Chapter Five:

Rex sat down in his usual place in the back corner of the classroom. He was in his favorite class, History, but today he wasn't in the mood for learning about the past. He was more important things to worry about in the present.

Melissa's control was slipping more and more each day.

It had started last night with her hitting him and now she was going against the fearsome Timmy Hudson.

It scared Rex.

Was everyone he knew going to try to hurt him?

He laid his head back against the back of the chair and closed his eyes.

He had so much to think about. His life was spiraling downward. Melissa was loosing herself, which was really freaking him out. He wondered if she would be better in a week of if this would go on forever. He hoped for the first one.

His father was becoming more and more brutal by the day; soon Rex knew that something seriously terrible would happen to him. And Timmy Hudson was mentally destroying Rex too. He was hurt emotionally, physically and mentally. Rex felt dead. The only thing that stayed steady was the knowledge he accumulated so he clung to that small victory.

He pushed himself back up the chair as the bell rang for the beginning of the dreaded school day. He was so glad that Melissa wasn't in this class with him. He needed to thing without worrying about her snooping.

He looked around at the perfectly normal kids around with him, wondering if their lives were as confusing as his. He bet all his savings ($16.81) on the answer no.

He bet nobody else had an insane friend, and abusive father and a revengeful bully, only him.

He had never felt as lonely as he did then.

He needed to get off these depressing topics. He turned his thoughts to that girl with the Focus in the hall. What if Melissa was wrong? What if another Midnighter was in town? What talent would she have? He sure hoped she wouldn't be another mindcaster.

Even though frolicking around with Melissa at midnight was fun, they needed all the help they could get if they were going to crack midnight's code.

"Rex, are you listening?"

The teacher's voice split though Rex's bubble of thought. He glanced up at her. She flinched when she was the bruise on his cheek.

"Rex, do you feel okay?"

He stared at her, trying to understand what she was thinking? Was she wondering where the bruise came from? He hoped not. He already had a mindcaster digging in his life, he didn't need adults either.

"I'm fine." He answered coolly.

She nodded and asked "What's the First Amendment of the Constitution then?

Rex stared at her. "Um, the freedom of speech?" he guessed.

"Very good." The teacher nodded. Rex leaned back in his chair again.

Someone in front of him turned around, someone whose name he couldn't quite recall. She fixed him with a steely glare and he finally recognized it as Constanza Greyfoot. He ignored the comment and focused on the teacher. He had spent enough time in his head for one period, thank you very much!