Cameron Valparaiso's POV

Should I go with the toaster and the bald-guy on his laptop... or the waitress and the fireplace? It's a difficult choice. I'd like to say that I normally don't think about these things, but that would be a lie. Ever since middle school, when I discovered the joys of shooting spitballs at substitute teachers, well, the joyous part about my spitballs, is that they happened to make the substitute teacher make out with the white board that they were writing on. Very romantic. I never missed a target. Until now.

Back to the choices that I always have trouble making, whenever school's out, I always try to find a very public place where I can do my dirty work. Mwahaha! I guess that these are powers that I possess, well I don't really see the point of them other than to bring me great amusement. My favorite targets are people and inanimate objects. You'd be surprised how affectionate they can be with one another. But, I do have some decency, I never aim at unsuspecting, attractive girls looking my way because I'm chivalrous that way. I respect their feelings. But that was until I met her. I didn't mean too. I truly want to fall in love with someone for real, and vice versa, but you should've seen her! My mother would definitely punish me for my inconsiderate behavior if she found out... if.

I was really beginning to consider the waitress and the fireplace, until she entered the room. On instinct, I aimed at her without hesitation and fired. It would've hit her too, if the annoyingly handsome guy right next her hadn't caught it at the last second. His reflexes were like a ninja. Who did he think he was anyway? Her brother! Her boyfriend! I gotta know!

Immediately, he recoiled in disgust from the realization of what he just caught. You're very welcome random guy. Thankfully, he didn't turn my way, but at the waitress staring at the fireplace. That girl was in for a surprise. He swaggered her way like an over confident pirate, and leaned against the wall. Smiling a crooked grin that made the waitress blush, I couldn't hear what he was saying to her, but it must've worked because within ten seconds, they were kissing. Wow. I am a good match-maker. When they were finished, they exchanged numbers and he swaggered back over to my original target.

Then, a young red-headed girl burst through the door approached the two, then pointed at me. The creepiest part about it was that she was smiling at me like I was her favorite person in the world. I mean, I am pretty great, but I'm not into middle schoolers. I guess that it's not her fault that I'm this handsome. All three approached me, the girl I was aiming for did not look quite as happy to see me. Best way to describe her, red with unforgivable rage, but at the same she looked like she was trying her hardest not to crack up over the boy's display of affection. Guessing he's not her boyfriend. YES! And she has a sense of humor. DOUBLE YES!

They sat in the available couch next to me as I tried to focus on my cappuccino. The red-haired girl was closest to me, still smiling, my target was piercing me with a stormy stare, and lover boy was still sending kissy faces at the waitress, who was blushing madly.

My target was the first one to speak, "How long is this going to last?" While gesturing over to Romeo. I shrugged,"Thirty minutes max. An hour if we're lucky." She slapped Mr. Right when he started purring and clawing at the waitress playfully like a flirtatious cat.

She returned her gaze back to me, her eyes were like a thunderstorm, "Just so you know, my brother is so going to kill you when he snaps out of this. Isn't that right, Ian?" He waved her away then began making heart shaped gestures while pointing at himself and the waitress.

"So, what brings you to Holy Grounds Coffee House? Was it the cappuccinos?" I asked casually, trying to make conversation in the awkward situation. The middle schooler looked me in the eyes and responded in a knowing voice, "We came for you."

After that response, I was very tempted to go running out the door, screaming, "My mom's a lawyer!" But, I kept my composure and replied calmly, "Oh! That's nice." My voice may have come out a bit high-pitched. She reminded me why I hated middle school. A place where I was always uncomfortable.

I should explain my predicament. First of all, I only wear pink and red clothes. Is it by choice? Don't even ask me that! I loathe these colors, but I can never escape them. Any other color that I've ever tried to wear has turned these putrid colors. I look like a walking valentine! And trust me, Valentine's Day is my least favorite holiday. But, my clothes don't seem to realize that. Even at this moment, talking to this rather fine girl, I was wearing a red t-shirt, pink jeans, and red Converse. Once in a while, if I'm lucky, white is added to my color selection, but only before labor day. At the moment, I was safe with my Pepto-Bismol colored pant legs hidden behind a coffee table, so at least I don't look like a complete buffoon.

"So... Why have you come for me? Who even are you people?" I asked without really wanting an answer.The creepy ginger smiled as if she was making progress and answered cheerfully, "My name is Marie, and this is Ivy and Ian. We came because you need our help, and we need yours. There is a safe place out there for people like us, but until we have everyone, I won't be able to find it."

"What do you mean, 'people like us'? I'm not in any danger." I said, confused but secretly convinced that they were telling the truth. Marie gave me a look of pity, which made me feel like I was a child who didn't know any better. I knew I was different from other people, but I although I had powers and dressed out of the ordinary, I really did a stand up job for not drawing attention to myself.

Now, I was seen as possibly dangerous and needed to be sent away for being different because a fourteen year old told me to. I'm eighteen! I answer to myself now. College was just around the corner, I didn't need to be listening to this. Ivy must have saw my conflicted expression because she reached out and gently but her hand on mine, whispering,

"Listen, I know this sounds crazy. But, somehow this is the truth. My brother and I came all the way from Massachusetts to California to here because we know deep down that it's right. Just trust us."

I did. Really. Well, at least I trusted her, but before I could give response, her brother Ian snapped out of his enchantment."What's happening? Where am I? Who's he?" We ignored his questions and Ivy muttered, "About time." But, although they all seemed like nice enough people and they seemed to think I belonged with them, I knew my answer, "I'm sorry, but I'm fine where I am. If I'm in danger or am dangerous, well, that's my own business. Sorry that you wasted time coming up here, but I'm not interested." Marie's shoulder's sagged, Ivy wouldn't look me in the eyes, but Ian looked like a grenade whose pin had been pulled."What do you mean 'you're not interested'! No. That is not an option. You're coming with us. Gary can definitely handle the extra weight. Come on! Don't wait up!" He announced for the whole café to hear as he yanked me out of my chair, exposing my fuchsia jeans, which to my horror, Ivy snorted at. Now completely miserable, Ian dragged me outside, which caused me to spill my coffee along the way, his cruelty knew no ends.

But, hey, at least I met Gary. Whose Gary you wonder? Oh, only a monstrous boar that's been tackily spray painted gold. What's up with that? The only reason I didn't like Gary is because Ian was throwing me on him against my will. Unluckily for him, I was an only child who knew how to throw a temper tantrum, of course, it was more age appropriate. I just simply refused to stop laying on the ground, and every time Ian tried to pull me up, I would yell, "I will resist the Man!" Most people ignored us, thinking I was some random protestor, but a few of them actually shouted back at me,"You go! Fight for what you believe, man!"

Huh? Maybe they thought Gary was a bulldozer. I can see the resemblance. Ian was at the point of frustration where he was desperate enough to pull me onto Gary, military style. Who was this guy? A marine? By the time I was wrapped around his shoulders, Ivy and Marie had stumbled upon our situation. I didn't even want to know what it looked like to them. Ivy sighed and asked,"Is this even legal?"

"I'm just giving our buddy here a lift." Ian said, patting my leg in reassurance. I looked at Ivy with real fear in my eyes and exclaimed,

"I'm pretty sure there's nothing legal about kidnapping! I should know, my mom's a lawyer!"

"Oh, your mom and our dad would get along splendidly. He's a law professor at Harvard. Small world, isn't it?" Ian responded with a slightly crazed grin on his face.

It was at this moment, that I was positive that my face was going to be memorialized in a missing poster, but then I was saved by a flock of chicken ladies. But to my great pain, one of the female poultries landed on Ian, and with me still on his shoulders, I had quite the hard fall. Dazed on the hard cement, with Ian's head resting on my stomach while Ian got the whole KFC on his chest. You know, he looked cuter with her than he did with the waitress. Hopefully she wouldn't get jealous.Good news! Marie killed half of them with a golden crossbow, which caused the monsters to explode like piñatas with golden dust. I don't want to know how she got her hands on a weapon like that. Bad news! Ivy was flying away, more successfully kidnapped than me, with our new feathered friends.

She was definitely putting up quite the fight, causing all of her captors to lose a painful amount of plumage. Ouch.

"Dang! She's feisty. I like it." I said with admiration. Ian just coldly glared in my direction. Marie saved me though by cutting in and saying with purpose,

"We should probably save her."

"This wouldn't have happened if Mr. Valentine hadn't just cooperated." Ian growled.

"That's a low blow. Do you really think I have the magic ability to call down chicken ladies from the sky? I mean, that's a little far fetched even for me. And what do you mean by I should've cooperated? You were kidnapping me!" I yelled, trying to convince him of the lost logic in his statement. He just scowled at me and chased after the chicken ladies. Marie gave me a look and shrugged,

"You can come with if you want."

I really should've just ran right then and there, why I didn't, I still question to this day. But, with an exasperated sigh, I followed after Marie and Ian. Trying to reunite the three musketeers so they can properly kidnap me again. Maybe I should be questioning my own logic.

The, could be fried chicken, landed on top of an old, abandoned t-shirt factory. Once we broke in and made it to the roof, all we found were the remains... Oh, not of Ivy, in case you were worried about her well-being. What we found was Ivy, a small bronze sword in either hand, and piles of gold dust heaped around her. She had a wild look in her eyes, and I had no doubt that she had slayed all those creatures. Remind me not to get on her bad side. She made eye contact with Marie,

"I found some weapons. Can we keep them?" Ian calmly approached his sister and softly answered,"Sure we can, Ivy. Now let's put down the sharp weapons. Okay?" Ivy looked like a two year old who had been told to put her favorite toy away, but eventually she lowered her weapons and muttered, "Fine."

There was a nice array of weapons stock piled in the chicken nest. Ian looked like a kid on Christmas morning. Yep. Definitely a military brat. Who were the parents of these two? Definitely not NRA enthusiasts.

Ian immediately went for a three foot long bronze sword. He admired it, saying, "Nice. Could be useful for later." Giving me a look that made me feel about as safe as if he were literally pressing a gun against my forehead. Yeah, we were going to get along swimmingly.

"So. Are you going to run, because I will catch you, or are you coming along by your own free will?" Ian asked, twirling the sword in his palm like it was a baton.

Well, since there really was no escape, I changed my answer, "Ah, sure, why not? I've got nothing better to do." They all smiled at me like I'd finally done something right, then Marie picked up a bronze longbow and quiver full of bronze arrows and tossed the weapons over to me,"Here," she announced, "You'll need these. We're going to Nebraska."

I did not want to know what was waiting for us in Nebraska.