my nickname instead of the name my mother had given me, which always inspired circuses instead of mythology for most people. I’d learned early on to just give people the shortened version of Calliope.

  “You’re lucky you got here when you did, Callie. Classes start in about an hour, so you can still catch breakfast if you haven’t already eaten.”

  My stomach grumbled, and I laughed. “That’d be awesome. I’m freaking starving.”

  Emma put a hand on my shoulder. “Well you’re lucky that it’s an all you can eat buffet in there!” she paused. “Oh! Did you want to eat with me and my group? That’s where I was headed, actually. No pressure though...my brother’ll be there, and he’s sort of...well you met him.”

  Her hopeful face was enough to make me agree despite the fact that Greyson would be there. She clearly wanted to make up for her brother’s douche-baggery, and she was admittedly absolutely adorable, so I agreed and she led me into the building.

  “God. it’s been forever since we had a new student!” Emma said as we entered the building.

  “So, you probably got the old, non-updated pamphlet in the mail, right?”

  I didn’t know. I hadn’t had a say in coming to this school; I’d simply been sent here. I nodded anyway.

  “This building holds the dining hall, administration, and the infirmary,” Emma said, like a proper tour-guide. “Dorms are building C, and the main school and book store is A. The pool, gym and running track are in D. Easy peasy right?” she explained. “It’s a good school, I swear. I hope you’ll enjoy your time here!”

  “It’s my third school,” I admitted, voice low. “I’m hoping it’s my last before college.”

  We entered the dining hall, and the delicious scent of food made my stomach go crazy. I moved right away towards the pancake station, Emma trailing me like an enthusiastic puppy.

  “Three schools? Do your folks move a lot?”

  Ah, the parent question. Sally and Jim Garrett were my latest parents. They were nice people, I guess, in that really standoffish, you-aren’t-our-real-kid kind of way. They sent me here on scholarship, and I did everything they wanted me to do so that I’d get in, wanting to please them. They had congratulated me and told me what a bright girl I was. They also told me that I didn’t have to maintain contact with them unless there was an emergency, or I needed money, and that they’d taken me in to give me the opportunity to flourish, or whatever, in better conditions than I’d been afforded. They meant well, but I needed parents, and they weren’t up to the task.

  My Mama had been severely mentally ill and she ended up OD’ing on heroin when I was five years old, not long after my Daddy had walked out on us. I didn’t hold it against her – her husband had left her to deal with a child and her insurance didn’t cover the medical help she needed to get clean and deal with her illness. Mama’s favourite delusion was that Daddy hadn’t walked out on us but was in government custody because of his magic powers. I believed her, until I turned eight. That was when I realized that there was no such thing as magic. That’s when I began to be angry, instead of sad.

  Sadness never got me anywhere. Anger at least, had results. Not to say that I was mean, or anything, but I had a temper, and a low threshold for bullshit.

  “More like I move folks a lot. My most recent set decided to send me here ‘till college. All their bio kids have gone here, apparently.” I shrugged. “I’m kinda on my own.”

  “Ah, yeah say no more,” she piled two chocolate chip pancakes onto her plate and drowned them with strawberry syrup. “Me, Greyson and our cousins are all...military brats. We came to this town, all five of us a few years ago because our folks decided we should get to stay in one place. They’re all over the country, you know?”

  She sounded like she was only telling me a half-truth, but I didn’t call her on it. Greyson seemed to carry the bulk of the twin’s angst, and I couldn’t imagine what they’d been through. Everybody’s fighting some kind of battle, I’ve found.

  I poured syrup over my own pancakes and thought about what she said. “Oh, so you don’t go home for summer break?”

  Emma shrugged, but she looked sad, her chestnut eyes losing a bit of their shine. “Yeah, and we barely leave campus ‘cause this is our legal address. We go into town for like, a break in scenery sometimes, but mostly we’re here. It’s not so shitty that it drives me insane, but sometimes I wish...” she paused. Looked down. Sighed. “Sometimes I want more.”

  She steered me towards an occupied table in the middle of the room, and I recognized Greyson among the group of four kids sitting there. She sat down and indicated for me to do the same.

  “Hey guys,” Emma got their attention. “This is Callie. She’s the newest student to grace us with her presence! I figured we’d call dibs,” she turned to me, a mischievous smile on her face, “since we’re the coolest people here.”

  Greyson looked about as thrilled as if his sister had announced that I was a small pox carrier there to infect them all. The first one to greet me was a shy looking redheaded boy with eyes the colour of the sea, framed by long dark eyelashes. He gave me a thumbs up, which I returned. The second was an absolutely gorgeous girl, all amber skin, straight white teeth and hazel eyes. She smiled and waved. The third kid, who I thought was the girl’s brother since he looked a lot like her down to the dark brown hair, had been sleeping since we arrived at the table.

  My suspicion was confirmed when she smacked his arm. “Bro, get up. Fresh meat!” Man, even her voice was attractive!

  “I hate everyone,” her brother said tiredly, not moving. Greyson laughed and then faked a cough when he saw the dirty look Emma shot his way.

  The girl turned to me and rolled her eyes, smirking. “He does not. He likes us.”

  “You’re different. I’m required to like you. Family doesn’t count.”

  “It’s a giiirl,” she teased, and he lifted opened one, lazy eye.

  “So?”

  Instead of getting offended, she laughed. “Whatever.” She pointed to her brother. “This is Hunter, my brother and yes, he’s always about as enthusiastic as the living dead. He and Greyson share that particular...trait.”

  “Brains,” the guy mumbled.

  “I’m Lex,” she introduced herself. “Sixteen, vegetarian, future environmental activist, and member of the school paper, which if you’re interested, is looking for new writers.” She smacked her brother’s arm again to prompt him to introduce himself, and he sighed.

  “Nineteen, stressed and depressed,” Hunter grumbled. “I look after these twerps, and I have zero redeeming qualities.”

  “You’re the twerp,” Emma muttered over her drink, annoyed at his behavior. “Until recently, I was taller than you. And be nice. Callie’s cool.”

  Hunter opened his other eye and sighed. “I never said she wasn’t.”

  Lex pointed at the red head, who was smiling at me shyly, “Moving on! This is Gage. Only child, though he’s like our brother. He’s neurotic, and I keep trying to get him to smoke some of my anxiety stuff, but he goes on and on about asthma. He doesn’t even have asthma. He’s the youngest.”

  “I’m the youngest, by a few months for Christ’s sake,” Gage replied in a measured voice, his cheeks turning bright red to match his hair. “And I don’t want to ruin my lungs,” he grumbled to Lex.

  “And you already met Greyson,” Emma said, gesturing to her brother, who was inspecting his nails.

  “Short stuff,” he nodded in my general direction. “Good to see you got off the steps. Safer for foot traffic.”

  I frowned. Something about that tough guy act made me want to punt him across the room. “I already apologised for that, you...you tall...” I fumbled for a good insult and came up short. I was usually a lot sharper than this...

  He looked up then, and his chestnut eyes captured mine, amusement
sparkling in their depths. “Taall?” he drew the word out, clearly mocking me. I took it as a challenge.

  He raised his brows, waiting.

  “Person?” I finished lamely, feeling weakened by embarrassment. Greyson laughed openly at me then, and I wanted to crawl under the table and die.

  “She means asshole,” Emma said, her eyes on fire and her tone chastising. “Can you be nice to one person, Greyson? Just one. I want to make new friends,” she turned to the group, “no offense. But we’re all family.”

  Lex and Gage laughed. Even Hunter lifted his head and cracked a lazy smile. “She has a point. We’ve grown up with all of the kids here, so fresh meat is welcome considering everybody here sucks.”

  “Noo,” Emma groaned, putting her head in her hands, “they don’t suck. I mean the kids here are nice, don’t get me wrong, it’s just...” she made a face, “like any other school I guess. There are cliques. Since the five of us came here together, and because we’re family, I guess people figured we didn’t fit in with anybody else but each other. It’s really not for lack of trying on our part. People have been okay. Mostly.”

  Greyson stood abruptly, picking up his lunch tray with one hand and his school bag in the other, slinging it over a shoulder. “You guys can do whatever,” he said to the group. Then his eyes met mine, and I couldn’t quite read his expression. “I can’t afford to –” he paused and looked away from me. “I don’t need new friends right now.”

  I could feel frustrated tears welling up in my eyes. I tried to tell myself that it was alright, that it didn’t matter. He was going through something – I could tell just by looking at him, how tightly wound he was, so why on earth was I so upset about this guy?

  “Hey,” Greyson said, his voice quiet, and suddenly he was crouching in front of me. His voice was gentle. “If my sister’s attitude towards you is any indication, she’s already adopted you into our group. I’ll have to get used to it eventually, alright?”

  Mutely, I nodded.

  “I just prefer to keep to myself. It’s not a crime, is it?”