Noel could do nothing but stare at the clock on Ms. Keeler's desk.
Class ended when the timer counted down; rather than following the island's bell system. Keeler set the timer for 1 hour each day when all students were present and at thier desks. Meaning that if anyone was late, class ended after the bell. This didn't happen too often since this was a school for elite gifted students who didn't have much more to do beyond studying and the few social events put on by clubs. It consistently proved to be a problem Jace though, who just seems to never leave his dorm to make it without sprinting.
The clock read 00:08. Minutes seemed to stretch ahead for hours. Keeler was droning about a group of people who called themselves 'pilgrims' and took cheap boats across the ocean to colonize America. Her bouncy brown curls swayed as she moved to emphasize her words. She had just read the famous 'city on a hill' speech to the class.
"There are many ways that you could compare our school to this 'city of promise'" she said.
Noel rolled her eyes. There wasn't anything great about Redpeake preparatory school. She didn't understand why the teachers had to enthuse about the place in every class.
"Redpeak was a school for the future."
Twenty years ago, a philanthropist donated the island to a global initiative to cultivate the next generation of world leaders. Tracks included business and entrepreneurship, arts and media, policy and governance, homemaking, and education.
Every 5 year old across the world was given a holistic test for talent in the spring. Representatives in each country interviewed new generations annually. Withh no quota to fill, some cohorts in the school had thousands of students, while others had as few as 100.
Noel was discovered in an orphanage. She didn't remember where she came from and to her it didn't matter. She didn't have anyone to go home to anyway. Her life began on the boat she boarded at five year old.
"Is there something you have to say, Noel?" The air around Keeler was dark indigo. Noel hadn't realized her negative mood was leaking out. Her teacher's mood was very easy to influence, so Noel had to keep a lid on herself more strictly. She shook her head, "just thinking."
She was 16 now. In two years she would have to finalize her track and begin finishing school.
Jace was pretending to sleep at the desk next to Noel, but she watched his feet playfully tap at the girl in front of him. The girl, Abby, had turned bright red, but her aura never changed; it was a consistent shade of dusty rose.
Class should have been over. The school clocktower rang 3 times to signal the end of the school day.
Noel imagined herself outside of class, outside of school grounds all together. She had lived the majority of her life at Redpeake and could never fall in love with the school itself but she loved the island. She often took the long way home to her dorm and watched the sunset on the beach. When she was alone she did have to worry about how anyone else was feeling. Life was good when the only colors she could see were the hues of the horizon.
00:07. Time was moving too slowly.
Jace seemed to agree. His face was buried in his arms, but Noel could easily visualize his devilish grin and smiling blue eyes. His aura changed. Something stupid was about to happen.
Noel's eyes widened as she watched the clock behind the instructor begin to count down faster and faster. Jace had messed with tech in this way before in thier small group, but never with this many people around. The chances of anyone discovering what was happening were low. Noel kicked his desk anyway.
No one could find out about their powers. And it was against the rules to use them in class.
The mass of curly hair next to her did not respond to Noel's grunts or nudging. She decided to ignore him. If she paid too much attention people would begin to sense that something was off and start being more observant.
The timer went off in the middle of Ms. Keeler's emphatic praise of the school, "Oh! Look at the time. Strange. Well, class dismissed I suppose."
Noel waited for everyone else to leave the room. Pretending she was engrossed with finishing up her notes. Once the sound of chatter had faded further away she stood up and crossed her arms. Looking a Jace expectantly.
He was still pretending to nap? He didnt respond to Noels repeated taps on the shoulder. Was he actually asleep?
She grabbed him by the curly hair so many girls fawned over and yanked his head to face hers.
His eyes were closed even upright. He was breathing peacefully, with drool running from one corner of his mouth to his chin. Was he in REM sleep? His eyed seemed to move rapidly under his eylids.
He could have been a monster. She shook him a bit, "Hey sleepy head? Your powers are out of control."
"Mmm... huh?"
Noel watched his long, thin body stretch out fully as he began to wake. How did he fit in those desks at all? They could not be comfortable for him to sleep.
He stood up and ran a hand through his mop top. The problem strands bounced right back into his eyes the second he shiftrf to get his books.
Noel was beginning to appreciate her locs. Unlike Jace, when she skipped the hairdresser it was just fine.
Jace's drool made a bright red streak on his face. Noel couldn't help but sigh and chuckle, "So were you sleeping or not?" They both collected their things to head out.
"What do you mean? You honestly think I would drool all over myself on purpose?" his Ice blue eyes stared back into her's steadily. Jace wasn't deceptive or insincere Noel still found it hard to believe he wasn't aware of his actions. She shrugged, walking out the classroom door Jace held open for her, "All I know is that you were definitely using your powers."
"I was doing what?" His eyebrows raised in disbelief. Noel pointed to the desk timer. "You ended class five minutes early."
Jace spent a moment looking puzzled, then broke into a grin, "That's because I'm the best, even in my sleep!" he scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"This is not a good thing. I think we should talk to coach about it. What If you hurt someone in your sleep?" Noel was concerned that he wasn't showing any signs of worry.
Jace rolled his eyes and followed behing her, closing the door, "What's there to tell?"