New School, Same Trust Issues -Seananners
Adam was used to running while gravity was fluctuating. It’s what Nick specializes in, just like Brennon can bend the metal of the lockers in any way he pleases and Marc can stretch his limbs out like silly putty. Those were their powers, the things that everyone showed off at age 6 so by age 16 they felt like masters.
Adam’s power wasn’t something he couldn’t readily show off like many others could. His power was one that was mental rather than physical. It was persuasion. And he was very good at using his power. He was able to talk himself out of most situations. Unfortunately, his mouth was what got him into those situations in the first place.
Which is where we are now.
Adam running down the abandon school corridor. Diction changing the gravity from high to low, left to right, up to down. Goldy bending the locker doors trying to trip Adam up when Nick moved the gravity from the left to the right. Juicetra trying to keep up, throwing his arms on occasion to try and either catch or scare him.
“Adam!” Brennon screamed again as he readjusted a locker he bent when he passed.
“What? What did I do?!” Adam yelled back, as per usual.
“You know what you did!” Nick contradicted, slamming the gravity back toward the left. Adam shrugged as he landed, before sprinting toward the intersection up ahead. Marc threw another arm at him, which he narrowly avoided along with the spike that came out of the locker he slammed into. But Adam just kept his feet moving, like always. He headed toward the intersection, hitting the center just as Nick switched the gravity to the ground.
Now this is were things get complicated. We take to two points of view: Brennon’s and Marc’s.
According to Goldy, Adam turned and taunted them before turning left and sprinting off again. Marc dropped off to catch his breath while Nick and Brennon followed suit until they too got tired. Adam kept running after they stopped, and they just were never able to keep up the chase.
According to Juicetra, the Marc running was just an illusion. He was really off to the right with Shawn and Scott. When Nanners hit the middle of the intersection, Hutch slowed down time just enough so that they could still function while Nick and Brennon didn’t notice. Sark would then make a copy of Adam to replace the one that Marc pulled into the hallway.
That’s exactly what happened. It was like a well oiled machine at this point since it happened so often.
“I’m going to miss this.” Adam stated, looking as his friends as he tried to catch his breath. “Did I tell Marc?”
“Tell me what?” He asked.
“Oh yeah, you told me. Although I don’t think Diction or Goldy know.”
“Let them figure out on Monday.” Sark offered. “Your mouth hasn’t exactly gotten them on their good side.”
“How exactly are you going to survive without us?” Hutch wondered aloud.
“I’ll be fine.” Adam assured him, putting a little power behind his words. His friends didn’t push it more, although he did see Sark roll his eyes at the statement. “Trust me.”
“Trust Adam? Sure.” Juicetra commented, and Adam knew what he meant. Everyone surrounding him was wary because everything that came out of his mouth they had no way to prove if it was sincere. He could easily put power behind every syllable, making them believe what he said. It made Adam cautious of who he called friends, and vice versa.
After all, you should never trust Nanners.
“You’re Adam, I’m guessing?” The boy standing outside the main office asked. He was shorter than Adam, with black hair that wasn’t spiky but wasn’t as shaved down as Adam’s was. He had a red Mario shirt underneath a plaid button down with blue jeans.
“I’ll assume your Anthony then.” Adam shot back, and Anthony nodded. “So, how’d you get stuck with me?”
“I just get my orders and follow them. Trust me, if anyone had a choice you wouldn’t have me as your personal tour guide.” He said as he started walking down the hallway. Adam quickly followed suit, falling soon into step with Anthony.
“So, if your my personal tour guide, are you going to sound like one too?” Adam asked jokingly, and he saw Anthony crack a smile. The ‘tour guide’ picked up the pace so he was in front of Adam, and turned when he got to about halfway down the hallway.
“And on your left you’ll see the Library, one of the rare locations of wifi in the entire goddamn building.” He said, and Adam started laughing. Anthony faltered a little, but kept going. “And on your right we are approaching the science wing, aka the location of the biggest Breaking Bad fans. Little fun fact, it’s actually the Physics teachers that make the best meth.”
“Click click.” Adam mocked, holding his hands out as if he was taking a picture, before laughing again. Anthony somehow managed to keep a straight face through it all. Especially since they continued the gag for the whole tour.
“We concluded our at the cafeteria, where the only thing somewhat decent to eat are the cookies. Not the best, but decent.” Anthony proclaimed. “Tips are highly encouraged, and should be paid in cash or cookies. Only the ones from the Corner Cafe, though.”
“I’ll get back to you that.” Adam said, know fully well he’d never pay that back. “What period is it?”
Anthony glanced at his watched. “End of first. Might as well head to 2nd, there’s maybe a minute left.”
“Well, then I’m right here than.”
“Oh look at that, so am I.” Anthony replied. “C'mon. I’ll introduce you to my friends. Well, the ones in this lunch period at least.” He walked straight inside, ignoring the security guard giving him a weird look.
Adam was hesitant though. Anthony hadn’t asked him what his power was, and he wasn’t sure if that was going to change anything. People just don’t trust him, or pretend to be a tour guide just because he offered a suggestion. He wasn’t used to this. Adam never simply threw his trust around as easily as Anthony had. He couldn’t.
“You coming Nanners?” Anthony interrupted his thoughts. Adam opened his mouth to ask the obvious, but the bell cut him off. Waves of students began flooding the hallways, and he was caught up soon in its flow. He tried to get back to the cafeteria, but his attempts went as well as trying to go up on the down escalator. He began floundering, until a hand pulled him off in a small cubby off to the side.
“You need a little help?” The boy asked. He was about Adam’s size, maybe a little taller, with spiky black hair and chocolatey brown eyes. He wore a black t-shirt with the Mexican flag on it, and a look of understanding on his face. Adam only nodded, not being able to get the words right. “Where you head in’?”
“Lunch. I was following Anthony when I got caught up in the crowds.” He said, before muttering. “Something he said made me hesitate.”
“Which Anthony?” The boy asked. Adam shrugged. “Did he have a Mario t-shirt on?” He nodded. “That’s my friend. I’m heading there and the cafeteria isn’t that far away. Just follow me.” Adam grabbed the boy’s hand, and he saw his cheeks redden.
“What? Can’t handle a stranger holding your hand?” Adam teased.
“No.” The boy shot back as they approached the cafeteria. “You’re just like a … a child. One who’d get lost of I let go?”
“Does that make you my daddy?”
“Shut up.” They approached a table where Anthony was already sitting at a table with another boy. He had brown hair with a grey sweat jacket on.
“Hey guys!” Anthony shouted once he spotted us. “Adam, what took you so long?”
“It was just … the thing you said before the bell rang. It just caught me off guard.”
“Sorry, I should have warned you. But in all honestly, your laugh was is distinctive that I knew it was you the second it escaped your lips.”
“What laugh?” The boy next to Anthony asked.
“Max, do the Morgan Freeman voice.” Anthony said, looking at the boy next to Adam. He nodded, cleared his throat, and then spoke.
“I can smell you.” Max said, and Adam just broke into hysterics. “I’ve been creeping around. You just can’t see me.”
“That cracked me up the first time, and it has done it again.” Adam said through fits of giggles.
“And now I know what you mean. It’s Nanners.” The boy next to Anthony said, before turning to Adam. “Your laugh just sounds like a dolphin.”
“Ok, now that my identity has been established, can you please explain how you guys know me?” Adam asked.
“Let’s start over.” Anthony began. “I’m Anthony, or ChilledChaos. Many people simply called me Chilled though.”
“I’m Steven.” The boy next to Chilled finally introduced. “Also known as ZeRoyalViking, or Ze for short.”
“And I’m GassyMexican.” Max concluded. “But everyone either calls me Gassy or Max.”
Adam didn’t say a word. It’s not even 9 in the morning and already he’s found some of the people he’s played online with. He cracked a smile. Sark had nothing to worry about. He was here, surrounded by friends who weren’t judging just because of who he was and what he could do.
“Now that the ice has been broken.” Ze said. “Why don’t you guys sit down and maybe … oh, I don’t know … let go of each other’s hands?” Adam and Max both looked down to see their hands still interlocked from the hallway.
“You’re holding my hand, Max.” Adam commented. “You sly dog.”
Max practically ripped his hand out of Adam’s. “Shut up.” He retorted as he sat down.
Adam laughed as he followed suit. “You know me well enough to know that isn’t going to happen.”
“Unfortunately, yes I do.” Chilled and Ze now joined in on Adam’s laughing, and Max shot a glare at the two of them. Adam once again smiled.
This was going to be fun.