❝You have ice powers?❞ Adam asked shocked.
Taelyn turned around, laughing as she looked back at her hand. She looked at him, confused. ❝What? You've never seen a girl with ice powers before?❞
Leo is an ordinary teenager who has moved into a high-te...
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A quiet neighborhood street, dimly lit by streetlamps. The air is still, and the only sound is the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind. Taelyn and Steven walk side by side, the tension in the air palpable.
Taelyn glancing around nervously. "Thanks for doing this, Steven. I know it's late."
Steven shrugs, hands in his jacket pockets. "It's no big deal. You shouldn't have to walk home alone when you're feeling like this."
Taelyn hugging herself. "I don't even know why I'm so jumpy. It's probably nothing."
Steven calmly. "Doesn't matter if it's "nothing." If you don't feel safe, it's something."
They continue walking, the streetlamp ahead flickering briefly. Taelyn tenses, her eyes darting toward the shadows.
Steven noticing her reaction. "Hey, it's just the light. Nothing's there."
Taelyn trying to laugh it off. "I know. My brain just likes to mess with me sometimes."
Steven glancing at her. "Well, your brain can mess with you all it wants, but I'm here, so nothing's gonna happen."
Taelyn smiling faintly. "You sound so sure of yourself."
Steven grinning. "That's because I am. You think anyone's gonna mess with us? Look at me. I'm intimidating."
Taelyn raising an eyebrow. "Steven, you look like you get winded climbing stairs."
Steven mock-offended. "Hey! That's cardio slander. I'm perfectly capable of being a hero if necessary."
Taelyn snickering. "Sure you are."
They reach a small park on the way to Taelyn's house. Steven pauses, looking at the empty swings swaying slightly in the breeze.
"You want to take a shortcut through here or stick to the sidewalk?" Steven asked.
Taelyn hesitating. "Sidewalk. Definitely the sidewalk."
Steven nodding. "Sidewalk it is."
They keep walking, the sound of their footsteps blending into the quiet night. After a moment, Taelyn speaks again, her voice softer.
"You're... really good at this, you know?"
Steven glancing at her. "Good at what? Walking? Yeah, I've had years of practice."
Taelyn smiling. "No, I mean... making me feel less freaked out."
Steven shrugs. "It's not hard. You just talk and keep moving forward. Kind of like life, I guess."
Taelyn grinning. "That's... unexpectedly deep for you."
Steven pretending to be hurt. "Hey, I'm full of wisdom. You just don't listen half the time."
Taelyn teasing. "Maybe because you're usually talking about video games or how you "totally didn't fail that math test."
Steven laughing. "Okay, fair. But still, I can be deep. Occasionally."
