This is the story of a girl
Who cried a river and drowned the whole world
While she looks so sad in photographs
I absolutely love her
When she smiles
How many days in a year
She woke up with hope and only found tears
I can be so insincere
Making the promises, never for real
As long as she stands there waiting
Wearing the holes in the soles of her shoes
How many days disappear
You look in the mirror so how do you choose
Her clothes never wear as well the next day
And her hair never falls quite the same way
You never seem to run out of things to say
This is the story of a girl
Who cried a river and drowned the whole world
While she looks so sad in photographs
I absolutely love her
When she smiles
How many lovers would stay
Just to put up with this shit day after day
How did we wind up this way
Watching our mouths for the words that we'll say
As long will you stand here waiting
Wearing the holes in the soles of her shoes
How do we get there today
Walking too far for the price of her shoes
The clothes never wear as well the next day
And her hair never falls quite the same way
You never seem to run out of things to say
This is the story of a girl
Who cried a river and drowned the whole world
While she looks so sad in photographs
I absolutely love her
When she smiles
I have the lamest super power ever and now I have to leave my friends to go to some fancy, high-tech school. Not to mention I hate my black hair and my hand-me-down clothes I got from my older sister.
It was on my birthday when I received these dreadful powers. I almost exposed my mother. She had a 'talk' with me soon after that to keep her secret safe. I hated life in general, too many happy people. There just weren't enough insults one person could give before you get bored of them.
"Hey, Witch, let's go!" my sister yelled. I forgot to mention, my sister is only my half-sister. My mom was known as the Witch and so my sister called me that. I knew my mom was downstairs, frowning at my sister. I could feel her dark power, yeah that was my power. I could sense what other people could do, yippee. Note the sarcasm.
I didn't even care if I missed the first day of school, but I knew if I didn't Mom would be flying me up, fake fever or no fake fever. Life sucks. I opened the drawers to my dresser and found a pink t-shirt with a monkey on it saying "not listening." I threw on some jeans and walked downstairs.
As I had guessed, my mom was frowning at my sister and I was the cause. My dad was already gone, no big surprise. He had to go to work early and work until the late hours of the day. Sometimes I wonder if my dad is actually working, or trying to bring another member to our half-family. I didn't care either way, it never really felt like I was related to him recently anyway.
"Hey Witch, we're late. Let's go!" Sam, that's my sister's name, grabbed my arm and dragged me to the bus stop. I missed breakfast, but I never really eat. I'm not anorexic or anything, I just don't like to eat that much. Food has tasted worse and worse ever since Mom cooked for us. Some say practice makes you better. In my Mom's case, practice means blackened cereal. She had even burned water once. Not boil, but literally burned the water. Don't ask me how, but it's possible.
The bus pulled up and I realized I forgot my books. I was going to say something, but Sam threw my backpack at me and walked on. I just shrugged and slung it over my shoulder. The bus driver seemed annoying, so I sat in the back. I sat behind a girl wearing almost all purple and a boy wearing blindingly yellow and white. The girl could shape-shift into a guinea pig and the boy could glow, big whoop.
A boy walked on and the bus driver immediately started sucking up to him. He could fly and he had super strength. I figured he must be the famous son of Jetstream and the Commander. Will Stronghold, part of the Stronghold Three if I remember right. He saved the school from an evil villain called Pain Killer or Royal Killer or something like that. I really didn't care either way since it didn't matter to me.
Will walked over to a girl wearing too much green to be normal and sat down. She could control plants, great. I always hated flowers ever since the accident. I'm not allowed to talk about it, but it involves me, killing, and being sent to court. It wasn't pretty, but I didn't get arrested. So, hey, that works, right?
Another girl got on; she looked like the perfect, living Barbie doll. I almost wanted to vomit. Her brown hair waved gently as she walked down the bus. Most of the boys were staring at her intently, probably imagining her asking them out. Several of them stood and asked if she would take their spot. What suck-ups. That technopath just stuck up her nose at them and kept walking. She sat next to a boy who seemed more than happy to see her. They kissed, making my stomach churn. Maybe I will vomit after all.
I rolled my eyes at the Barbie doll and turned to my backpack. I wondered if I had remembered to put my Thomas Covenant book in it. I found it and pulled it out. It was the third book in the first trilogy and was right in the middle of a war. Suddenly the bus sped up and flew off of an unfinished bridge as seatbelts fell around me. I, of course, tried my hardest not to scream my head off and dropped my book. I had a vice-grip on the edges of the seat and wouldn't let go unless someone handed me a parachute. I wasn't going to risk my life for a lost book.
Except it didn't drop, it flew over me and hit the kid behind me. I could imagine the only copy of a very old book being burned up by the pyro behind me. I didn't even want to look. The bus landed roughly as I got over the feeling of nausea. Thankfully, I hadn't eaten before I got on, now I never will. Well, at least until I get used to it.
I zipped up my backpack and slung it over my shoulder. I waited for the line of students to thin before I tried to get my escape off of the small, cramped bus. I felt a tap on my shoulder and I turned. The pyro was wearing black and seemed to hate life in general. I wondered why he tapped my shoulder when he held out my book. I grabbed it and gave him a thankful smile. He just nodded and left.
I followed a crowd of unfocused power to the doors of the school. I glanced over the edge a few times and saw the incredibly long drop. Something told me that I should stay away from the edge. I'll add a big duh to the end of that. I looked around for my sister, but she was already gone. I frowned as some boys walked up to us. One of them could stretch and the other could run at high speeds. I thought that was kind of an oxymoron because the boy that could run happened to be one of the fattest people I knew.
"Alright everyone, you need to pay the entrance fee for new students. It's fifteen dollars so pay up!" The one that could stretch smirked. I looked down at my pocket and pulled out my bracelet. It was a small silver one with a butterfly charm on it. I don't remember where I had gotten it, but I can't remember a moment without it. I put my hand in my pocket again and fingered the pocket knife and chain I kept in there.
My sister had warned me that some of the boys were dangerous, and I was prepared. I wasn't planning on killing them, but if they wanted to hurt me, I had a weapon. I wanted to pull it out and take out the detachable needle, but resisted. I was a pro at throwing weapons. It was my dad's idea, he wanted me to be tough since– Well let's not talk about that.
With the needle, I could paralyze someone for around half a day, give or take a couple hours. I knew the pressure points. I knew their weak spots. I knew how to defend myself without a weapon too, but it just wasn't the same knowing they underestimated me. I always defeated them easily after that. The chain was my non-lethal weapon. It was extremely useful in not killing anyone, but it took too long to put together in my pocket, so I kept the pocket knife, just in case.
"Lash, leave them alone." It was the Barbie from before. He backed off without taking anyone's money and went inside the school. Wow, guess he works for her then. She showed us to the gym, which I wasn't surprised at all to see it looked exactly like a normal gym. I started to wonder if this school was just a regular school with hover technology when a stage appeared from the floor. A white meteor flew over us and landed on the stage. I didn't pay any attention to her though. I didn't care what she said, I just wanted to get this day over and done with. She finished and with the gasps of most of the freshman year, she took off in meteor form.
A coach appeared on the stage and shouted. His name was Coach Boomer, which was a good name for him considering how loud he was. He yelled at all the students and said something about power placement or whatever. I heard the names of kids being called up and they walked on stage to show their power.
I was actually impressed by some of the kids, they could do some damage if they wanted to. One of the boys, whatever his name was, could turn into a person he touched. I took note of that and decided to watch him more carefully, just in case he wanted to impersonate me. Several other kids had lame powers like turning different colors and one of them had the power of flatulence. In other words, he could fart at will. It was disgusting. I thought of vomiting again, just to get out going up there myself.
I almost jumped when I heard my name called. What was I supposed to do to show my power? I wanted to throw up so badly and get sent to the nurse's office, but it never came. Curse my sister for not letting me eat. Coach Boomer bellowed at me to show my power, but I couldn't.
Oh, and I forgot to mention. I'm mute. It means I don't talk, ever. It happened after the– we'll just call it the start of all my problems. He boomed at me again, but I shook my head. Not a lot of people knew I was mute. It was kind of funny to watch their reactions when they found out after spending most of their time just thinking I was quiet or something.
"Car!" The coach pressed a button and a car fell from the ceiling. I dropped to the ground fast enough and it landed, inches away from my face. I still didn't make a sound, props for me. I used a sort of sign language to say that I could sense other people's powers, but he didn't understand. Once again, I forgot to tell you something, two things actually. One: I'm very forgetful, big surprise there, right? Two: My parents refused to teach me sign language and refused me of ever being mute. They just called it shyness or being quiet.
I quickly ran down and grabbed my backpack where I pulled out my extra notebook. I grabbed a pencil and wrote down what I needed to say. "I'm mute. I don't talk. I can sense other people's power." It said so much, I know, but I was in a hurry. Coach Boomer just nodded and gave me the thumbs up sign. I quickly turned a page and wrote, "I'm mute, not deaf!"
He seemed to get it. He told me to go to the office and I left happily. I already knew what the kids could do so it wasn't surprising to see them. I found the office after several minutes of searching. I couldn't ask anyone, remember? Although, asking someone would have helped me find it. I walked in and she looked at me.
"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at power placement?" She asked.
I turned another page and started writing. "I'm mute. Coach sent me here to talk to you about it."
"Mute? Oh dear. That's going to be hard for your classes. I'm afraid we'll have to do something about that," Mrs. Powers (I read her name plaque that was on her desk) frowned. "We can't do anything for you today, but as long as you have that notebook it should be alright."
I wrote, "When is lunch?" Hey, I'm hungry! I missed breakfast and it was almost noon. Wow, time flies when you're watching students show off their super powers.
"The bell will ring soon enough. Would you like me to get you someone who can help you find the classrooms?" 'Oh great,' I thought, 'I get misunderstood and pitied.' "Or here, I'll make you a pass so you can make it to your classes without being late. I'll put in a note saying you're mute too."
Maybe I was wrong after all. I can be late to classes and everyone will think I have some sort of brain problem. 'I'm not retard! I'm mute!' I yelled mentally. I almost wished I was psychic so I could be mute and heard at the same time.
The bell rang and I stood to go as she said, "There's the bell." I resisted writing a swear word and an insult at the obvious comment in my notebook and left. I found a seat at an abandoned table after filling my tray up with food. I started eating when the pyro from the bus walked up to me.
"This is my table," he said gruffly. I just shook my head and went back to eating. I did not want to get into a fight on my first day. "I said this is my table, move." I could have chosen the smart person's way of handling this and walked away, but he was ticking me off and I was hungry. I balled my free hand into a fist but was interrupted.
"Warren, chill! We can have a guest at our table," the girl wearing too much green walked over. I wondered if this posse would contain her boyfriend and as I had guessed, only seconds later he sat down next to Greenie. Warren sat down opposite of me and watched me carefully.
"What's your name?" Greenie asked. I just turned towards her and gave her one of my best leave-me-alone looks. It didn't faze her. She just smiled at me.
I flipped back to a page and held it up. "I'm mute," it said.
Again, it didn't faze this cheery girl. "I'm Layla, this is Will, and that's Warren. Hopefully, Zach and Magenta will be joining us. Ethan's sick today so he can't." Sure enough, the two who sat in front of me in the bus sat down at the table.
"So, what is your name?" Will asked.
I looked through all my pages and realized I hadn't written it down on any. Normally, it was the first thing I would write. I quickly jotted it down and held it up so everyone could see, "Crystal."
"Crystal, that's a pretty name," Layla remarked. I shrugged and began eating again. The group talked without me, catching up on events missed over the summer. I picked up my tray to go when Warren did the same. I gave him a deadly look and walked in front of him.
I set down my tray and felt someone grab my ass. I immediately sensed stretchiness from the touch and turned around. Warren seemed surprised, but I pushed past him. I stomped over to Lash and slapped him before he realized I had come. I walked off after that with the whole cafeteria laughing at him, give or take a couple of students.
I went over to my locker and gave my death look to anyone daring to stare at me. I opened it and pulled out some extra weight from my backpack. It felt good to have it lighter, and at least I didn't have to worry about scoliosis.
I went to my class where a dorky teacher with a balding head waited for me. Once again, good luck triumphs and he let me pass for the first night's homework because of my 'ailment.' That's how he put it anyway. Who cares, I get out of homework.
I didn't pay attention during the class and instead noticed some of the sidekicks, or as the teacher called us, hero support, that had enough power to be heroes. It's slightly depressing when one is misunderstood for not drawing up enough energy the first time, but I'm used to misunderstandings. I'm a mute, don't forget.
When the bell rang I nearly jumped for joy. I was happy to get out of that class. I was so happy that I forgot my note from Mrs. Powers. I didn't know if I should run back for it or if I should just say I lost it. I went with the lost it idea to avoid having to go into a room with the wacko teacher alone. He probably wanted to have a "heart-to-heart talk" about me being mute, but I've accepted my loss of voice and I don't care.
I made it to the end of the school without using too many pages in my notebook. I might actually be able to use it for more than one week! That'll be a first. I put it in my backpack thinking no one will talk to me on the bus. I shut my locker and started to the buses. It's a good thing I have a bad name already and people don't want to talk to me. I felt a hand grab my shoulder tightly as I thought that and added, maybe not.
I broke free from Lash's grasp to see Fatty standing next to him. He took off at high speeds and ran around me. I didn't realize what he was doing until it was too late and I felt my oxygen getting short. I took in a deep breath ran towards the edge. He moved with me like he was a moon orbiting a planet, except he was going around something smaller than he and much faster. I suppose it was more like Jupiter circling Pluto at high speeds. Either way, Pluto was doomed. Unfortunately, I was Pluto, and running out of air.
I let out my breath, but I couldn't get enough back in. I fell to the ground and reached for my pocket. I wanted to pull out my knife, but I knew it wasn't allowed on school property so I pulled out my bracelet. I kissed it for good luck and aimed. With one flick, I managed to use Speed's power against him. The butterfly charm hit him directly on the neck, and with the high speeds, it hit him hard.
He flew into a wall and I took in a deep breath. I was thankful and walked over to grab my bracelet when Lash grabbed it first. "What's this? How can a little piece of jewelry take out Speed?" Lash asked. Ha! I was right when I guessed his name was Speed! I dropped my backpack and prepared to fight. I wanted my bracelet back, no matter what.
Lash seemed to like that idea and prepared to fight as well. I noticed him underestimating me already as he left a big opening for a strike purposely. Or maybe it wasn't purposely. This guy just didn't know how to fight. I walked slowly over to him, not lowering my fists once.
He swung the first punch and as my dad had always said, "Don't start fights, end them," I planned to. I grabbed his arm and guessed where his elbow might be. He had stretched so it was difficult to tell, but I smashed into what I thought was right and he winced in pain from his dead arm. I don't suggest you trying to do that at home though, if you don't hit it right, that person may never get his arm to move right again. If you think about my predicament, that's pretty much what I was hoping for.
"What the hell? Why can't I move my arm?" Lash exclaimed. He seemed angered by this and threw another slow punch. I dodged it easily and ran up to his face. I punched him in the nose as his moving arm came back to strike me. I hit him on the shoulder and he dropped my bracelet. I walked over and picked it up as he fell to the ground. I frowned at my sleeper move as it took time to take effect. That was bad if I was in a life or death situation. If a guy had a gun and actually knew what was happening, then I would've been in trouble.
That had to be the most inconvenient time for Mrs. Powers to come. She seemed more than upset, but she hid it from her voice well. "I know you're handicapped (I'm not, being mute isn't a handicap. I chose to become mute so I wouldn't have to say anything to the stupid people. It just happened to start when a death occurred. And it's because of dumb people like that who think it is a handicap and spread that belief throughout the world) but you know the rules and fighting in the halls is breaking them. Report directly to detention!"
I nodded and left, wondering where detention was. I guessed that it would be near the office and was right, thankfully. A door marked 'detention' on it was locked and I waited impatiently for Mrs. Powers to come.
I hid my smile from her as she walked into a room at the other end of the hall, into the nurse's office. She was carrying Lash, probably because Speed was too heavy for her to move first, or because he had his head stuck in a wall. She walked over to me as another teacher carried, (or struggled to carry in better terms,) Speed into the office.
"I am very upset by this manner of behavior! You will come here after school for the rest of this week and the next." Mrs. Powers opened the door and practically pushed me inside. She flew off to her office where she would write it down in my report. I actually smiled as getting into a fight on my first day without trying was a new record. Sad, but it was true.
I looked around the white room and frowned as Warren looked up at me. I had forgotten my backpack in the hallway, so much for a conversation. I realized I couldn't sense his pyro powers and guessed the room nullified people's powers. It was better for me because mine were useless in fighting. Okay, not totally useless because it does help to know what you're fighting, but they didn't have powers in here either so it didn't matter.
"What'd you do?" Warren asked. He didn't notice that I didn't have my notebook or pencil. I just looked at him and sat down in one of the desks. He sighed and pulled out a pencil and paper for me to write on.
I wrote, "Fight with Lash. He's in the nurse's office."
Warren seemed impressed. "Did you take out Speed too?" he asked.
I wrote, "His head went through the wall and he'll have a butterfly imprint on his neck for at least two days." I showed him the bracelet and I think he was even more impressed. He actually smiled at me.
"I'm impressed! (I feel a told you so is necessary.) You took on Lash and Speed without getting hurt," Warren remarked. I smiled proudly at the praise. "How much detention did you get?"
I wrote, "Two weeks. This rest of this one and the next, but I think I'll get more if Lash can't move his arm in three hours."
"Can't move his arm? What'd you do?" Warren asked. He was still amazed at me.
"I knocked his pressure point really hard, but I think I might have missed and caused permanent damage," I wrote. Warren looked like he was going to say something, but he stopped and said something else.
"Have you heard of the Paper Lantern before?" Warren asked.
I nodded. It was a Chinese restaurant I had gone to when my parents were moving in. We hadn't bought anything for our fridge and somehow, my sister convinced them to eat out. It was one of those rare occasions, but it was fun.
"Meet me there at nine, okay?" Warren asked. I didn't answer. Instead, an infuriated Mrs. Powers walked in with my mom. My left hand lifted to my temples almost automatically and I hid my eyes from view. My mom had that power over me to make me feel in a worse condition than I really was.
"Ms. Thomason here was fighting in the hallway. Lash is still unconscious and Speed has a butterfly mark on his neck, right on the pressure point," Mrs. Powers stated. "Excuse me." Mrs. Powers walked out of the room and I noticed her pulling something out of her purse before the door shut.
"Tal, what am I going to do with you?" Mom asked. I forgot to mention, my nickname's Tal, but only my mom calls me that. I frowned and stood to protest. I made my sign language that, thankfully, my mom understood. I made a circle quickly and put my hands around my throat. I made a flicking movement and breathed deeply. Then, I exaggerated a dodge and grabbed Lash's imaginary arm. I showed how I smashed into Lash's arm and exaggerated another dodge. I punch the air in front of my face and then made a sleeper hold move on my imaginary opponent.
"Even if he started it, you can't go fighting every person you see. Now, let's go home," Mom ordered. She turned and walked out of the room. I took that time to right a Y down on the page and handed it to Warren before Mrs. Powers noticed. She walked into through the door as I followed my mom out of the detention room. She flew me home and said I would be grounded indefinitely if Lash's arm didn't move. Dad seemed more impressed than upset until Mom elbowed him in the ribs.
He chided me gently and warned me about hitting pressure points. I knew he would be up at my room later to try and get the whole story how I single handedly defeated two boys. I wondered if I should mention he grabbed my ass earlier that day as I climbed up the stairs to my room. I fell onto my sheets of sky blue and smiled. I pulled out my journal from my pillow case and started writing.
I waited impatiently for the clock to turn eight-fifty. I knew it would only take me ten minutes to get there if I ran and it was already eight-thirty. I threw some of my money in my pocket and grabbed a notebook from my desk. I finished writing in my journal as the time finally came.
I opened my window quietly and slipped onto the first-story roof. I slid to the edge and looked down at the lighted room below me. I guessed my dad was in there as I listened to sports. I crawled further along and listened as my sister talked on the phone to her long distance boyfriend. I moved just three feet more and jumped. I landed easily and ducked under the window as Sam looked out. She shrugged and turned back to her conversation. I took that chance to make a run for it.
I made it to the Paper Lantern just in time. Warren was outside and standing by a motorcycle. I guessed it was his and walked over. I waved and opened my notebook. I wrote down, "Nice bike."
He read it and nodded. "Thanks, I was wondering if you wanted to go for a ride."
I wrote, "I can't, I'm supposed to be grounded right now."
"Oh, that sucks," Warren sighed. "Well, I wanted to ask you how you got mute and I knew it wouldn't be right to ask you in detention."
I wrote, "Its okay," and smiled at him. "I'm not allowed to talk about it according to the court, but I really don't see why it matters."
"Court?" Warren asked.
"Yeah, this guy grabbed me off the street and I hit him on the pressure point. I accidentally killed him because an artery to the brain got pinched by his spine when I hit him and his brain didn't get enough blood to keep it going." I showed it to him and it took him only five seconds to read all of it.
"That's horrible! You had to go to court for that?" Warren asked. I thought, 'Duh, I already said that,' but just nodded.
I took back the notebook and wrote, "I was set free because it was self-defense. That's when Dad started teaching me about pressure points and what would happen."
"At least you know how to defend yourself now." I noticed that he frowned and closed his eyes. I figured he was mentally cursing himself for saying something that dumb, but how should I know.
I wrote, "I have to go." He nodded and asked if I wanted a ride. I nodded and wrote down my address. I got behind him on the motorcycle as he pulled out an extra helmet. He helped me latch it and I blushed because I hadn't worn a helmet in a long time and felt foolish. It was a short drive, but I wanted it to go on forever, fearing my parents' reaction to my runaway. He pulled up to it as my mom ran out the door. I had wished so desperately to have invisibility at that moment.
"Tal! I was so worried! I went up to your room, but you weren't there. Who's he? Did he hurt you? Tal, where'd you go?" I looked at Warren desperately and he (thank God) answered some of the questions.
"I'm Warren. She went to the Paper Lantern with me. I thought it was a good idea, I'm sorry if you were worried." Warren gave me a look saying, "You owe me" before waving goodbye and driving away. My mom was hugging my tightly as I tried to wriggle a hand free to wave back. I couldn't get free fast enough and he turned a corner as I waved.
"Tal, you are so grounded! Two weeks for running out without permission and another for practically hospitalizing two boys!" I thought it was slightly ironic, I got two weeks for leaving the house. My parents both know what I can do to people who bother me, and I only got one week for using those skills against someone. I really thought it should be different, but it didn't matter. I was stuck at home for practically a month.
I went upstairs and closed my window before falling into my blankets and falling asleep. I was extremely happy to know that I didn't have to do homework, but I was dismayed by the clock. In bright red letters, it said 9:30. It was still early for me to be tired, and yet I was. 'Odd,' I thought as I drifted off.