Chapter Four
The bus came to a stop in front of Sydney and Warren. The door opened and Warren stepped to the side to let Sydney get on, then he followed her. The bus was empty and Sydney decided to choose a seat near the middle of the bus but Warren touched her shoulder and gestured that she should go on and sit in the very last seat in the back of the bus. She nodded that she understood and continued to walk toward the back of the bus. She slid into the seat and Warren sat down beside her.
They sat in silence as the bus continued to make stops and pick up other students. Sydney noticed that no one really seemed to want to sit near them. In fact, the entire front half of the bus was filled completely, sometimes with three students to a seat, while the back half was totally empty except for Sydney and Warren.
When they were finally on their way to the school, Sydney looked at Warren and said, "Do people always sit as far away from you as possible? I mean, at my old school, everyone tended to avoid me, but this is like amazing."
Warren gave her an exasperated look before answering, "Yeah. This is pretty much how my bus rides go. I'm the first stop on my street, so I just go sit in the back because no one really ever wants to get too close to me and they don't like to have to walk by me to get to a seat farther in the back. Whatever though, it's not like I care what they think of me to begin with."
"I didn't say you cared, I just wondered if people always acted like that around you."
"Well, to answer your question, they do. I don't want them to sit by me and so I give them good reason to keep their distance."
"So you intentionally try to scare people to make them stay away from you?" Sydney asked smirking.
"Yes and no. I don't bully anyone if that's what you're thinking, but the black clothes, the leather, the fact that I don't talk to anyone, all kind of add up to people being afraid. You could also add to the list the fact that I'm a pyrokinetic with an extra short fuse."
"So the short fuse has led to what, exactly?"
"It's gotten me into my fair share of fights, but I don't tend to start them. Just finish them."
"Ok, then. Remind me to not get onto your bad side any farther than I already am."
Warren rolled his eyes, "Whatever."
The bus finally landed near the school and pulled up in front of the doors. Warren and Sydney allowed the rest of the bus to empty before standing and exiting themselves. Silence prevailed once again as they walked into the school and turned down the hall to go to their lockers. Sydney didn't know what else to say. She was still slightly afraid of Warren and she didn't want to piss him off by asking the wrong question, especially since he had told her he a temper.
"Well, I guess I'll see you at lunch…" Sydney said.
"Yeah, this morning gave me some things to think about."
"What? I don't understand. We didn't do anything that had to do with my powers."
"I know, but you powered up when I walked up behind you and you said you power up when you experience strong emotion. You were angry this morning, so I think I have a few ideas about how to get you to power up and then we can work on the control issues you have. I just have to come up with a safe place to practice until you learn that control," Warren explained.
"Oh, well then I guess I'll leave you to it. See you later." And with that Sydney walked away to endure the torture of her morning classes.
Sydney sat in the back of Hero History and thought about what had happened between Warren and her. She couldn't believe he had told her why everyone was so afraid of him and the fact that he intentionally tried to scare people to keep them away from him. But the bigger surprise was the fact that she had told him about her mother. She never talked to anyone, especially classmates. Especially classmates thatseemed to have the power to make her life a living hell, which just happened to be Warren.
How could I have been so stupid? I don't ever talk to anyone and now all of a sudden I feel the need to tell my entire life story. And not just to anyone but to my tutor, who happens to be one of the hottest and most intimidating guys I have ever met.
Wait a minute…hottest? Where did that come from? I can't be falling for Warren. I mean I just met the guy a couple days ago, plus I couldn't like him because he's too much like me and I thought opposites came together not two complete outcasts that couldn't give a damn what anyone else thinks and seemed to be completely alike. I must be really tired or something. I mean I've never had a crush on anyone. I bet being in a new school and having to get used to everything has messed with my head. That has to be it.
At that precise moment the bell rang, signaling the end of class and the end of Sydney's personal war with herself. Sydney sighed. Usually lunch was a good time for her to relax but what with the prospect of Warren's plans looming over her, Sydney felt jittery and half sick. Oh well, Sydney thought as she walked to her locker. I guess I'll just have to get over it. It's not like any other super school will take me. Hell, mom practically had to pay them to take me here what with my record and nonexistent powers…