The school hallway buzzed with the usual energy, but my mind was preoccupied with a secret that weighed heavily on my shoulders. Walking alongside my best friend, Mateo, his playful banter didn't make it easier to ignore the truth I was hiding.

"What's your superhero name? Rayo Mexicano or some shit like that?" Mateo teased, referencing the lightning strike that had given me my newfound abilities.

I lowered my voice, glancing around to ensure nobody was eavesdropping. "We shouldn't talk about this at school, Mateo."

His mischievous smile grew as he leaned against his locker, pulling out a piece of string cheese. "Sure, sure, now that you've made the news, you want to keep your superhero identity under wraps?"

Despite my protests, Mateo kept poking fun at the idea of me as a superhero. He gestured towards a girl named Gwen, known for her fascination with superhero stories. "You should ask Gwen on a date. Maybe she likes superheroes," he suggested, earning an exasperated groan from me.

"I'm not a superhero," I insisted, but Mateo wouldn't let it go, joking about my exploits the previous night. "Whatever that lightning did to you granted you the strength of a god. Do you even lift, bro?"

Mateo's relentless teasing continued as we opened our lockers, but my attention was diverted when I noticed Gwen in the distance. My heart skipped a beat, but I quickly turned my focus back to Mateo, who had seized the opportunity to make a move for the cake in my locker.

"Is that all you think of?" I asked, watching him stuff his mouth with the sweet treat.

"Food," he mumbled, taking another bite. "And money. Those are the main two."

I rolled my eyes, but Mateo's carefree attitude made me wonder how he managed to stay calm amidst all the chaos, especially with my newfound powers complicating things.

"And how do you stay so thin? You shovel food in your mouth like you've never eaten before," I quipped.

Mateo grinned, brushing off my comment. "Okay, sick burn, but that's my superpower."

We made our way to class, Mateo whispering about how he couldn't wait for me to take on the school bully, Gregory. I chuckled, knowing he was living vicariously through me.

As Mr. Diego Sanchez started the lesson, Mateo and I exchanged knowing glances, observing Gregory and his gang causing trouble on the other side of the room. Mateo whispered about my potential showdown with Gregory, but I shrugged it off, unwilling to resort to violence.

As the day wore on, the final bell rang, signaling the end of classes. We found ourselves face-to-face in the hallway with Gregory, who had singled out Mateo. My instincts kicked in, and I couldn't stand by as my friend was targeted.

"Come on, don't be a dick, Gregory," I said, trying to defuse the situation.

Gregory's attention turned to me, and our eyes locked in a silent challenge. I took a deep breath, refusing to back down despite the risk.

"I said, leave him alone," I asserted, hoping my newfound powers wouldn't need to come into play.

Gregory chuckled menacingly, but the bell interrupted the tense stand-off. With a final shove, he dismissed me, uttering hurtful words as he walked away.

My heart pounded as I watched Gregory leave, but I knew this wouldn't be the last encounter. My powers had changed everything, and I needed to accept who I was becoming. I hoped that with Mateo's unwavering support, I could find a way to use my gifts responsibly and navigate the challenges that lay ahead. The journey began, and I was determined to embrace my destiny, even if it meant facing the darkness within me.

∆∆∆

"So, what's the plan?" Mateo asked, trying to break the silence and shift our focus away from the dangerous encounter.

"I don't know. It depends on what you want to see," I replied, my mind still replaying when the bullet bounced off me as if I were made of steel.

Playfully squaring up to me, Mateo taunted, "Sure, Rayo Mexicano. Show me what you can do."

I chuckled, shaking my head at the absurdity of that supposed superhero name. "That's a stupid name," I teased, shoving him to the ground in a friendly gesture.

"Why?" Mateo bounced back up on his toes, always ready for a challenge.

"Shut up!" I said with a grin, not wanting to delve deeper into the topic.

Our carefree banter was abruptly interrupted by the sound of a gun being cocked behind me. Instinctively, I raised my hands in surrender, freezing as I felt the cold metal against the back of my head.

"Yeah, Mateo. Shut up," Lucas' menacing voice rang in my ears.

My heart raced, and I carefully turned around to face him. Mateo remained still on the ground. Fear etched across his face. Lucas towered over me, his eyes filled with malicious intent. His demands were precise—half of his brother Gregory's money and drugs.

"What's in it for us?" Mateo bravely spat back, his loyalty unwavering even in danger.

Lucas chuckled, thoroughly amused by our audacity. But he didn't back down, clarifying that we would have to comply if we wanted to live.

My mind raced, considering the options and their potential consequences. We could not let Lucas get away with this, but we couldn't reveal the truth about my powers. We needed to find a way to protect ourselves without revealing our secrets.

As the tense standoff continued, I made a split-second decision. "We don't want any bad blood between us. You should back off," I said, maintaining composure despite the fear courting me.

But Lucas wasn't easily intimidated, shoving the gun closer to my face. His threat was clear, and the situation seemed dire. Mateo stood behind me, and I could feel his anxious energy as he anxiously tapped his fingers on his thigh.

"You better hope I don't pull the fucking trigger right now," Lucas warned, and my mind raced for a way out of this challenging situation.

With adrenaline coursing through my veins, I boldly moved, leaning forward to pick up the gun. My heart pounded as I crushed the barrel and rendered the weapon useless.

"Do you want your gun back?" I taunted, holding it in front of him with a defiant expression.

Lucas paled, his bravado fading as he backed away. With a mix of fear and shock, he mumbled, "Nah, fool. Keep it," before turning tail and fleeing the street.

A sense of relief washed over me, but it was quickly replaced with concern. "That's why I'm not telling anyone about my powers," I confided to Mateo, taking a deep breath to steady myself.

"And neither are you," I added, knowing that our lives would change drastically if the truth about my abilities ever came to light.

"Scout's honor," Mateo solemnly vowed, crossing his arms over his chest.

But I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that someone else might discover our secret, someone who wouldn't be as forgiving as Lucas. We needed to be cautious and strategic, learning to control these powers and use them only when necessary.

As we continued our journey home, I couldn't help but wonder what the future held for us. The responsibility of these newfound abilities weighed heavily on my shoulders, and I knew that the path ahead would be anything but ordinary.

Little did I know that our lives would take an unexpected turn, unveiling a world of hidden truths, danger, and extraordinary possibilities beyond our wildest imagination. And so, the journey of the unassuming high school students, Alex and Mateo, was about to begin—a journey that would lead them to uncover the true nature of their powers and ultimately shape the fate of their lives and the world around them.