Chapter 12

Alex crumpled down onto the grass. He pulled his knees to his chest and waited a moment. He finally controlled himself enough to release his knees and look around. He was alone or at least he hoped.

Alex stood in the middle of the open field and took a deep breath. He lowered his head and stared at the grass beneath his feet. His hands extended slightly he opened his palms and looked up at the sky. He could feel the warmth of the suns rays as he prepared himself.

He hated this. It was like his very own curse. He felt as if his power controlled him and he simply watched as an innocent bystander.

The electricity had balled itself up inside of him. It had stopped its relentless crusade at escaping. Alex knew, however, that it was only due to the lack of electrical devices and people around him. He had to let it out before he returned with Jacoby.

Alex closed his eyes slowly. Concentrated. Then his eye lids snapped open and in a whirlwind of blue light the electricity escaped through his palms. His hair sparked furiously and his eyes burned. He ground his teeth in a slight sneer and glared at the empty field before him.

As quickly as it began everything stopped. Alex's arms went limp against his sides and he gasped as he fell to the grass. The glow of his eyes flickered out, making his irises an eerie gray color, and he hit the ground.

He stood carefully, and steadied his self. His thoughts cleared immediately. Jacoby would be back for him in a matter of seconds.

He was right.

Jacoby appeared suddenly in front of Alex causing him to stumble backwards. Alex tripped and fell when Jacoby caught him unexpectedly from behind.

"You ok, kid?" He asked laying Alex on the grass.

Alex nodded. He was weak from the sudden release of energy. But he would recover, he always did. His head throbbed.

Jacoby laughed and messed with Alex's hair. Alex blinked; the glow had slightly returned to his eyes.

This had happened countless times back in Australia and both him and Jacoby were aware of the routine. Jacoby didn't blame him, however, he was still a young mutant and it was expected. He only had his power for three years but he had made considerable progress with it. Sadly, he still couldn't control it at times. Jacoby, on the other hand, has had his power for seven years. He is fully capable of controlling them…most of the time.

Alex heaved up off of the ground and propped his head on his knees. The world seemed to tip.

"Are you ready?" Asked Jacoby, "Cassie is probably worried."

Alex attempted to stand. Jacoby helped him get his bearings.

"Ok. Breath." He said quietly. And they were gone.

They reappeared back at the school where Jacoby had left Cassie. She sat against the lockers waiting patiently.

Jacoby landed and let go of Alex, who faltered backwards. Cassie ran to catch him but he hit the carpet with a thud. Jacoby looked back at Alex apologetically

"Sorry, Habit." He said holding out a hand and helping Alex to his feet.

Alex swayed and kept one arm on Jacoby's shoulder. He rubbed his face with the other. "We probably just need to go home for the day." He said.

"Angela will be pissed." Said Cassie.

"Yea, but I can't just waltz back into that death room." He stated. "Angela will have to call and have them change my schedule."

"I can't leave." She said quickly. "I'm going to be in trouble with my dad already. I'll see you guys later." She said, turning to walk away. "I'm glad our okay Alex." She called and retreated around a corner.

"Bye" Said Alex and Jacoby in unison.

"Come on." Said Jacoby. "I'll explain to Angela for you." He put his arm around Alex's shoulder.

"Yea." Said Alex. He knew, however, Angela was going to be pissed.

Jacoby and Alex appeared in front of Angela's house. Alex gulped. He took a step for the door and opened it suddenly.

"Angela?" He called taking a step in, motioning for Jacoby to do the same.

Someone rounded the corner and Jacoby jumped. It was Naima.

Alex stared at her. She returned the favor and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Feel better?" Asked Alex as he started to walk past her.

"I feel fine." Said Naima following him.

"Where's Angela?"

Naima looked back at Jacoby who merely followed Alex into the kitchen. "She went to the grocery store." Stated Naima. "Why are you back so early?"

Alex leaned on the counter. "I had a problem." He said plainly.

"Who's that?" She said jabbing her finger towards Jacoby.

"This is Jacoby one of the blokes I hung out with down under."

Naima laughed. Down under. "How did he get here?"

"Wanna show her?" Asked Alex.

"Sure." Said Jacoby with a smile. He vanished and appeared beside Naima.

"Oh." Said Naima. "That's cool." She stared with her eyebrow raised.

Jacoby jumped back beside Alex.

Naima stared at them both incredulously. "What happened today?"

"Nothing of interest." Said Alex smiling.

"Tell me or…"

"Or what?" Said Alex moving in front of Naima.

"What is your problem?" She asked.

"Your bloody boyfriend. That's my problem." He said getting closer and closer to her.

"There's nothing wrong with him." She said shyly.

Alex gave a blank stare. "Yes. Getting you drunk and forcing his self on you is perfectly sweet. The perfect gentleman."

Naima gasped. She walked up to him and slapped him hard across the face. Alex's head turned. Naima stepped back with a kind smile. "Thank you."

Jacoby and Alex stared at her confused. "What?"

"Thank you for getting me away from him when you did. I wasn't myself."

Alex rubbed his cheek. "Was that necessary?"

"No." She said plainly and kissed his still red cheek.

Alex stood there and looked at her with wide eyes. "Are you ok?" He asked.

Naima just laughed. "Yea. I just thought you deserved it." She smiled. "You have to keep that between us though. We don't want Nathan to…"

"Your going back to him." Alex interrupted his smile faded.

"Well, duh." She said. "He's not like that all the time. He's coming over this afternoon. I already texted him."

Alex groaned. "Oh." He said stiffly. He shouldered past Naima to his room.

Jacoby looked at Naima and followed Alex close behind.

Midnight was laying on the bed when Alex walked into his room. Alex plopped on the bed beside her. Jacoby appeared on the opposite side of her on the bed.

"Women" Said Alex as he stroked Midnight's ear.

"Women." Agreed Jacoby as he pet midnight.

Angela arrived home an hour later. Naima met her at the door and explained that Alex had come home.

Angela raised her eyebrow. "He what?"

"He's in his room right now, with some mutant he picked up back in Australia." Said Naima.

"Hang on." Said Angela as she headed back towards Alex's room. Her high heels clicking on the hard tile floor.

Alex jumped off the bed and crossed his arms. Angela walked in.

"Why are you home?" She asked angrily.

"I had a problem." Replied Alex. Jacoby sat up off the bed and looked at Angela.

"It better have been a damn good problem, and who is that?" Her voice boomed.

Alex stepped back. "Uh… This is Jacoby. He's one of my friends from Australia. He teleports." He explained motioning towards Jacoby.

Angela glared at Jacoby and he laid back down quickly. "Is he why you came home? Because if he was I swear…"

"No! Angela no. He wasn't."

"Then tell me why you're here and not at school?!"

Alex sighed and sat down on the bed. He stared at the floor thinking of a good way to explain what had happened.

Angela put her hand on her hip and tapped her foot. "I'm waiting."

"I… I don't know how to explain it."

Jacoby sat up. "Hi." He said smiling. "Alex lost control of his power. I wasn't there but I helped him calm down."

The room went quiet. "Alex, is this true?"

Alex stared wide eyed at Angela. She could have sworn she saw fear on his face.

"I'm sorry." He said quickly as he stood.

"It's ok Alex." She said carefully. "Just sit down."

Alex sat.

"What's wrong with you?" Asked Angela.

"Nothing."

"Jacoby… That's your name right?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Ok well you come back in an hour ok? I need to talk to Alex."

Jacoby nodded and vanished.

Silence filled the room. Alex moved to the middle of the bed and pulled his legs to his chest. Midnight watched him and he reached out to stroke her ear.

Angela moved over to the bed and sat near Alex's feet.

"I don't think I've done my job as your guardian." Said Angela.

Alex looked up. "What do you mean? You've been very good to me. I mean…"

"Yes I've given you food and shelter." She stated. "But I forgot your just a kid. I looked at you as a business endeavor."

Alex groaned. "Believe me Angela you've been the best guardian I've ever had."

"Thank you… I guess… You see that's what I was getting at. I want to know more about you. I know that your…." She paused. "Biological parents died." Alex Flinched. "But I don't know very much about the other families you stayed with or what happened when you got your power."

"Yea." Said Alex.

"So lets start from the beginning. Just tell me what you remember about your families." Said Angela.

"Angela… I." He sighed. "I don't like talking about this stuff okay?"

"Maybe it will help you if you did?"

I doubt that. He thought. "Yea."

"When your ready." She said as she scooted herself farther onto the bed and crossed her legs.

Which will be never. "Ok."

Angela waited nearly ten minutes before Alex actually opened his mouth to speak.

"Ok. I give." He sighed. "Your not going to let me go until I tell you are you?" Said Alex as he looked at her through his hair and smiled sadly.

"I don't think so." She said giving him a smirk.

"Damn. Ok." He paused thinking about where to begin. "Well, when I was five I was orphaned. My parents and my baby sister were hit by a drunk driver on there way to pick me up from a birthday party." Alex stopped for a moment and took a deep breathe. "Then I was sent to live with my grandma, who passed away two years later. I was then put into foster care. The first family was okay but once my mother became pregnant they decided they didn't need an 8 year old boy hanging around. So, off I went to a new family." Alex clenched his teeth. "The Parsons. They were perhaps the worst family. They had one biological kid who was two yeas older than me. I was pretty much an outcast. I did what they told me too and never asked questions… I"

"They couldn't have been too bad." interrupted Angela.

Alex squinted at her angrily. "They beat me." He said as he got up to leave. His eyes were flaming.

"Where are you going?" Asked Angela as she grabbed his arm.

Alex quickly shocked her off. "I'm going out. Anywhere." He said simply.

Angela stopped "I'm sorry I didn't mean to make you upset." She let him walk away.

Alex made it into the kitchen and Naima stopped him. "Hey, what's the matter?" She called.

"Nothing." He said calmly walking out of the front door.

Alex grabbed the piece of sheet metal he had used earlier that day and flew.