Star-Crossed Souls

Being an empath is like seeing with the soul. -Dean Koontz

Eris

"Eris are you finished packing?!" Mom yells from across the house and I turn from my view out of my window to my bedroom full of half full boxes. I don't want to leave my home. But my mom got married this summer and we are moving to his house with his son in Montana. As I get up to start throwing things in my boxes my mom runs into the room all out of breath and just gapes at me like a fish.

"Oh my God what all have you been doing this past week?" She starts gathering things from the floor and dumping them into the nearest box.

"I have been trying to avoid all of this. I won't see the only home I’ve ever known ever again!" I yell at her as I throw my favorite blue jeans in my bag.

She rolls her eyes, "Don't be so dramatic babygirl. You can facetime your friends whenever you want and they know they can visit when school lets out."

She continues throwing anything from the floor into boxes while I stare at my window seat bookcase my dad and I made together when I was eigh. She stops and comes to stand next me and I know she wants to hug me but she knows I don’t like it. "I know it's hard babygirl but this will be good for us both I promise. Remember just because we are saying goodbye to the home we shared with him doesn't mean we won't remember."

She pats my arm, "Now come on the movers will be here soon."

She goes back to putting my stuff in the boxes strewn around the room. She finishes putting all of my things in boxes while I pack up my art supplies splitting up what will go with us and what will go in the moving truck. The doorbell rings just as we finish labeling the last two boxes.

My mom stands and stretches her back, "Perfect timing I'll go let them in; make sure you separate what you want in our car versus the truck so they don't take anything you need for the next few days."

Sighing heavily I go to my bathroom putting my hands on the counter and leaning toward the mirror, "Am I really angry I'm leaving this town or just angry that I have to live with two more people whose emotions I will not be able to escape from?"

Seeing my auburn hair starting to come out of the messy bun I start redoing it while trying to meditate and let everything go as Dad once taught me long ago. Glancing around one last time I check to make sure the bathroom is empty before doing the same to my bedroom.

I grab my bags for the car plus my canvas bag with my current paintings and move them to the hall just as the movers come up the stairs. "These are for our car; those are for you" I point to the bedroom pile of boxes. Nodding at me they continue to the bedroom to load the trolleys they brought up.

I didn't really mind doing the 8 hour car ride with just mom, it was better than the alternative plane ride that I would have never been able to handle. I think that’s why my mom told George no on his offer to pay for the airline tickets. Glancing at her directing the movers I see how much more energy she has and the happiness radiating from her tells me I have to find a way to let go of my resentment and anger towards the changes she's putting in my life.

"Goodbye Home," I whisper to my house, watching the movers bring out the last of our things. Maybe this move could be a chance to start over and see life in a new light. With that thought I get in the car ready to start this new journey with my mom and whatever fate has in store for us in this new town.

That evening we pull up to a small brick home with blue siding on the second floor with big windows. Theres a gentleman standing outside that looks like the pictures she’s shows me of George. He has black and silver hair with sun spots on his face along with his crows feet but it looks as though he’s spent most of his life smiling as he is now. He has on a thick red plaid button up with blue jeans and a baseball cap on. A boy about my age is standing beside him but he’s skinny and a few inches taller with light brown shaggy hair. I take off my headphones, "so this is George and Cameron."

"Be nice" she whispers while waving at the man who jogs down the driveway to open her door. They hug and kiss while I get out to meet my new brother. I realize how short I am compared to him and when I look over at the happy couple I see that my mom fits in perfectly with her tall Cheerleader body while I have my grandmothers looks, short and curvy with my dads hair.

"Girl, how short are you?!" Cameron bellows from three feet away.

"Cameron!" George hisses at him.

I shrug uncomfortably, "As short as I need to be" my automatic response comes out. Everyone chuckles uncomfortably and I let the silence linger longer than I normally would since it's their fault I'm here.

"So you girls have a lot for us to unload?" George speaks up first while avoiding my eyes.

Mom claps her hands excitedly "Yes! The moving truck will take two days so we brought enough clothes, bathroom necessities and Eris's art supplies."

"Your art supplies are a necessity?" Cameron asks rudely.

I arch my eyebrow at him, "yes."

Mom tries to calm the waters waving her hands around, "Oh! I didn't mean it like that! Eris can't go a day without painting or drawing so I figured it would help her adjust easier if she had it with her."

"Cameron apologize now" George harshly whispers while putting a calming arm around my moms shoulders.

Cameron shrugs, "I didn't mean anything by it. Sorry."

Everyone starts unloading the car and I make sure I grab my canvas bag afraid someone might hit it and mess it up while looking up at the small house from the front walkway. George comes up behind me laden down with bags, "I know it isn't much but I hope you can come to enjoy it. I cleaned out the room that gets the most sun for you so that you can paint and I painted the walls a cream white because I read that it helps artists see their colors clearer but if you want a different color or even an accent wall just let me know and we can do that."

I look at him in surprise, "That’s very kind of you and actually the perfect color, thank you." Maybe just maybe this might not be so bad.

"Short stuff move out of the way" Cameron calls from behind me contradicting my previous thought.

I follow George up the stairs with Cameron following behind me. George stops at the first door on the left and drops my bag by the door, "This is your room Eris. The next door is the bathroom and the last is Camerons while ours is across the hall." He turns and walks into the door on the other side of the hall with my moms bags.

The room has two floor to ceiling windows covering the most of one wall that faces the street with a full size bed and tall dresser on the opposite side of the room with a small white desk next to the door.

"Here I don’t know what's yours" I turn just as Cameron drops everything in the hallway and turns around to go back down the stairs. I take my moms duffle to the door George indicated was theirs and see my mom and him kissing and I feel a pang in my gut because the last person I've seen her kiss was dad but I'm glad she's found someone to make her happy. I drop the bag in the doorway and go back to my room to start unpacking what I brought with me.

Suddenly I feel this tightness in my gut and a swirl of anger engulfing me and I turn to see Cameron in the doorway, "Stay out of my way while you’re here". He turns and walks off and I know he is trying to intimidate me because he's angry at the situation but I hate the feeling of anger with that hint of despair. It makes me nauseous so I shut my door and turn to my sketchpad to try to drown it all out.

For the next hour, I focus on my art, getting lost in the swirls of colors and shapes on the page until I hear a knock at my door. I look up to see my mom standing there with a warm smile on her face, "Hey sweetie, I know you're probably tired from the trip but George and I were going to grab dinner. We were thinking of trying out the new pizza place down the street, do you want to join us?"

I hesitate, not wanting to leave the comfort and safety of my room, but then I think about how I promised to try to let go of my resentment and anger. Plus, I wouldn't want to miss out on getting to know my new family better. "Sure, give me a few minutes to freshen up." I reply with a small smile.

Cameron chooses not join us and we decide to walk since it isn’t far. However when we get there the place is packed with baseball kids and their families and the sheer force of noise is so overwhelming I stumble back and in the end we picked up pizza and took it home.

The next day is my first day of school and being the new kid sucks more when you can feel everything from everyone around you because their emotions telegraph how they feel towards me at first sight. On top of arriving with my new stepbrother whose emotions on the drive have caused me to become nauseous.

"Here's your schedule and the map the school gave me last week for you. Its easy to find the classrooms but if your have trouble don't come crying to me okay?" Cameron shoves a bundle of papers at me before he shuts off his car and jumps out, not even looking back at me.

Making a face at his back I straighten the papers out and look over my schedule and map out where my locker would be compared to the classes I have.

As I walk across the parking lot into the school I can feel everyone looking at me;"Oh the joys of being the new kid" I whisper to myself.

"I know right!" A bright-eyed bouncy blond flounces up next to me, "Hi I'm Clara and I am so excited to meet you! Your Cameron's new step-sister right?"

Eyeing her wondering if she really is this sincere and bouncy or if she just wants the juicy gossip I answer her warily, "Yes I'm Eris".

She nods her head rapidly, "Eris! That is such a cool name! My home room is Mrs. Eisenhardt in room 215 what's yours?" She glances curiously at the papers in my hand. "Mr. Marson room 106"

Visibly upset she mutters, "Oh that stinks I was hoping to see you more. Maybe we will have other classes together or sit at lunch?" She quietly asks. Not wanting to commit to anything I respond with a simple, "Maybe".

"I'm not really surprised your in his class. Everyone moved from his to other classes and filled them up at the beginning of the year".

"Oh why is that? Is he mean or something?"

Shaking her head rapidly, "No its not him at all. All of the Prides are in that class." She looks at me like I should know what she's talking about.

I just give her a confused look. "Oh my gosh Cameron didn't tell you anything did he?!" She looks shocked.

"No Cameron doesn't seem too enthused that I’m here." I respond distractedly while looking at the numbers on the lockers searching for mine.

"Oh my gosh! So the Prides are all brothers and cousins that live at the edge of town" She responds, definitely a gossip this one I think to myself.

"Look I really need to get to my locker so I have time to find my room. I'll see you later Clara"

I turn on my heels down the hall we were walking past trying to escape the gossip girl as that is definitely not my scene. At the end of the hall I finally locate my locker, it’s a lower one and a boy is standing in front of it facing away from me. "Excuse me can I get in my locker please?"

He is wearing black jeans and a white t-shirt that makes his dark skin stand out and as he turns around to look at me I get this feeling that I know him. He has pretty hazel green eyes that are almost yellow and a dimple in his left cheek when he smiles at me. His hair is on the longer side, almost like he forgot to get out cut recently.. He seems to be of native american heritage but also african and its fascinating to see the differences. He makes me want to pull out my drawing pad.

"Hey blue eyes who are you?" his deep voice is strangely calming to hear.

"I'm Eris and your in front of my locker" I point towards the lower locker that is now behind him as he turned to face me.

Looking down he steps to the side, "Here you go. I'm Lionel and you must be the new girl everyone has been talking about. I'm sorry your locker is here, I'm sure the office would move it for you if you asked."

Crouching down to open my locker and put my bags in I ask, "Why would I want to move?"

Leaning back against the wall beside the lockers he looks slightly confused when I glance at him, "You don't mind having a locker next to mine?"

I shrug as I stand back up and shut the locker, "Doesn't bother me as long as it doesn't bother you."

He still looks confused but he smiles at me and seems much happier. Glancing down at the papers in my hand at where I mapped out my home room compared to my locker I tell him as I walk away, "I'll see you later Lionel".

"Hey wait I can help you find your classes if you want." He starts walking beside me and holds his hand out for my class list, "here let me see". Handing the papers to him I glance at the numbers on the rooms beside us and see we are at 151 so hopefully we are heading in the right direction.

"Oh! You have the same homeroom as me, that’s perfect! I hope you don't mind."

He glances down at me with a half smile. I shrug at him while noticing how other students glance wearily at us as we pass, "Sure sounds good."

He passes my papers back to me, "sorry but that's the only class we have together, your in the smart kid classes" he jokes at me.

He seems very kind so I'm still confused as to why everyone seems to be avoiding him even though I can feel something near him, like a dark cloud, maybe it's just his aura and everyone is reacting to it. A group of boys that look similar to him are standing in the doorway of the classroom and he smiles widely at them showing off his dimples and telling them all about his locker mate and their new classmate; me.

They don't seem as enthused as him and all frown down at me as we approach while one crosses his arms defensively and states, "She won't last the week with us."

"Come now Noah don't be rude" states a deep voice from behind me and as I turn to face him I see his eyes go from a chocolate brown to a rich gold and then to black in the span of seconds as his face changes from friendly to shock to pain and every one of the boys surrounding me react to it. Lionel shoves me behind him and the others get defensive and start glaring around the hallway seeming to try to find out what the problem is. Abruptly he turns and dashes out of the hallway through the double glass doors separating the classes from the gym.

All of the boys follow quickly except Lionel who looks conflicted glancing at me, shrugging at him with a small smile I tell him, "It's fine go find out what's wrong with your friend."

"He's my brother and thank you, I'll catch you later."

Just as the glass doors close and the hall fills with noise the first bell rings and I go to my now empty homeroom class. Smiling I go find a perfect spot by a window and pull out my sketchbook. A few minutes later I hear the door open and look up to see a balding gentleman walk in with his arms full of books and juggling a coffee cup. After putting his things down he looks up and looks around confused as to why the room is empty. I'm not really sure what happened myself so I decide not to say anything about what happened in the hall.

"Are you Miss. Daniels?"

"Yes I'm Eris"

He walks to me and sits at the seat across from me and glances around the room, "Do you know what happened to the rest of the class?"

"They took off right before I came in here. I'm not really sure what happened." Looking at me like he thinks I know more he responds while taking a drink of his coffee, "Would you like me to see if another homeroom class has an open spot?"

Since we are alone I ask the question I've been wanting to ask all morning, "Why would I want to go to a different homeroom? Is there really something wrong with those boys? Everyone seems to be scared of them. Is there something I should know?"

His eyes widen and he leans back in his chair, "Are you not afraid of them yourself?"

"I mean they are just teenage boys unless there's something I don’t know seeing as I'm the new kid here."

"No, no there's nothing that they have done to make everyone nervous. They are just a secluded group and seem to stick to themselves. They don't even cause trouble but everyone seems to fear them. I just assumed they look scary to all the kids around here and they do seem to be more grown up than most children their age." He looks off pondering. The final bell rings and we both simultaneously startle and look at the door wondering if they will show up but it doesn't seem like it.

Laughing awkwardly he glances at me and says, "I guess its just you and me this morning. Do you mind if I sit here and we talk as we discuss what we are working on. I would feel awkward standing at the front of class with just you in here."

Smiling at him I put away my sketchbook and pullout a notebook, "Sure that sounds great."

Standing he goes to pat me on my shoulder as he walks to his desk but he notices my cringe and stops immediately, "Sorry I didn't mean anything by it. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable."

Smiling at him to put him at ease I try to respond calmly, "You don’t make me uncomfortable at all! I'm sorry I just don't really like to be touched. It isn't you."

“I'll keep that in mind. So what was your previous history class working on before you came here?" Smiling I respond as he gathers his supplies and I know I'll like this class. He's a perfect gentleman and his emotions are very calming so I'm at ease in his presence.