MYSTIC HIGH

Chapter 3: Making Friends or Enemies?

As Ariana walked up to Nick, he startled, not expecting anyone to approach him from behind. But as he turned to face her, he felt a wave of relief wash over him. Seeing Ariana Thompson, the gorgeous girl who had given him a tour of the school, he couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards her.

"Are you okay?" Ariana asked, her eyes scanning Nick's face with concern.

Nick nodded, trying to brush off the encounter with Jack. "I will be fine," he said, attempting to sound nonchalant.

But Ariana wasn't convinced. "You don't look like you're fine," she said, her voice laced with concern. "What is this rumor I am hearing about Jack attacking you last night, did it really happen?"

Nick nodded, feeling a sense of trepidation. "It did happen," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Ariana's eyes scanned Nick's body, but there was no sign of injury. "How come there's no sign of what they said he did to you?" she queried, her curiosity piqued.

Nick shrugged, feeling a sense of confusion. "I don't know," he said. "I just woke up this morning, and I was fine."

Ariana's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with possibilities. She knew that it was only vampires and werewolves who could experience accelerated healing. But Nick didn't seem to be either of those things. Whatever he was, it was beyond her comprehension.

"I'm yet to figure that out," Nick said, as if reading Ariana's thoughts. "Until then, I am just a normal guy."

Ariana smiled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "No, you are not," she whispered in a soothing voice. "None of us are."

As they stood there, locked in a gaze that seemed to stretch on forever, Nick felt a sense of connection with Ariana that he couldn't explain. It was as if they shared a secret, a secret that only they could understand.

Ariana's eyes seemed to bore into Nick's soul, as if searching for something. And Nick felt his heart skip a beat as he gazed back at her, his eyes locked on hers.

But their moment was interrupted by the sound of footsteps, heavy and deliberate. Nick turned to see Jack approaching them, his eyes blazing with anger.

"You think you can just waltz in here and steal her away from me?" Jack sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "Well, let me tell you something, newbie. Ariana is mine, and I won't let anyone take her away from me."

Ariana's countenance changed, her gaze hardening on Jack. "What are you talking about, Jack?" she asked, her voice cold and detached.

But Jack just laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "Don't play dumb with me, Ariana," he sneered. "I know you've been talking to him, and I know you're interested in him. But let me tell you something, newbie. You're not good enough for her. You're not even in the same league as me."

Nick felt a surge of anger at Jack's words, but he tried to keep his cool. He didn't want to escalate the situation, not when he was still trying to figure out what was going on.

But before he could respond, Jack grabbed him and smashed his head on the locker. The locker was a standard issue metal locker, with a combination lock and a small shelf for storing books and other personal items. It was a sturdy piece of furniture, but it was no match for Jack's supernatural strength.

Nick's head bounced off the locker with a loud clang, and he felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. He stumbled backwards, his vision blurring, and Jack's voice echoed in his ears.

"Stay away from her, she's mine!" Jack bellowed, his eyes glowing red with anger.

Jack has been making moves on Ariana to make her his boyfriend but she kept turning him down because he's a bully who always wants to show his dominance.

Ariana's countenance changed, her gaze hardening on Jack. "What did you just do?" she blurted out, her voice trembling with rage.

But Jack just laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "He's just unconscious and nothing more," he sneered. "You belong to me and..."

But before Jack could finish his sentence, Ariana interrupted him. "To hell with that!" she lashed out, her voice ringing with defiance. "I belong to no one except whom I chose!"

The standoff between Ariana and Jack drew the attention of the other students, who gathered around to watch the drama unfold. But before things could escalate further, Professor Everwood walked into the hallway, her eyes scanning the scene before her.

"What is happening here?" she demanded, her voice firm and authoritative.

Her eyes met with Nick, lying unconscious on the floor, and her expression turned stern. "Jack, what have you done now?" she asked.

As Jack slunk away, after being ordered to the Headmaster's office, Professor Everwood turned her attention to Nick. "Two of you, please take Nick to the school clinic," she instructed, her eyes scanning the crowd of students.

Ariana watched as two students, a tall, lanky boy with messy brown hair and a petite girl with bright pink hair, carefully lifted Nick off the floor. They carried him between them, his head lolling limply against his chest.

Ariana followed them as they made their way to the clinic. The clinic was a small, cozy building nestled in a quiet corner of the school grounds. The exterior was unassuming, with a simple wooden door and a sign that read "Magical Healing Clinic" in elegant, cursive script.

But the interior was a different story altogether. The clinic was a treasure trove of magical artifacts and spellbooks, with shelves upon shelves of dusty tomes and strange, glowing orbs. The air was thick with the scent of herbs and incense, and the sound of soft chanting could be heard in the background.

Ariana watched as the two students carefully laid Nick down on a narrow, white bed. The bed was surrounded by a delicate, filigree-patterned railing, and a soft, white canopy hung overhead.

As the students stepped back, a woman emerged from the shadows. She was a witch, with long, flowing white hair that cascaded down her back like a river of moonlight. Her eyes were a deep, piercing blue, and her skin was smooth and unlined.

"Hello, Ariana," the witch said, her voice warm and gentle. "I see we have a new patient. What seems to be the matter with him?"

Ariana hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But the witch's kind eyes put her at ease, and she found herself pouring out the whole story - from Jack's attack to Nick's mysterious healing abilities.

The witch listened intently, her eyes never leaving Ariana's face. When Ariana finished speaking, the witch nodded thoughtfully.

"I see," she said. "Well, let's take a look at our young friend here."

Ariana watched as the witch began to prepare her healing spells and potions. She gathered various ingredients from the shelves - dried herbs, glowing crystals, and small vials of shimmering liquid.

As the witch worked, Ariana sat down beside Nick's bed, taking his hand in hers. His hand was warm and limp, and Ariana felt a surge of concern as she looked down at him.

She watched as the witch carefully measured out a pinch of sparkling dust and added it to a small vial of glowing liquid. The witch then began to chant softly, her voice weaving a gentle spell of healing and protection.

Ariana's eyes were fixed on Nick's face, watching as his chest rose and fell with each breath. She felt a sense of calm wash over her as she sat there, holding Nick's hand and watching the witch work her magic.

But as the minutes ticked by, Ariana couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Nick's injuries seemed to be healing at an alarming rate, and Ariana couldn't help but wonder what secrets he might be hiding since he's not a vampire or a werewolf.