The Masks We Wear

Ch. 11

I took off into the basement of the building which was actually pretty nice despite it still being under construction. I had left my clothes there before I turned to this extent to go help Will. When I got there I locked the door behind me and turned back. It felt like most of my energy was just sucked straight out of me. That was the most I had ever used my powers since the very first night I discovered them.

I quickly changed out of the clothes I was wearing and changed into some workout gear which was a black jersey, baggy black shorts, and the same running blue running shoes. I waited a little bit then ran out of the basement to make sure that nobody could relate me to what had just happened. Fully aware that Yuki wasn't dumb enough to let that slide. After a few minutes, I snuck my way out of the construction site easily as another entrance went the opposite way and into a back ally.

I made my way back to school for basketball practice in a full sprint. Luckily, I was able to be the first to arrive at the gym. From there, I started stretching and warming up for the hell I was about to go through. Our coach was strict and pushed us incredibly hard, then again this was seen as the norm for all of our school. Our schools' culture was to be extremely competitive in almost every way, even down to the Anime and Cosplay club.

As people arrived I made sure to give them all dap and told them what's up and even welcomed the newcomers who were considering coming to this school. Being a star meant you had specific responsibilities; you had to be a good student, work the hardest out of everyone in your field, be the best out of them all, to be the first at practice, helpful and motivational to all of your teammates as well as welcoming to incoming athletes in our sports. Of course, though that's how it's supposed to work, in truth, while they are usually the leaders, they tend to be a lot more ruthless. Most of the stars are social and will easily go spread rumors about someone who has a chance at being better than them. I had to deal with the worst of it when I transferred to this school. As the last few players arrived, knowing better than to be late, and the practice began.

After practice, I went and told everyone that they had a good practice, even to the people who didn't. I then put my headphones on and began to jump rope in the gym as everyone else left.

"Hey, are y'all headin over to D&C?" I heard one of my teammates say. Even though my headphones were on I could still hear them due to my hearing not going all the way back to normal.

"Yeah, you need a ride?"

"If it cool with you."

"It's no problem man."

"Thanks."

Once again they were doing something fun without me. I used to get bothered by it but now I just don't care. If they don't want to be cool then screw it, I still have their respect and the best chance at getting recruited for college. All I had to do was make sure that I keep my secret. After I had gotten in about an hour of jumping rope I sat down on the bleachers ... alone, as I pulled out my towel and wiped my sweet off, changing my shirt. I walked outside to see the worst sight I had seen all day, Will waiting for me, underneath a tree while working on the many assignments he hadn't finished in class.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him looking annoyed.

"I just wanted to say thank you."

"I don't need your thanks," I said as I walked past him.

"Hey," he said while packing up, "why ... did you help me?" I just turned and looked at him.

"I ... I don't know," his eyes seemed to ask more questions, "I wish I knew but I don't ... and I don't care so later," I said while walking away, not bothering to look at him as a strange feeling as I wondered why I did save him. No good reason came to my mind as I realized what all I had risked by also using my powers. Scholarships, acquaintances, my future, hell I risked my life. All because of one idiot who I don't even know.

Once I got home I just grabbed myself some dinner and went to bed after eating. My mom wanted to know how practice went and my day was but I told her I was tired. Unfortunately, she kept pestering me for the details and I decided to tell her everything aside from what involved Will and Yuki. I then went to my room, turned off the lights, and laid my tall ass down. I couldn't stop thinking of why I decided to help him and turn when suddenly, "thump." I just sighed at the sound then I heard it again, "thump."

I already knew what the sound was as I groaned and rolled up the curtain. Through the window, I saw Will in the same room as the boyish girl and the Asian boy from a few days ago. I flipped them off and put the curtain down.

Not long after I saw my phone light up. A number I hadn't recognized had texted me.

"Come on, just hop on over real quick, we just want to talk."

"No, it's late, I'm tired, and they can fuck themselves."

"Well, Meya is about to use a teleportation spell to get into your room if you don't."

With that having been said I just sighed, "Fine."