‘Tears may fall/ hearts may break/ resolve may crack--‘

“Fuck!” Ryan Wells crumpled up the piece of paper he was writing on. “Stupid poetry!”

“Ryan! Watch your language!” his mother called up the stairs. He could barely hear it through his closed door.

“Whatever…” he sighed. Closing his notebook, he leaned back in his desk chair, eyes closed. “I hate school…”

Little did he notice the pair of glowing eyes watching him from the window.

oOoOo

‘Leon,’ a deep mental voice called.

‘Here,’ a slightly higher one replied.

‘Is he the one?’

‘I hope so, Dan.’ A beautiful black cat turned away from a window, where an innocently handsome teenager was reclining in his desk chair. ‘If he’s not, then we’ll have to start from scratch,’ the voice paused for a second, ‘again.’

---Chapter 1---

“Fuck, fuck, FUCK! I’m running late again!” Ryan cried out as he dashed out the front door, barely remembering to grab his backpack.

Ignoring the various honks and yells from cars, drivers, and pedestrians alike, he /just/ made it into the school as the warning bell rang. He made a mad dash for his locker, almost running into the custodian as he did so. Shoving his jacket and backpack into it, he grabbed the books he needed for his first two classes. He barely made it into his classroom, and breathed a sigh of relief when he noticed his teacher wasn’t there.

“Jeez, Ryan!” Jack whispered. “One day, you’ll get in trouble for always coming in this late!”

“Well, it’s just a good thing I can run fast, then, or else I actually /would/ be in trouble,” Ryan huffed out. “Now shut up, so I can calm down.”

He was just getting his breathing back under control when the teacher came in, a mysterious-looking youth trailing confidently behind him.

“Class, we have a new student,” the teacher announced. “I’d like you all to welcome Leon Hunt.”

“Thank you, Mr. Richards,” the youth, Leon, smirked. “Where would you like me to sit?”

Mr. Richards surveyed the classroom. “How about over by Wells?”

Ryan’s head snapped up. He stared, captivated, at the new student, who had black hair spiked up and back, except for the front, which was left down with a really long piece that fell right between his eyes, and his clothes were black as well. He also wore a blackchoker that was probably made of leather or something blue eyes met silver, and a cold shiver ran up Ryan’s back. He felt as if there was a thin wall between him and the rest of the world for the first time in his life.

Leon winked, and broke eye contact. Ryan shook his head, shocked beyond belief. It had felt like a million years had passed in a matter of seconds. His head swam, and yet, it felt empty at the same time. ‘Who is this kid? Does he know me somehow? If he does, then… How?’ he thought; now staring out the window.

His thoughts were interrupted when Mr. Richards began a speech about the proper use of variables and algebra. Ryan looked down at his open binder, and saw a small, handwritten note placed carelessly on top of it.

‘I know your secret. wink Meet me after school by the front doors.’

He looked around, and spotted Leon looking at him out of the corner of his eye. Leon smirked, and nodded, ever so slightly. Ryan didn’t know what to do, so he just ignored the note and Leon’s actions, and quickly jotted down the notes that Mr. Richards had written on the board without him noticing.

oOoOo

Ryan sighed as he walked out the front doors to the school, and looked around. The coast was clear. Well, sort of. There were still a few people there, but not that new kid, Leon.

Or so he thought, until he was off of the school grounds. He spotted Leon and a couple of other people with him sitting on a bench in the small park near the school. The taller, blockier one with short cropped blonde hair glanced over at Ryan quickly, and whispered something to Leon. Leon looked up and smiled. He beckoned Ryan over with a quick wave of his hand.

“Hello, Ryan,” Leon grinned when said boy stalked over. “How are you?”

Ryan glared. “I don’t know who you think you are, but whatever you want, you’re not getting it from me.”

“Whoever said we wanted anything?” Leon’s expression turned to that of innocent wonder.

“Cat, quit being playful and just tell him already.”

“Aw, you’re no fun, Mutt.”

“Stop calling me Mutt!”

“Only when you stop acting like one!”

“Leon! Daniel! Calm down!”

“Stay out of this, Kara!” Leon and Daniel yelled at the same time.

Ryan shook his head. ‘They’re crazy,’ he thought to himself, and started walking away.

“We’re not crazy, just gifted.” Daniel grinned. Ryan blinked and turned around. Daniel only grinned wider.

‘Oh… My god…’ Ryan thought, mouth hanging open, eyes wide in shock. ‘I’m… not the only one!?’ Suddenly, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted. Leon jumped up and caught him before he could fall, and gently laid him down on the bench.

“Let’s take him home,” the girl, Kara, said, tossing her long, silver hair over her shoulder. Leon and Daniel nodded their agreement, and Leon picked him up again.

oOoOo

Ryan’s mother opened her front door, not knowing what to expect. “Yes, can I help-- Oh, my goodness!” she gasped as she saw the form in Leon’s arms. “Ryan! What happened to him!? Is he okay!?” She ushered the three teens inside, and motioned for Leon to set Ryan down on the couch in the living room.

“He’s fine, Mrs. Wells,” Daniel explained. “He just got a nasty shock, is all. We thought we’d bring him home; let his family help him out. He should be awake in a couple minutes.”

Just then, Ryan let out a groan, and slowly sat up. “Wh… what happened?”

“You were knocked out by a flying rhinoceros, and almost got eaten by a giant Venus Fly-Trap. We saved you and brought you home.” Leon grinned at him, and winked.

“Whatever. I’m gonna go do my homework.” With that he disappeared up the stairs towards his room, and slammed his door shut.

“I’m very sorry. Ryan’s not usually like this…”

“It’s alright, Mrs. Wells,” Leon said with a small smile. “One of my old friends was like that, too.”

“Are you three new here? I don’t think I’ve seen you around before.”

Kara spoke up for the first time, “We just moved here. We don’t really know many people here.”

Mrs. Wells nodded in agreement. “I thought so. I know new faces when I see them.”

Leon smirked, Daniel grinned, and Kara smiled politely.

oOoOo

‘Who the hell are those three?’ Ryan thought glumly. ‘And how the hell do they know about me? I know that that jock -- is he a jock? He looks like one -- can at least sense thoughts, but I always thought that was limited! And that Leon! His attitude is very much lacking, but his looks… those silver eyes, that silky black hair…’ Ryan blushed and shook his head violently. ‘No! I will /NOT/ think of someone I only just met in that way! Especially not a guy!’ He banged his head against his desk. ‘I should just go to bed. I’ll deal with my work in the morning.’

oOoOo

‘Leon.’

‘Yeah?’ Leon sat on the windowsill of the house across from Ryan’s.

‘Don’t get too attached. You remember what happened last time.’

‘Yeah, I do.’ Leon sighed. ‘But I can’t help it. I feel his pain. It’s tearing him up inside, and he doesn’t even realize it.’ He paused. ‘I want to help him.’

‘Okay. Just…’ the voice paused. ‘Be careful.’

‘I know, Daniel. I know.’

oOoOo

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

Ryan groaned and looked at his clock, turning off the alarm in the process. It read 8:55am.

“Oh, shit!” He scrambled out of bed, and began to frantically search for a clean pair of pants. “I’m so late!”

“Ryan! Breakfast!” his mother called up the stairs to him.

Ryan blinked. If it was only just now breakfast…

“Damnit! I did it again!” he cried out, frustrated. “Stupid clock!”

Ryan pulled on the pants he finally found, and trudged down the stairs.

Mrs. Wells looked up from dishing out eggs, bacon, and toast onto four plates. “Are you alright dear? You seem rather upset.”

“I’m fine, Mom. I just need to change the time on my stupid clock before it really makes me late one of these days.”

“Well, you just sit down and eat your breakfast, and I’ll change your clock for you after you leave.”

Ryan sighed and sat down, slowly eating the food that was set down in front of him.

“The temperature in this room is equal to that of pi r squared times two!”

Everyone in the room looked at Erin, Ryan’s little(-ish) sister.

“What? It just popped into my head, and I had to say it!”

“I swear, I will never understand what goes through that tiny little head of yours,” Ryan said confusedly.

Erin just shrugged and went back to her own breakfast.

Ryan quickly finished his own breakfast, and gathered his stuff for school.

“You’re leaving early. Any reason?” Erin asked. “Or do you have a meeting with a girfriend?”

Ryan shot a venomous look at Erin, who only grinned teasingly. Ryan sighed, grabbed his backpack, and walked out the door. He decided to walk slower today, just so he could think about what had happened yesterday in more detail. He was just getting started, too, when a somewhat familiar voice called out from behind him.

"Ryan!"

Ryan turned around to see Leon running up to him, a mischievous smirk on his lips. Ryan groaned, and blushed. He turned away quickly, hoping that the other boy hadn't noticed. He was concentrating so hard on trying /not/ to blush, that he hardly noticed when Leon strolled up and placed an arm around his shoulders.

"So, how are you today," Leon asked brightly.

"Just fine," Ryan replied darkly, annoyed. "And might I inquire as to why you would care? I mean, we hardly know each other, beyond being in the same class."

"Maybe I just have a curious mind."

"Yeah, well, curiosity killed the cat, you know."

"And satisfaction brought it back."

Ryan sighed, and shrugged the arm off his shoulders. "Look, just don't bother me."

Leon only smirked, and sent a feeling of playful hurt at Ryan, who received it with surprise. He stopped, and turned to stare at Leon, mouth hanging slightly open.

"Are you aware that you could catch flies that way?" Leon teased.

Ryan snapped his mouth shut, but continued to stare at Leon, narrowing his eyes in slight suspicion. "Alright, look. I don't give a flying fuck if you're an empath, or whatever, but leave me the fuck alone. And I mean it." With that, he turned sharply on his heal, and stalked off towards the school at a much faster pace than he had originally intended.

Leon only stood there for a minute or two, grinning like a cat that had gotten into the cream, before he, too, began walking again to the school, albeit at a much slower pace.

oOoOo

"Damnit! Who the hell does he think he is?"

"Ryan, calm down. You don't have to get worked up over such a little thing as that."

"But, Jake! Do you know what he did?!" Ryan fumed.

"No, nor do I really care. It's not like he would do anything like it to me."

Ryan sighed and sat down at his desk, placing his head on his crossed arms. He only looked up again when he felt a presence on the opposite side of his best friend. When he saw Leon again, he just glared and put his head back down.

"I'm sorry for the way I acted yesterday and this morning. I should not have acted as such, and hope you can forgive me," he said quietly, a sincere, yet still playful, smile playing across his lips.

Ryan grunted, still not lifting his head. That is, until he felt the world being shut out again the way it had the first time he had looked into Leon's eyes. He sighed, and looked over at Leon.

"Why did you do that?" he asked stubbornly.

Leon only smiled mysteriously.

Ryan shook his head and sighed. 'I seem to be doing that a lot lately...' he mused.

"Alright class, please be seated so we may begin," Mr. Richards announced as he strode purposefully into the classroom. "Now, who are we missing?"

oOoOo

Leon sighed as he opened his locker during the break. 'Daniel, I think I'm going to need your help, along with the others.'

'Why?' Daniel replied, picking up Leon's thoughts from about halfway across the school.

'Ryan's a tough nut to crack. He's so closed off, and yet he's projecting everything to anyone sensitive.'

'So, you keep him blocked, and teach him to block himself.'

'Damnit, Daniel, do you know just how hard it is to get him to even look at me, let alone talk to me?!'

'No, I don't, but that's only because I've never met anyone like that.'

Leon sighed again, and pulled out a text book for his next class, English. 'I still need your guys' help. I can't keep him constantly blocked. I can only do so much, especially since I'm not as skilled as you or Nikita at long distance blocking. You know that.'

'Whatever. I'll help, but only because I don't want you to get hurt.'

'Thanks, Dan. It means a lot to me.'

'Whatever.'

Leon closed his locker just as the warning bell to get to the next class rang.

oOoOo

Physical Education. Worst class ever.

'Why do I even bother?' Ryan thought forlornly. 'It's not like I have any reason to be in this class. I'm active enough as it is... Stupid government. I'm already part of an archery club, as well as a martial arts club. Why must I take this stupid class?'

Ryan sighed, and looked up just as the teacher walked in. Mr. Havock wasn't the usual type for a phys. ed. teacher. He was short and somewhat willowy, but by no means was he skinny or weak, body or voice.

"Alright, I want all of you to listen up! I'm only going to say this once!" He paused to glare at the class, some of who were snickering and giggling; some behind raised hands, some outright. They shut up immediately, and Mr. Havock launched into a whole schpiel about how he expected everyone to show respect to him and their fellow classmates, and he expected everyone to do their best.

"Now, I'd like everyone to pair up with someone that /isn't/ their friend. Just to make things more fair." Everyone complied with this order, some reluctantly, some neutral, and some even ecstatic. Ryan merely shrugged, and stood against the wall, waiting for someone to pick him as their partner, like always.

"Hey, Ryan!" Ryan was almost surprised to find Leon standing near him. Note the 'almost.' "I figured, since we aren't exactly friends, we should be partners!" Ryan groaned, but agreed anyways. It wasn't like he would have to stay with Leon as a partner...

"Alright, these are the partners you're all going to be with for the rest of this semester. I don't want any complaints, and I want everyone to have fun!"

Ryan groaned again, and slumped back against the wall. 'Why does life always treat me like this?' he thought glumly. 'It's not like I /wanted/ this.' He looked up at the ceiling, and mentally asked whatever deities were out there to just give him a break.

"Are you coming, Ryan?" Ryan narrowed his eyes scathingly at Leon as his thoughts were interrupted. "Oh, come on! That's no way to treat someone who wants to be your friend!"

Ryan glared. "I didn't ask you to be my friend, I didn't even ask you to be nice to me. All I want, right now, is for you to lay off, and leave the hell alone!"

Leon pouted. "And I thought you were starting to like me! I think I'm gonna cry!"

"Whatever." Ryan shrugged, and began walking over to where Mr. Havock was demonstrating how to properly pass a volleyball.

oOoOo

"Sso, they have come!" a voice hissed. "But they will not stop me this time!"

There was a knock at the door. "Mr. Brigdin, Mr. Richards is here to see you."

His mouth twitched into a serpentine smile, and he leaned back in his chair.

“Let him in.”

---To Be Continued---

So, like it? Hate it? Wish it would explode into a billion tiny pieces? Please review and tell me what you think!

ANNOUNCEMENT: I’m in need of a title, but I can’t come up with one suitable. If you could possibly help me, that would be great. Please leave any suggestions in your reviews.