Daniel James Howell

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"I'm not a kid, I don't need you doing things for me."

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AFTER SETTING UP VARIOUS LOGS TO START A CAMPFIRE, TYLER YELLED out for Caspar to light it. He took a seat next to me, and brushed the dust off his pants. I don't know why Tyler needed Caspar in particular to light the fire. Maybe it had something to do with his powers.

"What's Caspar's power?" I asked him. I hugged my frame, the nights in Floral City were colder than I thought. No one else seemed to be freezing, it seemed to only be me. I still had on my brother's blue beanie, it was my only protection from the cold.

"He could make heat with his hands, he always tries to burn me. That idiot." Tyler rolled his eyes, I hoped Caspar would come and light this fire soon. I'm about to die of hypothermia.

"What's your power?" I questioned, he let out a little chuckle.

"I can shape shift, and make people hallucinate." He told me with disinterest. I guess having the same power for all your life does make it more boring.

"Can you make me hallucinate?" I asked in curiosity and he laughed. Before he could answer, a tent nearby opened. The two boys, Joe and Caspar, exited and made their way to the fire.

"Caspar, light the fire. This one is about to freeze to death." Tyler ordered, pointing to me.

"My name is Dan." I admitted. I couldn't hide my name forever, I don't want anymore nicknames.

Tyler turned to me. "That's a really nice name."

"Tyler stop flirting with him." Caspar giggled, putting his hands on the logs.

"You jealous, babe?" Tyler teased. Joe snickered, taking a seat right next to me. I stared at Caspar, the log he was touching ignited in flames, but he didn't move his hands. I flinched a bit, expecting him to burn.

He noticed me staring. "It's fine, my skin is fireproof." I nodded to indicate I understood. Before the conversation could continue I got up and walked off.

"Come on Dan, we just got the fire going. Are you planning on freezing?" Tyler called after me. I turned back around with a smile.

"I'll be back, I just need to grab something really quick." I waved off, I wanted to get Phil to come out and join me by the fire. I know he's probably in that tent over thinking about something.

"Phil?" I called out to him the minute I stuck my head inside the tent. He looked up from the notebook he was writing in. "You don't have to do any homework, I don't we're returning home soon."

"Huh? Oh no, I was just writing." He slammed the notebook shut and shoved it in his backpack. I reached in my pocket, pulled out the familiar gloves and threw them at him.

"It's cold outside." I explained, but he furrowed his eyebrows.

"Why would I go outside?" He seemed confused.

"There's a campfire going...I don't know. I just thought you'd love campfire stuff." I shrugged in uncertainty.

"Why would you think that?" He asked with a confused look. He just seemed like he loved to be surrounded by people, and loved feeling at home. Even though he couldn't form a sentence around me he seemed utterly confident around other people.

I must be wrong then.

"I'm sorry, bye." I ended the conversation, turning to run away but Phil quickly stopped me.

"No. I didn't mean to like...offend you? I'm not sure but I was just curious how you knew I loved campfires." He smiled as if to get me to stay and not run away.

"I guess I'm a mind reader." I joked but his expression dropped. He nervously scratched the back of his head and before I could question it he nodded.

"So yeah, I'll come to the campfire. Thanks...for the gloves, I mean." He got up and slipped them on. I led him to the campfire where Caspar and Joe were arm wrestling on the ground near the fire.

"I don't know why you're trying for the fifth time. We all know who's going to-ow you motherfucker that's cheating." Joe yelped ripping his hand away from Caspar's. Caspar must have used his heat on Joe, I wonder why he'd resort to that. Caspar looked far stronger than Joe.

"Joe your ability is literally super strength. You're cheating." Tyler accused but Joe waved them off. Troye sat across from the commotion on a separate log. He grabbed leaves from the floor and flung them into the fire.

"Hey, look who's back." Tyler cooed looking at Phil and I with a suggestive look.

"Oh, for a second I thought it was Zoë." Joe laughed. I took a seat next to Tyler and Phil sat next to me. Joe and Caspar remained  on the floor.

"Where is Zoë?" Caspar asked, lying down and looking up at the sky.

"She told me she was going to pick something up from the city." Joe explained, looking at the fire. "Then again, that was almost four hours ago."

Tyler didn't seem bothered. "She'll come, don't worry."

"I guess she could handle herself, she does-" Joe was cut off by Elizabeth walking out of her tent, catching everyone's attention. I felt a bit of fear strike within me when she focused her gaze on me. After a few moments she glanced around the circle.

"Where is Zoë?" She asked, looking at Joe as if he had some answer. He licked his lips before answering.

"She's in town." Joe spoke quietly.

"She was supposed to make it back by now." Elizabeth said with a perplexed look. She looked around the circle again before her eyes focused on Caspar. Troye seemed bored by now, he got up and silently left.

"Caspar and Joe, go find her and make it back as soon as possible." She orders and the two boys jump up quickly and try to shove each other as they jet off.

"What a bunch of frat boys." Tyler rolled his eyes. I stared into the fire, did something happen to Zoë? The minute I thought of her I heard her voice.

"I'm sorry, I just got a bit caught up in something." She said quickly. I look up and see her happy smile, she's a bit out of breath. Joe and Caspar were right behind her, they seemed a bit bummed that they didn't get to go on an adventure to find her.

"Where have you been?" Elizabeth asked but Zoë shook her head.

"It won't happen again." She cheered, she runs past the group with a huge smile. Everyone looked at each other weirdly, but Joe shrugged.

"That's how girls are." Joe said with a giggle.

"Shut up, you idiot." Tyler said grabbing a rock and throwing it at Joe. He dodged it with ease and Tyler growled. I looked towards him and see his eyes glow white, as if there was a white light behind it.

"Tyler stop!" Joe screamed as he looked around himself. Phil giggled as he watched Joe, I chuckled a bit as well but my mind was on Zoë. What got her so happy?

"I'll be back." I said to Phil.

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