"Just typical" I mumbled as the relentless rain pounded on my blue polka dot umbrella. I knew this would happen, it always happens when I'm nervous or upset. I'm not being over dramatic; the weather literally changes when I am stressed, talk about a walking pathetic fallacy.
I had discovered my mutation when I was about seven. It had been at the local swimming baths, I always loved to go swimming I would put on my cute frilly yellow costume and tie up my chocolate locks with a blue bobble and eagerly climb in my granddads car for the trip; completely forgetting my shoes in the process.
"Stop it Grandad!"I squealed trying to paddle away from his playful splashes.
He simply grinned the wrinkles on his face creasing as his grin widened.
"I'm coming to get you" he chortled gently placing his hands on my waist as he lifted me out of the water slightly.
The next part was always my favourite, he would lift me up in arms that seemed strong enough to raise anything and then gently throw me back into the pool.
My small body left the pool only an inch or so only to return back into the embrace of the cool water. Usually it would only cause a small splash but when I flew into the water I felt something change.
My little arms had seemed so powerful in the water, when I pushed myself to the surface I was soon met with a sight I was not familiar with. My blue eyes widening as the green flecks in them glimmered with a look of horror as a large wave men, women and children pool away from me and roughly onto the walkway to the pool.
Thirty-One people suffered severe bruising from the force of the wave including my granddad.
I still remember the feeling of fear as I realized that it was my fault.
"I'm sorry grandad" I wailed as he drove us home.
"What are you saying sorry for Ali? It wasn't your fault" he replied lightheartedly wincing slightly as his hand accidently brushed his bruised abdomen when he reached for the gear stick.
Of course the pool company had rationalized that it was some sort of water filter problem, but I knew the truth.
I was the freak that had hurt them. At the time I didn't fully understand what I had done, but one thing was clear I had hurt a lot of innocent people.
As a child i was always a bookworm, so with the motivation to 'Cure' myself I dived into books distancing myself from those around me. But years had passed and I was no closer to curing myself than learning the entire Vulcan language.
"It's a fresh start for all of us Alice" my mum had optimistically spoken as she unpacked one the worn cardboard boxes that I had tripped over earlier that morning.
Fresh start was one way to look at it; due to my lack of interaction with other children I was a bit lacking in the friend department.
But with an awkward smile I waved goodbye to her and began my walk to school.
I picked up the pace I was travelling at when I heard the clouds release a loud grumble. My green rain boots pounded the pavement as I attempted to dodge the large puddles that were forming on the ground.
I just hope my cream long sleeved shirt was safe from the rain, the last thing I needed was to give my new classmates an eyeful.
I hadn't exactly dressed to impress but it was only school, not a fashion runway.
When I finally spotted the building I was stunned. It was massive but then again most things in America seemed larger; with an overall rectangular shape and cream shade, it obviously prided itself with practicality rather than…appeal. Upon quickly scanning the building I finally found the entrance, so quickly hurrying my pace, I entered the building successfully and escaped from the weathers wrath. What I had presumed was the front entrance was in actuality a dark and presumably empty room instead.
"Um hello?" I questioned my voice bouncing off the vast walls.
Geez how big is this place?
My question was met with silence, as I worriedly looked around the room my pale hands reaching for a light switch.
"Dammit you had one job Alice, don't get lost and what did you do? You went and got yourself lost!" I vented to myself as I stumbled blindly my hands meeting more air as I attempted to find a wall.
By now I was shivering my damp hair and clothing clearly having an effect.
I abruptly paused when I heard a whoosh of something glide past me.
This is how it happens in the movies isn't it? The girl walks into abandoned room and is killed by an axe-wielding maniac!
If I die I won't be able to watch the next episode of Doctor Who! And what about my beloved Star Trek box set?
I gathered what little courage I possessed and spoke to the mysterious arrival.
"Erm Hello?" I repeated warily my breaths increasing as I was met with further silence.
No, no, no, this can't be happening! I don't want to die; there is so much I still want to do! If I was ever to die, I always imagined it to be more as me being an old, single, crazy cat lady surrounded by literature and outfits for my cats.
The whooshing noise came closer this time causing me to stumble back and fall onto the cold hard ground and my books to fall out of my bag.
"You're pretty clumsy aren't you?" questioned a distinctly male voice from the shadows.
Great first day of school and I've already attracted trouble. 'Make new friends' my mum said, 'it'll be fun' she said, yeah… not bloody likely.
With bruised pride and a strong feeling of irritation I stood back up and brandished my wet umbrella towards where I thought the figure was stood.
"Well I think you would fall over too if someone pushed you in the dark" I replied sassily my patience waning as I focused on finding a light source, stumbling as I went.
"I barely brushed you" the stranger responded as my hands finally met a wall and found a switch like object allowing light to now fill the once dark room.
What met my eyes was completely unexpected. A boy about my age was slouching in front of me picking some lint off his silver jacket.
I scrutinized the boy closer.
Wait a minute…silver hair? What was he seventy?
He kind of reminded me of Gandalf the grey, except he didn't have a beard or a staff.
I then began to notice his entire ensemble matched his hair, talk about coordinated.
It was his smirk that snapped me out of my inner monologue, I've met this type of guy before; arrogance rolled of him in waves.
"Am I meant to feel threatened?" He grinned, a pale hand gesturing to my raised umbrella.
"Yes, be very afraid. I-" I started, only to be interrupted by the silver haired teenager.
"Anyway, I've never seen you around here before. Are you new?" he asked energetically, his brown eyes bright with mischief.
He sure was weird, he seemed like he had just drunk 100 cups of coffee and eaten twenty batteries, it made me uneasy. I ignored his question; my pale skin now flushed with a tomato hue. I hurriedly bent down and picked up the books that had fallen out of my bag.
"Well you're obviously new since I've have never seen you before and you've got the whole Mary Poppins accent thing going on, but the real question is what are you doing here? Seems kind of suspicious to me" he continued completely oblivious to the fact that I was now slowly edging my way to the exit.
So close, nearly there, just a little bit further and I'm free from this psychopath.
"Hey, where are you going?" he questioned when I was about a foot from the exit.
"Um, so yeah, it was nice to meet you but I really have to be going now, so, um yeah..." I trailed off while fleeing from the room before the boy could edge in another string of questions.
Note to self the main entrance is on the east side of the school not the west.
When I glanced back at the half open door the teenage Gandalf was gone.
Well that wasn't weird at all.
I quickly glanced at my cream watch and noticed that it was now quarter past nine.
Dammit! I mentally cursed as I quickly took another direction that would hopefully lead me towards the entrance.
Chapter revised and edited on 11th June 2015, hi I've made some changes to the chapter and added some extra information.
Thank you for your lovely comments!