Getting out of the bathroom, we easily integrated with the rest of the students as if nothing had happened. No more words were exchanged between us, with my classroom nearing, I gave him a nod, which he reciprocated and with that as farewell, I entered my classroom.
He seemed like an interesting guy, or he would have been, if I didn't get my powers. What would have deeply intrigued me before, now seemed like mild curiosity. Oh well, if I see him again, I'll ask what that was about.
"Hey Mark, over here!" A familiar, unfortunately, classmate yelled across the classroom as multiple pairs of eyes turned towards us, briefly looking back and forth. With me being the only person entering at the moment, it was a no brainer who he was referring to. With most of the students having observed what just transpired, there was no choice for me but to approach him, so I did.
Wouldn't want rumors about me being a rude or unsociable person spreading around.
"Hey, Will…?" Taking the seat beside him, I greeted him back, or tried to as I couldn't quite remember his name.
"Oh, nice, we are in the nickname phase now? Sorry, but I don't think I can shorten your name any further," he explained with a smile. I was unsure of whether he missed my questioning tone, or he was just a very clueless person.
"Mark is just fine," I ignored his question in hopes he wouldn't create a nickname for me.
"Hmmm, if you say so," he agreed, although it seemed as if he was thinking about one.
"The teacher had to go to the bathroom, so they won't be back for a while. This is the perfect time to get to know each other better, so… how's your first day of school been so far?" William, now I remembered his name, explained.
His words made me anxious. Had the teacher found out about the fight already? How?
I took a deep breath to calm down, as I doubted there were any witnesses who had physical proof I was there.
Having relaxed, I proceeded to begin telling him how my day had been, we didn't make much talk past that, as the teacher had finally returned to the classroom.
"Settle down children, class is now in session." An almost elderly lady stated as she took her seat in front of everyone. She didn't look worried or particularly afflicted by something, my worries disappeared as she began explaining what we would do today.
Lunch had just started and I was walking towards where I thought was the cafeteria. Countless people were in groups, chatting and laughing.
A dark-skinned girl was walking past me, tray with food in hand, unaware of the commotion near her. A group of guys laughing and shoving each other. Predictably, one of the guys gets shoved towards her, hitting her, causing her tray to slip out of her hands.
"Hey-!" She yelled at the action. With a fast movement, I got closer to her, one hand stabilizing her, the other catching her food without spilling a single thing.
Dark eyes widened in surprise; her face stunned as she looked at me. A rosy tint appearing on her dark colored cheeks, contrasting beautifully.
"…wow." I heard her mutter, still looking at me. I let a smile grace my face.
"Hey, are you okay?"
"Huh? Oh- yeah, yes. I am now, thank you," her face lost that stunned look as she reciprocated my smile.
I didn't know what else to say and not wanting to be endure being through an awkward silence, I decided to take my leave.
"I need to grab my lunch. Take care," I explained as I turned to walk away. I didn't make it past three steps when, "Hey, wait!" A lithe hand, with a surprisingly firm grip, held my arm to prevent me from moving further. I turned back, facing her.
She held a black marker on her right hand.
"Can I write on your hand?" She asked while giving me a look I couldn't quite be certain what it meant. "Sure." I responded, curious as to whether she was going to do what I thought she would.
She did.
"I'm really thankful for helping me back there, I would like to get to know you more, call me when you can okay?" She capped her pen and stepped away from me.
"I will, er- what's your name?" I realized then, that I got a girl's number without even knowing her name. On my first day of school too.
"I'm Amber, and you?" she introduced herself, looking slightly embarrassed, she gave a boy her number without even introducing herself.
"Mark," I replied curtly, she nodded.
"Then, see you later, Mark." With a wink and a slightly flirtatious smile, she turned quickly which made her hair almost hit me, she walked towards a group of girls.
Her friends I reasoned.
I couldn't recognize anyone during lunch, not from my previous schools or anything. There were countless people in the cafeteria, it took about 10 minutes of being in line to finally get my lunch. It was bread with tomato and cheese that resembled a pizza.
I refused to call that mess an actual pizza. Yet, it was arguably the best thing on the menu.
With nobody that I knew near me, I had two choices. One, sit someplace quiet and spent my lunch alone. Two, find a group of people to hopefully make friends with. I knew that if I choose option one, I would probably spend a lonely first year of high school. No way I wanted that.
With my decision made, I looked around the lunch tables to find who to sit with. There were the stereotypical types of groups, from watching various high school shows, I already knew which group to sit with. While they may be seem as bullies and jocks, normally for a good reason, they were almost always portrayed as the 'coolest' bunch. I would sit with the football players. While I'm not great at football, I knew that you had to be strong to be a good player.
Am I strong? Yes, inhumanely so.
I had confidence I would be the best player and due to that I would become very good friends with the team and most likely the rest of the school.
It wasn't that hard to find them, mostly white, tall dudes, who looked decently buffed, yet not ridiculously. Some were already wearing what I assumed were the school team's football shirts.
"Hey, do you guys' mind if I sit here?" The group stopped talking and turned towards me. Their gazes studying me.
"Sure, go ahead man," the buffest guy in the group replied.
"Thanks," I replied sitting across him. "Are you all in the football team?" I asked, it was important to make a conversation before they just ignore my presence.
"Us three are, these two are looking to join this year," the same guy who had replied to me earlier responded. "That's cool, I was looking to join this year as well, I'm a freshman." With my words, I noticed the rest of the group pay more attention towards me. Whereas before, they only acknowledged my presence but seemed to prefer not to talk.
"That's great, I'm Jake, I'm also a freshman." One of the guys looking to join said. He had dark brown hair and brown eyes. "John," the other looking to join also introduced himself, he seemed peculiar as he had dark hair with red tips and brown eyes. "I'm Blake," the guy who had allowed me to sit with them, introduced himself with a wave, "These are Finn and James," Blake introduced his teammates who also waved and grinned at me. Finn and James look almost identical, except one was a few inches taller than the other.
"I'm Mark." I introduced myself, giving my most into making my words convey power.
It seemed to surprise them by the look on their faces. Blake's grin widened, "It's going to be great to have you on the team Mark."
Seemingly accepted into their group, we all continued talking. I had a great lunch.
Photography class had more students than I would have thought, there were at least forty students here.
"And here I thought you would find photography fun." Samantha said as greeting. She placed her stuff and settled into the seat next to me. "Class hasn't even started yet," I replied, not raising my head from the desk.
"Yet, you don't look excited for it."
"I don't think we'll do anything fun the first day,"
Or any day, he refrained from saying.
"You never know," she continued arguing. About what? I don't even know anymore.
"Trust me, I know Samantha." I had been attending this government facility called 'school' for eight years, I think I'm pretty knowledgeable about it.
"Oh, I don't go by Samantha, I go by Eve." At this I did raise my head.
"Really? Why?" I thought Samantha was her first name. She shrugged, "I just like it better."
"Alright, Eve." She smiled.
The class started, the first half of the period was the teacher introducing himself and explaining about the class. After he left us to our own devices to enjoy the rest of the period, I noticed him approaching me. A green paper was on his hand as he passed it to me.
"Mr. Greyson, here, please go to the main office." The teacher said before leaving.
The note read: 'Mark Greyson, head to the principal's office, immediately.'
Well, fuck.
Eve gave me a curious look. "Did you do something?"
"I don't know," I responded, hoping that was the truth.
I grabbed my bag and left towards the office. It was easy to spot the principal's office, since it was easily the biggest room besides the main office. The big, bold words that said 'Principal's office' on a door, also helped.
I knocked on the door, "Come in." I heard from inside. Slowly opening the door, I saw the principal. He was an unremarkable man, with mostly grey hair.
"Sir, you asked to see me?" I asked while closing the door behind me.
"Take a seat," he signaled towards a seat in front of him. Complying with him, I sat down.
"Three students claim you ambushed them in the bathroom and beat them up." I flinched, I thought he would ease into the topic, not directly state it.
"I've never done that sir." I was there the whole time and didn't see any of guys in the bathroom take a picture of me, I will deny everything.
The principal sighed while frowning. "Thought you would say that."
"There isn't any evidence against you," he continued "However, it's three against one. So, I'm going to have to call your parents so they can help 'solve' this situation."
"I understand," I responded, there wasn't much else for me to say. I beat up three dudes and got away with it.
"I just called for you to tell you that, you may leave now."
Wordlessly, I stood and headed outside. "Mr. Greyson-" his voice stopped me just as I reached the door. "Do try not to get involved in any more fights." He gave me a knowing look, then went back to look at his computer. I finally stepped out of his office.
Well, that went great. I exited school through the main office. School had ended recently, so I was free to go home. Before I could try and find some secluded place to fly away, I noticed Eve walking a few meters away.
I suppose I don't have to head home right away.
"Eve wait up!" I yelled while running towards her. She looked at me and stopped walking.
"Hey Mark, how was your meeting with the principal?" She asked me upon my arrival.
"It's a long story," I replied, knowing she would also want to know why I was called there.
"Well," She drawled, "How about telling me over a drink?"
I was surprised, in a pleasant way. "Sure, where?"
"There is this place, say, have you ever had boba?" She started walking towards a different direction from where I had previously seen her heading.
"No, is it good?" Boba sounded kind of good in my teenage mind. She smiled at me, "Very." She accentuated. Satisfied with her response, I followed her.