Blue Violet - By Abigail Owen Page 0,2

and Elle?”

“Yeah?”

“She doesn’t know anything. Not yet at least. And don’t even think about using my mind reading on them.”

Holding on to her brother’s last comment, Ellie hid her thoughts and raised her eyebrows. “Do I have something in my teeth?” she asked, covering her mouth and feigning embarrassment. She knew she didn’t have anything in her teeth.

She breathed a sigh of relief when Adelaide seemed to shake herself out of her reverie. “No, you’re fine…. Um, would you like somebody to sit with? The first day at a new school can be pretty brutal.”

Ellie had no idea what to think, but decided that if Adelaide wanted to be friendly that was better than the alternatives.

“That would be nice, thanks.” She scooted her lunch things closer to make more room.

“Great! Umm…” Adelaide hesitated, her hand resting on the back of a chair, “Do you mind if my sister and my boyfriend join us?”

Ellie blinked. There were three people she was here for, and on her first day she was already going to have lunch with them. Tricky situation. She’d only planned on observing from afar.

“No problem!” she responded brightly, hoping her thoughts remained well-hidden. She didn’t know yet what they were capable of.

Adelaide turned and waved the other two over. The girl who walked up to the table looked exactly like Adelaide except that her hair hung to the middle of her back, and she seemed more confident and more serious. The boy was unusually tall and lanky with sandy brown hair. His dark eyes flashed an engaging twinkle.

“This is my sister, Lila. That’s short for Lilianna. We’re--”

“Sisters?” Ellie guessed. “Yeah, I kinda figured that one out.” She grinned at Lila. She kept her hands deliberately under the table, rather than offering to shake. “I’m Ellie.”

“Nate,” the tall boy said, as he pulled out a chair across from her.

“So where’re you from?” Lila asked. She sat down and pulled out a sandwich and an apple from her lunch bag.

“Texas,” Ellie said, watching for a reaction. She found it interesting what preconceptions people had about places.

“Oh? Which part?” Adelaide appeared interested.

“Austin, so right in the middle of the state,” Ellie said.

“Austin’s known for the music scene, right?” Nate asked around his bit of pizza.

“Yeah, there’s lots of live music there. I’ll miss that. But it’s beautiful here,” she commented, gesturing to the scenery outside.

“And cold,” Lila said wryly.

“Why’d you move here?” Nate asked.

Ellie cleared her throat. “Um… family stuff.” She gave a casual shrug. She’d gotten good at being vague over the years. Family stuff covered a whole host of possibilities without being too specific.

“What year are you?” Lila asked as she finished her sandwich and picked up her apple.

“I’m a senior. What about you guys?” Ellie leaned back in her chair. Her nerves made eating lunch impossible at this point.

“Lila’s a junior. Delia and I are seniors,” Nate answered.

“Oh! Maybe we have some classes together. What do you have in the afternoon?”

“Cool, we have French together,” Adelaide said when they compared schedules. “Lila too.”

“You’re in third-level French?” Ellie remarked with surprise, until she reminded herself that these three were like her. Special. That would take some getting used to. She didn’t meet many people like her any more. If anything, she avoided them.

“We tested out of first-level French last year,” Lila explained. “We took a trip to France in junior high, so our parents made us learn it first…talk about sucking the fun out of a vacation!” She sighed and Adelaide scrunched her nose. Ellie had to laugh at their identical, disgruntled expressions.

Ellie happily observed that they seemed to be such nice people. And she would love to be friends with them, but that fell in the category of not a good idea. Apart from its complicating her situation, it also could put their lives in danger… the last thing Ellie wanted. As they talked and laughed, Ellie thought about the situation and realized that, given her reasons for being here, there was no way they could ever be friends. She’d have to keep a polite distance. Of course, it would be much easier if Griffin would help.

Ellie stifled a large sigh.

After lunch Adelaide, Lila, and Nate walked to Ellie’s calculus class with her.

“See ya, baby.” Nate gave Adelaide a quick peck on her cheek before he and Ellie headed into the room.

Fortunately the calculus teacher, Mr. Kramer, seated her across the room from Nate. The less interaction the better.

As soon as the bell rang, Ellie made her way to