The Giftless.

Chapter 2

Chapter 02

I don't remember the drive home. It was around 11:30 at night when I walked in the door. I ran up the stairs and sat in the shower, clothes and all. This was exactly who I didn't want to become. This is what a villain does. I didn't have a choice...but there's always another choice! There's always an alternative to murder! 

I couldn't stop the voices. I couldn't make them go away. I took two melatonin and did my best attempt at sleep. 

The dream was the worst part. It was like watching myself kill him. I watched his Gift enter my body. When he was dust, my body glowed. 

When I woke up I was drenched in sweat, but my body felt good. It was like a fever breaking. I was still sick at the thought of Earnest. He could've just been a Gifted man in desperation. Even good people have to resort to evil sometimes. I wish I couldve seen more of what was in his head. It was like it flashed before my eyes. But now he was just a man.

I was learning all about my Gift and fearing it more and more. That was the first day I put on the gloves. They left my fingers exposed, but the problems were in my palms. Touching anyone could kill them. 

My thoughts immediately went to Court. What must he have seen? He has to know I'm Gifted now. Bright lights just don't come out of regular people. I thought about calling. Doing damage control, but then got nervous about talking to him. What the hell was happening? 

I did the usual routine and headed to school. The drive took all of five minutes which wasn't nearly enough time to come up with any excuses about the gloves. My best friend, Abe, is the most observant person I know. He  would without a doubt comment on them. 

But it was too late. By the time I got to my usual spot, Abe was waiting on the hood of his car waiting for me. "The Ghost" as we likes to call it, was beginning to lose its original charm. We used to think it was a cool classic, but now, it seems like its about time to put it out of its misery. 

"Noah!" He said, walking slightly angrily to my door. 

"What's u-"

"Are you okay?" He asked. The angry look was replaced with concern.  

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" I tried my best to be convincing, but I should've know that wouldn't work with him. 

"Wow it's like you just met me." He said. He opened my door and held out his hand. "Hi, I'm Abel Campbell, the most gifted Giftless person this side of Harbors-dale. Smeller of all bullshit." 

"Teller of all bullshit." I heard our friend Rami coming up behind him. I silently thanked God that at least that part of the conversation was over. 

I looked at my two best friends in the world. We didn't make any sense together, but we all knew we'd make even less sense apart. Abe was the high school movie equivalent of a nerd. Lived life vicariously through the characters of an online world, and owned more comic books than he or anyone would know what to do with. He was a genius on the computer too. Rami and I think he could hack into the white house database if he wanted to. 

Rami is a certified heart throb. Harbors Dale High girls love Hiram Ramirez. He plays it cool in front of us, but Abe and I both know that just being such close associates of Rami makes us slightly cooler. Hell, being his lab partner would probably make us cooler. He played football and basketball, was too book smart for anyone's good, was basically a Latino Zac Efron to the girls, and happened to be a world class gymnast. Abe and I were the only ones who know that part. He hangs with losers, but he still has a rep to protect.