Power Revealed (The Elementers) Read Free Page B

a partially-filled table and introduced Justin to their friends. He listened while the group enjoyed giving him a quick tutorial about social survival in Bellingham. They asked him questions about Houston, which he answered in as few words as possible, but their friendly banter back-and-forth between each other began to ease some of the tightness in his chest that had been there since news of the accident.
    Near the end of the lunch break, Justin walked back toward the school with the group. A gathering of pine trees at the edge of the field caught his eye and he wondered how late he’d be for his next class if he hurried over and tried to contact Anya. But, suddenly, he bumped into a wall that he hadn’t noticed being there.
    “Watch it, loser!” boomed a voice.
    Justin turned around and looked up. He hadn’t walked into a wall. He had bumped into a beast. The guy was well over six feet tall and half as wide, and the mass seemed to be all muscle. The guy shoved Justin with enough force to send him falling back into Amanda. Thankfully, Lewis grabbed both their arms to keep them from falling. Justin had dealt with enough bullies in the past to recognize one on sight. Once his blankouts had started happening in fifth grade, he had become something of a target for bullies. He stood up to the jerks, often just making things worse, but he didn’t care. He wasn’t going to be a pushover. Besides, the blankouts weren’t his fault. Unfortunately, that didn’t stop some kids from making fun of him and most of his teachers from accusing him of not paying attention.
    A ball of anger burst inside of Justin. “Back off. It was an accident.”
    “You’re telling me to back off?”
    The huge, football lineman narrowed his eyes and took a step toward Justin, but someone nearby quickly grabbed the guy’s arm. “Hank, forget about him. You could be suspended from the team if you’re caught fighting again.”
    Hank’s feet stood still, but he leaned forward and glared much like a bull preparing to run at the bull fighter. “Do that again, and it’s your funeral.”
    Wrong expression. The word ‘funeral’ caused something to snap inside of Justin. The memory of standing in front of a closed casket flashed in Justin’s mind. The casket had to be closed because of the car explosion. Grandpa had always been so full of life, and suddenly, he was gone with only his remains locked away in a long, brown box. All the pain Justin had been feeling for the past ten days yearned to erupt. It felt like a tornado of fury swirling inside of him with nowhere to go.
    Amanda must have noticed the change because she gently grabbed Justin’s arm and pulled him toward the school doors. “Come on, Justin.” He allowed Amanda to lead him away, but he could feel the storm of energy ricochet inside of him, struggling to burst free.
    Crack! A loud ripping sound caused everyone to turn to see a large tree split in half down its trunk and smash into a nearby empty patio table sending pieces of the tree and the table flying in all directions. Amanda gasped, while numerous more enthusiastic exclamations erupted from students nearby. A blast of nausea rushed through Justin and he staggered back. The splintered tree looked like it had exploded from the inside. A disturbing thought entered his mind, suggesting that his pent up energy had gone into that tree. But that was absurd.
    He stared at the tree until Amanda pulled on his arm again. “Come on. Let’s get out of here before Hank decides to show off. He’s a hothead. Just ignore him and stay away from him.”
    “I’m not very good at ignoring stupidity,” Justin said.
    “But your face won’t look nearly as cute as it does currently if Hank covers it with bruises.” Amanda smiled playfully and let go of his arm.
    Justin was much better at coming up with insults for jerks than at responding to compliments from girls. Thankfully, as they neared the school doors, Lewis started talking to Amanda