Soul Forgotten (Blue Star Series Book 1)

by Laura Winter

  “Ready for this?”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Uh, I’m not sure how to answer that.”

  “Are you gonna toss that back any time soon?” Emma shouted from the other side of the gym, a smirk on her face. I’d have bet good money that she had aimed to hit Clara with that ball.

  Clara didn’t acknowledge her, still keeping her eyes locked on me. “Case in point. We have identified the leader of the social hierarchy, codename QB. After observing and gathering the appropriate data, I have developed a testable hypothesis. Now, I perform the experiment.”

  Clara stood up, with one headphone still in, and tossed the ball into the air, preparing for a serve. Her shirt slid up slightly as she swung hard with her left arm, and I could have sworn I saw part of a tattoo on her side, but there was no time to focus on that. She connected with the ball and sent it screaming over the net, cutting between two players who were about five seconds late on reacting. Emma’s face went from shock to anger in an instant. She stuck her nose up and tried to ignore the whispers breaking through the stunned silence of everyone in the gym.

  But Clara wasn’t bothered by it. She turned back to me, a smile growing on her face. “Analyzing the results, I draw the conclusion that her social status is effectively threatened by my demonstration. Also, I’ve ruined all my chances of becoming popular.”

  She spun her loose headphone around her finger, studying my reaction. All I could do was try to pick my jaw up off the floor.

  “You know you’re going to have to try out for the team now.”

  Clara shook her head. “Not a chance. I like to leave the people wanting something they can never have.” She sat back down on the seat and stuck her chin back on her knee, reveling in her demonstration.

  And I couldn’t stop staring at her. She was beautiful, brilliant, and unafraid, even now when she tried to make herself smaller by curling into herself. How could a girl like this exist in a town like Forest Hills? And why the hell was she still talking to me?

  Her blue eyes darted to me as she furrowed her brow in confusion. “What?”

  “You’re kind of a badass,” I replied with a smile. And somehow, that word was still an understatement. I was so out of my league.

  But then, she took me by surprise. She lifted her hand and offered me her loose headphone and iPod. “I just march to the beat of my own drum.”

  She’s Out of Her Mind. blink-182.

  I looked back up at her as she laughed and winked at me.

  7

  Nate

  The bell rang, sending the students into a frenzy as they raced to the lunch room. According to the dumb social norms of West Hills, you had to claim your table the first day of school because that's where you were stuck the rest of the year. Glitch always cheated and used his powers to get to our regular small table in the corner and out of the way of everyone. Our lowest social status made it pretty clear no one would sit with us for fear of being an outcast for the rest of their high school years. Glitch chased off a few freshmen who didn't get that memo as we walked up.

  Clearly, Clara didn't get that memo either because she slid into the chair next to Glitch without flinching. I wasn't about to get caught staring at her again so I sat beside her instead. Being in her company was enough of a stretch. I didn’t want to ruin whatever it was that made her think we were cool enough to hang out with.

  “Aw, you didn’t want to sit next to me?” Glitch asked, tossing a fry at me. He made a few weird faces while Clara wasn’t looking, trying to see if I had made any progress with her.

  Normally, I wouldn’t care about his antics, but for the first time, I was actually interested in this girl. And she was sitting with us, a new record. I shot him a glare and shook my head, mouthing stop it, even though I knew that wouldn’t do much good.

  “No, I just wanted to stare lovingly into your eyes for thirty minutes,” I jeered.

  “Down, boys,” Clara said, looking between us as she rested her elbow on the table and held her head up. “I didn’t come to school to be an awkward third wheel. I’ve got enough things to worry about today without getting involved in that.”

  A million thoughts ran through my mind. Pretty, smart, and funny? How was she real? Glitch leaned back in his seat, looking smug. I knew exactly what was running through his mind; she’s totally your type.

  I just shrugged. “You missed it, Glitch. Clara knocked QB’s royal crown off during PE.”

  Glitch shot forward in his seat, smacking the table with his palms and causing both Clara and I to jump. “I demand to know what happened, C. Did you peg QB in dodgeball and take your rightful place on the throne? Please tell me you did. I need to climb the social ladder somehow and Nate’s holding us back.”

  Clara went back to poking her food. “Thrones aren’t really my style, sorry. But they probably wouldn’t mind burning me at the stake,” she replied.

  “Burning at the stake? I can get on board with that.”

  I looked up to see Emma standing in the empty space at our table, her eyes locked on Clara. Her entourage stood behind her, all glaring at Clara too.

  Before any of us could react, Emma launched her smoothie across the table and down Clara’s shirt. Glitch tried to jump up but was caught off balance as Eliot pushed him back down into his chair. I clenched my teeth, disgusted that Emma and her friends laughed at the mess they had caused. I couldn’t do much, but I could at least help Clara. I dropped out of my seat and pulled some napkins off the table to help clean up the sopping mess in Clara’s hair and lap.

  “Really, QB?” Clara snapped, clenching her fists. “Threatened because someone finally proved you aren’t actually good at something?”

  “Don’t, she’s not worth it,” I muttered under my breath. Clara shot me a look, her eyes blazing blue, but seemed to listen.

  “I guess you shouldn’t have started a fight you couldn’t win,” Emma snapped back.

  “She can kick your ass and you know it,” Glitch growled. He stood up again, shoving Eliot who knew he had only gotten lucky the first time. That was a fight Glitch would easily win; he had about twenty pounds of muscle against Eliot.

  I turned back to Clara and pulled her out of the seat, shivering slightly as I touched her freezing cold and sticky hands. As much as I wanted to see her take down Emma, now wasn’t the time.

  “Come on. I have an extra shirt in my locker.”

  “Fine,” she growled quietly, still keeping her eyes fixed on Emma. But when she didn’t budge, I grabbed her shoulders and physically spun her toward the door and away from the growing crowd of onlooking students.

  Emma still didn’t want to back down. “I told you she wouldn’t fight back,” she chided from behind us.

  If I hadn’t been pushing Clara out the door with most of my strength, she might have turned back around and Emma would have been flattened in ten seconds. Clara was easily twice her size, and I bet her fist would cut just as hard as her words. I glanced back briefly, watching QB twirl around in her victory just as Clara pushed out the door and into the empty hallway, but a growing commotion behind us caught my attention again.

  I turned to see Emma lying flat on the ground as the girls around her tried to hold in their laughter. Glitch broke that silence, howling hysterically at the girl. Karma. The only unfortunate thing was that Clara had missed it. I hurried into the hallway to find her leaning over the water fountain, holding her hair over the stream of water to try to wash out the strawberry bits still stuck in the strands. I opened my locker and pulled out my extra shirt, handing it over to her as she stood up.

  Clara frowned. “You wouldn’t happen to have a long sleeve, would you?” she asked, wringing her hair out over the drain.

  “Sorry, you’re probably freezing. Is a sweatshirt okay?” I asked, feeling slightly embarrassed that I hadn’t thought that through.

  “Yeah,” she said with a shrug, staring off into the distance. “I’m not cold, I just have a scar. I don’t need any more attention right
now.”

  I could tell she had already said more than she wanted, but she was distracted. I traded the shirt for the oversized sweatshirt in the back of my locker and offered it to her. “I’ll wait out here while you change.”

  I felt horrible as she took the sweatshirt from my hands, holding it carefully so she wouldn’t get it wet. She offered a sad smile before slipping through the bathroom door. Just a few seconds later, Glitch came bursting out of the lunch room, still laughing uncontrollably. He swung our three backpacks over his shoulder, hurrying over to where I was standing.

  “Dude, you missed it! QB tripped on a chair when she tried to gloat and completely ate it in front of everyone. C totally got her payback. That will hands down be the best part of high school,” he cheered. His smile faded as he looked around. “Is she okay?”

  I shook my head. “I doubt it. She didn’t deserve that, and definitely not in front of the whole school. She’s in there changing into my sweatshirt,” I replied, nodding toward the bathroom.

  Glitch’s shoulders sank. “Wait, that oversized gray blob you have stuffed in your locker? That thing is old and nasty. You’ve ruined your chances with her now. She’s never going to talk to us after seeing that thing,” he groaned.

  Clara opened the bathroom door, holding her wet shirt in her left hand. Glitch had been right about the sweatshirt; it was old, stained, and had several holes in the neckline, not to mention the sleeves missing most of their stitching. But, somehow, it looked really good on her. More than that. It was perfect. She pulled her purple hair out from the collar, her necklace chain snagging on a knot. It was almost like she was moving in slow motion in front of me.

  Glitch pulled me out of my trance as he grabbed my shoulder. “I take it all back. Nate, you look terrible in that sweatshirt, but Clara actually pulls it off. You’re just going to have to give it to her permanently.” He turned to face her, slightly bowing as he held out her backpack. “M’lady, this fine gentleman here will escort you to Calculus, and I will see you after school.”

  Clara took her bag and just stared at him like he was from another planet. He was off faster than he had come in. In a daze, she looked up at me. “Damn, he really knows how to lighten the mood. Does it ever get old?”

  “Ugh, don’t tell me you’re actually falling for that bull,” I groaned. Clara laughed and threw her bag over her shoulder, sending her key necklace bouncing. I just rolled my eyes and tugged her sleeve in the direction of class. “Come on.”

  8

  Clara

  I sighed in relief as the final bell rang. I had barely survived my first day of high school. Well, the first day for this version of me. I sat back and waited for the crowd to leave the room before I made my way out, keeping my head low so I could avoid seeing other people stare at me. It was enough torture to have their thoughts running around my head. Before I made it to the door, I picked up two thoughts and sighed again in relief. Nate and Glitch stood on either side of the door, waiting for me to walk into the hallway. I threw up my mental walls to keep from getting distracted, a last ditch effort to survive the final moments of school.

  “How do you already know my schedule better than me?” I asked, locking eyes with Glitch. I knew it was one hundred percent his doing.

  He grinned. “Oh, C, you’re in too deep now. The volleyball team hates you and Nate likes you. There’s no going back, even if you try. Stuck with us, friends forever.”

  Nate turned a bright red and tried to punch Glitch who jumped away just in time. As much as I was enjoying the silence of staying out of their heads, I really wanted to know what Nate was thinking. But I couldn’t risk the headache that was growing in the back of my skull. I didn’t want to find out what previous me had meant about causing outbursts with them. Having one in public was definitely not a good thing either.

  “Why do I even keep you around?” Nate asked, rolling his eyes as he adjusted his backpack back over his shoulder. I couldn’t help but be distracted by his movements as he ran his hand through his hair, trying to shake off the embarrassment Glitch was causing.

  “I make everything a million times more entertaining,” Glitch replied as we started walking out. “You’d never survive without me, but now I have a little competition, don’t I?”

  He tried to tug at my backpack strap but I smacked his hand away. “You know, I’ve only been here a day and already gotten myself into more trouble than the two of you combined have committed your entire life. I think you’re better off surviving without me.” I instinctively pulled my arms around my chest.

  “Hey, leave no man behind,” Glitch said. I raised my eyebrow and he corrected himself. “Or woman.”

  Nate rolled his eyes. “Glitch actually gets into a lot of trouble, but he blames it on me then runs away so I’m forced to clean up his mess.”

  I looked up and caught Nate staring at me again, as if he was trying to study my reactions to the conversation and figure me out. Maybe he really was interested in me. But, sorry to disappoint; I’m trying to figure me out too.

  I just smiled and played along. “You’re telling me I could have blamed everything on you today? I really could have used a scapegoat. Then you could have taken the brunt of that strawberry smoothie and not my hair.” I pulled a strand in front of my face to smell it, turning my nose up at the smell of yogurt. I hadn’t gotten everything washed out in the bathroom earlier and it had started to crust around the ends of my hair.

  “Yes! I like this girl,” Glitch cheered, poking Nate. “Good choice, man. We’re definitely keeping her around.” He reached around Nate and high-fived me. I made sure to slap his hand with my right, still not ready to tell him about my giant scar and the powers that potentially caused the injury. Or the powers that let me know that they were also hiding their own secret abilities. I don’t think any of us were ready to deal with that, especially if I had no idea how to answer any of their questions about my past. I finally had people to talk to. I couldn’t ruin that.

  They walked me home even though I was pretty sure it wasn’t along their path. I was just thankful to be out of school and have a normal conversation with people rather than talking to the walls of an empty house.

  As Glitch rambled on and on about the history project and other topics that weren’t really that interesting, I couldn’t help but stare up at Nate walking next to me. I might not have known much about myself, but I knew I definitely thought he was cute. Did the previous version of me have crushes? If Nate was my type, who would be her type? Were we even similar?

  I studied his outfit, admiring the put-together style without really trying. I think I was more excited that we were both fans of Chucks, though his were much more worn than mine after I had scrubbed mine clean of the blue blood from the previous week. He had to be at least a couple inches taller than me, filling out his shirt that was clinging to his back as he sweat in the summer heat.

  I turned my attention back to the sweatshirt he had given me, squeezing the ends of the sleeves in my palms. Ever since I had come to in the clearing, I had felt cold, and the heat never bothered me. Even if I looked strange wearing the sweatshirt in the middle of summer, I was thankful I hadn’t been forced to wear his shirt or keep my stained long sleeve on. In my distraction, I had revealed that I had a scar, but that didn’t seem to bother him. Maybe that was a good sign that he really didn’t know who I was. Unfortunately, that also meant he didn’t know about The Complex or my past. I wouldn’t have been disappointed if he had some answers to my future. So far, that part was going well.

  I was a little bummed when we finally made it to the bottom of the hill, not quite ready to say goodbye. Still, I had a lot of work to do in the library. The sooner I found answers, the sooner I could tell them what was really going on with me and how I knew about their powers as well. I waved once I was halfway up the hill.

  Glitch enthusiastically returned the wave. “Nate will meet you here tomorrow morning!” he shouted, nudging Nate in the process. Wow, Glitch
was definitely flirting with me for Nate. Must be nice to have a best friend like that.

  I smiled and walked a little further, ducking behind a tree so I was still within earshot.

  “You’re not going to come with us?” Nate asked.

  I held my breath. Come on, Glitch. Don’t crash it. Maybe he’ll finally get the courage to talk to me again.

  While being shy and nervous was kind of cute, I really couldn’t understand why he thought I was out of his league. I should have been the one begging for company.