Chapter 6 : New school
Author note : sorry about the delay. I couldn't upload earlier. Enjoy !
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In the end, I still chose Midtown High School. I mean, I wasn't hoping to meet Spider-Man and friends (much), but it's the closest High School apart from the one I should have gone. It's a public school too, so that's a good point. Moreover, It's not a bad one, either. Too bad I knew there was bullying in these halls…
Exiting the subway, I look in the direction of the school building and sigh. Thinking of the Footballs jocks makes me remember a memory I forgot… Although there was no school team in my former life, the athlete were the same kind of morons everywhere… Banding together to make fun of others. A couple of rugby-men which were otherwise decent enough, used to pick on me sometimes. Perhaps because of what I did, or how I behaved… I don't remember. Well, at least it wasn't constant with them, or maybe I'd done something to make them stop.
Focusing my gaze back on the teenagers gathering and chatting, I continue walking. Let's get this first day on the road !
* * * * *
As expected, no Peter Parker, Mary-Jane Watson, Gwen Stacy or even Flash Thompson. A good thing for the last one. Although, as he grew older he also became somewhat of a good guy… It only took him to lose his legs in the Army. And Venom.
I sit in the middle rows of the classroom after I idly scanned the room with my gaze. I don't recognize anyone… I'm a little disappointed to be honest. It would have been epic to meet Peter Parker, and who knows, maybe team-up ? Although, at the moment, I won't feel very comfortable fighting against bad guys. I'm too weak and my power needs time and me sitting with something to support myself with, like a desk. I'd be better as a trap maker and user frankly…
The homeroom teacher starts roll-call and as he does, I look at the teenagers answering. Two draw my attention, though for now, I don't know why. Cory Sutters and Doreen Green. The latter has a remarkably shapely and some might say even big behind that I see twitch sometimes. I think she's hiding something in her pants though I have no idea what it is. She's sitting by the window, looking at the trees and making sounds.
Cory Sutters, however, I have no idea why I'm so curious about her. I mean, sure she's beautiful, with a mix of ethnicity of both caucasian and asian descent. She has shoulder length light brown hair and brown eyes. She doesn't seem particularly fit, but she's not fat or overly skinny either.
When we reach first recess, I exit the classroom and head outside for one of the table under a tree. Soon, I'm joined by the Doreen-girl, who seems dissatisfied with my presence for some reason. I pay her no mind and just continue working on my code. I'm still at the defining stage right now… Although computer science has given me some ideas, I have yet to study it and writing normally still feels better to me for now, so all I do is abbreviate my words and give them meaning. My code notebook is just one of many such notebook by now and I guess it'll keep on increasing with time…
The fact that all it takes for me to lose all this hard work (and power) is fire is probably my greatest weakness… I'd like to find a way to safeguard those notebooks somehow but… I don't really know how. Having just an average intellect means that I often need to consult the notebooks to refresh my memories. If only I could put them somewhere only I can easily access…
As I am thinking of this, I hear a strange sound from my side and glance… Doreen is feeding a squirrel while making chittering sounds. Strangely, the squirrel seems to respond to her… That's when I realize : I know who she is ! Squirrel-Girl ! Now that's interesting…
The bell signaling the end of recess chimes. I put my notebook and dip pen away as I follow the girl already heading back. The squirrel has disappeared, probably to climb to the safety of the tree top…
* * * * *
Doreen is paying attention in class as the teacher is speaking about algebra. Frankly, she was never good with numbers. And now numbers were joined with letters and it made her even more confused… So she really had to pay attention to try and finally understand what it was all about.
But then, her focus is diverted by something… strange. There's no other way to say it. In fact, it is quite freaky what she's currently watching… On the side of her desk, a small figure, dressed in a lab coat is climbing and making its way up to her notebook in choppy motions. The thing is… the figure seems drawn on her desk. But still, it's moving. For a moment, she thinks she's losing her mind and glance around. Nobody else seems to pay attention to it but when her eyes rests on the bald boy from earlier (who thankfully didn't pay attention when she was speaking with her friend), without looking up he waves at her and points at his desk.
For a minute, she doesn't understand, then, she glances back to her own desk. The figure had stopped, and no she can make out more of its features. It was female, drawn slightly cartoonish, with glasses with swirls in it and a notepad in its arms. It (she ?) waves at her and then turns her notepad toward her. Scribbled on it were the words :
I know what you are !
Instantly, her back drenches in cold sweat. However, the words on the notepad blur and change to something else :
I'm like you… Well, not like you but similar.
She's starting to understand… The boy ! Somehow, he's the one controlling the figure. The writing changes again :
My name is Nathan Norrson and I'm a mutant !
* * * * *
And that's when the teacher interrupts my monologue to Doreen. That's something I noticed when I started discussing with her using this method : it's great to convey messages, but not so great in terms of getting feedback. Another thing to work on !
« What has you so focused, Miss Green ? And why aren't you taking any notes ? »
Thankfully, I'd made it so that only she could see the animated drawing. It was strange in a way how my powers worked since all I needed to do for that was define who Doreen Green was by drawing her likeness and linking it to one of her hair. A bit of sympathetic magic in essence, without the components and rituals needed, nor the flashy display usually associated with magic and witchcraft.
I quickly write it down as a message for her :
He can't see the drawing. Just… say something !
And so she does :
« I have a hard time understanding Algebra, sir ! »
A couple of chuckles and giggles resound at that, but the teacher just frowns :
« In this case, I suggest you pay more attention to the board and myself and less time staring at your notebook. Unless you're taking notes of course ! »
And he goes on to resume his lesson.
* * * * *
At lunch time, I'm joined by the Squirrel-Girl. A rather wary and frowning one at that. She starts with :
« I'm not a mutant ! »
I smile gently, trying to disarm her a bit :
« Never said you were. I said I am ! »
Silence, then she says :
« What do you want ? »
Planting my fork in my plate to pick a few boiled carrots and bringing them to my mouth, I consider my answer. What do I want really ? A friend. An ally. Someone like me. I answer :
« Not much really. » I pause before continuing : « You see, humans are flawed. And when I say human I also count myself among them. We… fear what is different, what we don't understand. And what we fear, we usually hate. I… am different. And so are you… Though I don't really know how much. I figured us weirdos should get to know each other. »
Another silence before she nods. She asks :
« How did you do it ? Animate the drawing like that ? How did you make it… move on my notebook ? »
I smile :
« Magic !… Well, sorta ! Last year, I ran away from home when my… difference made itself known. You see, not only did I lose my hair… » I say while brushing a hand on my bald head. « I didn't look human anymore. Thankfully, I managed to remedy the last part but… Well, I studied with my mom and dad to understand my ability. It's quite… versatile. And I'm still discovering new things. Let's just say… What I write tends to happen. »
« That's… » She frowns. « That sounds like the Death Note. »
I laugh, surprised the girl in front of me knew this reference. I nod :
« A bit. Though it has limitations. Usually, I can't affect much beside myself and what I write and draw. And only then, I need to use my ink. »
« Your ink ? What do you mean ? »
I try to change the topic :
« I've already talked too much about me. What about you ? I've seen you… Talk ? To a squirrel. That was pretty amazing. Can you speak to any animal or only rodents ? »
She frowns for some reason. Whether it was because I decided not to answer or my choice of words, I don't know.
« I can only talk to squirrels. They're my friends ! » She glares, as if to challenge me to make fun of her. I don't dare, since I know how strong the girl can be despite the seemingly nonsensical nature of her power. She was basically a human-squirrel hybrid with a rodent army at her disposal should she choose to call on them. And rodents, in numbers were frightening ! Satisfied that I won't make fun of her, she continues :
« I'm also super strong ! And I can climb easily. » In a more subdued voice, she says : « I also have a squirrel tail. »
I click my fingers and point my index at her :
« So, that's why ! »
« Why, what ? » She asks with another of her frown. Before I can think about what I'll say, I blurt out :
« I knew your butt was too big ! » I blush and say : « Sorry, that came out wrong. What I mean to say was… I know how you hide your tail. »
« Oh, really ? Have you been perving on me ? You been leering my butt ?! »
Still blushing and not really knowing what to say, especially considering the unmistakable threatening tone of her voice, I gape at her. From what I know of the comics, Doreen Green is a rather easy-going girl, but I suspect, and the present situation seems to hint at it, that she can have her own mean streak. Then again, I've never really read that much about the main Marvel Universe (also known as Earth-616), except on wikis…
« I have… noticed that it was somewhat… Ahem, strange. So, yeah, I guess you can say that… » I finish while rubbing the back of my head sheepishly. Almost as if it was a lie, her frown disappears to be replaced with a grin. She quips :
« It makes a conspicuously awesome butt, right ? »
I just face-palm, hiding a smile of my own.