Ashes (Warren Peace) ((ON HOLD))

Chapter 2: Fatty

The rest of the evening was spent with my aunt and uncle awkwardly trying to make small talk with me at the dinner table. Asking about school, if I had any friends, etc. She asked about boys at one point which made me raise an eyebrow at her, but I let it slide. I'm staying here a few days, rather not get into a fight day 1.

After saying good night to everyone I went up to the guest room. I grabbed my bag with my bong in it and opened the window, walking out onto the roof to face the backyard. I heard another window open and peaked over the top of the roof to see Will coming out. He looked at me and the bong in my hand.

"Oh, uh,.. well, you seem busy. Talk to you in the morning!" He said, nervously trying to go back inside.

"Get out here."

"Yes Jade." He said quickly sitting down next to me. I filled my bong with water from the waterbottles and was about to pack a bowl when I noticed how fidgety Will was.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Uh, just nervous for school." He said, the poor excuse making me scoff.

"Why? Cause you dont have your powers yet?" I asked making him look at me surprised.

"You know?" He asked. I rolled my eyes at him.

"No shit, dipshit. Don't think I didn't notice the sawdust on your shirt and blisters on your hands from sawing that damn couch in half." I laughed, it was so obvious, my aunt and uncle are just oblivious to any 'faults' in Will. For example, his lack of powers.

"Well, it convinced mom and dad so that doesn't matter." He said, clearly embarrassed at the information he was caught. "I'll just have to figure out how to hide that I don't have powers at school."

"Yea, that's not gonna work." I said, poor Will, no one explained power placement to him. "They test your powers on the first day." I told him. The colour drained from his face and he put his face in his hands.

"So, everyone's gonna know tomorrow?" He asked making me sigh and put a hand on his back.

"Will, high school is hell, superpowers or not. Either way, people would find out eventually." I said, I know I'm being harsh but he needs to know that high school will be hell. "Just try to find people you get along with and can trust. After like, a few months everyone will move on and find something new to make fun of. Any bullying is temporary." I said, trying to at least give him a little hope it won't be as bad as he thinks.

He was silent, staring forward into the backyard.

"And besides," I started again. "Once high school is over you won't see 95% of those people ever again." This made him smile and nod.

"That is true."

"And a lot of hero's origin stories are of them being bullied." I pointed out.

"I mean, Yea, but they have powers." He said.

"And you're just a late bloomer." I said. "Now, I have some Xanax in my bag for my anxiety, if you get too anxious you can have some." I offered. I know I shouldn't be offering my cousin drugs, but if it helps for his first day just to power through it, then I don't see why not. Afterall, I'm going baked as fuck before going.

"I'll have to pass." He said, then eyed my bong. "Could I try that?" He asked making me raise a brow.

"You wanna get high?" I asked him, surprised. He nodded.

"I mean, I guess it would help you calm down until morning." I said, trying to rationalize letting my cousin smoke. Well, if he's gonna smoke, he might as well do it with me. "Sure." I said.