This is my first story, and I'm kinda making it up as I go, so comments and feedback are appreciated. Its not actually finished yet because I wanted to get a sence of what people thought of it before I proceed. Cheers!
What is so wrong with being sixteen and not having, or wanting for that matter, a boyfriend? A big fat nothing in my opinion, sadly those around me seem to be a little less far along on the evolutionary scale than me, and automatically assume I have some kind of issue. Which I do not, I just never really saw anyone I liked enough, I mean of course there have been guys I've liked, crushes on celebrities blah blah, but when you spend six and a half hours a day, five days a week in the same room as the sweaty, testosterone-y guys in our school, you kinda don't wanna prolong the time you have to be with them. Of course my way of thinking does not extend to my friends. Namely my best friend, Amber. Its pretty much all she thinks about, well I'm sure its not ALL she thinks about, I mean then how would she get her homework done and buy presents for people, but I'd bet all of my money (which isn't saying much really) that at least 70% of her thoughts are about guys. Her newest crush, what they look like, how they smell, what clothes they wear. It's actually quite unnerving how much she talks about guys, I've told her many a time that she possesses all the makings of a stalker. A fact which I felt compelled to point out to her one Friday after school.
'Ok, ok just look at this picture and tell me he's not the hottest guy you've ever seen. Holly, just look. Look, look, look, look-'
'Amber, for the love of God, we are in a library, and if you don't shut up I am going to take this book-'
'Fine, Miss pissy, but you know if you'd just look I would shut up.'
I heaved a long suffering sigh, what did I do to deserve such an annoying best friend, of course I knew I was just as annoying as her most of the time but still. She threw the magazine onto the table, where it made a loud slapping sound, earning us another glare from the librarian.
'Y'know I think I'm gonna have to cut you off.' I whispered absentmindedly scanning the page for Ambers newest man love.
'Cut me off?' She asked looking puzzled.
'Yup, no more magazines for a month. Then maybe, just maybe, I could finish up my homework and we leave school at a reasonable hour like the normal folk.' I stuck my tongue out at her and snatched the magazine, stuffing it into my bag.
'Holly! How rude. That's my magazine, give it back.' She pleaded, attempting to give me puppy-dog eyes. She failed.
'Hmmm..Nope. I think I like it right where it is. I might even take it home with me instead of binning it.' I teased. It was only to be expected, she carries those stupid magazines around with her all the time.
'Hmf, you're a terrible friend. I hope you know that. Anyway I thought you had homework to do.' She scowled at the book I had been poring over to answer the gazillion science questions we had been given. I, unlike every other student in my school, did not have access to the internet. A fact which I often repeated in order to guilt Amber into taking pity on me and helping me with my homework. Unfourtunately we were in seperate science classes, and she didn't have any homework, hence the reason we were the only two pupils stuck behind on a Friday afternoon. Life sucks sometimes. Still, it did have its upsides, for Amber at least.
'Oooh Holl look its him, hes here! Is it me or is he hotter than last time I saw him. Nope don't answer that, you'll just embarass me in front of him. Do I look ok, crap I still have a ketchup stain on my jumper. Damn those stupid squeezy packet thingies. Ok if I cross my arms you can't even notice it, right?' She babbled, her eyes following the boy that had just entered the library. She currently had this thing for 'hot geeks' as she liked to call them. Ever since she'd first set eyes on him two weeks ago in the library she'd been obsessed. It wasn't like he was ugly or anything, in fact he WAS quite good looking, with his black hair (clearly a dye job) carefully tousled into disarray, and thoughtful hazel eyes. The problem was, he was very aware of it.
'Amber, over the last ten years I do admit I have become fond of your company. However, if you continue to annoy me in this way, I WILL hurt you.' I recited my little speech in a whisper, turning to face her. She was still watching the guy, twirling a strand of (recently dyed) red hair around one finger absentmindedly. I snapped my fingers in front of her face.
'Hey. Either go and talk to him or pack up your crap, cause I can't be bodged with science anymore.' I hissed, gathering my books and stuffing them into my bag. She didn't move.
'Hello? Earth to Amber?' I waved a hand in front of her face once again. God she was such a retard sometimes. Her eyes widened.
'Oh my God, he's coming this way. I'm. Hyperventalating. Oh. My-' She lowered her voice until her words blended into one continuous hum of noice, but she was right. He WAS heading towards us. It was then I noticed something about him. Something that would change everything. Something so, so wrong.
Ok, so before I go on, I should probably make something clear about myself. I have a secret. No, I'm not a vampire or a werewolf or anything. I can read minds. So can my Dad. Only four people in the world knew it. Me (obviously), my Mum, my Dad and my sister. I can't tell anyone, not even Amber. It is an unspoken rule in my family that nobody mentions what we can do. I have no idea why I can do it, and why my twenty-one year old sister can't. All I know is that I can hear what people think. It's not always words, it can be images sounds, even smells. Its not like it is in most books or movies, for one thing I can switch it off. It's just like having an extra limb, I can use it if I want, but if I don't it won't do anything. I can even tune into one particular persons thoughts, although that sometimes takes a little practice. My...talent, would probably be the main reason I am so reluctant to have a boyfriend. I know that not all boys are interested in just the 'physical' side of relationships, and some are kind and blah. Problem is, the only guys I have ever been attracted to, well lets just say that I am now a firm believer in personality over looks.
As he made his way towards us, a strange look crossed his face. Like he was trying to solve a difficult puzzle, and for the briefest of moments, a shadow crossed his eyes, as though curtains had been drawn from the inside. It all vanished so suddenly that anyone else would hardly have believed it had been there at all. Anyone else. Not me. It was a look I had seen on my Dad, and reflected in the mirror. It was unmistakable to me, he was reaching out, to read someones mind.
My relfex kicked in, straight away I felt the familiar clouding of my senses, my vision momentarily clouded over, it had been longer then I'd thought since I last read someone's mind. It was almost as though a rusty machine inside me whirred to life, I focused on the boy opposite me, squaring in on him. I felt his mind seem to expand, open up to me, and wrap around me. I was in. All of this had happened so quickly, a matter of seconds, although it seemed like hours had passed. The boy had been making his way to join as at our table, completely ignoring the three other available tables the library had to offer (it's a small library). He froze. His met my gaze with bewildered eyes.
She can hear me, she can hear me...
I felt a sharp jab in the ribs, I broke eye contact with the him, I blinked, and felt another brief clouding of my senses. I was out of his mind.
'Oh, oh, oh, he was staring at you. He looooves you! You are so lucky. I know I love him, and he's my perfect man but I think I will sacrifice my wants for your needs. You should marry him!' I let Ambers babbling drone on into background noise, rubbing the spot where she had elbowed me in my ribs. The boy had made a sharp turn and sat at another table with his broad back facing me. This was not happening, it couldn't be. In all my life nobody other that me and my Dad had been able to tune into others thoughts. I guess it was stupid of me to think that we were the only ones, I mean I have seen movies and there are always more people with 'talents'.
I felt another sharp jab in the ribs bring me back to the present.
'Amber,' I hissed, finally drawing my eyes away from the strange boy 'Stop. Elbowing. Me.' I punctuated each word with a sharp slap of her rolled up magazine on the table. I turned to stare at the boy again, I saw his stiff back, frozen, and unmoving, he was eavesdropping. Maybe he was just as creeped out as I was. Maybe I should talk to him. This thought was immediately accompanied by the mental image of my father's stern looking face, set in lines of worry. Maybe I should talk to Dad first. Ok, that was what I would do. I'd talk to Dad, ask him what he thought I should do. Then, I'd talk to this guy. It was at that moment that my fear began to drain away, ever so slightly, and was replaced by something else. Something new, excitment. Whoever this guy was, he had a secret too.
I HAVE JUST ADDED A CHAPTER 2 ^^^
Please do comment with any feedback or comments you have, as this is my very first story and I'd like opinions! Again, it is not finished yet, but please do bear with me, I want to get it right.