Time Out (BxB)

Explosion

Would it be considered stalking if I said I was spying on my classmate as he was busy running on the truck at our school's back yard? I guess technically it would but I had a good reason... Or perhaps that was just an excuse that every stalker used to make themselves feel better about doing something creepy.

Regardless I needed to find out if Lucas was also gifted like me but unfortunately he didn't exactly seem like the talkative type. He hardly ever spoke in class and most of the time it just seemed like he wanted nothing to do with anyone.

How could I possibly confirm my suspicion? Lucas wasn't exactly an open book so reading him was presenting quite a challenge. If I just went up to him and asked, he'd surely deny it as proven by his reaction when we bumped into each other the previous day. Perhaps I could tell him that I was also someone with a supernatural ability... No. That would have been too risky. At least now when I wasn't completely sure he had similar abilities to me. It would probably be for the best if I put that aside as a plan B.

Although once I looked at Lucas at first glance he just seemed like a normal guy. He was really fast at running but there was nothing about his speed that would indicate he had some sort of unnatural power.s The way he moved his limbs was quite captivating. It wasn't the first time I was gazing at a runner but there was something different about his movement. As if he was desperately trying to escape from someone or something. As if he was doing it to save his life without looking back.

But in reality he was just running in circles. Sometimes it felt like I was doing the same...

I figured there was no point in observing him like this so I prepared to leave. Besides it was getting a bit late and Dominique would probably get worried if I didn't get home soon. She was already irritated enough because the job interview she went to didn't go as smoothly as she wished so she wasn't that hopeful they'd call her back.

Once I grabbed my backpack I headed towards the exit without paying much attention to what Lucas was doing. But during the time I was trying to leave he had somehow managed to get in front of the gate and blocked my exit.

"Why were you watching me?" He asked with a demanding voice.

"I wasn't watching you..." I acted as if I was unfazed by his sudden appearance.

"You're even worse at lying than spying on people." He did have a point, since I wasn't exactly making much effort to be inconspicuous.

"I have a huge crush on you. Please have my babies, like right now..." I said with a serious face.

"What?" Lucas was so flustered that his entire face became rosy in a span of few seconds.

"Relax, dude, I'm only kidding." I couldn't help but laugh.

"I knew that..." He tried to pretend to be unbothered but it was clear as day he was feeling quite awkward. "But why were you really watching me then?"

"I have this art project where we have to draw athletes so I thought observing someone in action would be helpful." I lied.

"Then show me your sketches." Lucas seemed to be skeptical.

"I didn't bring my sketchbook. It doesn't fit in my backpack." I answered.

"How will you be able to draw then?" He questioned me as he raised his eyebrow.

"I have a photographic memory so I don't need to make sketches right now." Even I was amazed by my own deceitfulness. "What is this an interrogation?"

"You're the one staring at strangers without their permission. I don't think you have the right to be mad." He stated.

"I'm sorry." I realized how creepy all of this must have been from his point of view. I needed to find a different way to uncover if he had powers or not because if I continued this path of stalking people that would only take me to one very unpleasant place called jail. Getting arrested as a teenager was actually not a part of my plans for the future. "I won't do it again."

"You're a one strange guy, uh... what was your name again?" Lucas glanced at me awkwardly.

"It's Ahito." I responded.

"I don't think I've ever met anyone with that name before."

"It's a Japanese name." I elaborated.

"Oh I see..." He scratched his head. "I didn't even realize you were Asian."

"You're actually not the first person to tell me that." I spoke. "I guess I must really look like my dad, or rather my mom's sperm donor. Um... way too much information. I don't know why I'm still talking to be honest. Somebody should really stop me."

"It does seem that you overshare a lot."

"I should really get going before I embarrass myself any further."

"Okay..." His eyes fell on my lips for a split second.

"Adieu, mon chéri." I waved goodbye.

"You speak French?"

"What can I say, I'm full of surprises" I answered. "My mom taught me a little bit. She's from France."

"Didn't you say she was Japanese?" Lucas wrinkled the skin between his eyebrows.

"I meant my other mom."

"Oh, got it." He nodded. "See you around, Ahito."

"Bye..." I smiled as I made my way towards the exit.

Although this interaction didn't result in total success, since I was unable to investigate whether or not Lucas and I had similar powers, it was still not a complete waste of time. All I needed now was to get him to let his guard down and trust me. Once that was achieved I'd be able to easily find out his secret.

That fool has no idea. Ha ha ha... Sometimes I feel like an evil genius, without the evil part.

"What the f**k are you doing?" My sister's voice snapped me back to reality.

"Nothing..." I frowned. "What do you want?"

"Let's go home together." Hitomi said.

"Don't you have figure skating?" I asked.

"Not today." She replied.

"Why don't you just go by yourself." I sighed.

"You know I don't like walking alone."

"That's more of your problem than mine."

"Shut up." Hitomi slapped my arm before we headed back to our house. "Did I see you talking to Lucas earlier?"

"Yeah..."

"Did you find out if he has superpowers like you?" She asked.

"Not yet." I answered quietly. "Keep your voice down. What if somebody hears you. Ugh... I knew I shouldn't have told you. You're such a blabbermouth."

"Stop being paranoid. No one cares." She assured me. "Besides even if somebody heard us they'd just think we were crazy."

"Yes, because that's somehow better..." I made a sarcastic comment.

"Do you want me to talk to Lucas." Hitomi raised her eyebrows suggestively. "I'm sure I can get him to talk, one way or another." She clenched her fingers into a fist.

"I don't want to scare him off." I denied her proposal. "At least not until I know for sure he's similar to me."

"Ugh... life's so unfair." My sister complained. "Why do you get to have cool powers when I would use it so much better. That gift is truly wasted on you."

"I seriously doubt you'd do a much better job than me." I glared at her. "What would be the first thing you'd do if you could pause time?"

"I'd..." She smiled wickedly.

"Don't say you'd rob a bank..." I scolded her.

"It doesn't necessarily have to be a bank." Hitomi smirked.

"That's just great." I added ironically. "You might as well begin writing a book called 'how to end up in prison by the age of 15.'"

"How would they even catch me." She brushed it off.

"So you'd just be a fugitive for the rest of your life?"

"No." She cracked a cheeky smile. "I'd be a rich fugitive."

"Stupid..." I shook my head.

After we crossed the street my sister and I went to a*****e to buy some snacks. As we were choosing what we were going to buy a strange noise echoed from the outside. Shortly people's screams and whimpers covered the entire area.

"What happened?" I asked the cashier from the back of the store since I couldn't see anything from there and he was closer to the window.

"I think there was an explosion." He replied. "There's a fire in that building."

"Oh no..." My sister and I simultaneously ran out of the store before putting back everything that we were planning on purchasing.

Once we got outside again we were greeted by a dreadful picture of people barely making out of the fiery building. I quickly walked towards it without paying much attention to the cars on the street. Thankfully I managed to get there without a scratch.

Everyone seemed to be in distress but one person in particular was especially in a terrible condition. Not because she had bruises or anything like that, no in fact she seemed perfectly healthy, even her clothes were completely clean, but she was reaching out for the entrance so desperately as if nothing else mattered to her. A few people were blocking her way and telling her that it was way too risky and there was no way she'd survive if she went inside.

"Release me!" A middle aged woman screamed from her lungs as she dropped all the groceries she had in her hands on the asphalt. She must have gone out to buy food before the explosion happened. "My child is in there. I have to save her. Please..."

"Mam..." I tried to get her attention. "Which floor is she on?"

"She's in the first room on the second floor." She barely managed to get those words out of her throat as tears filled her eyes and blinded her vision. "Let me go!"

I took off my backpack and gave it to Hitomi who raised her eyebrow suspiciously. "What do you think you're doing?"

"I have to save that child..." I said.

"Wha...." She groaned. "Are you crazy? It's way too dangerous."

"No, it's not." I assured her. "Not for me."

"What if something goes wrong?" She tightly gripped onto my wrist in order to stop me.

"I'll be in and out in a second. Literally." I offered a soft smile as I gazed at her.

My sister finally let go of my arm before hugging me. "Be careful in there, okay. If you die, I'll kill you."

"I won't. I promise." I hugged her back.

Once we separated I snapped my fingers and all the noise were suddenly cut off. I was no longer able to hear the sounds of the sirens nearby, or the chattering people that were on the sidelines. The despairing mother's cries were also silenced but the terror in her face remained even in that exact moment.

I managed to get inside without any trouble. The burning pieces of wood were stuck in the air as they were falling from the top like it was snowing. I dodged them carefully as I covered up my nose with my elbow to prevent the smoke inhalation. Although I wasn't sure if that was actually possible since the smoke was also frozen in time I still didn't want to take any unnecessary chances.

As soon as I reached the second floor I went closer to the first door since I recalled that was where the girl's mother informed me she likely was. It was locked but since the half of it was already burned kicking it down didn't present any issues. I checked every room as quickly as possible before finding a small 4-year-old girl passed out in the kitchen. Her legs seemed to be slightly burned along with her dress but the rest of her body wasn't injured.

I picked her up as I made my way back outside. Carrying her did take a bit longer than getting in the building by myself but thankfully nothing went wrong and I made it out safely. I struggled to snap my fingers to turn the time back on but after a few tries it finally worked.

"Oh, my goodness..." The mother exhaled roughly as the men who were blocking her finally released her once they saw her daughter. "My baby, are you alright?"

She slapped her child's cheeks lightly as the girl slowly regained consciousness. "Mommy..."

"Oh, sweetie, it's okay. I'm right here. You're safe here with me." The mother wrapped her arms around the little girl before glancing up at me. "God bless you... Thank you. Thank you so much!"

"You're welcome..."