"Come on Alex," I shouted from the front door on a Monday Morning.

I looked down the street to see Leo and a younger girl leaving their house. I know he didn't have a car, and the walk wasn't long but…

"Hey!" I shouted down, waving.

Leo looked up and gave a wave back.

"Need a lift?" I offered.

"Sure!"

"I'm here!" Alex rushed out of the door, out of breath.

I shook my head at his antics, "Well, you're in the back."

"What? why?" he glared.

"I'm offering the neighbours a lift," I gestured down the driveway towards the two entering the gate.

I tried to ignore the growing feeling of fur as I introduced them, "This is my brother Alex… Alex, this is Leo and…"

"Freya…" The girl said sheepishly.

I smiled at her sweet voice, and Alex lifted a hand and sheepishly waved.

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"Come on, Freya! You have to meet Luna and Brandt!" Alex excitedly jumped out of the car and waited for her to join him.

They were off before I locked my car. I shook my head as Leo stood beside me.

"Before we moved, she didn't have any friends her age," Leo informed, "It's nice."

I watched Freya's smile grow as Luna asked her questions.

Luna's brother, Lathen was nowhere to be seen. I was slightly relieved.

It was easy to see the pair were related. Luna has long beautiful black hair, and pale skin. We often referred to her as little snow white. No doubt she should break hearts when she grew.

"What do you have first?" I asked.

"Erm," he pulled out a sheet with his timetable on it, "Chemistry, Mr Glann, Room A26."

I smiled, "Looks like you're with me then. Come on, you're lucky I don't sit next to anyone."

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Mr Glann.

Black hair, brown eyes, tall, slim, glasses typically nerdy looking, wore a tie loosely. He got along with older students, could handle banter, and kept up with the 'times'. I guess that's why he was easy to get along with. The bell rang, starting the lesson.

"Right, class. It's an analytical practical today. You'll use your previous knowledge to identify a compound I give you," Mr Glann articulated before pausing when his eye landed on Leo.

"He is a new student, Mr. Glann," I announced.

He glanced at a clipboard, running a finger down the list of names before stopping, "Well in that case. Welcome to Chemistry. Prepare to die," Mr Glann advised jokingly, holding up a Bunsen burner.

A small laugh was shared around the classroom and the teacher turned back and continued from where he left off.

From my peripheral, I saw Leo beside me shift slightly to look at me. Moving forward, I rested my chin in my hand, fingers covering my mouth and side-eyed him.

'I have to admit; he is good-looking.' I admired, looking back at the whiteboard.

I continued to write down the reactions and products from the whiteboard, even though I already knew them.

"Right!" Mr. Glenn boomed, "In pairs, come to the front desk. I'll give you an unknown sample. No one will have the same one, so no cheating." –Giving some students a pointed look– "You will have the rest of the lesson to figure it out based on our discussion," he maintained while pulling out ten test tubes from under his desk.

"Can you get the sample? I'll get the equipment," I said to Leo.

"Working with Lexandria, are we Leonard?" I overheard Mr Glenn say to him. Leonard? Pfft.

He sighed and beseeched, "It's Leo, Sir…"

"Got it, Lion," Mr Glenn tested.

I rolled my eyes. He did this to everyone: nicknames, wrong names, abbreviations, etc. Leo returned with a bottle with a colourless solid labelled 'J', and I pulled my hair into a bun.

"Thanks, Leonard," I teased. He simply groaned.

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Halfway through, we're nearly finished, except the Bunsen burner refused to take flame. After the fifth time, the split was too short. I turned the gas tap off.

I inspected the classroom. Everyone was concentrating; Leo was watching me with slight confusion. I held a finger to my lips lightly.

Instead of using the splint, I would use my own. I took a small split in my right hand and cupped my left to shield the flame. I nodded at Leo to turn the gas tap back on, and with a slight flick of my fingers, a crimson flame emitted from my fingers. The Bunsen caught the flame, and it quickly turned from red to orange. It was unnoticeable to the naked eye.

I looked up at Leo, and he stared with wide eyes. I returned to the burner and opened the valve, so the flame was blue.

"Here,"–I gave him the 'J' powder and a wet splint– "Dip the splint in and put it in the flame," I advised.

Taking the instructions, he did so, watching the blue flame turn crimson.

"Lithium," he remarked, "I love that colour."

Stolen novel; please report.

He placed the splint onto the safety mat under the burner and observed me. I noted the colour down and nodded.

"It's lithium carbonate," I confirmed.

I closed the valve, and the flame turned back to orange. I left it lit for the next person. I motioned for Leo to follow me as we approached Mr. Glann's desk.

"Yes? Is it too tough for you, X?"

I resisted an eye roll, "No, Sir. This is lithium carbonate," I stated, placing the bottle on his desk.

He looked at a list in his drawer and, smiling, let us go before the bell rang.

"Make sure you clean up before you go, and Lexi, please show Leo around," he declared.

I nodded at his request.

"Right," Mr. Glann said, getting up from his desk.

"Anyone need help?"

A few hands rose in the class while I packed my bag.

"Sarah, you have the easiest! Surely you have something by now?"

She shook her head and returned to testing as we exited the room.

My tongue still felt fuzzy, but the taste of metal ebbed away quickly.

"What do you have next?" I asked, making small talk.

"Physics," he replied, looking up from his timetable once more.

I took a long breath.

"You're with me again, then," I rambled, walking down the corridor at a snail's pace.

"Why do you hide it?" Leo asked.

"Hide what?" I asked, pausing.

"You act weaker, you hide your power… From everyone," he concluded.

My eyes widened, I felt like a deer in headlights, "How do you know that?"

No one had picked up on it before. Not even my friends. They did not know of the lock and I would not be the one to tell them. There was a reason they could not know.

The bell stopped the conversation, and the corridor quickly filled with students. I encouraged him to walk faster with me to the next lesson.

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"Hey," Leo started for the fifth time that lesson.

I shushed him, cutting him off. I was concentrating, and Mrs Horton was harsh when it came to 'disruptive behaviour'. Leo was persistent. I continued to work on the half-completed calculations.

"You forgot to carry the one," he whispered, continuing.

Pausing, I gave an accusing look.

"What do you mean 'carry the one'? Where the hell did you get that from?" I shout-whispered.

His pen tapped the first calculation, and my mouth dropped slightly, realising he was correct.

"The rest is right, but somehow you screwed up the first one."

Correct again. I then noticed the incorrect numbers I copied in the second one. I put a hand to my forehead as I crossed it out.

"Thanks," I mumbled.

"I don't bite," his knee nudged mine.

My pen stopped as I re-did the calculation. I slowly lifted my gaze to look at him. He had an evident smirk and was trying not to finish his statement. I tittered, holding back a snort. I turned away, closing my eyes. I would not laugh.

The bell tingled three times – Lunch. As I gathered my things, Leo whispered in my ear, making me pause.

"Your eyes are beautiful, by the way," he remarked, walking off into the corridor.

I felt my cheeks heat a little.

'No. I refuse to blush,' I scolded myself.

"Ah. Miss Horton?" I grabbed her attention, "I was hoping to talk to you about improving my grade…"

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Getting out my lunch, I strolled over to our usual spot. I paused momentarily when I realised another body was at our table.

'What the hell is he doing?'

Leo is sitting beside Lathen, having an arm wrestle; the others are laughing and joking with him. I sat down across from them, not interrupting them.

"Lexi! Where did you wander off to?" Seri asked, nudging my left side.

I elbowed her ribs lightly and replied, "I had to talk to Miss Horton. Extra credit to boost my grade."

"Damn, I didn't realise your grade was that bad. Do you need help?" Devan pipped up to me.

I shook my head no with a light smile, looking towards the foolery still happening.

"Oh, yeah. I found him wandering around looking for his locker," Devan continued.

I raised an eyebrow, "Do you have an issue asking for help, Leo?" I questioned Leo, distracting him.

Leo looked up at my voice, and his grip went slack, allowing Lathen to win. Lathen whooped, and I giggled.

"No, I don't have an issue, and did you do that on purpose?" Leo asked the accused.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I retorted.

Quinn spoke with a smirk on her face, "Trust Lexi to tease the newbie."

"Initiation." I placed my head in my hand and took a bite out of my sandwich.

"You're talking about me like I'm not here," Leo protested.

"Who said that?" Lathen bantered, looking around.

I let out a giggle.

I looked straight at Leo, and he winked at me. The conversation switched to a random video on the internet.

My eyes caught something purple just behind him. Brittany, an acquaintance and fellow geek. She sported a purple flowing top and black shorts, holding her folders in front of her torso with both hands. I lifted my hand slightly in a wave.

"Are you coming to chess after school?" she said right off the bat. "It's the finals."

"Yeah, Alex has been on about it all week," I reassured, "The same classroom as last time?"

She nodded yes to my question and waved goodbye.

"I think I want to join chess," Leo said, looking after Brittany.

Devan and Lathen sniggered. She was the cute type with a small, framed body; almost all the nerds fancied her.

"Aw, too bad the season is over," shot Quinn to the boys.

"Do you think he's a player?" she quietly asked me.

I shrugged before responding, "He seemed decent until that remark," I grunted.

"Meaning, she may or may not like him, and he's playing up around the guys." Seri quietly jumped in.

"Ha ha ha ha ha," I said in fake laughter, looking over at her. "Shut up," I said quickly under my breath, making her snort in a burst of small laughter.

"Come on. Gym time." Quinn said, pulling me up from my seat.

I groaned and let her drag me along as the bell rang.

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I sat in the biology classroom, waiting for other people to arrive. My brother plays chess, and I like to watch it.

"Hey," came a voice from the doorway.

I turned away from my book to find Leo walking towards me.

"Do you mind if I come with you? To watch, I mean," he said with a hand on his neck.

"If you want, it might be a while before everyone gets here," I replied, returning to my book.

He stood behind me, reading over my shoulder.

"Yes? Can I help?" I asked irritated.

"What are you reading?" he sat beside me, leaning on the table and facing me.

"A book," I replied.

I wasn't even reading the page, my eyes just glazed over the words.

"What kind?"

"A thriller."

"What's it called?"

"You ask a lot of questions."

"And you're very blunt."

I looked up at him, putting the book down and laid a hand on my chest in a mock gasp.

"No shit Sherlock."

He chuckled in response.

I plucked up the courage to ask him, "So… Did you sacrifice an animal? I hope it wasn't a bunny rabbit," I joked, more for myself than him.

His eyes widened a little, and he quickly asked, "What are you talking about?" The playfulness dropped suddenly.

I paused, thinking of what to say next, "I can sense… it," I quivered.

"You've been around dark magic, involved in it," I finished looking into his eyes.

He relaxed, and his eyebrows knitted together, "That was a couple of months ago. I've not been near it since," he confessed. "Can the others…?"

"No. I don't think so…" Observing him, I could see

I shook my head at the confession, "You've done an excellent job cleansing yourself."

"Cleansing…?" his question trailed.

I stared at him, deadpanned, and nodded slowly.

"Please tell me you know what that is," I faltered.

"Well, yeah, but only kids do it, right?"

I immediately facepalmed, "Yes, it's basic shit, man, but it works. I suggest you relearn Grasshopper."

My brother came bounding through the door, halting our conversation

"Hey, sis!" Alex exclaimed.

"Hey. Are you ready to beat Chris?" I asked hopefully.

"You know it!"

Alex hopped into a chair in front of me as others began to enter the classroom.

"You never answered my question," Leo piped up to remind me.

"It's called 'How to get away with Murder', and I'm looking for a victim," I bantered, "Happy now?"

"Very." With a smirk on his face, he leaned away.

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"Checkmate," Alex exclaimed after a thirty-minute game.

He held out a hand, his opponent looking defeated, shook it.

"That's ten in a row," Chris, his opponent, uttered.

Alex leaned back, smiling widely.

"Until next time, Alex."

They shook hands again, and Alex came over to me, and I noticed Leo talking to Brittany as she updated the board with the results.

"Are you ready to go?" Alex asked.

"Yeah, let's," I replied, getting up from the chair, "See you later!" I said, leaving the room.

A chorus of 'byes' followed us out.

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Driving home I thought back to the conversation in the corridor. How did he know? Was it the Bunsen that gave it away? No… Surely not, the others would have picked up on it from our circles.

I chewed my nail, as the thoughts built while driving. I kept it well hidden like I was told to do…

"Erm Lexi?" Alex interrupted my thoughts.

I blinked looking at him.

"Are you going to get out? We're home…"