Powers

They really tried, but their teamwork was terrible. Jenny was reckless and Em cautious. So, if I circled around to Em's side she was in the way for Jenny. If I circled towards Jen, Em just stood behind doing nothing. This time no reckless charge happened, so it stopped when both of them were panting on the floor out of energy.

"You could have crushed them faster than that." Alex's voice was cold and cruel.

"Safety above all else." I wasn't really scared for my safety. I didn't want to hurt the girls.

"That sounds good, but it makes you timid."

"Want to go a round? We can see how timid I am." I was getting tired of his condescending ways.

His fist closed in on my face. Next thing I know I was the one lying panting on the floor.

"Remember, boy, you're good. Probably the best I have ever seen at your age. Don't get cocky though. You're still a small fish."

***

The next day Alex worked me to the bone. I had to throw stones from one side of the field to the next and then back again. When it came time to train with Jenny I understandably lost.

So the next morning I had to start with shoveling shit for an hour.

***

Once again I stood there in the ring. I was dead tired. I had tried to save some strength, but Alex was a slave master with a whip.

"I heard there's a party going on tonight. Loser will be the sober companion."

"I'm not allowed to go, I'm grounded."

"I spoke with your parents, and, no you're not." It was a surprise, not that he talked to them but that he called them my parents. The anger flared up. My parents were dead.

"Fight." Jenny did her stupid bow and I kicked her. With all my rage fueled strength. She hit the wall with a loud thump. She was down. It felt good, for a second.

Then the shame hit. I went all out in practice. My sister, Eve, had long ago beaten the misogyny out of me. Girls usually are more Powerful since they developed earlier. Men usually had longer reach.

It still felt bad to kick her so hard she flew into the wall. It felt even worse when Alex applauded my actions. "That's more like it. She will come and get you at twenty hundred. Now run."

***

I stood and looked at myself in the mirror. My short brown hair got gel in it. I had a black short armed shirt, more a button up t-shirt, paired with normal blue jeans.

I felt odd. Mom usually was there to help me dress before a date. Mrs. Middleton tried, but it wasn't the same. The tears welled up when the memory of dad came barging in. His nervous voice rang through my head as he handed me a condom. "Real men are prepared for any eventually. Even one as unlikely as you getting laid." He had ruffled my hair. It had upset me at the time, but now I would give anything for him to be here, ruffling my hair.

There was a loud knock on the door. The Corporal walked in moments later. "Here, son." He threw a box of condoms at me.

The anger bubbled up, "You're not my dad!"

His face went stiff. "No, no I'm not, and I know your life's hard, but you'll show me the respect I deserve." My Power flared up. The hurt and the anger mixed. It all went to my right fist. The energy grew hotter and hotter.

"Alex said you had learnt to control yourself. Show it." His cold hard tone was a slap to the face. I took a deep breath and my glove fizzled out.

"Good. Now, young man that's not my son, I expect you to put your best foot forward. You had a rocky start and second chances don't come cheap. You've got almost a full year left here. Try to get friends. It would be good for you."

"I'm sorry I snapped at you. It's just so hard. They all used to help me get ready. Mom would fix my clothes, dad would give me a pep talk, and Eve brought me courage."

"I understand, young man, apology accepted. It's okay to miss them, you always will, but you have to move on. You've scored a date with the hottest girl in school, if I can trust Em. 'Remember the past, live in the moment while planning for tomorrow.' Your dad was great with words. You'll do great, now it would mean a lot to Mary if she could fuss a bit over you. She also misses your mom."

I lost it. The tears ran down my face, and the next thing I know Mrs. Middleton --- no Mary, was hugging me. If I closed my eyes it even felt like mom. Their smell was the same. Minutes later the corporal came back.

"Jenny's here. Dry your tears, son - erhm - young man."

***

Jenny realized I was not in the mood for a party. So she drove up to a meadow halfway up the mountain. Then she spread out a blanket and we watched the stars. It was a new experience. They were so clear here. I tried to hold it in, but eventually I cracked and talked about my family.

Most of it she already knew. The gossip mill blew strong. We had been driving along the coast when a drunk driver wrecked my life. It's a normal, everyday story, some ass hat thinks he's good to drive while he's clearly not.

Dad died on impact, mom, moments later. Eve was slung out of the car into the water.

The devil is in the details. Trying to describe how mom reached out, and with her dying breath said, 'I love you.' Trying to form in words the pain I felt as I was forced to watch the light in her eyes turn into darkness.

There are no words to describe the hope as we struggled to find Eve's body. She was strong enough to survive that drop with her shields. I knew she had to live just for the dark pit of despair to hit even harder once a body washed ashore hours later, battered beyond recognition, the fish had gotten to her face.

Knowing that the survivor's guilt I felt was normal was impossible. Not only had I survived I had been totally unscathed since I had been in full shield. Eve was so happy, I had finally gotten my full shield and she just kept poking me with her glove to train my reaction. I was getting faster and faster.

Jenny held me as I cried and for the first time I felt okay to grieve. It was fine to be weak.

***

The loud sound of a car horn waked me with a stir. I looked up at Jenny and her face mirroring my guilt, she had also fallen asleep.

We walked back to the truck, and there was Alex standing with the car. He was talking into the phone. "Here they are now. See you in a bit." He closed the call and looked at us. "Well?"

"We talked and fell asleep."

"Umhum." It did not sound like he believed me at all. "It must have been quite the talk. Me and her mother used to talk all night long."

"Dad," Jenny said in that whining teenager voice. "We talked, nothing more."

"Umhum, sure you did, honey. Could you please call if you're going to be late and call Em, she's worried sick. I'm sure she'll believe you just talked for eight hours." Then he looked at me. "You look like shit. Usually it's the girl that cries after a good long talk."

"Bite me asshole. I told her about my family. She, unlike some people, showed some sympathy. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to have my sober companion drive me home." I took her hand and led her to the truck. I opened the driver side door and helped her in. Then I got into the passenger seat. I fished my phone out of my forgotten jackets pocket. I had fourteen missed calls from Mary.

I called her and she picked up on the second tone. She made a big sigh when I told her. She didn't guilt trip me, it made me feel even worse. She then insisted that Jenny would stay the night. "It's not proper for a lady to drive home alone at four in the morning. She is staying. That's final. I'm blowing up an air mattress, she gets your bed." There was one thing the sisters shared. There was no stopping them when on a roll.

***

She was lying in bed. We had turned off the lights. I was lying on the lumpy air mattress.

"When I agreed to this I thought your room would be --- shameful. Where are the posters of the half naked ladies?" another pause, " --- or men? I don't want to assume."

"I like girls, but thanks anyway." I looked around the room. It felt so impersonal now. The desk, bed and a chest of drawers for my clothes, no wall art or pictures, they all carried too much pain.

"What kind of girls do you like?"

"Oh, I'm a man of exquisite taste. Only the best is good enough for me. She should be 5 cm (2") shorter than me, have long dark blonde hair, brown eyes, a cute button nose, perky boobs." I felt her smile. She understood who I was describing. "She also needs to be smart, funny and compassionate." I had her hook line and sinker. "I want someone that knows me well enough to not bring me to a party and take me to watch the stars instead."

I had built it up for long enough, time to drop the bomb. "Above all else though ---" Wait for it. "She has to be Powerful enough to beat me in a one on one without her father tiring me out first." Her groan of pain was delicious. Her leg got off the bed and she kicked down hitting me in the butt.

"Ouch! Don't do that again." I was playing her like a violin, of course she had to do it again. This time I caught her ankle and pulled her off the bed, down on my air mattress. It was pure reflex, and my shield went up. She hit it pretty hard and I let it go. Then her body hit mine. She made an "oohuf" sound. Both my hands came up and I hugged her tight. "You're a wonderful person, Jenny Klingerman, and thanks for being the perfect friend."

I could feel her eyes drilling into me, then she sighed and buried into me. Her small hands holding onto my shoulder blades, the same way Eve used to hug me.

That little thought was all it took, I was a wreck and Jenny was my rock. I held on tighter as the sobs shook through my body. It had been way too long a day.

***

I felt Jenny get up out off the air mattress moments before Mary opened the door and peeked through the small gap. I waved and she waved back. She made a shush finger and closed the door.

I got up and Jenny lay on bed. She looked totally out to the world. Her limbs all spread out and a stupid smile on her face. "Thanks for being a great friend." Her smile turned real for a moment, but she stayed in place.

The Corporal caught me standing there admiring Jenny. Her pajamas were a bit too small, since they were stolen from Mary. It gave her that child like look of innocence. My love must have been easy to read on my face.

"Come on, young man, there will be time for that later." He led me to his study. It was man talk time. "I know it's different in the city, you date and stuff, but here we expect one woman men."

"We're just friends."

"Umhum." There it was again. It sounded just like Alex. Were they naturally that condescending, or did they have training? "Even a blind man could see the way you looked at her."

"She's beautiful and a great person. I'm just not," I took a deep breath, looked him straight in the eye, "I'm not ready. We're just friends."

"Right." It was like he could see the pain in me and it was reflected, he also carried it in him. "If you ever do get ready, remember what I said. It's on you to prove that your parents raised a good kid, all right?" There was no 'treat her right', no 'take responsibility', just don't 'cheat on her'.

Quite the low bar.

***

I sat down at the table and Mary loaded up a plate with eggs, sausage and some freshly made scones. I was gaining weight fast.

The Corporal had his paper and there was only the sound of Mary singing along to the radio as she cleaned up.

That's when Jenny showed up. She did a huge yawn and stretched. My eyes were drawn to her stomach and then breasts as the fabric stretched, giving a great view.

"Mornin." She said, and we all answered the same. She sat and Mary put the same plate in front of her. Just with a big mug of coffee as well.

Mary and Jenny talked. I tried to follow the conversation, I think they talked about horses, but their southern drawl got too rough and too fast. I just sat and stared at Jenny.

Pain shot through my body as there was a kick to my shin. The Corporal was shooting daggers at me and he shook his head. He thanked Mary for the food and told me to come into the basement. Then we started practice.

Alex was this overPowering monster. He used his Power and control to crush you.

The Corporal used his fighting skills. He wasn't faster than me, but it felt like it. He never moved an inch he didn't have too. No wasted movements meant more attacks.

His shield was not that strong though, so if I traded a punch he had to recreate it. After an hour he was done. He did one last sweep attack and I landed on my ass. I could hear laughter behind me. A certain beauty had been watching the training.

"I would not recommend laughing at stronger people. They might get offended and spank your behind." She looked guilty, but I just waved her off.

He reached out and brought me up. "You, young man, need to turn those hand to hand skills into combat training. You trust your Powers way too much. There's always someone stronger out there. When that time comes you need to fight smart." He grabbed me by the arms. "I will sign you up for sparring Tuesdays and Thursdays on base. Then you will join our volunteers for survival training one weekend a month." He turned to Jenny. "You might want to talk to your dad about doing the same, or this young man will leave you like dust in the rearview mirror."

***

Mary didn't care that I wasn't a believer. "It's understandable to have doubts after what you went through." She said, and she didn't want to hear how I had already decided God wasn't real before that even happened. Going to church wasn't optional, and that was enough of that. No discussion.

Church was a different experience here. Everyone was wearing their Sunday finest and the whole town showed up.

The hottest story on the gossip windmill was apparently how I had ridden into town. Punched out the star linebacker and stolen Jenny. That we never showed up to the party just threw gasoline on the flames.

After the service there was a big picnic out behind the church. I met Em's parents and her mother sent chills through my bones. She must also be ridiculously Powerful. Why was every Power in this town so strong?

Then I shook hands with her father, and there was nothing. First it was a breath of relief, then it hit me. I hadn't felt anything from the Corporal or Alex either. He read the doubt on my face and went, "Relax, I'm normal."

Still three of the strongest people I had ever met living in a small town. There had to be a story here.

***

Rest of the month was more of the same.

I got better, but Jenny and Em improved faster. They lessened the gap big time.

The dojo was nice. I learnt some grips and holds. Most of the intricate stuff would never be applicable in a real fight since shields, but the big moves were really useful.

The volunteer camp was filled with eager teenagers that wanted to join the military as soon as they could. We hiked out a Friday afternoon and put up camp. All Saturday was practicing different survival skills, and then Sunday we broke camp and were home in time for church.

The last week I handed in all the school work and did the missed tests. It was all a lot simpler than pleasing Mary.

Then my suspension ended and nothing really changed. Instead of working during the day I had school, and then I took the bus with Jenny home and we practiced or did farm work, often both at the same time.

***

It was the start of December when Em stomped up to me in a storm.

"What's wrong with you?" This was almost a weekly question I got from her at this point. I shrugged, it was easier to let her scream a bit, and tell me what I had done wrong, than to guess. "Why haven't you asked Jen to the winter's ball?"

"I don't think she wants to go. She has said no to every guy that asks."

"Boys!" She made a frustrated gurgling sound and then she calmed down and looked at me with those big puppy eyes. "You don't think she's waiting for someone special to ask?"

"Oh, is she? Who?" This got her all riled up again.

"You, you asshole!"

"I tried to ask her out on dates before. She always shuts me down. We're just friends." I tried to keep the sadness out of my voice.

"No you're not, you're both just cowards. Man up. Tell her how you feel or I'm telling my mom you slept with me..."

"No you wouldn't."

She scrunched up her face. Faked a sob and said, "I tried to stop him, but he's so Powerful. I know it was a sin to sleep with my best friends' man, but it felt so right." There was a lone tear as she broke down in a fake cry.

Chills went down my spine. At first I thought Alex was the cruel one, he wasn't. Em's mom, Abigail, was a monster. She drove me so hard I puked, then she kept going. I had nightmares about the Saturdays we trained together, and she had made it painfully clear, repeatedly. She would try to kill any Power that was dumb enough to sleep with her daughter. So you better be strong enough to defeat her before entertaining the idea.

***

That day, when we walked down the road to Jenny's house, I took her hand and pulled her towards me.

I tried to get the words out. 'I like you. Want to go to the winter's ball?' It sounded so clear and easy when I trained in the bathroom mirror, but I couldn't get it out.

Her big eyes were staring at me. She opened her mouth to say something, but I couldn't let her.

Her lips were soft. They tasted of her strawberry lip balm. Then I could say it. I had already blown it if she didn't say yes.

"I like you. Please go to the winter's ball with me."

She hit me in the chest. "The kiss is supposed to come after I say yes, dumbo."

I kissed her again. Her tongue tickled my lips and I let her in. The joy shot through me. White sparks shooting everywhere as my hands once again got all hot and sparkly. It felt better now though.

Her hot sparks met mine and there were poofs as they exploded into small lights.

Everything felt right in the world. Until a white band of Alex's energy separated us. My anger flipped over instantaneously and I punched it.

For the first time ever it cracked. The next second she was in my arms again and the kissing started.

The sun grew dark as Alex created a cupola around us. It got harder and harder to breathe. Not that I cared. She was there in my arms finally. The joy shot through us both.

Then the darkness grew.

***

"I thought you had already dealt with this the first night?"

"I told you we only talked."

"And you knew the rules, first kisses are supposed to be in remote locations. Half the town will be gossiping about the weird fireworks."

"He kissed me! Out of the blue."

"Umhum --- Maybe you should have kissed him first, somewhere private, and you, you can stop pretending to be unconscious now." I opened my eyes, I was laying in the loft. "You should know better. Now, both of you need a story to tell that explains the fireworks. We don't want the Rebels to know we're powers, so make it sound good."

It took me about two seconds to figure out.

"I wanted to ask you to the winter ball with a bang. It's simple, and it's actually true."

***

My eighteenth birthday and the weekend before the winter's ball the Corporal took me on a hunting trip. I was expecting weird man to man talk or something but he just walked around. We didn't hunt anything so it was just us two walking around, checking up on the place I guess?

The real reason why was clear when, an hour before the ball, he handed me the keys to the cabin. In his normal cold voice he went. "In case you both want to." That was all he said.

Mary on the other hand was a bundle of hyped up nerves. She reminded me of mom. This time the pain wasn't as bad though. I let her fuss.

Alex and his wife knocked on the door and we gathered for Jenny's big entrance.

She was wearing a very cute midnight blue prom dress. Her hair was curled up and cascaded around her face.