I go....that way? -Mia-

[Eric Bower]

Eric had been making some friends lately, some pretty nice people and Zac. He wasn't so nice, but for some reason, the two kept running into each other, but whatever, right? Autie and Alice were by far his closest friends because of their little adventures together, although secret. He felt closest to them because of their powers, well in Autie's case. He was close to Alice because of Autie. But all his new friendships aside, he didn't get any of his friends to go with him to the mall because he needed to buy some underwear and socks because he had out grown/ lost his other pairs.

Only....well...he didn't know where the mall was or where he, himself was as in accordance to Pilot Ridge. He'd been walking for roughly fourty-five minutes, and maybe traveled the distance of five or six miles. And in that time, it didn't really occur to him that he would get lost. But he was pretty lost.He kept passing those small and personally owned gas stations/ grocery stores with their cute little names like Stop-N-Go and Rita's Grocery, but their old signs did little to calm him down. He had heard rumors about an organization that attacked one of the recruiters at school and he could only imagine something bad like that happening to him. He glanced left and right, his feet finally coming to a stop. He really had no idea where he was.

Where he was at, at the moment, was pretty void of life, trees stood close to the road around him and it was pretty creepy. Birds were pretty noisy around overhead and he almost felt the beady eyes of whatever local predators were out there eyeing him for lunch. He noticed a well lit store down the road a little and quickly ran to it it, looking left and right as he did, and went into the store--the pretty forest was no longer pretty to him anymore. He only looked around for a moment before he went up to the register to the fairly nice looking man there. "Hey, um, I'm totally lost. Where is the Mall?" He asked looking left and right.

"Mm, boy you pretty lost. You wanna head back where you came from, 'bout four miles." The man nodded his head sideways and Eric felt his heart sink. Oh well...at least he stopped now. He thanked the man and left the store and headed back where he came from. There was a bunch of people standing around a Jetta, laughing about something. A few of the guys saw Eric walking and he raised a hand and waved at them before he kept walking. They all laughed at him.

[Mia Inocencio]

Her morning was a disaster; her roommate had been balling her baby blue eyes out since yesterday midnight that when Mia finally slept it had been early morn. Whoever it was that had broken up with her sensitive associate had very well made Mia's night a living hell, along with a few other Juniors who's dorms were nearby. Then her alarm clock blared into a ribbit at what felt like an hour of rest. It suddenly found it self croaking up a ribbit when Mia hurled it across the room in annoyance and exhaustion. She seriously didn't need anymore distractions and headaches today, but they just kept coming. Couldn't a girl just get a decent sleep anymore? Apparently, no.

Mia thought it would be best if she hitched a few hikes downtown, it seemed to be the only place that didn't bother her, which was strange since restaurants and clubs were penetrating such loud and head whirling songs. However, it was normal for a downtown and Mia lived long enough in the States to get used to the fact that downtowns were always going to be big and loud, and messy. She had almost given up touring one side, and was about to cross onto another street when Mia spotted a group of teenagers hanging about, a few with cigarettes in their mouths, staring at a rather lost looking child that passed their way. She paused, walking up to a lamp post as if it would give her a bit of cover long enough for her to investigate.

She was quiet, and still, watching a group of matching leather jackets extinguish their smokes and follow the teenager, just near an alley. Mia debated on whether she should pursue them or not, but it was a little boy! Against what, five men? That wasn't fair. She was a red belt in Taekwondo anyway, she could kick their sorry arses. Mia pulled her aviator hat for a better fit, and followed them.

[Eric Bower]

Eric was a pretty jovial person when it came to situations. He didn't let the fact that he was four miles out of his way bother him. Nor did he let the fact that after he retraced his steps, he still wouldn't know where he was going bother him. He snapped his fingers as he walked, and started to pull his ipod out of his pocket. This walk would be even better with music! He always had his music with him, he had just not been listening to it yet because he wanted to get to the mall first. But now seemed a good of a time as any, right? He put the buds in his ears and cranked up his music. He was a boy, she was a girl. Can I make it anymore obvious? He nodded his head in approval to the song that came through his ears. Avirl Lavigne was a rather pretty individual, and he liked her music, Sk8er Boi was a favorite of his to boot. It wasn't long until he was strumming along to the guitar with his fingers and singing along.

The trees around him began to act a bit funny, as well, swaying their lower branches like there was some odd wind going on. Eric was oblivious to it this time, just like the courtyard incident, but there you go. "She said see you later boy, he wasn't good enough for her. Now he's a super star, slamming on his guitar, does your pretty face see what he's worrrth?" Eric crooned, which earned some snickers from his pursuers that he had yet to notice. He bobbed his head back and forth a little and the trees around him started to move like there was something weighing down the tips of the trees. Eric didn't notice, but those few people following him sure did.

He didn't hear their steps running to catch him, but he did feel strong arms grab him and pull him down into the trees. He squirmed and yelled, trying to get the attention of someone and maybe get away, but their were arms from all over, clamping on his arms and shoulders and feet and knees. The cold and soggy earth soaked into his shirt and pants and into his soul, making him a very frightened individual. He saw that the people holding him down were those guys that he had waved at before. He started to ask what in the hell was going on but someone punched him across the face and that hurt. He cried out in pain, because he hadn't expected it.

"Shut your face, meta!" One of them barked. The guy didn't look old enough to be out of highschool. "You shouldn't exist!" They all continued on the same spiel about how he was a freak of nature and an abomination, though they used words Eric didn't feel comfortable with using yet. He kept struggling though it was useless and they didn't really pull back from their punches either.

[/justify]

[Mia Inocencio]

She watched the group of tall students carefully, occasionally looking over her own shoulders in case of any more mischievous jockeys. It was unusually comfortable for Mia to admit that she was a tad bit glad that there weren't any witnesses strolling by to see what is unfolding; she'll probably end up using her powers if her kung fu skills aren't enough to fend the boys off, but then again she'd also be exposing herself to the innocent boy. Mia almost giggled at the oblivious teen's reaction to his iPod; it was obviously Avril Lavigne he was singing since the Canadian singer was known world wide, and Mia had heard a few of her songs. They were good, but not her taste. Wait a minute, Avril Lavigne wasn't the case here!

Mia sighed. She was so easily distracted when it came to music, she almost hoped that she had continued taking her singing lessons. Hrm, too late now; but at least her Taekwondo came in handy. Mia didn't think singing a few high notes will make bullies run anyway. Evergreens rustled in the Filipina's ears and Mia had to pause to observe her surroundings; trees, moving. That was, new. "Nakakatakot." she let her foreign dialect slip out, an audible whisper only for herself. Mia shivered at the sight of the swaying trees; she almost thought that one was looking at her as she caught a glimpse of a rather big one, its branch swinging just over her head. She had to duck out of the sidewalk to avoid getting hit from anymore branches. Then came the tackling that snapped Mia back to reality, and mean laughter filled her ears. She quietly made her way over to the group, stopping just behind the wall of a building that turned near an entrance to the woods. She peeked, brown eyes widening at the harassment and Mia pulled back when one of the pursuers turned his head towards her direction. She could hear his voice asking if they had heard anyone gasped, and Mia figured it had been her. She hesitated now. Should she go face them, or run away and call for help? No! Mia very well knew that she wasn't a coward, and although bruises would be the consequences, bullying had to stop! They were going to far. But then again. She glanced again.

They didn't seem to care about whether their nice shiny jackets and blue jeans got dirty from the recently rain soaked ground that latched bits and pieces of its self onto their clothes; these bullies only wanted to get amusement out of beating someone. Just like her father, and what he did to her, and mother. This couldn't go on, Mia won't let them. She heard a punch, and the boy's painful cry seemed to echo in her mind. That was it! Mia pulled her tuke off, throwing it aside in the corner and she stepped out from behind the wall; hands on her hips. "Hey you!" Gosh, her Filipino accent was silly, but the boys seemed to get the message and they paused, turning their heads in her direction, "Go pick on someone your own size!"

They stared, turned to each other and laughed. Mia's hands fell by her side and a gentle breeze passed by, followed with an awkward silence. They were laughing at her. Then out of nowhere, one of the men stood up, and lunged himself at her. Mia lashed out with a kick to his gut, sending him sprawling across the floor coughing up saliva. Another one threw himself at her, and Mia ducked, twisting herself to give him a good kick in the back that sent that guy face planting against a wall. It felt good!

DICTIONARY !
nakakatakot; scary.

[Eric Bower]

Eric wasn't too sure of his surroundings anymore. He was pretty soaken from his back and his face was getting the beating of a lifetime. The only fight he had ever been in before was with his brother and they weren't even mad at each other, just goofing around. They had accidentally knocked over an end table and broke a lamp and got grounded so they never did that again. Eric had no idea how much this actually hurt. He could feel the blood on his face and it all just hurt. He heard a girl speak and for a moment no one moved.

He was too shocked to actually move when they weren't pummeling him anymore. Three of them got up and ran and he then heard some bodies hit the floor. Did someone show up? Was someone there to save him? Eric didn't harbor any hurt pride over this sort of thing. He knew he couldn't fight because he never had been. Even if this WAS a fair fight, he knew he'd lose. He just wanted it over with. He lifted a hand to start to rub his face when someone grabbed him by the shoulders to lift him up. He pushed their face away by the chin and tried to kick out their legs but it was like kicking a wall. They reared back a hand to hit him in the face and he winced physically. A tree branch nearby swept downwards and flicked the person away from him like it was nothing. The last guy standing ran at him, aiming to kick Eric in the midsection when another branch came out of no where again, and knocked the guy a few feet away as well.

Eric looked in disbelief at the tree that just went back to being still. So he had to accept he had powers now, because he just saw them work. He bent down astoundedly and picked up his ipod (because that thing was his life) and put it in his pocket, then he spotted the girl and the three guys laying around her. He moved to her, limping and with two squinted eyes. "Let's get out of here, please?" He begged, while he took hold of her hands. He looked over and saw them all still just laying down.

He started to try to run, with her in tow behind him.

[/justify]

[Mia Inocencio]

Mia admired her handy work, two guys down and three more to go. She breathed just as something latched it self onto her from behind. Mia had no problem prying the taller man off before he got anywhere near her throat since his hands planned to travel up her face. She used her strength, bending her knees and picking her attacker up with strained arms that hadn't been used for kung fu till now, "Get off!" she growled, and lifted the boy up throwing him over her shoulders. If it hadn't been for her serene patience Mia would've probably fainted by now from the weight of the boys she had been dealing with, and it left her breathless, for a moment till she averted her eyes to the younger boy's direction who was fending off jockeys himself.

It was fast, branches sweeping across the air and lashing out in different directions; it was almost like a forest dance only uncontrolled and violent, but as long as the evergreens didn't touch her Mia would only be shocked, not amazed and irritated at the same time. It was amazing however, then it most likely ended about a couple of seconds later with groaning boys dressed in jackets littered across the floor. Mia didn't even know if they screamed were heard when the branches took them, but she was too distracted watching the show to notice anything else but trees, and tons of 'em! She nodded, gently smiling to herself as the boy got up and Mia snatched her tuke from the ground and hitting it against her jeans to rid of the dirt it collected. Next, a hand latched it self onto her wrist and Mia was running with the young man she had saved. She tried to plead with him, to wait, "Hold on, you need help." But the kid kept going, he looked frightened and Mia didn't need an explanation as to why; she had witnessed it herself.

As she took his face into view she caught a quick glimpse of blood, and nearly gasped. Instead, Mia pulled the boy into a nearby cafe and people around them stopped their chattering, followed by the band playing on the stage at the back of the store. "Sir," Mia called to a bartender, not a few ways away. She just spoke to anyone that had been near her, "We need help. There are boys outside, who beat up this kid." She gestured beside her to the mangled child and clutched his arm close with her free hand; as if to indicate that everything will be alright. They were a mess, sweating and taking heavy breaths of air. Mia wasn't hurt, but her friend was; everyone who was at the cafe saw, and the bartender went to call for 911, while a few men stepped out of the small restaurant to take care of the boys just beyond a few other dinners. Clearing her throat and coughing, Mia gave the young man a quick glance, before he was taken away to sit at a table; aided by elders and others who had medical knowledge.

[Eric Bower]

Eric just wanted to get back to Hammel. He'd certainly not leave the school again unless he was surrounded by several people, several mean looking people. He hurt all over; from where the guys held him down and from where they hit him in the face ten billion times. He couldn't see out of his left eye at all, and just barely out of his right. Yet he continued to pull the girl behind him, whom he didn't know in the slightest, because he wanted to be away from here. In his frightened rabbit's mind, those guys had picked themselves up off of the ground and were chasing after them. He didn't hear anything but his ragged breathing and the blood in his ears, however.

Hold on, you need help. She said, pulling him to a stop. No! he wanted to scream. He just wanted out of here! Didn't she understand that? He'd be perfectly fine, anywhere else but here. She pulled him into a cafe store, which was full of people--witnesses. He was breathing really hard, blood ran freely from his nose that was probably broken and out of a cut a class ring opened on his forehead. He squinted around the cafe, seeing everyone looking at him. He took a small step behind the girl and try to hide from her. Someone with a kind face came over and put a supporting hand on his back. They were dressed in casual clothes and just from the feel of their hands on his back, Eric could tell that the man was a doctor of some kind.

The man led him over to an empty table and tilted his chin up to the light, and turned his face slowly from side to side. "Nose isn't broken." The man said, which came as a slight surprise to him. "Could I get a wet towel?" The man asked a waitress and the woman fluttered away to get it. Once she came back, the man to gentle care to his face. "What's your name?" The guy asked.

"Eric." Eric croaked out. The man nodded and continued to clean his face.

"Do you know who did this to you?" The guy continued to ask him, Eric shook his head a little. "Do you know why they did this to you?" The man continued to press. Eric nodded and looked down at his hands.

"I'm meta. That's why." Eric tried to keep his voice down, but probably everyone inside the cafe heard it. They were all from Pilot Ridge, and everyone knew of Hammel and what went on there, but they weren't on the Hammel side of town, so it made sense that they were all a little surprised because of it. The man who was cleaning his face looked really angry because of it and turned his head away for a moment. The bartender just got off the phone and came around the bar to crouch next to the boy.

"They are sending over an ambula--"

"I don't need to go to the hospital, I'm fine."

"They are sending over and ambulance and least wise a paramedic is gonna look you over, if they say you don't need to go, then you don't have to. A cop is gonna be over here to. This crap isn't going to happen anywhere near my shop if I have anything to say about it, then the cop is probably gonna want to take both of you home. In the meantime is there anyone you need to call about this?" The bartender was a pretty nice middle-aged guy and Eric appreciated his kind words. He shook his head though.

"No, I don't have anyone to call." Eric hiccuped from crying. The doctor had finished cleaning off his face and sat back in his chair, after he set the towel on the table. Eric looked down at his hands in complete embarrassment.

"Get an icepack for his eye." The doctor suggested to the bartender, who walked away to comply.

[/justify]

[Mia Inocencio]

She was at a safe distance, watching like the rest of the people to see if the boy was alright. He looked to be, save for the bruises on his face, but at least he didn't have any broken bones; looked like he didn't have any since that would be a pain in the arse. Mia knew how it felt, she had twisted her ankle before during a lesson and couldn't take any Taekwondo schedules for days. A bummer, really, and if anything; Mia didn't want the boy missing anything important. He looked like a busy individual, at least in her mind he was; athletic and outgoing. That's what she thought, though.

Mia's head raised along with a lone brow when the boy said his name softly, so it was 'Eric'. The doctor continued to caress the child and the Filipina took the time to think of how many 'Eric's she've encountered over her years as a student. Not much, rarely to be exact. Just as the band started to play a jazzy melody again, the boy named Eric managed to choke out at least something interesting, or of disgust to the people in the cafe. He confessed; meta. Meta! Why, of all the other options there is the boy had to admit that he was a freak. That's what the whole world thought of them meta, freaks. If freak wasn't enough, abominations. There was just a lot of comments about them, and how they don't belong on Earth, or why cease to exist at all. It bothered Mia that Eric just told the people about himself. It was like telling someone they were going to puberty! Too late now, and people started to stare at her too when Mia raised her head with both brows rising in shock. She just looked down in shame, it seemed to be the only option at the moment.

She began to fiddle her fingers, just listening and taking in the conversations around her. It had all be fine before until the boy blurted his secret, and now citizens were talking about Hammel Institute and the Meta. Some were surprised, others dumbfounded, and most people were down right disgusted and it made Mia feel an aching bump in her throat, tears trying to fight their way out of her eyes. Don't let them see you cry. Her mother's voice lingered in her mind, and Mia nodded to herself trying to enjoy the dirt stained floor in front of her. She heard the doctor call the bartender, and asked for an ice pack. Mia looked up again, this time her eyes were focused on the bartender and she rose from her seat at the waiting bench. She took the ice pack from him politely as the man came back out, and she headed over to Eric, waiting for the doctor to move over as she politely said her excuse me. The man moved, and Mia stepped closer taking a seat beside the kid. She gently pressed the ice pack against his face, "Here, this should ease the pain." She tried to smile, but ended up staring at him worriedly.

[Eric Bower]

The reason why Eric openly admitted that he was a meta like that was because before today...he didn't really think it was a problem...Although before today he wasn't a hundred percent sure he was a meta. Though he had finally seen the trees moving themselves, and this was the third time he's used his powers so it wasn't just a weird coincidence. He remembered back when his town had been on fire because of his brother's injuries and everyone was blaming him for doing it because he was meta, not because it was a freak accident. Everyone accused him of doing it on purpose. It had disgusted him at the time, but his brother just told him to not let it effect him. He didn't blame Eric so why did it matter what everyone else thought about it? Eric believed him and went along with it. He was in shock because of what those guys did to him, because they had no reason to do it. Eric had only been friendly to them. He waved at them as any friendly stranger would. How did that merit an ass-kicking? Eric just didn't get that.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw other people eyeing him like he was about to grow fangs or spit poison at him, and it wasn't fair at all! He didn't do anything to anyone! He was the victim here! He wanted to rub his face but when he lifted his hands to do so, the doctor guy gave him a look so he just slumped back down in the chair. This entire event made him feel...weak and pathetic. Or it really just reminded him how young he was in a world of grown up ass-holes, not to say those boys were grown up or anything. He sighed a little and looked up when the girl took the see the doctor man had been sitting in. He wanted to thank her, but he felt sick over the fact that he even needed help in the first place. That never should have happened. Those guys should never have thought like that or done that. He smiled faintly when she pressed the icepack to his face. It was really cold but it soothed his headache a little.

"Thanks." He said, for the icepack and staying here with him. Her face was something sorta familiar even if he didn't know her name, and he really didn't want to get poked by a paramedic and then interrogated by a policeman. He sighed a little and looked up when the bartender set two drinks in front of them, he peered at it and smelt that it was tea, he looked up the thank the guy but he was already moving back towards his place behind the bar. He looked back at the girl, feeling awkward. "So... what's your name?"

[/justify]

[Mia Inocencio]

The boy was hesitant at first, taking in the fact that she had sat down beside him or was probably pondering about the people's reactions towards the words; meta. People couldn't blame each other if some of them didn't care about mutants, or if some of them hated them. They had good reason, but going far as to beat up a kid was too far for Mia's books, it was ethical. And to think that those jerks were also students, learning individuals who should have been taught mannerism and to tell what was right from wrong. It didn't matter now, it was done and over it; they'll be going to the police station for a little chat soon.

Mia heard Eric say his thanks and it made her smile, just a little. She didn't want to be rude or anything since he took a quick glance at her, and if there was no smile, he might think that she was like everybody else who was afraid. To a point, she was, but not cause of him but the people. Some of them hated meta, so there's no telling what they may do if they decide to call up 911 and asked for some special help. Over all, Mia just felt so exposed even though the people didn't know she had her own set of powers under her sleeves. "What's your name?" She heard Eric ask, trying to rid of the awkwardness that started to linger in the air. Mia shrugged, her smile truly returning. She would've told Eric, if it hadn't been for one of the men that had exited the cafe to come back with wild eyes. The bartender that had passed them drinks paused mid step to listen.

"The boys," He panted, "We found them lying all over the alley! That boy could have caused it!" A finger pointed, directly at Eric. Mia froze, along with a few people who had been enjoying their drinks and conversations. It turned quiet again, but this time people's looks were more serious; it had Mia glancing back and forth. Then she stood up, turning everyone's attention towards her, "I did it!" She said, and stepped forward, nodding. She wanted to fiddle with her fingers, to make herself relax, but it was hard since they would probably accuse her of being a meta also; and she'd have no choice but to tell them. "I beat them up."

Everyone stared, with Mia glancing at various tables slowly with worried eyes. She slumped down a little in her stance, but kept standing. The bartender broke the silence, "How?"

Mia shrugged, "I know Taekwondo."

[Eric Bower]

Eric didn't notice the glances and the whispers. His head was pounding too hard for any of that observing stuff. He just wanted to lay down, curl up into a ball and sleep for a week and wake up when this little event was old, old, old news. That wasn't going to happen though. He looked up expectantly for her name, but she didn't give it. He wondered why but looked over at the men that came in to do the inspecting of the scene. She immediately claimed it was all her, which wasn't true. She took out three of them, and so did he. Or maybe the numbers were a little different, he was in a panicked state at the time--still kinda was.

He stood up. "They attacked me! I was just walking! And then they attacked me." He gestured wildly to his face and then sideways, meaning towards the scene of the crime. "It was self defense!" He cried again, knowing full well the girl shouldn't take all the wrap for it, and that he was probably talking himself into a very deep hole by what he was saying, but that shouldn't matter! He was a meta and he was attacked by teenagers who drastically outnumbered him with no provocation what-so-ever. He wasn't going to let them kill him---and even back when they were beating him silly, he hadn't told the trees to flick them off, they did it on their own! Eric wasn't at fault here, and neither was what's-her-name.

He glanced at her, wishing she'd just tell the truth, instead of trying to change the story, and then looked back at the people who had busted in. "I was just trying to get to the mall!" His head was thoroughly pounding, and he really wanted to just be in a quiet room. He placed the ice pack back on his head. He said his peace, the truth, and he wished she would too. That way, when the cop showed up, everything would go a lot faster. He wondered if he should call the main desk at Hammel and ask for...well help. Surely someone there would know what to do, but at the moment his only ally was with a girl who seemed ashamed of what she was.

[/justify]

[Mia Inocencio]

After her response, things got crazy. Eric stood up, claiming that it was him who did it, which was not true. Mia figured, she and Eric were trying to defend each other or he probably thought that he should be the one to blame; which shouldn't just happen. It wasn't his fault, it was self defense, and Eric did shout it. Yeah, self defense. The people in the cafe were still taking in the fact that a meta had just confessed, and most of them remained quiet; except for the doctor. "This is why we shouldn't have meta here! They'll destroy everything!" He shouted, and faced Eric with a sour frown of disgust, "They'll hurt people!"

"That's not true!" Mia confronted him, stepping in front of the boy. She could see the hatred in the man's eyes, and it grew larger when she defended Eric. He spat at her, "Who are you to say so? Why are you even defending that boy; he could've killed you!"

Mia's cheeks burned, her expression contorting into a pout and she breathed heavily. "I am Mia. I am myself." She snapped although everybody knew it was a rhetorical question. Mia boiled in anger, she wanted to blast the man who stood in front of her away, to teach him a lesson. It was the wrong choice, so she didn't do it. Instead her arm went up and she saw her finger pointing; no, poking the doctor's chest. How dare he speak of the meta in such way. Sure, untrained people can't control their powers as much as a senior fellow would; they could be dangerous! She could be a danger, but who are people to say that they do not belong in this world? Why, if the meta weren't existing this very moment, people won't have any mutants to beat up to satisfy themselves! She stepped forward, unafraid with a finger still pointing. "Let me ask you, sir."

"If your bad boys over there had stumbled into meta territory, what do you think would happened?" Sirens blared, and an ambulance along with matching pairs of police cars skidded to a stop in front of the cafe with emergency lights flashing. Mia took Eric's wrist gently, and gave a man a stare of her own; it wasn't mean, or nice. It was blank, with no emotion. "They would get beat up like they did to this boy. Maybe you shouldn't judge metas so easily, because if everyone just left them alone; they wouldn't have to fight back. Think about that, sir." Mia shifted her head to the door, guiding Eric to it where police and doctors awaited.

[Eric Bower]

Eric couldn't really help the fact that his eyes brimmed with tears at the doctor's harsh words. All of their glares and exclamations cut him. They didn't see him as poor an injured kid who just got the beating of his life, they saw him as a threat...as a dangerous meta. His power could be removing chemicals in water, and they'd still think he was a monster. It was a blind and stupid hatred and it devastated Eric so much he just wanted to break down and cry. How could they do this? How could they just write something off like that without having any personal experience in it at all!

"It's not true." Eric echoed behind her, deflated. He could tell there wasn't use talking about it, but there was some human part of himself that wanted to argue this out. "You should be ashamed of yourself! I'm fifteen years old and haven't gotten braces yet! I'd never hurt anyone, and I have a heart that beats just like the rest of you! You should be ashamed of yourself. If you knew any meta's at all you'd know you are just being stupid about this! They are a lot nicer and open-minded as you and I suggest you get over your fears because there isn't anything we want from you!" Eric got a little away from himself because he was so angry. He met eyes (well, eye) with all of them until they looked away. He hoped he got through to some one in the crowd, but he wasn't sure. There wasn't really a way to tell if anyone converted from team hateful.

He looked out of the doors when the police and ambulance got there. He was actually glad to see them. He wouldn't have to see these people again. He looked at the girl as she continued to talk and he winced. He wasn't sure threatening them was any way to get them on their side. He wished he could make everyone unhear that. He looked at them all. "I wouldn't have hurt any of you. Ever. I hope you can live with yourself. I couldn't." He walked out of the door as Mia helped him. The paramedic led him over to the back of the ambulance to look at his face.

"Have you called your parents?" The paramedic asked him. Eric shook his head.

"They live in Missouri." Eric admitted, they wouldn't be coming over here to sign any papers.

"I can't take you to the hospital then, without parental consent."

"It's ok, I don't need to go to the hospital, I just want to go back to school." School meaning Hammel. Eric could see that the paramedic could understand that. He nodded his head a little.

"When you get there, go straight to the school nurse to get looked after properly." The paramedic held a flash light up to both of his eyes and nodded a little. "You don't have a concussion, and your nose isn't broken. I'm afraid your eye will probably take about a month to heal completely and the pain should probably go away in about a week." All the while the paramedic spoke to him, Eric thanked God that he didn't judge him at all. The paramedic helped him from the back of the ambulance and then over to the policemen. One had gone inside and as Eric glanced over at him, he saw him deep in discussion with the bartender. He glanced at Mia and then back at the cop.

"They attacked me officer. I had left school to go to the mall, but got lost, I know I'm like four miles away from it, I asked a guy at a gas station. These highschool kids were outside it and I waved at them. Then I guess they followed me, because I didn't hear them or anything, and then they grabbed me and drug me into the woods." Eric looked down as the policeman wrote it all down. The guy sighed a little and then looked up at him, waiting for the rest of it.

"They held me down and called me awful things, about how I was an abomination and...started hitting me. She distracted them and three ran at her...I tried to get away but one picked me up and pinned me to a tree trunk, started to hit me and choke me. I'm Ligni-- well I can sort of control trees, but I've only just came into my powers about three months ago, officer, honest. I didn't know I did anything but a tree branch swept down and got him off of me, and another boy came at me and a different branch did it. I didn't mean to use my powers, but they were hurting me!" Eric looked up at him, begging him to understand.

[Mia Inocencio]

Mia didn't care if the people in the cafe hadn't approved of her opinion, but it was a free country, and it was a matter of time until a meta finally stood up to speak their mind about how they should be treated in return. Some people may disagree with her, possibly Eric who the Filipina has recently noticed. He was rather not fond of her snaps towards the citizens of Vermont, but whatever! People knew better than to walk into meta territory anyway. Hopefully.

As soon as she and Eric stepped out of the cafe a few policemen greeted them, and they departed for questioning. Mia was to the point, rubbing her arm for comfort as she answered questions truthfully; she wasn't afraid, but one couldn't help but feel nervous. Police nowadays were sneaky, and they tended to change their minds on certain individuals; especially meta. Luckily, Mia's interrogation hadn't taken long, and one of the officers guided her to a cruiser where she made herself comfortable in the backseat. She couldn't help but look for Eric, wanting to see if the boy was alright. Inocencio took the time to think about what the opposite mutant had recited inside the cafe; to some degree, he was right. No, he is right, and if God were kind he'd let that message sink into the very few citizens' brains at the cafe. Honestly, meta aren't what others make them out to be. If only humans could give them a chance to speak before blowing their heads off. It occurred too often.

A few minutes later, a familiar face appeared before Mia. Eric took a seat beside her in the cruiser, just as sirens started to blare again. She didn't speak and reached for her seat belt, locking it before settling back down in a comfortable sitting position. The car key was turned, and the vehicle started to drive out into the open road.

OOC; Sorry for taking so long to respond, school is starting and I needed to go shopping for new supplies and such. Apparently, I didn't even need a lot o-o;;

[Eric Bower]

Eric wouldn't have gotten on to her about stating her opinion, but he wanted their to not be a 'meta territory' or any sort of distinction between where humans or metas could and couldn't go. Segregation wasn't the answer. There was no reason why there can't be immersion between the two. Eric was pretty sure there was some non-powered people that worked at the school, just like there were some meta's that had jobs around Pilot Ridge that wasn't at the school. There wasn't anything wrong with that. Eric would have liked if she didn't threaten them, because any conflicted feelings they had towards what Eric said would have been erased by her hateful words.

He wouldn't have begun to explain that to her, one he was kinda scared of her because of her fighting skills, and he was really too tired to say anything else. After he talked to the cop and was led into the back of the cruiser, he buckled himself in and then slumped against the back of the seat, he didn't have the energy to hold his head up. He closed his eyes and let out a slow sigh. He wished he had the icepack that the bartender gave him, but he had left it at the table. He winced when the siren started up but he was glad when they pulled away. The cop in the front seat was silent, and so was Mia. Eric didn't have a conversation in him. He started to pull his ipod out of his pocket, and tried to turn it on but his fingers were shaking so bad, he couldn't turn the dial to music so he soon gave up on it and put it back in his pocket. They couldn't get to Hammel fast enough.

(No problem, girl!)