Inversion

Nightcap

Yawning loudly I stepped into my room and began digging through my bags for something more comfortable. I decided on a pair of sweatpants and a baggy t-shirt and quickly changed. It had been a crazy day, and I was tired as hell, but I didn't feel like sleeping just yet so I slid open the glass door and went out on my balcony for a bit of fresh air. The view was beautiful. A smattering of lights twinkled from the mish-mash assortment of houses, and the soft touch of moonlight played through the tree tops in the forest. Growing up in the city I wasn't used to sights like this, and when I turned up to look at the sky I was breathless. The stars were huge, and brighter than I had ever seen them in my entire life.

The whole scene was incredibly picturesque and serene, it was like I was living in a different world than I had been only two days ago. And I suppose in a way, I was. I mean, physically it's the same world, but the revelation that what are basically superhumans have been living among us really changes your perspective. It was humbling, awe-inspiring, and honestly a bit terrifying. Some of the abilities I had seen were so powerful they sent shivers down my spine, thinking back to my encounter with Dr. Balder, or even just Aria. I let these thoughts bubble up to the surface and work themselves out since I had been trying to suppress them all day, and leaned against the railing watching a couple squirrels jump nimbly from branch to branch, almost as if they were playing a very acrobatic version of tag.

“Oi, Cinderella, stop it with the swooning or I'm liable to vomit,” a voice called out from above me. I turned in surprise and looked up to see Sparrow sitting on the edge of the roof drinking a beer.

“Well what are you doing hanging out over my room anyways wierdo? I'll swoon all I want,” I responded and then put my hand to my forehead and pretended to faint.

“This side of the house has the best view, and sometimes you can see Nessa changing through that window,” he said pointing at the nearby Victorian house, “Anyways, catch and come on up,” he finished and tossed me a beer. I tucked it into my pocket, got up on the railing, took his extended hand and scrambled up onto the roof.

“It is a good view,” I said cracking my beer and taking a swig, “You do this every night?”

“Most. It's relaxing, and sometimes I just want to be alone, ya know?” he answered.

“Oh, sorry, didn't mean to interrupt your 'me' time,” I said jokingly.

“Fuck off,” he said with a laugh and punched my shoulder, “What'd you think about our classes today? Pretty cool huh?”

“Yeah, I mean some were better than others,” I responded, thinking about getting my ass kicked in Phys Ed, “What's Aria's problem anyways? I mean, I've never done anything to her but she seems to hate me with a fiery passion.” When I said that Sparrow chugged the rest of his beer and threw it at the neighbors window before cracking another one.

“It's not you, not really. It's just the idea of you,” he said cryptically.

“Oh that's good? At least it's like totally reasonable then,” I said.

“I mean, she can be cold. But she had it rough growing up, not that any of us had it easy,” he finished his beer and threw it at the neighbors house again and continued, “My parents disowned me when I was three because they thought I was a freak, luckily my grandpa took me in since he was Chosen as well. I guess it skips a generation sometimes. He was a good man, I loved him, he homeschooled me so I didn't get ridiculed and taught me about what it meant to be Chosen, but the neighborhood kids knew about my secret and would beat the shit out of me whenever they got a chance just because I was different. Then to top it all off, grandpa died when I was 16, and I've been on my own ever since. And then there's you, with your normal life, normal family, and to top it all off you have a crazy unique ability. My life turned out pretty good considering, and I wouldn't trade my power for anything, but sometimes I wish I had gotten that. You had it good Jack.”

“Jesus man, I didn't know... I'm sorry,” I said feeling like an ass for the umpteenth time that day.

“Hey, its all good, I don't go around wearing my heart on my sleeve. But you should know that anything that happened to me, Aria had it way worse. She was an orphan, and lived in an orphanage until she was eight and managed to run away. She grew up on the streets of Japan using her ability to hustle people at cards and games of chance to get enough money to scrape by. Every day she woke up sleeping in an alley never knowing if she would be able to get enough food, or if someone was going to try and kill or rape her. Her last name literally means 'No Name',” he explained, “Anyways, cut her some slack. She'll come around.”

I didn't know what to say, no wonder she hated me. I hadn't stopped to consider that not everyone here had a good childhood like me, although Sparrow's scars should have been some indication. It was actually amazing how well adjusted they both were, I would have been a wreck if that had been my upbringing.

“What about the others? Jared, Ceri and Devin? I'm not trying to be nosy but I don't want to be insensitive because of my ignorance,” I asked opening another beer, starting to get a little buzzed.

“They were a bit better off I suppose, but I don't like to judge since I didn't live their life. Jared didn't know about his power and became incredibly popular at school by influencing everyone's emotions around him. When his parents told him about his ability and he realized that was why the students all liked him he was crushed and dropped out of school to became a recluse that just stayed at home tinkering with gadgets and studying, he didn't want people to like him for something he couldn't control.”

“ Devin was your typical jock, nice family, good friends, cute girlfriend, the whole shebang. He was the star quarterback of his little town and led them to the state finals his senior year, but he didn't know about his power. During the game he accidentally activated it when he was trying to run the ball and sent five kids to the hospital, and damn near killed one of them. His parents had been hoping he didn't have the gene and were holding back telling him. He quit the team and finished out his senior year in disgrace, then came here.”

“Ceri... well, she's a bit of an odd duck. Her dad raised her alone in the woods, and she's never met her mom. She spent most of her time shapeshifted and playing with wild animals, or being schooled by her father. He wasn't Chosen but he was very understanding, choosing to give up his job and life in the city to raise Ceri somewhere where she could be free to explore her ability. I don't think she ever met another human until she was well into her teens, which is probably why she is so awkward,” he finished up his monologue, and his beer, then threw it at the neighbors house again and stood up with a yawn and a stretch, “Beers all gone. We should hit the sack so we aren't late for class again tomorrow.”

I thought about Professor Balder's parting words this morning and hastily nodded in agreement. When I stood up I was a bit unsteady on my feet and almost stumbled off the roof, but Sparrow steadied me and said,

“Woah there lightweight, can't have you falling to your death the first day. Wait til tomorrow at least.” I laughed and then heard the neighbors window slide open and a small figure popped its head out and yelled,

“Hey assholes, we're trying to sleep in here! Stop throwing your empties at my fucking window!”

“We should go before she-” Sparrow started but was interrupted when he got hit in the chest by a ball of ice that knocked the wind out of him, and I narrowly avoided several more, “-does that,” he finished holding his chest and grunting in pain as he tried to regain his breath. I jumped down to the balcony and he followed suit, we barely managed to get in my room and close the door before a couple more ice balls smashed into it and shattered.

“Holy shit, does she always do that?!” I asked in shock. Sparrow was laying on the floor panting for breath and answered with a feeble laugh,

“Urgh, yeah... I get the feeling... she doesn't like me too much.”