Magical Mishap

Chapter 2

Manny's POV

"Are you sure you're going to be okay?" Dylan my older brother asked for the umpteenth time this morning as we walked through the halls of Brownstone Middle School.

I looked up from my class schedule I had just gotten from the admin office to crack a half smile at him. "Blend into middle school normalcy like I haven't been home schooled all my life? Piece of cake"

My brother frowned down at me but kept walking nonetheless.

"There's no need for the sarcasm lil' bro. I know you didn't want to start public school but if we want to blend in, we have to make some sacrifices and this is one of them"

"I understand", I nodded solemnly "I just wish... we didn't have to move and leave everyone and... everything behind"

My brother's eyes widened and he turned to face me, stooping down to look me in my eyes. He was only three and a half years older but one could say he was wise beyond his years.

"Now you know very well we are never to talk about our old life in public", he said to me, his brown eyes boring into mine.

I looked around at the brightly lit halls with lockers lined up at each end and teens like me moving idly around, either alone or in groups of fellow-minded teens as they prepared for the impending doom that was the first period of the school year.

Yeah, nothing here really screamed 'Danger' to me.

I looked back at Dylan, my eyebrows quirked.

"I get your point", Dylan remarked, taking in a deep breath "But you have to be careful. You never know who might be watching"

He looked around at all the innocent baby-faced kids like they were blood-thirsty killers and I just managed to hold in a snort.

"Alright bud", he stood to his full height of about 6 feet and ruffled my hair. "I have to go and register in my own school now. Remember be friendly but not too friendly... and have fun"

"Be friendly and not too friendly. Right... That's not confusing at all"

Dylan threw his head back and barked out a long drawn-out laugh. If I wasn't so irked at the fact that I was starting public school, I may have even been embarrassed.

He managed to stop laughing to give me a light punch in the arm. "Try not to be so grumpy and you'll do great here"

"Thanks bro", I liked to act tough most times but was truly glad Dylan came to register me. My parents were too busy settling into our 'new' life and I could have done it on my own but I was really happy I didn't have to. "Good luck to you too; it's only your first day in normal school in so many years"

Dylan smirked at me and gestured at himself. "Do you know who you're talking too? I'm Mr. Charismatic; I'll have high school girls all over me like that". He snapped his fingers together.

I shook my head. He was so full of it sometimes. "Oh...yeah okay", I remarked drily.

"And since you're essentially my mini-me, I trust you won't do too bad with the ladies over here either", he winked at me

I glared back. Ladies were the least of my worries right now. The fact that I never wanted to move to a town where I couldn't use my powers freely, topped the list.

Dylan glanced at his watch. "Gotta get going, bud. I'll pick you up at 4", he turned around and began to walk away "Oh and Manny..."

"Yeah?"