The Chosen One: The Ethereal Academy Series

Chapter 2

"I like you, Ellie. I've liked you for a long time now. I won't call it love, because I'm not sure that's what this is, but I know that what I feel for you goes beyond being friends... and... I'd like to see if we could be..more." He seemed to have trouble looking her in the eyes and Elspeth couldn't blame him.

It wasn't that she was repulsed by the idea of him liking her that way, she kind of liked it. He may have been gangly and awkward before, but he definitely wasn't now. He had grown into his features. His face was smooth and attractive, angled and defined. His eyes were bright and intelligent, and they softened handsomly whenever he saw something that made him happy. As for his build, well, you definitely couldn't describe him as scrawny anymore. He stood almost a foot taller than her now and she remebered how his height and muscles seemingly materialized over night. She had even teased him for it, stating that he had to be taking growth hormones.

For as long as she been in this small, judgmental town she didn't ever think that she would catch someones eye that way, especially not someone who looked like him. But it didn't feel the way she expected it to. She had always imagined that when someone finally did notice her that way that she would feel a ceryain level of..passion about it.

But that's not how she felt now. Still, she tried to think past that, imagine what it might be like to take him up on his feelings and give it a chance. It would be a happy future, she knew that. His parents loved her, there would be dates and holidays spent together. Maybe her plan to move out could include him. They could live together.

Yes, it was a happy picture, but she couldn't imagine beyond that. Couldn't picture herself growing to feel what she believed a relationship like that required of a person.

And that wouldn't be fair to either of them.

She knew she couldn't return his feelings, as much as trying to do so might bring her happiness. He deserved someone who could return those feelings.

But how could she tell him this without distroying the bond that they shared? What could she possibly say to preserve their friendship instead of leaving it in tatters. But she needed to say something, even if she didn't know exactly what to say. So resolutely, she took a deep breath.

"Aaron... I- AH!" suddenly her head and chest exploded in pain. It was so intense that the world seemed to spiral around her, nothing seemed to be in its proper place, like the planet had suddenly tilted the wrong way on it's axis, or started spinning in reverse.

She vaguely felt Aaron put his hand on her back and it confused her until she realized that she had hunched over under the weight of the pain without being concious of the action.

"Ellie, whats wrong?"

"My head.. it hurts..and it's hard to breathe.." she gritted out between her teeth, taking in harsh, ragged breathes. She felt tears spilled out of her eyes that she kept firmly shut.

"Should I take you to the emergency room? It's really late so they'd probably be able to see you pretty quickly."

"No, I think...I think I just need to take some medicine and lay down." With her eyes still closed, she fumbled for the door handle. After a moment it opened from the outside and Aaron was there, helping her out of the car and walking her to the door.

"Do you want to me to help you to your room?" Elspeth wanted to say no, but if she opened her eyes and let any form of light assault her, it made the pain in her head worse. She would need help finding the medicine at least.

"Yes please, and find the tylenol."

"Of course." She heard her front door open as Aaron carefully guided her forward, gently leading her through her house until they were in her room. He guided her to her bed and she quickly crawled into in, cradling her head in her hands as the throbbing intensified.

"I'll be right back with some medicine and water." He said before leaving the room. As she waited for him to come back, she slowly felt the pain in her head and chest subside. By the time Aaron returned she could finally open her eyes.

"Here you go. Are you okay?"

"I will be, I think it's starting to get better." Elspeth said, quickly taking the medicine before closing her eyes again. "Aaron, about what you said-"

"Never mind that now, you just get some rest, we can talk about it on Monday." He insisted, gently nudging her to lay down before covering her with the the blanket. "Good night, Ellie."

"Good night, Aaron." she watched him as he left her room and then listened as she heard him close the front door behind him. After a moment she sat back up in her bed and walked over to her window to watch him drive away. It was only after his tail lights disappeared around the corner of her street that she realized that the pain had completely subsided. In its place she felt an inexplicable warmth surging through her, like electricity buzzing under her skin from head to toe.

The feeling was completely alien to her, and she had no idea what had caused it. She was suddenly wide awake, glancing at her bedside clock she saw the time read 12:15. What time had her head ache started? She couldn't be sure. Time seemed both slow down and speed up simulatneously, like time didn't actually exist at all. And she didn't fully understand why she wasn't tired.

Perhaps it was the nerves from her conversation with Aaron, and knowing that she was going to have to tell him that she didn't like him the way he liked her. The thought did make her feel anxious, but at least now she had a few days to think over what she would say to him.

After a few minutes of mulling things over she decided to take a shower to calm her nerves and let the warm water wash the day off of her. All the while she thought of different ways to explain things to Aaron. All the while she still couldn't understand why she didn't feel the way she expected to feel. He had all the qualities one could hope for in a boy. He was handsome and charming and funny and smart. He had defended her countless times and he had stayed her friend even when it was clear that he would be osterasized for it. If he had wanted, he could have been the most popular kid in high school. But he didn't want that, he wanted to be her friend. She felt almost guilty that she couldn't return his affections.

As her guilt began to build, she stepped out the shower and dressed in her pajamas and dried her hair with her towel. Quietly making her way back to her bedroom, she headed for her window once again to stare up into the night sky.

She did this every so often, when she felt lost or confused. Not for the first time she desperately wished her mom was still alive. Maybe then there would be someone she could ask for advice from on what to do about Aaron...maybe then she wouldn't feel so quilty about not feeling the same way for him.

If she were still alive, then she wouldn't have grown up with the whole town thinking she was a bad kid, a curse, a witch...maybe then being friends with Aaron wouldn't have cost him so much.

"I wish you were here mom, I could really use your help." She whispered. Then the feeling of warmth in her seemed to surge out and engulf her entirely like an embrace. The feeling brought both shock and comfort. In that moment she was certain that whereever her mother was, she had heard her words and was with her.

With the feeling of comfort lingering in her bones, she finally laid down to get some sleep. As she drifted she thought she heard the distant sound of a womans voice whispering her name, though she couldn't quite make out what was being said, something about bigger things or destiny.

But Elspeth dismissed it as the beginning of her dream, and slid peacfully into a restful sleep.