Harbored Feelings

Chapter 2: Burning Ambition

Disclaimer: I don't own the people in this fic, nor do I own x-men, which is mentioned in this fic. The people are all owned by themselves (they are the names of my real friends) but I do own the person Ryan Lau. Thanks.

The Burning body continued to walk out from the flames that Alex created. Everyone stood in awe as they saw the person walk closer and closer. The person walked to the nearest water fountain. He looked at it and smashed the fountain; the pipes began to burst out water and it soaked the man, putting out the flames on his body.

Alex: Wha-? How? . . .Is that. . .Ryan?

Of course it was Ryan! He was the only one in the flames!

The water eventually put out all of the flames on Ryan's body, but he didn't look the same.

Alex: That's impossible- - -I hit you with a spout of fire- - -how are you. . .? I mean, I'm really glad your okay, but how did you survive???

Everyone had the same question in his or her mind. How did Ryan survive? But they were even more shocked to see him now.

Alex: Huh? Your body- - -it's; what's wrong with your body?

Ryan: . . .Uhhn. . .

Ryan just gave a low grunt.

His body looked dark gray. It had cracks in it- - -what was wrong with him?

Alex: . . .(He almost looks like his body is made of. . .of rock or stone. . .)

And Alex was right. Soon everyone noticed this. But how could his body be stone?

Ryan: . . .Ya know, * he said in a deep, low voice * a stone body doesn't burn very well.

Alex: Your body- - -you're a. . .you're a-

Ryan: A mutant? Yes. Amazing what our kind can do, huh Alex?

Ryan began to walk closer and closer, and as he did his body slowly converted back into his human self.

Alex: So. . .you are a mutant. This day is just so full of. . .

Ryan: Of what Alex? Problems? Heh, heh, I knew it. I was right. You are afraid of what people will think of you now that they know the true you. This is all what I was talking about earlier. Our world is changing, Alex, yours and mine the most probably. * Sigh * That's just the way things are. You can't stop change; you just have to accept it.

Alex: . . .

Alex began to cry some more. Everything was so confusing. Ryan had been in that part of his life for a few weeks now, and he was showing the world that he's accepting his change. Alex wasn't ready for all this. But honestly, no one is ready for drastic changes.

Alex: So what are you saying then Ryan? That we can just live normally? You know that's not possible. . .look at everyone here. . .look how scared they look. . .

Ryan: Ha ha ha ha ha! They should be! Look what you did to me.

Alex: And nothing happened to you. . .so what is your so-called "gift" Ryan? You can turn to stone?

Ryan: Not exactly; ya see, I can temporarily copy the attributes of things and animals with a simple touch! I can also copy the attributes of. . .of people.

Alex: But, but, I saw my flames hit you! There was nothing around for you to touch!

Ryan: Sure there was, in my pocket. . .

Alex: Wha-? You turned your body into stone; what did you do? Carry rocks in your pocket? * She said with a light sense of humor *

Ryan: Actually, yeah. I didn't know how you would react when I told you I know about your power. I had to have some form of protection, right? Heh, heh. Now, I can take attributes of lots of things, and that makes me very useful Alex.

Alex: (What is he talking about? What is he planning?)

Campus Security: You two! Come here! We've phoned the police. You two are coming with us.

Alex: But, but, we-

Campus Security: Get over here right now! And keep your hands where we can see them.

This is where it happened. Everything was becoming clear now. The people were retaliating; Alex and Ryan honestly knew that people weren't going to accept these kinds of differences.

Ryan: Heh, heh, this is exactly what I thought.

The police arrived.

Officer: You two! Come with us, and keep your hands where we can see them!

Ryan Lewis: Wait! Don't take her! Alex didn't do anything wrong! This idiot * He points to Ryan Lau * he did it all! He came here and started fighting with us! He even provoked her!

Lewis went on and on to get Ryan in more trouble than he already was in. Then the cops decided to take in only Ryan.

Officer: Hmm. . .look, you * He points to Alex * we're going to call your parents and have a talk. And you sir, you come with us.

The cops slowly walked up to Ryan and cuffed him. They began to escort him to the car, when suddenly Ryan jumped in front of Alex, barging away from the cops.

Ryan: I was right, wasn't I? They won't accept us, Alex. They'll never accept us! This is just history repeating itself! It happened in fiction * Shall we discuss x-men? * it happened when people couldn't accept some religions, it happened when people couldn't accept culture, and it happened when people started coming out of the closet! Get over it Alex, they will never see us fit! Never!

The cops began to restrain Ryan and pull him away from Alex.

Officer: You! Stop resisting arrest or we will have to use forceful measures!

Ryan: Ha ha ha ha!

Ryan began to laugh manically. Then he leaned in towards Alex.

Ryan (Whispering): They can't stop us Alex. They can try, but they won't succeed.

Right there, Ryan gave Alex a menacing look, and with a touch of the ground Ryan's body turned into concrete.

Ryan: Yah!!

Ryan broke off the cuffs and threw the cops across the campus.

Officer: Good god! Hurry! We need backup!

The cops told all of the students and faculty to hit the ground, and they did. They took out multiple rapid-fire guns, and blazed away at Ryan.

Ryan knew that even though his body is made of concrete, if he stayed in the rain of fire he would eventually be turned into gravel. He started to frantically run around the campus, until he noticed someone in the crowd of students. There was a student named Rodney Farrell, and he was a very fast student. He could be the star runner on the track team, but he never tried out. Ryan knew him from a few years ago, which is how he knew all of this.

Ryan: Rodney!

Ryan ran up to Rodney and grabbed him by the throat.

Ryan: I'm sorry. . .but your just so damn fast.

Rodney began to struggle and flinch, then he looked as if he was getting weaker. Ryan turned back to his normal self and dropped Rodney.

Officer: Hold your fire! We don't want to hurt him like that! Quick! Get the tranqs!

Ryan overheard the cop, and with a quick smile, he said one more thing to Alex before he took off.

Ryan: We are stronger then them Alex! Don't forget! And tell everyone not to get in my way, or else.

Ryan began to run off of the campus, with tremendous speed. An ambulance came and took Rodney to the nearest hospital. Alex's parents soon arrived as well. They were shocked to hear the news, and so it began. The world was changing, more than anyone thought.

Brendan: . . .What's going on now? Everything is so. . .everyone is so. . .

Brendan, John, Lewis, and Nick all looked down. They all had their own takes on this event.

John: . . .Lewis- - -how come you backed away when you heard that Alex was a, a mutant?

Ryan Lewis looked very uneasy.

Nick: You're like her best friend more than any of us here. You've known her since the sixth or seventh grade.

Ryan Lewis: Wha- - -well I. . .come on you guys! She's still my best friend! It was just kind of shocking. . .you think you know someone. . .and then you find out how deep they really go.

Brendan: I thought you were better than that, Lewis.

Ryan Lewis: Wait, guys! Come on! Guys!

The group of friends slowly walked away from Ryan Lewis. What kind of friend is that? Running away from your friends just because they're different? But now it's all beginning to truly show. The world is changing- - -whether they like it or not.

A/N: So what did you think? Please don't flame me because this is a lot like x-men. What do you expect? After so many years of cartoons and comics where teens have powers, they all kind of resemble each other. Like I said earlier, I just wanted to write a fic about high school students who have powers. Well, R/R. Thanks a bunch!

The One Still Called El Diablo- - - -