M & M

Chapter 1
Jacey

“Wait!” I said, grabbing Alaya’s wrists behind her.

“Oh, great, now I’m handcuffed,” she complained sarcastically.

“I’m pretty sure there’s an evil spirit waiting to attack.” I said grinning wildly knowing that the roots of my hair were spiking with the yellowish-green of sarcasm.

“No,” said Alaya, looking around the corner of the locker room, “All the spirits in here are pretty chill.”

“Fine.” I huffed loudly, “It left a minute ago, I’m pretty sure it’s headed towards math class” I opened my gym locker and pulled out my jeans, hoodie and t-shirt.

“Jacey, come on,” Alaya opened her gym locker and took out her outfit from where she threw it in at the beginning of the period, “You’re not a SPIRIT-SEER, I am.”

“Yeah, I know,” I said, swapping out my galaxy-patterned leggings for jeans, “By the way, he’s not interested.”

“What?” asked Alaya, genuinely confused. She’d been busy getting changed out of her gym outfit and into what she’d been wearing previously. (I have no idea how she does it so fast.) I also noticed that she managed to coax her long, vain hair out of the braid it had styled itself into for gym, and back into the usual messy - yet stylish - bun.

“Bryon,” I said grabbing my books and slamming the locker shut, “You were thinking all about him almost the entire period,” I said teasingly, cramming on my santa hat.

Today is December 28. Tomorrow is my birthday. Well, mine and Alaya’s. (We have the same birthday.) We’re turning 17. Christmas was about 3 days ago and I’d decided to get a santa hat in an attempt to show holiday spirit. (But it’s mostly because Alaya hates it.)

“Liar.” Alaya followed me down the hallway and we waited outside the room for math class.

I lifted my hat a bit. “I’m not lying,” I pointed out. “I know it wasn’t dodgeball on your mind. Also, you do know that he has a girlfriend, right?” I shifted my books in my arms to avoid dropping any.

“Whatever.” Alaya dismissed, “It’s still an invasion of privacy.”

“And you seeing dead people isn’t? Do you really think they want to be watched by one of the living,” I paused and listened a little past her surface thoughts, ignoring the content of her argument, “And how dare you,” I responded to what I heard, “you know that I can’t control whose nearby minds I listen to. Yes, if I want to know more about that mind I have to focus more, and I can make other people’s thoughts become background noise, but it’s pretty much the same as your abilities.”

The bell rang.

“We’ve already had this conversation about a million times,” said Alaya, annoyed, “Let’s get to class.”

It’s true, we’ve had this conversation about who has better control over whose abilities multiple times. She especially gets touchy when I tease her about Bryon. Really, I don’t see why Alaya has a crush on him. He is a jerk. Yes, I realize that I have the advantage of knowing what he’s thinking - but you don’t need to be a mind reader to know how awful he is. Anyways, he has a girlfriend.

I followed Alaya into Mr. Wrong’s math classroom and grabbed today’s worksheet from the wire bin by the door. We walked over to the second-to-the-farthest-in-the-back row, then walked all the way over - in the two seats directly next to the wall - and sat down.

I took out a pencil and filled out the top of the quiz;

Then I sat back and listened to other people’s minds for the day’s gossip.

Alaya and I have matching galaxy-patterned leggings for gym. Today I’m wearing blue jeans, my favorite orange hoodie, black Ugg boots, and a Miraculous Ladybug tee shirt.

Alaya has 3 foot long bright red hair. Her eyes are a mossy spring green (mine are sea foam green). Alaya wears huge, round glasses. Alaya is a SPIRIT-SEER, which means she can see dead people.

I’m a TELEPATH - and a really powerful one, too. All TELEPATHS have the ability to read minds (duh). Many, however, also have an ‘add-on’ as well. Some can’t have their mind’s read, some can be undetected when reading minds, some can control other people, and much, much more. I have all the telepathic abilities - except telekinesis.

Unfortunately, my amazing mind comes with a little side effect - my hair. Now, I don’t know if my it’s because of my telepathic abilities because it’s never happened before, but I have Mood-Ring hair. You know what a mood-ring is, right? If you don’t, a mood-ring is a ring that changes color depending on your mood. (Really, the color on the mood rings just changes according to the temperature - and amusement parks make a lot of money off them.)

Now, imagine having a mood ring that actually worked, had areas of color exactly proportional to any feelings you are having, and shifts constantly to be accurate. That is my hair. Because of my hair, I wear a lot of hats. No one has a color-coded cheat sheet to my hair, but it’’s easy to guess.

The more intensely I’m feeling a feeling, the darker/deeper/more intense the shade of the color is. For example, if I’m daydreaming about some hot girl, then a patch of my hair will turn a maroonish red. If I’m focusing on some math homework, a patch will become white. When my hair is wet it turns a sea-foam green, same as my eyes. I’m pretty sure that sea-foam green is the default for my hair. The roots of my hair are a light, clear-sky blue - when I’m telling the truth. When I lie, the roots turn a lime green.

Here is as basic color key to my hair;

Upset

magenta

Hungry

candy-apple red

Romantic

maroonish red

Nervous

sunset orangey-pink

Excited

bright orange

Embarrassed

neon yellow

Lying/Sarcasm

lime green

Sympathetic/Sad

dark pine green

Calm/Asleep

sea foam green

Happy

Turquoise

Truthfulness

clear sky blue

Passionate

navy blue

Mad/Angry

deep dark purple

Scared

black

Sick/Tired

light grey

Annoyed

light brown

Disgusted

beige

Bored

snow white

Bryon, Alaya’s crush, is an ANTI-GRAV, and a jerk. He can walk across any surface at any angle the way normal people would walk across the floor. He is dating a girl named Victoria, who is super rich. She has raven-black hair, and watercolor-green eyes. Her, and her parents are SHAPE-SHIFTERS.

Me, and everyone else that has abilities goes to a School Of Magic And Miscellaneous. Personally, I find the title a bit misleading. We don’t learn ‘magic’ - we just teach ourselves how to control our own powers (which I doubt you could describe as magic). Basically, what happens, is we show up (in whatever way) then are showed around. Then you get your own apartment (that you don’t have to pay for until you reach a certain age) and you go to the town’s School Of M & M.There are countless versions of The School Of M & M all over the world. I go to the New York School Of Magic And Miscellaneous.

The reason these schools exist is because of “The Chosen” (or whatever you want to call us). “The Chosen” are people who Fate chose on their birthday to gain powers. Fate will chose anyone, anywhere, turning ages 3 through 13 to obtain a power.

Fate is a legend, because no one knows how to explain the powers, or the voice that you hear when they are granted to you. The story says that there are two IMMORTALS called Fate And Destiny. The have lived many centuries, and live in secret, possessing all the possible powers, and granting certain people specific ones.

The Chosen are seen differently all over the world. In some places, we’re seen as demi-gods and are worshipped (not in the U.S., unfortunately). In some people’s minds we’re seen as demons. Mosty, whenever I’m around regular people, here in New York, I’m seen as just another person. Everywhere, though, we are respected.

When I was chosen, it was my 3rd birthday. My mother was hoping that I’d be chosen because her and her ancestors were ones who worshipped us “CHOSEN”. She hoped that I’d bring good luck to the family and I wanted a way to make her really proud. If you’d like, I’ll tell you about the special moment. (TELEPATHS have very good memories - so we can keep track of all the information floating around.)

I sat at the end of a long rectangular table. Atop my long, dull brown curls was a party hat with “I’m The Birthday Girl” across the front in sparkly letters. In front of me there was a large chocolate birthday cake, big enough for all of the guests sitting across from me, and the mom chaperones standing around the room. Melissa's mom walked over to me to light the candles, then went over to turn out the lights.

“Wait,” Kate’s mom had commanded as she took out an iPhone (one that would now be a very outdated model) from her purse, “we’ve gotta remember the birthday girl.” She activated the camera app and switched to video, “Now!”

Melissa’s mom turned off the lights and suddenly it got really dark - except for the candles. Everyone was singing ‘Happy Birthday’, but I ignored them. I was concentrating on my wish.

“...TOOO YOOOU,” they finished.

I wish that I had powers, I thought fiercely blowing out all of the candles out in one go.

I felt a tingly sensation all through my body. TELEPATH I heard a voice whisper through my mind.

Melissa’s mom turned the lights back on and everyone gasped. “TELEPATH?,” I wondered out loud.

Suddenly, there was a lot of voices - the voices of my friends, their moms, my mom, and the neighbors. “Why is everyone being so loud,” I asked, “Why can’t you be quiet?”

“Oh, sweetie,” my mom came up to me, “You’ve been chosen.”

After that everyone left. My mom gave me my father’s watch and her locket - both of which have been in the family for generations. She took me to The New York School Of M & M. That video, the one of me blowing out candles and the brown hair & eyes vanishing and getting replaced with sea foam and a rainbow went very viral. (It is still the top hit on YouTube because mood-ring hair has never happened before and everyone is excited about that for some reason.)

Unfortunately, Alaya’s mom was nowhere near as kind. The day after my 4th birthday I was practicing how many minds I could identify at once, when I head Alaya coming. She was entering ShifterVille with her mom.

I’d grabbed my jacket and ran all the miles to the Drop-Off - the place near the school where parents and older siblings bring “THE CHOSEN” (it is also a convenience store and gas station - so there is always someone there to accept the newbies). By the time I got there, Alaya’s mom was still sobbing hysterically saying some ridiculous stuff about how “a red haired demon has taken over the sole of her precious blue-eyed angel”. There was also some shit about how she spent all of yesterday trying to “cleanse Alaya’s spirit”.

When she was done and had left, the guy who was at the Drop-Off told us to get in his car and he drove us back to my apartment and Alaya and I have been best friends ever since.

Also, her grandma kinda haunts our apartment but, whatever.

I checked my watch - there was about 8 minutes left in class. I blocked off the faraway minds, sent the nearby ones farther into the background, and focused on Brody. Brody is a RUNNER - which means he can run faster than the speed of light without even breaking a sweat. He is also a total nerd and gets all the right answers in every class. He was checking all his answers, so I concentrated, and peeked through his eyes and copied down his answers.

I wish Alaya had a crush on him. Brody is totally in love with her, and they’d be perfect for each other. When I finished, I put down my pencil and checked my watch again - 4 minutes left.

I pushed Brody into the background again and listened to everyone.

Jacey... I heard among it.

I focused trying to figure out who it came from.

Jacey... someone’s thoughts said again, loudly.

I identified the mind. What?, I sent, assuming that the person wanted conversation.

I saw you spacing out a while, you’re thinking about me like I am you, right?, Bryon’s mind thought.

For the billionth time, I’M NOT INTERESTED!!!, I mentally yelled at him.

Please, all the ladies love me. And besides, if you didn’t love me then why are you merging our minds?, He falsely reasoned.

Ugh, what an idiot, I thought to myself, I’m not, I addressed him, Also, don’t you have a girlfriend?

So? It’s you I want. Stop trying to play hard to get.

I looked through my own memory and thought of the noise of an air horn. I concentrated on amplifying the sound and sent it directly to Bryon’s mind, along with the image of a charging goat which I made flash across his vision. Focusing harder I, at the same time, manipulated part of his mind to make him temporarily perceive the threat as real. He yelled out in shock and fell over in his chair with a loud thud. Several students sitting near him started giggling.

Mr. Wrong, who was sitting at his desk, looked up from his computer. Mr. Wrong is also a TELEPATH. Not as good as I am, but still pretty good. Unfortunately, he was keeping a close mind on all the students and noticed the little exchange between Brody and I.

“Jacey,” Mr. Wrong stood up and pointed to the door, “Go to the principal’s office now.”

A ripple of “Oooooh, she’s in trouble” went through the class.

At, least he can’t read my mind or else I’d also be in trouble for cheating, too, I thought.

I picked up my books and stood up.

“Leave your quiz in the corner of your desk,” Mr. Wrong commanded.

The answer to question 20 is 83x, I sent to Alaya as I walked by.

When I went down the hallway, I heard Mr. Wrong sending a thought to Mr. Peanut, informing him that I was coming.

Chapter 2
Alaya

“Wait!” said Jacey, giggling hysterically as she grabbed my wrist.

“Oh great, now I'm handcuffed,” I said sarcastically.

“I'm pretty sure there's an evil spirit waiting to attack,” she said trying to hold back giggles - and mostly failing.

“No,” I said looking around the room just to make sure there were none, “All the spirits in here are pretty chill.”

“Fine,” she huffed, her hair tinged with lime green and orange. “It left a minute ago, I'm pretty sure it's headed towards math class,” she opened her gym locker, and grabbed her clothes.

“Come on Jacey,” I started getting changed “You're not a SPIRIT-SEER, I am.”

“Yeah I know,” she said while putting on her pants, “by the way he's not interested”

“What,” I asked confused I had been busy changing and attempting to direct my hair into a bun, I hadn't been paying attention much so I had know idea what she was talking about.

“Bryon,” she said as she grabbed her books and shut her locker, “You were thinking of him all period.”

“Liar,” I say fairly quickly. I do like Bryon but I don't like being called out on it especially by Jacey. I think it's an invasion of privacy that she is always intruding on my thoughts.

She lifted her hat and pointed out unnecessarily, “I'm not lying, I know it wasn't dodgeball on your mind. Also, you do know that he has a girlfriend, right?”

“Whatever, it's still an invasion of privacy,” I retorted.

“And you seeing dead people isn't? Do you really think they want to be seen by the living?” she asked. I could barely believe what she said. I can barely control who or what I see but she has serious control over whose thoughts she's eavesdropping on. “And how dare you,” she continued, “You know that I can’t control who’s nearby minds I listen to. Yeah, if I want to know more about that mind I have to focus more, and I can make other’s thoughts become background noise, but it’s pretty much the same with your abilities.”

“We already had this conversation about a million times. Let's get to class.” I said extremely annoyed.

Jacey followed me to Mr. Wrong’s math class. I picked up my worksheet from the bin and started working. I know Jacey isn't really working she's just listening to the daily gossip. I know that a lot of people read the stuff she posts on Grape. I can't complain about this because I love being filled in on the juicy gossip when we get home to our cute little apartment. I often tell Jacey high school is like a soap-opera without serial killers, criminals, and dramatic music. She usually replies with “you are such an old woman” I act like it's an insult but truly, I think I'm an 80-year-old trapped in a 16-year-old's body.

I'm a SPIRIT-SEER - pretty self explanatory - I see spirits. I like to help the spirits cross over or help them to resolve their problems in the material world. It's kinda my thing. I like being a SPIRIT-SEER. Most SPIRIT-SEERS get an elemental power when they become an adult it is said that it gives us strong connections to the material world along with strong connections to the spirit world.

I'm not the only SPIRIT-SEER in the school, but I’m the only one who gets monthly “seance” privileges, which is pretty cool. I get to hold a monthly seance where anyone can attend. Mostly, I help out ghosts., as they are the most common form of dead people. People who aren't SPIRIT-SEERS think that the living world is full of spirits - ts not. Everyone has a spirit, tucked away in their soul. For someone to be just spirit - on this Earth - is very rare. Most ghosts have passed through to the OtherWorld by then. Once a ghost has passed to The OtherWorld, their spirit is returned to them. Less common than ghosts, and more common than spirits, are what us SPIRIT-SEERS like to call Angels.

Being an Angel means that you still have part of your spirit. If you have ever been haunted, it is usually the work of an Angel. (Although, if you were to perform a ritual to attach a ghost to someone - I suppose that the ghost would be able to haunt the living.) An Angel must complete a certain task. When said task is finished - however long that it may take, the Angel will be rewarded with the rest of it’s spirit, and eternity in the OtherWorld...

My grandmother is an Angel. Her mission is to watch over me and help me be a SPIRIT-SEER. I never really knew her when she was alive. My mother was always scared of The Chosen. She avoided learning about them, even as a child. I think whe thought her mom was a witch. After college, she avoided Grandma at all costs.

When Fate chose me to follow in my grandmother’s spirit-seeing footsteps - mom was pissed, to say the least. She took me to church, and tried to “cleanse my spirit.” It didn’t work - obviously - my blue-eyed blonde girl days were over. My grandma is proud that I take after her. Both her, and especially my Best Friend, Jacey make getting abandoned easier.

I was finishing my math work, when I felt an ghost enter the room. When I looked up, I saw an old woman hovering over a student with silver hair. I tried to pretend not to see her. If she notices that I can see her, she might want to talk to me, and I am kind of busy working on my quiz. The old woman was yelling, trying to get the student’s attention.

After a few minutes, it was bothering me so much that I gave up on my pretending and looked directly at the ghost. It didn't take to long for her to make eye contact with me.

“Leave him alone,” I mouthed silently. Luckily most spirits are very good at reading lips (don't ask me why, they just are). And, being a SPIRIT-SEER, I can communicate directly to ghosts and spirits on a special wavelength that the living can’t hear.

“Why can’t he see me?” She responded back. Her loud voice was scratchy with tears, audible only to me.

“I’m sorry,” I told her, “but you’re dead.”

“If I'm dead, then how can you see me?”

“I’m a SPIRIT-SEER.” I communicated, apologetically.

“I wasn't dead yesterday so how am I dead today,” she asked.

People who have recently died are often unaware that they are dead. GhostHood can seem like you are still alive, but all ghosts must eventually come to terms with the reality. Thought some SPIRIT-SEERS can’t - I have the ability to tell how someone died. She’d had a heart attack in her sleep, which was a nice was to go. In the past, Jacey and I have had to help out Ghosts that had been traumatized with brutal murders.

“If you aren't dead why can't he see you? Just follow me.” I mouthed.

I raised my hand and ask to go to the bathroom so I could speak to the spirit, without getting in trouble, we were taking a quiz, after all.

“What's your name?” I asked, once we were in the hall.

“Grace,” she said.

“Okay, Grace, what's your relationship to the boy who you were trying to talk to,” I asked.

“I am his grandmother and his name is Thomas.” she said defensively.

“Okay, what do you want to say to him maybe I can relay a message to hi-”

“No I need to tell him myself.” Grave cut me off. She seemed very persistent on this point. I began to argue, but then I noticed someone was coming around the corner in the hallway and then stopped talking immediately worried that I might get in trouble for what would look like skipping class.

Luckily, the kid that comes around the corner has a pass, and is more focused on getting to the nurse’s office than me. The boy continues down the hall, and Grace begins talking again.

“I need to tell him how to find his mother. He wouldn't listen to me when I was alive so he needs to listen to me now, but I need to tell him myself,” she said the words so fast that I could barely make them out. I suddenly realized that it's been, like, six minutes since I left for the bathroom and it was going to start to seem suspicious.

So I said, “I can't talk anymore. I’ve got to get to class. Grace, just hang around the school and then, follow me home today, so we can sort this out, okay?”

“Okay” she said reluctantly.

I walked back into the class and signed back in. I sat down, and all of a sudden I heard Mr. Wrong say “Jacey got to the principal's office now.”

“Ooooohs,” erupted throughout the class.

Mr Wrong said, “Leave your quiz on your desk please.

Then, Jacey messaged me telepathically, The answer to question 20 is 83x.

I rolled my eyes as Jacey left the room.

A couple of minutes pass ,and then I got a telepathic message from Mr Wrong, Don't think I didn't catch Jaceys little hint.

I immediately knew what he was referring to and thought super hard, I DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS GOING TO DO THAT, SORRY!

He responded by giving me a new question for number 20. I easily completed it in seconds and then handed in my quiz. During the whole Jacey debacle I had forgotten about Grace until I caught a glimpse of her hovering out of the corner of my eye. I sighed tiredly because I knew I would eventually have to deal with her. And, I could tell she was a stubborn little ghost. I zone out the rest of math class, and think about how Jacey was definitely going to get detention for the rest of the day.

Also, what I was going to do about Grace The Ghost? I thought of holding a seance, but then I realized I had already used my seance for December. So, if Grace had a message it was going to have to wait until January. I could hold one at home, but last time I tried that, Jacey accused me of trying to burn down the entire apartment building. Then I think of what she said, “I need to tell him about how to find his mom…”

When the bell rings at the end of the period I quickly grab my things and scurry off to the music suite.

Chapter 3
Jacey

I walked into Mr. Peanut’s office. Mr. Peanut is the school’s principal. He is a short, red-eyed blue-haired SHAPE-SHIFTER.

“Please, sit down, Miss Jacey,” he directed. I sat down in one of the chairs in front of his desk, “Now, would you care to tell me what you’ve done this time?”

“I made Bryon think he was getting attacked by a goat,” I confessed, “and I made him think someone was blaring a very loud air horn in his ears.”

“Is there a reason why you were terrorizing Bryon in math class?”

“He was saying some incredibly offensive things,” I said. He was being a total a**hole, I thought privately to myself.

“Saying it or thinking it?” He stared at me accusingly, “Because you are not aloud to to attack other students over their private thoughts.”

“It was more of a conversation.”

“Regardless, you have detention for the rest of the school day.”

“Fine,” I huffed.

“You know the way to the detention room, leave,” he actually shooed me.

“Yeah, yeah. Go back to being a bird,” I smirked, leaving.

As I exited the room, I heard him mutter something about “Nosey TELEPATHS”.

I went down to the end of the hall and entered the detention room.

“Hello Jacey,” said Miss. Pimm, looking up from her book, “how nice of you to join us today,” she remarked, sarcastically.

The bell rang, signaling the end of 8th period.

I sat down in the back of the room and took my iPhone out of my back pocket. After entering my passcode I opened up the Grape app. Once on the app, I composed this message to my followers;

@moody_telepath_16
Scared @upside_down_ladies_man_17 in math now stuck in detention.

Then, I closed out of the app, and played Agar.io for the rest of the period.

The bell rang, signaling the end of the day.

I sprang up out of my chair, grabbing my books and shoving my iPhone in my back pocket. I focused on the minds around me, making a mental map of everyone's location so I could quickly navigate the hallways without crashing into anyone.

When I got to my locker, I quickly spun out the code and shoved in all my books - free at last. I grabbed my long purple coat and my orange backpack - deprived of all books. (It was New Year’s break, now.) I nearly flew through the hallways, gently urging minds to get out of my way.

I continued my fast pace, barley shivering at the blast of cold, winter air that greeted me the second I walked outside. I sprinted towards the parking lot and found Alaya’s car. Her car is a massive, white S.U.V with bumper stickers plastered all across the back. I pulled open the door and slid in. I detected a hint of a mind, and, by listening to Alaya’s surface thoughts, figured out that there was a ghost in the back seat.

“So, how was detention,” Alaya inquired, starting up the car.

“No where near as fun as you had in band,” I said peeking at her recent memory, “Looks like I missed some excitement.”

“No shit Sherlock,” she said, “I know you had something to do with it.”

“What, do you seriously believe that I would abuse my abilities like that,” I asked, faking total shock.

We both burst out laughing.

Chapter 4
Alaya

I walked quickly to the music suite. I did not want to go to band today I don't like the band teacher - she's a total b-word. I already hate my trombone, but I hate her more. I set up my trombone and got my music stand. I took out my music, and sat down, waiting for band to start. While I waited, I wondered why Jacey got detention. Jacey probably got in trouble for sticking it to the man, as-per-usual.

Then, mid-thought, I was interrupted by Mrs. Geonolli.

"Alright band, settle down and stand up,” she said coldly. A hush blanked over the room as we waited for her to take attendance. No one wants to interrupt Mrs. G When she is taking attendance because it will for sure result in detention for the next day, so we all sit still until she, after what's felt like forever, starts.

She goes down each row of names on her paper, “Amanda,” she calls out.

“Here,” the timid 9th grader responds. (In last period band, not only are there us 12th graders, but 9th-11th graders as well.)

“Ariana.”

“Here.”

“Alaya.”

“Here,” I called out, sitting down.

“Ashlyn.”

“Here.”

She continues and I mostly ignore attendance, until she gets to the Js.

“Jamie.”

“Here.”

“Jacey.” Mrs. G calls out, expecting an answer. When she’s repeated herself twice, Bea, a short ELEMENTAL (with an affinity for fire) raises her hand, “Yes, Bea?”

“She got detention in math class Mrs. Geonolli.” Bea informed her.

“Thank you, Bea,” she said and then she moves on other than that everyone is here and attendance goes smoothly until Mrs. G gets to the Zs.

“Zoe.”

“Absent,” Zoe responds in a giggly manor. Every whisper of a conversation between the talkative students stops. The room goes dead silent, and the tension is so thick, you could slice through it with a knife.

It just hangs there dangling in mid air for what feels like days, until Mrs. G screams, “PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE - NOW!!!” The scream was earth-shattering and Mrs. G was shaking with fury.

But, after the wave of joy from seeing a ninth grader stupid enough to mock Mrs. G rolled over us, we found ourselves terrified, because we knew what was coming next. Mrs. G was outraged and lectured us all for the rest of the period on the evils of disrespecting your elders.

We all blamed Zoe, of course because it’s not even like the stupid SHAPE-SHIFTER is a newbie. He just somehow thinks that because it's almost New Year’s break he’ll get off easy. I guarantee that Mrs. G will write down reminders and give him hell when we get back to school in February. It's not just a stupid joke in Mrs. G’s perspective. To her - insulting your superior and disrespecting her in her own classroom, is one of the worst sins one could possibly commit in all the universe. (Mrs. Geonolli is very religious.) When the bell rang, I bolted for the door, and practically flew down the hall to my locker.

Just as I was about to put in the combo I heard a shrill voice say my name I turned around and saw Grace The Ghost from before. I had forgotten about her during the whole band thing and now I had to deal with her.

After I grabbed my bag, gloves, and jacket, I motioned her towards me, and said, “Come home with me, and I'll help you.”

“Okay,” she replied, and off to the car we went.

I got in the driver's seat of my car and told Grace to get in the back. We waited a while for Jacey, and when she finally showed up, I immediately confronted her, “So, how was detention?” I started up the car.

“No where near as fun as you has in band,” she remarked, “Looks I missed some excitement.”

“No shit Sherlock,” I know that, in school especially, she likes to keep an eye on all the minds near her. I also know that she likes to play pranks when bored in detention, “I know that you had something to do with it.”

“What,” she asked, gasping in mock innocence, “Do you seriously believe that I would abuse my abilities like that?”

I looked over to her and we both burst out laughing.

I parked the car in the lot in front of the apartment building. I grabbed my chic pink and black messenger bag, and started swinging around their keys on their bright green lanyrd. After we got in our apartment, I hung up the keys, my bag, and my short, dark blue jacket. Jacey, however, tossed her orange backpack on her side of the room, after messily hanging up her hat and long, purple coat.

The outline of the main room is very similar on each side. Two dressers, beds, desks, futons, and flatscreens on the far wall. Down the center of the room, there is a silver line of paint. It goes up the wall, through the center of the bay window, and back across the ceiling. This is the line between slob, and neat freak.

Jacey’s side is covered with books, pens, soda cans, cat fur, old clothes, and half-eaten food. My side is perfectly neat. The books are carefully arranged on shelves. The floor is swept and clean hardwood - not long, ungroomed black shag carpeting, like Jacey has. The walls on her side are plastered with posters from various YouTube channels. Mine has a few, as Jacey says, “boring educational” posters. Such as, a worn looking map of the word and a poster of the periodic table. All of the posters are framed and hung neatly on my wall. I also have abstract paintings from a collection by our friend Kaylee, an ARTIST, especially known for her paintings.

Also, in the middle of the room, there is a treadmill. It faces towards the far wall. Anyway, on my side, there are multiple stone tables covered in candles, candle holders and wax. I went to one of them that had a drawer and looked for matches.

After some arguments, Jacey brought me my matches, which she had some reason hidden both underneath one of the tables and in the kitchen. After I got them back, Jacey and I lit candles until 36 were burning.

I finished the chant and blew out all the candles one at a time. The second the last one was extinguished, Grace vanished. I walked over to the futon - on my side - and flopped down, exhilarated. Performing rituals, even small ones, always gives me a special burst of energy. I don’t think any SPIRIT-SEER knows for sure where it comes from, but Grandma says, and the chant says, from the spirit world.

I was thinking about how good a Pepsi and some microwave mini pizzas would taste, when Jacey got up and went into the kitchen. I heard the microwave start, and she came back, tossing me a bottle of Pepsi.

Jacey took her phone from her back pocket and typed something. When she finished, she got up, and found found the remote on the floor and put on Supernatural on Netflix. The microwave beeped, again, and Jacey brought out two plates of microwave mini-pizzas. Sometimes, having a TELEPATH as a best friend is awesome. I heard an alert chime coming from her iPhone, and she typed something in again. She turned it off, and put it down.

After several episodes, I noticed that it was late.

“Jacey,” I said.

“Yeah,” she was mostly focused on the screen, probably on some nearby (or maybe far away) minds as well, though.

“Go to bed,” I told her.

“Fine,” she muttered, walking across the room, and collapsing onto her bed. After a few minutes, her hair turned a nice sea-foam green, the same as her eyes. Then, I went to my own bed, and I drifted off to sleep.

Chapter 5
Jacey

Alaya stopped swinging around her lanyrd, and caught the keys out of the air. She chose the apartment’s key, and slid it into the lock. I pushed open the blue door, and hung up my coat and hat on the hooks on the wall to the left.

In the main room, there is a line of silver paint that goes directly through the center. It even goes up the wall, in the center of the huge bay window and folds back down the middle of the ceiling. This separates my side and Alaya’s side. My side is what you would call, if you are a neat-freak like Alaya, “an atrocity”. Alaya’s is almost perfect.

The furniture, however is mostly identical on both sides. The beds, the dressers, the couches, all of the large furniture is in identical placements, mirroring themselves on each side of the room.

I dropped my backpack on the floor, and walked over to the futon on my side. After brushing off some pens and candy wrappers, I sat down. I pulled out my iPhone and started typing in posts on Grape. “Alaya, why are you obsessed with Bryon,” I inquired, “You do know he has a girlfriend, right?”

“Mm hm,” she responded. I looked over at her and saw her trying to pull open a jammed drawer in one of the wax-covered side tables on her half of the room.

“NO,” I yelled, “Grace is not getting any form of seance. She can get one next year.”

“Why not,” she complained.

“Because, last time you tried one in here, you nearly burned down the whole apartment block.”

“No, I didn’t!”

“Yes you did! I still have a photo of the scorch marks.”

“It was years ago.”

“Ah ha,” I got her. “So, now you admit to it happening, do you not?”

“Fine,” she grudgingly agreed. “But now, we have stone tables, not wood.”

“Ok,” I said, coming up with an idea. “You can give Grace a seance-”

“Yes,” Alaya punched the air in victory.

“Next month.” I finished.

“Why?” She whined.

“You know that holding a seance is powerful and can do some weird shit, no matter what you think's gonna happen. Remember that one time, at an actual seonce, back last March, and you actually let a small demon get through? I swear, if that kid it tried to possess hadn’t been an ELEMENTAL he’d have end up dead. And he was just AIR. And-”

“Okay, okay bad things happen when you aren’t careful, but that was years ago, Jacey,” Alaya said, annoyed. “Not ‘last March’.”

“Can you still wait, though?” I pleaded, “It’d be safer.” I crossed part of my vision and hearing with hers, so I knew where the new ghost was. I looked to the side, and found her perched on the edge of my “disgrace” of a bed. I noticed that she looked like she could be someone’s grandma, (which I knew - from Alaya’s mind - she was) and was wearing blue pajamas. Also, from Alaya, I found out she’d died from a heart attack in her sleep, which was a lot more peaceful than most of the stays Alaya drags in. Most of those were murdered or traumatized in some way.

Anyways, I addressed the ghost, “You wouldn’t mind waiting a while to communicate with your living loved ones, would you?”

She seemed a little shocked like something happened that she wasn’t expecting, “You can see me? Are you a SPIRIT-SEER too?” She asked, confused.

“No,” I smiled, “I’m a TELEPATH, I’m seeing you through Alaya’s eyes.”

“Okay,” she said, quickly accepting the response. “If waiting is safer, like you said maybe I could wait…”

“How did you do that,” Alaya asked, astonished, “She’s been insistent that I help her IMMEDIATELY, all day.”

>“I am very persuasive.”

“But, while I wait, I still want to be with my Tommy,” Grace demanded.

“Well, how about Alaya Attaches you to him,” I suggest, “Then, you could haunt him and he’ll have some kind of communication until the appropriate, and safe time. Plus, it’s safer and won’t attract the bad spirits.”

“Ok,” she agreed, “but who’s the older one over there?”

“That’s my Grandmother,” Alaya told her, knowing that Grace was addressing our resident ghost, who was quietly singing to My cat Smokey.

“So,” I stood up, rubbing my hand together, “Let's light up some candles and get started.”

“Where did you hide the matches,” Alaya accused. After searching around in the drawer where they are usually kept.

“What,” I gasped, “I would never do such a thing.”

“Jacey,” Alaya said exasperated, “Your hair is turning green, where are they?”

“Why is that,” Grace asked.

“What,” I looked over to her.

“Why does your hair change color,” she wondered, “Why is the green significant?”

“The colors change according to her mood,” Alaya informed her, “see the roots?” The ghost nodded. “When they’re that light blue, it means she’s telling the truth, and when the roots are green-”

“She’s lying,” Grace figured out.

“Yeah, maybe,” I said vaguely. I walked over to one of the little stone side tables on Alaya’s side and crouched down. I put my hand underneath it and pulled out a box of matches. “The rest are in the kitchen,” I said tossing the pack to her.

“Thanks,” she grumbled, catching them, “But why were they hidden in the first place?”

“I get bored,” I walked over to the kitchen and retrieved a pack. On Alaya’s side, there are multiple stone tables. Each of them are covered in wax and old matches and candle holders and candles. Both of us started lighting candles. After 36 were lit, Alaya told me to stop.

I went back to my side, and watched her complete the ritual, which ended in her blowing out all the candles in one breath, and at the same time Grace vanished. Alaya collapsed on her couch and stared at the wall. Things like that take a lot of energy.

I picked up her surface thoughts, and went to the kitchen. I opened the freezer and found a box of mini pizzas, which I proceeded to cook in the microwave. Then, I got out a Coke and a Pepsi, and went back to the main room. I tossed the Pepsi to Alaya, and got out my phone. I went onto Grape, and composed this on Private Messaging;

@moody_telepath_16
@silver_night_skyy_16 just a heads up, but your grandmother's ghost is now attached to you.

I retrieved a remote and turned on Alaya’s computer. On the flat screen, I activated the Netflix app, and put on Supernatural. After a minute I got an alert on my phone that i got a reply;

@silver_night_skyy_16
@moody_telepath_16 wait, what?

To which, I responded;

@moody_telepath_16
@silver_night_skyy_16 earlier, @spirit_reader_2000._.16 noticed that your Grandmother, Grace’s, ghost was trying to talk to you. So, until there can be a proper seance, she is Attached to you and will be haunting you as she pleases.

I turned off the phone and placed it faced down next to me. I heard a ding and got back up to the kitchen. I took out the mini-pizzas and divided them evenly on two plates.

I gave one to Alaya, and we watched a few episodes of Supernatural, before she noticed the time, and we both went to bed.

Chapter 6
Alaya

“Meow!”

I woke up to Smoke shoving my face with her face, “What do you want?”

“MEOW,” she insisted.

“Go bother Jacey,” I grumbled. I was about to fall back to sleep when I heard a thump and was jerked back into awareness immediately. It was Smoke jumping off the bed. I grabbed a pillow and covered my head with it.

“Alaya,” Jacey called from across the room.

“WHAT” I yelled as I threw the pillow angrily across the room.

“Calm down,” she said as she stood up, “Happy Birthday.”

“Your stupid cat woke me up,” I said still upset about the dumb cat waking me up.

“She also has some mice for you to enjoy, Also a bird,” she said looking at her cat.

“Yes, I heard,” I said, grumpily. Being a SPIRIT-SEER, I can communicate with, and understand certain animals, particularly cats and dogs so I heard Smoke when she was whining about her mouse catching shirade.

“Hello, Mist,” Jacey said to my giant white newfoundland. He's sooooooo cute. I love him to death. “So, we’re going to A Touch of Somewhere tonight, right?”(he hasn't blocked her yet, cause he knows that she'll just call from a private number if he did, and he'd rather know she's trying to call"“Of course, it’s tradition.” I replied as I slipped on my white slippers and robe that match my silver and white patterned pajamas. I walked into the kitchen then to the freezer and got out the last of the waffles.

I was about to put them into the toaster when jacey walked in and asked, “Are those the last ones?!?”(he hasn't blocked her yet, cause he knows that she'll just call from a private number if he did, and he'd rather know she's trying to call"I instinctively shouted, “Mine!”

“Whatever,” she said grabbing a box of cereal from one of the shelf then she shoved a handful in her mouth.

“Ewwww, at least you aren't so red anymore,” I joked.(he hasn't blocked her yet, cause he knows that she'll just call from a private number if he did, and he'd rather know she's trying to call"“Or am I?” She said, mysteriously.

“No, before it was all red, almost.”v“Ok” she said as she walked into the main room with the box and sat down.(he hasn't blocked her yet, cause he knows that she'll just call from a private number if he did, and he'd rather know she's trying to call"I waited for my waffles to pop up and then dressed it with butter and syrup took it to my couch and ate the entire thing in less than two minutes flat. Then, I walked over over to Jacey’s couch and sat down to watch the news.

After about an hour, I heard a voice, “FIRE ELEMENTAL.”

“TELEKINETIC.”

“FIRE.” We both said simultaneously.

“Awesome.” We said together.

“Show me FIRE” she demanded.

“Ok.” I held out my hand in front of me and concentrated. After a few seconds, a small ball of fire appeared in my palm. It didn’t take very long for it to get about the size of a basketball.

“Wow,” she said, looking at the hot, glowing ball, “What's it like?”

“It's like - like, I have infinite warmth,” I said attempting to describe it, “You?”

“I am hyper aware of EVERYTHING,” she sounded really annoyed.

“What do you mean?”

“Already, I knew where and who everyone is. But now, I have, um, a live map of everything that's happening nearby in my head.”

“That sounds annoying.”

“Yes, it is. I think I have a headache,” she stretched out on the couch and said, “Move.”

“Why?”

“Cause I'm gonna take a nap.”

“Ok.” I replied walking over to my neatly made bed. I took out my iPad, and blue headphones to watch YouTube. I stayed on it for, like, an hour.

Then, Mist had to be taken out for a walk. So, I grabbed his blue leash and my keys from the rack where I hang them up. Then, I clipped the leash to his thick, green collar. I grabbed my blue jacket off the hook, and zipped it on. I walked out of the apartment, then relocked the door.

I walked Mist to the dog park just a few streets over to let him play. When we got to the park, Mist peed, and then played with another - way smaller - dog named Coco. I sat on the bench and watched the dogs play until Coco left. Then, Mist and I left for home.

While we were walking back to the apartment Mist stopped to go poo-poo one more time. When we got home, and I unlocked the door to the apartment, Jacey was still snoring away. I unhooked Mist from his leash, so he could lay on his dog bed - and I could go back to YouTube. After a while, I noticed the clock in the corner and I saw that about an hour had past. I stopped watching YouTube and then started to read my science textbook.

Chapter 7
Jacey

“Meow.”

“Get. Off.”

Smoke was sitting on my face. And, trust me, having a Maine Coon cat sitting on your face is NOT pleasant. Not under any circumstance. Maine Coons are the largest domestic cats, like, ever.

“Meow.”

I shoved the cat off of me. “Meow,” she insisted jumping onto the floor with a thump. I looked at her mind to see what she wanted. Apparently, what she wanted, was to wake me up so that Alaya and I could accept some dead mice as birthday gifts. Oh yeah, I remembered, today is our birthday.

“Alaya,” I called, sitting up.

“WHAT,” she yelled, throwing a pillow halfway across the room.

“Calm down,” I said, standing up, “Happy birthday.”

“Your stupid cat woke me up,” she said, grumpily.

“She also has some mice for you to enjoy,” I looked over at the meowing cat, “Also, a small bird.”

“Yes, I heard,” Alaya groaned.

“Hello, Mist,” I said to Alaya’s massive, snoring dog. Mist is a massive, all white Newfoundland. I love him, but he’s really annoying. First of all, Alaya is fine with that massive furball shedding everywhere, but she goes nuts if a single strand of Smoke’s grey fur gets on her side. Ok, I know that it's not the dog’s fault, but, whatever. At least he gets along with Smoke. “So, we’re going to A Touch Of Somewhere tonight, right?”

“Of course,” Alaya replied, getting up and shoving her feet into a pair of slippers, “It's tradition.” Every year, on our birthday, Alaya and I go to this restaurant called “A Touch Of Somewhere”. You never know what they’ll have when you go there. The menu rotates all the time, but there are certain dishes that you can always find on the menu.

“Just making sure,” I went over to Alaya’s couch, retrieved my iPhone, and went over to mine. I turned on Grape and scrolled through the recent news feed when I an alert that someone had tagged me in a post;

@tea_and_relative_dimension_in_space_21
I wish HAPPY BIRTHDAYS to @moody_telepath_17 & @spirit_reader_2000._.17 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That was our friend, Candice. We are great friends. She used to go to The New York School Of Magic And Miscellaneous with us. She was great. A few years ago, she left and started touring the world in her epic band Dimensional Drift. I didn’t respond, because I know that she is always at her busiest at the end of the year. Anyways, I’ll be seeing her, and her Iguana (Frederick), at the New Year’s party.

I got up, and found Alaya in the kitchen with some toaster waffles. “Hey,” I complained, “Are those the last ones?!?”

“Mine,” she said, trying to shield them from me.

“Whatever,” I found a box of cereal, and grabbed a handful, and shoved it in my mouth.

“Eww,” she complained, laughing, “At least, you aren’t so red any more.

“Or am I?”

“No,” she inspected my hair again, “Before, it was ALL red. Almost.”

“Ok,” I went to the main room again. I sat down, and turned on the news.

After about an hour I heard the voice in my head.

“TELEKINETIC.”

“FIRE,” Alaya remarked, at the same time I repeated the word from my head.

“Awesome.” Often, when a CHOSEN turns 17, they will get a second power, usually similar to the first. It doesn’t happen every time, but it does most of the time. Alaya just got an affinity for FIRE. She is now a SPIRIT-SEER and an ELEMENTAl. I just got telekinesis. Already, I was aware of everyone’s location and identity. Now, I had a mental map of everything nearby. I know that the longer you have a power, the stronger it gets, so, I knew that soon enough, the mental map would stretch as far as my telepathy.

Show me fire,” I demanded.

“Ok.” she held out her hand, cupping it, and concentrated. As she stared at her hand, a bright, orange ball of light appeared. It got bigger, and in a few seconds, there was a floating FireBall floating above her hand. It was about the size of a basketball.

“Wow,” I looked at the floating flames, “What’s it like?”

“It's like,” she started, “Like I have infinite warmth. You?”

“I’m hyper aware of EVERYTHING.”

“What do you mean?”

“Already, I knew where and who everyone is. But now, um, I have a live map of where everything is happening nearby in my head,” I tried to inform her.

“That sounds annoying.”

“Yes,” I said, “It is. I think I have a headache.” I stretched out on the couch. “Move.”

“Why?”

“Cause - I’m gonna take a nap.”

“Ok…."

Chapter 8
Jacey

I was a hawk. I soared over towns and cities. The sky was sunset, with bursts of color. There was business below me, but it was quiet. I couldn’t hear anyone’s minds. I flew in front of a tall glass building. My feathers were glittering with turquoise and orange and red and tipped with pale blue.

I stopped, and perched at the top of the point on a skyscraper and looked over everything. I saw another bird heading towards me. It was light pink and brown and dark grey. The bird had small patches of turquoise feathers, and the edges tipped in pale blue.

I flew towards it, curious, and it turned around, going in the other direction. I followed it for some ways, then the other bird spoke.

“You must be prepared,” it said.

“Why?” I asked.

“You have both been Chosen.”

“What?”

“Though a path has been chosen for you, make sure that you still walk the one you are on.” She started to fade away.

“Wait,” I yelled, “What do you mean?”

But she was gone. The scene below had faded.

And everything,

Had turned,

To black.

“Agh!!!” There was slobber on my face. And a tongue. It was Mist. He was licking my face. “Alaya!”

She was laughing so hard.

“Alaya.”

“Yes?” She asked, innocently.

“Why did you sick the dog on me?”

“I - I didn’t,” she was laughing hysterically, “I didn’t sick the dog on you.”

I stared at her.

“I just told him to lick you.” She threw her hands up in the air in surrender.

“May I ask, ‘WHY’?”

“I couldn’t wake you up.”

“There are better ways to do so,” I said, gritting my teeth. My hair was blooming with purple and magenta and brown.. Then, I got an idea. I felt out all the slobber on my face, separated it from my skin, and made it fly through the air - and cover the front of Alaya’s shirt.

“Whaaa?” she looked up at me, so shocked, I started laughing.

Suddenly, a small orange ball of fire appeared, and migrated over to where my phone was, on the floor.

“Noooo!” I yelled at her. “Don’t you dare.”

“Say sorry.”

“Sorry."

She considered this, “Get rid of the slobber.”

“Ok,” I said, “Fine.” Concentrating very hard, I extracted all of the slobber from her tee, and sent it flying into Alaya’s trash bin. “Better?"

“Thanks.” The FireBall extinguished.

“Why’d you wake me up in the first place?”

“Cause. We’re going to A Touch Of Somewhere. Remember?”

“I knew that.”

“Mm-hm.” She remarked. “Get dressed.”

“I am dressed.” I argued.

“That’s what you were wearing yesterday.”

“Fine.” I found a fresh pair of jeans, and a White tee shirt with green designs on it. When I was done changing, I said, “Ok, is that better?”

“Yes.” She grabbed her keys from the hook.

“Are we going now?” I asked.

“Well, duh,” she grabbed her jacket. “And you call yourself a TELEPATH.”

“Meh-me-meh,” I mocked her.

“Stop it.”

“Fine.” She had herself all done up with makeup and stuff. I grabbed my long purple coat, and a pink knit hat, and we left to go to A Touch Of Somewhere.

We walked into the restaurant, and sat down at the table in the corner, like we do every year.

When the waiter came over, I started to order a Thai iced tea when he interrupted me.

“Excuse me, but you aren’t allowed to wear a hat in here.” He told me.

“Yes, I am.”

“No You’re not,” he said, “The rules have been changed.”

“Well, I don’t give a shit about your stupid rules. I’m going to wear this hat, because I like my privacy.”

“Well,” he said, with a mock-smile, “I don’t give a shit about your privacy, so you’d better take off the hat, or leave.”

“Fine,” I took off the hat, and placed the hat on the table, “That better?”

"Umm…” he said with a look of shock on his face.

“By the way,” I said, delving into his thoughts, “You aren’t imagining it - your girlfriend is cheating on you with your brother. Now, I’d like an Thai iced tea, please.”

“Right away, Miss.” He walked off, a bit terrified.

“And, I’ll have a water.” Alaya called after him. Then, she turned to me. “Did you have to do that?”

“Yes. No.” I said, “What’s the right answer?”

She shook her head. “Was it at least true?”

“Well, duh.” I remarked. “Did you not see my hair?

“You still didn't have to do that it was completely uncalled for, he was just doing his job.”

“Whatever.”

"Don't you dare whatever me sister sledge do you know how annoying your attitude towards people is because if you don't then you need to learn that poor guy's girlfriend is cheating on him and he has to wait tables to make money and you have to go an be pissy to him I bet he deals with customers being angry about that rule all day but it's not up to him now is it."

The waiter came back over with our drinks.

When he left, Alaya said, “You could have apologized to him.”

“But I didn’t.” I stared at the two cups, concentrating.

“What are you doing?”

“Watch.” I concentrated, and the water and tea raised out of the cups. The two swirled around each other, not touching, then circled back into the cups funneling into their straws.

“Nice but I'm still upset at you.” Alaya remarked staring at me.

“I saw some TELEKINETIC do it on YouTube somewhere,” I muttered.

After we ate and went home, it was kinda late.

“I think you should get to bed.” Alaya suggested.

“I told you, I’m fine.” I complained.

“It's still late.”

“Fine.” I sighed, “But only ‘cause I’m tired.” I pointed at her. “Don’t think that you’re getting off easy.”

She held her hands up in mock-surrender, “Of course not.”

Alaya walked off to the bathroom to brush her teeth.

I looked through the hanging-out middle drawer of my dresser, and pulled out a miss-matched pajama set, which I threw onto the bed. I disposed of the tee and jeans, then tossed my bra onto the dresser. I slipped on the fuzzy duck-print pajama pants, and slipped on the button-up sheep-print top. I concentrated, TELEKINETICALLY, and the buttons buttoned themselves.

I walked over to Alaya’s side of the room, and felt out the plaque build-up on my teeth. Then, I forced, it off effectively brushing my teeth, and getting rid of the day’s gunk.

“Oh my god.” Alaya walked into the room, sporting her rosey-pink nightgown. “Are you seriously brushing your teeth with your mental powers?”

“Yes.”

“You are so lazy.”

“And proud of it.” I walked over, and flopped down on my bed. “Good night.” I closed my eyes, and turned off the lights.

“Heeeey.” Alaya complained. I heard her lighting some candles, then I drifted off to sleep.

Chapter 9
Alaya

After another half hour I started to try to wake Jacey up. I threw pillows, and started fires near her in an attempt to make her uncomfortably hot, (that last one almost ended up with me burning the couch - but she doesn't need to know that). And then finally, just old fashion shaking her and yelling “WAKE UP”. Nothing worked, so I decided to tell Mist to lick her face, which worked.

“Aghhhhhhh! A-LAY-AHH.” Jacey screeched after Mist had started to slobber all over her left cheek. This was so hysterical to me. I started laughing extremely hard, and Jacey said “Alaya” again, this time more politely, and her hair slightly less purple.

“Yes?” I asked as innocently as possible while still cracking up a little.

“Why did you sick the dog on me.”

“I- I didn't,” I barely said through laughs, “I didn't sick the dog on you.” she gave me a death glare, so I just threw my hands up and yelled, “I just told him to lick you.”

“May I ask, ‘Why’?” she asked more than a little annoyed.

“I couldn't wake you up.”

“There are better ways to do so,” she said, clearly outraged. Then all of a sudden a flying orb of dog slobber came racing toward me, and all I could get out before it hit me was, “Whaaaaaa?” And then, it was all over my tee.

Immediately, I made a small ball of fire and moved it super close to the laughing Jacey’s iPhone. I left it hanging centimeters from the phone.

“Nooooo,” she yelled, “Don’t you dare!”

“Say sorry.” I demanded.

“Sorry.”

I thought about what to do next then said, “Get rid of the slobber.”

“Ok, fine.” she said before getting rid of the slobber from my shirt and hurling it in my trash bin. “Better?”

“Thanks.” I said as I extinguished the floating FireBall.

“Why did you wake me up in the first place?”

“Cause, we're going to A Touch of Somewhere tonight. Remember?”

“I knew that.”

“Mm-hm, get dressed.”

“I am dressed.”

I looked her over and then retorted “You were wearing that yesterday.”

“Fine,” she agreed while she was searching for some clean clothes I slipped on a pair of dark skinny jeans long pink socks and a white blouse. When Jacey was done getting ready, I was putting on my knee high black boots and applying my bright pink lipstick.

“Ok is that better?” she said.

“Yes.” I replied while sticking my lipstick in my purse and walking across the room to grab my keys off the hook.

“Are we going now?”she asked.

“Well, duh,” I grabbed my black pea coat, and then said, “And you call yourself a TELEPATH.”

“Meh-me-meh.” she mocked.

“Stop it.” I said sternly.

“Fine” she replied. I slipped on my black gloves and tied my my white and black music note scarf around my neck. I locked the door and then unlocked my giant white S.U.V, it might sound weird that I have a big car, but I'm tall so I don't really fit in small cars. Mist is another reason.

Jacey and I hopped in the car. I put the keys in the key slot, and I turned it. The engine started to purr, and I backed out, and then turn on the radio. It was still tuned onto a talk show (one that Jacey really hates) so I quickly changed it to some music chanel.

“So, how ‘bout them Dodgers.” I joked. I think the joke went right over her head because she responded with, “What Dodgers?”

“Like the baseball team in California.”

“Oh.” Jacey is clueless about sports.

“Anyway, how was your nap?” I know that she is usually against sleeping during the day - most of the time.

“I had the strangest dream.” She went on to explain the dream in detail. Jacey has this way of making a story. She can tell a story - from memory or a book - and it is always told in just the right way. I was almost sad when she stopped talking, but was excited about eating so couldn't complain.

A Touch Of Somewhere is a restaurant in ShifterVille. The menu is always changing. The owner is a TELEPORT, and has traveled the world, seeing and tasting the foods of the world. He hires mostly Chosen, but there are a few Normals who work there as well. His rules for hire are - you must have traveled somewhere (or wish to) and be the best cook or server he can find.

Jacey and I go there every year on our birthday since we could buy our own food. Every year the menu is different except for a select few iems. Tonight's menu is Latin, Asian fusion.

When our waiter came, he “harassed” Jacey by making her take her hat off she handled it terribly as usual. A Touch Of Somewhere is a nice restaurant and honestly the no hat rule makes sense. I was surprised that they even let us in based solely on how Jacey was dressed. Jacey retorted to the sorry it's a new rule line with your girlfriends cheating on yo. Which was completely understand called for and I told her so.

“And, can I have a water please.” I yelled after the waiter I turned to Jacey with a WTF? look on my face and said. “Did you need to do that?”

“Yes, No. What's the right answer.?”

I shook my head. “Was it at least true?”

“Well, duh.” she remarked. “Did you not see my hair?

“You still didn't have to do that it was completely uncalled for, he was just doing his job.”

“Whatever.”

“Don't you dare whatever me sister. Do you know how annoying your attitude towards people is? Because if you don't, then you need to learn that poor guy's girlfriend is cheating on him and he has to wait tables to make money and you have to go an be pissy to him I bet he deals with customers being angry about that rule all day but it's not up to him now is it.”

The waiter came back over with our drinks.

When he left, I said, “You could have apologized to him.”

“But I didn’t.” She stared at the two cups, concentrating.

“What are you doing?”

“Watch.” her brow furrowed in concentration, and the water and tea raised out of the cups. The two swirled around each other, weaving around in an intricate pattern.

“Nice, but I'm still upset at you.” I stared at her, though her hair was colorful, it's often hard to know what she’s thinking. Mostly, she seemed overwhelmed, and confused.

“I saw some TELEKINETIC do it on YouTube somewhere,” she muttered, sipping noisily through her straw. She seemed kind of distant, somehow. I’d heard about TELEKINETIC TELEPATHS before. Many of them had gone insane, unable to concentrate, overwhelmed by a hyper-awareness of everything.

“Stop worrying.” She looked up at me, “I’m fine.”

I nodded, trying to think about something else.

After we ate and went home, it was pretty late.

“I think you should get to bed.” I said to Jacey.

“I told you, I’m fine.” She complained.

“It's still late.”

“Fine.” She huffed, “But only ‘cause I’m tired.” I pointed at her. “Don’t think that you’re getting off easy.”

I held her hands up in surrender, “Of course not.” I grabbed my long white nightgown, and I walked off to the bathroom to brush to teeth.

I pulled off my clothing, and tossed them into the hamper. I then slipped on the long white silk robe and nightgown combo. I opened the cabinet behind the mirror over the sink, and took out my toothbrush & paste, and scrubbed my teeth till they were clean.

“Oh my God.” I walked back into the main room, and saw Jacey by the trash, and took a guess. “Are you seriously brushing your teeth with your mental powers?”

“Yes.”

“You are so lazy.”

“And proud of it.” She walked back to her side, and flopped down on her bed. “Good night.” She then appeared to be asleep, then the lights went out...

“Heeeey.” I complained. I summoned a FireBall, and lit about a dozen candles. I rubbed Smoke’s purring head, and jumped into my bed, and pulled the covers up to my chin. I could feel my hair making little braids, as it enjoys doing while I sleep.

I drifted off to the steady tune of Jacey’s soft snoring.

Chapter 10
Amy

Monday, December 24, 2018

My name is Ami. I am 4ft, 7in tall. I have curly black hair, and dark green eyes. I am from Maine, but my family has moved to an apartment in New York City. Tomorrow, my twin sister, Amy, and I are turning 12. I am starting this journal because I need to record myself. For me to remember the time when I was little. For there to be an accurate account 50 years from now. Today Amy and I are wearing matching outfits (as always). Jeans and tees - her shirt black, mine red.
Our 16-year-old sister, Cally has been making us unpack stuff ALL DAY. she acts like we’re servants. Not everything has to be unpacked on the first day of our new apartment. Anyways, tomorrow is Christmas. “A day of family bonding.” Whatever.
It's late, so I’m going to sleep now. I write the scoop for tomorrow, tomorrow.

Tuesday, December 25, 2018

For christmas, Amy and I got matching charm bracelets, and an unexpected surprise.
My hair now has a red stripe down the middle - Amy’s hair is now red with a thick black stripe that matches mine. Her right iris is now red, as is my left. My right eye matches my pupil, same with Amy’s left. This happened at dinner.
What happened was, we were eating, and in both of our heads, an old voice whispered.
She said, “TWIN-TELEPATHY,” and soon followed up with, “INVISIBILITY,” and everyone else - our parents and sister - dropped silverware and sat, shell-shocked.
After a moment, there was a voice in my head, it was my twin’s. Our minds were in sync, and we could then talk without opening our mouths.
Mom was furious. Dad was mostly happy, glad that we got to be a part of something special - like his brother did. Cally was glad that we were going to have to leave.
Dad says that he is going to take us to ShifterVille, the nearest of the two New York Schools For The Chosen, or whatever they’re called, on Saturday.

Saturday, December 29, 2018

Amy, and I have all of our stuff packed. 3 bags. One mine. One her’s. One for both.
Mom’s real pissed that we got Chosen. Her brother was when they were kids and she got real jealous. She doesn't think it's fair that she doesn’t have powers. Dad’s supportive, he thinks that Amy and I could be something great. He says that it would be better if we lived in a more special environment for us to hone our abilities. Cally’s annoyed that she won’t have two personal slaves anymore, but she’s mostly indifferent.
A Few Hours Later…
I’m sitting on a bench at a convenience store called “The Drop-Off” next to Amy. A short, green-haired man called Andy told our dad to leave us here, that our temporary helper (or helpers) would come soon. He has been very nice to us, he explained a few thing to us, and he told us that he’s a SHAPE-SHIFTER. He said that for about a month, two roommates called Jacey and Alaya would run us through initiation.
“You two are in for a treat.” He said. “Some of the volunteers are horrible. Those two always get good results. All those they’ve mentored get good experiences and stories to last a lifetime.”
Then, he called one of them, though it was fairly late. (Dad had driven us here at mid-afternoon, and it took him forever to find the Drop-Off - he is terrible at directions.) “She should be here soon.” he told us. “Just sit tight till she gets here.
A Half Hour Later…
A young woman just walked in. The store has had no customers, and is around tenish, so I assume she’s Jacey. She has on a pair of untied sneakers, damp from the snow. Under her snow-dusted purple (I want to say trench coat? It's pretty long, and that style) there are mismatched pajamas. She’s looking at me, almost as if she’s waiting. As I look up from this page, she nods, as if in answer. I think she might be a TELEPATH?
“As a matter of fact, I am.” I look up and see her talking to me. “So, you’re a writer than?” she’s saying. “Put the journal away, for now, you can continue writing in the car.”

Chapter 11
Jacey

I woke up to a ringing. “Shut up,” I mumbled. My mind groped around the room, and found my phone on the floor. I picked it up, and brought it over to me. Bleary-eyed, I stared at the bright screen. It was Andy, the main guy at the Drop-Off. He is a SHAPE-SHIFTER and a CONVINCER. I pressed ‘accept’ and said, “What do you want?”

“There’s a pair of twins here, waiting to be picked up.” He said, “And you and Alaya are next on the list. I need you to come down and pick them up.”

“At 10:04pm?”

“I don’t know. Are you going to come pick them up, or are they spending the night?”

“Yeah, yeah.” I sat up, “Give me a half hour.”

“Ok, Bye.” he hung up.

“And ‘Bye’ to you to,” I muttered sarcastically. I stood up, and found found my sneakers, and shoved them on. I floated my coat off the hook, and drew it around me, threading my arms through the sleeves. I found Alaya’s keys, and caught the floating rope out of the air. I didn’t have much of a problem navigating the messy room, because of both my TELEKINESIS, and several candles, flickering with Fire.

I let myself out of the apartment, and out to the nearby parking lot. I found Alaya’s massive car easily, happily sliding into the driver’s seat, a place where a conscious Alaya never lets me sit. She claims that if she let me behind the wheel, the car would be wrecked in minutes. As if! I’ve driven it plenty of times, also - being a TELEPATH - I’m very attuned to other drivers. In fact, I’ve even prevented several car accidents by helping out the drunken minds behind the wheel.

I pulled out of the lot, and navigated my way across town to the Drop-Off.

I parked the car, and went inside the convenience store. I walked down the candy aisle, and stopped before a pair of twins. One of them was listening to music on her phone, and the other was writing in her journal in real time. She had been told my name, and knew I was Jacey. I nodded, to confirm her thoughts. Doing this, she made the assumption that I am an TELEPATH.

“As a matter of fact, I am.” I responded to her thoughts and writing. “So, you’re a writer than?” I scanned her thoughts, and found she planned to become a reporter. With her obvious talents and new INVISIBILITY, she’d be a great one. “Put the journal away, for now. You can continue writing in the car.”

“Ok.” she tucked the leather-bound book away into her bag. “Amy.”

Amy nodded, then wrapped her earbuds around her phone, which she then tucked away into her pocket. “Let’s go.”

“Follow me, then.” I yawned. I led them outside, and into the car. They piled in the back, and I shoved the key back into the ignition.

“How come Dad just left us there without further explanation?” Amy asked.

“What?” I pulled out of the lot, and started back towards the center of town.

“When we showed up at The Drop-Off, That man, Andy, told our dad to leave us there and that he’d take care of us, and Dad just left.” She said puzzled.

She’s very smart, I thought, it’s hard to pick up on the mark of a CONVINCER. “Andy is what you would call a CONVINCER. That means he has the ability to -”

“Get someone to do what you want, and affect your judgment or mood.” Ami interrupted. “I’ve heard of them. But I thought he said that he was a SHAPE-SHIFTER?”

“He’s both.”

“How?” Amy wondered aloud.

“I’ll explain it to you.” I told them, “When someone is Chosen, as I like to call it, They are granted one ability. If the person has a twin, than they are granted TWIN-TELEPATHY in addition to that ability, which is very useful if, for example, a pair of twins were separated at birth. TWIN-TELEPATHY also strengthens the natural bond of twins. When a Chosen turns 17, often they are given a second ability. For example, my friend and I both turned 17 today, and now i have TELEKINESIS, and Alaya is now a FIRE ELEMENTAL”

“What was her original power?” Ami asked.

“She’s a SPIRIT-SEER.” I said, “And you already know that I’m a TELEPATH.”

“Why does your hair change color?” Ami asked me.

“So you noticed that.” I said, unsurprised. These two definitely had a lot of power, for just a week of INVISIBILITY. Very intuitive.

“Well, it’s hard to miss.” Amy pointed out.

“True.” I mused, “But I was shifting your perception slightly, both mentally and physically. It should have just appeared a greenish sea-foam color.”

“Well at first it did.” Ami said, “Then it started changing, but your eyebrows stayed green.”

“They’re normally like that.” I thought for a minute about why the deception didn’t hold up, “I’m just tired.”

“But,” Amy was still wondering, “Why does it change color?”

“My mood.” I told them. “The color shifts according to my mood and feelings. Also, the roots are blue when I tell the truth, and green when I lie.”

“Yeah, but, when we change, why does our hair and eye color change?” Amy was still puzzled.

“Getting Chosen is a bit like going through puberty again, but with cool powers.” I said, “You go through various changes, and you get a slightly new identity. Your eyes and hair will change to fit it. Sometimes you can figure it out right away, sometimes it takes longer, but you will figure out your hairs’ personality.”

“Hold on a second.” Amy said, “What you mean hair has personalty?”

“I mean that when you change, you hair will change color and sometimes stlye. Your hair becomes alive.”

“Alive?!?” Ami asked, shocked.

“Yeah.” I tried to explain it, “Before you are chosen, your hair is technically dead. When you’re Chosen, it becomes alive. The hair isn’t the most advanced organism, but it can communicate with you slightly and psychically. You can suggest to it hairstyles, and it will arrange itself that way. And it will develop a specific personality trait”

“That’s… weird.” said Amy.

“Yes, it is.” I said, thinking, “But, it's kinda nice, you don’t have to worry about tangles. Also, it’s like having a strange friend.”

“What’s your hair like?” Ami asked.

“Shy.” I told her, “Alaya’s is sassy.”

“This is insane.” Amy declared.

“Maybe.” I reasoned, “But, it's ok, I guess.”

“Here’s my apartment.” I said, opening the door. “Be quiet, and don’t wake up Alaya.” Several candles were still flickering.

Suddenly, a familiar voice whispered in my head. “WATER,” it said. I froze, shocked. It was extremely rare for someone to get more than two abilities.

“Are you ok?” Ami asked. She looks like she’s seen a ghost, she thought.

“Well, Alaya’s grandma’s spirit is sitting over there.” I said, pointing across the room.

“How did you - oh, right, TELEPATH.” said Ami.

“Where do we sleep?” asked Amy.

“Umm,” I thought, turning around, observing the candle-lit room, “Amy, you can sleep with Mist over there. And Ami, you can sleep on the couch with Smoke.” Hearing their confusment, I clarified, “Mist is the dog, Smoke is the cat.”

They nodded and I hung up my coat, then made a flying jump, wherein I landed on my bed. I snached a pillow and hugged it tight. Then I thought for a minute, and floated two blankets over, one for each of them, and dumped them over their heads. “If either of you even attempt to wake me up,” I quietly yelled at them, so I wouldn’t wake up Alaya, “Then there’ll be hell to pay.”

Then, I drifted off to sleep.

Chapter 12
Alaya

I sat up, yawning, then stopped. Something was wrong. I heard an echo in my mind. It said “RUNNER.”

I guess I got another ability in my sleep, I thought, weird.

I looked around, and the surroundings left me shocked. There were two extra girls in the room. One was on the floor, using Mist as a pillow. She had frizzy red hair with a black streak going down the middle. The other was on the couch on my side. She was hugging Smoke like she was a doll, and her hair was in a braid, two parts black, one part red. They were each snuggled into one of Jacey's blankets.

But, the strangest thing about this scene, was Jacey, herself. Jacey was sitting on her couch wearing my headphones, and her leather biking jacket. Her eyes were closed, and she was sitting as if she was meditating. On the monitor on the wall, there was a picture of a sunset, and in front of her, there was a sketch pad, with colored pencils carefully replicating the photograph.

“I’m focusing.” she said, answering my question of “what are you doing?”

“It makes it so the world doesn't overwhelm me. If I focus on one thing, everything else is gone, and I think I’ll stay sane.” She shifted her position a bit. “So, you’ve got Speed now, huh.” she said, reading my mind, “I got WATER. If you’re wondering, the two girls are Amy and Ami - INVISIBLESTS and TWIN-TELEPATHS. There’s some eggs scrambling, in the kitchen, if you want them.

I ran to the kitchen to rescue the burning mess. Jacey might have TELEKINESIS now, but she still can’t cook. After opening the fridge door, I could easily tell that Jacey had gone to the store. She does that sometimes. Most of the time, she sleeps in past noon - when she can - but occasionally (maybe once a month) she'll wake up real early, and take off to the grocery store super early.