Aria's POV

I curled up smaller in the closet, still hiding from Kyle and his gang. Zane's here too... He's still steaming, literally.

What? You thought we got away scot free? Heck no. Kyle came running after us! God... So now we're hiding out.

"... Thanks." I murmur. Zane looks at me confused, and tilts his head slightly. "For what?"

"For... Standing up for me. But I hope you realize what you've done to your social life here." I reply softly, worrying the gang might find us if we speak too loudly.

"I did what I thought was right... Was standing up for you not right?" Zane asks, quieter. I sigh and put my face in my hands. "You're doomed to be harassed like me..."

"... I stand for justice, and you are being treated poorly by your fellow students." Zane starts, and slowly stands up. "Therefore, I'll do anything in my power to help you-"

"Hey! Did you all hear that?" Jake's voice rang through our ears. "Pause the speech. When he opens the door- Run. Follow me and we'll go to my place... The teachers won't care if we're absent."

Zane tries to ask a question, but I grab his wrist and the door swings open- revealing only Jake. "What the-"

Zane knocks Jake down and we run for the school doors, having half the school chasing us. Just before the teachers arrive, we burst out the doors and run across the field.

My house is a block away from the school, so we run until we're safely inside. I lock the door and slowly slide down it, breathing heavily. Zane, surprisingly, doesn't seem tired at all.

"I... Suggest you stay here the night. They'll do anything to get their hands on a target... Even break into their house." I murmur, wiping the beads of sweat from my forehead. Zane nods and I go to set up the couch.

"I'll sleep on the cou-" Zane starts.

"Hell no. You get the bed." I snap. Zane blinks, as I fluff a pillow casually. "O...Kay." He says unsurely.

After awhile of sitting around awkwardly, I decide to break the silence.

"So... You do have powers, huh?"