The Wanderers Beginning: The Wanderers, Reborn, & Unforgiven (94 page)

“Stop it,” I said, feeling myself blush. I looked over at the clock and saw it was almost five. “Crap, I have to go. I have training in like ten minutes. We’re going to have to come up with an evil plot later.” I went into the bathroom to change again.

“Hey, can we come and watch?” Dixon asked.

“Oh, I don’t know if Gabe would like that.”

“I’m sure he wouldn’t mind,” Cameron said. I was sure he wouldn’t, but I knew I would. Not seeing a way around it, I let them come with to the gym. We ran into Dean and Sienna on the way and they joined us as well.

Just great.

When we got to the gym, Gabe and Billy were already warming up. Gabe looked at his watch as I approached. “I’m not late,” I said, running up to him.

He looked over at the bleachers, noticing my friend’s piling up. “What’s with the audience?”

“I told them it wouldn’t be a good idea but they insisted they come.”

He nodded and walked over to them. “If you plan on staying then that means you plan to work,” he said. “No one comes to my sessions to watch. You have five minutes to change or get out.” He stood there with his arms crossed, waiting.

I actually thought they would say no way and leave, but to my surprise they decided to stay. They are in for a world of hurt, I thought, smiling. Dean was the only one who declined, which wasn’t a surprise. “Actually Dean, I think you should stay. You could benefit
from this. I have seen your handy work first hand and you could use some pointers.” Gabe smiled. I laughed knowing exactly what he was referring to – the bar fight. In Dean’s defense he was pretty drunk.

“I didn’t want to show off, but if you insist,” he smiled cockily, heading into the locker room to change.

“Roman you’re late, laps now. Ella you can join him while we wait for everyone else to get ready.”

Great, why am I being punished too?

Roman and I ran our laps side by side in silence. He didn’t even say one word to me. He barely even glanced in my general direction. This was starting to get ridiculous and I wanted to know what happened earlier. “Okay, so what’s up?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ve been acting weird ever since Mackenzie came into the room and…”

He stopped abruptly and I almost ran into him. “Look, Ella I…” he couldn’t even look me in the eye. “I don’t know how to say this but –”

“I knew it. I freaked you out,” I interrupted.

“No, it’s not that…” he finally looked up at me. “It’s just that –”

“Ella, Roman, let’s go. Finish up,” Gabe shouted. I sighed as Roman closed his mouth and turned around to finish his laps. Why did this always happen?

Gabe and Billy split us up into two groups. Roman, Dean, and I went with Billy while the rest joined Gabe. An hour later Gabe let my group rest while we watched his go up against each other. It was interesting to watch and sit on the sidelines. Since Sienna was so delicate and small they paired her up with Cameron, while Dixon went up against Dean. For a skinny boy Dixon was pretty ripped and put Dean to shame. When they were done, Gabe had me spar with Cameron and Roman with Dixon since he basically made a fool of Dean.

I was impressed with how well Cameron was doing. I suggested she start taking some extra training sessions with us, but she said she preferred not to sweat so much. I laughed knowing how she felt, but I was used to it by now. “Alright, Dean and Ella, you two are next,” Gabe said as everyone else took a seat.

I smiled big. “I’ve been waiting for this for a long time.”

“Please li’l sis, I don’t care how many extra sessions you’ve had. You still won’t be able to beat me,” he taunted. I didn’t even wait for Gabe to say go. I just attacked catching Dean off guard. “That’s not fair. I wasn’t ready,” he said, backing away.

“Excuses, excuses, just admit you know I’m better than you,” I said.

“Never,” he shouted, attacking. He hit me in my side and I clenched my stomach, faking I was hurt. “Ella, I’m sorry. Are you okay?”

I turned and socked him in the gut and then knocked him on his back. “Never underestimate the power of a girl,” I said, gloating. He grabbed my ankle and pulled me down to the floor. “Hey!”  I yelled, kicking him. He slapped my arm and I hit him back.

“Alright you two, enough,” Gabe said, sounding like our dad. We both got up and when Gabe wasn’t looking, Dean tripped me. I stumbled but quickly caught myself before I fell. I smacked him on the back of the head. This proceeded to turn into another fight that ended with me in a headlock.

“Alright, back to business now. Ella and Billy, show them how it’s done.”

I smiled big, knowing I no longer had to hold back. Everyone sat on the bleachers watching and cheering us on. After weeks training with Billy and months with Gabe I was able to keep pace with him. I even knocked him down. I put my arms up like Rocky, jumping up and down as my friends cheered. I then noticed Cameron was leaning close to Sienna with her hand covering her ear and whispering something to her.

“Alright, you got me once, but you won’t the second time,” Billy said, getting up. We went at it again and this time Billy was putting everything he had into it. I almost couldn’t keep up with him.

“Ella and Mr. Callahan,” Sienna blurted out loud. Shocked, I turned to look at her taking my eyes off of my opponent. This ended with me missing the block on Billy’s punch. He hit me square in the eye, knocking me on my behind.

“Ella?” Billy said. When I opened my eyes everyone was standing over me. Billy helped me up. “Are you okay?”

I put my hand up to my eye which was throbbing. “How bad does it look?” I asked, pulling down my hand.

“How about we get you some ice,” Cameron suggested. I knew it must be pretty bad.

I looked around the room and noticed someone was missing. “Where is Roman?”

“He was just here a minute ago,” Sienna said.

“Yeah, until you opened your big mouth,” I thought. I left everyone in the gym and ran out to find him. “Roman!” I called to him down the hall, but he didn’t stop. I sprinted to catch up to him and grabbed his arm to stop him. “Roman, please stop.”

“You lied to me,” he said, turning on me. “You told me nothing happened between you and Mr. Callahan.”

“Nothing did happen,” I said.

“Stop lying!” he yelled. “I overheard Cameron tell Sienna everything.”

“Did you also hear the part how Mackenzie put a spell on us,” I snapped. The look on his face said he didn’t. “That’s your problem. You only hear what you want to. I don’t even know why I thought that maybe you were different. But no, you’re just like any other jealous guy.” Before I could even react, he took me in his arms and kissed me. I was so caught off guard I almost lost my balance. I had to pull myself away just so I could breathe.

We stood there for a moment, panting and looking into each other’s eyes. “Roman I…I’m confused?” I said.

“Confused?”

“Well, I was under the impression you thought when we kissed in my room, it was a mistake and that’s why you were acting so weird.”

“No,” he shook his head smiling. “I was acting so weird because that kiss was amazing.” Okay now I was even more confused. “I never felt that way before and I got scared. I wasn’t expecting that and I kind of panicked and took off.”

“So you still like me?” I asked, wanting to know for sure.

“Very much so,” he smiled, caressing my face. I flinched. “Oh, yeah, I forgot. Billy got you pretty good, didn’t he?”

“I’m not going to lie, that hurt, a lot. I almost cried,” I confessed. “It felt like I got hit with a two by four.”

“Ella, you are such a mess,” he laughed, guiding me back to the gym. “Why don’t you go get changed and I’ll go to the nurse’s office and get you some ice.”

“Thank you,” I said, heading into the girls’ locker room.

So Roman liked me a lot. And I think I liked him too. 

Crap, what have I gotten myself into?

Chapter twenty-one

“Hey are you okay?” Cameron asked as I joined them in the locker room.

“Yeah, I just, um, had to do something quick,” I said.

“Cameron told me what Mackenzie did. Ella I’m so sorry. She had asked me before to join, but the spells they do aren’t good and I don’t want to be involved in that,” Sienna said. “And I’m sorry I blurted it out like that.” She looked away. Not able to meet my eyes.

“I know we agreed to tell her but it couldn’t have waited until later?” I said to Cameron. She just shrugged her shoulders.

“Ella, I promise I won’t say anything…well…again,” Sienna said smiling guiltily.

“Let’s just drop it for now. I’m done talking about it for today.”

“How about we get together this weekend and come up with a way to stop her once and for all,” Cameron said.

“Sounds perfect,” I replied. “Now hurry up and change. I’m starving.”

“When are you not?” Sienna said and I threw a towel at her.

After showering – again – and changing, we left for the dining hall together. I found Roman waiting outside for me. I had forgotten he said he was going to get me some ice for my eye. “Oh hey, sorry I took so long,” I said to Roman.

“It’s okay,” he said, handing me the ice pack which was surprisingly still cold. I gently placed it over my eye and mumbled thanks.

I found Billy outside the dining hall pacing. “Ella hey, I was looking for you,” he said concerned.

“And you decided to look for me outside the dining hall?”

“Well if I knew you would be anywhere it would be here getting food,” he laughed.

“Do I really eat that much?” I asked.

“Yes,” they all said together.

“How’s your eye?” Billy asked, turning serious again.

I pulled the ice pack away and Billy made a face. “That bad?”

“No…no…it’s…”

“Just stop,” I said, holding up my hand.

“I’m sorry,” he said, feeling awful.

“It was my fault. I wasn’t paying attention. Don’t worry about it. I heal fast.”

“It’s a shame you can’t heal yourself,” Dean said, joining us.

“I know. What good is having the power to heal if I can’t heal myself,” I complained.

                     “It’s good for when you knock my ass into a wall,” Roman said, winking at me.

             
When we sat down at our table Austin automatically informed us of the latest gossip. “Did you guys hear that Mr. Callahan was banging a student?”

             
I froze.

             
Sienna and Dixon looked down at their trays. I looked to Cameron next, whose face was as pale as a ghost. Sensing my panic Roman asked, “Who told you that?”

             
“Who didn’t tell me? It’s all over campus,” he said.

             
“Does anyone know who it is?” I asked nervously.

             
“No. All we know is she’s a new student with raggedy hair, kind of pathetic, bad skin. Basically a lowly girl who no one would touch,” Reagan said.

             
I gawked. My hair was not raggedy, it may be unruly sometimes, but not raggedy. I still may get the occasional zit, but other than that my skin was flawless and I was not pathetic. Who said that stuff? Cameron leaned in. “Relax Ella, no one knows who it is, but keep looking like that and they’ll start getting suspicious,” she said. 

             
              I turned to her. “I am not a lowly girl,” I whispered harshly.

             
“Yes, I know. But better they think that than realize who it really is.”

             
“True,” I thought to myself. I guess I was going to have to grin and bear it. “I can’t believe she actually went through with it,” Dixon said in a low voice.

             
Mackenzie and her group walked past our table and she turned to me, smiling. My whole body tensed. It took everything I had not to attack her. “Down girl, you don’t want to incriminate yourself,” Dixon whispered.

             
Mackenzie, surprising us all, came over to our table. Addyson and Madison wouldn’t even look at me and you could see they had fear in their eyes. “So Dean, now that I lightened my load by getting rid of some excess baggage,” she shot Roman a look. “I’m free for the dance next Saturday if you wanted to ask me.”

             
I couldn’t believe she had the audacity. I swear, if he says yes there will be nothing stopping me from killing both of them. “As you know, Mackenzie, I’m a wanted man,” Dean said, leaning back casually. “Once I narrow it down I’ll get back to ya,” he winked.

             
“We all know who you will choose in the end. Don’t keep me waiting too long,” she purred as she ran her finger down his chest. I slid my chair back ready to get up and say something when Sienna stopped me.

             
“
Ella don’t,”
she said, but only I heard it. I then realized I couldn’t move my legs.
“Yes I’m doing that and I will stop when Mackenzie leaves or until you can calm down.”
I looked over at Sienna and cursed her
. “I heard that,”
she said.

             
“So, Ella, will you be going to the dance?” Mackenzie asked. “You know if you can’t find a date I hear Mr. Callahan’s available. You look like his type,” she smirked. If it wasn’t for Sienna holding me here I would have ripped each and every strand out of her big, bobble head.

             
“She already has a date,” Roman intervened.

             
“Oh, really, and who would that be?” Mackenzie asked intrigued.

             
I sat there silently, waiting for his answer and wondering what the hell he was thinking. Even Dean stopped what he was doing long enough to hear Roman’s answer. “Me,” he said, surprising everyone.

             
The shocked expression on Mackenzie’s face was enough to make me smile. She quickly recovered and said, “Ella likes things that are old and used.” I ignored her jab and turned back to Roman. I stared at him.

             
“What?” he said.

             
“Nothing,” I said, shaking my head. Dean gave Roman a suspicious look and Cameron glared at me like I was hiding something. I shrugged my shoulders innocently, pretending I had no idea what was going on, which wasn’t far from the truth.

             
After Mackenzie’s departure and the shock of Roman’s announcement wore off. I noticed I could no longer feel my legs. “Um, Sienna,” I said, gesturing to my legs.

             
“Oh, sorry,” she blushed and let me go. I rubbed my numb legs until the feeling slowly started to return. Roman and I exchanged a few glances from across the table, but neither of us said a word about what happened a few minutes ago. Cameron caught us and made a face saying,
‘we will be talking later’.

             
Riley and Justin joined us right after Mackenzie’s little stage act. “Why does everyone look so tense?” Justin asked, sitting down.

             
“When you’re in the presence of greatness,” Dean started but I threw my roll at him before he could finish. We all laughed, diffusing some of the tension.

             
“I missed you in class today. Where were you?” Riley asked me.

             
“She was helping me move my stuff to my new room,” Billy said and I smiled thankfully at him. Not that I couldn’t tell Riley about my dream. I just didn’t want the whole world to know.

             
“What were you guys talking about?” Riley asked as she peeled her orange.

             
“The dance,” Dixon said.

             
“Are you going?” Riley looked at me anxiously. I didn’t know how to answer. I wasn’t sure if Roman said he was going with me just to get at Mackenzie or not.

             
“Of course she’s going,” Cameron said, elbowing me. I wasn’t sure if that was a ploy to get me to admit something, so I just put on a fake smile and nodded. I looked over at Roman. He had his head down and kept quiet. “It sucks we can’t leave campus. Now I have to wear something I already own,” Cameron whined.

             
“Sorry,” I said, knowing it was my fault that no one was allowed to leave.

             
“It’s not your fault,” Cameron said, trying to make me feel better, but we all knew the truth.

             
“Ella?” Ms. Kraft addressed me. I hadn’t even noticed she walked up.

             
“Yes Ms. Kraft?” I half expected her to yell at me for running out of her class without an explanation.

             
“Mr. Callahan had asked me to come find you. You are wanted in his office immediately,” she said. I was scared this had something to do about the rumor that was floating around. I didn’t give myself anytime to deliberate and followed Ms. Kraft to his office.

             
“Ms. Kraft, do you know what this is about?” I asked her once we were outside.

             
“No dear, I do not, but I’m sure everything is fine.”

             
She hadn’t once mentioned about me leaving class today and I wondered if maybe I should say something. “Ms. Kraft, I’m sorry I ran out of class today. I…”

             
She stopped and turned to face me. “Ella, I know you have a lot going on and I understand why you were so upset. You don’t have to explain anything to me.”

             
“Wait, what do you mean you understand?”

             
She smiled politely at me. “Ella, I know you had a nightmare.”

             
“But how? Is it because you are a witch?”

             
“That and I saw you sleeping,” she said. I looked away embarrassed and curious as to why she didn’t wake me up. “I didn’t wake you because the spirits told me you were dreaming and that it was an important dream you needed to have,” she explained as if she read my mind.

             
I looked at her like she was nuts. “Spirits told you?” Seriously, how was I the one that everyone thought was crazy?

             
She laughed, gesturing for us to continue walking. “Ella, you really need to start doing your homework and pay attention in my class. Remember how I told you that we use the elements to communicate?” I nodded. “Well, they also communicate with us as well.”

             
“Are these spirits, like in ghosts, dead people?”

             
She laughed again at my stupid question, but didn’t make me feel like it was stupid. “Yes dear.”

             
“Can anyone communicate with them?”

             
She sighed. “Yes and no. The more powerful the person is the greater the connection.”

             
“Oh, so only witches can,” I said disappointed.

             
“It hasn’t been proven that only witches can, but it also hasn’t been proven anyone else can’t either. Like I said, the more powerful the person the better connection,” she smiled.

             
“What about the whole psychic thing? Are they for real or not?”

             
“Some are, but you must be careful not to be fooled,” she warned.

             
“How can you tell?”

             
“Ella, this is something that will take some time to discuss. I’d really like to work with you if you don’t mind devoting your time?”

             
I was really curious about learning more, but I was not ready to give up my weekends. Then I remembered I didn’t have training everyday anymore and could meet with her after class. “Can we meet on Tuesday? Gabe and I are only training three days a week now so I have Tuesdays and Thursdays free. “

             
“That will be perfect,” she smiled as we reached Mr. Callahan’s office.

             
“Thank you Ms. Kraft,” I said, turning to open the door to the office.

             
“I will see you in class on Monday and I will work this weekend on things to work with you on this Tuesday.”

             
I smiled at her one more time before I stepped inside the office. “Miss McCallister, you may go right in,” the secretary said as my stomach started to do flip flops.

             
I opened the door and almost fell over from shock. “Mom? Dad? What are you guys doing here?”