Even though Foster said the dress code was chill, I struggle over what to wear. Finally, after deciding on a pair of black jeans, a red top, and my favorite pair of red velvet boots, I head out of my room to take a shower.

When I step into the hallway, Emaline and Gabe are hovering near the bathroom.

“I’m so sorry,” I apologize as I approach them. “I can try to help fix …” My jaw nearly drops to my knees when I reach the doorway and get a good view of the bathroom.

The floor is now ice-free, the light bulbs are back, the clouds are gone from the ceiling, and a tree is no longer sprouting from the shower.

“How did everything get fixed so quickly?” I glance at Gabe then at Emaline.

Emaline smiles warmly at me. “We can control and are connected to elements, Sky. Their energy is in our blood, which means that, not only can we summon them, we can also dismiss them.”

“So, you guys made all the snow and the tree go away?” I wonder why I sound so sad. It’s not like I was happy Foster’s and my powers destroyed the bathroom, but it was the first time my powers did something that I didn’t totally hate.

“With the help of Holden, Max, and Foster, we did,” she says, turning to face me. “Since you guys unleashed all the elements except for darkness, we needed one of each to be present.”

“Oh. I guess that makes sense.” I pause as memories of my dreams surface. “What would’ve happened if we had summoned darkness?”

Her smile falters. “Foster mentioned you were having dreams of it.”

I nod, worry creeping through me as I remember all the things darkness said to me in my dreams. “Foster said it’s normal, though.”

“It is,” she says, but the way she worries her lip between her teeth has me concerned. “But, since you’re so new to this world and your powers, we think it might be a good idea if Foster gave you a lesson or two on how to block darkness out, okay?”

I nod. “Okay, I can do that.”

“Good.” She visibly relaxes then steps aside. “Go ahead and take a shower. I’ll have Charlotte get breakfast started.”

A protest about breakfast works its way up my throat, but knowing I’m running low on time, I smother it down and hurry inside the bathroom.

“And Sky,” Emaline says as I start to shut the door. “The world that you and Foster grew? It was beautiful. If I could, I would’ve left it here.”

Unsure of what to say, I force a smile and shut the door, pretending like I don’t agree with her. But as I turn and glance around the bathroom, it looks kind of dull now.

A half an hour later, I’m showered, dressed in clean clothes, and my long, brown hair has been brushed and swept to the side in a tangled mess of waves and braids. I’m not really a makeup girl, so I just dab on a bit of kohl eyeliner, some lip gloss, and call it good.

Before I endeavor downstairs, I grab my bag and phone from my room, noting I have six missed messages.

Gage: Just wanted to check on you and make sure you’re okay. You bailed so quickly last night.

Nina: Hey! Gage said you left???

Gage: You there?

Gage: I hope you didn’t get in too much trouble. Let me know if you need anything.

Nina: Dude, why aren’t you answering my messages?

Nina: Man, you missed it. Grey had to be taken to the hospital.

The last text makes my heart sprint in my chest as I frantically text her back.

Me: What do you mean he went to the hospital? What happened?

She doesn’t answer right away, probably because it’s so early. Truthfully, I don’t expect her to answer until at least noon, so when I receive a message from her as I’m heading downstairs, I’m shocked. But what’s in her text shocks me even more.

Nina: Dude, don’t ever message me this early again! The only reason I’m responding is because I had to get up to pee. But anyway, I’m not sure exactly what happened. From what people were saying, someone tasered Grey last night and he passed out.

Me: Is he okay?

Nina: One of his friends said he was released from the hospital, like, an hour after he was taken there, so I’m assuming he is. Seriously, though, I want to find out who tasered him and shake their hand. That asshole totally deserved it.

She’s right, but that doesn’t mean I feel any better about the reality. The reality that I’m fairly sure my kiss is what tasered him.