School Ties

[Oliver Fox]

I've been in school for a few weeks. I’ve kept busy meeting people and getting used to the school. Classes are going good too, and I joined the Photography club and the Football team. It should be pretty cool, at least I won’t be bored. The student body has been great in welcoming me to the school. Everyone seems nice and did their best to help me get settled in. The students are pretty interesting, and the interaction between them can be pretty funny. It’s kinda like a soap opera and everyone has their roles, "Like sands through the hourglass..."

There are students like Alex and Diego. They’re sort of the “13 going on 30” crowd. They’re usually lecturing someone about something like a parent would, and the topic was usually stuff that most teenagers probably wouldn’t think twice about. I can’t fault them for it though. After all, at least they care about the people they hang out with, and that can’t be a bad thing.

Then you have students like Dar and Luke and Bethany. They’re my tough and often amusingly tactless peers of St. Joe’s. They don’t waste time mincing words, but are the type that prefer action instead. Confidant and borderline rude, the seemingly simple task of being friends with them can often be a challenge. They’re one blessing is that they are honest. You would never have to worry about one of them backstabbing you, they would much rather just punch you in the face.

Ty seems like the awkward and sometimes oblivious comedian, and a hell of a nice guy. There is Sam and Billi, attractive, down to earth girl next door types. Mieri and Sophie seemed cultured and reserved, almost aristocratic, but that could just be the accents. All the students have been great…yea…even Luke. They all contribute in they’re own way to the “big picture” of St. Joes. It’s been an amazing experience.

Now, of all the student body I’ve met so far, there is one “student body” in particular that interests me, and that would be Violet. I enjoy learning about people, and trying to understand the way they think and maybe why they do the things they do. With that said, Violet remains a complete enigma to me. Maybe that’s part of my fascination with her, the fact that I find her personality mysterious. Now, saying that Violet is “pretty” is kind of like saying the sun is “hot”, might be a bit of an understatement.

She told me about her “situation”, being part machine. Of course this kind of makes me wonder, can she feel? I don’t have any experience with cyborgs, but in the movies they act based on how they’re computer brain interprets emotion, but it’s still like pretending to feel. That’s not really any different than what I grew up around most my life. People pretending to care when the truth is, they’re incapable of it. I might have to ask her about that sometime.

She has this kind of cold, bitchy aura about her. That kind of set off warning signals in my head when I met her. I have enough issues without trying to deal with some rude girl. As it turns out she really surprised me. Every time I’ve talked with her she’s been very nice, and fun to hang out with. She’s polite and sweet, but she doesn’t put up with any of my shit either, haha. That’s a good thing I think, I need someone to keep me in line every so often. In fact, she might throw something at me if she knew I just called her “sweet”. Hey, I call it like I see it, haha.

A part of me thinks that I like her because in her own way, she’s as damaged as I am. The only difference between us is that I keep it buried deep, and she lets hers come to the surface. Still, its seems like there is so much more about her to learn. I guess I should get started then.

As for me, I'm still not sure where I fit in yet. I don't think I could classify myself anyway, they'll make that decision. Am I the tough guy, the clown, the flirt, the sensitive guy, the loner, or maybe a little bit of everything? Maybe I'm just the average student passing through the halls, blending into the huddled masses. Maybe we all are. Who knows.

[Oliver Fox]

Oliver walked out of his final class of the day. It was his first day of Football practice and he had to get to the locker room to get changed.

"So today your gladitorial games begin?" The Nexus asked

Oliver chuckled at the word usage, "Yep, it's gonna be great"

"You do realize it could be dangerous for the other combatants, since you have yet to fully master your power" The Nexus commented

"Yea, but it's okay. Coach Waters can negate peoples powers, so everything stays fair" Oliver said with a smile as he strolled down the hallway.

"Oliver, that would be an extremely bad idea" The Nexus replied with caution in its tone.

Oliver stopped in his tracks his eyes narrowing a bit, "Wait a minute...define "extremely bad" for me please."

"Your mutation is the only thing that allows your body to maintain the cosmic energy inside of you" The Nexus clarified, "If your mutation is negated, the energy will almost certainly destroy your body."

"What? Yea...destroyed bodies are bad!" Oliver said a little shocked, "Won't the coach negate the energy too?"

"I suppose it's possible" The Nexus commented, "Not to be immodest, but I am a powerful cosmic entity. I would doubt he is capable of severing our connection"

"Oliver thought about it for a moment, "Well...can't you sever it? If you cut off my power, then it won't hurt me when my mutation goes bye-bye...right?"

"Yes, that is true, however that could prove unwise" The Nexus replied

Oliver let out a deep sigh of impatience, "Define "unwise" for me please"

"You would be extremely vulnerable should you be attacked during the games" The Nexus said

Oliver let out a small sigh of relief and smiled, "Trust me, that's not a huge risk around here. I'll take my chances."

"As you wish Oliver" The Nexus replied

"Now...onto the Gladitorial Games!" Oliver said in overly dramatic tone.

Oliver could almost feel the energy leaving his body, until all that was left was the power generated by his mutation. He smiled to himself as he continued down the hallway, wondering if everyone at the school had such complicated lives.