THE TALISMANS

the new kid

"oh here comes another fight". Gareth mumbled and focused on the road.

"What is this witch doing here Gareth answer me". Christine barked earning a scowl from Carolyn.

"Listen here old hag. I didn't choose to be here your boyfriend thought it was friendly to give me a ride. I never wanted to be here in the first place". Carolyn said and Christine frowned.

"He's not my boyfriend you witch". Christine replied and Gareth felt an instant ache in his chest.

"Oh come on old hag, are you denying the love of your life". Carolyn teased.

Christine looked at Gareth who was desperately trying to avoid being included in their bickering.

"Gareth". Christine called again but Gareth ignored her. "You either choose one of us to stay or Goodie gets it".

Gareth frowned. "Listen Christine, Carolyn was here first and you can't expect me to throw her out because of you. If you don't want her in here then you're free to get out." Gareth shouted and immediately regretted it when he saw the shocked look Christine and Carolyn were given him.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that, you just provoked me.

Christine let out a laugh that didn't reach her eyes. "Oh now I'm the outcast. I should get out of the car for Carolyn. Really Gareth"?.

"I said I didn't mean it like that Christine, try to understand. You just provoked me".

"Awkward" Carolyn muttered. *I should have just went back home and taken my car to school, I would have easily avoided this rubbish if I knew".

"Well before I throw myself out of your car I have a question". Christine said.

"Christine I said...."

"Oh don't worry Gareth. I should be the one sorry here. It's your car not mine".

"No Christine you're taking this the wrong way". Gareth tried explaining and at the same time focused on the road.

"Now my question is how did she end up in the car. I would like to know please".

"I helped her, that's all. So I decided to drive her to school".

Christine looked between Gareth and Carolyn, they seemed to be communicating with their thoughts.

Carolyn's expression was like.

thanks Gareth for not revealing the truth. And Gareth seemed to be telling her.

hey it's nothing what are friends for .

Then she knew she was probably the third wheel here. Gareth shouted at her because she refused to stay in the same car stinking of witch craft and Gareth indirectly told her to get out of the car for them. She wasn't a fool. She knew when she wasn't wanted.

"Stop the car Gareth. Im getting out".

"Wait what?, I told you I didn't mean it like that". Gareth begged.

"Oh please let her go, there'll be more room for us". Carolyn mumbled and looked the other way after she got a hard glare from Gareth Who was now really regretting what he said.

He knew Christine was someone who was very emotional and took each words by heart. So she often sees normal reading talks as the real feeling information the person was passing.

But her flaw was, she was always impatient. Always getting into bad conclusions once she sees the negative side of things.

"Stop the car Gareth. You said it yourself, if I can't stand Carolyn the witch in the car, then I should find my way out. So how would I go out if you refuse to stop the car."

"Christine you're getting out of the point here. I only said that to get you to stop talking."

"Yes and it worked to well. Instead of you stopping me from talking, you ended up throwing me out of your car. stop the car I'll find my way to school by myself". Christine said glaring at Gareth.

"Stop the car gareth let the pest get out, I need fresh hair. Her old hag smell is starting to fill the air".

Gareth glared at Carolyn. She was adding petrol to the blazing fire on purpose. He was starting to question his favour.

"Christine stop this rubbish you know I didn't mean it like that"! He shouted and Christine flinched.

"I'm sorry just focus on the road. I'll shut up".

Gareth sighed and turned to the road. This morning was not so good after all.

"Oh for the love of God. I expected you to throw yourself out". Said Carolyn but both Christine and Gareth ignored her comment and she kept quiet.

Immediately they reached school Christine pushed the car door open and jumped out without waiting for Gareth.

"Oh common woman. You're still angry". Gareth shouted after her.

"Just leave her Gareth she'll come back to her senses. We often do." Carolyn said and came down from the car, she headed to her class.

"Girls." Gareth muttered and left for his class.

Christine was so angry. Carolyn had successfully succeeded in making her angry again. She stomped into class and picked a sit at the side of the window.

Minutes later a teacher came in and class commenced.

"We will be having a new student join is today, why don't we give a welcome to Robert slick" The teacher said and Christine watched as a boy with freckles all over his nose came into class carrying a rather office bag which brought some students to snicker while some laughed out. Christine didn't seem botheres about it. And so was the boy who focused on what was written on the board.

"Okay Robert introduce your self". The teacher said.

"I think you already introduced me, so what more introduction do you need. And besides there's nothing you need to know about me".

"Okay then take a sit and let's continue with class. Shall we". She turned to the class while Robert made his way to his new seat partner. Nora had said this was her class and she would be putting on a talisman. So she couldn't be hard to find right. He looked around the class. Mostly staring at the pupils neck until he sighted a rather out of the place talisman on the neck of a girl who sat by the window. So he went straight to her.

Christine shifted umcomfortably as the new student continued ogling at her neck.

Christine shifted a little down the seat to avoid making contact with her rather suspicious new seat mate.

"Hey there I'm Robert. I'm new here". Robert introduced him self to Christine who looked displeased that the new weirdo was introducing him self to her and not anyone else.

"I'm Christine and I saw you walk in here so I know you're new". Christine answered anyway.

Robert smiled. "Straight to the point I see, can we be friends I love straight forward people". Christine smiled the boy wasn't that bad. So she answered.

"Well you are in luck. I'm currently looking for a new friend to replace the one I lost for the main time until he comes back to his senses".

Robert smiled, if being used would make him closer to her then he was willing to.

"Then you are also in luck, I love being used".

Christine smirked at him. The boy was indeed a weirdo.

Gareth watched them talk and rage overtook him. Christine replaced him so easily, well two can play that game.

"release your grip on the poor pen. It wasn't the one who offended you was it". Luke one of Arthur's friends said and Gareth sighed putting down the pen.

Hours later Christine walked out of class and headed for the library while robert followed her like a second shadow.

"Don't you like, have somewhere to be right now. You can stop following me now". Christine said when she noticed Robert behind her.

"No, friends are supposed to stick together, so I'm coming with you."

Christine sighed she made a really bad choice. Even Gareth wasn't that clingy. And if it continues this way. She was going to get rid of him. I mean the boy was acting like a six year old kid for crying out loud.

They both entered the library and settled on a chair. "So what are we reading first". Robert asked interested in all the big text books he was seeing. God knows how much he loves discovering new things.

"Listen here dude I read alone. So shoo and get your own books to read".

Robert frowned and stood up. Acting dumb was over at least he now knows she was the water talisman.

Flashback

"Please I need a pen. I forgot mine in thehe car" Robert said and Christine nodded handing him a pen. He picked up a note and drew all the elements of the four talisman. He only hoped Christine recognized one has hers . Robert father had showed him all the logos in each talisman. So it wasn't that had to draw.

"Wait" Robert heard Christine say. "That looks exactly like the waterfall on my necklace". Christine said and brought out her necklace.

So then it was settled, he found the water talisman. Two more to go.

"Why did you draw this. And what other drawings are this one's". she pointed at the remaining drawings of a fire blazing sword and a tornado and a big man made of rocks.

Well it's just imagination and besides I draw when I'm bored. Christine nodded and focused on her book.

End of flash back.

He walked through the room filled with books he didn't know which one to choose, they all seemed fascinating and interesting. No wonder Christine came here. But then again she was the water talisman so she had to be brilliant but the problem in hand now was finding the rest. Even though Nora had told him they all attended this school, it didn't really help. I mean they were so much students and he couldn't just keep looking at their necks. For all he knows. The rest might not be wearing it.

A scream brought him out of his thought and he looked back only to see students present in the library crowded over a boy who had his leg under a falling shelf.

Christine rushed to the scene pushing every one out and the little boy's scream seemed to get louder as he struggled to remove his leg from under the shelf.

They were all just staring, they weren't helping him and the boy was wailing in pain.

"It's alright , it's alright, Try to calm down. We will get help". She tried to calm the little boy who looked so pale her heart ached. "somebody call the ambulance, and stop looking". As if someone had suddenly pressed play. The paused present teenagers quickly brought out their phone to call 911.

Robert watched her from afar as she crouched down beside the boy.

"It's okay, it's alright. Everything is going to be alright" he heard her say to the boy.

Then immediately she shouted for someone to call the ambulance. What was an ambulance?. Robert thought. that was a question for another day.

Christine stared at the little boy's leg trapped under the shelf. Even if they combined their efforts together they won't be able to lift it. She pitied him as she saw the blood trail down his thighs. If only she could do something to ease the pain.

She touched his leg and trailed her hand down his leg. Then immediately she felt a spark and withdrew her hands immediately. What was that. She stared at her hands. There was not any electric stuff there right. So how come her hands felt electrocuted.

Robert watched in awe and looked around. Oh thank God no one had noticed the faint spark.

The little boy whose leg was trapped under the shelf suddenly stopped crying. He wasn't feeling any pain again but his leg was still trapped in the shelf right