My name is Sylvia Harper. When I was five years old, a burglar who was robbing our house killed my father. As the gun was turned on my mother and me, a blast of wind blew the attacker into a wall, knocking him unconscious. Within a few minutes, the police came and the man was arrested. My mother tried to hide from me what had happened that night, but I remember. After that event, I have found I can control air by focusing on it. When my mother caught me controlling the air, she told me never to do it again and if other people seen what I could do they would lock me away or kill me. Nightmares of being caught and put in some government laboratory locked away forever, or being a sideshow in some carny exhibit plague my dreams. I have tried to hide what I can do from people, I hope no one ever finds out. It will be my secret.

Stupid bus. Stupid people. Why did my mother get the bright idea to move...AGAIN.

I have some little dork's feet on the back of my seat, that stupid rock music blaring from the stupid earphones on that stupid person's head in front of me, and I didn't even want to move to STUPID Sunnydale, California in the first place. My mother is SO self-centered. Not even asking me what I wanted! Just telling me, Sylvia, we're moving in a week! God, I hate her!

The bus bumped Sylvia Harper up and down as it made its usual stops. After traveling what seemed like forever to her, it stopped in front of a typical high school. People began pouring out, and Sylvia decided to wait a little bit before hopping into the mess. Finally, when the bus had emptied out, she solemnly walked out of the bus, clutching a pile of books tightly. She didn't like the idea of going into a sea full of new people, just looking for things that were wrong with her. Eyes could be felt scanning her all over, waiting, just waiting, to pounce and criticize her about some minor detail. After entering the school she began searching for room 207, she finally found it and went in. The class all seemed pretty normal, all the students sat at desks with books and writing utensils sitting atop them. The teacher however, looked like a hippie. Blonde, frizzy hair topped her roundish head. Red sunglasses covered her eyes, and she wore something that reminded Sylvia of a kimono.

"Hello! You must be Sylvia!"

"Yes." Sylvia half-muttered.

"Class, this is Sylvia Harper, she moved here from Florida yesterday. Well, don't be shy! Take a seat, Sylvia."

Sylvia sat down, trying to hide her face in her long black hair. The teacher began rambling on about some algebra theorem. She looked around the classroom from behind her hair. A few people looked back every now and then, but she never allowed eye contact to last for more than a second. Scanning, she found that the guy with the headphones that was on the bus earlier, was sitting next to her. He hadspiky, red hair, was rather short and had a big smile. She was blown back. She actually found him extremely attractive. Trying not to be too obvious with her staring, she looked around the room a bit, but seemed to be drawn back to him.

Stop being stupid, Sylvia. There's no point in even looking at guys. You're a freak. No one wants a freak! ..But, maybe if he got to know me? ..Look at you, Sylvia, you can't even get enough gumption to actually look at people, what makes you think you could ever be wanted?

"Excuse me, do you have an extra pencil?"

Snapping out of her trance, she found he was talking to her and she began visibly shaking.

Oh my god, I can't speak! SPEAK, SYLVIA, SPEAK!

"I..uh..I"

SYLVIA! YOU ARE RUINING IT! GIVE HIM YOUR PENCIL!

"I..don't..uh..need mine..here."

Sylvia quickly grabbed her pencil and placed it on his desk.

"Thanks" he replied and began using the pencil.

You idiot! Now he thinks you're a stuttering lunatic! Good job! Why didn't you just put on a sign on your head saying FREAK!

For the rest of the class, Sylvia chastised herself for her embarrassing display. The class ended and she again waited until most of the school was empty to leave. She picked up her things and walked out the door. She continued down the halls and tried to keep to herself as she avoided the people around her.

"Hey", came a voice behind her.

She turned around to find that same boy walking down the halls to her.

Oh my god! NO, not again! I can feel myself cramping up! I'm not going to be able to talk!

"I couldn't find you in the class, here's your pencil back, thanks for letting me use it."He said as he handed her the pencil.

"Uh...I...um..."

SAY NO PROBLEM! JUST SAY IT!

"No problem" she finally blurted out.

"So, Sylvia is it?"

"Um...yeah."

"Nice to meet you, my name's Oz, if you want I can show you around the school."

"Uh...sure."

Sylvia's day ended alot brighter than it began. After being showed around the school, she went home and for the first time for over twelve years, she had a smile on her face.