Chapter 4
Aidan's POV
At the sound of her voice, I lifted my eyes from the books before me and peeped up at the most timid girl I'd ever seen in my life.
"What did you say your name is?" Professor Rockwell asked, just for the fun of it. I despised him.
"My name is Elly. Short for Elizabeth. Elizabeth Boutella." The white faced girl repeated, only looking into the teacher's face.
"What old fashion name is that?" Rockwell asked, and the group of zombies sitting in the class cackled in laughter.
I bet the girl felt stung. What the fuck was funny?
"It is fun," someone answered, and I looked up to the teacher's eyes on me.
How did he…? Can he hear my thoughts?
"Yes, I can." He replied audibly, and I sat up, holding his gaze.
I wasn't about to cower because a sycophant who thought he was loved and accepted by every fucking creature in the class could hear my thoughts. Plus, I thought that was an invasion and I made sure he heard that part.
Ignoring the last part, he folded his hands and sighed, "Now that I think about it, you never told us your name."
Since you can hear my thoughts, why don't you listen to me say it and then repeat it to the class? I thought, folding my hands with a challenging smirk on my face.
Professor Rockwell smiled too, and then sat on the table in front of him. “I want you to say it out loud so everyone else can hear you.” He answered, patiently.
I don't care about anyone else here, I thought out loud, knowing he was listening.
“Does that mean you only care about me?” he asked, with a salacious smile.
I thought that was awkward, so I shifted uncomfortably on my seat and cleared my throat. What was this man? Gay or psycho?
“Neither.” He interrupted.
“Can you please stop that?” I seethed, and everyone turned to me.
There, for the first time I noticed I hadn't said a word since I arrived that morning. Not to the vice principal, and not to anyone.
“Oh, he can speak. Good to know you aren't dumb.” The man teased, smiling. He didn't sound rude. I guess the fact that I just didn't like him made accepting that he wasn't rude difficult.
“My name's Aidan Wilde.” I answered, looking around at the others for signs of contempt. There was none.
I forgot this wasn't a foster home. This was to me, a hospital. Every kid here was sick, including their slimy teacher with a dry sense of humour.
“Whoa! Is that your name? Why does it sound like Prince Hector sent to kill me? I might as well kiss goodbye to Penelope.” he chuckled and the kids burst out laughing.
“You should watch your mouth, man, or I'll help you seal it.” I scowled, once again forgetting that I was in a classroom packed full of freaks.
“I would love to see you try.” a dragon boy with two horns giggled, looking away at the window.
“What did you say?” I snarled, standing abruptly, and my teeth gritting in anger.
“He said you should sit the fuck down, Aidan! This is the Mutants Academy and everyone here has superpowers and does not need to be scared of you.”
“Well, that sucks because I enjoy watching people shiver with fear.”
“You won't have to bother about that here.” Teacher Rockwell replied, shutting me up. Turning to the new girl, he said, “your seat’s beside the grumpy fellow.”
Grumpy? Me? I cocked my head to the side, and realized an empty seat I hadn't noticed earlier.
Crap!
“Aidan's a new student as well - first day here, so both of you could get acquainted.” the teacher was saying as I slowly slumped on my seat. I wasn't listening, but I could hear him.
There had to be some form of magic at work in this class, because I bet there was no seat beside me.
The new girl whipped in like a breeze, dropped her bag on the table and exhaled a copious amount of shaky air. I could tell how she felt. Stuffed. Suffocated. Delirious and confused, maybe.
I felt it all too well.
“Hi, I hear you're new here too. I'm Elly.” She whispered, stretching her hand for a handshake.
What was she thinking? That she'd found a talking buddy? A newbie like herself? Not me.
I glanced at her, and was awestruck for a second. No, I didn't respond immediately, I only leaned on the backrest, but I couldn't stay that way for long.
She tugged at my back with her middle finger and whispered the same nonsense.
“I'm not deaf, I'm just not interested in being friends with you.” I croaked, not looking in her direction.
“Hey, I'm Jimmy. Jimmy McPherson.” The dragon boy who'd interrupted me earlier jumped in to introduce himself. He must have been dying to get noticed. Loser!
“Oh hi, Jimmy. Are those horns real?” Elly asked, fascinated. I could tell from her voice.
“As real as your canines.” The boy answered, smiling broadly.
Yea right, as if she has one.
“Can I touch it?”
“Sure. Slide along, girl!” he encouraged, and she giggled, nudging softly at his tuskers. I wished I could fillet them.
I scoffed, watching the guy act all cool with the newbie. He was just what she needed though.
I didn't know the new girl, never met her, but something about her made glancing in her direction almost irresistible. Something about her; the way she smiled, the way her eyes sparkled and even the way she smelled was almost alluring. Which was why I chose to hate her, because that was my only option.
Glancing around, every kid had their own unique scent, aura and appearance. They were either one hundred percent human or half human and half beast. What the fuck am I doing here? I thought, palming my face.
Just then, the loquacious dragon boy sidled to my side of the table, and asked, “So, what are you, Aidan?”
I found a way to answer without actually answering. There was something intriguing about Elly that I couldn't wrap my fingers around. Who was she? Was she a werewolf too? Werewolves had a distinct smell, one she didn't seem to wear.
“Who I am isn't important,” I said to him. Then glancing at the new girl, I scowled,” it's who she is.”
“That’s right, who are you, Elly?” Jimmy asked, and my ears perked up for a fill.
“I am….”
The fact that she didn't seem to know made me even more curious.
What the fuck are you?