Phoenix

6. What Are You Talking About

I open the door and leave. My friend Jackie runs after me.

"Seth. Seth, wait." She calls.

"What-What do you want?" I retort.

" You forgot your hat."

"So? I meant to leave it there. I might as well show everyone. Everyone is scared of me. I've never had this much courage in my life. I don't want the stupid hat. This power gives me confidence."

"No Seth. It hasn't given you confidence. You had confidence. Now people are seeing you and that's what you think is giving you confidence. But it's not. It's making people fear you."

I walk away. She keeps following me.

"Don't follow me."

"Where are you going?"

"I don't know. I'm gonna call Jake and I'm leaving school. I think I'm gonna transfer schools."

"Why?"

"I don't want everyone to know. I can't handle this."

I run to the office without another word.

I smash my hand on the counter making a small bang. I get everyone's attention. They stare at me.

"I'm leaving."

"You can't leave. The class just started. And you just got here 10 minutes ago."

"Haha. You're funny." I laugh sarcastically. "I'm not coming back. Have a good day."

I walk out back to my locker and clean it out. Taking my lock with me. My bag is full and heavy. I have my skateboard though. At least I don't have to walk home.

As I get closer to my house I realize, my brother is home. His car is there. He's supposed to be working. I get off the board before I get close to the house so I don't make much noise.

I look in the window of the door. Nobody. I open the door quietly. I hear a voice. My brothers' voice. But nobody else.

Jake's voice is coming from downstairs. Our room. I can't quite make out what yes saying though.

I close the door softly and take off my shoes without a sound. I put my shoes and backpack with my skateboard down on the doormat silently.

I tiptoe over to the door to the stairs. Luckily it's open a crack. I lean against the wall beside the door just to listen to what's being said.

I know something is up. Or Jake would have told me he wasn't going to work today. Maybe he's just late and he's talking to his boss though. I still need to know what's up.

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"I know. I know."

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"I just want to tell him."

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"Will you ever let me tell him?"

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" But that's stupid."

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"He'll hate me for not telling him and he'll hate you for not letting me tell him."

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"I don't care. I just want him to know the truth."

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"You're never reasonable."

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"I can't keep this from my brother."

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" How is it supposed to keep him safe?"

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"I don't care. Listen to your mother is not a good explanation."

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"He needs to know."

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"He's not a little kid anymore."

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"No. Mom. He won't tell Callum or the twins."

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"All we have to do is tell him that he has to keep it a secret from them. He'll understand. They are too young."

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"No. He's not too young."

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"You told me when I was his age."

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"No that's not different."

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"I'm done with this conversation mom. We have to tell him some point. Why shouldn't it be now."

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"Now is a perfect time.

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"He can already make a fire shield."

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"Yes. He can make fireballs."

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"Because I watched him."

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"Really? That's stupid."

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"We have to tell him."

I know they're talking about me. But tell me what?

I can't handle this anymore. This conversation is going in loops and I need to know what they mean by "tell me".

"Tell me what?" I hissed at Jake. My fire hair getting bigger with my anger.

"Mom... We have a problem. Come home." He mumbled into the phone. He pauses then hangs it up.

He's scared now.

He stays silent and stands there uneasy.

After a few seconds. "Huh? Nothing? I said: Tell me what?"

"Just wait till mom gets home. She'll explain everything." He starts to walk to his side of the room.

" No. No. No." I go downstairs then follow him. "Explain to me: why you guys aren't freaked out by any of this. But Callum and the twins are. Explain: why you are were arguing with mom about you wanting to tell me something. Explain to me: what's going on."

"I told you to wait for mom to get home."

"You're the one that wanted to tell me in the first place. Why won't you now? Huh? Can't think of any lies? Or is it that if you do lie, you know I'll find out because mom will tell me a different story."

"Seth. Go upstairs. Make yourself something to eat and wait for mom. You should be in school anyway. What's with that?"

"You don't get to change the subject."

"You don't get to come into my room and tell me what to do." He retorts.

My brother and I have never had this much of a heated argument before. I walk upstairs without another word. I sit down at the table for about ten minutes.

Mom pulls in. Jake comes upstairs. He sits at the table with me.