New Chances: Chapter 1 New Town, New School, Same Life
DISCLAIMER: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. ________Leon looked out the window of the car, watching the hilly landscape pass by. It was very beautiful in the morning sun, but Leon didn't notice. He was too busy being depressed. "This is the ninth time we've had to move," he thought, "I was doing so well, good grades, making friends. But here we are moving away." He sighed looked at the woman sitting in the drivers seat next to him, his mother, driving them towards the new life they were heading for. He was amazed at his mother's endurance. Five hours of drving and she didn't show any signs of fatigue, nore did she have the look of stress that many have when they move away. "Of course she wouldn't be tired," thought Leon turning his head back to the terrain going past, "She's no stranger to this kind of stuff."It was all his fault they were moving and Leon knew it. He couldn't have stopped himself though; he was too angry when it happened.That pig-faced jerk Jeremy Crimpbe had it coming insulting his mom and dad.Leon still burned with rage when he thought of that bully's words, "How did such a sorry excuse like you come into being. Your dad mustoff been soom drunk and your mother some who-" Liam smiled smugly as he remembered how he hadn't let Crimpbe finish that sentence with a fist to his jaw. The smug look disappeared though when he saw what he had done. He had left a burn mark the shape of his fist on Crimpbe's face. His secret was out. That meant moving. Again!Leon didn't know what to call his power exactly, so he nicknamed it 'Firebending' after those guys on that TV show Avatar. Basically it was the same, he could generate flames out of his body at will, in all sorts of different shapes and sizes, but it came in different forms. He had been 6 when it first happened. Like anyone that age he was excited about something like that. But after an incident involving another boy he began to think otherwise. That was the first time he and his mom moved and had been the cause of every move since. Unlike the show where something like this would be considered a gift, Leon thought of it as a curse. Now about to turn eighteen, Liam still had problems controlling it. "Stupid fire curse. Why'd it have to be me?" Was an often thought in his head.Leon was roused from his self-pity by the voice of his mother. "Honey are you ok?," she asked, "Your hand is glowing."Ah yes, his hand! How could he forget. Another thing he had to hide was a sort of birthmark on his hand. It was in the shape of a flame and was located on the palm and back of his right hand. It glowed a fiery red everytime he
used his power and when Leon's emotions were strong. He wore athletes gloves whenever he went out in public in order to cover the marks. He knew that it would do no good to lie about it and said, "I was... just thinking abot the incident at old school."Not taking her eyes off the road, Leon's mom reached over and gave her son a comforting squeeze on the shoulder. "Sweetie don't worry about it, " she told him, "I know what that kid was saying and that you thought that what you did was right, and I know that you do regret what you did. The only thing I wish you would have done was use your words instead of your fists." She left out the bit about his poweres because she knew he was touchy about them. "But whats done is done." Her voice turned more serious, "This place will be better for the both of us. But you need to promise me you'll be on your best behavior at your new school." Leon gave his mother a look. "Mom, I promise I will do my best and be on my best behavior." he told her. Leon's mom smiled still looking at the road and softening her voice said, "Don't worry about school. The school I got you enrolled in is supposed to be really good and has a wonderful art department. I think you'll make a ton of new friends."Leon smiled at that. Art was one of the few things he enjoyed about life. A good art department made living through school worth the effort. But the whole friends thing. Leon was never good at making friends. He had only one friend back at his old school. It wasn't that he was shy or anything like that. It was just he hated not being able to be 100% honest. Plus he wasn't the easiest to get along with. Oh well best not to dwell on those things. And he tilted his chair back and decided to sleep for the rest of the way till they made it to their new home. He awoke some hours later as the car slowed down outside of the city where they would be living. "Banff Alberta" thought Leon, "nice place I guess. At least maybe I'll get to do some hiking." After wiping their way to the city, leon's mom pulled up in front of a small two-story house. Leon didn't even bother looking at the house and he went to get his duffel bag out of the backseat. He went into the house. The movers had already delivered most of the items that belong to them, but Leon's duffel bag contained personal items that he'd rather keep near him. He went up the stairs and into the side bedroom that would be his. There he deposited his bag and proceeded to empty it of its contents. He took out all his clothes and put them in his dresser, then he took out his computer and his iPad and set them on his bed. Then he took out his sketchbook that he used often to draw those things from his flights of fantasy and his dreams. Leon smiled as he thought of some of the bizarre things he had drawn. He put that next to his PC. That's when he got down to the more personal items he kept. He gently pulled out a picture frame. In it was
a photo of a handsome man, with reddish brown hair, fire red eyes full of love and a warm smile, dressed in a leather jacket and jeans, with his arm around a smiling blonde haired woman her blue eyes full of compassion. Leon smiled at the photo. It was his mom and dad on their fifth date almost 18 years ago. He slowly put it on his nightstand next to his bed.Then he took an envelope out from his bag and held it in his hands carefully. Inside that envelope was a letter from his father that he had written before Leon was born. Whenever he read it he felt closest to his dad. The rest of the night passed by with relative peace. They ordered takeout for dinner because they still hadn't stopped at a grocery store to pick up some fresh groceries and then Leon decided to go to bed. He felt that he wasn't prepared for this new school he was going to be going to starting tomorrow. So he fell into a dreamless sleep. ______Leon woke up early the next morning and quietly went down the stairs so as not to wake up his mother. He threw some leftovers into the microwave and ate that for breakfast. Leon then went and grabbed his backpack of school books and writing his mom a note letting her know that he had gone to school. Grabbing his cyclers gloves he opened the door and proceeded on his way to his new school. It was a peaceful walk surprisingly and Leon was able to enjoy relative quietness. After walking for about 20 minutes Leon arrived at a two-story brick and stone work building that was school. The grounds around the school actually very nice looking, for they were well-maintained which impressed Leon. Several other students were hanging around the outside of the building and Leon approached a nicely dressed young woman with golden brown hair and asked where he could find the schools office. The girl gave him a look up and down her eyes sparkling in the morning sun. "You're the new student," she said excitedly, "please come with me" and she grabbed hold of Leon's arm practically dragging him through the school. "What's with this girl," he thought. Thankfully before too long they arrived at the office of the school where the girl released Leon's now sore arm. Glancing back at the girl Leon quickly went through the door where he was greeted by a thin strict looking old woman whom he assumed was the secretary. After 10 minutes of filling out forms and another 20 minutes of being explain the rules and regulations of the school by the secretary Leon walked out of the office with a map of the school in his hands to find himself in the presence of the girl from earlier."Hi again," she said in her excited voice, "I'm part of the welcoming committee and I'm here to show you around the school." She then put out her right hand and said, "My name is Kara Price." Leon's right hand met Kara's and gave it a shake. That's when he noticed that she was also wearing a pair of gloves, but never thought about
it as it was probably just a fashion statement by her. "Leon Rager" Kara gave Leon a little smile of hearing his name and then proceeded to say, "Well then Leon shall we get going with our tour." And so Kara began to show Leon around the school. Thankfully she didn't pull on his arm to get him around. She showed him the art room, science lab, students lounge, cafeteria all the places that he would need to know about. Leon was quite thankful for Kara being around. Without her showing him around he could get quite lost in a place like this. The tour ended with Kara showing Leon to his locker. "You're lucky," she said smiling, "My locker is just a few down from yours. And my friends lockers are nearby to. You should totally meet them. Maybe I could introduce you to them at lunch." Leon paused after hearing that. Was she serious? She had just met him and she was already offering to introduce him to her friends? This had never happened to Leon before. It always took him months to make friends. Could he we finally making one right away and not just one but possibly more as well. Not wanting to miss out on this opportunity he said, "Sure Kara, I would love to meet your friends." She put up her arms and gave a little cheer before calming down. "Ok then I will see you at lunch period then." With that she spun around on her heels and proceeded to walk down the hall, disappearing around a corner. Leon shut his locker door and went on his way towards his first class. Before he got too far though, as he rounded a corner he collided with something. Leon fell backwards and his books fell onto the floor. Reaching for his books Leon looked up to see what he had hit. Standing in front of him was a tall thin looking young man wearing jeans and a tan shirt that read ACDC. Reaching downwards to help Leon collect his books, the guy apologized for his clumsiness, to which Leon said it was ok, he wasn't looking where he was going so he was partly to blame. As the stranger handed Leon a couple of his books, Leon noticed that this guy was also wearing a pair of gloves. Must be a popular fashion thing around here he thought. Before the conversation could go any further though the belt for the first class ring. "Look I gotta go get to my first class," said Leon. The other boy smiled and walked around Leon as he said, "Yeah you should probably get to English class before you're late. The teachers a real dragon and she doesn't take it easy on the new kids either." That Just puzzled Leon as he had not mentioned anything about what is first class was and how did this guy know he was a new kid. Turning to confront him about this Leon turned to find only a nearly empty hall with the boy who he collided with nowhere to be seen. Leon groaned. It was only 9 AM and already so much weirdness had happened. What did the rest of the day have in store for him? Leon could only ponder that as he rushed down the hall
towards his English class. ______Leon's morning actually was okay for once. He felt slightly relieved that he had taken the boy that he had run into advice and got to his first class before the teacher. And boy, was he right. That teacher was a take no prisoners type. It must have been the quietest classroom in the entire school. The next class was geography in which a large jovial man with a beard told them to just pick a country and look up about it. He didn't even do anything when the class was abuzz with chatter. The last class before lunch was biology, where a thin lab coat wearing teacher ruled. He simply gave the students forms about the course and let them do whatever for the rest of the class. All and all it was one of the most enjoyable mornings Leon had ever had at any school. Better yet, no one had given him a hard time. In fact everyone was being nice, welcoming him to the school and giving some info about this class and that teacher. But Leon continued to be nervous, watching his back just waiting for the first punch to strike.When the lunch bell rang Leon went and put his books in his locker. Remembering his agreement with Kara earlier he made his way to the cafeteria where he hoped he would meet up with her. He hadn't even made it have way to the cafeteria when Kara came up and asked, "Hey there Leon! How was your morning." He told her it was the most refreshing experience he had ever had. "Yay!" she cheered. Entering the cafeteria which was abuzz with activity Leon and Kara went and got into a line for the food. Leon felt slightly uncomfortable. Here he was the new kid in school and he was standing right next to one the most prettiest girls yet seen the school. He kept wondering how he hadn't been picked by bullies yet. It was only a matter of time but until then he was content to stay with Kara and meet her friends. After receiving the food during which Kara warned Leon not to try the fish or meat loaf unless he felt like having an overnight stay at the hospital, they made their way to the seating section of the cafeteria, where Cara lead him to a table where a kid dressed entirely in black from black hair, black sunglasses all the way down to black shoes was already sitting. Though from his smile and friendly wave as he saw Kara and Leon, Leon could tell he wasn't one of those goth kids, Leon shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Kara started off the conversation with, "Leon Rager, meet Zack Glasach." They each shook each others hand before she continued asking Zack, "Hey where's Benni?" Zack simply nodded towards something behind Leon when a tray came out of nowhere and the tall guy that Leon had run into earlier sat down next to him. "Hey, if it isn't my crash buddy, how you enjoying our fine high school?" He asked as though they had been friends for life. Leon could only turn red with embarrassment and started to stammer something when the three others began to laugh making him
turn even more red. Benni stopped laughing and said, "If you are still worried about that accident, don't be. I'm not mad. " "It was m-" Benni inturrupted Leon by saying, "jeez man you're too uptight." The others calmed down and Kara said, "Hey it's really nice outside. Want to go eat outside at the fountain?" They all agreed to the idea and soon the four of them were outside in the sunny mountain air. Leon was impressed at the outdoor plaza. It looked very professionally built and the fountain in the centre was a very nice touch. At that moment Leon relaxed feeling the sun on his skin. The sun always calmed him. They all sat down and began to eat, and Leon began to feel really good around these people that he could call his friends. He just sat in the sun listening to the small talk going around feeling great. That when he heard, "Hey newbie." Surprised by the loud noise Leon didn't respond, looking to his friends for an explanation, but they seemed to act as though nothing was wrong. "Newbie, what are you deaf?" The voice asked mockingly. Leon turned towards the voice to see three individuals standing there. "Oh great," thought Leon, "The jocks." And out went all the comfort and power that he had moments before as he went back to his old nervous self.Struggling to keep his voice from cracking Leon said, "How can I help you?" The jock turned to his friends with smirk as though Leon had just said something funny. He said in a mocking tone, "Why yes I believe you can help me. That is my spot you're in." Making to move so as to appease the jerk, Leon was halfway up when he felt two pairs of hands grab his arms pinning them behind him before the leader drove a sucker punch to his gut. Doubling over in pain Leon heard the lead bully say, "That's what happens when you talk to my girl." Before he pushed Leon backwards in the fountain. He fell into the water with a splash and chocked as water rushed into his throat. He was only under for a moment before he felt a different pair of hands pulling out of the fountain. Brought back into the realm of air, Leon began coughing up the water being watched over by Benni and Zack. In between coughs he could hear Kara shouting in uncharicteristic anger, "Greg you bastard! Why the hell did you do that to Leon?! It's been over between us for months!" "Hey babe, I like it when you talk dirty," was all Greg would say. Now Kara looked really mad, and she walked right up to him and socked him one in the face. "Get this through your head! You and I are never ever going to be together again." Putting his hand on his cheek where she had struck him, Greg lashed out with his other hand to strike Kara. His hand never made it as his arm was stopped by Benni. Leon blinked, Benni had just been beside him a moment ago. And then bam he had Greg's arm in what looked like a crushing grip. "Man that guy is fast," thought Leon, "He's got to be on the track team." Greg's
cronies moved in to help their leader but were stopped by Zack who quickly flipped one onto the guys back, and the other over his shoulder upside down onto a nearby stone wall. Leon's eyes were wide with amazement and he made a mental note not to get on Zack's bad side. Turning his attention to Greg who looked shocked at seeing his men taken down, Leon watched as Benni tightened his grip on Greg's arms. Kara then leaned forward and told Greg that he could take the easy way, apologizing to Leon and leaving with his gang of thugs or the hard way which involved him in a lot of pain. Rather predictably Greg opted for the hard way by trying to hit Benni. "Bad choice," said Benni as he blocked the blow and struck Greg in the leg with what looked to be a handheld taser! Leon watched as Greg convulsed from the electricity before collapsing from it. Leon then found Kara, Benni, and Zack standing over him in a half circle asking if he was alright. He said he was fine and tried to stand. Zack and Benni helped him up. "I'm sorry about this," said Leon very nearly on the edge of breaking. Then Zack spoke surprising Leon as he had never heard him say anything till now, "That guy. He's a pompous windbag and a jackass. What he and his group got today was only a small fraction of what they should deserve." Benni nodded, "Zack is right. What happened today with you was a complete accident that was not caused by you or your actions" Kara then joined them, "If anyone is to blame for what happened it should be me. I let that jerk into my life and because he can't handle rejection in his perfect life he hurts those around me, which today unfortunalty, made you the target." Overwhelmed of the support of these people who had only just met him, but were comforting him as though he had been their friend since forever, Leon felt the wall of his pent up emotions fall to pieces. He slumped back to the ground in tears. The three didn't really know what to do with Leon, they hadn't been expecting this. Soon though Leon's sobs began to turn into laughter as he realized that the friends he had been searching for were right in front of him and all it had taken was a punch to the gut and a dunk in a fountain to realize that. Standing up he faced the smiles of the three friends. Kara reached over to him a wrapped him in a hug saying, "Welcome to the Group". As she pulled away Leon noticed that he had left a damp spot all along the front of her clothing. Kara giggled, "It's alright I'll just go to the washroom and dry off." Regarding him she said,"You might want to think about doing the same." Leon then realized that he was still very wet. Zack offered to show him the way to the washroom while Benni said that he would grab a fresh towel from the locker room. As the four friends were about to set out, they heard a groan from behind. "So the Kara's little group has a new pet. How sweet." Said a very messed up Greg. Leon could
take no more. "I'll handle this," he growled and went right up to Greg. Grabbing Greg's upper shirt Leon lifted him with strength he never knew he had, high into the air. "Look here and listen you bastard, cause I'm only going to say this once. If you insult or hurt me I don't care. But if you threaten, if you bother, if you hurt any of my friends, if I as so much don't like the look you give to them, This 'pet' is going to use his claws and not hesitate to put you in the ground were your kind belongs!" He spoke with such ferocity and rage that Greg began to pale and he nodded. Disgusted with him, Leon threw him over onto his two cronies knocking the three of them into a heap on the ground. Feeling he had a decent hold over his anger, Leon walked back to his friends that stared at him with dumbstruck looks on their faces. He walked past them giving them a grin and went into the halls of his school, his friends talking in hushed whispers behind him. ____"You saw what he did! He lifted Greg like he was paper and then threw him ten feet," said Benni excitedly, "Do you think he could be another one of us?" Kara flicked him with his finger. "Quiet," she said, "Do you want him to hear us?" "What, he even where's gloves like we do, if that's not a dead giveaway the I don't what is," said Benni. Zack spoke up at that point, "Benni you stonehead. Kara wouldn't have invited Leon to the group if she didn't already think he was one of us." Kara nodded in confirmation, "I had my suspicions when me and Leon first met this morning. The way he held himself and seemed so tense like he was afraid something bad would happen at any minute made me think about it. Made me think of when Zack first came here. He acted just like Leon was. And we all saw that feat of strength he pulled with Greg. I know Leon is hiding something but I'm not sure if it is what we think it is" Benni smirked. "That's where I come in. During classes this morning, I hacked into the school records, and found Leon's file.""Hacking in the middle of school. You're getting overconfident Benni," warned Kara. "Ahem-Anyway, Leon has transferred to different schools several times during his school years and, get this, each time there was an unexplainable fire incident at the school." "The most recent one" asked Kara. "A kid got first degree burns on his face after a fistfight with a kid who's description sounds a lot like our Leon." "We may have evidence but it is circumstantial at best. We'll need to see him doing it before we do anything else." said Zack.Kara pondered for a moment and told the other two, "You know I think I know how we can do it."____Leon was in a bathroom stall, wringing out his shirt when he the bathroom door open and a pair of footsteps walk in. He heard Benni's voice call out, "Hey Leon, you in here" "Yeah I'm here" "I sorta got some bad
news," Benni said, "There were no fresh towels in the locker rooms." Leon was slightly disappointed but knew he could always just use his fire bending to dry himself off. "It's ok Benni, I'm almost dry anyway." Throwing his shirt back on he left his stall to find his two friends standing over by the sink. Walking up to a sink basin across from them he started to wash his hands.Benni spoke again, "What you did with Greg was really cool." "Yeah, I don't know what came over me." "Probably the same thing that came over you when you punched and burned that Crimpbe kids face. Leon froze. "How do you know about that," he asked." I caught a look at your records, gotta say you are quite the arsonist." Said Benni grinning. Leon now looked quite pale, and felt slightly ill. Just when everything was going so well this happened. "Well I guess there is no reason to keep these on." He said sadly and he removed his glove on his right hand, showing his friends the mark on it.Ben pumped his fist in the air saying, "Yes I knew it!" Even Zack looked pleased at this new information. Putting back on his glove, Leon with a sad face said, "Guess I'll see you guys later" Benni and Zack stopped smiling and regarded Leon for a moment before Benni asked, "Where're you going Leon." "Home to my mom to tell her to cancel her job interviews. After which we'll be leaving Banff and probably never see you again." He went towards the door, "See you guys, it's been real nice knowing you." Then he heard Benni say, "You're not leaving quite yet Leon." Then the door handle suddenly became surrounded by dozens of plant like vines. Leon turned to face his friends to ask them what was happening but the question died in his throat as he Zack's right hand glowing an emerald green. The glowing died and the vines disappeared. Ben then took off his gloves and putting his hands together making hundreds of little lightning bolts spread off from his hands. As they died down, Benni said to Leon, "You're not as alone as you might think Leon." Leon didn't respond as the events of the day from start to finish suddenly rushed through his head stoping at the current situation he was in. And then the tile floor began to come up very fast.