26 Byrd

Waze walked around the school, a determined look on her face. Currently, it was lunch time and Waze was trying to find the mystery girl before she got hauled off. She stopped short for a second and glanced in a classroom, seeing the girl collecting her things. Wade's face lit up. She waited outside the classroom for the girl to come out, not failing to notice the fearful stares and whispers from her classmates.

"Excuse me, um... you there!" Waze tapped the girl on the shoulder and she spun around with a terrified look on her face. Waze wasn't quite sure how to address her since she didn't know her name, so 'you there' would have to suffice.

"W-w-waze!" The girl looked absolutely terrified, but before she could stutter anything else out, Waze interrupted her.

"Can we talk for a bit?"

"Um... sure..."

Waze gestured for the girl to follow her and led her out of the school to the side where there was a few trees lining the school. Waze slouched against the wall.

"First off let me ask you your name. You know mine, I'm Waze."

"Um... it's Byrd." Waze started slightly before smiling.

"Byrd, huh? That's pretty cute." Byrd blushed extensively.

"T-thank you..."

"So Byrd, you want to get stronger, right?"

"Oh... yes I do. I don't know how though... a-and I'm not very strong so..." Byrd looked at the ground downcast. Waze took a deep breath. The power of her words. She could do this.

"Everyone's weak when they start out. It's harder for some people than others, but that doesn't mean you can't get stronger. You saw how I beat Collin without using an ability, right? It's not impossible. Besides, I'm sure you could strengthen your ability. The only way to get stronger, though, is to work for it. If you work hard and stay dedicated, you can become more powerful than you have dreamed. But you need drive. You need to want to get stronger. You need to be willing to work for it, because it is hard and it is difficult. But it's not impossible if you're willing to take up the challenge. So, are you?"

Byrd stood there surprised for a second before looking down and giving a small huff to herself.

"I think that if you're there I can do anything. I do want to get stronger. I want to be able to stand up for myself. Can I really do that?"

"Those girls bother you a lot everyday, right? I want you to stand up to them today. Show me that you have the determination to do that. If they try to hurt you, I'll be standing by to protect you." Byrd seemed to glow at that last sentence. "Oh, you can always use self defense too."

"If I fight back though, won't I get in trouble?"

"In order for the girls to get you in trouble they'd have to admit they got beat up by a low-step, which would wreck their pride. Plus no one really cares about fights at this school. I mean, I beat up two high steps and I haven't heard a word of complaint from authorities. So go at it." Bird looked a bit surprised but then nodded with a decisive look on her face.

"Alright. I'll do it."

"Great." Waze watched as Byrd walked back to the school before slipping around back. She waited from behind a ledge for a few minutes before she heard the voices of the girls picking on Byrd.

"Hey flower girl, you brought anything for us today?"

"Made another weed grow today? Cause that's all you are, a weed!"

"Now hand over some money. I wanna go get chips from the vending machine. If you bow down and apologize for being such a bitch, maybe we won't hurt you."

Waze gritted her teeth. Oh how she wanted to jump out and kick their asses, but this was Byrd's fight.

"No. Not today." Byrd's voice was steely and strong. Waze was almost surprised.

"What was that, you little bitch?" Waze could hear the shock in the girl's voices too. Byrd had probably never given any resistance before.

"I don't want to anymore. I'm not going to give you any money, and I'm not your bitch. So don't talk to me like that." Waze was surprised at how direct she was. Had Waze really had that effect on her or had this side been hidden all along?

"You little, fine! Once we beat the shit out of you, maybe you'll listen."

Waze slinked out from behind the ledge, hiding in the shadow of a bush, ready to jump out and defend Byrd. But as the first girl swung out to hit her, Byrd easily dodged to the side, swinging her leg up and around, slamming her foot into the back of the girl's head. The girl fell forward, clutching the back of her head. The other girls started to fight too, attacking Byrd from every angle. But Byrd didn't even need Waze's help. She dodged in and out, throwing kicks and punches. Had she really just been afraid of getting in trouble? Or had she just never realized fighting back was an option?

Waze watched as one girl sent a rock flying at Byrd's head, but before it could make contact Waze lunged out of the bush and snatched it out of the air, crushing it in her hand.

"W-waze! You really came..." Byrd glowed as she looked up at Waze with avid admiration.

"Of course I came, I wouldn't leave you hanging. Besides, you can't trust girls like this not to get underhanded." Waze smirked at the girls as they shrunk back in fear.

"Hey you guys. You got a problem with Byrd, you got a problem with me. Though it seems like she could probably kick all of your asses on her own easily."

Bird looked shocked before her expression morphed into one of teary gratitude. After some desperate remarks, the girls retreated. Waze gave Byrd a high five and rustled her hair.

"You passed! Now, you want to get stronger, right?"

"Y-yeah! Of course."

"Alright. Meet me at the school gates after school, ok? I'm taking you to the place where I train." Byrd glowed with happiness.

"T-thank you!"

"No problem. You earned it. By the way, those were some wicked moves, where'd you learn that?" Seriously, this chick had to be some sort of martial arts champion or something. She was incredible.

"Well, I have a lot of brothers and I have to keep them in check, so that kind of thing comes in handy."

Waze was taken aback for a moment. Brothers? What kind of wild brothers did she have? Shaking her head, Waze ignored it.

"Well, see you after school," Waze said. Byrd gave her a kind smile.

"See you!"