© Sandra Corton 2014
Chapter 7 – The Zeke takeover begins
Caspian’s POV
Arriving back at school gave me a buzz that I could barely describe. Kissing Winter had been such a spur of the moment things that even surprised me. It was all worth it though. Now all I could think about was kissing her properly instead of just a mere peck.
Knowing I would be having a roommate with me in the Elite dorm was only making me more anxious for school to begin. Over the years I had got used to being alone but having a new person to share things with would be great.
I was unpacking when I heard the front door chime. I rushed down the stairs knowing it was either Winter or the new guy Zeke. I pulled the door open to a guy with bags around his feet and a huge grin on his face. He was what I called a pretty boy, someone all the girls went crazy over but at least he seemed friendly.
“Hey how’s it going? You must be Zeke.” I put my hand out to shake and he dropped the bag he was carrying to give me a firm handshake.
"Yeah I guess you heard about me already." He said with a shrug.
"Uh yeah anyway I'm Caspian but you can call me Caz." I said as I helped him bring his bags inside.
"Wow nice digs! So where am I staying in here?" He asked and right on cue Dirk appeared.
"Ah Master Zeke welcome." Dirk said before taking his bags from me and disappearing up the stairs.
I didn't see Zeke again so I guess Dirk was showing him around. I went back to unpacking while covertly glancing over to Winter's window. Her blinds were wide open but maybe she didn't know I was here yet. I knock on the door had me thinking that Winter had finally noticed. Zeke was the one that grinned at me though and I was filled with disappointment.
"Hey did you find a room you like?" I asked as I once again glanced to Winter's window.
"Yeah I did. There are some big rooms but this one’s huge." He said as he looked around my room. "So are you here on scholarship too?" He asked and I nodded as I led my way into my room.
"Yep and apparently we have the fanciest digs." I told him with a grin.
"Cool so what's your power?" He looked at me his face all excited and this was the moment I cringed. I hated talking about my powers.
"Uh strength and I can fly." I said with a forced grin.
"Okay so don't shoot me here but I kind of already knew that." He raised his hands up.
"How?" I asked puzzled knowing that the school never advertised our powers until we officially finished our schooling.
"I'm a psychic, close to one hundred percent accurate." He said assuredly but without the exceeding smugness that some kids from here had.
"That's different." I said before wanting to kick myself for sounding so daft.
"Yeah I know. So just warning you that if I blurt out some random stuff sometimes feel free to ignore it. By the way the doorbell is about to ring." He tilted his head to the side and right on cue it rang.
"That's pretty cool." I said with a grin before turning and racing down the stairs.
Winter stood there looking more stunning than ever. I couldn't help it as my eyes drifted over her and those very mouth-watering curves of hers. When I finally raised my eyes back to hers I realised she wasn't even looking my way. Her grin, that special smile she saved for me was pointed at the guy behind me. My stomach clenched so hard that it felt painful.
"Hi Caz, hi Zeke. I see you both got here okay." She said to both of us as though she was as close with Zeke as she was with me.
I saw red then, a rage unlike any other filled me. I heard something make a loud crack from next to me which snapped my concentration back to the present.
I blinked my eyes and realised I had cracked the door frame I had gripped in desperation a moment ago. My finger marks had made an indentation in the wood that I stared aghast at. I hadn't lost control like that for years.
"Caz what's wrong?" Winter brushed her fingers against my arm casually and I was jolted by the sensation of her touching me.
"Nothing. You two seem to know each other." I gestured between them as my stomach felt sick.
"We met during enrolments Caz." Winter said with a roll of her eyes and for some odd reason that set everything to right inside of me.
"Oh yeah of course." Now I really wanted to kick myself, she was the one that told me I would be having a new roommate to begin with.
"I baked you some cookies." She teased as she held a bag high trying to lure me in. She never had to even try to lure me, she had me from the first day I had ever met her.
Over the holidays I had come to the obvious conclusion that I was thoroughly in love with Winter. I also decided that it was time I did something about it. She was the most important part of my day and I always looked forward to our moments together.
I had missed her incredibly and had spent a lot of my holidays trying to be allowed to fly to see her. Mum had refused; instead she kept me busy with so many ridiculous chores that I had hardly any time to myself. Mum didn’t know about the secret phone calls to Winter every night. I had told her I was talking to Susie. The worst thing was that meant I then had to spend time with Susie, which drove me crazy.
Now that Winter was here in front of me smiling as though she had missed me too, I of course chickened out of saying anything. It didn’t help that Zeke was standing next to her either.
“I’ve missed those cookies, hand them over Winnie.” I made a snatching motion with my hand while her eyes twinkled at me as she tried to hide them.
“Winnie?” Zeke asked but I decided to ignore him.
“You now have a roommate so you need to share.” She said pointedly while I frowned at her.
“Then you better have made the biggest batch in the world.” I warned her and she shook her head.
“Who never learnt to share?” She asked as she scurried into the lounge room and plopped down on the couch. I raced after her and practically threw myself at her.
“Hand over the goods Missy.” I demanded as I tickled her sides and she lost herself in giggles for the longest time.
“You promise to share and I might just do that.” She told me and I let out a very put upon sigh.
“Fine I promise to share with Zeke.” I said as I held my hand out toward her. She passed me the package then and I greedily went to engulf a cookie.
The doorbell rang again and dread filled me. I wanted, no needed more time with her before they descended and pushed us apart. I decided to ignore it but had forgotten all about Zeke or Dirk, whose job it was to open the door.
They arrived upon us like a pack of hyenas circling a carcass. They all stopped still and stared at Winter and I. The eyebrows raised at our proximity had sweat pooling in my palms but I just couldn’t stand to push away from the girl I knew I loved.
“Desperation on so many levels Winter.” Quill said, her laughter trilling around. I glanced quickly to Winter to see her eyes change to a swirling silver that I had never noticed before. I wanted to say something but it was as though my tongue had stuck to the roof of my mouth.
“Better than being forced to booth E.” Winter answered sweetly and I’m sure my mouth popped open in shock as Quill instantly backed down.
The rest of the group started questioning Quill as she then tried to fend them off her. She sent a frantic look to Cole who simply smiled that cocky smile and turned to me. My heart started thundering then and I had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach about how this was going to turn out.
“So we heard there’s a new guy over here with you?” Cole said managing to quiet his cronies down with a few simple words.
“That would be me.” Everyone turned to see Zeke in the doorway and Cole swore rudely.
“You!” Cole shouted out while Zeke simply smiled pleasantly.
“Yes Cole?” Zeke gave him his full attention and I envied how easy he seemed to stand up for himself.
“You’re on her side!” Cole turned and pointed to Winter while I simply felt confused by what was going on. Winter snorted with laughter and Cole looked mad enough to spit fire.
“It always pays to be on the side of the most powerful person in existence.” Zeke said as he dropped Winter a wink causing that red hot feeling to spear through me again.
“You think she has power?” Cole asked in disbelief before he let out a grunt of laughter.
“No Cole I don’t think it, I know it and unlike you I’m almost one hundred percent accurate. I can see your future and if you keep going down the path you’re on it will only spell disaster for you.” Zeke told him calmly and Cole went pale.
It was the first time I had ever seen anyone take Cole out so cool and collectively. Once again I envied Zeke. This was what I wanted to be like but always failed dismally at. I had the awesome superhero powers but with no backbone behind it.
“Yeah right.” Cole finally snorted out in answer but it sounded lame even in my ears. Zeke simply raised an eyebrow before a rather sneaky smile filled his face.
‘Okay how about I tell you all your future and we’ll see what you think. Quill your powers will be lost by the end of this year if you keep badgering Winter. You will go onto to be a rather poorly paid exotic dancer.” Quill looked offended by what Zeke said while Winter laughed from next to me.
Zeke though simply moved onto the next person. He went around the whole group leaving Cole until last. It was strange that Winter’s name had been mentioned in nearly every person’s future. A lot of dubious looks were sent our way. I wanted to reach over to reassure her that everything would be perfectly fine but I felt frozen in place.
“Oh so what I’m lucky last?” Cole asked sarcastically.
“There’s a reason for that.” Zeke turned to him and Cole looked as though he wished he had said nothing.
“Yeah like what?” Cole tried to look calm but there was an emotion behind his eyes that looked intimidated.
“You will walk out that door and slam it the moment I mention something that you want nobody to know about. You have two paths that I can see, one is treacherous and one is clear but ends in an untimely death. It will all depend on the true depths of feelings that you have for Winter.”
As soon as Winter’s name was mentioned, Cole did exactly what Zeke had predicted. He walked out of the door and slammed it hard. I was still in a zone of confusion as Zeke shuffled everyone towards the exit. I looked over to Winter to see her looking stunned.
“You didn’t lie?” Winter asked Zeke once everyone was gone.
“I told you before, I always tell the truth.” Zeke said bluntly. “And Caspian if you want to keep her then you’re going to have to man up big time.” Zeke turned to me before walking back up the stairs to his room.
“Well he doesn’t do things in halves.” I said as Winter squeezed herself snuggly next to my side.
“No he doesn’t really. The day of enrolments he told me I have powers but I still can’t bring myself to believe him. I’ve never had even an inkling of any power in me ever.” She said sadly so I hugged her tighter to me.
It was then it finally dawned on me that she was still here and I felt elated inside. Normally when Cole and Quill turn up, Winter always rushes away but today she had stayed. Sure I didn’t defend her at all but she was still here and that had to mean something right?
“Thanks for sticking around.” I said softly.
“Always for you Caz.” She whispered as those grey eyes sent me a look that socked me hard. It was full of warmth and dare I say love, or was that just my wishful thinking? “So are we ever going to talk about…?” She trailed off and looked a bit embarrassed.
“About what?” I asked as I put all my focus on her.
“We kissed Caz; don’t you think that changes things a bit?” She asked and once again I didn’t know what to say.
“I guess so but I don’t want to lose you as a friend.” I blurted out and she sighed. I noticed that bitter look creep across her face making me instantly regret my words.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll see you in the morning.”
She was up and gone out the front door before I could get out another word. Holy hell I blew that one! Damn what was it with her that I always seemed to say the wrong thing when I wanted to say something completely different? I put my head in my hands with no idea how to fix this.
“I meant my words before Caz.” I heard Zeke’s voice and forced myself to look at his stern expression.
“Why are you going to steal her from me?” I asked as I felt that red hot rage again at even the thought.
“That girl loves you; she would do anything for you. I couldn’t steal her from you even if I tried. I have to warn you though that the chances of you losing her because of your own insecurities are way too high. Stand up and be a man Caz before it’s too late.” Zeke walked off then and his words rang profoundly through my head all night.
The fact that Winter had her blinds closed only doubled my anxiety. We often talked from our separate windows if we couldn’t sleep. For some crazy reason she always liked to leave her blinds open a little in the moonlight, which is why I was now concerned.
I picked up my phone and dialled her number. It rang continuously, with each new ring my stomach clenched tighter and the fear inside me grew. Had I ruined everything with my lamer than lame comment? Finally it answered but she said nothing.
“I’m sorry Winnie. I always say the dumbest things when I don’t mean to.” I went quiet and heard her suck in a breath. “The truth is I don’t know what to do.”
“Do you regret it?” She finally whispered and I was stunned that she would think that.
“No of course not.” I told her truthfully and she let out a sigh.
“Okay then.” She said simply before hanging up.
Deep down inside though I was beginning to regret kissing her. Things had changed between us with that simple meeting of the lips. Zeke’s words flew through my mind again and I wished with everything in me that I could follow his advice. I would love to be the guy Winnie wanted but I just couldn’t see it happening.
She was there the following morning though being her normal, cheerful Winnie. It helped me relax a bit and let go of the panic that kept me from sleep last night. She was busy helping our cook make pancakes in her uniform that skimmed her body perfectly.
I loved her so much and it terrified me. I had so much to lose if we went out as a couple and failed. I needed her as much as I needed my next breath. Could we even survive as a couple in this world that seemed to want to tear us apart? All these thoughts crowded my mind as that dreaded doorbell rang.
Soon Cole, Quill and their offsiders were in the dorm dining room as though they owned it. I saw Winter’s face fall as that bitterness crept in again when she noticed them. She snuck out of the room just as Zeke went to walk in.
“Hey Winter did you want to go and get some breakfast, I heard of a great place nearby.”
Zeke’s words had forks being dropped on plates with a loud clang before silence filled the air. Everyone waited in anticipation for what would happen next. I simply felt smothered in anxiety and that red rage again.
“Sure eating with these pigs is almost too much to bear.” She said the words dryly but then she looked at me.
It was a pleading look asking me to do exactly what Zeke was, taking her away and caring for her but as usual I clammed up. Caught up in the gazes of these others that I didn’t even like, I simply said or did nothing.
I watched her walk out of the door with a guy that said he wouldn’t steal her from me and yet he had. It wasn’t as though I put up a fight for her though was it? A cracking sound filled the air and I looked down to realise the plate I was holding was now in pieces from where my strength had shattered it.
It didn’t matter, I wasn’t hungry anyway. I cleaned up the mess with Quill fluttering around me uselessly as she tried to help. I said nothing to anyone as I picked up my bag and headed for class.
I walked over to my assigned locker for the year and tried to lose myself in a menial task. I began stuffing it full without taking any real notice of what I was doing. I felt dazed, confused and lost without knowing Winnie was there to back me up.
“Caz I think it’s full.” Her wry voice from beside me had me snapping back to where I was.
“Winnie?” I asked hopefully as I focused on her standing next to me.
“I guess this was West’s doing.” She pointed out that our lockers were next door to each other.
“Why West?” I asked as I ignored the many other people staring at us.
“Her and her romantic notions.” She laughed but it didn’t sound that happy instead it seemed forced.
“Hey there you are.” Zeke’s voice interrupted us and it was hard to hold back that red hot piercing anger again.
“Yeah I’ve just been looking for my locker.” Winter grinned at him and the anger twisted more fiercely in my gut.
“I have no idea even where to look.” Zeke peered at the sheet of paper in his hands and I couldn’t help but snort, which made them both turn to me.
“What happened to that one hundred percent accuracy?” I couldn’t help but ask while he simply sent me a wry look.
“That’s the problem with being a psychic, it never works on me. I get to muddle through life on my own but I can tell you what that guy is going to have for lunch.” He told me as he pointed randomly to one of the people staring at us. It was helpful in them quickly shuffling away.
“Hey your locker is here with ours.”
Winter pointed to the locker next to hers and I had a hard time not smashing my teeth together as she ignored me and paid attention solely to him. Zeke grinned warmly at her and the tiny amount of breakfast I had threatened to come back up. I had the most dreadful feeling inside of me that I wasn’t sure I could control.
“Caz are you okay?” Her sweet voice engulfed me so I turned to her.
“Yeah I’m fine.” I managed to get the words out through my gritted teeth. Her concern for me was brief as she moved her focus back to Zeke.
I only knew one thing, I had to get away. Walking wasn’t quick enough so I flew down the hall as fast as I could. People were yelling as papers went flying with the gusts I created. Everyone either dodged or screamed and ducked to avoid me.
The only thing I could feel inside me was the dreaded feeling of loss. I had lost her and I knew that. It hit me hard, sucker punched me to the chest so I couldn’t breathe.
She had been the only reason I survived here because she knew me so well. Now she had been stolen by the guy who had told me to man up or I would lose her. There was nothing I could do as I felt my heart breaking in two.
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So its an early update!!! Caz and Winter aren't doing so well right now.....wonder what Zeke is up to???