The Fracture

Practice

CHAPTER ONE

"And you know the rest of the rules, no cheating."
Like that was going to happen. I thought as Ms. Northfall weaved through the desks putting down thick packets of paper that made a slapping noise when it hit. I put my head in my hands and waiting for that stupid science test to conveniently fall. And, as usual, I was the one left without a copy. I sighed when she said: "I'm sorry Orion, I must've miscounted. I'll be right back class, and don't even think about making paper airplanes out of those packets."
When she cleared sight of the doorway, Victor tried to throw a pencil at my face. I, for one hated the guy, but everyone thought he was hilarious. I ducked, missing the pencil by inches. It flew right past me and left a nice clean hole in the wall. Our science teacher walked in when Victor was about to throw another pencil. Ms. Northfall simply glared at him and handed me the test, slightly warm from being in the copier. "You may begin."

At those words I pick up my pencil and write my name on the paper. I hate science. Why would you spend your life learning about what molecules and what your food is made of? Its pretty dumb if you ask me. I wait for a couple minutes, letting the smart kids finish. The first one to flip his test over is of course Blake. Man that guy could solve equations in a split second. All the teachers loved him, and his parents didn't think he was good enough. I kinda felt bad for the kid, but not that much. I mean, his test was easy to copy from, heck, anyones is easy. I carefully put my hand under my desk and spread out my fingers. I force all my concentration on the world stopping, and it did. Ms. Northfall stopped mid-step, Blake froze with his test in hand. I slowly pushed out my chair, stood up, and walked toward Blake. I plucked his test out of his hand, sauntered back to my desk, and started copying the answers down. I intentionally marked one or two answers wrong so Ms. Northfall wouldn't suspect me cheating. I moved toward Blake, put his packet on his desk upside down and sat in my chair. I slowly curled my fingers into a fist, and time unfroze. Northfall kept walking to her computer, and Blake looked at his hand, and then at his desk. He had a very confused look on his face. He warily picked up his test and put it in the tray. I waited a couple seconds and walked up and put it in the tray also. When I sat back down I tapped my foot impatiently, wishing the clock would tick faster.
When Kimberley finally hands her test in, the bell rings. I shoot up from my desk, lift my backpack onto one shoulder, and practically run out of the classroom. The one thing I hated about being a freshman is that we get pushed around like a ping-pong ball. Juniors and seniors do it the most. Its especially annoying when the guy or girl is a foot taller than you, and knows your locker combination, and decides: 'Oh, your to small for that locker? Eh, we can manage.' That certain person I was avoiding was Victor. And I know your gonna ask: 'But your a freshman! How can a junior or a senior be in your class?' Well, if a junior or senior isn't in Pre-AP science, math, history etc they get moved down into a freshman class. I hated this but Victor loved it. I was literally shoving though people to get to the schools exit and get on my bus. I was about to step out of the school's doors when a familiar tug on my backpack. I turn around to Victor towering over me. "Where do you think you where going squirt?" He says as he cranes his neck down. "Home." I mutter. "What? You're too short I couldn't hear you." The people following him laughed. I glared at him. "I said I was going home."
"And who do you have waiting for you at home? Your brothers dead, your mom probably died overnight, and the dad that you had is probably in jail. So, who do you have waiting for you?" He sneers at me. "Who do you have waiting for you at home Victor? Is it your mom that if you went missing, she wouldn't remember to look for her son?"
He looked at me viciously and lunged, I easily dodged and lifted my foot. He tripped and went sprawling onto the floor. I took my chance and ran out of the school's doors, sprinting down the pavement, skidding to a halt when I saw my bus number. I leapt up the steps, and went to the very back. Without realizing I stepped on a piece of paper, and slid. I instinctively spread my hand and time froze. I put out my arm catching a seat so I wouldn't fall. I look around to see who had dropped the piece of paper, my eyes rested on a girl with a shocked expression of her face, she was reaching her arm out, trying to make me not fall. I picked up the paper and put it where it was before I stepped on it. I slowly made my hand turn into a fist, making time pass like molasses. I put my foot on it and moved my left like a turtle, making it look like I regained my balance my twisting my body forward.
If I didn't do this every single time, it would look like The Flash bestowed his powers on me and said: 'Run, my little fledgling run! Run to the hea-ohh, so that's what it looks like to fly out of a bus's window. Huh, I never would've guessed.'
When my fingers were fully spread time flowed normally. I bent down and gave the girl her paper.
"I-I'm sorry I didn't mean to-"
"Your good." I say simply, trying to avoid all conversation possible.
I walk over to my seat and sit down, putting my backpack beside me. Twenty minutes had gone by, the high schoolers left the bus one by one. The only person who didn't leave was the girl who was two seats in front of me, the one who's paper I slipped on. When the bus squealed to a stop, I hurriedly walked up to the front of the bus, jumped off the steps, and walked so fast I practically ran.
I was halfway down the block before the girl caught up with me. She tapped my shoulder with something hard. I turned around to her giving me my phone, "You dropped this."
"Uh, thanks?" I say to her, taking my phone. "No problem."
Well, she already walking beside me so why not start conversation?
"Did you just move here? Or..?"
"Yeah I just moved over there." She points to a rustic modern house one house left of mine. The house had rough cut limestone steps leading to a patio to the direct right,there were white chairs with blue cushions and golden pillows. And in the front of the patio, emerging from the house was a fireplace.
To the left of the steps was a circle like patio overlooking a bay joining with the ocean.
Following the entryway was a pillar of non-chiseled limestone. The house was emitting a warm glow from within, there was laughter from inside. I saw a glimpse of a kid chasing another with a Nerf gun.
"Well, I gotta go before my brothers decide to destroy the place. See you tomorrow then?"
I nod, "Yeah, and don't waste your time talking to me, one of your brothers came close to a vase. She twisted around and started running to the front door, she suddenly turned and said, "I didn't catch your name!"
"Orion!" I yell back at her, "Orion Tempus!"

So this is a story concept I've had for over six months, please do know that I'm not replacing any of my works, (especially Dead Stars) thanks for sticking with me through this first chapter, your reading this cause you got to the end, and it means a lot. Thanks for giving this one a chance.

-Moon