Author's Note: THIS IS SET AFTER THE RETRIBUTION OF MARA DYER. This is my first ever Mara Dyer fanfiction. It has been about a year since I've written something so, I might be a little rusty. Constructive criticisms are welcome so please do leave some. Happy reading!

JOSEPH

I could feel the sand beneath my feet and the waves splashing before me.

Just a little bit more and I'll be there. Focus.

I could see Noah catching my sister as they crash into the sand, both of them laughing, enjoying their clumsiness. God, I miss them so much. I needed them now more than ever. I was close to becoming a full blown freak and I needed them to teach me how to control it. I smiled at the scenery before me. It's been a few years since Mara told me, warned me, with what was about to happen to me. I still remember the fear and the chills running down my spine as she and Noah took me out for ice cream for my thirteenth birthday and proceeded to tell me what would happen to me. I thought they were joking until Daniel arrived and joined the party. Daniel doesn't lie and looking at his worried face, I knew I was going to be one of them, one of the weirdos, the freaks. In all honestly, I was scared, no, terrified, but not because of the power that I will soon take responsibility of. I was more scared that my power would be stupid like oh, I don't know, what if I just shit rainbows? How does that help?

Pretty soon, Mara, Daniel and Noah introduced me to some of their friends who had abilities, Jamie, Stella, Jordan and Leya. It felt good to know that I wasn't alone in this and that I had people who could help me. However, there was still that fear I have with what would be the side effect on me. Mara told me that she was seeing things which got her locked up in a mental institution, Noah was suicidal, Jamie kept throwing up. Is it too much to ask that my side effect would be that I get rock hard abs? Okay, I'm dreaming but there's no harm in wishing. Despite my constant practices, I haven't experienced any side effects, still the same plain Joseph with no hallucinations, no suicidal thoughts, no vomitting. Hmmmm.

"Mara! Look who's here!" Noah pointed towards me as he helped my sister up.

"Joseph! You're so close! I miss you so much!" Mara said as she pushed Noah lightly out of the way and sprinted towards me as if I was the only one in her line of direction.

I could feel the heat of the sun on my skin. It made me feel so warm and alive; I was almost there, with them. Mara was lunging towards me when a flash of white blinded me and I was once back in my dark room with the cold air slowly wrapping around me and the itchy carpet beneath my feet. Wow, what a contrast. I sluggishly picked up my phone, glaring at it. This was what ruined my focus. I could have been in some exotic beach right now enjoying the sun, sand and breeze!

"Hello!"

"Woah there tiger," Jamie said, I could somehow imagine him raising his free hand as if to back off me, "what got your panties in a knot?"

"Jamie, first, I don't wear panties, I'm not as adventurous as you are."

"Don't knock it till you've tried it, sugar."

"Ew," I wedged my phone between my ear and shoulder and started packing my bag, "second, I was almost with Mara and Noah when you called and ruined my focus."

"Oh, sorry about that little guy," I could tell he was sincere. Jamie knew how important it was for me to practice and learn to control my ability, especially when one little mistake and I could end up sliced in half and very dead.

I felt bad for making Jamie feel bad. I knew it wasn't his fault. I was just a bit on edge lately.

"It's fine. Really," I tried to sound cheerful, "why'd you call? Got a problem with Stella? Love boat rocking on a stormy weather? Haha!"

"Shut up. It's hard to have a girlfriend who can read minds. I swear, I can't even think of kinky stuff because she gets antsy about it."

I chuckled. They were an odd yet perfect pair. Jamie has mind control, Stella has mind reading. Two opposites yet they fit perfectly. I wonder if Leya and I would fit perfectly. I smiled at the possibility.

"So is it okay?" Jamie said taking me away from my daydream.

"Okay what?"

"Is it okay that I sleep over at your place tonight then we'll pick up Mara and Noah together tomorrow morning?"

"Yeah sure, Daniel and Jordan are arriving tonight as well, we can have a boys night out or something."

"It's an X-Men convention! Mutants unite! Catch you later!"

Mutants unite.

Yeah, mutants. Ever since my ability started developing, I've been imagining that I'm Kitty Pryde, not really the idol I had in my mind but hey, it's the closest to what I can do. Besides, X-Men was one of my favorites so I get my kicks from pretending I'm part of Professor X's crew. It definitely eases my nervousness whenever I think about what will happen to me.

I check my watch and cursed. I was going to be late, I've never been late. I quickly searched for my car keys and after a few minutes of failure I decided that I should just wait for the bus. It's the last day of junior year anyway, I could try the bus. I stopped by my truck, Daniel's old truck, to grab a book that I was reading when I saw by the ignition something shiny glistening under the sunlight. Hmmm. I clearly remember taking out my car keys from the ignition last night. How did it end up here? Since I was already late, three minutes exactly which is too much for me, I decided not to mull over the mystery of my car keys now. As I glanced at my rear view mirror I couldn't help but stare at the pendant hanging from the mirror. Mara gave it to me after she broke the news on my thirteenth birthday. It was half a dagger and half a feather. I haven't really decided what I'll do with my abilities yet, whether I will join the fight or not. And with my seventeenth birthday happening this year, I feel like I have little time left to think about my future.

I turned off my radio as I parked my car in front of my mother's office. I could see Leya's short auburn hair and perfect petite frame from the window which prompted me to check myself on my side mirror before going inside.

"As usual, this is as good as it gets," I say as I ruffle my hair, thanks to Noah's tip. He said it earns points for that just-woke-up-of-bed-and-I-look-cool-in-it look.

"Baby!" Mom said as she rushed to me and kissed me on my cheeks. I'm pretty sure I blushed tomato red from embarrassment, especially when she did it in front of Leya.

"Hi Mom."

"Hey there slugger!" Leya greeted me as soon as Mom was done doting on me.

"Hey Leya!" I said too cheerfully trying to mask my embarrassment.

"You shouldn't be embarrassed," she says looking at my mom "she's adorable," she smiled. That smile. I smiled in return before I said something stupid in front of her. She renders me speechless most of the time.

"Baby," Mom said taking away my attention from Leya, "sit right next to Mrs. Padwick since I still have a patient. I'll talk to you when we're done."

I slumped into the chair next to a chubby woman who has been chewing on her handkerchief too much. I could see the dark stain forming on her handkerchief. Mrs. Padwick smiled at me as she offered her hand for me to shake. I limply held her hand and shook it.

"Mrs. Padwick," Leya sat on the other side of the woman and gently took her hand, "it's going to be okay, just relax," she said softly almost like a whisper. In an instant, Mrs. Padwick was relaxed and the tension coming off of her was gone. She slowly placed her wet handkerchief in her right pocket and proceeded to read a magazine that was resting on her lap.

I stared at Leya in amazement. She was a natural with her ability but I sometimes doubt if she really has one. When I'm around her, I just feel at ease and happy, she doesn't even have to touch me, just having her in the same room as me does the trick.

"You're amazing," I said and then regretted it as soon as I saw her reaction, she was shocked, "with people," I quickly added, "and feelings."

God, Joseph, shut up.

"Thanks, hey, want to grab some snack after you have a talk with your mom? I'm tremendously hungry!"

"How many people have you…comforted today?" I chose my words carefully since Mrs. Padwick was still in the middle of us. I was quite concerned with her side effect, she usually gets extremely hungry then throw it all up a few minutes later but lately, it hasn't been happening, the throwing up part. It seems like the more she uses her ability the hungrier she gets and the more she throws up.

"Not a lot. Just two. I'm just really hungry, I saw a new burger joint down the street and I smelled their cheese burger as I passed by and decided that I needed to try it out! You wouldn't believe the delicious smell!"

She was always so animated which always kept me in awe. Like I said, she was amazing, in every way.

"Joseph, that's precious, put it down," Mom said as soon as she saw me holding her award, I smile because for a change, she called me Joseph and not baby, "how was your last day as a Junior in Croyden?"

"Meh," I said carelessly, "Mr. Jonas wants me to be a part of a summer program for oncoming seniors, get a lead on colleges and what not."

"Oh, baby! That's wonderful!"

"I guess," I like to play the teenage-boy-and-I-don't-care-about-the-future act whenever I'm with my mom in hopes that she'll stop treating me like a baby, "but I have more important things to worry about this summer," like practicing to control my ability.

"What exactly? Are you and Leya finally…?"

"Mom!" I yelled louder than I expected and my mom let out a laugh, despite the fact that I want to be left alone and not be treated like a baby, I still cherish the small yet significant moments we have together, like the time I told her I had a crush on one of her secretaries, Leya, and she often likes to tease me about it since she adores Leya. "Okay, maybe, I want to make my move on Leya but also my summer is busy with other things," I said calmly trying to recover from my embarrassment.

"Like what?" she was on investigative mode again, sometimes this makes me feel like I'm one of her patients. Mara warned me about these moments. I've learned to take it in stride.

"Like spending time with my siblings?" I admit, the face that mom made after I said it felt like a knife was being twisted in my heart. She seems to always feel sad and abandoned by Daniel and Mara. Ever since they had lives of their own and haven't come home that often anymore. I wish I could tell her why. I wish I could tell her that besides Daniel's job being a graduating student and teacher, he was also helping Mara, as well as people like us, with the woes of having an ability. And Mara, she was also searching for people like us to help and teach them. I wanted to let her know that despite Mara's lame ass excuses for not visiting home and Daniel's busy schedule, they are helping make the world a better and safer place and I hope that one day, I'll be able to be a part of that. X-Men. Haha! "And of course spending time with my insanely beautiful mother and enthusiastically eccentric father!" I gently wrapped my arms around her.

"Speaking of your siblings, we should stop by the pastry shop later to pick up cake for your brother and éclairs for your sister!" she was excited again. Good.

"What about me?" feigning sadness.

"Of course your nutella cream pie will also be a part of the welcoming party."

"Thanks, mom!" I gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek as I headed out the door then stopped remembering I had to tell her about the guys sleeping over, "Mom? Jordan and Jamie are sleeping over tonight, they want to go to the airport with us to pick up Mara and Noah, is that okay?"

"Oh boy, the testosterone level tonight will be off the charts," she let out a puff of air then smiled, "just as long as you don't wrestle each other and it'll all be fine."

"Thanks Mom! I love you!"

"Love you too, baby!"

I quickly headed to Leya's desk, excited to hang out with her even if it was just for a little while. She met my eyes and immediately stood up from her desk.

"Cassie, I'm on break, man the fortress well, will you?"

"Sure thing, sweetie! Bring me back an extra-large cheese burger with bacon and lettuce and tomatoes."

I looked at Cassie wondering how that small frame of hers be able to devour what she ordered. I always see her eating small portions and she kept repeating that she was on a diet.

"She's preggo, been craving like crazy," Leya whispered to me, she opened the door for the both of us, well, minus points on my part for lack of chivalry, "Okie dokie, Cassie! Let's go, slugger?"

"Let's," I said with a wide smile. I was going to be alone with the girl I like. Even if it's just for a few minutes, it was everything to me. As much as I hated to sound like my sister, being with Leya, alone, felt like the world was slowing down for the both of us and it was just the two of us. I use to gag whenever Mara talks about these gushy things regarding her moments with Noah. I thought it was weird but now that I was going through it, I don't want it to end.