"So it was fear, stress, desire, anger?" Lydia asked.
"I think it was basically any severe emotion that triggers it," Charlie shrugged, opening the door to the school.
"Right, the more severe, the more powerful,"
"So what are you going to do?"
"Well, seeing as though I can't make you angry easily, or find a way to stress you out, or make you afraid, or sad-"
"What's left?"
"Desire, and how the heck do I-"
"Oh come on, the easy one?"
"Excuse me?"
"Three things I want. One: to use my magic. Two: to get the girl. Three: for my dad to except the fact I'm a squib and that I can do other things really well,"
"What other things?"
"I sing, I dance, and all he sees is that I'm a problem child, getting into trouble for no reason,"
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I trust you, because you trust me,"
"I don't-"
"Yeah, you do. You have no idea what my powers will be like, but you're still helping me,"
She smiled. "That has to be trust? You want to do this some other time?"
"Really? I can do something fun?"
She laughed. "Yeah, I have to get to practice anyways," She opened the door and Charlie followed her out.
"What are you going to practice for?"
"Well, like you, I sing and dance. We have a concert September thirtieth, that's this Friday. You want to come?"
"What?"
"It'll be fun, and we won't charge you,"
"I know, I just-"
"Here," She pulled a pen out of her pocket, grabbing Charlie's hand. "There, now you know where and when,"
She smiled and turned around, running down the street.
"Girl's," Charlie muttered, smiling and shaking his head.
*Oh So Cool Transition To a Scene I'm Not at All Proud of*
"You ready?" Mikey asked, picking up his guitar.
"Are you ready?" Lydia countered as Chris secured the strap to the bass guitar over his shoulder.
"Is your friend coming?" Jack asked, spinning his drumsticks.
"No idea," Lydia looked in the mirror, and nodding, turning back to them.
"Haven't you talked to him since you asked?" Chris looked up at her, confused.
"Nope, why?"
"You go to the same school,"
"I've been busy,"
"Bull," Alfie laughed.
"You know, Alfie, Jack doesn't have to play the drums for the first song, and he knows how to play piano. What would be so bad if you disappeared for awhile?" Lydia made a scary face, making everyone laugh
"HA! So you do like him!" Alfie punched the air in victory.
"And so what if I do?"
"He better come to this concert or we may bash his skull in,"
Lydia started laughing. "Have you seen him?" She pulled her phone out of her pocket, and showed them a picture of him.
"Jeez! Look at that guy! How old is he?"
"Fourteen," She stuck her tongue out.
"He looks like he could bash our skulls in by touching us,"
"He's cute though, right?"
"Girl, with those muscles," Chris made his voice hysterically feminine.
"Shut up," She laughed.
"Guys, you ready?" Alfie looked out of the curtains.
"How many people?"
"At least two hundred,"
"Oh," Mikey's eyes widened and he gulped. "Good to know,"
"Don't worry, it's just Alfie and I first," Lydia smiled. "Now get off and get the curtains ready,"
It was packed inside the little coffee shop Chris's brother ran. Yet in the crowd, one face stood out in particular.
Charlie. He was standing close to the stage, smiling at the stage. Lydia smiled back, then turned to Alfie. He nodded, and he began playing.
Lydia took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
"I heard that you're settled down, that you found a girl and your married now. I heard that your dreams came true, guess she gave you things I didn't give to you. Old friend why are you so shy?
It ain't like you to hold back or hide from the lie. I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited, but I couldn't stay away. I couldn't fight it, I'd hoped you'd see my face and that you'd be reminded. That for me it isn't over,"
"Never mind I'll find someone like you, I wish nothing but the best for you too. Don't forget me, I beg, I remembered you said, sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead. Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead,"
"You know how the time flies, only yesterday was the time of our lives. We were born and raised in a summery haze, bound by the surprise of our glory days. I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited, but I couldn't stay away I couldn't fight it. I'd hoped you'd see my face and that you'd be reminded, that for me it isn't over yet,"
"Never mind I'll find someone like you, I wish nothing but the best for you too. Don't forget me, I beg, I remember you said, sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead,"
She looked around at the packed audience. Some people looked like they were about to cry, some people were just staring. and Charlie was the best. Just smiling leaning forward as if encouraging her not to stop.
"Never mind I'll find someone like you, I wish nothing but the best for you too. Don't forget me, I beg, I remembered you said, sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead. Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead,"
The crowd burst into applause. Lydia smiled and waited for them, to quite down.
"Thank you for coming tonight. For one I think the coffee shop is at it's maximum amount of customers. So go buy a hot drink because we're not done yet and we're lucky to have this place to perform at in the first place. Alright, come on out guys and let's let me stop talking!" Chris, Mikey, and Jack ran out.
Over an hour later, Lydia walked out of the coffee shop.
"I'm so tired," She laughed.
"You didn't have to jump around the stage with a guitar," Mikey yawned.
"No, but I did have to run backstage to find the ukulele and get back in time to start the song. What idiot can misplace a ukulele. Oh wait,"
"Okay anyone else feel like their wrist's are going to fall off?" Chris asked, rubbing his hands.
"Nah, mine are numb," Jack joined in.
"I had to stand the whole time, and unlike you guys, I couldn't move so I'll probably have to walk like this for a week. My knees are frozen," Alfie shuffled along the sidewalk like an old man.
"Here buddy, we'll carry you," Chris and Mikey lifted him up.
"We could really use that bodybuilder friend of yours right now," Jack smiled, helping them hobble down the sidewalk.
"The cute one?" Chris batted his eyelashes in the the dull light.
"Shut up," She smiled, smacking the back of his head.
"Lydia?" A shadow ahead asked. She stood on her toes to see who it was.
"HOLY SHI-!" Mikey stumbled back before finishing his swear.
"GAH!" Alfie fell on the sidewalk as Mikey had the domino affect and Chris and Jack were both also on the ground as well.
"Guys, don't worry," Lydia laughed. "Hey Charlie,"
The tall shadow stepped into the light. Lenny was missing his usual hat facing backwards, and his dark, short hair was messy. He was tall and muscular, giving the reason why the boys had freaked out. He was smiling and shaking head at them, and even his large brown eyes seemed to be laughing.
"Not funny, Lydia," Mikey propped himself up on his elbows. Charlie shook his head and reached a hand down to help Mikey up, who at first flinched away then took it skeptically.
"Yeah, your boyfriend looks like he could murder us," Chris groaned, starting to stand up.
"Boyfriend?" He yelled and pulled back his fist to punch him.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean it! Please let me live!" Chris fell flat against the sidewalk, closing his eyes and covering his face.
"This is too much fun," Charlie laughed. "Nah man, I'm just playing," He grabbed his hand and pulled him to his feet easily.
"You scare me," Jack laughed, standing.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" His face went stone cold an he glared at Jack.
Jack gulped and took a step back.
"This is too easy!" Charlie laughed again. "Sorry, guys I'm done. You need me to carry you home?" He asked Alfie.
"Nah, I'm fine, I was just seeing how far these guys would go," He stretched as he stood up, waved, and started walking away.
"See you, Lydia. And, uh, nice to meet you, uh, Charlie?" Mikey saluted and ducked into a nearby alley.
"You'll be alright with him?" Chris asked as Jack started walking away.
"I think so. Hey Charlie, promise you won't snap my neck?" Lydia looked up at him.
"Sounds like a deal,"
Chris smiled and turned away.
"Thanks," Charlie turned to her.
"For what?"
"I don't know what happened, but I came out of there, and I was waiting for you. And I didn't have this when I walked in there," He pulled a single red rose from behind his back.
"W-what?"
"Steve said desire can trigger it, and this is for you,"
"You didn't buy that?"
"No, it seems like I grew it,"
Lydia smiled at him and took the rose.
"Looks like Steve is the only one left,"
Charlie put his arm around her shoulder. "I'll walk you home,"
"Cheezy much?"
"Yeah,"
*Aw Such a Cute Cheezy Scene Reminds Me of AH? Anyone Else? No, Just Me*
"So I'm the only one?" Steve groaned, shutting his locker.
"Yeah, but remember once you start using your powers-" Lydia started, pushing the doors to the lunch room open.
"They're easy to access, I know," He looked slightly annoyed.
"You have too much-"
"Control, know that too. So just this Friday?"
"Yeah," Lydia sat down at the usual table.
"What emotion?"
"Pretty sure it was desire, but that can be pretty hard to tap into and it wasn't very severe,"
"Let's let Charlie be the judge of that," Charlie sat down.
"'Sup guys?" He smiled.
"What happened Friday?" Steve asked.
"You told him?" He looked at Lydia, a little angry.
"No, and besides there' nothing wrong with it. All I told him was that he's the only one left,"
"Good,"
"Great, now I have no idea what really happened on Friday,"
"I went to Lydia's concert. Somehow I made a rose. I gave it to her,"
"Desire?" Steve asked, smiling.
"What? No! Well, I'm not sure. I've never really tapped into that kind of feeling,"
"You like Lydia," Steve nodded.
"What?" They both asked, Lydia nearly choking on her water.
"And she likes you,"
"Excuse me?" Lydia set the water down for safety.
"Come on, guys," Olivia sat next to Steve. "He may be heartless but he's not blind,"
"Heartless? Oh and you're one to talk! You're going to find a way to blackmail me so I'll use my powers,"
"I've got half a heart, at least,"
"HA! If I supposedly like Lydia you like Olivia!" Charlie laughed maniacally.
"'Scuse me?" Steve asked, his mouth full with a sandwich he had just taken out of his backpack.
"Come on! If I like Lydia you have to like Olivia,"
"Two reasons why that is not possible. One, I am heartless. Two, I have a girlfriend,"
"Then apparently I must not like Lydia," Charlie crossed his arms. "So there,"
"Except you gave her a rose," Steve shrugged as Charlie's face went red.
"The flower of love!" Seth slid onto the bench. "What are we talking about?"
"How Charlie likes Lydia and she likes him but they won't admit it,"
"Seriously? I thought we got past this last week! Charlie, we have established that you like her," Seth punched his shoulder.
"And how have we established that?" Charlie raised his eyebrows.
"You were trying to figure out if you should go last week. 'I like her, I just don't know if she likes me. Should I go?' You would be surprised at how emotional Charlie is,"
"Can I rip his head off?" Charlie asked, gritting his teeth.
"Nah, I don't like seeing blood," Olivia took the notebook out of her bag. It was the same one from the first meeting and they had recorded everything in it so far.
"Put Charlie down for moderate emotion, desire," Lydia shoved his shoulder and Charlie uncrossed his arms, looking angrily down at his lunch.
"Wait, Lydia, is the rose starting to die?" Steve asked.
"No, it actually looks a brighter color. Why?"
"Because, if it's made by magic, it won't die until someone takes away its magical properties,"
"And why does this matter?"
"We have to make sure Charlie wasn't lying and didn't go buy it and pretend he made it,"
"Why would he do that?"
"Charlie's mind is really complicated, don't try and understand,"
*A Week Passes That Has No Important Material*
"Concentrate!" Olivia yelled.
"I'm trying!" Steve flopped down on the couch. "This isn't working!"
"Why?"
"Because they're empty threats. You're not really going to burn all my pictures of Emma, just like you weren't really going to kill my X-box,"
"Yeah, but-"
"You need better torture material,"
"When's Emma coming back?"
"Eleven weeks exactly. Why?"
"I might be able to find a way to incorporate that into making you use your magic,"
"How?"
"Well, my suggestion is we leave for now," Lydia stood up from the couch, fixing her hat over her reddish hair.
"Where the heck is Charlie today?" Seth asked, coming around the corner from the kitchen.
"No idea," Lydia looked around. "He's not here?"
"Are you blind?"
"No, I'm Korean. Huh, I guess he's not here,"
"Not really," Seth shook his head. "How don't you notice the absence of prince charming?"
"I thought we were done with this!" Lydia groaned, falling onto the couch again.
"Nope, we will tease you and Charlie forever," Seth smiled and stuck his tongue out.
"Steve, can you murder him?" Lydia looked up at him.
"Why would Stevey-"
"I told you to stop calling me Stevey!" He yelled, tackling Seth to the ground.
While Seth was taller, Steve was stronger than people gave him credit for.
Steve jumped up smiling. "I think I won,"
"Rematch," Seth groaned, standing up more slowly.
The front door's lock turned and the door handle clicked.
"Er, hi Mom. Hi Dad," Steve scratched his neck.
"You guys taking a break from studying?" His mom asked.
"Yeah," Steve nodded.
"You know, Steve, I think I'll finish the rest at home," Lydia stood up, waving. "See you tomorrow,"
"Well, I think I'll go too," Seth rubbed his shoulder. "See you later,"
"You know, my parents will probably be expecting me. Bye Steve," Olivia stepped awkwardly out of the room.
"Where's the big scary guy?" His mother asked.
"Who, Charlie? He couldn't come tonight. Why are you home so early?"
"Meeting ended early and it's been awhile since we all sat down and had dinner together,"
"Alright?" Steve raised his eyebrows.
It was extremely awkward to sit at the table with his parents. They were hardly ever home, and when they were Steve wasn't.
"So how's school going?" His mother asked.
"Alright," Steve shrugged.
"Your grades looked good last time I saw them. I thought you said your math teacher failed you every test?"
"That was last year, dad,"
"Oh," He pulled on his sleeve. "So how'd your tournament last weekend go-"
"I placed fourth,"
"Oh really?"
"It was an off day though,"
"Off day?"
"Yeah, I've placed top every tournament this season,"
"Top?" His parents turned and looked at him.
"What? I did the same last year,"
"Since when?"
Steve sighed. "I told you about it,"
Uncomfortably his dad cleared his throat. "When we were looking at your grades however we did notice something. You haven't been keeping up with your Ministry duties,"
"Kill me now," Steve muttered.
"What?" His mother leaned forward.
"Nothing," Steve shook his head.
"Steve, updating the ministry is a important job and we worked very hard to get it for you-"
"Then give it to someone who wants it,"
"This is a job anyone should be honored to have-"
"Well I'm not honored," Steve crossed his arms.
"You have no right to speak to me like that young man-"
"Neither do you," He growled.
"I am your father-"
"And now you decide not to deny it?"
"I never denied-"
"I was your son? Is that why it's necessary to keep as much distance possible? Do you think I don't notice that you're never here when I am? You don't deny that I'm your son. You deny I have any sort of blood relation to either of you. It's not my fault I didn't get into Hogwarts. Yet you choose to punish me for it,"
"We've never done-"
"Anything but ignore me since the day I was supposed to get my letter. Since that day I've been a disgrace to you, haven't I? You can't even bring yourself to talk to me about things I need to talk about. I need to ask why the hell you hate me for this, I need to ask why you would get me a job, acting as if I'm some undercover wizard, and I need to talk about magic. But you don't care, and I know because the most I've seen of either of you in the past three years was in Diagon Alley this summer,"
"Calm down sweetheart," His mother touched his arm and he pulled it away.
"Is this because we interrupted your studying?"
"So you still aren't listening?" He stood up, knocking his chair backwards. "Look,"
"You can't just make a snap judgement about them and assume I'm much better. You don't bother to even figure anything out about me. I was failing math, and Lydia is helping me pass. Charlie saved your house from burning down because I can't cook. Seth got the rat out of our attic because no one else would. And Olivia's the only person I can talk to without having her laugh with Emma gone. So thanks for everything and nothing," Steve stood up and his chair fell backwards.
"Steve sit down-"
"No. You can't just come back out of nowhere and criticize people you don't know," He walked into the living room, grabbing his jacket off the back of the couch.
"Where are you going?"
"Anywhere but here,"
The door slammed shut.
*WOO Someone's Feisty*
"Where are you?" Olivia asked into her phone, bewildered.
"I don't know," Steve slumped against a tree. "Somewhere in the middle of the woods. I lost control, and I-I can't fix it-"
"Don't worry, we'll be right there," Olivia put the phone in her pocket, and looked up at Charlie, then to Lydia, then at Seth.
"So he finally lost control?" Seth asked.
"We have to go help him. He said he set something on fire, and he's in the woods,"
"It'll probably start raining any second. Besides, he should be able to finish it off if he started it,"
"Charlie, he has no control at all," Olivia started pacing back and forth.
"Yeah, whatever happened it must be pretty bad. Out of everything else we've done. . ." Lydia leaned against the brick wall.
"You think his parents know anything?" Seth asked.
"By the way they were looking at us you'd think we were killers,"
"It's worth it to ask," He picked his backpack up off the sidewalk.
"What are the odds they're what made him lose his-"
"Pretty high, based on the fact that they were the only people there after we left,"
*Meh*
"He's not back yet," Steve's mom opened the door to his room. "We need to find a phone number, anything,"
"He won't be happy if we search through his room-"
"I don't care. I need to make sure he's alright,"
His dad sighed. "This is our fault, isn't it?"
"Yes," She turned away, searching his desk drawer.
"Is it that we've been away too much? Or were we a bit judgmental?"
"Both," She turned around for a minute. "Do you realize how often he sees us?"
"Not very often,"
"We're hardly even part of his life. It's like whatever we say we're just strangers, telling him what to do,"
"We have to work-"
"Those meetings aren't important. We're not required to go to them. We both just want to avoid talking about how he's a squib," She turned back to the drawer.
"You know as well as I do how hard that is-"
"He out of all people wants to talk about. He needs to talk about it. Maybe that's why all his friends are squibs," She picked up a piece of paper. "Which one was Charlie?"
"The tall one with the Australian accent. You find something?"
"A phone number. Quick, where's that one you bought in case Steve had to call us?"
"I don't know how to work it," He handed her the phone.
"Just press the numbers?"
Charlie looked down at his cell phone.
"Is that Steve?" Seth asked.
"I don't know who it is. Hello?"
"Is this Charlie?"
"Yeah, who's this?"
"This is Steve's mom,"
"Oh." He looked up at them all, mouthing the words "Steve's mom".
"Is he with you?"
"Sorry ma'am, no,"
"Do you know where he is?"
Charlie bit his lip.
"No idea,"
Silence from the other side of the line.
"Oh. If you hear anything from him, please let us know. And tell him-"
"Tell him what?"
"Tell him we're sorry,"
"Alright, I'll let you know. Bye,"
"What was that about?" Lydia asked.
"We're going to find Stevey," He stowed his phone in his pocket.
"What's she say?"
"Not much, but she's terrified. It was their fault, but they need him to be back there, and he needs it too,"
"Then let's go put out a forest fire,"
A drop of rain fell on the top of Charlie's head, followed by a million more.
"It's raining," Steve's mom sat on the edge of his bed.
"He did take a jacket,"
"Where could he go?"
"If Charlie wasn't lying; anywhere,"
She buried her head in her hands.
*Dun Dun DUN!*
"So he's probably over there," Seth pointed at the charred tree's, barely visible with the flashlight through the sheets of rain.
"We split up and call each other if we find him?" Olivia asked.
"In two's though," Charlie grabbed Lydia's arm and disappeared through the trees.
"What do you think happened?" Seth asked as he slid down a muddy path.
"Well, his parents pissed him off. But how?"
"They're never really there,"
"Yeah, but that can't be all of it, there's more. Do you think he's alright?"
"I hope so. We couldn't go last night, but the rain did put out the fire,"
"He'll be mad about it,"
"Depends on how bad his parents-" Seth stopped. "I think I see him,"
"Where?"
He pointed down at a clearing surrounded by burnt trees, through which you could see the hills. In the middle, huddled in a black jacket, someone was staring blankly out at it.
Olivia stepped into the clearing and knelt next to him. She put one hand on his shoulder. "Steve?"
Seth sat on his other side. "Buddy, are you alright?"
"No," His voice was hoarse and he continued to stare at the blank landscape, hugging his knees to his chest.
"What happened?" Olivia continued to look at him as if he would look back.
"The whole world just started to close in on me. Everything was wrong,"
"What happened with your parents?" Seth stared at Steve's eyes, oddly wide for a night without sleep.
"It's just-never mind, it's stupid,"
"Steve, it's not stupid,"
"They were talking about you guys. Who are they to judge in the first place? They're never around,"
"That's not all, is it?" She knew the answer to the question.
"No," They waited. "Emma. She's done,"
"Done what?"
"With me," Steve closed his eyes with a pained expression.
"She's-?"
"She broke up with me," He opened his eyes and looked at her. They were raw and looked wet, as if he were about to start crying. "I screamed. I cried. I set half the forest on fire. But that doesn't matter, it's over," He turned back to the empty landscape.
"Come on, at least you got your powers to work," Seth tried.
"It doesn't matter. You see all of this? I would rather have just left it alone,"
"But you don't anymore now that you've done it for the first time," Olivia put a hand on his shoulder.
"Yeah, now come on Steve, you've got to be freezing-" Seth stood up, reaching for Steve's arm to pull him up.
"I lied."
"What are you talking about?" Olivia asked.
"I've had my powers before. Over the summer. I wanted to be like her, and I-I had power. What I did scared the hell out of her, and she was scared. Of me. I don't blame her. I tried to convince you all to come and get control of your powers. Maybe I thought I could see how you kept it under control and may be able to control my own powers. But it's different,"
"What's different?"
"The level of power. It's different than yours. Higher. And it scares me. I can't control it anymore,"
"We can help you-" Olivia put a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't you understand?" He stepped away. "I'm not going back,"
"Steve, come on-"
"I'm not going back there. I'll hurt someone. I could kill my parents-"
"Steve, you'll be fine-"
A white hot circle of flames jumped up around him, flaring despite the rain.
"Leave me alone," He growled, his eyes narrowed. He blinked and fell backwards against the tree, the flames disappearing.
"What happened?" He looked around, then seeing Seth and Olivia, scrambled backwards and back onto his feet. "I-I. . ." He stuttered and turned, sprinting through the woods.
"Wait! Steve!" Olivia ran after him.
"No!" Seth followed her, sliding to a stop behind her.
"Go away," Steve shook his head, digging his nails into the tree. "Please. I'll only hurt you,"
"Steve, come on-"
"NO!" He ripped the tree out, roots and all and threw it across the clearing. "LEAVE!"
Seth knocked Olivia to the ground as a ball of flames flew towards her head.
"Olivia, he has no control at all. It doesn't matter if he trusts you with everything. It doesn't matter if I'm one of his best friends. He's not afraid to hurt us, and he will. You know how much he'll regret that later. We need to find Seth and Lydia and get out of here,"
"What about-"
"He needs time before he'll be in control again, now come on!"
*Several minutes of running and a bus ride later*
The doorbell rang and Steve's mom jumped off the couch and opened it.
"Hi," Charlie stood in the middle of the doorway, Lydia, Olivia, and Seth behind him. "I wasn't being completely honest earlier. I know where Steve is,"
"Steve? You know where he is?" Her eyes widened, and a relieved look appeared on her face.
"It's not as good as you might think," Seth shook his head
"Why? He's alright isn't he?"
"Physically he's fine. But he's lost all control. It's not safe to be around him," He stepped in front of Charlie.
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"It's all our fault," She bowed her head.
"No it's not," Olivia spoke up, moving around Charlie. "Whatever you did didn't affect him at all. He was ready to explode, and he would have done so either way. If you hadn't said anything he would still be out in the woods losing his mind. It's not your fault,"
"The woods? Weren't they on fire earlier tonight?"
"That's not the point. Don't try and find him, he needs time by himself,"
"But we could-"
"Please," Seth turned away. "You have no idea what he's like right now. He'll hurt anyone around him, and there's a possibility he's endangering himself,"
"What do you mean?"
"His minds shut down. We tried to call him after you called Charlie and he wouldn't answer, yet a few minutes before, he was sane enough to call Olivia for help. I'm positive his phone was with him. He's only capable of staying in control for a few minutes at a time, and even then it's a struggle. At least when he's alone he can concentrate. Right now he doesn't think he can come back at all, but Steve can do nearly anything if he puts his mind to it. In a few hours, a day at most, he'll be home," Olivia pulled her hood up as Charlie and Lydia backed away from the door and started walking down the street behind Seth.
"What do we do?"
"We have to wait. We're going to call him and leave a voice mail and once he's calmed down, he'll listen to it. Odds are he'll call us back after that and once he does, we'll bring him back,"
"How long is this going to take?"
"No idea, but we'll bring him back, I promise," Seth pulled his hood up and turned around, walking down the driveway, followed by Lydia and Charlie.
"He'll be alright," Olivia said, pulling her own hood over her hair.
"How do you know?"
"I don't. But you do. He's your son, and while you aren't always there, you know he'll always come back,"
Steve sighed and sat with his back against the charred tree. The fire was gone, but it was only momentarily. He was far from under control, but he could think straight again. He wouldn't have acted up again if Olivia and Seth hadn't come.
But he did ask them too. Ever since the night he showed her the stack of pictures, Lydia had been there to help him. And Seth was his best friend since they came to the stupid Muggle school. Yet he hadn't talked much about Emma with him.
Emma. Why had she turned on him? The thought of her made Steve's palms blaze and within a minute, a flaming X was scorching the tree directly across from him.
The fire was starting to cool down, as was Steve's temper. This was the reason why he wasn't mad at her. He sighed and close his eyes, running his fingers through his hair. He retrieved his phone and dialed his voicemail.
"Steve, we're on our way. Call us back when you get this message!" Charlie's voice rang out.
"Buddy," Seth's voice began on the next message. "You're going to be fine. Call us back when you get this, we need to get you out of the rain. Hopefully you're not insane by the time you call me back." Steve nodded his head back smiling.
"Is it working? I think so. Stevey, if you get this, please come home. We're so sorry, we only want the best for you, and lately we don't know what that is. You're friends care about you. You need us to be there for you, and we will be. Come home, please," His mom's voice echoed for a second and Steve sighed again.
"STEVE!" Olivia's voice was at top volume. "You need to go home! I know you can get in control again. Just concentrate,"
"Just concentrate," He echoed, climbing up the trunk of a nearby tree.
"Just concentrate," He yawned and sat on a thick branch, leaning his head against the tree.
"Just concentrate. . ." He closed his eyes, falling asleep instantly.
He was peaceful, in control. Yet he wouldn't stay that way for long. Someone stood, watching him. Waiting for him.
*One Rainy Night Later*
"Check the phone," Steve's dad yawned as he stared out the dripping window pane.
"No one's called," His mom shook her head. "Maybe we should go look for him. . . No, they told us not to. . . But he's been gone for hours, what if he's hurt-?"
"He has no magical abilities, that doesn't mean he's defenseless. We have the weight room, and he's almost always at karate-"
"Do we actually know if he can handle himself? At least he grabbed a jacket before he left. . . Wait, was i waterproof? He could be soaked right now-"
"Please, stop. There's enough wrong with this situation without pointing out every flaw in the fantasy I have in mind. The one where he comes home without a scratch and the worst thing he does is sleep the rest of the day,"
"And do you think I'm ecstatic about this? I don't want to think anything's wrong either but I can't help but be realistic,"
They both fell silent as they heard someone knock on the front door.
Steve's mom ran to the front door, fumbling with the lock.
"Hello, Mrs. Terada? Correct?" A Ministry officer stood at the door.
"Yes?"
"Steve Terada's mother?"
"Do you know where my son is?" Hope filled her eyes.
"Ma'am, we have some information you may want to hear about your son," She opened the door wider, letting him in, along with another officer.
"May I sit?" He asked.
"Go ahead,"
"Thank you Mr. Terada,"
"Now I would like to ask you a question," The second officer sat as well. "Has your son had any association with a man named Justin Bernett?"
"Not that I know of, why?"
"Justin Bernett has been missing for several years, but he came back onto our radar three months ago. A day after he came back, a muggle child was murdered, with clear evidence it was him. Eleven more muggle children have gone missing, turning up days later, all murdered by Mr. Bernett,"
"What does this man have to do with our son?" His father growled.
"Steve disappeared last night, yes?"
"Yes, he did,"
"Bernett has left notes for each of the children he has murdered, saying he is removing vermin from our society. Yesterday, we received a note saying he would take a servant who had extreme powers. It was your son he vowed to kidnap,"
"Officer, while I doubt you would lie to us, our son is a squib,"
"Yes, but he is very strong, correct? He's done martial arts, too?"
"Bernett is incapable of doing his own dirty work, and often times squibs can have superior abilities," The other officer chimed in.
"Weeks ago, witnesses said Bernett approached your son, who ran from Bernett. Most of his targets have had conversations with Bernett,"
"So you think he's trying to get our son to-"
"To assist him in murder, yes. If not, it is very likely your son is in danger. We would like to search your home for evidence and if you have any information it is necessary you tell us,"
"I'm sorry, we have nothing to offer," His mother hung her head.
"Then please, relax and don't be afraid to ask us if there's anything else we may know,"
"I'm going to send an owl to the school," Steve's mother stood. "I want John and Cassie to know what's going on,"
John laughed and shoved Andrew off the bench.
"I'm better at charms than you!" He laughed.
Someone tapped him on the shoulder.
He turned to see his sister.
"Oh hey Cass, what's up?"
She frowned and shook her head, handing John a piece of parchment.
He smiled and unfolded it, his constant happy expression evaporating.
"I'm going home," Cassie touched his shoulder. "We'll leave in an hour,"
He nodded.
"What happened?" Bryan asked.
"I-I-" John swallowed.
"What?" Tyler asked around a sandwich.
"Steve's-He's. . ."
"John?" Andrew stood up. "What happened to Steve?"
"He's, h-he's-" John swallowed. "Missing,"
"Missing?" Eric looked up from his book.
"With a murderer," John stood up, nearly falling over. Mickey stretched her arm out to help him, but he slapped it away.
"John-" Andrew stood up.
"I'm going home," He swallowed, storming out of the hall.
"Shoot," Andrew turned to look over his shoulder. "Let's go guys,"
The boys stood up and followed Andrew to the common room, letting him go on by himself.
"Buddy?" Andrew opened the door to their dorm.
"I'm leaving," John swung his backpack over his shoulder, sniffling.
"Are you okay?"
"What the hell do you think?" He yelled. "My little brother was kidnapped by a murderer with a wand! He may be strong but do you realize he could be-he could be-" John shook his head.
"He's not-"
"And how do you know?" He yelled back. "He could be dead already,"
"He's not-"
"How do you-"
"Listen," Andrew grabbed him by his shoulders. "This isn't easy, I get it. He's not dead yet. So shut up and calm down,"
"I'm leaving," John shook his head, repeating himself as he ran out of the dorm room.
Steve spat in Bernett's face as he proposed his offer.
"I'll never kill innocent people. Especially not for scum like you," He growled.
"What a good boy," Bernett rolled his eyes. "Your lucky I'm giving you a choice. You have power, and I can use that,"
"If I have so much power how did you trap me?"
"That's for me to know and you to figure out," He smirked. "I could torture you,"
"Cruccio?" Steve snorted. "I'll die before you can use me as your puppet,"
"Fine, I'll grant you that wish," He stalked across the room, picking up a dagger. "A death fit for a filthy muggle. Death by magic's just too painless,"
"Kill me then," Steve shook his head. "My mind's made up,"
"How about I test this a bit?" Bernett sliced Steve's cheek. "Hmm, what if I cut out your organs? Oh that would be very painful indeed," He cut Steve's shirt off and sliced his stomach. "And this layer of muscle would make it feel worse. But this doesn't phase you, does it? No. . ." He thought for a second and then slammed the dagger onto Steve's shoulder, making him yell in agony.
"Yes that seems to do it,"
The chains that bound Steve groaned under his strength as he pulled on them.
"You still have a chance. Help me build my army, or die one scream at a time,"
"Never,"
"Thought you might say that," He dug the blade into Steve's stomach, hearing him yell again.
"Touch me one more time," He narrowed his eyes. "And you'll regret it,"
Bernett slammed the dagger into the same spot, hearing Steve scream.
"I warned you," Steve growled, the metal chains snapping like twigs and releasing him.
Bernett raised the dagger, and Steve stepped back finding his jacket on the table.
"I'll throw it," Bernett threatened. He did. Aiming for Steve's neck. Terrified, Steve rolled out of the way, sprinting, only half in control of himself, out of the building.
Author's Note:
Wait till you see what I have planned. . .
I lost the last two scenes when my computer had a fail on me, so I had to redo. They were better the first time. . .
