The rest of the day was pure agony, I was practically skipping though the doors by the time the last bell rang. I didn’t dare use my super power again for fear of running out of magical juice, which was probably a thing. And all superheroes needed their powers in case of an emergency, right?

“Hey Norman!” Someone yelled behind me.

Ah, speaking of emergency, now would be a good time to use it.

It didn’t work.

I panicked then, was it gone? Was it a one-time thing? Oh shit this was bad.

“Heard you did your homework today.” The same voice snickered.

Ah I didn’t need this, it was probably Robb, or another one of his lackeys. They were the head honchos around the school, well one of them was anyway.

I turned around, yep it was Robb. “Oh hey Robb! Yeah, I thought I should pay more attention to my education you know?”

Robb snorted at that as his minions surrounded me, they sure were a menacing bunch, animals rather than people.

“Well good for you mate, anyway, I was having a real bad time today, you see I kind of forgot my bus money. You wouldn’t be able to help me out would you? Ten Quarks should do.” He said as he swept his hair back.

Oh the little shit, that was all I had on me and he knew it. The kid would probably grow up to be the head of some kind of criminal syndicate, well checkmate bitch I have super powers now.

“You know what Robb? Fuck you, I’m tired of paying you money, why don’t you just go away and shove a stick up your ass.”

They blinked at that, before proceeding to kick the shit out of me. And as I was spasming around in the dirt, trying to roll with the punches I realized that I probably shouldn’t rely on my super powers if I didn’t know how to use them.

But thankfully it didn’t last long, after they were done they searched my pockets, found my wallet, took my money then walked away.

“Next time you should think twice before talking back to me again Norman.” Robb yelled back.

Tch. Testosterone.

I lay there for a few minutes, wallowing in self-pity, seeing the school kids walk past me not so much as glancing in my direction. Probably for the best though, they’d more likely take a picture of me then help.

So I picked myself up and headed for the bus stop. Damn superpowers, probably only worked when you didn’t need it or some bullshit like that. God it hurt, I just wanted to go home and lie down in my soft comfy bed and-

My head hit the pillow with a solid thump, making me lose consciousness for a second. Struggling to sit up I looked around only to find myself back in my room.

“Oooooh.” I said.

My backpack wasn’t here though.

“OOOOOH!” I said with a bit of alarm this time. Alright think, where was I when they beat me up?” Somewhere near the bushes, under the tree I thi-

And I was there, right in front of the crime scene. Alright that was cool and all but it was seriously going to affect me if I got teleported every time I thought of a place.

I grabbed my back pack and was just about to whisk away when I heard another voice calling my name.

“Noah! Buddy!” Oh it was Simon. The hunk.

He slowed down as he approached me, not even out of breath he immediately started talking. “Hey I saw Robb and the others ganging up on you again, is everything okay?”

I gazed at him suspiciously, “Yeah. It’s all good.”

Simon put a hand on my shoulder, making me flinch. “Listen, you can speak up you know. Bullying can be stopped.”

I nodded solemnly. “Don’t worry I’m fine on my own, I want to fight this by myself so that I can prove I’m better than them.”

He seemed to understand, good because I certainly didn’t. “Alright but if you ever need my help just call and I’ll be there.” He said before running off again, the fit cunt.

Alright, home, nice comfy bed her I come. Aaand…

I opened my eyes, nope, still in front of school, most unreliable super power ever.

With a sigh I trudged off towards the bus stop.

The place was jam-packed with kids, from 8th graders talking about the latest videogames to 12th graders talking about boys and relationships. I slumped against a pole, it was hard to walk from the bruises and I was pretty sure my left eye was starting to swell.

“Hey, you okay?” Someone asked me, I was really getting tired of all these nosy people, why couldn’t they just leave me alone.

I looked up and my eyes did a double take. Sophia, the Sophia, okay Norman play it cool, you got this. Straightening up I looked up in to her eyes and said in my lowest possible register. “I’m fine.”

She didn’t seem to notice my efforts to be manly and gently touched my cheeks, yep definite bruise but I could have been being carved up with a meat cleaver and wouldn’t have moved an inch.

“That looks like it hurts, I wish I could help you.” She said sadly. Oh god, genuine concern, my only weakness.

“Sophie come on! The bus is here!” One of her friends shouted.

She started to move away but I grabbed her hand, and my body responded by having a seizure, ‘okay smarty pants’ it seemed to tell me, ‘now what?’

‘Give me a second you inept fuck.’ I snarled back internally while trying to clear my thoughts.

“Uh… Thanks, for noticing.” I managed to mumble.

She gave me a smile, and my brain had a meltdown. I just stood there dumbly as she got on the bus and left the station.

It took me a moment to regain control of my motor skills but when I did all I managed to do was sit down and lie still in the grass. I was supposed to get on that bus as well.

Life sure was weird, I mused as I watched the clouds roam past my eyes. It seemed to give you a piece of candy whilst simultaneously kicking you in the balls, then revealing that kicking you saved your life from cancer, while the piece of candy it gave you contained cerebral palsy. It really made you appreciate your lot, and when you didn’t it just threw you off a cliff then make you climb up it. Like the most sadistic personal trainer you’ve ever seen, and you can’t get rid of this one no matter how hard you try.

And with a thought of home, I disappeared from the grass.