James Knight: Teenage Superhuman - B2

Four

NOAH

I shifted uneasily on the splintered wooden bench next to my dad, trying not to draw attention. The sound of Principal Gates' heavy boots thudding down the hallway made my stomach twist. He was younger than my dad but easily a foot taller. When his office door creaked open, he waved for us to come in.

"Hi, I'm Principal Gates. You must be Noah—I heard James couldn't make it today," he said. I noted the glasses sliding down his nose as he smiled, and couldn't help but think it was the kind of smile that belonged to someone living on the street. I slouched back on the bench and muttered something under my breath. Sam nudged me upright with a sharp cough and a glare. I tried to put on my best American accent.

"Yeah... I'm Noah. Noah Knight." I shot my dad a glance; he gave me a thumbs-up, clearly entertained by my attempt. I tilted my head and grinned a little.

"Noah, it's good to meet you. Let's get you settled—come on into my office."

I slid past him and plopped down in front of the desk. Gates sank into the main chair, adjusting his glasses, while Sam dropped into the seat beside me.

"Your file says you're in eleventh grade?" Gates asked. Relief washed over me.

"Last time I checked, I was still in junior high," I admitted, sitting up straight and swallowing my pride as my dad gave me a steady, knowing look.
"Yup."

"A straight-A student?" he said, raising an eyebrow, clearly impressed. He adjusted his glasses and glanced up from my file.

"Yeah," I confirmed. Principal Gates held out his hand, and I shook it firmly.

"Welcome to Los Angeles High, kid," he said. His hand throbbed a little, and Sam frowned at me again.

"Nice grip. You into sports at all?" Gates asked.

I gave a sheepish grin. "Always wanted to play football," I admitted.

"Nope. But Noah here? Can't wait to get started," Sam cut in, and I slumped back in my chair, feeling deflated.

Gates didn't even react to that. He took a sip of his mid-morning coffee and said, "Funny thing—we've got another kid who looks just like you." He studied me for a moment, and an awkward silence hung in the air. Then he smiled at Sam, shook his hand, and sized him up. "You related to the Police Chief, by any chance?"

"Yeah," Sam said, glancing at me. My eyes flicked nervously toward the door. "Why don't you wait out in the hallway while I finish some paperwork?"

I grunted and rolled my eyes but eventually got up and left the office, settling back onto the bench outside.

∆∆∆

JAMES

Derek walked into the bathroom, and I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. After hours holed up in my bedroom, my blue eyes were finally back to normal. I'd been snapping pictures every few minutes to track the changes. The blue contacts my dad had bought that night "just to be safe" turned out to be unnecessary—a relief—but I kept them in my room anyway, just in case.

"You feeling better now? 'Cause you look a lot better," Derek said. I shot him a glare, still glued to the mirror. He just rolled his eyes like he wasn't fazed at all.

"That doesn't work on me anymore, Alpha," he added, his eyes catching mine in the reflection. I rolled mine in response. "Sam and Noah'll be home soon. And I overheard Henry talking to Dad—he might be coming over right now."

I hadn't seen Uncle Henry or my cousins in years, so the news hit me with a little burst of excitement. I couldn't help smiling.

"Wow... it's been forever since we last saw or heard from them," I said.