The next day at school, everyone’s talking aboutthe unique weather and how the weather man can’t explain the strangephenomenon. Weather professionals from all over the United States have come toSummerville to be a part of what’s now called “The North Pole of the South.”
They can’t figure out how it’shappening. How in Summerville there’s snow, ice, and fifteen-degree weather. Yetin Charleston, twenty minutes down the road, there’s breeze, sunshine, andseventy-degree weather.
I’m staring into my lockertrying to figure out how to make it stop. I hate that I can’t change theweather, that I can’t make this cold lonesome feeling go away. I throw books inand pull books out, and then I feel someone behind me. I know who it is withouteven looking. His warmth spreads through me and for a minute I feel likenothing’s changed. The feeling quickly disappears when he turns and walks away.I turn around in time to see Adam walk around the corner without looking back.
Gym flies by in a daze; Bernieasks me several times if I’m okay.
“I’m okay. I think I’m gettingsick or something,” I shrug.
The quick peek I get of him inthe hallway is the only time I see Adam today. He didn’t come to lunch and hedoesn’t show up to history either. Even though technically I see him in schoolmost days, I still miss him so much. Somehow, the empty desk next to me makesit worse.
I agree to let Bernie give me aride home from school. We walk through the parking lot towards her car, stoppingevery now and again for her to talk to someone. She’s become quite the Social Sallyin the last couple of weeks. I think it has something to do with therelationship between her and Kale.
When we get to Bernie’s car,which is parked closest to the trees, I wait as she digs through her book bagsearching for her car keys. I can feel Adam’s gaze penetrating my skin. I lookover to where his truck is usually parked and he’s there. He’s leaning againstthe driver’s side, his arms crossed over his chest as he stares back at me. Helooks pissed off and mad at the world. Good! Join the crowd, punk!
That’s when I hear it, a loudpopping and cracking noise. I turn my head quickly to the noise and I noticethat a huge pine tree that’s draped over Bernie’s car is frozen solid. Long sharpicicles hang from it, waiting to drop at any second. One of the large brancheslooks like it’s about to break off and that branch is covered in the largestand sharpest of the icicles—it’s right above Bernie’s head.
An icicle breaks off and darts straighttowards Bernie’s car crashing into it before I can stop it. I jump back andBernie screams as she falls onto her back. Before she has a chance to move anothersharp icicle heads straight towards her followed by the entire tree branch—it’sthe size of a small tree.
I react quickly without a thoughtfor the people surrounding me. I lift my hand to the falling objects; I feel asmall sting when the now invisible fire leaves my fingertips. I don’t even feelthe fire anymore, not since I started using my magic every day.
The falling objects stopabruptly and sit, floating in mid air for a second or so. I quickly fling myarm towards the woods; the huge tree branch along with four sharp icicles flyinto the woods.
I drop my hand quickly praying that no one sawwhat I’d done. I’m on the outer edge of a packed parking lot full of people whoalready think I’m odd. The last thing I need right now is for those exact same peopleto see me do what I just did.
Enjoy this teaser! And keep coming back as we get closer to my big interview with Tabatha!
.jpg)