Power by Amber Beck, Xavier Standing (read out loud books TXT) 📕

I opened my computer to do a little research. I could do this! How hard is it to do a whole report in-OH CRUD! Three hours left to write a 50 page report on the civil war. NICE! I yawned. Monster fighting and school SO do not go together. I typed as fast as I could, trying to concentrate, but the battle that had just happened keeps replaying over and over.

This monster is…huge. Covered in spikes. No! Pay attention…. He leaps over me and tries to sweep me off my feet…No Crystal! CIVIL WAR! I tried to freeze him, but he was so powerful he broke from my freeze and went in slow motion……

I don't know when I fell asleep. The next thing I knew my mom was shaking me. 

“Crystal! How late did you stay up? You're going to be late for school!” Huh? OH SCHOOL! I shot up and looked at the clock. 7:45!! 

“OH NO! Mom I am so sorry, I was up late last night working on my report! And I never finished it…can you drive me to school?” I asked. My mom gave me a meaningful look. She thinks I have been overworked, but she only thinks it’s because I watch my little brother six days a week and try to fit in school and gymnastics. Little does she know I also have to fit in monster hunting, and trying to control my witch powers. 

Just a few months ago I started doing weird things. Not…normal things. First things were moving on their own. Then I burned my friend after I got mad at her. Then I froze everyone around me and thought I was stuck in a frozen world forever, until…a fox came to me. Yes. I said a fox. She was pink and red. She explained to me that I was a witch-and somehow, it was my mission to stop monsters from taking over the world. It took awhile, but now I am mastering it.

“Yeah, I will drive you sweetie.” Mom said. Okay, maybe not MASTERING it, but I am getting there.

“Hurry up Crystal, I have to be at work at 9:00!” My mom called as she walked down the stairs. My mom was a nurse. She was supposed to go to work at 6:00 a.m. but since her and Dad got divorced, her boss let her come in later, but that also meant she came home later. 

 I went to my closet and grabbed a cute flower top and some skinny jeans. In the corner, Jasmine, the magical fox, lay passed out. I pet her on the head and closed the door. Jasmine helped me and protected me on my missions. She must have been exhausted after last night. I yawned again. I was too. I ran into the bathroom and took a quick shower, then I jumped out and started to brush my teeth. Then Meghan, my BFF and the friend I burned, called me.

“Pello?” I said through  a mouthful of toothpaste.

“Crystal, where are you? The bus is going to be here any minute!!” She said. I spit.

“My mom is driving me. I slept in.”  I said. No one knew who I actually was, or what I was. Xavier, my boyfriend, was suspecting something though, I could tell.

“Again? Girl, set an alarm!” She said.

“I do! I um…just sleep through it.” I said sheepishly. I pulled on my top and jeans. I jumped onto the sink and started applying makeup. 

“Lucky you get to drive there, it’s so cold out here in the snow.” Megan complained. I knew that was her way of asking if we could drive her too. I didn’t want to push it with my mom though.

“Sorry, Meg. That's a no go.” I said

“Fine, the bus is here, meet you by the lockers!” Megan said. She hung up before I could say bye. I rolled my eyes. If only Megan knew. I took one last look in the mirror. I was a skinny girl of 15. I had electric blue eyes, freckles, and light blonde hair, with a streak of purple. It showed up the day I got my powers. I smiled, satisfied with my work.

My mom was in the kitchen cooking her horrible eggs. Me and my brother Jake choke them down every morning to spare my mother’s feelings. Dad was the chef of the family, so now that he is gone, we have to eat mom's food. Thank goodness I picked up a few tips from him. If I had not, we would probably have died from food poisoning. 

Jake, my 10 year old brother, was writing furiously in his notebook. I rolled my eyes.

“Jake, I offered to help you with your History!” I said. Jake glanced up at me.

“I know, but I fell asleep last night! And you should be talking! You didn’t finish YOUR History!” He said. I scowled. I wanted so badly to argue with him, but I closed my mouth and let him struggle further, and sat down at the table. 

“Sorry kids, but we have to take this to go!” My mom said as she tossed two tupperware containers in our direction, then zipped off to go start the car. Me and Jake smiled at each other. I grabbed my bag and headed towards the car, just then my phone chimed. It was Xavier texting me.

Where r u?

I smiled. We always meet at the entrance of school after we got off the bus.

Woke up late-mom’s driving me.

I got in the front before Jake could rob me of my spot. Ding!

Sure

I frowned. I knew Xavier thought something was up, I just wish he didn’t, because I was afraid what would happen if he found out. 

Meghan was at my locker applying lipstick in MY mirror. I rolled my eyes. I really regret giving her my combination. I had Texted Xavier to meet me here also, but so far he was a no-show. 

“Hey Meg.” I said. Meghan looked at me through the mirror and gave me a scowl. I rolled my eyes. (Again)

“Meg, I told you, I slept in. I know you're not that mad at me, or you wouldn’t be here.” I said She slammed my locker door closed and looked at me.

“I know! But that's the third time this month! Honestly, it's like you are ignoring me.”  She said, 

“No-” I started but then I saw Xavier walking this way. I smiled. He always made my day. Xavier was a boy of 15 with jet black hair and the tips were dyed red to look like a flame. He had dark green eyes and was-perfect. Out of the corner of my eyes I saw Meghan roll her eyes. She was just jealous because she didn’t have a boyfriend. She always says it’s because of her red curly hair and freckles, but I personally think it’s because she is afraid to get out there. 

“Hi!” I said. He smiled at me. 

“Hi. Ready to walk to the homeroom?” He asked.

“Of course.” We all started walking down the hall, me and Xavier hand in hand, and Meghan sulking by my side. 

“So are you going to tell us why you were really late?” He asked, his green eyes piercing me like a dagger. 

“I told you guys! I slept in. I was up late last night practicing my Gymnastics. The competition is coming up and-”

“Please,” Meghan interrupted, “You're the best in that whole place, it’s almost inhuman!”  I blushed. I could thank that to being a teen super witch. 

“I know, but practice makes perfect, you remember last year.” I said. Last year during the competition, Haley, the super good, super JERK, made me mess up a move and break my ankle. I had to forfeit. The worst part-I had almost all my classes with her. She was also SUPER possessive of Xavier, because I have him, she has to have him. 

Meghan seemed to accept that, but Xavier kept probing me with his eyes. I looked down. It was so hard trying to hide this from them. But I didn’t want them to get hurt.

We walked into class and we sat down in the back. Meghan in front of me, and me and Xavier next to each other. I looked over at Xavier. His head was down, and he was picking at his desk. I frowned. I reached into my backpack and pulled out my phone.

What is wrong with u?

I looked over at him. He pulled out his phone, glanced at me, and started to text back

I know your lying. Why won’t you tell me what it is?

I bit my lip. I remembered Jasmine's words when I asked her if I could tell anyone my secret. To tell anyone would put them in great danger. They will be targeted, they could get hurt trying to help, or worse.

I am telling the truth what makes you think I am not?

Xavier looked very hard at me for a moment, and I looked back, not daring to blink.

R u seeing someone else?

I gasped so loud that half the class looked in my direction. I blushed and looked down at my phone, hurt by these words. Why would he immediately think that? I looked him dead in the eyes and scowled.

“No. Never.” I said. He looked at me and smiled. 

“Okay. I believe you.” He said. 

“You better.” I whispered, because just then our homeroom teacher came in and started taking attendance.

I looked over a few rows up and saw Haley looking hopefully at the both of us. I couldn’t help but scoff quietly. That girl was just waiting to see if we would break up. She looked over at me again and I smiled and waved at her. She gave me a dirty look and turned around. I was going to school her in the competition. 

Gymnastics came in handy in a number of ways. From everyday things, to escaping a giant monster. But that’s not really WHY I signed up. I have been in love with Gymnastics since I was 5. I let my mind wander…to the mission I was supposed to complete. Monsters, tons and tons of them apparently are all over, and it was my job, as all of the past chosen witches before me, was to keep them at bay, in their place. So far I only had three powers, heat, the power to freeze living things around me, and strength. Jasmine said I would get more over time, after I learn to master the ones I have. I stared down at my hands. It was so hard to imagine I had all these powers, to imagine it was my job to keep the entire world safe. 

So far I have only faced three. The three times I slept in. I almost didn’t make it home. I stared at all the people around me. They all were going about their lives not knowing the true danger that lurked, or that  it was up to ME to protect them. Fear spread through my body. What if I couldn’t do it? What if I failed, and it would all be my fault? I needed