Radioactive [Early Draft, On Indefinite Hiatus]

Chapter 7 - A New Home

Chapter 7:

A New Home

"Well, did you think?"

"It was pretty cool, Rodney, thanks."

"Personally, I think the science lab was the best."

"Really, Devan? I thought that your favorite was the pool."

"Yeah, but the lab has that wicked chalkboard that looks exactly like the one in the Spider-Man show on broadway."

"Oh yeah. Hey, did you hear people nearly died doing those stunts in rehearsal? Isn't that cool?"

"Ummm... Yeah."

"Guys, we should get some rest. We have only four days left until we start."

"Rachel's right. We should hit the sack."

"I do need my beauty sleep, boys.

"Shut up, Chelsea!"

Everyone started giggling as Rachel threw a pillow at Chelsea.

Soon, it became an all out brawl with soft, tiny white down drifting everywhere. Lewis nearly knocked out Rodney. Rachel slapped Chelsea with her pillow. Even Derek whacked Devan hard across the face, leaving a bruise on his cheek.

"Owww."

"Heh heh, sorry."

About a half-hour later, everyone was exhausted from their war. They had declared Devan the winner, for he had taken everyone down single-handedly. He nearly lost to Rachel, but he quickly dodged her attack, and retaliated with greater force. The six kids reminisced about it for a while, then went back to just lying on their bunks. Eventually, Devan broke the silence.

"So, what can you all do with your powers?"

"I can read minds, tell if someone is lying, and see infrared rays." Rachel responded.

"I can move things with my mind, and manipulate them. I also have incredible strength." Rodney stated almost matter-of-factly.

"I can sing at extremely high pitches, and manipulate gravity. Once, I did both at the same time and made a sonic wave." Lewis said proudly.

"Well I can blast jets of neon green energy from my palms, and create constructs from the same stuff." Devan bragged.

"Hmm, well, I can use talk to people using my mind, and I can heal just about any wound." Doing both allows me to heal mental wounds, like bad memories and things." Chelsea explained.

"What about you, Derek?" Rachel asked.

Derek started searching inside his head for what he could do.

"Well, um, I guess I could say that I have superhuman strength. I mean, I can jump, punch, kick, and run with great force and incredible distances. I can't really lift heavy things, though."

There was a lot murmuring as Derek's fellow roommates complimented him in awe silently.

"That's pretty cool, Derek."

"I second that. It's really cool that you have those powers."

"Yeah, I nearly got jealous of you for a moment there."

"Quit being sarcastic, Devan!"

It was Rachel who defended Derek, though she wasn't mad. She was laughing. This bothered Derek a bit. He started getting jealous...

"Okay everyone, now name your favorite song. I'll start. Desert Rose by Sting. Chelsea?"

"Love Song by Sara Bareilles! Rachel?"

"Umm, I guess This Love by Maroon 5. Rodney?"

"My favorite song is Cotton-Eyed Joe performed by Rednex. How about you, Lewis?'

"My favorite song is Original of the Species by U2. Now how about you, Derek?"

"Well, have you ever heard of Radioactive by Imagine Dragons?"

"Yeah! I love that song.

"Totally! I love Imagine Dragons!

"I LOVE their music. It's so unique."

"Hey, I have an idea! The school is looking for a new song for our anthem. How about we register that song?"

"I like where your head's at, Rodney. Not that it's ever here."

"Yeah, sounds like a great idea.

"Thank you, Devan. And Derek."

Derek made an awkward smile.

The rest of the night was full of talk about one another, and everyone had fun socializing. Lewis turned out to have been born from a very rich radioactive family, and knew how to play the trumpet, trombone, and tuba. Devan mentioned that he was one of the strongest kids in his school and had once uprooted a small tree before he even gained his abilities! Rodney was class clown in his sixth grade year, and had an M&M collection in his room. Chelsea apparently had won five beauty pageants back home, and was the most popular girl in her school. Rachel was the most interesting. She had two tabby cats named Tiffany and Clyde, and had won her hometown gymnastics competition five years in a row. She added that she also owned a beautiful necklace that her aunt had once owned, but that had been gifted to Rachel on her seventh birthday. It was a sparkling sapphire attached to a silver chain, encrusted with small diamond chips. There was a bronze link at both ends of the chain to lock it together, and on one of the links were Rachel's initials in fine script. She even showed them. It was a great night. Derek even confessed that his family sometimes drove a jet black Ferrari on special trips, and that they owned a beach house in Atlantic City in New Jersey.

Soon, it was time to actually go to bed. Everyone said good night to each other before burying themselves under there covers. Derek went to bed smiling that night, for he had found what he had been missing. He had found a new home.

"Good night, everyone." He uttered sleepily.