It had been a week since Adrian's sister was born.
A week since that day in the hospital. Since he saw those violet shards swirl into a stranger's mind like memory being painted over with invisible ink.
Adrian hadn't told anyone. Not yet. He didn't think anyone would believe him, his parents would rather get him checked at he same hospital that he was in a week ago.
But he'd been thinking about it almost every night about the possibility of something existing beyond what he knew about the world. Then his thoughts looped back to a person.
Delphini Riddle.
The girl who hadn't spoken to anyone, who somehow exploded a basketball with a glance.
That morning, sunlight entered gently through the half-closed curtains in his bedroom.
Dust particles floated in the air.
There was a cosy and warm silence in the house that wrapped around you like a warm blanket in cold weather.
Adrian yawned, stretched his body and slowly slid out of bed.
He stepped quietly across the wooden floorboards and peeked into the master bedroom. The door creaked slightly as he pushed it open.
Inside, his mom and dad were still sleeping. Their bedside lamp cast a warm glow and the air smelled faintly of milk and lavender.
In the corner of the room was a beautifully decorated cradle in which a new resident of the house slept peacefully.
Adrian stepped forward softly trying his best not to wake her up. He leaned over the edge and gazed down.
She was wrapped in a soft blanket with her tiny hands curled near her face. She had blonde hair that stuck to her head, a button nose and lips so small they barely looked real. Her eyelids twitched now and then as she dreamed.
Adrian smiled quietly, reached forward and gently placed his fingers on her cheek.
It felt warm.
He didn't press hard. He barely touched her at all not to wake her up at all.
He was still looking down at her when two arms wrapped softly around his waist from behind.
"Good morning, sweetheart," his mom whispered in his ear.
Adrian leaned back into her hug and said lovingly, "Morning, Mom."
Ashley kissed his hair as she rested her chin on his shoulders.
"She's beautiful, isn't she?"
"Yeah."
"She's going to be a whole lot of trouble. I can already tell," she whispered teasingly.
"Stealing my son from me already. He used to visit me first in the morning but now she has become more of a priority, huh?"
Adrian chuckled softly.
Ashley gave him a squeeze and asked, "You've been quiet lately."
"I've just been tired," Adrian said after a moment of thinking.
She gave him a look as if she knew that was not the case at all, "You sure it's just that?"
"Hmm." Ashley tilted her head as she watched him. "Well… if there's something on your mind, I'm right here."
Adrian looked away for a second contemplating and then confided in her, "There's a new girl in school."
"Ah."
"She's… different," Adrian continued, still looking into the cradle.
"She doesn't talk to anyone. Just sits by herself. She walks like she doesn't want to be seen but also like she doesn't care if she is."
Ashley raised an eyebrow and asked, "Oh, there is a new transfer student in the school?"
Adrian gave a half-smile and said, "Yeah. It's been a week, and she has gotten so closed off and reserved. She doesn't talk with anyone at all."
Ashley watched her son closely for a few moments and then smiled knowingly.
"Oh my... Is my little Adrian… having his first crush?"
Adrian turned bright red and protested immediately, "What? No! I- It's not like that at all!"
Ashley laughed softly, pulled him closer and said as she patted his head, "It's okay, sweetheart. There's nothing to be embarrassed about."
"It's really not a crush," he mumbled rubbing his neck, embarrassed.
"Sure it's not," Ashley said kissing his cheek. "But whether it is or not. I can see that you care. That's obvious."
"She doesn't talk to anyone," Adrian said, his voice a little quieter now. "People say stuff. Rude stuff. I don't believe it, but…"
Ashley nodded while listening carefully.
"Sometimes I think she's scared."
"Adrian, you don't have to do anything special. You just have to be you. You are the kindest and loveliest boy someone could ever have. You should approach her as your heart tells you."
"Just make sure you don't make her feel uncomfortable any time, alright? You just have to wait for her to bring her walls down and make sure she knows she has someone who can be her friend. "
The school buzzed with its usual energy as students poured into the hallways. Lockers slamming and kids talking too fast to hear each other.
Adrian made his way toward his class and then he saw her.
Delphini was standing just outside the window near the stairwell with her arms loosely crossed as she stared up at the sky. Her pale silver hair usually free and floating around her shoulders was pulled into the Dutch crown braid that gave her an even more regal look. It made her look sharper, almost older.
"Yup," came a voice behind Adrian with a groan.
"Still staring."
Adrian turned and saw Reggie along with Michael standing in front of him with smirks on their face.
Reggie grinned and said, "It's been a week, mate. I've timed you."
"I wasn't staring," Adrian said with an embarrassed look.
"You were," said Michael. "And yesterday. And the day before that. I think we're past the phase of 'just being curious.' "
Adrian said softly, "She's just interesting."
Behind them, there was a pair of older students whispering near the lockers.
"I heard she doesn't even have a family. She comes from an orphanage."
"I heard she had parents but she was not needed so she was sent away. Her parents didn't want her."
"They say she was expelled from somewhere as well. Too strange to keep."
Adrian's hands clenched at his sides.
He didn't believe any of it.
He didn't care what they thought.
Lunchtime arrived quickly. Adrian sat under the tree behind the school with his sandwich while half-listening to Reggie telling a story about someone slipping in the music room.
He glanced across the yard and saw something unusual.
Gregor was talking to Delphini.
Adrian straightened slightly and focused on what was happening over there.
Gregor pointed toward the gym building and said, "Coach wants to see you. PE storeroom. Said it's about last week."
His voice wasn't loud, but it was clear enough.
Delphini looked uncertain but she didn't ask anything else but nodded slowly and stood.
Gregor gave a grin Adrian didn't like. It felt like one of those grins Gregor did when he was going to do something mischievous.
He didn't bother to think more about it. He made an excuse to Reggie and Michael, then stood up leaving his sandwich on the bench and followed the two of them.
The PE storeroom smelled like old rubber and dust. It was lined with racks of jerseys, boxes of cones and stacks of slightly deflated basketballs.
Delphini stepped inside with her eyes scanning the room.
She couldn't see any teachers inside.
Behind her, the door closed as three people gathered in front of it.
Gregor stood in front of it while his wannabe goons Liam and Carter flanked him with their arms crossed.
"Well, well, well. Look who decided to visit us, " Gregor said with a smirk. "Looks like it's just us, huh?"
Delphini turned slowly and asked them, "Where's the teacher?"
Gregor chuckled and said to Liam, "Look at her, she still believes in that flimsy lie."
"There's no teacher."
Delphini stepped back once as her foot brushed against a crate of dodgeballs.
Carter said mockingly, "You think you are special, huh?"
Liam added, "You made us look like fools."
"Now we're just returning the favour."
They took a step forward as Delphini retreated a couple of steps.
Delphini's eyes flicked between the three of them as her hands curled into a fist.
She didn't speak but her shoulders got tense.
Gregor said mockingly as he lifted a basketball off the shelf, "You're not going to explode anything this time."
"You bloody ghost!"
He tossed the ball between his hands. He didn't throw it just yet, but he showed he could at any time.
Delphini stood her ground resiliently but her breathing had picked up slightly indicating a change in her emotions.
Her short silver hair swayed as she moved back another inch.
Gregor challenged her with a threatening tone, "Say something. C'mon. "
Delphini opened her mouth, tried to say something but closed it again.
She was scared, even though those three could see that.
And just then, the door creaked open.
Adrian asked as he stepped into the room, "What's going on?"
He stopped just inside the doorway as his eyes scanned inside the room.
Gregor's expression worsened as he didn't want to face Adrian because of the latter's great athletic ability.
He said mockingly but with a drier tone than before, "Look who is here. The shining knight in armour for the princess.
"This isn't your business, White."
Adrian stated calmly, "I am here so it is now."
"She's the one who started it," Carter snapped. "We're just having a chat."
Adrian replied as he stepped further inside, "You don't need three people for a chat."
Delphini hadn't moved from her place but her shoulders relaxed a little when she saw him.
Gregor scowled and said menacingly, "Walk away, Adrian."
"No. Not gonna."
Gregor took a slow step forward tossing the ball once again in his palm.
"You think just because you're good at football and teachers like you. You can boss people around?"
"I think if you throw that ball," he said evenly, "you'll regret it."
There was pin-drop silence.
Liam shifted uncomfortably as Carter and Gregor stared at Adrian.
Gregor's hand tightened around the basketball.
Adrian didn't blink but just stood there and didn't let her be alone.
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