7

He started small, with things that could easily go unnoticed. One day in chemistry, he saw Paul Thornton slide something out of his pocket—a rubber band. With the teacher’s back turned, Paul used his pen as a slingshot, preparing to shoot the rubber band at a student a few desks away. He let it fly. Parker followed the projectile with his eyes. With only a slight push from his mind, it redirected, soaring to the right of its target.

Paul didn’t seem to see that anything odd had happened. He probably just figured he’d aimed badly. He returned to taking notes as Parker chuckled quietly to himself.

Over the next few days, Parker made it his mission to protect people from the bullies’ attacks whenever he could. People didn’t fall after they’d been tripped, projectiles missed their targets nearly every time, shoelaces stayed tied.

He had to admit, it felt good to help the other students. It felt good to be a hero.

***

“You fix the school yet?” Cole said later that week, catching up to Parker in the hallway with Yuan and Drew tailing close behind.

“I wouldn’t go that far,” Parker replied. “I’m sticking to little things, like flying rubber bands.”

Yuan smiled. “That’s a good start.”

“Smart too,” Drew said. “It’s probably best to stay under the radar.”

Even though they’d been talking and eating lunch together for the past few days, Parker was still somewhat surprised when the other three lingered next to him. It was like they wanted to hang out with him even if they weren’t talking about his power. Parker tried to think of something to keep the conversation going, but then the warning bell rang. They all set off toward their next classes. “Are you going to be at rehearsal?” Yuan asked Parker.

“Yeah,” he said. “I mean I’ll be in the workshop, but I guess I’ll technically be there.”

“Cool,” she said. “I’ll stop by and say hey.”

***

In the workshop that afternoon, Parker was painting the tree, which was a lot easier now. He thought about using his mind to control the brush, but he liked painting, and it felt better to actually do something rather than just stand there and control things with his mind.

Still . . . there was no reason not to make it easier for himself. He used his ability to tilt the top of the tree toward him. Normally he would have had to use a ladder to reach the top branches, but this was easier.

He paid close attention to the door, listening carefully for the sounds of anyone walking down the hallway outside the workshop. Once or twice he heard someone and used his mind to push the tree upright again, but no one actually came in.

He was just putting the finishing touches on one of the branches when he heard the clacking of someone coming down the hall again. He tilted the tree back to a physically possible angle and pretended to brush the trunk again, even though he’d already finished that part.

The workshop door opened and Yuan came in.

“Oh,” Parker said. “I was worried you were Ms. Frasier or something.”

“Doing your little trick?”

Parker demonstrated tilting the tree. “It would have taken me three days to do this with a ladder. I just finished.”

“It looks great,” she said.

“Thanks.”

“Are you free tonight?”

“I guess,” Parker was wiping some paint off his hands with a rag. It had been a long time since someone asked him if he was free. That’s probably why I am, he thought.

“Drew’s older brother is playing guitar at a coffee shop tonight. Do you want to go with us?”

Parker wasn’t used to being asked to go to things. For a second, he thought he should just go home like he normally would. But “Yeah, I can go to that,” came out of his mouth instead.

“Awesome.” Yuan pulled out her phone and had Parker give her his number so she could text him the time and address.

That night, Parker met the others at the coffee shop. Drew had neglected to mention that his brother, Trevor, was a terrible musician. Most of the songs were off-key and had sad lyrics about some unnamed girl who had rejected him.

In the middle of a song that basically consisted of Trevor wailing about how lonely he was, Yuan leaned over to Parker and quietly asked him to pass her a sugar packet for her coffee. Instead of grabbing it with his hand, Parker lifted one out of the little bowl with his mind. The top appeared to tear itself open then pour itself into Yuan’s mug.

His friends started to laugh but quickly fell silent when Trevor shot them a disapproving glance.

Parker was surprised at what a good time he had with them. Most of the crowd didn’t stay for the entire show, so he technically could have left at any point. But he found himself genuinely wanting to keep hanging out with Yuan, Cole, and Drew. They were funny and laid-back—so laid-back that they’d taken this whole telekinesis thing completely in stride. Parker also appreciated that they talked to him about things like games and music—ordinary stuff that had nothing to do with his mind powers.

After the show, they all told Trevor he’d been great. Outside, though, Drew turned to the others and asked, “At what point do I stop being supportive and just tell him to give up?” The other three laughed even though Drew might have meant it as a serious question.

When Parker got home, he was happy. Having friends felt good.

***

He was still smiling when he arrived at school the next day. Sitting at one of the long tables in the library for study hall, he chuckled to himself as he thought about Trevor’s terrible set list.

Most of the students in study hall took a table to themselves. Ashley Lopez was sitting at the table closest to Parker’s. Near the end of the period, she got up and left her books sitting at the table.

Devon Jones noticed immediately. The moment Ashley was out of sight, Devon popped up from his chair and strolled over to her spot. Parker wondered what he was up to.

He watched in shock as Devon casually reached into one of Ashley’s folders. Devon pulled out a worksheet, folded it into quarters, and stuffed it into his back pocket. The act was so bold and casual that Parker couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He’d suspected that Devon cheated in most of his classes, but actually stealing another student’s work was messed up on a whole other level. Devon walked back to where he’d been sitting, picked up his things, and walked right out of the library.

When Ashley returned, she didn’t notice anything had been taken. Parker was about to tell her, but the bell rang to signal the end of the period, and Ashley rushed out of the library before Parker could say anything.

His stomach twisted. I should have stopped Devon, he thought. His mind went blank for a second. That was my fault. I can’t hesitate next time.