CHAPTER TWO
NORTH
Who the hell am I?
A question I ask myself in the mirror every morning when I drag my ass out of bed. I know the answer to that question. I'm a liar. My life is nothing but a lie. I've recreated my ideal world and dragged everyone into it. My life is nothing without the lies I've put into it. People are bound to find out sooner or later that I'm nothing but a liar with a rough past.
My name is North Aster. I'm thirteen years old and I have secrets. Many secrets. Starting with the fact that my father isn't in the army, he just ran away when my mother gave birth to me. My mother isn't working for an advertising agency, she just steals money and buys plane tickets to island resorts and is an alcoholic. She doesn't bring me or my older brother along. Speaking of my older brother, Rick didn't graduate Boston College with honors, he had terrible grades and dropped out of community college. He stays home to take care of me.
The biggest secret I hold by far? I'm a Manipulator. I'm pretty sure I'm the only one left alive in the United States. Manipulators are very rare and when they are found, they are killed immediately. No excuses. I've never been cold because I'm a Manipulator. I've ualways wondered what cold feels like. Being a Manipulator means I have total control over ice and snow. It's a pretty cool power to have until you realise your jackass dad passed it on down to you. I can't tell anyone about it or even show them. That's too dangerous. I risk the lives of everyone around me and even my family.
Because I've built my life out of lies, I'm very popular. Some days it's amazing, some days it's just wrong. Sure, it's nice to have friends by my side all the time and to be "idolized" or whatever, but it sucks knowing that I've been lying to everyone just so I'm not alone. I still feel alone, despite everything. I'm after the girl of my dreams, but she's so unattainable. She's been hurt before and I want to make her better. I want to make her mine.
Essence is a shy girl who my friends like to bully. Quiet, calm, and reserved. Nobody has ever heard her speak before. I'm in love with her. I love her smoky grey eyes that make me stop and stare. Her straight, silver-streaked hair frames her delicate face perfectly. She's got a willowy frame, pouty lips, and amazing style that's all her own. People bully Essence because she's different from everyone. She likes to sit alone and away from people, although I have sat at her lunch table a few times.
When she's mine, I will give her the world. Everything she's ever fathomed will belong to her. I will be there for her forever. And maybe, if it's even remotely possible, Essence will smile. She'll laugh. She'll feel love. She'll be happy.
If it was up to me, I wouldn't have told all those lies and I would be bullied too. I would be able to sympathize and empathize with Essence. Sure, I would lose all of my friends and so-called "fame", but I would have who I desire the most.
I just want to be normal for once. I want to come out and patch up the itty-bitty holes in my heart and my life. If I keep lying, I'll either turn into some smart ass Pinocchio or explode. I won't ever get a chance at a real, genuine life and Essence will probably never notice me. She's my Senpai...
It's a good thing that people nowadays have just about no attention span whatsoever and aren't super Sherlock Holmes-inspired detectives because otherwise, my cover would have been blown a long time ago. Even when I look in the mirror, my blue eyes have lies in them. Even in the way I spike up my blond hair, I look like an absolute douchebag and liar. You can't trust me with anything.
Well, except this...
I want to change and I will, just when the time is "right" or whatever. When I do change, I'll tell nothing but the truth, maybe even about being a Manipulator. What choice do I have? This has got to stop right now.
I want to change.