Noel Flair: leadership
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I gasped for air as the white lights subsided.
Enoch and Hunter pounced on me almost immediately.
“Are you ok?” Enoch asked.
“Are you hurt anywhere?” Hunter questioned, looking me over.
“Guys! I’m fine,” I said, startled by their sudden concern.
“You sure?” Enoch asked again.
“Yes!”
“What was that?” Grace whispered, looking around as if the lights and voice might return.
“I’m scared,” Carmen, the only girl member of the junior highers, cried.
“We all are. And this is just getting scarier.” Rose, Carmen’s older sister, reached an arm out to comfort her.
“‘Noel has found her Flair- leadership’?” Thomas quoted the voice, trying to make sense of it.
“What is this?” I hold up the Pendant to inspect it further.
A crown was neatly engraved in the gold, attached to my neck by a thick black band.
“Maybe the crown is a symbol of leadership,” Thomas proposed. “And it’s saying that you should be our leader.”
I am startled by the thought, glancing around at the onlooking faces.
“Wait, that looks familiar,” Elizabeth walked up to inspect the Pendant closer. “May I see it?”
“Sure,” I slipped the band off my head and handed it to her.
She took it carefully and brushed her thumb over the crown.
“Alright then, leader of ours. What’s our first step?” Hunter held his arms out expectantly.
“What?” I cried. “I’m no leader! What am I supposed to do?” I started to take a step back from the group in fear.
“But you were leading us before. Why not now?” Thomas took a step closer.
“Anyone could have done it,” I said quickly.
“Here." Elizabeth handed the Pendant back, and I set it back over my neck.
“Ok, our first step is probably to figure out where everyone went. Gather clues.” I took control again.
Hunter and Thomas stepped back, startled.
“Take the Pendant off again,” Thomas commanded.
“What?” I asked confused.
“Just do it.”
I sighed and took the Pendant back off, handing it to Thomas.
“Do you want to be the leader?” Thomas asked as if he already knew the answer.
“No! I already said that!” I shouted.
Thomas placed the Pendant back over my head.
“Now?”
“Well, we’re going to need a leader. It looks as if I am supposed to be that person.” I answered.
Hunter and Thomas turned and nodded to each other in a silent agreement.
Hunter turned to address the group. “No one takes Noel’s Pendant! It makes her go all wonky.”
The group nodded their understanding.
“So, if I don’t have the Pendant around my neck, I can’t lead?” I asked.
“Appears so,” Thomas answered. “So don’t let anyone take it.”
I nodded.
Looking around the group, I started to notice the weary bodies and heavy faces.
“Ok, guys,” I began. “Let’s get some rest, then work it all out in the morning.”
“I can show you all where the sleeping bags are. My family goes camping a lot, so we have plenty,” Hunter said.
“No one leaves the house without notifying me, alright?” I call out.
The teens all agreed with me and then split up to find a spot to sleep.
Soon, the boys had all camped out in the living room while the girls settled down on the beds throughout the house.
I did one more head count before I buried myself under the covers, wishing it all away.
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