Chemistry

Tristan had always found chemistry class easy enough, but the timing seemed a little inappropriate. Mixing strange chemicals right before lunchtime didn't appeal to him or any other student, but they put up with it. The friendly Mr. Stevens did his best to make the subject entertaining, and achieved such great success that competition was fierce when the time came to choose new classes.

Today, though, Tristan couldn't focus on the lesson. Not only were Destiny, Jared, and Blair different, a few other students were too. In Spanish class, it was a redhead Tristan knew by his reputation for mischief only. A black-haired senior intent on texting her friends had distracted him from calculus. Now, in chemistry, it was Jared and the redhead's little sister, a cute kid who, unlike some freshmen, actually paid attention to Mr. Stevens' lecture.

Tristan fingered the small, folded square in his pocket. It held the descriptions of these people, though not their names, and he had every intention of tracking them down later. They were different. He was different. There had to be a reason, even if he didn't know it yet.

The bell rang and the class surged to its feet, gathering backpacks and chatting with friends. Tristan hurried to put his things away, glancing up to see Jared approach Mr. Stevens. Good. They'd be some time. Tristan ducked out into the hallway and leaned casually against the wall, waiting. Finally the sophomore walked out into the hall, and Tristan fell into step beside him. "Hi, Jared."

Jared looked up, startled. "Oh, um, hi Tristan."

"How've you been?" This felt so weird. Small talk wasn't one of Tristan's skills.

It wasn't one of Jared's either. "Um, good. You?"

"Good."

Silence fell. Finally Jared said, "Tristan? Why are you suddenly talking to me?"

"I was wondering if you've been feeling normal."

"I told you, I'm good."

"That's not what I asked. Do you feel normal?"

"I don't understand."

They turned a corner and Tristan shoved his hands in his pockets, thinking. Finally he said, "You know Destiny Hunt?"

"Yeah, I met her yesterday. She seems nice."

Sure she did. "What about Blair Ross?"

"We have Latin together." Jared shifted his backpack to a more comfortable position. "Why?"

Tristan sighed and just got to the point. "They're not normal. Neither are we. Neither are some other students. I don't know how, I don't know why. All I know is that we're...different."

"Everyone's different, when you get down to it." Jared shrugged. "Life would be pretty boring if we weren't."

"I know, but that's not what I mean. I mean we're really different."

Jared sighed. "Okay. How?"

"I told you, I don't know yet. Maybe it's something we have, something we are, something we can do, I don't know. It bugs me that I can't figure it out." He glanced up and frowned. "Jared? Is something wrong?"

Jared rubbed an arm. "I...see things. Things no one else can see."

Tristan stood straighter. "Auras?"

Jared shook his head. "Monsters."