Chapter 3 part 1

Finally we've made it to chapter 3. I wouldn't call it the best but it's when things start to happen!

Chapter Three

 Out of the night

            As far as I know, she doesn't have any powers."

"What? Then why is she even at the school?"

"Probably because of her mad fighting skills, you should know that most of all seeing as how she creamed you today."

"She didn't cream me, she just pinned me to the ground."

Carly rolled her eyes "whatever you want to call it."

We were in the dinner hall eating a delicious meal of spaghetti and meatballs. The news that a greenie had taken on Alex, no one seemed to know her last name, spread quickly and was all anyone could talk about. I hoped no one would find out that it had been me. "She lives at the base, but acts just like a student, with a big ego," continued Carly. "She's not always mean either, a lot of kids just except that she has a temper and sick fighting skills."

I thought about this, maybe I had been wrong to insult her.

"I also suspect she has a crush on Collin," said Carly mischievously. "She's always trying to get into that friend group, and talking to him and stuff."

She paused to shove more meatballs into her mouth.

"Just don't tell anyone I said that," she said off handedly "It'd probably break Meredith’s heart."

She gestured to the wind table were a pretty girl with strawberry blond hair sat chatting with some friends.

"I think everyone in the school but Collin knows she's head over heals for him."

"And does he like her?" Carly shrugged "who knows who he likes, why?" She raised an eyebrow at me.

"Oh no," I said defensively "I've only been here a day remember?"

"And he seemed awful nice to you," Carly said in a teasing voice.

"You said so yourself, he flirts with all the girls."

Carly shrugged "have it your way, but you do think he's good looking?"

I waved my hand in the air as if to say 'so so'.

"Well you'd be stupid if you didn't".

Right then she grew silent as he came to our table just then. Flanked by two friends I knew only by sight.

"Alright," he said directly behind me, (the tables in the dinner room were round). "Who's the smart alack that beat up Alex?"

I turned in my seat, remembering what Carly had told me about Alex having friends. "Why?" I asked before anyone else could say anything.

"Cause I think that's the greatest story I've ever heard!" He grinned at me "it was you?"

I shrugged, a half smile on my face.

"What happened?"

Half of the people at the table had witnessed the incident so I didn't embellish.

"She was being rude, and when she told me I couldn't have a bow... I guess I just sort of lost it," I said shrugging.

Collin laughed heartily with his friends.

"But she ended up with the upper hand?" He said when he calmed.

I threw up my hands "What can you do against a professional?"

"Nothing," Collin said wisely "but you say she wouldn't let you have a bow?" I nodded "you don't know why do you?" I asked.

Collin caulked his head slightly, "she's the only one here that's really good at archery, heck I only know of four other kids that use a bow. There's some story about it being bad luck."

"Interesting," I said it to myself more then everyone else.

Collin started twisting his finger in Carly's honey brown hair. She looked up at him,

"What are you doing?" She said each word with deliberation.

Collin looked innocently at her "what? I've always wanted to know what it feels like having long hair."

"Yours is getting there," she said testily.

He patted his head as if he had never noticed he had hair.

"Your right! A little more time and I'll be able to braid it."

Many of the girls at the table rolled their eyes. I was trying hard not to laugh.

"Buzz off Collin, can't you see you're going to make Jessie have a melt down?" Carly gestured toward me and I quickly composed myself.

Collin leaned over so his face was sideways to mine. I tried to suppress a grin; he looked so comical.

"See, at least one girl thinks I'm funny!" He said triumphantly patting me on the back. "I'm glad you don't have to loose anymore sleep about it," said Carly. 

"Whatever," he said starting to leave, "but at least Jessica is friendly." He called that last bit from farther away. The girls around the table started giggling.