[ WP ] You 've been able to read minds since you turned 7 . Mostly you watch people 's thoughts passively and undetected but one day someone talks back .

`` Yeah I know you can read minds,'' the voice scowled. 
 
 *What? * I thought. 
 
 `` Sitting there cocky and all. Thoughts are meant to be private, you know? That's why they're called *thoughts*,'' the voice enunciated the last word. 
 
 It was a feminine voice for sure. The park was crowded. Much too crowded to identify the one girl talking back. Thinking back? I lowered my noise-cancelling headphones and listened for anyone actually talking to me. Nothing. Just kids laughing and parents yelling after them. 
 
 I re-raised the headphones back into place. The headphones were n't necessary for me to read minds, but it allowed me to distinguish them easier. No external noise penetrated them. It gave me tight control of my ability. 
 
 I gave a final visual scan of my surroundings. No one stuck out. Hmm, interesting. 
 
 Ever since I was little I thought I was unique. I knew I was unique in reading minds, absolutely. From finding out where my parents hid my presents to getting answers from professors I was always a step ahead of the curve. Most of the time thoughts were so boring, though. Everybody was the same. Insecurities, ideas of what to eat, and money - I'd heard it all - hundreds of times over. 
 
 Just across the pasture a cute girl gazed in my direction. She smiled. *Ooh*. I had to see what that meant. I'turned' on my ability. 
 
 `` Oh my god. He's so cute! Those headphones are too big for his head - what a dork. But SO cute... Now he's looking at me. What do I do?'' 
 
 *She's really into me, * I thought. I smiled at her. She smiled back. I gathered my things and made my way over to her. 
 
 `` Here he comes. He's actually coming over to talk to me!'' 
 
 *Wow! I am nailing this. * 
 
 `` How's my hair look?'' She adjusted her hair nervously. 
 
 *I love when girls do that. * 
 
 `` Oh my gosh. He smiled again. So cocky! I loved that.'' 
 
 I had approached her. She was sitting. Her back resting on the tree. I extended out my hand. 
 
 `` Hi. My names --,'' 
 
 * -- Jonah, * Her thought cut me off, but her voice sounded different. It was that same feminine voice as before. 
 
 `` You?'' I asked, confused on so many levels. 
 
 *Yep! * She answered. 
 
 `` You can read minds too?'' 
 
 *Yes. Ever since I was young. * 
 
 I was amazed. `` What am I thinking right now?'' I was so excited to be read. 
 
 She inspected my thoughts. I could feel it. It felt as though someone was bumping around in my head. Like when you're pushing through a stationary bar crowd trying to get a drink. She was looking for something deeper. It took her longer than my surface thoughts would've taken. Then my head got lighter. She was out. She was laughing. 
 
 *Legally Blonde? * 
 
 `` What?'' 
 
 *Your favorite movie is Legally Blonde? * She laughed again. 
 
 There was no denying it. How could I? She's a freaking mind reader. `` Yeah, I guess.'' I was n't proud of the fact, but it was true. Reese Witherspoon is a delight. 
 
 `` Wait a minute!'' I exclaimed. Just now noticing something. 
 
 *What? * She asked. 
 
 `` We're standing right next to each other. Why are you still speaking through my mind?'' 
 
 She said nothing. Just gave a blank stare up at me. I tried her mind. 
 
... Emptiness. She was blocking me. 
 
 `` What?'' I asked. `` Why are you still speaking through my mind?'' 
 
 *I'm mute. I ca n't talk. I mean I ca n't physically talk. * 
 
 I did n't know what to say. 
 
 *You do n't have to say anything. Believe me - I'm used to it. When I was young I was a chatterbox. Very outgoing. I loved people and they loved me. * 
 
 I was staring down at her. She was staring up at me. No words were passing. People walking by us would be curious to say the least. 
 
 *Yeah, I agree, * she continued. *Anyway, my chatterboxiness got my friend into trouble one day. BIG trouble. I let something slip that I should n't have and I -- * 
 
 Her thoughts were stifled. She was internally crying. A tear rolled down her cheek. 
 
 *I, uh, I never saw her again. Ever since that day I gave up speaking. I ca n't remember the last time I spoke. I honestly do n't know if I could at this point. * 
 
 `` I'm sorry to hear that,'' I did n't know her name. 
 
 *Helen. * 
 
 `` Helen. Let me get that for you,'' I wiped the tear off her cheek. 
 
 *Thanks. * She laughed again. 
 
 `` What's so funny?'' 
 
 *I realized how much of a chatterbox I just was. I'm not even talking and I'm rambling. * 
 
 I laughed. 
 
 *What can I say? I am the queen! * 
 
 `` Queen Helen.'' 
 
 *I like the sound of that. * 
 
 `` So, Queen Helen, I would be honored if you would join me in finishing my walk in the park.'' 
 
 She stood up and took my hand in hers. *So corny. But I loved it. * 
 
 
 
 
 

