Don’t trust them, any of them … that strange, familiar voice whispered inside my brain.
Who are you? I wondered, but the voice was silent. I felt foolish talking to myself. I moved to an area where I could be alone.
In the distance, I caught sight of Rachel and her girlfriends glaring at me. I clenched my jaw in dread. Now what? Michael was still standing in the same place; all the chaperones seemed to be chatting and entertaining themselves in their own way.
There was a spot at the edge of the ballroom where potted plants had been placed for decoration. Luckily, there was also a space where I could slide behind one and have privacy.
It was dark and a little bit dusty. I jumped when I felt the sticky thread of a spiderweb tickle my bare arm. The spider it belonged to was nowhere in sight, thank goodness. Leaning against the wall, I closed my eyes, wondering if I would hear the voice again.
I tried to keep the sound of that voice in my mind, the warmth of it. He sounded like someone I knew, but I couldn’t figure out who.
Who are you? I thought again, but no answer came.
Through the fronds of the potted plant, I could see the rest of the school still dancing and laughing. Rachel was scowling around the dance floor, no doubt looking for me. That girl needed to get a life. I resisted the urge to find some way to humiliate her, to punish her for making fun of me. That, however, would make me no better than her. I would behave myself for John’s sake.
Glancing around, I couldn’t see him. He’d just been going to the bathroom, right? But then I recalled him having spotted Jonas. It made sense why he had been gone for so long. I was worried and decided to find him.
First, I tried calling out to him, trying to connect. Nothing. I wondered if he had turned on his watch. He had been disconnected from it; maybe he had been warned not to continue allowing his watch to be off. Seeing Jonas was reason enough to turn it back on. I could understand. He had said before that the interference from Milton surges had given him reasons to keep it off far more. But we were far from Milton today.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped out of my hiding place and made my way around the ballroom. I moved quickly, but not too fast. No point in drawing anyone’s attention.
Michael glanced over in my direction, but I just smiled at him. He watched me for a moment before his attention was stolen by one of the chaperones. I stepped through a side door and into the hallway. It was quiet; just a few students milling around.
Seeing the sign for the bathrooms, I made my way there. There were a few plush chairs outside the restroom and I settled into one. The soft cushions practically sucked me into my seat.
I waited five minutes, then ten. A boy whose name I couldn’t remember walked up to the door. “Hey, can you see if my boyfriend is okay? He went in there twenty minutes ago.”
He shrugged. A couple minutes later he came back out.
I looked at him expectantly.
“There was no one else in there, sorry.”
I thanked him, trying not to let the dismay show. John never lied to me. Where could he have gone? But I already knew: the parking lot. Hadn’t he said that, or had I seen that right before he had wandered away from me? He had said he had sighted Jonas wandering around suspiciously.
I looked around, fearing I would see Dr. Nicholson pop up from a corner to sit beside me, as he had in his vehicle.
Don’t trust them. The voice was there, in the back of my mind again.
Who are you?
A friend.
I could feel affection in the words and it sent a warm feeling throughout my body. It was like when John spoke to me. I wanted to know why this voice thought I shouldn’t trust John, but as soon as it said the words, I knew it had left again.
Wherever it originated from must have been far away. It was like reaching for someone when they were across a river: completely pointless.
Standing up, I picked up the hem of my dress so I wouldn’t trip as I hurried down the hall.
I could see my reflection in the glass doors that led to the exterior. As I neared, the reflection changed and I could see movement in the pool of light beyond. I was about to push open the door when he appeared on the other side.
“Claudia?” John asked, blinking. He looked startled.
“I was worried when you didn’t come back, so I came looking for you.” I wrapped my arms around him. “I thought the worst, especially with …”
“It’s okay. I took care of it.”
I grabbed his wrist to look at his watch. I couldn’t tell if it was on, but it was glowing.
John pulled at his sleeve to cover it.
I gazed at him questioningly. “You turned it on?”
“I had to, I’m sorry.”
I didn’t say anything, but it did bother me. I wondered if he would turn it off. When he didn’t make a move to, I tried to believe he was doing it for a reason.
“Did you speak with him?” I forced myself to ask.
“Yeah.” He was hesitant to say more, but noticed the questions in my eyes. “He’s just trying to intimidate me, Miss Belle, that’s all.”
His cheek twitched, resulting in a small upward curve of his mouth. I’d seen it before; it was a sign that he was not being fully honest. He was lying to me, but why?
“Is something wrong?” I asked.
John wrapped his arms around me. He rested his cheek on the top of my head. “No, I just ... you know what? Let’s not worry about it. We can go back to the dance.” He kissed my forehead and hooked my arm through his.
I glanced over my shoulder, outside. There was a pool of light just beyond the door.
We reentered the ballroom. I wondered about Jonas, his reasons for being here, and why John hid those thoughts from me. I couldn’t get over the fact that John had lied to me.
John led me into the ballroom. The other guys caught sight of him.
I felt so alone without his thoughts to merge with my own. I had become too accustomed to having him in my head. Whatever his reasons were for staying close to me, I knew it had to do with keeping me safe.
I wanted to avoid them, and John felt that. He led me back to the dance floor and I wrapped my arms around him. The song playing was a slow one and as I looked into his eyes, I saw it, the one thing I was trying to find: the truth of Jonas’ presence.
I’m sorry. His mental voice suddenly filled my head. It was such a sweet relief to finally hear him in my mind.
He scares you?
It’s not entirely that, Miss Belle. If it was just me, I wouldn’t care, but I have you. I don’t want anything to happen to you, beautiful. John smiled.
I didn’t know what to say. The glow returned to my face instead. You have to convince Joseph to come away with us.
I had seen the entire scene played out in John’s head. His confrontation with Jonas and the truth he had so cruelly revealed about John losing Joseph as his guardian. Not only that, but the unknown … of what would happen to Joseph once John was gone.
John smiled again and shook his head.
“What?” I asked, but I already knew.
“It’s harder than I thought, pretending to be a teenager. Isn’t it, Miss Belle? No one will allow us to do so.”
I ran my tongue along my lower lip and nodded. “I’m happy to be here, nonetheless—even with the chaos all around us.”
John’s smile widened. That was a great reward for him, after all we had gone through a lot. And soon we’ll leave it all behind, Miss Belle.
He leaned forward to kiss me, but a sound from the stage startled us. We glanced over. The announcer was Ms. Johnson, an English teacher I recognized from Milton.
“What we’ve all been waiting for. It’s time to announce our Prom Queen and King.”
I heard those same guys from before cheering for John. It seemed a few girls in the ballroom agreed with his teammates. Chanting began. “John! John!”
John rolled his eyes. I had a feeling he wanted no part of this.
“They want their king,” I whispered, and he rolled his eyes at me.
His mouth, however, spread into a beautiful smile.
“Only if I can have my queen by my side.”
“Who will be crowned Milton’s Prom King?” Ms. Johnson trilled. “And who will be the Prom Queen?”
Rachel’s name began to be chanted by her girlfriends. I wasn’t surprised, of course. She seemed like the perfect candidate for Prom Queen. She took the cheers like it was the right, natural choice to choose her. And why not, right? She was popular, pretty, and came from a great family.
And you’re beautiful, Miss Belle. You’re my first choice for Prom Queen.
I don’t think you can pick your girlfriend, John.
We should be able to … at least, I should. I think everyone here would agree with me. He winked.
Rachel gave me a smug smile.
John began chanting my name. “Claudia! Claudia!”
I lowered my head and blushed.
Surprisingly, a large section of the students began to join him. I wondered if I was hearing right.
Rachel frowned at me, and she slapped one of the guys on John’s team as they chanted my name.
I can’t.
Why not?
I had no answer.
John smiled. You’re perfect, and who better to be my queen?
“Okay, so everyone should have cast their votes last week. Today is the day everyone,” Ms. Johnson announced cheerfully.
“Ha! I didn’t.” I’d not cast a vote. “So, there goes that,” I said to John, who wouldn’t stop grinning.
“Today is the day we find out who will be our King and Queen,” Ms. Johnson continued, standing on the stage by the microphone. “Everyone excited? I know I am!”
John grabbed my hand, but I hesitated. “Where are we going?”
“To vote,” he smiled. “Since you didn’t.”
My head shook. “Um … but I can’t.” I never participated in such events.
Why was I doing this? Because this is the normal thing kids do, I told myself. They dance, they date, and they vote for Prom King and Queen. And you’re a normal kid.
I followed him up to Ms. Johnson as she handled the envelope with the results. When she saw me, she smiled warmly. The teacher was one of those overzealous women who found delight in everything. She loved being a teacher more than any other educator I had ever known.
“Claudia?” She looked surprised, but tried not to show it.
Most didn’t see me as a social butterfly. I guess I had that reputation; my friends were teachers and principals. She was far more excited when she saw me holding John’s hand. I heard her thoughts … Oh good for you, Claudia! He’s a hottie.
John blushed.
“You and John?” she asked as she wiggled a finger between the two of us, unable to hold back her delight.
I thought everyone knew, to be honest. I smiled.
“You guys look so good together!” she squealed.
John smiled broadly. “Is it too late to vote?”
“I’m afraid it is. Voting took place last week. Didn’t you get a ballot in homeroom?”
John nodded, but he wasn’t visibly disappointed. I wondered if he knew something. He gave a slightly crooked smile.
“You’re the favorite for Prom King,” she told him. “Good luck.”
“It’s not for me, Ms. Johnson. It’s for Claudia,” he informed her.
She stared at me. “You’re on the ballot, Claudia Belle.”
I wasn’t even aware I was running for anything. John caught the perplexed expression on my face as well as the thought. He chuckled.
Quizzically, I gazed at him. Had he voted for me?
“On what ballot?”
Ms. Johnson smiled at my question.
I pulled his hand. “You voted for me? I didn’t think this was your kind of thing.”
Yeah, well, Joseph would be more to blame for that. He always goes out of his way to add the final touches. I’m glad he did.
“He knows I wanted to vote for the prettiest, girl. You’re my queen,” he finished aloud.
Slightly embarrassed, I could feel my cheeks flush.
“Ah, that’s so sweet!” Ms. Johnson said. She looked genuinely happy. “This is so exciting! You guys would be perfect! Good luck!” She couldn’t say anything else, but I could see it in her eyes she hoped we would make Prom King and Queen.
Ms. Johnson held the envelope with the final decision in her hands. “Good luck, kids,” she whispered one last time.
John led me back to the dance floor and pulled me close, wrapping an arm around my waist.
“Do you really not care about that?” I asked, staring at him. His eyes were on me and I felt overwhelmed by desire for him.
“I guess it would be a lie if I said I didn’t. Maybe a little,” he admitted with a smile.
Well, I bet you were Prom King during all your previous proms.
There haven’t been that many, Miss Belle. John laughed and offered a glance into his past life.
I saw John looking the same as he did now, although a bit younger. He walked halls, attended proms, but it was always short-lived. This was the longest he had been in one place outside The Academy.
We danced very close. John’s friends found us on the dance floor again and their girlfriends ignored me. I felt like an outsider when they patted John’s shoulder, supporting his possibility of becoming Prom King.
“You’ve got this, man,” Jason, another classmate of John’s I hadn’t met, said. He smiled at me and his girlfriend slapped him on the shoulder. “What?” he asked innocently, and they moved away.
Rachel and George were dancing nearby. I caught her as she glanced over at John. I knew what she was thinking; it was as clear as day. She envisioned herself on the stage with John as King and she as Queen. This would be the perfect event to rekindle their relationship, she thought.
Relationship? We never had one, Miss Belle.
I know, but she seems to think otherwise.
She found my eyes and gave a smug smile.
I looked away.
John stared at me. “Don’t let her bother you. I told you she’s jealous,” he whispered.
We danced away from the prying eyes of Rachel to another part of the dance floor.
He inhaled deeply and looked at me. Something in his eyes sparkled. It was nothing like what Quentin’s eyes did, but they looked magical.
“I know Joseph pushed her on you the first time, but why me and not her? I mean, besides the obvious. Would you still want me if we weren’t so connected?” I asked boldly.
John appeared confused. “Of course! Besides, Rachel and I don’t have anything in common. You are so much more, Claudia. You’re so innocent and so kind-hearted. Nothing like Rachel. You don’t give yourself enough credit.” John cupped my face. “I knew you were in pain. I knew I had to reach you somehow, but I think it was you who reached out to me, long before I met you.”
I was surprised but it made sense. I delighted at his words and offered a silent admission of my own. He was the only one meant to hear my confession, and he would be the only one who did. I recalled hearing a voice when I was very sick … it was you. I realize that now. You gave me comfort. My parents thought I had an imaginary friend. I thought it was a ghost.
I must have been in confinement. I can’t remember anything until after. I heard you in The Academy before I was sent here, John admitted.
I think we both had that “ah-ha” moment.
You see. We were meant to be together Miss Belle.
I smiled.
John chuckled. “We connect, Claudia, in a way I know means something great.”
Behind us, Ms. Johnson’s voice came over the microphone again. We turned to the stage.
“It’s time, the moment of truth is now here! Now, to announce our prom royalty.” She looked down at her assistants near the stage. “The envelope, ladies, please,” she said, smiling wide.
I looked around and everyone was staring at the stage; this was a big thing in high school.
I caught sight of Rachel and her minions; they were just like everyone else, gawking in anticipation of the moment of truth. I caught Michael looking on as well. Even the staff was glued to this important event.
This was high school, and I wanted to be normal, so I looked on, trying to be “normal.”
Normal is overrated, John quipped silently. I nudged him and smiled.
“Okay, ladies and gentlemen.” Ms. Johnson said as she was handed an envelope. Her smile spread slowly to her eyes.
“Wow! Not a surprise here.” She appeared overjoyed.
I sensed right away what she knew. I hated that I knew before everyone else. I gripped John’s hand and he squeezed back.
Miss Belle. His lips curved upward slightly. He had heard it in my mind long before I had whispered it to him. I couldn’t help myself.
“Milton, let’s welcome your Prom King—John Müller!”
A round of cheers exploded, and John was ushered to the stage by the guys we knew. He didn’t look like he wanted to leave my side, but his friends and the other girls delivered him to Ms. Johnson. There, he reluctantly stepped beside her.
A girl in a glittering gown placed a crown upon his head and the crowd went crazy. I was overwhelmed; I didn’t know how to react, this whole thing was all new to me—the socializing, the crowds of active teens. And, of course, the boyfriend.
John gazed at me and winked.
Then Rachel stood next to me, her girlfriends right beside her. “Hey, Claudia,” she said softly.
I wouldn’t have recognized her voice if I didn’t already know it was her. I glanced at her.
“Good luck.”
Maybe I had misjudged her? I wanted to think so. “Thank you. Good luck to you, too.”
She started laughing, along with her girlfriends. I didn’t understand the joke.
“Please, like you have any chance of winning … I have an audience. What do you have? I’m the school favorite; what are you? The school mascot?”
Her friends laughed harder this time.
“Oh, are you going to cry? Watch out girls, she might go Carrie on us.”
They didn’t stop snickering.
I didn’t say anything, moving to the other end of the ballroom, away from them.
Behind me, I heard Ms. Johnson say, “And now for the Prom Queen. Please come join your King.”
John was watching me curiously. He knew something was wrong. He was so attuned to me but, of course, we were attached to each other via feelings … connected like two hands on a clock or two threads in cloth. However, like the threads of cloth, we could be split apart.
Miss Belle? Claudia? He felt me aching, wanting to be away from everyone.
I needed air.
“Oh, this is awesome, and I don’t think this has ever happened. We have two candidates for Queen. A tie! Oh, my! Rachel Westcott … and Claudia Belle!”
There was an explosion of cheers around the ballroom; my heart was pounding against my ribs, and I hurried outside before I could be spotted.
I stood for a moment, unable to move. The cheering continued inside. I wanted to go back into the ballroom, but I was afraid.
What was I thinking? I didn’t belong here. I wasn’t normal. Why was I trying to pretend I could be? I could never be anything but me, and normal wasn’t an adjective I could ever use to describe myself. Even at a young age, there had been nothing normal about me.
Claudia. John’s voice was calling. I’m not doing this alone. Get back in here, baby. Don’t let those girls intimidate you.
It’s just not that, John. Why am I trying to pretend I’m something or someone I can’t be?
Claudia, remember who I am? He chuckled, and I could picture his face. If I can masquerade as a normal teenage boy, I’m sure you can do the same as a normal teenage girl. But don’t do it for them. Nor for me. Do it for you. Show them you can’t be intimidated. You showed off my boss. Remember?
That was a realization I had early on, when my father had forbidden me to use my gift. I realized that he was always trying to downplay what I could do. My attempts to entertain classmates had gotten disapproval from my father when kids started telling their parents. I was pulled out of school, but not before I had that run-in with a bully and hurt him.
“You have to start being normal. You have to be like everyone else,” Father had scolded.
No, your father was cruel! John broke into my chain of thoughts. People say that when they don’t understand. Don’t ever listen to that. I love you the way you are.
“Claudia!”
I turned.
John was coming out of the ballroom. I panicked. He looked handsome, but strange with a crown on his head. I wanted to laugh … just a bit.
“Are you okay?” He grabbed my hand and pulled me close.
“What are you doing here? Don’t you need to be inside? You’re the Prom King.”
“I’m looking for my Queen,” John smiled. “They’re calling your name.”
“But Rachel—”
“Don’t worry about her. This is your moment. Join me on stage, please.”
I stroked his hair. I liked John; he was genuine. Nothing like what I felt from others. He cared.
“I’m glad you think so.” He winked, smiling.
He made me blush. I hesitated but moved with him into the ballroom. As soon as we entered, my peers began to cheer. Whether they were cheering for John or for me, I wasn’t sure. I could see Rachel standing on stage, waiting.
Ms. Johnson looked at me. She seemed far more excited than the majority of the students in the ballroom.
John delivered me onto the platform, standing to the side with Ms. Johnson’s assistants. She motioned the spot where she wanted me to stand.
I came very slowly alongside Rachel, who didn’t even look at me. I could sense her anger and disapproval.
Looking into the crowd, I tried not to tremble. I didn’t want to think of the many faces staring back at me. Some looked on with obvious disapproval, while other gazes were filled with anticipation. A few were obviously confused; they weren’t exactly sure who Claudia Belle was.
Ignore them Miss Belle, this is your moment. I love you, remember that. After this, it’ll be just us.
I glanced at John, catching sight of Rachel’s disapproving face. That look revealed far more than she could ever say. Her internal voice mocked me, just like her eyes and expressions.
Ignore her, John advised silently. I love you and she hates that … all her words indicate that.
“So, in order to break this tie, please cheer for your choice for Milton’s Queen.”
Is this how we were going to break the tie? I thought.
Looks like it, Miss Belle, John responded, clapping his hands together.
I bit my bottom lip. I couldn’t do this; I felt nerves stirring and something in the pit of my stomach began to swirl like butterflies trying to escape. I thought people would notice my uneasiness.
Michael stood at the side of the ballroom, talking to members of the chaperone group. Mr. Claypool and Mr. Vasquez were also busy conversing with the adults in the room.
Joseph entered the ballroom and he appeared unfocused until he caught us on stage. A smile spread across his face. I was too embarrassed to give him a wave. His expression suddenly bore a hint of sadness, but he was hard to read. I guess as a guardian one had to be that way.
“Rachel Westcott for Milton Queen?”
A roar of cheers erupted. Above, rattling caught my attention. It wasn’t loud enough for others to hear, but I could see it, I could feel it.
The water sprinklers were starting to shake. Please, not here, I scolded myself.
Rachel glared at me. “Don’t go Carrie on us, Pocahontas.”
That girl has serious issues. Ignore her, Claudia; just concentrate on me, baby.
My brow furrowed with displeasure at Rachel.
Above, one of the metal pieces of the sprinklers popped off and a single screw fell to the floor. My eyes shifted over to it. I could see all of this happening, but no one else was aware of what had occurred. Except, of course, John.
I was trying hard not to let my nerves lose control.
Claudia, take a breath, John said, but his voice faded into the background of my mind. Another voice was taking his place. I wondered if John could hear it too. He hadn’t given any indication the last time the voice had spoken.
Claudia, the voice said.
Not now, I chided.
Control your power, it demanded.
How did it know?
Control it. They’re watching. They must never know you exist. Claudia, control your power.”
“For Claudia Belle as your Queen?” Ms. Johnson asked with a grin.
More cheers erupted. John’s friends were cheering as well. They didn’t sound any different to me.
Ms. Johnson motioned me. The crowd cheered again.
She motioned Rachel and the cheering continued. This happened a few times.
Above, the rattling spread to the next sprinkler and the next. My eyes closed; I was trying to do my breathing exercises. This always helped.
Control, the voice said.
“I’m trying,” I whispered out loud to myself.
Claudia, relax, John coached.
The cheering amplified; again, Ms. Johnson did her dance with the crowd, motioning to Rachel and then me in turn. The crowd clapped and hailed and whistled. Rachel even did a little dance on stage to impress her fans below.
Control! the voice yelled. It felt like it was right in my ear. The man’s voice screamed again: be normal!
A flash of my father’s face grew behind my eyes. He was grabbing my shoulders and screaming at me after we had left and stood outside the elementary school I’d attended. He left me by the stairs and began walking away. I stumbled behind him; he was angry.
He stopped as I hurried behind.
I wanted to cry.
He turned to scold me. “I’ve told you many, many times, Claudia. You have to learn to control your power! What have I said about that?”
“But, Daddy—”
He kneeled, staring angrily right through me. “You could have killed that boy! Do you understand what you did? This is not a game! What if someone saw you?” he snarled as he grabbed me.
I flinched and pushed at his mind. His anger grew. It was a reaction I hadn’t meant to have.
“Don’t do that again,” he firmly said. “I’m protecting you; can’t you see that? What if someone saw what you did? Do you want them to take you away from us? Do you want hi—” He stopped short and shook my shoulders.
“Do you?” he prompted when I didn’t answer any of his questions.
“No,” I sobbed.
He rose and stood. I could see the anger on his face. He was disgusted with me and he let me know. He was gifted, like me; he could make me feel his anger.
“You’re lucky no one will believe that little boy. The next time you may not be so lucky. Be normal; that’s all I ask.”
“I’m trying, Daddy.”
“Try harder,” he ordered sternly.
He pointed towards the car. I walked very slowly, and he followed, opening the door so I could climb in.
I was pulled out of school ...
A steady breath escaped my mouth as the rattling above seemed to settle.
Control, the voice urged again.
Miss Belle? Claudia? Are you alright? Where did you go just then? John’s voice called.
I wasn’t even sure.
Rachel bowed as the crowd clapped. Once again, I heard people chanting my name. “Claudia! Claudia!”
Rachel seemed shocked.
My heart raced. Above, things seemed to have settled. The danger had been averted for now, but I still faced the chanting crowd.
I took a step forward. Above, the sprinklers exploded and water began to rain down. Everyone screamed and scattered.
Rachel glanced over, enraged; she wanted to launch herself at me, but was too afraid. “You freak!” she shouted. “You ruined my dress! You ruined my prom!” She ran off the stage along with everyone else racing to get out.
The lights flickered. The microphone sparked. I heard the voice again, but it was John who caught me as I collapsed.