The Search For Proof

Miles woke up feeling relieved the next morning. He actually felt like he had gotten a decent amount of sleep. He looked at the digital clock on the dresser to see that he had woken up about an hour before the day started. Jason was already sitting up, still looking groggy and Kane was sound asleep. Miles saw that Caspar wasn't in his bunk. Wow, thought Miles. Does that guy ever sleep?

Miles resigned himself to the fact that he wasn't going to be able to get back to sleep, and so he brushed his teeth and pulled on some fresh clothes. He walked out of the cabin and spotted Caspar jogging around the border of the cabins, as if it was his own makeshift track. When he made it over to Cabin 4, Miles decided he would join him.

"Sup, dude?" Caspar nodded at Miles.

Caspar had just recently showered—his blond hair still damp and sticking to his head. Miles could smell his shampoo, an ocean-breeze scent.

"You can teleport, ya know," Miles said.

Caspar just shrugged. "I like exercise."

They kept running around Caspar's imaginary track. After a couple minutes, Miles was heaving for breaths. Caspar must have realized because he slowed his fast pace, despite not looking the least bit tired.

"So I overheard Doc trying to figure out how the barrier was broken when I went in the house to take a shower," Caspar looked over his shoulder at Miles. "I don't think he had any idea of how it happened. I don't think he's too suspicious yet either, probably thinks it's a bloody malfunction in the system."

"You didn't tell him about our theory, did you?"

Caspar shook his head. "Nah. I'm pretty sure we're safe from attacks for the time being, so we have some time to develop an actual case against the mad woman."

"Yeah," Miles agreed. "It's probably better that way. If I were him I wouldn't believe us, so we'll need to get some proof."

"Soon," said Caspar. "I'm sure we'll dig some dirt up at some point."

"I sure hope so."

Miles fell out of pace with Caspar and headed to the house behind the academy. Not being able to teleport, Miles decided not to try and snoop on what Lancaster and other staff might be doing. Instead, he just turned into the room on his left and took a shower.

Apparently his streak of running head-first into drama was not yet over, as when coming out of the bathroom Miles saw Lancaster in the back of the main room, talking to Mr. Turner.

"You're right," Lancaster was saying, "this is a place for... to learn to control their powers... more importantly it is a place to keep them safe."

Miles could only hear bits and pieces so, guiltily, he inched closer. He didn't catch Mr. Turner's response, as the man was talking very quietly, but he heard as Lancaster picked back up.

"If we can't figure this out... Plan B... we can't have the same thing that happened last time happen again! I won't allow that to happen to..."

Miles could hear more this time, but some parts were still too faint. He considered getting even closer, but then remembered that he told himself he wasn't going to do any snooping. Plus there was a risk of getting caught. He turned away and was about to leave the room when he thought heard his name. He spun around and listened for more, his interest in the conversation renewed.

"You really think he's..." Mr. Turner was saying.

"Who else?" Lancaster replied, and that was all Miles could hear. After that, their voices got lower and Miles didn't dare get any closer. Why are they talking about me, Miles thought. Why single me out?

Without warning, Mr. Turner walked out of the back room and straight into Miles.

"Oh!" Mr. Turner said in alarm. "I'm sorry, Miles. Didn't see you there."

"Oh, uh, yeah," Miles stammered. He didn't expect Mr. Turner to walk out and catch him, but thankfully the man didn't suspect he was eavesdropping. Students probably came in all the time to take showers. "That was my bad I was just... going..."

Mr. Turner smiled. "See you in first period."

Miles smiled back and made for the door in a hurry. He wasn't any good with surprise confrontations.

He noticed that Lilly was also coming out of the house, so Miles held the door for her. Lilly beamed at him.

"Hey, Miles!" she said, walking in sync with him outside.

"Hi," replied Miles. Another surprise confrontation. He never seemed to be alone anymore, and he couldn't decide whether it was a good thing or a bad thing. It depended on the situation, he supposed.

"Ready for classes?" Lilly asked, almost too cheerfully for the morning.

"Yeah," said Miles, feeling unable to conjure the same excitement. "I guess so. I'm a little nervous about when we'll have to use our powers in Captain R's class though."

Lilly and Jason were the only people Miles felt comfortable talking about his nerves with. Caspar was a good, lighthearted guy, but Miles wasn't sure if he was capable of understanding anything relating to stress.

"Really?" Lilly looked at Miles. "Me too! I just haven't told anyone, because everyone seems so excited about it..."

"What are your powers, anyway?"

Lilly looked around, then grabbed Miles' arm and pulled him over to a bench in a patch of grass near the academy. Miles sat down on the bench and Lilly kneeled on the grass.

"Watch this."

She put her hand gently around a crippled flower. Slowly the dead flower started to move back into an upright position, its color slowly returning. Soon, it was a bright, lively sunflower. The flowers and grass around it also became brighter, like an aurora of light. Lilly let out a deep breath and fell back. Miles helped her into a sitting position onto the bench.

"Thank you," she gasped. "Doing that takes a lot out of me. I've never done that much before."

Miles grinned. "That was amazing."

Lilly managed a smile. "You really think so? I've only ever showed Elisa before, the girl I sit with in class. I think it's pretty useless, honestly. Like, we need to defend ourselves, so what am I going to do then? Play with flowers while everyone else fights?"

"I'm sure you'll find a way to use it," Miles reassured. "I mean, I wish I could do that. My ability is only destructive. Your's can build things back up, which is what we really need to be doing anyway."

Lilly looked like she'd gotten a compliment from the president himself. She seemed for a moment like she was going to hug him—which Miles wouldn't have minded—but she just beamed at him. "I've never thought about it like that..." she said. "You know, you're a really great friend, Miles."

Miles smiled back, but couldn't think of anything else to say. Thankfully, Lilly filled the silence.

"You haven't told me your power," she said. "I mean I saw what you did that night, but how?"

Miles shrugged. "It's honestly not that exciting. I have enhanced strength, which basically means that sometimes I can bend metal or knock out bullies or toss strange alien-hybrid dogs."

Lilly laughed. "Right, so that's how you showed those Necron beasts what's up."

"Yeah, but it only works when I'm...properly motivated." He considered using the word angry, which would've been true, but wasn't something he deemed necessary to tell Lilly. He realized he'd become fond of her, and didn't care to scare her away or anything like that.

"Well then!" Lilly exclaimed. "We can keep each other motivated on the powers that both of us think are better than our own!"

Miles laughed. "Whatever that means, sure."

"Okay, good then. I've gotta go make sure Elisa's awake, so I guess I'll see you in math?"

"Um, yeah."

"Cool," Lilly smiled again and walked off.

Miles stood up, realizing that he was becoming more and more attached to his acquaintances at the academy. He felt so included, like he was the part of a best friend group that had known each other forever. Miles supposed it was because they all had something to bond over—their powers. And that alone had made Miles closer to his new friends in the moment he met them than he had to any of his old "friends" for years. His old friends. It feels like I'm starting a whole new life, he thought.

When Miles returned to his cabin, everyone was awake and ready to start the day. Caspar lay on his bunk, absently tossing a rubber ball repeatedly into the air and catching it as it came back down. Jason was fixing his hair in the mirror, and Kane was getting dressed.

"What were you doing out so early?" Kane asked Miles when he had put on his pants.

Miles shrugged. "Just walking around."

"Huh," Kane said, sitting back down on his bed.

Jason came out of the bathroom area and glanced at Miles. "Ready?"

Miles nodded and they walked out of the cabin. On their way to the academy, Miles looked over at Jason. His head was down and he didn't seem to be watching where he was going. Miles decided to get his attention. "Hey, Jason?"

"Hmm?"

Each of the boys had been lost in their own thoughts, and Jason still looked restless, like he might not have slept too well.

"You okay?"

Jason looked up at Miles, as if seeing him for the first time that day. "Yeah, fine. Why?"

Miles shook his head. "Nothing. You just look tired is all."

"Mhm."

First period went by slowly. Miles couldn't bring himself to focus during math, knowing what was coming in second period. Caspar and Miles had a plan to look for proof that Ms. Lisa was working with Necron, and Miles didn't like it one bit. Their "plan" was to simply wait until the class was over, and then Caspar would attempt to distract Ms. Lisa after everyone else had left, while Miles searched through Ms. Lisa's desk. It was not at all fool-proof, and the chances of it going wrong were very high. But it needed to be done. Miles knew that he wouldn't be able to feel safe again if he didn't know whether one of his teachers was a killer. He sighed at that thought. How had he gotten himself into this mess?

After an endless session of notes, some more archery practice, and some nerves, second period arrived. Ms. Lisa was as mean as always, launching right into the American Revolution as if the students weren't even there. That was fine with Miles. Her pretending they didn't exist was a whole lot better than the alternative. Unlike first period, second period seemed to fly by, as if the whole day was just backwards. Maybe Ms. Lisa would start handing out candy. But no, instead of candy, Ms. Lisa handed out something far, far worse. Homework. Miles had been told homework would be given out after the first couple of days, and Ms. Lisa's class was the first to get any. Ms. Lisa also apparently didn't approve of starting off slowly, and instead dumped them with a packet of written responses. Hooray.

And just like that, the bell rang. Class dismissed. Or not. Miles glanced at Caspar, who nodded at him. They waited for everyone to clear out, then Caspar spoke up. "Excuse me? Lisa?"

Ms. Lisa stopped halfway lowered into her desk chair and stood straight up, whipping around. "That's Ms. Lisa to you, kid. Would it kill any of you to show some respect?"

Caspar shrugged. "Honestly? I wouldn't know."

"Yeah, that's obvious! What is it you need, boy?"

"I was only wondering if I could get taught history and foreign language by another teacher," said Caspar. "Ya know, one that's a little more, ah, professional."

Miles stifled laughter. Caspar knew how to get on teacher's nerves, that was for sure.

"Oh, were you now? Well it's a no. You're stuck with me, and I hate it just as much as you!" Ms. Lisa exclaimed.

"Well, in that case, could you spray some air-freshener in here occasionally? I almost choke every time you walk by! And don't get me started on your personality..."

Ms. Lisa glared at Caspar. "Follow me. Now!"

Ms. Lisa headed outside the classroom and Caspar stood up to follow, winking at Miles. Miles smirked. Caspar wasn't lying, he really could distract teachers. Miles stood up quickly and checked outside the door. Ms. Lisa seemed to be yelling at Caspar, and she was facing away from the classroom. Perfect. Miles hurried over to the woman's desk and opened up a drawer. Papers, papers, nothing. Next drawer. Nothing, just file folders. Next drawer. More papers, papers, and... Miles' hand touched something at the bottom of the drawer. He dug it out. A cardboard box with one word on it. Zorander. What does that mean, Miles wondered.

"What on earth do you think you're doing!"

Miles looked up suddenly. Ms. Lisa was glaring at him, hands on her hips. Miles shoved the box in his pocket without thinking and quickly slammed the drawer shut. He stood up quickly, his face red.

"That's detention. I can't believe this. No one around here has any respect. What do you have to say for yourself? I should get you kicked out of here right now!"

"I... well, I..." Miles stammered.

"It was me!" said Caspar, running into the room. "I, uh, I told him to look in the drawer for... um, test answers!"

Miles blinked. What was he doing? Was he taking the blame?

Ms. Lisa frowned even deeper, a very impressive deepness indeed. She pointed at Miles. "You. Detention for a week, for being so gullible and just plain stupid. And you," she narrowed her eyes at Caspar, "detention for the rest of the year, and let it be known that I will try my absolute hardest to get you expelled immediately!"

"What!" Miles couldn't believe it. Caspar wasn't the perfect student, but nobody deserved a year of detention. Besides, Miles thought Caspar was probably one of the best fighters at the school, so if he got expelled, who knew what could happen? "You can't do that!"

Ms. Lisa's face was now red hot with rage. "Watch. Me."