Strength In Superpowers

Pilot

    Everything was going sort of wrong for Jason, starting with his parents making him go on this "educational" field trip, and continuing with a traffic jam that's kept the bus from moving more than ten feet. He can't even really tell how long they had until they reach the museum, but he knows it must not be too far, since he saw the "Welcome To Rochmouth, G.V" sign a while ago, and the so-called state is pretty small. His iPod died about fifteen minutes ago, even if he'd put it in to charge before going to sleep, and he had nothing to do other than listen to his classmates gossiping about other students. Naomi has her headphones in to block out the noise, and talking to her would probably be a bother, and he doesn't want to annoy her so early in the day. So, fun times all around.

    He takes out his phone from his bag, turning it on and making sure it's at a good percentage before trying to see what apps he can use without WiFi...which is none of them. His photos are now the only option of entertainment, so he goes through them; there are pictures of him and Naomi doing pretty much anything. One of them was of them cooking together, another was of him teaching her to draw, another of just her reading in the school library. Naomi was strangely photogenic, even if she didn't like anyone else but him taking pictures of her. She's soft, her eyes a green forest full the emotions that she doesn't outwardly express, her hair dark even with the purple she puts in there, but in the right lighting it looks like a strange glow around her. When she smiles, it's timid and warms up whoever sees it. His sister is a beacon of good, and he hates that he's the only one who gets to see it.

   A shift jerks him out of his thoughts, the bus moving as the traffic advances. They pass police cars parked on the side of the road, and that's when he sees the two cars, one of them with the front crushed like an accordion, the other with its back half crumpled. They drive past it and go on their way, Jason slumping back in his seat in relief. He turns to Naomi, her eyes closed for a couple seconds before she opens them and looks at him, turning her music off.

    "Why did we have to go on this trip?" he grumbles, pouting.

    "It's not that bad, at least we aren't the people who got into the crash" she reasons with a shrug.

    He looks at her deadpan, wanting her to complain with him and not be a reasonable person. "Well, we wouldn't even be in danger of getting into an accident if we didn't get on this bus."

   "If we hadn't gotten on this bus, we would've gotten in trouble for skipping and that would've been bad. I know you don't think museums are fun, but it could be educational. You never know" There's a twinkle in her eyes that tells him that she's only teasing him, doing anything but agreeing with him like he wants her to.

    "We could've just stayed at school and done... I don't know, something" he flails his hands in frustration.

    "We would've gotten bored there too. Look, at least we get to go out and see new things," she motions outside the window, "and don't you like history? You'll get to look at cool historical...things" she finishes, making a face at her word choice.

    "This entire field trip is centered around the Great War, there's nothing "cool" about it."

    The bus slows to a stop in front of a park, ending their conversation as the teacher chaperone stands and addresses the students, her loud voice carrying over the quieting students, instructing them to stay close and behave themselves. The dozen teenagers file out of the bus, the teacher standing in front of the cluster and waiting, her hands on her hips as she stares at them through her thick, square glasses.

    Jason looks around at their surroundings, people milling around as if it hadn't been pouring earlier, cars driving past the bus, the drivers scowling at them as if they'd personally offended them, and more dogs than he'd thought possible in one place. Their teacher called out each name, taking role and checking off each student. Jason could see Naomi mouthing "here" as the teacher went down the list in alphabetical order, practicing so her voice isn't shaky or so she doesn't miss her name. He responds when the teacher calls name, then his sister's, who looks relieved and a little proud of herself when her voice comes out clear and steady; he can't help but feel proud of her as well, smiling softly.