fantasy

New Worlds

VYNE

I look down at her as I hand over the big folder of papers. She smiles and turns a little dial on a grey metal surface. The thing clicks and opens. Oh, this is a locker. That makes sense. I really need to get up to date on modern day tech and stuff... She shoves her things into a knapsack and slings it over her shoulder, but something falls out and skitters to a stop at my feet. It is small and shiny, with two wires sticking out of the top and tiny letters on buttons. I click the big one that says 'ok' on it and the screen flashes with color. Suddenly, noise begins emmitting from the buds at the top of the wires. I hand the thing to Kora and she clicks the big button again and eh screen goes dark.

"What is that thing?" I ask unconsciously. She rolls her eyes and smiles.

"Oh come on, I know its an old model but I can't afford anything better, don't mess with me. Its a phone, silly."

"Oh." I take a mental snapshot for reference later. She puts the thing in her pocket, but sticks one of the wires in her hear. With my supersensitive hearing, I can hear the music coming from it, although it is very quiet. "Hey, c-can I listen with you?" Her face gets very red and I wonder if I should take her to the nurse, but she hands me one of the wires. I see that she has the bud on the end stuck in her ear, so I do the same, but the wires are very short and stretching it around my head means we have to stand extremely close. Kissing distance. Suddenly pops into my head and I blink rapidly. Kora's cheeks are much more red now, and I realize my heart is beating really fast. No. Don't fall for a human, you know what happens when you do that. I cough and take out the little bud, handing it to Kora. "Uh, thanks." She nods.

"So... W-where do you live? Maybe I can w-walk home with you?" Uh oh.

"No!" I say a little too quickly. She jumps and backs away a little. "I'm sorry, what I meant is I'd rather you don't. My home isn't exactly.... Typical, I guess." She snorts.

"I live in an old construction site with 20 other girls and no parents. I don't think mine is exactly the idea family either."

"Yeah, well, I still think I'd rather walk alone. You understand, right?"

"Oh. Um, yeah, sure." I smile at her and walk away. Don't look back. Don't fall for her;  you know it isn't real. She doesn't really like you, its the magic. I turn around for a second, and I see her sigh and begin to walk down the street. Kids whisper and point as she walks by, and several times boys try to trip her. She just walks over their feet. I feel really sad for some reason, but try to push it away. I turn and am about to cross the street when I hear a yelp. I turn and see Kora, her back against the wall and knapsack on the ground, her things strewn. Three large guys are coming at her slowly, and one grabs her wrists and holds her against the wall. I can hear what he is saying.

"Hey. I know your a total loser and all, but by far the hottest girl in school. Why don't you show it off?" She squirms and twists, trying to get away. I begin to run towards her without even knowing it. The other two guys turn and see me, and reach out to grab me. I duck their punches and try to get through, but can't. I hear every word, though. "I could make you real popular; having the quarterback as a boyfriend will totally increase your rep. You just have to do one thing for me." I catch a glimpse between the two boys. He leans in close to her, and whispers in her ear. Her eyes widen and she screams for help. His grip tightens on her left wrist and he puts the other had over her mouth. That's it. I back away from the two brick walls, and start running towards them. They give me a wary look, and just as I get in front of them, I push off into the air. I sail high above their heads and they yelp in surprise. I take of running as soon as I hit the ground, but can't help but smirk. If they could see what I can REALLY do...

"Hey!" I yell. The guy turns and looks at me, laughing. He pushes Kora to the ground and I look at her, worried. "Are you ok?" She nods at me, but I can feel that she isn't. Anger bubbles inside me and I turn back to the football jerk. "Kora, get out of here. I can handle him."

"No! I wanna help." Her voice is raw and quavering. Whatever he said terrified her. I give her a hard look.

"Go. Now." She stands up and puts a hand against the wall to steady herself.

"I don't think you can tell me what to do." She smiles, but I know she is scared. Her bravery impresses me. I look back at the boy.

"I may be new here." I begin to walk towards him. "But I know what bullying is. I won't stand for it. Especially not when it is against my friends." The guy rolls his eyes and snorts like a bull.

"Whatever. Im the boss at this school, I can do what I want and never get in trouble! They need me on the football team, and 'a little bullying' isn't gonna change their minds." I shrug my shoulders and stop.

"Maybe you're right. Maybe it won't." He gives me a confused look. I crack my knuckles and grin. "But it might change your mind." And I punch him square in the nose. He stumbles back and roars, jumping towards me. "Ha! You think youre soooo tough. I've fought gnomes tougher than you!" He is confused and disoriented. He's easily 6'7 and I'm only 6 feet even, he is built like a bull and I am more of a hawk. Doesn't matter. I have the advantage no matter what fight I get into. I know how to win. I stand still as the boy rushes at me. I turn to my back is to the wall. Just as he reaches out for me I leap up, launching off his back as his face smacks the wall. He groans and falls down. There are a few kids around us, gawking at me. Then, slowly, they begin to clap. Then cheer. I grin and look around, but when my gaze lands on Kora my smile falls. She is shivering, and her wrists are already showing signs of brusing. She is picking up her things, and I see that the knee of her jeans are ripped, a bloody knee underneath. She shoves everything into her knapsack and stands. I walk over to her and take her bag. She looks at the ground.

"Hey, its oka-"

"I can take care of myself!" I step back. She is glaring at me, and I feel like I did something wrong. " I am tired of being the scared little girl everyone takes advantage of. I am in high school, I'm not a stupid orphan girl!!" She whips her head around to look at the crowd. "Stop treating me like I'm second class, just because i don't have parents. You only hate us because we are different than you!" She is quivering with fury, and her hands are curled into fists. I put a hand on her shoulder, and she turns around. I don't even have time to blink when I hear a loud smack! I blink. My cheek burns. I look down at Kora, bewildered. She is staring at the ground, and I see tears. Her voice gets deadly quiet. "I can fight my own battles." She looks up at me, 'angry but worried' comes to mind. "You could have gotten hurt." I feel my resolve hardening.

"I was trying to help you. He was hurting you. Look, I might have just met you but I know when someone is going to be important to me, and I don't want to see you get hurt." Her eyes widen, but she shakes her head and looks down. I clench my fists and before I know it, I am across the street, running to the hills. Kora calls after me, but I keep going. And this time, I don't look back.