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Matthew's POV

Nelson Mandela once said 'Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.'

Looking around at these teenage imbeciles around me, I realise that if my fellow students are a representation of the rest of the world, it isn't going to change much.

Drake Walker, simply known as 'Walker', sat at the back of the class with his feet on his desk, throwing paper airplanes to his friends. His friends grinned at the paper airplanes as though they had never seen such beautiful origami made by such skilled hands as Walker.

'Idiots.' I think to myself and divert my attention back to Mrs Homan, a small elderly woman who wore clothes that were far too big for her. She wasn't so much teaching as she was trying to control the class. She didn't dare tell off Walker and his mates and instead kept feebly saying things like:

'Am I going to have to keep you behind?' and 'Shall I go and get the head-teacher?' Even I knew that they were empty threats.

My sympathy for her only went so far since she had barely taught us any English literature for the past year, meaning that I have to then teach myself at home. I guess that is only partly her fault and partly the class's fault. I had finished the work Mrs Homan had set ages ago so I took off my glasses and sat there, observing the rest of the class as one would when visiting the zoo.

'Matt? Do you understand this? I really just don't get it.' Katie sighed from behind me. I turned around on my chair so I could see her giving me a dazzling smile. Katie was exceptionally pretty with chestnut coloured hair and dark hazel eyes.

'Yes, basically, you have to read between the lines. Try and work out what message Shakespeare is giving out by using certain imagery.' I said helpfully.

'How can you read in between the lines? There's nothing there?' She asked, confused. She may be pretty but she certainly wasn't very bright. My father always said 'there's no inverse correlation between beauty and intelligence' but in cases such as Katie's, maybe there is.

'It's a saying. It means that you have to look past the words for hidden meanings. For example, he may have used Christian imagery to make Romeo and Juliet's relationship seem more holy since the Elizabethan era was very religious.' I tried to explain although Katie kept asking stupid questions. In the end, I spent the rest of the lesson helping her until she finally got the work done.

'Thanks Matt. You're really smart, you know that?' She smiled at me and touched my arm in a gesture that was a little more than friendly. Normally I would be thrilled at the attention of a beautiful girl like Katie although not today, especially not since she's dating Walker.

I got caught behind after school for a while, talking to the physics teacher about future careers. Luckily my younger siblings: Elliot, Sadie and Ben, had after school clubs today so I wouldn't have to pick them up till much later. My younger brother Toby always got a lift home with his friend since he said that I would ruin his street cred.

As I got out to the car park, I realised that my car wasn't the only car left. Walker and his friends were still waiting around. I walked to the car without glancing in their direction but Walker shouted my name.

'Oi! Matthew! I want a word with you!' Walker bellowed.

'What did you want to say?' I asked as respectfully as I could manage for someone like Walker.

'You were getting nice and cosy with my girlfriend in English? Weren't you?' He sneered, coming closer to me. His friends followed him as though they were Walker's shadow.

'I was helping her with her work.' I told him honestly.

Walker laughed coldly and motioned for his friends to hold my arms to stop me from running.

I could easily get out of his their grasp. My savant gift was to use other people's energy to enhance my own physical abilities, such as strength or speed. If I used my gift, I could knock Walker out in one punch, or break his arm just by holding it. If I let my powers get out of hand, I could easily kill him and run away from the scene at an exceptionally fast pace. That's why I can't fight back encase my powers get out of control.

'This will teach you for hitting on my girlfriend.' Walker said and punched me in the face. When I didn't fight back, he did it again and kneed me in the stomach in hope of sparking some reaction. My father said that I must never display my savant gift.

'What the hell, Matthew? You gonna let someone kick you about?! Fight back you coward!' Walker laughed, kicking me.

After a while, he got bored and walked away, leaving me bleeding with bruised limbs.

I staggered home and hung my jacket up in the hallway. I could hear mom and dad talking in the kitchen whilst cooking dinner. Mom was saying something about hiring a girl for a job.

'Matt? Is that you?' She called when she heard the door shut.

'Yeah, mom.' I replied casually.

She came out into the hallway and her mouth dropped open in shock.

'Oh my God! What happened to your face?!' She exclaimed, pulling me into the kitchen.

'It doesn't matter.' I muttered.

'Of course it matters. Did someone do this to you, son?' Dad asked, looking concerned.

'I said it doesn't matter!' I raised my voice, frustrated that I let Walker get away with it, simply because I was born with this gift. Gift or a curse.

'Toby! Go find the first aid kit!' Mom yelled up the stairs.

'Do you want to talk about it?' My dad asked softly.

'What's there to talk about?! I hate this! I hate my gift!'

'I understand, son.'

'No you don't. I had to stand there and let them hit me because if I fought back, I would have put them in hospital.' I exclaimed, clenching my fists together to stop my hands from breaking anything else.

I really did hate my gift. I remember back when I was a kid and all my siblings used to play-fight with each other although I was never allowed encase I seriously hurt one of them. I accidently broke my brother Toby's arm when he was teaching me karate moves when I was seven

'Ouch, did you get into a fight?' Toby, who was 15, said, coming into the kitchen.

'It was pretty one-sided. I'm not allowed to fight back, am I?' I shot back, a little more sharper than I intended.

'I know this is hard for you, Matt, but you just need to accept that you have to keep your gift a secret.' Dad explained.

'I nearly lost it dad. Walker makes me so made I could have killed him.' I murmured.

'Toby will look out for you, won't you Toby?' Dad said.

'I don't need my younger brother to protect me! I can look after myself!' I growled and gripped the glass of water Toby gave me. The glass shattered since I didn't keep my powers locked down tight enough.

'Sorry. I didn't mean-' I apologised and started cleaning up the broken pieces of glass on the table although mom stopped me.

'It's fine Matt. Just…take a break. Dinner won't be for another 45minutes or so, why don't you go down the stables for a bit?' She suggested.

'Yeah. I'm sorry again. For getting angry.' I said, feeling guilty. I'm never normally like this.

'At least you didn't go all 'Hulk Smash' this time.' Toby grinned.

'I'll be home for dinner.' I forced a slight smile and got up.

'See you later Dr Banner.' Toby called, cheering me up slightly. I love comic books and superheroes so ever since I could remember, my nickname has been Dr Banner. Dr Bruce Banner is the character before he gets all angry and turns into Hulk. It is a strangely suitable name for me, considering my savant power…except I don't turn into a green monster.

The stables were positioned on the top of Park road and were home to about 14 horses, some with private owners and others which were used for lessons. I didn't have my own horse although I certainly did have a favourite. Spiderman was a chestnut coloured horse that belonged to the old lady who owned the stables although she practically lets me take ownership of Spiderman. She even let me name it after he was born.

I spend half an hour or so watching Spiderman run around the field. I've always loved the stables since it was the only place where I couldn't slip up with my powers. At school, I was never allowed to join any sport clubs encase I accidently showed someone my gift by running as fast as Usain Bolt or hitting the cricket ball so hard it leaves the school grounds. With horses, you just have to hold on and enjoy the ride.

I've been spending a lot more time at the stables in the past couple of months. I feel myself getting angrier and more impatient. I need my soulfinder. Auntie Crystal can find her since she is a soulseeker although I was supposed to wait until I was 17 and mature enough. I'm 18 years old now and still haven't got round to finding her. Firstly I couldn't leave because I was bombarded with exams, then there were a few family issues and then mom got pregnant meaning I couldn't leave just yet.

I know my parents are worried about me. Sometimes I hear them talking when I'm meant to be asleep. They keep pestering me to invite one of my friends round for dinner but I always make up some excuse. The truth is: I haven't got a friend. Not in a sad, lonely kind of way. I choose not to have a friend. I guess the perks of having no friends is that I will never be considered a third-wheel and nobody will ever be able to friend-zone me.

I'm still trying to work out whether that makes me weird or special.