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

I stared out the window to where the Cast Forest was. You could find people in it, but they don’t go too deep. Good Thing I know my way around.

I walked out of my last class of the day, heading toward the gym. I started to notice a familiar chill beside me, and I looked down. Jasmine was at my side. At first I was scared that people would see her, but it turns out I am the only one who can see her and hear her. So to other people it just looks like I am standing there talking to myself. 

“Hello, Jas.” I said, and kept walking. Jasmine followed.

“You did well last night.” She said. 

“Yeah, but it was close.” I whispered. A girl was walking by and staring at me. 

“You wish to practice.” Jasmine said. I looked at her.

“You can hear my thoughts now?” I asked. Her bell voice sounded beautiful when she laughed.

“I will meet you there at midnight young one.” She said. Then she disappeared. I smiled. It was like talking to the wiser half of me, she always knew what I wanted, even when I didn’t. I opened the door to the Gym and saw a few girls stretching already. I walked into the girls locker room and, sigh, saw Haley. I walked around her and started to undress. It was always so awkward. After uncomfortably getting into my tunic, I walked out to the matts and started to stretch. This is me in my element, my happy place. 

I was doing great, thinking that all was right with the world until Haley decided it was torcher o’clock. 

“Ahh it’s Mrs. Forfeit. I bet you will do better this year! Maybe it will only be your wrist!” She said.

“Haley, don’t you have some tacky lipstick to apply?” I said.

“The only thing that is tacky is your hair.” She shot back. I laughed.

“Says the one who looks like a plastic barbie doll who got sunburned.” I said coolly. Haley's face contorted in rage. 

“You will pay for that.” She whispered. 

“For what? The truth?” I said. She stomped off. I smiled, satisfied with my work.

After an hour of working hard, showing off, and practicing, I finally left the gym, happier than when I went in. 

I put on my coat and walked out into the cold. To my surprise, Xavier was waiting there. 

“Hey! What are you doing here?” I asked.

“I thought you might want to go out to eat.” He said. I smiled. Then I frowned. 

“I have to go home, my brother Jake-” I said.

“We can take him, my treat.” He said. 

“No I will pay, Jake eats like a pig.” I said. 

“Nope!” He said. Before I could argue he grabbed my hand and we started walking. I laughed.

“I have to call my mom and let her know.” I said. He smiled and gestured for me to go for it. I pulled out my phone and dialed. It went to voicemail. Not surprised, she was probably busy with a patient. I left a voicemail.

“Hey mom. Me and Xavier are going to take Jake out to eat. You don’t have to worry about dinner now. Love you, bye.”

I turned and smiled at Xavier. Just then-Haley. Ugh. She came prancing up behind us. 

“Don’t look now.” I whispered. Xavier glanced behind us and then turned back with a mischievous grin. I wonder what's on his mind….Haley walks up beside Xavier.

“Hey Xavier!” She said, ignoring my complete existence. 

“Hey Haley.” He said, looking straight ahead.

“Whatcha doing? I have a couple of free hours, maybe I could tag along…” She said. I looked at her. She gave me an innocent smile as if she was merely an innocent puppy, not a demon who wanted to rip my heart from my body. I was just about to say something when Xavier beat me to it. 

“Um Haley.” He said, super serious, he even had me alarmed. “Is that a Pimple on your face?”  Her eyes opened wide.

“Ohmygosh!” She said and ran off towards the school. I was dead. I was laughing so hard. Today was a pretty good day. I looked at Xavier. He looked back at me with the biggest smile I have ever seen. 

Soon we were at my house. I opened the door and yelled out for Jake. He came bounding down the stairs with the biggest smile on his face. Then he saw Xavier, and he glared at him. Jake did not like that I was dating a guy. Normally, little brothers are said to be annoying and embarrassing. Not mine though. Atleast, to me. He was territorial of me. I rolled my eyes.

“Xavier is taking us out to eat dork. Go get your things.” I said. He looked at me, ignoring Xavier.

“Where are we going?” He asked. I looked at Xavier. Where WERE we going? 

“It’s a surprise, but I think you will both like it.” He said. Surprise? When was Xavier about surprises? 

“Crystal, guess what?” Jake asked.

“What?”

“I just got star student of the month! You and mom are invited to the assembly this friday!” He said, super excited. Star student is an award that two students from each grade get for being on their best behavior each month. They get to stand in front of the whole school and the parents as they get handed their awards. So far, this is Jake's very first time.

“Way to go little dude!” I said, rubbing his hair. “Now go get your stuff.” He ran off, but not before giving Xavier another dirty look. 

Xavier chuckled. 

“I don’t think he will ever grow to like me, will he?” 

“Be patient, we have only been together three months, and he only met you last month.” I said. 

I was pretty happy. We were eating at my favorite restaurant, Melissa's Noodles. It was a great Italian restaurant that had an arcade. Jake was happily playing a shooting game in the corner. I was munching on some garlic bread, and Xavier was looking out the window. I stared at him.It was so hard to read him sometimes.

“What are you thinking about?” I asked as I slurped my drink.

“Things.” 

“What things?”

He looked at me for a long moment.

“About you. Thanks to what happened this morning, I know it wasn’t what I originally thought, but that still doesn't mean something is not going on.” He said. I sighed. I looked down at my cup.

“Xavier, it’s not that I don’t want to tell you, it’s just that I can’t.” I looked up at him. “I am afraid everything will change if-” I stopped. Jasmine was at my feet.

“We need to go.” She whispered. I looked nervously at Xavier, who was looking questioningly at me. I chuckled. 

“I need to go-ladies room.” I lied. I stood up and walked briskly to the womens room. I closed the door and locked it behind me. 

“What's up?” I asked her.

“New monster, by the Shell Caves.” She said. New monster?! We just fought one LAST NIGHT. Jasmine smiled at my irritation. 

“Monsters do not take breaks.” She murmured. I sighed. I looked around. How was I supposed to get out of here without Xavier and Jake noticing? Jasmine smiled. 

“I can take care of that.” She said. She poofed away for a moment, I heard a scream, and I ran out of the room to check it out. A waitress was standing on our table, pointing at the ground to a mouse that looked oddly like Jasmine……..

Perfect distraction, Xavier was staring at the waitress like she was crazy, and he was covered in spaghetti sauce. Jake was laying on the ground laughing so hard. I dashed out the door and ran down the street. Poor Xavier. I waited for Jasmine, and then we both started running down the street towards the beach.

“What's a monster doing at the beach?” I asked.

“He must be a water monster.” Jasmine said. Jasmine could sense when and where there was a monster, unfortunately, she could not tell you WHAT it was or WHAT it looked like. 

“And what exactly is that?” I asked.

“A monster that can use water against you, they need it to survive.” She murmured. We ran across the street to the beach. Not a soul in sight. Not that I was surprised-it was the middle of December, dark, and snowing. The only way to get to the caves was to swim. I looked at Jasmine. 

“How exactly am I supposed to get there?” I asked. Jasmine smiled. 

“You swim. If I remember correctly, you have the power of heat?” She said, then with a graceful leap, she jumped into the water, her fur glowing and lighting the way for me. I gasped as I pulled off my coat. Then I took off my shoes and socks and tied my hair up into a ponytail. I stood there cold. When exactly did my life end up like this??? I sighed and then concentrated. I felt the familiar tingle throughout my body as I started to heat up. But this time, instead of just choosing a spot, or just making my hands heat up, I allowed my whole body to do so, letting the warmth take over. 

I was not cold anymore. I jumped into the water and started to swim. Jasmine swam up beside me, with a smile on her face.

“You are getting good at this.” I smiled back. We swam for about two more minutes until we reached Shell Caves. I pulled myself up out of the water. I looked around quietly. There were several caves it could be in. 

“Do you know which one?” I asked. Jasmine shook her head. Great. I got up, and walked over silently to the closest cave. Better start somewhere, right? I peeked into the cave and held my breath, hoping not to die tonight. I couldn’t see any monsters, but I also couldn’t see into the cave. This was hopeless. 

“I guess if we can’t go to the monster, we will bring the monster to us!” I whispered. Jasmine nodded. 

“Hey!” I yelled. “I know you're here, so just bring your butt out here so we can get this over with already!”

I stood there. 

“Welp, looks like no one is here, let's go!” I said. I turned around.Then regretted it. There before me was a monster the size of an elephant. 

He was made out of water, but unfortunately for me, his GIANT SPIKES were not. Is it just me or does every monster have spikes?

“You're the puny little thing everyone keeps talking about?” It growled. 

“I guess?” I whimpered. 

“Stand