What? I Have Superpowers?

Jenna Meade lives in Cary, North Carolina, and is a typical student starting her junior year in high school. At least she thinks she's typical, until Erik Gibson walks into the school. Erik's a bad boy, and very forward...just what Jenna has been drawn to, yet trying to avoid as an honor student. Erik has exactly her same schedule, and finally explains he's from outer space, on earth to protect Jenna. She can't believe it until he explains that she's a princess from the planet Dyrl, and proves to her that she has superpowers. Now it's up to them to save Dyrl and the earth.

And to think her worst problem used to be high school.

Excerpt

"I don't want to go," Ronnie Valkirk yelled. I could see her from my locker, not too far from the front door where she stomped her feet in a temper tantrum. Ronnie was one of the stereotypical cheerleaders at our school—blonde with no brains and barely any clothes covering her skinny body.

The principal took one of Ronnie's arms while her mother had the other, yanking her inside the school. "No! I need my social life!" Ronnie howled, her sunglasses covering her tired eyes.

My friend, Cammie Johns, moved to stand beside me while clicking her tongue. "Her social life consists of her boyfriend staying at her house all night." She gave a nod. "Bridgette lives next door and told me he snuck out the window this morning. Her parents never knew."

"No wonder she doesn't want to come to the first day of our junior year."

"This is going on my secret underground blog, 'West Cary's Highlights and Lowlifes.' I just started it today. I think I'm going to nickname it 'WCH and L.' Ronnie's definitely a lowlife."

Our school was West Cary High, located in the town of Cary, to the west of Raleigh, North Carolina. Most of the people at the school were from families who moved to the south from up north, thus the local thought that Cary really stood for 'Containment Area for Relocated Yankees.' The thought made us all laugh, because only a handful of the kids had southern accents. My parents were originally from New York City, with the accents and attitude that went along with the location. I wished I were from New York City, but could only act like it and be tough.

I turned back to Cammie's thoughts. "'WCH and L' is too long. No one will remember it. Besides, couldn't you be charged with libel by printing that?" I knew the law from watching the news every night.

"Nope." She stuck out her chin in defiance. "The first amendment gives me the right to speak and write. And considering it's a fact her boyfriend left the house this morning, it would stand in a court of law." Cammie shook her head. "Kids never learn."

"Kids? She's our age. We're juniors and hardly kids. I'm turning 17 in a month and I certainly don't want my mom thinking I'm still a kid. I just wish I had a car so I could come and go as I pleased. I hate riding that bus, still feeling like someone spit in my hair." I moved my hand to the strands, but felt nothing. "I think I'm going to have my mom drive me from now on."

"You do have a weird Mom and your bus is scary." Cammie stopped talking and nudged me, nodding toward the front door. "New kid. I can spot 'em a mile away."

I turned, seeing a guy walk into the school past Ronnie who was still sobbing with the principal and her mother. He wore a black t-shirt, tight jeans, and dirty white sneakers. With his medium length hair, the guy was very hot.

He nodded to a bunch of other guys known for their bad reputation, but he had some other sort of air about him. Something different and indefinable.

With dark brown slightly curly hair and very light blue eyes, he almost looked like a model. But he was an odd sort of model, because his skin was light like mine. It was too light for his hair color, almost like a vampire in a movie. My look worked for me with my red hair and blue eyes, but for him, it just didn't make it.

When he finally made eye contact with me, my heart fell. His eyes were almost the color of ice and that smile…all I could think was 'wow.'

Ronnie ran from the front door, tucked her blonde hair back behind her ear, and wiped under her eyes. "What's your name?" she said to New Kid. "Is this your first day here? I'm Ronnie. I'm going to be head cheerleader this year."

Wow. She dumped her sleepover boyfriend in a heartbeat and recovered really fast from her drama at the front door. Even her mom and the principal seemed surprised, finally walking away.

With a slight glance toward her, New Kid's smile disappeared as he stopped walking. "Cheerleaders have to prove themselves to me. I dated one last year and she was dumber than a sponge. How many advanced classes have you taken?"

"Um…" She lifted her head in thought, tapping her finger on her freshly over-glossed lips. "Does home ec count?"

He grunted a chuckle. "No. I'm talking advanced physics, college level English, calculus, advanced placement microeconomics…classes like that."

I pulled my schedule from my planner. He was describing my day, even in order for my first four classes.