Daniel James Howell

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"If I hadn't seen your face I wouldn't know what your skin color was."

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"HEY DAN, RIGHT?" A GIRL SAID, STEPPING RIGHT IN FRONT OF WHERE I STOOD. It was the girl from the class that giggled every time I talked. I looked at her confident stance and her lips that were pulled up in a smirk and expected her to taunt me. Except, I wasn't in High School anymore. No one was going to tease me , because they simply are left in the dark about my lack of powers.

"Yeah." I confirmed with hesitance. What did she want? Her eyes were brown like my own but her seemed to shine brighter. I suddenly felt a bit more confident because she was far shorter than I was, and she seemed to notice. However, her confidence still remained.

"Do you remember my name?" She asked, taking a step towards me. I tried to remember her name from class but it didn't come to my mind. Probably because I zoned out and didn't really give a fuck. Why am I getting so worked up over this anyways?

"Not particularly. Now would you excuse me-"

"It's Lia." She giggled, looking up at me with a look of lust. The minute she found out I had no powers she would scoff and leave, so who cares if I hurt her feelings now?

"I didn't ask but thanks anyways. Can you move a bit so I could exit the building and go home?" I asked and she smiled before stepping aside. I nodded as a thanks and began to walk out, I got down the steps but she followed behind.

"Why did you even come to this therapy group?" She pestered with excitement as she walked besides me. Why was she so interested to follow me around?

"I don't know." I replied, digging in my bag for my beanie. I found it and ripped it out of my bag and onto my head. I looked at Lia but she pouted as she looked at her phone.

"Aw I have to go pick up something from the shop." She sighed as she stared up at me, as if I would offer to tag along.

"Bye." I dismissed her, zipping up my bag the metal froze my fingers a bit. Why did I ever give my gloves to Phil? Maybe there is a store nearby for me to buy some new ones.

My thoughts were cut short by Lia pressing her lips to my own, it was quick and left me disorientated. The first person I kissed wasn't even on my terms. She waved as I stared at her with a slight blush on my cheeks. I never had affection like that from anyone.

"I thought you didn't believe in love." A voice spoke, startling me from behind. I turned quickly to face Phil exiting the building.

"I don't." I confirmed looking at my gloves that were in his hands, why wasn't he wearing them?

"You have a girlfriend though?" He asked in a confused tone, pointing in the direction Lia ran off. I rolled my eyes as I stared at his confused expression.

"Yeah, totally. She's my girlfriend." I sarcastically commented. He seemed to have understood me and walked down the few steps.

"Sorry about that. I just assumed she was. " He told me with an apologetic tone, he didn't ask for an explanation only offering me my gloves back.

"It's fine, I'll live. You can have them." I rejected the gloves, shoving it back in his direction.

"I don't need them, I can just teleport home." Phil explained, scratching the tip of his nose.

I had completely forgotten that I was the only one who lived as a powerless person. Of course Phil had powers and could teleport home.

"Wait why were you so red when you entered the room? You could have just teleported here." I asked, not buying his teleportation power anymore.

"Well actually I can only teleport if I know the area. This is my first time to this building." He nodded towards the tall building.

I stared at the sign, banning the use of any powers. I've heard there are some alarms that will go off if you use your powers, but I knew that was total bullshit. In school, kids would use their powers even though schools were government controlled buildings. Then again I graduated almost a year and a half ago. The system could have improved by then.

"Oh, thanks then." I reached for the gloves from him but he pulled them away. I shot him a confused look but before I could question it he began to speak.

"Actually, I wanted to know if..." He trailed, freezing in his spot as if he was trying to figure out how to word his next question. It was like it was his first time talking to someone.

"If?" I questioned.

"If...you're going to be coming tomorrow." He asked, with a smile. My expression dropped, that's what he wanted to know? I don't know what I was expecting but it certainly wasn't that.

"Oh, uhh yeah. How about you?"

"Of course." He smiled, he reminded me of my old History teacher. He would teach us about how this new human race was made. Some factory of some company decided to start dumping their chemicals in the water tanks and releasing gas into cities. At first people were dying and were giving birth to kids with birth defects. Extra limbs and other body parts. Well, no one really knew where these chemicals were coming from and what it was. There seemed to be no hope until one day a kid was born without any defects, other than a slight green tinge to her skin. They thought the girl was still-borne, and had a lack of oxygen. Miraculously, she was alive and the family was considered lucky for having such a normal looking kid, other than the green tinge. Once she grew up she could fly, and control other kinds of objects, which of course was bizarre. After that these powers were mutated and evolved into what they are today.

"Which way do you live?" Phil asked, breaking me from thoughts of the old history lesson that never sit still with me. Everyone thought it was a great story but I always thought it was a tragic. An irresponsible company was throwing waste into the water supply, many kids lost the chance to a normal life. How did they feel after that girl was born? They must have felt like complete outcasts because they weren't involved in this advancements. They were just scraps that no one cared ab-

"I live near Cambria." I said breaking my thoughts, pointing in the direction I live. Phil nodded and I wondered if he was one of those kids who loved that story. Did he ever laugh with his friends about the mutated kids like kids at my other school did? He seemed nice though, he still wanted to talk to me even after I told him I had no powers.

"Really? I live just nearby, I could walk with you...if you want." He asked with hesitance, as if he thought I would reject him. I almost did, I mean why did he want to walk me with me anyways? There was probably some catch.

"Sure." I replied, accepting his offer. He seemed a bit flustered as if it were his first time asking someone something. He didn't strike me as the shy type, but I guess I wasn't great at reading people. 

"So, is teleporting your only power? Many people have two." I pointed out.

"Uh..." He nervously trailed. Why was he stumbling so much? "Yup it's my only power." He smiled, shoving the gloves on his hands.

"Right..." I added and he let his smile drop.

"I'm sorry, I'm just nervous." He apologized and I shot him a smile. I studied his features, his blue eyes were more alert and his stance was tense. Was I causing him to be so jumpy? I wasn't that scary, and we were almost at the same height. Even if I was a threat he could just teleport away right?

"I could tell, it's fine. I'm not a threat." I reassured him and it seemed he just noticed how tense he was. He let his shoulder sag, looking a bit defeated and I was so curious to know what made him feel that way.

"Are you sure you never had a friend?" Phil questioned, finally relaxing.

"Nope. Never. I never had a connection with anyone like that." I admitted and Phil nodded but look a bit hurt. He moved his hand to fix his hair looking effortlessly perfect while doing it. His movements became smooth, and his smile was more gentle if that made sense.

"How did you manage?" He asked as if it were an inner thought. He look perplexed trying to figure out how I could have lived my life without someone besides me.

"Well, I guess you get used to it. Many people forget how important it is to be independent. That's why people break down when they're alone." I pointed out. He began playing with his gloved fingers, studying the material.

"Well I guess people also forget how important it is to have someone by your side to help you. That's why they begin to hate the world." Phil told me. I let a sigh past my lips as I realized he was talking about me. Being alone might be nice but he had a point. Being alone for that long night cause you to hate everything around you because you don't have affection.

"You have a point."

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