The Gifted

Chapter One

"Homo ingenious, aka the Gifted, population levels have risen to about one thousand people in the United States. Towns for the Gifted are being built in the grasslands of Montana and are going to be ready for its occupants within the next two months. If you know anyone that is suspected of being one of the Gifted please call-." News anchors are so annoying. I turned the TV off from my seat.

"Hey what did we say about powers?" My mother asks me.

"So what if I turned off the TV from across the room. I should be able to use my powers in my own home mom." One of my powers lets control any electronic with my mind like my dad. "You and dad use your powers all the time but my and Ollie can't use ours how is that fair?" She looks at me with a face that lets me know I've won the argument for now.

"Fine. But no powers outside the house that's what keeps use safe."

"I know mom but tell Ollie he still can't control his like the rest of us. We're going to be late for school. Bye mom, have a great day. Ollie get your lazy butt down here or you can't get a ride with me."

"Gosh, Skylar, I was on my way down here. Let me get a bagel before we go." That's when his hands go up in flames. He has gotten better about controlling this but of course when he flames up so do I. "Mom it happening again. Get the fire extinguisher!" Mom comes running in with the fire extinguisher killing out our flames.

"Ollie, you had gotten so much better about the flames what happened? And Skylar you have better control than that. Why did you flare up?"

"Sorry mom," we say in unison. "Mom I'm sorry I flared up it was a reaction to Ollie's flare up. Come Ollie we gotta get in the car, we'll be late to school." We rush to my beautiful Jeep to make it to school on time. I know my brother is upset about his flare up one of those hadn't happened for two months now. "Ollie, I know you're upset about what happened it's not your fault that happened. When dad gets back tomorrow he'll help you control it."

"Sky, dad had promised to help before he left. I don't think he knows how to help me control this. Why won't you train me?"

"Ollie I told you, I don't know how. Mine just as bad as yours, it just doesn't look like it because I've learned how to control my other powers and am still working on this one." I put my car in park, we're at school now but I'm not done. "Ollie, you do know that if I knew how to train you I would. Right?" He shakes his head yes and gives me one of his boyish smiles, "I love you Robert Ollie Hauge!" He gets out of the car now shaking his head and laughing running towards his class. When I get out I realize it's drizzling, weird it wasn't this morning. Besides the drizzle it's a normal day in the life of Skylar Emily Hauge.

I'm in my seat right when the minute bell rings for first period. Then the masses start pouring in to class trying not to be late. My best friend Casey sits down in her seat beside me in Mr. Ramos's AP Chemistry class. "Hey did you hear about Buford and Lisa?" I shake my head no, not really paying attention to the school gossip. "Lisa was caught making out with Lewis Steinberg at a party, so naturally they broke up."

The bell for school to start rings and the announcements come on telling about the pep rally for the surf team's big meet coming up, the bake sale for the homeless shelter, and the Sophomore Spring Ball coming up. I find that I am involved in all of these things yet no one at school really knowing my name but Ollie, Casey and the school's surf team. Once the announcements are over we start learning about the different uses of hydrogen in chemical equations, the day begins.

****

Lunch is where you can see who people are really friends with. I sit with Casey and sometimes Ollie comes over, but usually I'm at some sort of booth for whatever club or the surf team needs fund raising. Today it's for the local homeless shelter and Casey has decide to sit with me so I'm not alone. "So, are you nervous for the surf meet tonight? Cause the way I see it is if you win for your division people will know your name then mine and people will want to actually be nice to us."

"No, I'm not nervous and thanks for the pressure about our social future resting on my shoulders. Makes me feel so much better."

"Sorry, you know I love ya though. Hey look whose walking over here right now." I look up from my boring salad and realize that Miles Demir is coming over here. Miles Demir is one of the most popular guys at school and has been my friend since second grade. We grew apart during eighth grade, for not really any reason we still hang out and talk which is good have to keep up appearances for those few who actually pay attention to the kids at the bottom of the food chain. I think he only wants to talk to me as co-captains of the junior varsity surf team but I can tell it's about something else. "Hey," I say. "What's up?"

"Can I talk to you for a second Sky?" he asks me with a worried expression.

"I'm going to go to the bathroom," Casey says getting up.

Miles sits down in her seat and people start noticing us talking and are staring. I know what they're thinking that who is Miles Demir talking to? Who is this girl? "So I can tell you know this isn't about the surf meet tonight."

"Miles I've know you for eight years I can tell when somethings wrong. What's going on? Nothing with William right?" I can tell I'm crying now by the look on his face.

"No, no. Nothing's wrong with him he is as safe as a marine can be overseas. No, I wanted to make sure you're okay you didn't seem okay in Latin. What is going on with you, I know we haven't talked in a while but your still one of my closest friends."

"Nothing's wrong, I just have a lot on my plate right now I guess with surf, the dive for the shelter, the Autumn Ball, and my dad has been gone on one of his business trips for two weeks and gets back tomorrow."

"Okay I just wanted to make sure. Can I come by your house tomorrow after school and see the Hauge clan, it's been a while." I smile because my family loves Miles, it make them happy to see him. "Sure, why not they always love to see you," I say. He gets up and leaves and Casey comes back from the bathroom and gives me the daily gossip. Then lunch is over, time for the pep rally.

Pep rallies. I have never liked them they make the whole school come out and support a select group of students in an activity that the rest of them aren't as good at. You know how in Texas high school football is like a religion, well at James P. Henson Private School surfing is like a religion. The varsity team get most of the attention while the JV team waits till eleventh grade for that boost in popularity. So it is weird when the JV team get all of the attention, it only happens when the JV team has this big surf meet.

Sothe crowds are cheering inside the gym for the few of us that make it on to theJV team. The school has us lined up in the middle of the gym with theco-captains off to the side while the team lines up by age. Then the Varsityco-captains come out of the stands and start talking about how we are expectedto do and how well we are going to do. They make me and Miles talk about ourteam but I let him do most of the talking. Then the bell rings and the dog-and-pony show is over.