The Misfits
Chapter 18 - Elias

Elias

The following morning Elias woke up on his back with Halley sprawled across him like a starfish. She was drooling on his shoulder, sleeping heavily.

The lights were on, so he knew breakfast would be soon.

With her on top of him, he used the arm she was laying on to rub her side, and his other to rub the arm across his body while he said, “Wake up sleepyhead. It’s almost breakfast time.”

She mumbled and shifted, scooting closer up against him.

He pushed some loose hair off her face and rubbed her cheek. “Come on, up and at’em.”

“Mmmp,” she said. “Do I have to?”

“Yep. Peg might think we’re dating if she finds us like this. She might make us get married,” he said and she giggled.

“I’m too young.”

“So am I, but we might look suspicious in bed like this.”

“We’re on camera,” she said lightly smacking his chest. “Plus, boys are icky.”

“So says the girl who drooled all over me.”

“Did not.”

He took her hand and put it on his shoulder. “So, what is that?”

“You did it,” she said, giggling again.

“I don’t think my neck bends that far, so it had to have been…You!” he said, rolling over, tickling her. Soon she was gasping for breath.

“Stop… stop or I’m gonna wet myself,” she managed to get out and he stopped right away.

“Go. And clean up and brush while you’re up,” he said.

She rolled out of bed and made straight for the toilet.

Elias cleaned up the tabletop for breakfast while Halley was doing all that. When she finished, Elias traded places, telling her to get her insulin ready.

When he finished, Halley had everything ready for him.

“Thigh?” he asked.

She shook her head. “Arm. In the side. Just like the leg.” She had Elias wipe a spot, then he injected her. No blood came up this time.

“Does that mean I’m getting better?” he asked, and she giggled.

“No silly. It’s like, random. You might hit a small blood vessel, you might not.”

“Oh,” he said with a fake frown. “I thought I did good.”

“You did,” she said, hugging him. “It didn’t hurt at all.”

“Well, that’s good,” he said to her.

Peg came in with two trays, setting them down. Both kids sat and uncovered their food.

It was bigger than usual, and Halley had a small container of orange juice.

Both kids looked at Peg.

“You will be more active today, so I gave you a bigger breakfast,” she explained.

Halley reached for the juice and Peg asked, “You take your insulin last night and this morning?”

“Yep, Elias did it,” she said, popping the top and taking a big drink.

“I like your hair,” Peg told Halley, running her fingers through the loose hair on the side.

“Elias did it,” the girl replied between bites.

“Really? And where did you learn to braid, Elias?”

Elias shrugged. “Scouts, but not on hair, but it’s basically the same thing.”

“Okay, well, eat up. Elias has a surprise for you when you are done Halley. And if you feel funny because of the juice, tell Elias.”

To Elias, she said, “Take her meds and if there’s a problem, give her 15 units of insulin and make sure to call for me. Now I’ll see you after breakfast.”

She walked off, letting the kids eat. When the door closed, Halley said, “So what’s the surprise?”

“It’s a surprise… until you finish eating. Then I’ll tell you.”

She stuck her tongue out and kept eating.

Halley finished first but waited until Elias finished before she asked again.

“Tell you what, if you can wait until I take a shower, then I’ll make sure today is extra special and maybe get Peg to let you stay again tonight.”

Halley thought it over, but Elias could tell she was excited. She agreed and he grabbed boxers, his shorts, and a towel, rolling the up to hide the shorts.

He held out a pair of boxers. “You good?” he asked.

She blushed and said, “Yes. Those were different, but they were… drafty.

Elias laughed. “I thought you’d be used to drafty, wearing dresses.

“Yeah, well. It’s been a while.”

“Okay, no peeking,” he said walking away. He showered, then dressed in his swim trunks, and stepped out of the shower.

“Hey! You have shorts too! And those are actual shorts. No fair!” Halley said.

“Do I look like I’m going to the beach?” he asked, walking over to where she sat. “Did you peek?”

“Noooo.”

“Hmm, okay.” He went to his drawer and pulled out her swimsuit. “Here. Today is a treat. More kids, snacks, and this,” Elias said shaking out the folder suit.

It was a one piece, in white of course.

“Swimming?” she cried.

“Yep. I dunno what else, but more I bet. Now go change,” he told her.

She snatched the suit and took off to the shower to change.

Peg came back while she was changing. “Well?” she asked Elias.

“I think she’s happy and excited.”

As if called, Halley came out wearing the swimsuit, bouncing.

“Ready?” Peg asked.

“Yes!” Halley said and Elias told her to wait.

He got two more towels and the cold pack with Halley’s medicine and supplies in it.

Peg nodded in satisfaction that he was keeping his promise to look after the girl.

“Follow me,” she said, and led the two kids out of the room. They walked past Enya’s room and Elias was sad to see she wasn’t in there, but quickly hoped that she might already be waiting.

Peg led them around corridors that Elias hadn’t been through, to a hall that had no doors on one said. Halfway down, Peg stopped at a scanner set into the wall and put her hand up to it. Part of the wall slid up.

Elias couldn’t even tell there was an opening there before but was interested in the scanner. It wasn’t like the glass wall ones that were mostly computer generated.

This one was old hardware; one that could possibly be hacked.

Peg led them into the room.

It was big, maybe fifty-by-fifty feet, excluding the pool, which was inset into the far wall. It wasn’t standard but looked to be about ten-by-fifteen feet, with half of it in the room, the other half inset in the wall.

Elias saw a ping pong table, a dart board on one wall, a table filled with board games and puzzles, and a table full of snacks and drinks.

They were the first to arrive.

“Take it easy on the sweets Halley, but have fun,” Peg said.

“Can you swim?” Elias asked her and she glared at him like he was an idiot for asking such a stupid question.

“Go on then,” he said, and she tore off to the pool, jumping in.

“The pool maxes at six feet, so make sure to let everyone know so they don’t get hurt,” Peg told him.

She pointed to a white board that was behind them on the wall. He hadn’t noticed it. On it were four names he didn’t recognize, and three he did. Halley, Edward and Enya were all on the board with X’s through boxes.

Elias looked up and saw headers on the boxes. The first said Ability, and the second one said Negated.

“As I said before, each person is to show you their ability and you are to try to negate it. When you do, mark off each on the board. Do it whenever, as long as you do it before it’s time to go. Once you are done, the day is yours. Remember to keep an eye on Halley and Selim is only six, so please make sure he doesn’t drown. There are extra towels should anyone need them. Bathroom is over there,” she said pointing.

“Someone is listening and watching should you need anything else. The others will be arriving shortly. Have fun.”

“Wait, I told Halley that if she was good, I’d ask if she could stay over tonight,” he told Peg.

“Getting attached?” Peg asked.

“Of course. She’s opened up and told me things about her life that she probably hasn’t told many people. Some things people need to talk about. She picked me, even if it was kind of forced. But now that I’ve done it for one, knowing how much it helped, I’d do it for any of them.”

“Really?” Peg said skeptically.

“Sure. Bring anyone,” he said.

Peg smiled and turned. Over her shoulder she said, “Halley tonight. Who knows who tomorrow will bring,” and walked out.

Halley was splashing around swimming and yelled, “Elias, come on!”

He walked over and explained to her that he had to wait until everyone was here, and kind of be a supervisor, so he couldn’t spend all his time with her, but once everyone arrived, she’d have company.

He could tell she wasn’t happy but she just kind of sullenly said, “Okay.”

“Oh, and Peg said yes to tonight, so behave so no one changes her mind,” he warned her.

Edward was the next to come in. Elias explained the rules and where everything was, like he would with everyone who came in, and told him to have fun.

Ed joined Halley in the pool, and she was happy to have the company.

The next to arrive was a ten-year-old boy named Roy Peters. He was tall for his age, only four inches shorter than Elias, but lanky. He was in his growth spurt, but still all knees and elbows.

Elias let him go play with the other two.

As if timed, a few minutes later a tall older boy came in. His name was Frank Polaski, and he was seventeen. Having let Frank know the basics, he let him go off, but instead of heading to the pool, he went to the dart board.

Elias waited what seemed like the prerequisite few minutes and sure enough, another teen entered.

At first, Elias couldn’t figure out what was different with her until he realized she had on scrubs, not a swimsuit like everyone else so far.

She told him her name was Jocelyn or Joss Briggs and she was fifteen. She was a few inches taller than Elias, with brown hair with blond highlights that hung to her shoulder blades.

Although her scrubs were loose, Elias could tell from her face that she was a little chubby, but not by a lot. His mom would call her healthy. Elias made it a point to keep an eye on her during the day.

Sending her on her way, he saw she made her way to the food table, looking longingly at it all but taking nothing but a bottle of water.

He was still watching Joss when the next person came in.

“Looking over the perspective dates?” a familiar voice said from behind him. Not having heard her come in, he jumped.

He turned and got out, “No… before his brain went blank. Enya stood near him in the provided swimsuit. It was white like the others and contrasted with her olive skin nicely.

He had seen her in Lycra, but this suit somehow accented her physique even more.

“Stop drooling,” she said, wiping the corner of his mouth with her thumb.

“Huh?” he said, embarrassed, running his hand over his mouth, horrified that he might have actually drooled.

His hand was dry, and he realized she was teasing him. “It was just… you scared me,” he said trying to play it off. He wanted to tell her she looked stunning, but this wasn’t a place to try to date.

“Uh-huh. So, what’s up with the girl?” she asked.

“Oh. I was just thinking she was shy. I’m supposed to make sure everyone gets along and has fun. She doesn’t look like she’s going to have fun. Or do much socializing,” Elias said.

“Looks that way. Probably because she’s chunky.”

“Hey!”

She put up her hands. “It’s just an observation, not a critique. She probably has a self-image issue,” Enya said matter of factly.

Elias looked at her, forcing himself to look into her eyes and not down. “Maybe later you would help me talk to her? If I do it alone, she might not listen.”

“Because you are a boy?”

“Exactly.”

Enya rolled her eyes at him. “You’ve got it backwards. She’d listen to you because you’re a boy and possible date. I might be the last person she’ll listen to, but sure.”

As they were talking, Peg walked in holding the hand of a little boy. She walked over to Elias and Enya and said, “This is Selim. Selim, this is Elias and Enya. Elias is in charge here, so you listen to what he tells you, okay?”

“Okay,” the boy said shyly.

“Bye bye,” Peg said walking away.

Elias squatted down and said, “Hello. How old are you, Selim?”

“Six,” he said, swinging his body back and forth.

“And do you know how to swim?”

Selim shook his head along with his body.

“If you want to learn, I’m sure someone can teach you. If not, then you can sit on the edge and put your feet in the water. There’s food and drinks, and the bathroom,” he said pointing, “Is over there.”

“Okay,” he said, taking Enya’s hand.

She looked down like a demon had grabbed her and Elias smiled at her.

She rolled her eyes and said, “Fine.”

Now everyone was here, Elias wandered around to talk and just get a feel for everyone.

Everyone but Frank and Joss were in the pool. Frank looked satisfied playing darts by himself, and was the oldest one there, a few years older than most except Enya.

Elias let him be, for now. He looked content enough.

Joss was a different story. She sat at the table with the games, not playing anything, but rather watching everyone in the pool.

Elias decided to try to talk to her while everyone was occupied. He walked over and sat next to her.

She looked at him and tentatively smiled.

He smiled back and said, “Joss, I noticed you’re sitting over here alone, and watching everyone else having fun. If you can’t swim, there’s a shallow part or you can put your feet in the water. Heck, we’ll even teach you to swim if you want. Look at Selim.”

She looked over, watching the little boy splash around while Enya and Ed tried to teach him. It looked like he was having more fun just splashing around.

“I can swim,” she said.

“Oh. Okay. So… why are you over here?”

Joss shrugged.

“Hm, so, like I said before, I’m in charge of, well, having fun. And you’re obviously not having fun. So can I ask you something kinda personal without you getting mad at me?”

“Maybe.”

“Fair enough. I guess it is kind of hard to say yes to a question that might get you mad. So, here’s what I’m going to do. I’m sorry in advance. This isn’t to hurt you, but I’m simply trying to help. I can see you wore your swimsuit,” he said, pointing to the neck of her top.

She looked down and blushed.

“I don’t know any other way to say this, so I’m just going to. Do you not want to swim because you’re worried about someone making fun of you because you’re overweight?”

Joss moaned and put a hand over her eyes.

Elias waited, thinking she was going to answer, but instead he saw a tear escape her hand and slowly run down her cheek.

“Joss, please don’t cry. I didn’t say that to hurt you. I don’t like when people cry, especially girls. It’s worse when I make them cry.”

“I want to go back to my room,’ she said barely loud enough for him to hear.

“Come with me and give me five minutes. Please. If you still want to leave after that, then I’ll make sure you can go. Okay?”

He knew that if she left this might be over for everyone.

She barely nodded and he stood o and put his arm in the one she didn’t have in front of her face, pulling her up. She obediently followed as he pulled her to the bathroom, closing the door behind them.

Elias sat Joss on the toilet and pulled off a handful of TP and wet it. “Okay, time starts when you move your hand,” he said.

She slowly lowered her hand, and he wiped her face with the cool water. He put himself in front of her so she had to look at him or close her eyes.

Once her face was clean, he said, “Better?” and she nodded slightly. “Now don’t cry. First, to state the obvious, you’re overweight, but not a lot. And so what? We’re all trapped kids here, all we have is each other. We’re not going to judge each other.

“So, you’re a little heavier than you should be. It’s not the end of the world, and it doesn’t take away from your beauty. You care about the extra weight way more than we do, and that means you’re aware of your own body and your health. If you didn’t care, then I’d be more worried. But you care, so I care.

“I got this started so we would have friends and people of our own age to talk to and be with. If you’re serious about the weight, I’ll help you. I’ll talk to Peg. But only if you want me to. Otherwise, I’ll butt out. But while you’re here, you’re here to relax, have fun, and yes, eat.

“Us kids, we’re all friends. No one judges. Take off those scrubs and go swim. Own it girl.”

Joss chuckled. “Time’s up,” she said.

“I don’t want you to leave. Stay, for me. If you don’t have fun, don’t come again.”

She stood up and he followed suit.

“Can I get a hug, even if you do just to show there’s no hard feelings, and you don’t hate me for making you cry?” Elias was holding out his arms.

She embraced him, putting her head on his shoulder, since she was taller.

“I’m sorry I made you cry,” he said.

“It’s okay. I needed to hear all that,” she told him, backing up and pulling off her top. She handed it to Elias and took off her pants.

Elias looked at her with the baggy scrubs. She had a little extra in the middle and in her face, but otherwise she wasn’t but maybe fifteen- or twenty-pounds overweight.

“Why are you hiding? You’re pretty. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise,” he said, making her blush.

The doorknob rattled and a fist banged on the door. “I gotta pee,” Selim said through the door.

“Ready?” Elias asked Jocelyn, who nodded.

Elias unlocked the door and it immediately opened. Selim stepped in and said, “You’re tubby,” pointing at Joss.

“Selim! That was rude,” Enya said from behind him.

Joss looked hurt and Elias said, “Selim, do you care if she is?”

“Nope. My mom was waaay tubbier. Elias is too,” Selim said, smacking his belly. “I gotta pee,” he said skirting everyone and pulling down his wet trunks, not caring that three people were standing there, looking at his bare bottom.

“Time to go,” Elias said, taking Joss by the hand, then walking to the pool with her.

“Finally,” Halley said, splashing them. “Come in!”

Joss went first and Elias followed. Enya and Selim came back, and Selim was humming. At the edge of the pool Selim said to no one and everyone, “They were in the bathroom kissing!”

Elias looked at Selim, then Enya, then Joss. “No we weren’t, you fibber. You and Enya were in there kissing.”

Joss had gone underwater, and Enya just smirked when Selim said, “Yeah! We were in there kissing!” Then he jumped in the pool towards Elias, who grabbed him so he wouldn’t drown.

No one commented further and activities resumed. Joss managed to pretend that it didn’t happen.

Time passed and someone over the speaker said, “Lunch.”

A set of stools rose around a table that raised from the floor. Food was already on the table for everyone to take.

Everyone except for Frank dried off and sat.

Enya made a plate for Selim and everyone else filled their own plates. Everyone pigged out except for Joss, who was next to him.

Halley was on the other side of him, so he could keep an eye on her. He leaned over to Joss and whispered, “Eat what you want today. Then eat reasonable the other days. These are pig-out days for everyone. Look at Enya.”

She looked at Enya, who had her plate piled high with some of everything.

He watched Joss take a bit more. It was a concession at least.

Halley pinched him and he jumped, causing Salem to giggle. He looked at Halley. “Yes?” he said.

Quietly she said, “I’m supposed to take my insulin before I eat.”

“Do you have to, or can it wait until after? We can go do it now if we have to.”

“It should be before, but maybe it can wait,” she said.

“You know best. You tell me and we’ll do what you think is best,” he told her.

Halley thought it over. “We should do it now.”

“Okay, meet you in the bathroom. I’ll grab your stuff and be right behind you.”

To everyone at the table he said, “We need to take care of something. We’ll be right back.”

Halley left for the bathroom and Elias got the medicine bag from where he set it aside and followed her. He heard Selim call out, “Are you going to the bathroom to kiss?” and the others at the table laughed.

Reaching the bathroom, he closed the door and locked it. “Sorry, I didn’t know you did it at lunch.”

“Three times a day, usually before meals,” she told him.

“Well, okay, now I know. So where is it this time?”

She looked down. “Um, that’s a problem. It should be in my stomach.”

He looked at the one-piece suit and saw the problem. “Um, you sure I can’t just give it to you in the butt like a shot?”

“Nooo.”

“Okay, well, let’s think… You’re small enough, maybe…” He grabbed a towel and folded it in half, width wise, then again.

At this point it was about four inches wide and still full length, albeit kind of thick. “This should work. So, here’s how this should work. Turn around and untie your top, pulling it down past where I need to give you the shot. Put this around your, um, top part, starting in the middle and tuck the end under your arm to hold it up. Hang on to your suit so we don’t have any wardrobe malfunctions.

“Huh?” she asked.

“No flashing me,” he told her, watching her go pink from blushing. “I’ll turn around too. When you’re done, tell me and we’ll get this done and I’ll leave so you can get dressed in private. Got all that?”

She nodded.

He turned around, getting things ready while she did her thing. Elias wiped the vial and drew up her insulin and capped the needle and got another wipe for her skin.

“Um, okay, I think I’m good,” she said.

He turned around and sat down on the toilet to put himself at a decent height. She moved in front of him. He looked at her belly and said, “You’re skinny. Where am I supposed to put this?”

“Elias,” she said, drawing out his name. “Pinch the skin, like my leg.”

He tried grabbing some skin and it wasn’t much. He did this a couple of times, getting her laughing.

“Stop or I might drop something,” she warned.

He stopped and opened the wipe, using it over a large area, just in case, and blew on it.

Halley shivered. “That’s cold.”

“Sorry.”

Elias carefully pinched some skin together and decided it was enough, uncapped the needle and stuck it in, injecting her. He pulled it out and capped it.

The spot bled a little, so he dabbed at it with TP until it stopped. “All done,” he said.

He rubbed her tummy and asked, “All good?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay. I’ll go and you can get dressed.” He packed everything up and left, closing the door behind him.

The bag was returned to the out of the way spot before he went back to the table, and Halley wasn’t far behind.

“Two little love birds sitting in the tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G,” sang Selim.

“Very funny, you little booger,” Enya said to him. “Eat.”

Several kids saw Halley go red but ignored it. As they finished eating, Elias told everyone that they needed to show their ability, one at a time, and then again with him touching them After that, they could go back to playing until just before dinner.

Enya, Edward, and Halley were excluded since he had already tested with them.

Since Selim had the shortest attention span, he would go first and then Enya would take him to play. Selim stood up and Elias asked, “What can you do?”

Selim concentrated, squeezing his eyes shut and although they were indoors, the air started whipping around them, blowing hair every which way. “I control the wind,” Selim said proudly.

“Very good,” Elias said, standing up and moving to him. He put a hand on the boy’s shoulder and said, “Do it again.

Selim closed his eyes again. Nothing happened. After a minute Selim said, “Hey, what did you do?”

“Turned you off by touching you,” Elias told him.

“No fair! Let go!”

Elias let go and the wind started up again. “That’s enough, go play,” Elias said.

Roy Peters was next. He looked around and found what he was looking for on the snack table. Picking it up, he carried it over to Elias.

“It’s a tesla coil, he said, turning it on low. “Put your hand next to it.”

Elias did and an arc of electricity went from the metal globe to Elias’ fingers.

Roy turned it up until it tingled, then shocked Elias who drew his hand back.

“Three,” Roy said. He turned it up to ten and put his hand out. A blinding arc leapt to Roy’s fingers with no outward effect.

Elias began to reach out and Roy stopped him, grabbing his hand. “It would probably kill you,” he said. “Three shocked you, ten will stop your heart. I can absorb electricity.”

“Set it back to three,” Elias said, and Roy did. Elias took ahold of his arm and said, “Try again.”

Roy reached out and the electricity arced, shocking both Roy and Elias. “What the heck?” Roy asked.

“I stop powers from working,” Elias said. “Go on, go have fun.”

Jocelyn Briggs was next up. She looked at Elias, then realized it wouldn’t work on him, so she asked Halley to help.

Halley said, “Un-uh,” shaking her head.

“Edward?” Joss tried.

“Sure,” he said, standing up and going to her.

“Hold still, she said, reaching for his stomach.

They watched as her fingers disappeared into his skin up to her palm. She wiggled her fingers and Ed laughed and said, “That tickles.”

She pulled her fingers out of him, then turned to the table, putting a finger through a leftover burger, lengthwise. “I can phase into anything organic,” she said. “Anything living or even dead.” She pulled the finger out of the burger.

“Okay Ed, you ready to get poked?” Elias asked.

“Sure,” he said.

Joss looked unsure, so Elias took hold of her hand. “Okay, try,” he told her.

She held out her hand and pushed into Ed, pushing until he stepped back.

“Sorry,” she said.

“No harm,” Ed said.

Elias squeezed her hand before he let go.

“Frank, you’re up,” Elias said.

“Come this way,” Frank said, and Elias and the rest followed him to the pool. He sat down next to the edge and dipped a hand into the water.

“Hold still you guys,” he said to the kids already in the water. Slowly, several globes the size of bowling balls rose from the pool’s surface, supported by thin columns of water. They hovered six inches above the rippling surface for a few seconds and then began to change shape.

Each transformed into an angel fish with their tails moving as they wandered slowly around. The angel fish became manta rays, then dolphins, whales, and sharks.

Selim squealed in delight at the display and the other kids clapped.

Frank looked up and Elias and nodded, and Elias bent over and touched his arm and the water splashed back down into the pool.

“Water manipulation,” Frank said. “Sorry that the pool doesn’t excite me. I get tired of water here.”

Elias patted his arm. “I get it. The pool was intended to be a reward, so don’t take it personal. You could have done the same demonstration with a glass of water or something. But know that we won’t make you perform if you just want to swim.”

“More, more!” chanted Selim.

“Well, maybe he will try,” said Elias with a grin, “but he’s a kid and doesn’t realize the position we’re in like the rest of us. Just tell him no.”

“I’ll think about it,” Frank said.

Elias stood up and said, “Do whatever you want to have fun. This is for us to make friends and have fun. No pressure.”

“Wanna play ping pong?” Edward asked Elias.

“Sure,” he said, and they walked over to play while the others swam.

Elias took the side where he could see the pool to keep an eye on Selim, Halley, Joss, and Enya. After several points lost because Elias had trouble tracking the ball, it finally dawned on him.

“Hey! You’re cheating,” he said to Ed, who laughed.

“Took you long enough. You should see me at hide-and-seek. I rule.”

Both boys laughed. They played a while longer without Ed making the ball disappear, and Enya walked over. Ed looked at the girl and handed her the paddle before walking away.

Elias looked around for Selim and Enya said, “Easy. Frank’s watching him.”

Elias spotted Frank, who had gotten in the pool. He smiled.

Frank looked more relaxed and seemed to be enjoying himself.

“So,” Enya said hitting the ball to him, “It seems your little friend has a major crush on you.”

This caused Elias to miss the ball.

“Point,” Enya said, and Elias retrieved the ball.

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“Every time you talk to me or Jocelyn she gets this look, like a possessive girlfriend. Like she wants to attack us. She dragged you away from lunch to be alone with you.”

“That was for her medication,” Elias told her.

Enya shook her head. “It could have waited until after lunch and she knows that. You were looking at me and talking to Joss. She made an excuse to take you away.”

“She wouldn’t do that.”

“I see you’re one of those guys who never sees the girls who make goo-goo eyes at you.” She set the paddle down and said, “Tell you what. Walk back to the pool holding my hand and look at Halley’s face. Then try to deny it.”

Elias swallowed. He wanted to do it just because it meant holding her hand. “Um, okay,” he said as she stood there looking at him.

She held out her hand and he walked around the table and took it. He was aware of how soft and warm it was. Not overly warm, but warm in a nice way.

Elias stood there until Enya tugged him towards the pool. They walked hand-in-hand and Elias watched Halley.

When Halley finally noticed them, he saw her frown.

He also noticed Joss frown, but they had just met so he didn’t think she had a crush on him that quick. So, he wasn’t really sure what he was seeing.

They were still standing there, but Elias had let go of Enya’s hand without really wanting to, when Roy, who was horsing around with Ed, ran into Enya.

The reaction was almost instantaneous – a shockwave expanded out of Enya, knocking Roy and Ed into the pool.

Elias was next to Enya but didn’t move. Both Roy and Ed came up from under the water sputtering.

’’Are you guys okay?” Elias asked, worried.

Both said yes and Elias looked at Enya. “Sorry,” she said, shrugging. “It was just reaction. They startled me. Roy hit me and the energy released as a protective measure.”

Elias thought she didn’t really look sorry. Then he worried that this would put a halt to the fun. Having an incident was one of the rules. It was an accident, and no one was hurt, so hopefully Peg wouldn’t be upset.

Enya, seemingly over the whole incident, walked away to the snack table.

Halley got out of the pool, going to Elias, and asked, “Are you okay?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. Her power didn’t seem to affect me. I just hope that Roy and Ed are okay.”

“I’ll go check them,” Halley said, but Elias caught her arm.

“Can you feel injuries without healing them? I don’t want you to hurt if they will be okay.”

“I - I can do that,” she said quietly. “They don’t know.’

“You talk to me before you do anything, okay?”

She nodded and he let go of her. Halley went over to Roy and Ed, who were sitting on the edge of the pool, and put a hand on the shoulder of each boy while talking to them.

Then she walked back over to Elias.

“Both are okay. Just shaken up I think.”

“You didn’t do anything, right?”

She shook her head, looking down.

Peg came into the room just then and said, “Selim, time to go.”

The little boy grumbled but got out of the pool and dried off before leaving with Peg.

The others got out of the pool and dried off, knowing it was almost time to go. The three boys shook Elias’ hand, leaving one by one as Peg came back to get them.

Halley left next, giving Elias a hug and he told her he’d see her later after handing her the medicine bag.

She looked at Enya and Jocelyn

Enya was next and she gave a little wave to Elias before leaving.

Joss stood next to Elias after re-dressing in her scrubs, while Elias marked the board.

“If you want, I’ll talk to Peg about letting us use this room when its not in use, to work out in. That is if you are serious about losing weight. Ill do what I can to help. If not, then just tell me. I’m not trying to push you.”

“You’d do that? “ she asked.

“Of course. It’ll keep me from just laying around. I don’t have much to do. Go to a lab, touch someone to stop a power, and I’m done. That’s so much work”

She laughed. “So, you game for a little extra swimming and some working out?”

Joss looked down shyly. “Sure.”

“Great, I’ll talk to Peg and see what I can do. No promises though, since I have no control.”

“I know, that’s fine.”

Peg came back for Joss, who tentatively gave Elias a hug before leaving.

Elias waited for Peg to return and when she did, she asked, “Well, how did it go?”

“It went really well. There were two issues I need to bring up.”

Elias knew she had to know about Enya, so there was no reason to hide it. “First, there was an incident with Roy and Enya. It was an accident and no one was hurt. Roy accidently ran into her and she absorbed and released the energy, knocking Roy and Ed into the pool. Both said they were fine.”

Peg nodded thoughtfully and asked, “And the second?”

“Jocelyn has self-esteem issues because of her weight. Is it possible to use this room to work out in, a few days a week if its not in use?”

“Just the two of you?” she asked, curious.

“Yes. At least at first. Once she feels more comfortable, then I guess anyone who wants to can join. It won’t be much, just swimming, maybe a little jogging, and some sit-ups and push ups unless your willing to provide some exercise equipment. I mean, it is for our overall physical well being,” he said with a smile.

“I’ll bring it up. Would two or three days a week be sufficient?”

“Yeah. Not too much, just some exercise , not play like today.”

“I don’t see a problem with that. I’ll recommend it and let you know. Ready?”

Elias nodded and Peg walked him back to his room.

He looked into Enya’s room as he passed, and she had her back turned and was drying her hair.

Once in this room, Peg asked, “Everything okay with Halley?”

“Yeah. She seems to be happier, and she socialized today. I think Jocelyn just needs that little push and she’ll be okay too.”

“Aren’t you a bright young man,” Peg stated.

Not really, it seems, Elias thought.

He was blind to Halley’s crush, Enya was acting weird, and he had a feeling Joss was hiding something.

To Peg, he just shrugged.

“Okay. Dinner will be here shortly, followed by Halley. Enjoy.”

Peg left and Elias showered to get the treated water chemicals off his skin. Dinner arrived and he ate, then waited for Peg to come back.

Peg arrived with Halley in tow, holding only one bag and her med kit.

“She’s eaten, showered and had her insulin already, so no more until the morning,” Peg announced.

Elias looked at Halley, who was in scrubs and her hair was down. He took the bag and the kit and began to unpack the bag.

Peg left, leaving them alone.

“Come pick a movie,” he said taking the popcorn and drinks to the couch-bed Peg had raised.

Halley picked a movie and jumped onto the couch-bed, crawling up to Elias. The movie wasn’t animated this time and was about an evil witch who cursed a princess, and then became good and protected her.

When the movie ended, she wanted to watch another one, but Elias said, “I want to talk first. If after, you still want to watch another one we will.”

She looked sideways at him.

“Come here,” he said, moving her between his legs, then pulling her back so she was reclining on him. He put his arms around her, and she raised her arms over his.

“What?” she asked.

“Well, this isn’t easy for me, and I didn’t even know until someone told me. I think you have a crush on me.”

He felt her stiffen under his arms. Elias had moved her like this so she wouldn’t try to run away or something.

“And I’ll tell you that I’m really flattered. I think you’re an intelligent, funny, pretty young lady, but that’s a problem. Well, just one. To begin with, you’re too young. To have a crush, and for me. You know dating isn’t just holding hands. I’ll do that with you anytime. But there’s kissing and … other things.”

“Eww,” she said.

“See. But I care for you, I really do, but it’s more like a sister. A little sister. I’ll love you, and protect you like I would a little sister, if I had one. If we ever get out of here and you want, I’ll take you with me, or make sure you get back to Colorado. But what I don’t want is you mad at me because I talk to another girl.

“Today I had to talk to everyone.”

“You like them, don’t you?”

“Of course. I liked everyone.”

“No, I mean, you liked them. You want to kiss them,” Halley said, her tone bitter.

“I won’t lie to you. I do kind of like Enya.”

“She had boobs,” Halley stated.

“I’m, um, not sure why that matters, but yes, I noticed she does.”

“And Jocelyn,” she added.

“And Jocelyn. But if you’re trying to say it’s because you don’t, you didn’t hear a thing I said. As for Joss, she was sad, like you were, so I took her somewhere private so I could talk to her. I made her cry, and it made me sad.

“I don’t want you sad, and I don’t want her sad. Heck, I don’t want any of us sad. I don’t think you can be mad at me for wanting her happy, like you right?” he asked.

“That’s a fib. You care for people, that’s your nature. I know if you talked to Joss, you’d like her. I think deep down, the two of you are a lot alike. Sweet and caring.”

He kissed the top of her head. “So, I know that you might still have a crush on me, but can we watch movies together without having to make out, or should we start kissing?”

“Eww,” she said again.

“Fine, have it your way,” he said, starting to kiss her head and around her neck. She wiggled in his arms, and he kissed her cheeks and ears as she squirmed.

Elias let go and she dove forward, giggling, and he followed, turning her over, pinning her down, and began kissing all over her face, nose, chin, neck, arms, and anywhere he could.

Her top rode up some, and he kissed her stomach, alternating with blowing raspberries on it, until she was laughing hard.

Elias stopped and let her go, but still on knees and elbows above her.

When she finally calmed down, to giggles, he put his hands next to her cheeks, brushing hair from her face. “Are we good?”

“Yeah,” she replied, smiling.

“Good,” he said bending down and kissing her quickly on the lips. “There. Now you can tell your friends you kissed a boy, and it wasn’t all icky. Now go pick a movie.”

He moved and she just laid there.

“I’m actually tired. Is it okay if we don’t?” she asked.

“Sure. Go to the bathroom and brush your teeth and we’ll go to sleep.”

She did, then he did, and she was waiting for him when he finished.

He laid down next to her. “No bad dreams,” he said, and she echoed him, rolling over. He rubbed her back until they both fell asleep.

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