The Powered People

Chapter 4

Evian flat-out announced to everyone upstairs, "Nolan's my brother."

The first reaction Nolan noticed was Taiga groaning and burying her face in her hands. "Why..." she groaned.

Honestly, Nolan felt no different. Now he had a concrete reason to stay! He didn't exactly want to scream. He just wanted to cry. He was being dragged around with his eyebrows bunched and a permanent frown stuck on his face. Macabre was off somewhere with this Demetri guy and Nolan was trapped with all the freaks. Evian pushed him into a chair by the table, where he slumped down. Why'd I have a crush on her? He thought, slamming his face down on the tabletop. Evian patted his back, and his shoulders tensed.

"Oh, c'mon. It's time to meet your new family," Evian told him. He groaned loudly. "Well, only two of us are your biological family. Taiga our cousin!"

Nolan started lightly banging his head against the table. Toby grabbed him by the hair and brought his head up. Taiga walked all the way across the room to high-five Toby.

"So you've already met Toby and Taiga," Evian said. "Toby bends metal. Taiga controls ice. And I admit, Taiga could be a bit bossy-"

"Is that because I could take control?" Taiga retaliated.

"No, it's 'cuz you're bossy. And you're not in charge."

"Yes, I-"

"And the ginger over there's Evie."

"HI!" Nolan felt something shake his shoulders. He flinched and swung behind him. The little ginger ducked and said, "Sorry, sorry!"

He glanced down and met eyes with the little thing. She had one singed hair that fell in front of her face. A few other locks of hair started to sizzle.

"Her hair catches fire when she gets too happy," Evian explained. "Nothing too bad."

When Evie spotted his hair, she started to giggle. And of course, her hair caught fire again. This time it was patted down by a strong hand. Nolan looked up and almost gasped. Staring him in the eye was one of the most beautiful faces he'd seen. Round brown eyes stared him in the face. Curly, dark brown hair tumbled down her back. A pink flower was tucked behind her ear. Her face was completely symmetrical. She wore a knee-length green sundress and two vine bracelets.

The girl squinted at his face, and Nolan finally broke from his daze. He also realized he was covered in blue goop right in front of this beautiful girl. But she didn't seem to be squinting at that...

"There's a rash on your face," she told him in a deep, luminous, sing-songy voice.

All Nolan could say was, "Okay."

"Hold on." She put a hand on his elbow, and every one of his muscles became tight as a drum. "I think I have something that could help."

She scurried over to the ladder, and Nolan watched her the whole time.

"Why are you so horny today?" A nasal voice called out. His head whipped around, and he faced a young woman of about nineteen. Her glasses rest on her hooked nose, and her long brown hair was completely straight. She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow at him. Nolan rolled his eyes, hoping and praying the others freaks didn't hear.

"Meg reads minds," Evian said.

"I know," Nolan groaned.

"I mean first Evian and now Imani-" Meg continued.

"Shut up!" Nolan hoped and prayed neither Evian or Imani heard that (but he had to admit, "Imani" rolled off the tongue nicely.

"'Rolls off the tongue?'" Meg chuckled. Nolan facepalmed himself. I hate those kinds, he thought to himself.