Every eye, even those who tried not to look, was on me. I could hear snickers, whispers of pity and scoffs as they passed by.

I tired compose my self - act cool - but I just felt robotic. I walked again on the side of the hallway, not to bump into anyone, with my head down but I could still see and feel people eyes on me.

Oh god this blows, after reading my hand for my homework, getting all my shit together I head off to the bus and giving a fake smile to the cheery bus driver I sat down and prepared for an awesome bus ride home.

People were still boarding the bus when I realized I was early, and then again I did practically run to my locker then to the bus. I was on the verge of a daydream when a boy's voice asked me if the seat next to me was available.

"Sure," I removed my bag from the seat and shoved it by my feet with more brutality than necessary.

"Hi, name's Dustin." His hand was out for a handshake.

"Uhh, it's Via" I awkwardly took his hand.

"ohh, So you're the new kid?"

"You make that sound bad" he chuckled a soft laugh at my lame joke.

"I saw you in gym today, do you have a partner for tomorrow?"

"Partner?"

"Yea," he said like I was stupid, "for Save the Citizen"

"I got in trouble for not paying attention, so I do even know how to play it."

"Really?"

"I have only known about this school and my power for about a month, so can you please just tell, with out making me feel like an idiot, before I have to look like a complete fool in front of the whole school?" I pleaded.

"I'm sorry", he put his hands up in surrender, "it's just funny."

I tired giving him a warning look.

"Well see, there are two teams; the Villains and the Heroes." I nodded when he looked up at me. "In the centre of the arena, there is this huge machine that has these spinning, crazy sharp blades and there is this doll, or citizen if you will, that you have to save from being cut up to pieces from those blades and you being the Hero, so you have to stop the citizen from being 'killed'" he made air quotes, "but the Villains are gonna try and stop you from saving the citizen, ¿comprende, amiga?"

"Sure, I hope so. But you said something about a partner"

"Well yea, two Heroes and two Villains" he leaned back into his seat.

"But I don't have a partner…" I started to panic, and apparently it was obvious.

"Relax… Coach Boomer isn't that mean,… well actually" he looked over at me, I was still panicking," just messin' with ya.

Don't need to have a heart attack on me, just ask someone to be you're partner." he gave me a friendly punch on the shoulder.

"But… but I don't even know anybody"

"You just met me"

"Yea, but…"

"yea but what…?" he said in mock offence. "Are you too good for me - being a level five and all?"

"Arrgh" I cried in aggravation, "I don't understand this school."

"Here dude, I will be your partner and you won't have to do a thing, I've played Save the Citizen loads of times I know what I'm doing" he bragged, "all you have to do is stand still and look pretty."

"I will make some contribution…" he raised his eyebrow in disbelief.

"I will try."

"Oh, this is my stop"

"What?"

"My stop, where I get off" he pointed. I followed his to the window and realized it was my stop too - there was my bench and the oak tree.

"Oh wait it's mine too" I didn't even remember the flying part or the big strapping buckles either – I must of imagined it this morning.

We walked down the street, a few moments not saying anything. Standing up I saw he was maybe 6 feet tall. His lanky form was hardly hidden under a tight white and yellow hoodie, his hands were in pockets of his blue jeans. His light brown-orangeish hair was held down by a blue baseball cap.

"So Via, where did you live before this?" thankfully he broke the silence

"You know the Jacobine Carvier cars?"

"Yea, man those are nice cars, my dad has one. A red Maltrix-Altrav."

"Well my Grandfather, Jacobine Carvier, was the founder, so my family has the luxury of traveling the world. The last place we were was London, England" I probably sounded bitter, for obvious reasons.

"The only reason why we came here was for school...I was home schooled by Janette, my mom".

"What about you…Dustin?" I nearly forgot his name.

"Well my Dad, Dr. Gram , is the best lawyer in New York…" he was very proud of this. And now I understood how his father could afford his red Maltrix-Altrav.

But his big grin faded "…and my mom – she was the super, who I got my powers from – she died in battle, fighting Baron Battle." He stared forward, I had the impression him and his mother were close.

"Oh, I'm sorry" whispered loud enough form him to hear.

"Nahh" he shrugged, "you didn't know, besides Baron Battle's in jail; for all the crap he did."

Again we walked in silence. I didn't know what to say in response to what he told me and he was probably thinking of his mom.

"Oh here is my house!" I almost passed it, it seems so unfamiliar. He looked up, startled by my voice.

"Ha, you move in to the Norman's house?" he chuckled, his face bright again, I couldn't help but smile.

"Why? Is it haunted?" I asked trying to look scared

"Oh yea… there are tons of ghosts in there, the worst kind too. Mr. Norman will eat your toes if you don't wear socks." He played a long.

"Oh really? Well then I will have to remember to always put some on."

"You better or the guys at school will be calling you the toe-less wonder."

"Ha, ha. You're so funny." I said monotone. We were finally at my door and I was about to say my goodbye when instead I asked "so you must live near, right?"

"Yea. See that white house over there" he pointed two houses over and across the street

"Look there's your dad's red Mal-thingymabob…"

"Maltrix-Altrav" he corrected.

"Yeah, I know squat about cars"

"That's groovy, I'll teach yea."

"hhmm, sure. Good luck with that."

"so", he hesitated "so will I see you tomorrow? Like on the bus?"

"I don't see why not."

"Cool" he seemed happy, "well I have to go, gotta friend comin' over." He started to make his way to the sidewalk and I was opening my front door when he yelled,

"Hey! Now you know where I live, you should come over, to hang. Don't worry about tomorrow, I won't let you die and we will save that stupid doll!"

"Thanks" I called back and waved goodbye.

"And who was that?" Janette asked when I got inside.

"Mom, were you spying on me?"

"Well, maybe I was but it was not my fault, I was sitting here and the window was open. You two just have very loud voices."

"Sure, well I'm gonna go and drop off my crud here and do my wondrous homework. Where is Dad?"

"Oh he's over at the neighbor's getting to know him"

"Why are you not over there?"

"Well the man's a widow and very boring honey, Scott was having fun."

"I see kay, well I'm off" I ran up two sets of huge stairs - this house was massive.

"Don't forget to feed Oliver and we are going to speak to you about your day at dinner. I'm making your favorite; samosas." Janette called form below.

In my room I dropped off all my junk and got the fish food and walked over to his tank. "Hello Oliver" I said to the goldfish.

"Here, some food for you. Sorry I didn't say hello this morning I was in a rush. It was my first day of school and I already got in trouble with my gym teacher but I did make a friend, his name his Dustin, he's very nice and funny. But I won't forget you, you'll still be my best friend, kay? But now I have a shit load of homework for Mr. Kinners."