The Encounter...

I was about to look for a seat when the door opened and a shy looking girl with long jet black hair covering her face walked in. A jolt of energy laced with fear surged through my body. Then I sensed hate, a strong overwhelming hatred for something, someone?  Where is it coming from. Before I could investigate, "Once again, you are late for my class Amanda." Came a scolding tone from the lecturer in front. "Can't you keep time, or should we buy you a watch? "

"I'm sorry Sir," responded the girl in a scared tone,  "it will not happen again. "

"That is just music to my ears and you know it." Said the lecturer sarcastically making the class erupt with laughter. I looked at her as she went to occupy a seat at the back corner of the class. I couldn't help but notice that everyone had been giving her a disgusted look as she was going to attain her seat. As soon as I saw the corner, I couldn't help but admire it. It was dark and cozy. As I went to take a seat next to the girl, I passed by Dalia's side who had been beckoning me and tapping the seat next to her. I got to the back and sat next to the girl. I noticed that she was wearing simple garments and I really liked the jacket she had on. I stole a glance of her and I felt a rush, as if I was not seating next to her for the first time. Before I could read her mind, which I know is rude, I heard the lecturer's voice; "Mr O'Casey, if I were you I wouldn't seat next to her. Unless you want to lose your punctuality. " which made the class erupt into fits of laughter. Filled with rage, I responded ; "And if I were you, " and the laughter in the class died out, "I wouldn't continue trying to convince her to go out with you. We both know that she is going to say no." Upon realization, the students started whispering behind their hands. In humiliation, the lecturer rushed out of the class before the students could give him a second glance. Barbara hissed my name in anger and also left the classroom. I realised that I shouldn't have done what I did, but since I couldn't take it back I owned it.

"You've got the nerve, " she said in a sad but angelic voice "that guy can ruin your reputation. "

"I'm not that easy to ruin my dear" I responded even though my mind was elsewhere. I knew I had heard that voice before, but I couldn't... "You're gonna be in trouble though. " she said calmly, "You should've just left me alone, it could've saved you the trouble. " she said turning to face me.

I saw part of her face, the other half was covered by her hair, but I could still feel both her eyes boring into mine as if she was looking for something in them. "I'm- "

"Kyle O'Casey" she cut in. " I know who you are"

In that moment, my heart jumped, literally. I was waiting for a whole rave of how I had left her and promised to come back five years ago. I knew she was Manda. I could never forget her face and apparently she hadn't forgotten mine. I was ready to

go into full explanation about what happened to me until she said "You're the glowing guy that every girl is fussing about. " In that moment I let out a sigh that I didn't even know I was holding. "Well, what can I say. I'm the most famous kid in America" I said that in a sarcastic tone hoping to get at least a smirk but nothing. She was just silent which did not go down well with me because I knew something inside her was broken. Without asking, I attempted to read her thoughts but a very strong barrier pushed me out. I tried again but still nothing. I figured maybe if I asked her she'd let me in so I did. " Why, are you some mind reader who is going to read out my name? " she asked me with one eyebrow up. "I can be one if you want me to "I said turning to face her.

"Okay, what am I thinking of right now?"

"Is that a yes? "I confirmed.

"And you lost your chance " she said turning away from me and facing the front. Out of panic, I dived into her mind. I found layers and layers of hurt, anger, self doubt, depression, I got it all... And all those layers were protecting her thoughts. "You were wondering how I could possibly read your thoughts, Amanda Laetious. " She turned to look at me.

"You're 18 years old " I added just for effect. "I know everything about you "

"If you really did then you would know that you're better off staying away from me." She said in an intimidating tone.

"I'm not that easy to scare away little one. " I said in a mind state of complete understanding.

"You're a jerk " she chuckled. The sound was breath taking. I thought I had imagined it but when I saw the smirk on her face, I felt a wave of satisfaction. Since I had been looking down the whole time, when I faced the front, I was met by dozens of eyes. "Look away! " raged a voice in my head. I felt my eyes glow, and the voice said "Look away all of you" then I saw them gasp with awe. My glow was getting brighter, illuminating the whole corner and spreading throughout the whole class I knew I had to stop it but I couldn't, not when my heart was racing "What is wrong with you? " she shrieked in fear, "Close your eyes" I said looking at her. Without a second thought she complied " Don't do it," said a soft voice at the back of my mind. But, convinced I had no other choice, You asked Manda to cover her ears. Seeing her hands cupped over her ears, I made my voice resonate as far as my glow could reach and erased the memory of the glow from anyone who had seen it. Once I had done that, I sang the song of cupids to appease their minds and dissipate the confusion.

I had forgotten how fear could arouse my powers like that and not to mention, my father had forbade me from using my powers on mortals. I seriously couldn't see myself explaining my way out of this. "But then again, the old man isn't here" I comforted myself. Before I could wallow in what had just happened, Manda touched my arm and I almost jumped. As I looked at her, she popped up the question. "Who are you? " in that moment, I wanted to tell her everything, who I was, what I am, I wanted to pour it all out and have her decide. But, at the same time, I knew it was dangerous to do so, I mean, I lost my wings for meeting her, what if she lost her life from knowing the real me? I couldn't do that to her...  So I came up with some crazy story about being a magician and my grandmother who is a sorcerer teaching me magic and all that. I  couldn't believe how easily she bought it. "So you're a sorcerer? " she asked for the sixth time.

"Again, no I'm not. A sorcerer is a person who claims or is believed to have magic powers, and usually they do, I mean, you should see my grandma in her cottage with all the spell books and ancient scrolls and books of the Damned, trust me, you'd run and never look back. Me on the other hand my powers involve manipulation, I mean it's easy to convince the mind that it saw something else especially if the memory is still fresh. And, that's what I did, I erased the memory before it could be imprinted in the long term memory. Hence I'm called a magician. I knew my explanation was not much I mean all the stuff I had just told her was bits and pieces of all the movies and books I had been reading lately.

  "And you lose control when you get nervous or scared, right?"

"Yes, yes I do. " I replied.

The whole time, we were having the conversation in whispers so as to not draw attention to ourselves and it seemed to be working. I figured I had done good so far though, I mean, I had not told her the truth for her own good. She raised her eyebrows when she saw me covering my ears, but was surprised when she heard the bell ring. We both stood up as the class went helter skelter  and everyone filed out of the laboratory.

I was at the door with Manda when I heard this buzzing sound coming from my back pack. I unzipped it and started looking around until I came out with what mortals call a cell phone. There was a picture of Ashley on the screen and the name "Mom " was blinking at the base of the screen and I couldn't help being ticked off. I swiped at the screen and she started shouting about how much of a problem I had already been on the first day at school. "What have you done?" she asked me and I could sense the rage she was holding back in her voice. "Nothing!" I exclaimed even though the guilt of lying was thinking into my chest. "I know what you did, humiliating a lecturer? What were you thinking stupid?"I heard her give out a sigh of disappointment. "Pray we do not get home today" "You've never taught to me how to pray" I said sarcastically. "Its a saying numb nuts, it means you are in trouble when you get home" which quiet sense at the time. "Go to class, we will talk later"

"I'm  sorry" I said in a low and soft voice. She gave that loud stressed sigh again. "Kyle please stay out of trouble. If you... if you keep getting into trouble they will take you back and I will not be able to keep you safe from them... The doctors will take you back."

"I'm sorry mom, it will not happen again."

I felt a surge of pain attacking  my heart and I couldn't understand the rest: whether guilt, or was it disappointment with a twinge of anger?

I didn't know. I couldn't understand, was I phasing out of cupidity and becoming human or was I turning into both?

I had been engulfed by foreign feelings I had never felt before.

"Hey!" I saw a hand moving in front of me, "Are you okay?"

I shook my head back to reality and standing in front of me was still Manda "Stop acting weird sorcerer"

"I'm not a sorcerer" I replied, "I'm going back to take my books."I said, and she took off.