The Talents Read Free

child your age to do something like that,” Mr. Judan said. “We understand from your teachers that it was not the first time you’ve gone out of your way to protect someone. That’s a talent in itself, Dancia. A talent for courage.”
    And I thought I had been doing such a good job blending in. Stupid, nosy teachers.
    â€œWhat’s that supposed to mean?” I asked. “It’s not like teenagers don’t ever help other people.”
    â€œNo, of course not,” he said, his voice a low rumble. “But when you are young, your self-protective instincts are very strong. Stronger than almost anything else. When a child is able to overcome those instincts and put her own safety in jeopardy to help someone else, it’s truly exceptional.”
    I didn’t like his use of the word “child.” I was turning fif-teen in November, after all. And it wasn’t like I wanted to risk my life. I never planned to do anything to that guy. But for some reason when I see someone in trouble, my body takes over and crazy things happen.
    â€œSeriously, it’s amazing what you did,” Cam said.
    When I let myself look at him, a little pool of warmth formed in my stomach. He was staring right at me, and I couldn’t contain the mindless little smile that sprung up in response.
    â€œYou were some kind of hero,” he added.
    I basked for a moment in his appreciative gaze, and thought about what he and Mr. Judan had said. They didn’t think I was a freak with magic powers. They thought I was a hero.
    Being a hero was definitely better than being a freak. Unless they wanted me to keep doing heroic things. That was absolutely out of the question.
    See, the problem is, I can’t control my power. Or I should say, in certain situations, like where people are hurt or threatened, I can’t seem to stop myself from using it. It’s a reflex, like throwing your hands in front of your face when someone hurls a ball at you. Thoughts just appear in my brain. I get scared, or mad, or overwhelmed, and think of something, and somehow, magically, it happens. Like when I imagined the guy at the hospital falling and knocking his head on the corner of an end table, or when I imagined a lifeguard chair landing on this jerk at the water park who was teasing a chubby girl about her swimsuit.
    It might sound cool, but it’s actually terrifying. Because when I use my power, even when I don’t mean for it to happen, people get hurt. Now, maybe those people did bad things and deserved what they got, but who am I to make that call? Maybe some people out there would be willing to take the responsibility for putting someone in a coma, but I’m sure not.
    I decided a long time ago to try my best not to use it. The consequences are just too great, and the mistakes, well…I don’t like to think about the mistakes. I’ve organized my life around this, and most of the time I’m successful. But then there are those times, like the hospital, where I can’t avoid it. The reflex takes over.
    â€œI’d probably flunk out after the first week,” I said, pushing aside thoughts of the hospital. “I’m only doing basic algebra, and I did terribly in chemistry. Don’t all the Delcroix kids take AP classes? I don’t see how I could keep up.”
    â€œNo one flunks out of Delcroix,” Cam said. “Once you’re asked to attend, your grades don’t matter.” He sent an apologetic look at Mr. Judan, who raised an eyebrow. “I mean, they matter to colleges, and you have to apply yourself, but they won’t kick you out for your grades. Not everyone is good at regular schoolwork. Like Mr. Judan said, the other kids are artists, or dancers, or computer geeks. You’ll see. You’ll fit in somewhere.”
    Yeah, right. They had no idea who they were dealing with. Dancia Lewis blended in, she didn’t fit in. There’s a big