The next morning, he stood looking out his window, really wishing he could stay home. School would not be present for him if he really switched places with this Viper kid. Plus, he had to set up times with a counselor from the list his mother had, he had to swing by the Metahuman containment building, and he had to set up a tutor, although he was sure he wouldn't need one. His mother had talked to him last night, and said that if he got a tutor, it would prove that he was trying, no matter what happened to his grades. "It will just be another positive mark for you", she had said. He really didn't want to go.
"Honey," Jean Hawkins walked into the room. "You'll miss the bus." Virgil turned and smiled at her.
"I'm not going to ever get used to hearing your voice again." She smiled and shook her head.
"You're just like your father," she chuckled and walked out.
"You're the only thing keeping me sane in this nightmare," he mumbled to himself, grabbed his disk, and walked outside.
"Don't forget to check into the Metahuman Containment building!" Jean called from one of the back rooms as he walked out. "It's right by the hospital. Have a good day, honey!" He nodded, even though she couldn't see him.
"Thanks, moms!" he yelled back, and started walking towards the stop. Turning a corner, he saw the line of kids waiting at the opposite end of the street. As he approached, several kids stopped and pointed at him. He slowed a bit, nervous.
"Hey," one kid about his own age walked up to him, "You're that Viper kid, right?"
"Um...call me Virgil," Virgil smiled and stuck out his hand. The kid just stared at it, and then at him.
"The name's Jared," he said, still not taking Virgil's hand. He lowered it. "Stay away from my friends, okay?" and he turned and walked away, leaving Virgil to stare after him.
"Okay," Virgil said slowly, and began advancing again. One girl looked like she was about to faint, and several looked like they wanted to run. At least three others took one look at him, and started walking away. "Now this is present," he muttered to himself, as most of the kids gave way before him. "Like Moses parting the red sea," he grumbled. "Except, he wanted to."
"We don't want you here," another kid hissed at him. He couldn't find the source.
"Hey," he said, "I'm just looking for a ride, not for trouble." Several threatening murmurs answered him. "Yeah right," someone whispered. "Whatever," "who does he think he is?" That was the last straw.
"Look, I don't want to be here either," he said calmly, and took out his disk. "So if you want to me gone, fine." And with that, he leapt onto his disk and soared away. Strangely, it felt good to just be able to leave, and not have to keep it all a secret.
He flew over the town, trying to forget everything that had just happened. Was this what it was like for F-stop or Ebon? Of course, they would probably go after whoever said anything first, and make an example of them...an example that may have the kid who talked end up in the hospital.
Spotting the school, he decided to land in some bushes. No need to draw attention to himself, right? He stuck his disk into his pocket as it folded up, and walked onto the campus, and hopefully, a day he could survive.