Chapter 5 Gym Class

The week flew by with everything going normal. Well as normal as it can get. No strange things happening to me. Yet. For some reason Mirabel seemed to avoid me like a plague. His royal darkness (aka Alex) did his usual thing (which includes not talking to anyone, always looking at me, and maybe stalking me?).

Things were normal at home too. Grandma didn't act like a robot probably because I didn't mention anything about my mother again after what happened the last time. I was too scared of what might happen if I did. I had the same dream about the girl in the forest after that first time then all of a sudden it stopped.

Is it all finally over? Am I back to my normal old self? Or is there something worse coming?

My birthday is on the 13th of June, a Friday (I know what you're thinking and it's true I was actually born on Friday the 13th so I guess I'm the definition of weird) and today's date was the 11th. Chloe has been on my neck since last week. She called every night asking about my plans for a party.

"I'm still waiting for your blueprint", she said now.

We sat at the bleachers in the school gym watching the basketball team practice. I'm not a sports person obviously but we had nothing to do and this was better than sitting in the cafeteria watching geeks play dungeons and dragons.

"What are you talking about? Did I ever tell you I was an architect?"

Chloe rolled her eyes, "Ha-ha very funny. You know what I mean. Your birthday is in two days and you haven't said anything. In fact you've been dodging the topic since".

I looked down at my black sneakers.

"You know I don't celebrate my birthday because of what happened to my mother".

"Oh Jade. I'm so sorry. I forgot. It's ok if you don't want to do anything".

I looked up at her. The look on her face pierced my heart. She looked so sad and remorseful it made me almost cry.

"It's ok. We could go see the new movie coming out this weekend. Then maybe pizza? ", I said giving her a sly smile.

"Alright, Jade for the win", Chloe said immediately cheering up raising her hand for a high five.

As I raised mine to return the high five, I felt a sharp pain on the side of my face.

My brain bounced around in my head.

What the hell?! I saw Chloe's eyes widen. I put my hand on my face. It felt like fire. So hot and so painful. With my hand still on my face, I looked towards the basketball court. The players were all laughing and pointing at me.

The she devil was smiling from the corner where the cheerleaders were practicing. When she saw me looking at her, her smile widened and she waved at me.

I should have known she was behind this.

Why does she always target me? I don't remember doing anything to her. I do remember that we used to be close in kindergarten and even elementary school. But during the second year of high school, everything changed. I don't know why but this has to stop. I can't stand it any longer.

"Hey Black! You giving us back our ball or you going to kiss it with the other side of your face?" Tom Fraser the team captain and also Mirabel's boyfriend yelled.

Everyone roared with laughter like he was a standup comedian or something.

"Don't mind them Jade they're not worth it", Chloe said putting her hand on mine.

"Let's just go to the nurse and take care of your face. It's starting to turn purple"

For some reason I felt adrenaline rush through my veins. I felt like inflicting pain on everyone, especially Mirabel. She is the cause of all this. I shook Chloe's hand off mine and stood up. I picked up the basketball my focus on Tom. He needed to be taught a lesson.

"Uhm, Jade? What are you doing?" I heard Chloe say but I didn't answer her. All I felt was rage, my eyes burned like it was on fire.

I raised my hand, still focused on Tom. Him first then Mirabel. I took aim and fired.

I didn't know what happened but the ball flew out of my hand with more force than I gave it. Like a slow motion movie, the ball moved towards Tom whose smug smile vanished as the ball came towards him faster than normal.

SMACK! The sound of the ball colliding with Tom's midsection echoed round the gym. My eyes widened as I watched Tom fly backwards into a nearby wall. His head hit the wall with a bang and he slid slowly to the ground.

Everyone gasped and rushed to him.

I stood so still with my mouth open. What the hell!!?

Kids began to yell.

"Someone call for help!"

"Call the principal!"

"No he needs an ambulance!"

I couldn't breathe. I couldn't move, I just stood there watching. Tom lay on the floor so still, blood pooling around his head. I saw no movement from him. Is he dead? What have I done? What is happening to me?

Mirabel knelt beside Tom holding his hands. Then she looked up at me. Her watery eyes were filled with so much anger and hate. She turned her attention back to Tom when some teachers and Principal Mayfair entered the gym.

"Jade snap out of it", Chloe said shaking me. She was hysterical.

"What just happened?" she asked almost crying.

I finally came out of my daze and looked at her.

"I..... I don't know". Tears threatened to fall from my eyes.

"I don't know what's happening to me Chloe. I just don't know"

"It's ok. It's going to be ok. He'll be fine", she said looking towards were some teachers and students helped carry Tom out of the gym.

I watched in horror as Principal Mayfair came towards us. Chloe drew in a sharp breath. What's going to happen? I hope she doesn't get into trouble. This is my fault not hers.

Principal Mayfair stopped in front of us.

"I need you two to come with me". With that, she turned and walked out the gym.

We looked at each other. With tears running down her face, Chloe walked out of the gym.

As I turned to follow her, I caught sight of green eyes watching me from the corner. I stopped and looked. It was Alex.

My heartbeat sped up. How long has he been there? Did he see what happened? Was he somehow involved? He blended so well into the darkness like he belonged there. He tilted his head to the side and made to stand up. I turned quickly and ran out of the gym.

**********************************************************

I gazed around Principal Mayfair's office trying to avoid eye contact with everyone in the room. The office was well lit with a single bulb hanging in the middle of the ceiling and a fan beside it. The fan was currently off because the air conditioner was on. The principal's desk was big and made of oak wood polished to shine that I could see my reflection. There were files and books neatly arranged on the desk as well as on the bookshelf in the corner of the room. Not a speck of dust could be seen anywhere. Hmm. I never knew the principal was a neat freak.

"I guess you all know why you are here".

The principal's voice drew me out of my thoughts. Time to face the music. I drew in a deep breath and looked at her. She sat across from me in her chair. Chloe sat on the chair to my right while Mirabel sat on the other side. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. I could practically feel the emotions oozing off the both of them. Chloe was nervous and scared and Mirabel was anxious and angry. As for me, I didn't know what to feel.

"I was told there was an accident in the gym" Principal Mayfair continued.

"It was no accident ma'am. She did it on purpose" Mirabel chipped in pointing an accusing finger at me, eyes blazing.

Principal Mayfair shot her a look and she recoiled.

"Well I didn't see the incident but I saw the result", Principal Mayfair continued looking back at me.

"Tom is in a really bad state. He lost a lot of blood but thank God we were able to get him to the town hospital in time. He's currently in the emergency ward. His condition is stable but he's still unconscious"

She continued to stare at me. It felt like she was trying to see through me to my inner core. I shuddered.

"Miss Black, can you tell me what happened?"

I gulped. What do I say? How do I explain what happened when I can't even explain it to myself. Panic swirled through me and I was finding it difficult to breathe. I felt Chloe's hand on mine and she gave me a little squeeze. I felt some of the tension leave me and my breathing slowed.

I took in a breath and let it out, words pouring from my mouth.

"I really don't know what happened ma'am. Chloe and I were sitting at the bleachers then someone hit me with a basketball. Tom asked me to throw the ball back and I did. I guess I must have thrown it harder than I intended. I didn't mean to hurt him I swear".

I breathed in and out very fast. The room was quiet, everyone waiting for the principal to say something. I could feel Mirabel slowly killing me with her eyes.

Principal Mayfair sat forward clasped her hands together and put it on her desk.

"Are you sure that's what happened? You're telling me the truth?"

I couldn't speak so I nodded. She turned to Chloe. "Is this true Miss Thompson?"

Chloe nodded. "Yes ma'am. It was an accident. Tom threw the ball at Jade first. Look at her face", she pointed at my swollen face. "Jade threw the ball back when Tom asked her to. I don't know how he got injured".

Principal Mayfair stared at us one after the other.

"If what you say is true I will rule this out as an accident". I breathed a sigh of relief.

"However, eye witness said that Tom flew across the room into a wall when you threw a ball at him. What do I make of this?"

"Let me tell you what really happened Mrs. Mayfair", Mirabel piqued in "Tom and his team were practicing for the game when Tom accidentally threw the ball and it landed on Jade's face. Tom asked her to throw the ball back but Jade being a witch decided to hurt him and threw the ball really hard. Tom flew back into a wall and hit his head pretty hard. She must be on steroids or something."

I gaped at Mirabel. How can someone so pretty have a really cold heart?

Principal Mayfair pinned Mirabel with a hard stare.

"Thank you Miss Snow but next time speak when spoken to and mind the words you use to describe your fellow student".

Chloe and I smiled in delight. Mirabel sat back with her hands folded and pouted like a little child.

Principal Mayfair turned back to us and said, "After hearing your side of the story, I can't conclude anything yet until Tom regains consciousness. For now I'm going to keep a close eye on you Miss Black. You may go back to class". She sat back on her chair dismissing us from her office.

We all left the office. When we were outside, Mirabel turned to me fire blazing in her eyes.

"I don't know what you did back there but if anything happens to Tom I'll make your life so unbearable that you'll wish you die", she said and walked away.

Chloe looked at me with so much confusion and fear in her eyes and walked away too.

What is going on around here? Is there something wrong with me? I just wanted to go home and forget about today.