The Weirdos

50

He finished Books and Roderick's essays that night and decided Freak would be his next project. But before he could start the project, he had bigger things to do. Controlling his powers. Or try to, anyway. When morning came, he found a note telling him to meet Books in the training room. When he got there, though, it was completely silent. He didn't see any signs of the brunet with glasses. He started for the control tower when all the lights turned off and the room became complete darkness.
Feel it? Feel the fear? All consuming. Eating your heart and mind. Something is behind you. Or is it? Maybe it's in front of you. Or on your side. You can't tell. You can't even see.
"Boo!"
Jasper jumped a mile high as the lights flicked on and revealed Books laughing in front of him.
"Shit! Don't do that!"
Jasper almost hit Books' shoulder when he felt the goosebumps and that cold feeling gathering at his fingertips. He stopped and looked down at his hands.
"You can feel it, can't you? Remember that.
Remember the feeling. Think about what you want to do."
"What do I want to do?"
Jasper asked, looking at Books. Books pointed at a target on the wall.
"Throw a sharp pointed icicle right into the center. That's the goal. Can you manage it?"
"I don't... I've only been able to freeze things. I don't think I can just manifest it into an ice shard."
"Try."
Jasper breathed out slowly, then decided to try. He pictured an icicle, long and sharp and dangerous, forming in the palm of his hand. He felt something forming, for sure. When he looked down, he had an ice ball in his palm. Not exactly what he was looking for, but...
"Whoa! Look at this, Books! It's so cool! No pun intended."
He laughed at his own joke and stared at the blue orb of ice, bringing his other hand over to touch it.
"Wow..."
He played with the little orb in both hands, throwing it back and forth like a ball. It was kind of heavy and didn't seem to have any bounce. Kind of like a hamster ball or something.
"Focus. The target?"
Books said to him after a moment. Jasper sighed.
"Alright."
He threw the ball at the target and it went soaring through the air. And it landed flat a few feet away and to the right of the target.
"Holy shit."
Books said.
"You're a terrible throw."
Jasper frowned.
"I don't do sports."
"Clearly. Try again. Keep at it until you come at least close to hitting the target."
Jasper huffed and tried to form another orb. Once he'd gotten it, he threw it at the target and landed short again. Fifteen orbs later, his arms and hands shaking, he found that he couldn't do it anymore.
"Books... I'm exhausted. I can't even make any more ice balls."
"Treadmill."
Jasper groaned and went anyway. Books came and set the pace and music, then left Jasper to grumble to himself.