"You can think what you like but I have a super power and I just need to find out what is is." We were walking around picking up trash and Nathan was still going on about his lack of power. "Maybe you're just super-retarded." Alisha called out obviously annoyed, I snorted in agreement not that anyone even noticed as Nathan continued. "Maybe I've got a Spider-Man vibe going on. Maybe I can climb stuff and do spider shit." Sick of the conversation Curtis sarcastically remarked "That makes perfect sense. Why would you be able to climb stuff?" I rolled my eyes as he responded "I don't know. How is it that you can turn back time, apparently? And weird kid can turn invisible?" I turned around in time to see Nathan bash his stick next to Simon's ear giving him a fright. "It's not like this whole situation is backed up by a wank-load of logic." It all went quiet as we started to actually started to do our jobs. Curtis broke the silence "What is that?" We all gathered around the guy on the ground. Abruptly Kelly turned and asked us "Is he breathing?" The thought of another dead body made me a little sick but Alisha didn't hesitate to poke him with her stick "Hey nude guy, you're naked!" He woke up turning around showing us all his package, there was surprised gasps as we all instinctively stepped back. The naked guy scrambled up and ran off as Nathan called out surprised "You!"
Alisha and Curtis started laughing, while I turned away from Nathan to see them I noticed Simon filming on his phone, I gently pushed his arm down giving him a strange look when Curtis still laughing spoke up "Do you want to tell us who that was?" Suddenly all attention was back on Nathan as he looked around panicked "He's my mum's- He lives with my mum." This got Kelly laughing as well "Your stepdad has got a massive cock." Nathan obviously wasn't happy rather awkwardly Simon and I started to pick up the rubbish as we were supposed to be doing while the other's continued. Nathan eventually shouted at the others "Shut up!" Kinda curious I spoke up "Why's he naked?" prompting Alisha to respond her eyes never leaving Nathan "He's obviously some kind of pervert or he's gay." Alisha and Curtis started to argue I just went back to picking up trash though it seemed Simon was contemplating something. "Maybe he's a werewolf." Of course, that's where his mind went. Nathan seemed to agree as he pointed his stick at Simon "Twat." Rather defensively Simon explained himself "It's what happens in films." He looked around for confirmation "You turn into a werewolf, you kill someone, then you wake-up somewhere, naked - like a zoo." I felt kinda bad so I asked a simple question "Was there even a full moon last night? I thought werewolves only turned on the full moon." The idea that anyone was taking it seriously seemed to piss Nathan off "He's not a werewolf. OK? This guy is such a pussy, he needs my mum to open jars for him. If was a werewolf he'd be able to open a jar of peanut butter for himself." Kelly spoke up seemingly a beacon for logic "What happens if the storm messed him up?" I raised my eyebrows in agreement, "She's right, we can't be the only ones it affected." Nathan shook his head "That's bollocks. What are the chances?"
"Help out. Talk to them. Make sure everyone's having a good time." We were allowed to wear our normal clothes today instead of the orange jumpsuits we usually wore while doing our community service since it was a senior center dance today. No one was impressed as Sally explained it and since no one jumped into action she raised her voice just a bit obviously frustrated "Move!" With a huff we all walked off to do menial tasks for the people currently occupying the community center. I had no real interest in dancing or conversation with a stranger so instead I dragged Simon on to the make shift dance floor with me. "I-I think we're supposed to be helping with-with the elders." He said worriedly looking around for Sally who seemed to be talking to Alisha. Rolling my eyes in response "Chill out, she wanted us to make sure everyone was having a good time and I am, aren't you?" He seemed to contemplate it and after a quick glace around proceeded to very awkwardly dance with me. After the song was over he seemed insistent that we actually do our community service much to my disgust, I gave a little sarcastic curtsy and walked off to the tea station where Alisha was standing. She looked up in alarm as I approached but seem to calm realizing it wasn't Sally. I suddenly felt quite awkward and managed a quiet hey before realizing we'd never really talked to each other before. She rather solemnly nodded her head in response I stood there waiting for her elaborate and eventually she looked off to the side and said with a sigh. "I just, I can't touch anyone. A dance, it isn't much fun anymore."
We were all just standing around after the dance when Curtis turned around panicked "Someone knows. They know we killed our probation worker." It was a serious concern none of us had really thought of a witness. "Is this a wind up? Is this you?" Kelly shouted pointing at Nathan who looked offended "If I was trying to wind you up, I think I'd be a little more creative. 'I know what film you saw last summer.' If I wanted to freak you out, I would've dug up the body and stuck that in your locker." Simon looked between Curtis and Nathan asking the question we all feared "If it wasn't him, who was it?" Nathan of course couldn't take it seriously "Well, we've all done stuff. They could be talking about anything. It was in your locker." Curtis looked to the rest of us for support "This was meant for all of us. They're talking about the probation worker." Nathan decided to take the piss "Let's say you're right. If they actually knew anything, they wouldn't be dicking around sticking notes on lockers. They would've gone to the police. And we'd all be banged up in prison, getting gang-raped in the showers." He started thrusting as if we needed visual evidence before walking up to Curtis "But this, this means that they have no evidence. No proof. Nothing. I'm guessing it's about some other totally unrelated shit that you've done. So, if we're all done freaking out here, over nothing, there's somewhere I need to be." He slapped Curtis on the arm and left the rest of standing there wondering what to do. "Please tell me you don't actually believe that prick?" Something really was off but what was I supposed to say, Kelly spoke up saving the rest of us from having to respond "Whoever did it is just trying to freak us out, we just act normal." We all stopped to look at the ground unable to answer. He left angry at the rest of us I quickly looked up to see Simon looking at me. I stopped for a second simply staring back worried evident on both our faces. Then I just turned around closing my own locker and left.
Next day we're all hanging out in the community center we're supposed to be setting out a bunch of chairs but only Curtis and Simon were really doing anything I'd moved around a few chairs but eventually decided just to sit in one and watch the others work. Suddenly Nathan rushed over to Simon and held out his phone "Here, look." He started pointing to part of a picture "Cock, anus, ball-sack yeah?" Simon smiled at him, I couldn't tell if it was cause he was glad to be included or if he found Nathan's desperation funny. "What's that?" Nathan was exasperated "That's cock. Look, this guy is living with my mum. We've got to do something." Kelly started to rearrange some of the chairs "Like what?" Nathan started to seem a little crazy "Can you get me a gun?" Kelly was ready to laugh at the idea "I ain't getting you a gun." But Nathan persisted, "C'mon. Just a little one. Nothing too lairy." Kelly spoke slowly as if to help Nathan understand her better. "There's no way I'm getting a dickhead like you a gun." Simon had started filming again and seemingly tried to help Nathan "You can get a gun off the internet." Only to be ignored as Nathan started making plans "What if we go round there tonight, talk to him? We'll be mature and polite, yeah? Then we'll just tell him to fuck off." Without any hesitation I spoke "What if he says no?" It didn't phase him at all "I don't know. We'll improvise. So, who's with me?" No one spoke we just looked at each other in a 'is he being serious right now?' manner. "It's like that, is it? So much for being united by a horrific, life changing, shared experience. Last week? You know? The situation. We killed our probation worker!" I'd finally had enough "God, you're such a dickhead." Nathan glared at me for a second "That counts for nothing?" Simon put his phone down "I'll come with you. You know, if you want someone to go with you. I'll come." I shook my head in disbelief as Nathan replied in the same dickish manner he always took with Simon "I'm not being funny but, me and you, buddying up kicking ass! I'm just not feeling it, but, hey. Lovely thought. Cheers." Nathan sat down as I went to pat Simon on the shoulder, a kind of don't listen to him gesture but it pissed Nathan off more "Yeah sure, make sure weird kid's alright but just leave me to handle this alone."
Us girls had gone to get changed, no idea what the guys were up to but we were just ready to get out of there. Suddenly Alisha noticed a tattoo on Kelly "Did that hurt?" I stopped getting changed for a moment to get a better look at it. A little bow like a tramp stamp. Remembering she could read my mind I looked at her face apologizing in my head 'Sorry, I wasn't trying to insult you, just the name.' She shook it off not insulted or anything and replied to Alisha "Yeah, hurt like a bastard. I only got it done cos my fiance wanted it." Once again I turned to look at her "Are you engaged?" rather surprised it hadn't come up at any point in the past week. "I was. I'm not any more." We were both curious Alisha asked her another question "Why, what happened?" Kelly didn't seemed phased at all and just continued putting on a shirt prompting us to do the same. She started to explain but I felt something on the back of my neck, curiously I put my hand there but felt nothing. I had forgotten about my shirt at this point and had turned around looking for the source. There wasn't anything I could see so I shrugged it off and finished getting changed. The other's had continued the conversation not even realizing I had been distracted as they waited at the door Kelly asked me "Have you?" My confusion must have been obvious because Alisha abruptly burst out "Ya know shagged anyone, recently? Like since you got your powers" Still unsure I took a last look around before catching up to them, "Nah, but mine doesn't really make much of a difference does it, I think I might be getting better at controlling it though."
I had been practicing shifting in the mirror I'd figured out the easiest way to turn back into me was to get angry but it was interesting trying to find was of triggering a transformation. I'd been trying to find a way to turn into someone on command but so far I had only really been using emotions to try and trigger it. I'd just managed to shift back to me from an older looking woman when Alisha walked in upset. Concerned I went to ask what had happened as Sally the probation worker waked in "Are you ok? I'll sort all this out for you. If you want to complain I'll back you up." I looked at her worried but she reassured us she was fine simply saying "I just want to forget it." Sally looked at Alisha almost with pity as I kind of backed off not wanting to intrude. "You seem to have quite an effect on men. You're a very beautiful girl." Alisha played it off like she was annoyed but I got the idea that it was harder for her to deal with her power than she wanted us to know "It's not my fault if they can't keep their dicks in their trousers." It didn't seem to fool Sally either as she insisted I" am here. You know, if anything like that happens, or if you're worried about anything." She turned to look at me standing quietly in the corner, I looked down at the ground almost in shame. "You can talk to me. I'll give you my mobile number." Alisha walked off shaking her head, I looked at Sally feeling kind of sorry as she'd only tried to help but I quickly followed Alisha back out.
It was time for the senior citizens to have another one of their dances, we were all in much better spirits today, Alisha had found a way to dance by just being very careful with her skin. Kelly was doing some kind of weird robot rapper moves which very nearly made me burst out with laughter. Curtis was teaching some more modern style dancing while Simon continued his almost awkward dancing with the woman from last week, it was actually kind of cute. A fewer of the older couples were up dancing and I had decided to just continue my work at the tea station like last time. I had noticed Nathan sitting alone looking upset so I brought him over a cup. "You okay?" I asked quietly afraid I'd frighten him or even worse he'd take the chance to make fun of me. He looked up at me defeated so I held out the drink showing him that I wasn't here to make fun of him, when he must've seen something over my shoulder he looked over his shoulder seemingly scared he shook his head at me and ran off. I looked behind me to see an old woman who seemed kind enough looking after Nathan seemingly upset. Kelly caught my eye having seen Nathan run out of the building she gestured for us to follow after him so I handed the cup to the old woman smiling while she seemed to just stare at it sadly and followed Kelly and the others out.
We found Nathan sitting under the freeway smoking, curiously I told him about the lady. "Some old woman was looking for you." He looked awkwardly off to the side strangely quiet when Kelly burst out accusingly "You shagged her!" Rather rushed he responded trying to seem like his usual self "Yeah. Yeah, nice one. I gave her a right good seeing to." Everyone started to voice their disbelief at his obvious attempt at a cover up "You totally screwed her." "You nailed that old woman?" "That is wrong." "Did you enjoy it?" Nathan might've put up with the rest of us but he saw Simon as a target lashing out at him "Shut up, you little freak." Some part of me wanted to stand up for Simon but I felt bad for Nathan instead Simon went on "I think he did." Curtis cried out disgusted "Are you into that?" Nathan made another attempt to defend himself "She didn't look like that when we started, OK? You remember that bird Ruth, from Tuesday? Beautiful." As I focused on remembering her I felt the pain that came with shifting. No one had noticed me just yet as Nathan had continued his story. Everyone started to make fun of him while I just looked at myself in disbelief forgetting all about Nathan . I think I might've found out how to transform.
We were back in the locker room a couple of days later and Nathan had just finished telling us the story about the 'guy his mum lives with.' Kelly commented sightly annoyed that we hadn't believed her earlier "I told you there'd be other people who got messed up by the storm. And you didn't believe me." Nathan actually apologized though he seemed kind of annoyed. "Yeah, well, I was wrong, wasn't I? There's a hurricane of weird shit out there." Simon suddenly spoke up "We-we need to be ready for when they come after us." Confused I turned around questioning him "What're you talking about?" Matter of factly he simply replied "The other people, who got caught up in the storm." Curtis looked straight at him "Why would they come after us?" I started to realize what he was getting at, just another comic story. "Because that's what people do." In an act of comfort I tried to explain how I'd been training to control my shape shifting when all of a sudden Nathan called out, concern laced in his voice "You know that note you found in your locker? I think it was talking about the probation worker." We all gathered around Nathan's locker to see one of the missing posters for Tony with black marker written on it simple stating 'I know' Holy shit.
*This chapter is based on Season 1 Episode 2 of British Television Drama Misfits I wrote it purely out of passion so it isn't perfect or an attempt to steal any works from Howard Overman or anyone else*