Lucas Ryan Versus - Madison Daniel Page 0,20

occupied. His torso slumped forward as if he had fallen asleep at his desk. He was unconscious but not terribly hurt. He’d probably wake up with a decent headache, but I made sure not to hurt him too badly.

“Lucas!” Olivia snapped.

“No worries, I just stunned him.” I revealed my hand with a silly wiggle of my fingers, exposing my open palm. Ripley’s glowing gold eyes stared from inside letting her know that it was all under control. Swiftly, my magical weapon faded away into my skin and my markings along my arm fell back to normal.

“You can’t do that,” Olivia said, directly.

“I’ve spent my whole high school experience being pushed around by him and his loser buddies, maybe it’s time for me to stand up for myself. Taylor won’t always be there to save me,” I said, more upset than I was planning.

“What if it had killed him?”

“But it didn’t.”

“Lucas, you know I’m right. You have to be more responsible until you learn how to control your new…gift.” Her eyes fell on me hard and angry. She was right. I didn’t like it, but she was.

“Okay,” I wilted.

Suddenly, we were joined by Mr. Parker, the school’s Guidance Counselor. He was in charge of after-school detention. He actually volunteered for the duty. His face jabbed through the doorway led by his thick glasses. They dangled almost at the tip of his nose, just a nudge away from falling to the floor. He searched the mostly empty classroom before directing his attention my way.

“Ryan,” he sulked. “Of course it would be Mr. Ryan.”

“Good afternoon, Mr. Parker,” I mumbled, and sat down in my chair. Olivia followed my lead.

Mr. Parker then acknowledged Olivia with a head nod. “Ms. Weaver, as usual.”

“You’re late,” she said. He immediately grew upset, but turned his attention to Rory who was lightly snoring now.

“What happened to him?” Mr. Parker asked, annoyed. Olivia and I glanced at each other and we both shrugged our shoulders in indifference. Mr. Parker walked to the front of the room and sat down at the main desk. “All right, there’s still forty-five minutes left in this session, I suggest you two use it wisely.”

Olivia pulled a pad of paper and a pen from her small backpack. She flipped to a fresh page and began scribbling down lines of text. Probably lyrics for a new song. Reaching into my school backpack, I removed three different cell phones and placed them on my desk. I pulled a small kit of tiny tools out next, and began tearing the gadgets apart. I had three recent customers who needed their phones fixed as soon as possible. If I was going to spend the next few weeks locked in this timeout, then I’d at least make some money during it. Lucky for me there wasn’t a piece of electronics I couldn’t fix.

Detention flew by and Olivia let me walk her to the school parking lot where her band members milled around. They were waiting for her to finish up her punishment for the day so they could start this afternoon’s band practice. They did have a dance to prepare for after all. Just as Olivia climbed into the passenger’s side of the older SUV, she called out to me.

“You need a ride?” Her eyes smiled my way and I blushed a little. The other band members fidgeted impatiently, ready to rock.

With a wave of my hand, I smiled, “Nah, I’ve got a ride.”

“Okay.”

“See you tomorrow, Rockstar,” I said, coyly.

“Be good,” she whispered back. Olivia and her band drove away quickly and I cautiously surveyed the parking lot. It was almost empty, just a few cars left. Probably some late working teachers. But there was no prying eyes in view. I raised my hand in front of my face with my palm opened, and my fingers bent in anticipation. Ripley materialized inside it only six inches tall.

“Ripley, it looks like I don’t have a ride home.” Ripley nodded in understanding. A huge smile cut across my face. “I have an idea…”

Moments later I found the town below me rushing by at an insane speed. I held onto Ripley’s neck as we raced through the fluffy white clouds, making my way to my house in a matter of minutes.

Yup, I think I was getting the hang of this phenomenal cosmic power.

LEVEL 09

PANIC STATION

Soaring. Twisting. Gliding through the open air. As I outstretched my arms and let my fingers tickle the stars, I laughed wildly. With each flicker of spinning light,