A young man of a sturdy build came down the stairs. He wore only a plain dark red T-shirt and ordinary jeans. His hair was quite interesting, however. He wore it spiked up, and it ranged in color from yellow to red, with every shade of orange you could imagine. It nearly gave the impression his head was on fire. He was quite proud of his hair, mostly because that was it's natural color.
He had a quick breakfast, nothing more than some toast and eggs. Then he put on his red sneakers and left the house. Getting in his red pick-up, he drove down to the local coffee shop. He checked his watch.
Eight-twenty three. Seven minutes to get there. Easy enough. But if he ran into any traffic, which was unlikely this Sunday morning, he would be late.
If the phone call he had received yesterday was to be believed, that is. The man didn't leave his name, but instructed Jason to go down to the coffee shop at eight-thirty. The man would wear a blue suit jacket.
Jason thought about the phone call as he drove towards his destination. The man was offering something incredible: a team of people like him. But how did the man find out? Jason had kept his powers well-hidden, at least he thought he had. Not even his parents knew what caused the scorch marks on his walls. They thought he was smoking, which wasn't much better.
But until today, it was better.
Now, he had the chance to go to some sort of academy and meet people just like him. Sure, he liked that idea. But for him, the best part would be developing his powers. He had discovered them long ago, when…
He hit the brakes as he nearly missed the entrance to the parking lot. He parked quickly and got out, grabbing the cowboy hat he kept on his dashboard. Eighteen-year-olds enjoy that sort of flair.
He walked into the coffee house, thankful that it was Sunday and his parents weren't home. He would never had made it here on time. He had shaved it close as it was.
There was only one person sitting at a table, and he had a blue suit jacket on. Obviously his man. He walked over and sat down.
"You the guy that called me yesterday?"
"Yes, that's me. I've got a great deal for you."
"Look, I thought about it, and I'm not sure I can go. I haven't graduated high school yet, so how I can go to college? I mean, I want to-"
"It's not a college. It's a school that can make special arrangements for you to learn whatever you want, once you finish our high school courses, naturally. But it also offers courses you won't find with anyone else, like developing your special abilities."
"How much will it cost me?"
The man laughed, amused. "So we come down to money so soon, Jason? It's free for you, of course. You'd be doing me the favor by coming, not the other way around."
Jason stood up. "Then what are we waiting for? I'll call my parents when we get there. I'll follow you there."
The man laughed as he led the way. "Fine, but once we're on the road, just look out for two motorcycles travelling together. I'll explain when we get there."
The trip went quickly and uneventfully. No motorcycles were anywhere to be seen. When they pulled up to the stairs in front of the building, the man got out. Jason did likewise as the butler scurried to park his pick-up.
"Come on in, Jason. You won't see our only other student yet, not until we get a few more. But I'll tell you all bout it."
They had a long conversation that ended with the man showing Jason to his huge bedroom on the top floor, the fifth floor. Jason checked out the room and private attached bathroom before laying in his new bed for a while, staring at the ceiling and reflecting on his decision. He eventually fell asleep.
He had a quick breakfast, nothing more than some toast and eggs. Then he put on his red sneakers and left the house. Getting in his red pick-up, he drove down to the local coffee shop. He checked his watch.
Eight-twenty three. Seven minutes to get there. Easy enough. But if he ran into any traffic, which was unlikely this Sunday morning, he would be late.
If the phone call he had received yesterday was to be believed, that is. The man didn't leave his name, but instructed Jason to go down to the coffee shop at eight-thirty. The man would wear a blue suit jacket.
Jason thought about the phone call as he drove towards his destination. The man was offering something incredible: a team of people like him. But how did the man find out? Jason had kept his powers well-hidden, at least he thought he had. Not even his parents knew what caused the scorch marks on his walls. They thought he was smoking, which wasn't much better.
But until today, it was better.
Now, he had the chance to go to some sort of academy and meet people just like him. Sure, he liked that idea. But for him, the best part would be developing his powers. He had discovered them long ago, when…
He hit the brakes as he nearly missed the entrance to the parking lot. He parked quickly and got out, grabbing the cowboy hat he kept on his dashboard. Eighteen-year-olds enjoy that sort of flair.
He walked into the coffee house, thankful that it was Sunday and his parents weren't home. He would never had made it here on time. He had shaved it close as it was.
There was only one person sitting at a table, and he had a blue suit jacket on. Obviously his man. He walked over and sat down.
"You the guy that called me yesterday?"
"Yes, that's me. I've got a great deal for you."
"Look, I thought about it, and I'm not sure I can go. I haven't graduated high school yet, so how I can go to college? I mean, I want to-"
"It's not a college. It's a school that can make special arrangements for you to learn whatever you want, once you finish our high school courses, naturally. But it also offers courses you won't find with anyone else, like developing your special abilities."
"How much will it cost me?"
The man laughed, amused. "So we come down to money so soon, Jason? It's free for you, of course. You'd be doing me the favor by coming, not the other way around."
Jason stood up. "Then what are we waiting for? I'll call my parents when we get there. I'll follow you there."
The man laughed as he led the way. "Fine, but once we're on the road, just look out for two motorcycles travelling together. I'll explain when we get there."
The trip went quickly and uneventfully. No motorcycles were anywhere to be seen. When they pulled up to the stairs in front of the building, the man got out. Jason did likewise as the butler scurried to park his pick-up.
"Come on in, Jason. You won't see our only other student yet, not until we get a few more. But I'll tell you all bout it."
They had a long conversation that ended with the man showing Jason to his huge bedroom on the top floor, the fifth floor. Jason checked out the room and private attached bathroom before laying in his new bed for a while, staring at the ceiling and reflecting on his decision. He eventually fell asleep.
