I want to see what kind reception this story gets before I continue on with it. So please comment and tell me what you think so far.

Ryan Phillips & Lillian

London, England

I’ve always wanted to be a hero, save the world from destruction. Mostly I want to be a knight; it was my dream when I was a little kid. Like in the legend of King Arthur, I wanted to be a knight of the Round Table. Sir Ryan. I used to play in the yard waving a broom stick around like a sword. My mum would smile and watch me as my imagination took a hold of me for hours at a time. My dad is dead; well he wasn’t my birth dad. My birth dad left my mother when I was only 5 months old. I’ve always thought my “step-dad” as my real father. Anyway, when he died my world crashed down over top of me. I was 8 then, it’s strange to think ten years have passed by.

Only recently have I discovered that I’m destined for greatness. At least, I think I am. Over the past three months I’ve come to find I have this power. A super power if that’s what you want to call it. Whatever it is, I can move things with my mind. I can make objects stop in mid air, or then them flying at something else. It was scary at first; I didn’t know what was wrong with me. I’ve been too afraid to tell my mum, I’m scared to know what she’ll think or do. I love her, and can confide anything and everything in her. However, this is different. It’s my secret and for now I’m going to keep it to myself.

Actually, that’s a lie; I want to talk to this doctor about it. I found this book by a man named Dr. Chandra Suresh. This ability I have may have to do with my genetics or something. I’ve convinced mum to let me “study” abroad in America, New York to be specific. She thinks I’ll be away looking for a college to attend the following year. I’ve convinced her to not come along, I played the whole I’m-grown-up-now card. It worked. Not that I’m proud I’ve lied to her, it hurt a little to be completely honest. I’m not completely sure where I’ll be staying; I guess I’ll find some flat in the city. Be a real New Yorker. I’ve never been to America, so this trip won’t be such a waste if I find out that this doctor is fraud. I’m hoping he has the answers though; I want to know why this is happening to me.

“Oh Ryan, don’t forget your passport dear!” Mrs. Phillips called from the car, waving her hand out the window. Ryan checked his pocket, “I got it mum.” He said rolling his eyes closing the door behind him. He opened the car door and got inside; he took a deep breath and released it. Looking over to his mother he let out a small groan of annoyance, “You promised you wouldn’t cry.”

Lillian sat in the driver seat with half her face buried in a tissue; she whipped her eyes dry and tried to smile. “I know, but how can I not?”

“I’m not dead mum.” Ryan said strapping himself into the seat. His mother looked at him offended, “I know that!” she said tears still coming down her cheeks.

“I’m going to miss plane.” Ryan begged, “Mum you can cry on the way to the airport.” He teased.

Mrs. Phillips let out a small cry and started the car, “My little boy is all grown up though, going to America all by himself. Doesn’t need his mommy anymore.” Ryan smiled and flushed a little and sat back in the seat, the entire way to the airport the both of them said nothing. The car was silent except the occasional sobs of Mrs. Phillips, but she’d regain control for several minutes.

Standing by the flight gate, Mrs. Phillips sobbed even harder. “Mum, don’t cry. I’ll write to you. I promise.”

“It’s not the same.” She said, “I jus-t do-n’t underst-and wh-y I can’t co-me wi-th yo-u!” she bawled. Ryan sighed, “This is something I have to do on my own.” He said firmly.

Mrs. Phillips glanced up from her soaked tissue at her son, a smile grew across her face. She reached out and brought him into a tight hug. “My little boy, all grown up.” She said again. Ryan grinned and hugged his mom in return. She kept a hold of him for a little while longer, “You go and make a difference in this world.”

These words hit Ryan hard; it was like she knew about his ability, without even knowing. He squeezed one last time and pushed away. “Don’t worry, I will.” He said waving back at her as he walked onto the boarding bridge. She waved dramatically back at him, soon as he turned the corner she was gone. Ryan let out a heavy sigh and looked down at his ticket. Row S Seat 5.

When he arrived at his seat he found that it was already occupied by some women, he doubled checked his ticket and the seat. “Pardon me, but I think you’re in my seat.” He said in a half whisper. The women turned away from the window and looked up at him, “Oh I’m sorry.” She said in a sweet American accent. She had to be about the same age as Ryan, if not a few years older. “It’s just I love the window seat. My seat is the one next to me.”

Ryan nodded uneasily, “Oh, alright.” He sat down next to the girl and fidgeted in the seat awkwardly. The girl looked over at him and sighed, “You could just ask me to move out of your seat.”

“Oh no, its fine with me, I don’t mind really.”

“You’re lying.” The girl said.

Ryan blinked, “Excuse me?’ The girl leaned over on the arm rest and looked Ryan straight in the eye, “I can see it in your eyes.”

The air around Ryan suddenly seemed to get thicker and the temperature began to go up. He glanced around nervously, “Really, I don’t mind if you sit there.” He said raising his voice. The girl backed away, “Alright, I believe you.” She paused and tucked her long straight brown hair behind her ear. “I’m Lillian.” She said extending her hand. Ryan looked down at it and hesitated but took her hand and shook it, “Ryan.”

“I was just giving you a hard time,” she explained, “You looked like someone fun to mess with.”

“Thanks.” Ryan said sarcastically. Lillian stifled a laugh and leaned back against her chair. “No problem.” She said with a smile. “So, why are you going to New York?”

“How do you know I’m going to New York?” Ryan asked trying to get his seat buckled.

“Because that’s where the plane is headed.” She said rolling her eyes.

“Oh, right.” he nodded struggling with the buckle. Lillian glanced over.

“Is this your first time on a plane?”

Ryan took a deep breath, “No, I was on one when I was a baby.”

“That doesn’t count.” Lillian said, she stood up and pulled Ryan to his feet by the arm.

“Hey!” he protested. Lillian pushed him gently into the window seat and took her original seat. Ryan looked at her and then over to the window, “But you said you loved the window seat.”

“I’ve been on planes enough times to know what it’s like.” She said locking her seat belt into place. Ryan starred at her, “Know what what is like?”

“To fly.” She said flatly. “It’s your turn.”

Ryan smiled and leaned back in his seat and looked outside, they just begun to move down the run way. The whole time during take off he kept his eyes glued to the window. After which he felt himself drift off to sleep, only to be awoken a couple hours later by someone’s elbow jabbing into his side. He looked over and saw Lillian starring at him.

“What?”

“Dinner.” She said, “They’re coming around now.”

Ryan blinked and thought about just going back to sleep, but he stomach let off a small growl. Instead of ignoring his stomachs complaints he stretched his arms a little and yawned. He looked over at Lillian who was smiling at him, “What?”

“Nothing.” She said innocently. “So, you never answered my question.” She continued.

“I don’t kno-“

“When I asked why you were going to New York.” Lillian said cutting him off.

“I’m studying abroad.” He said quickly, and pretty unconvincingly. Lillian looked at him out of the corner of her eye.

The stewardess stopped at their row, “Chicken or fish?” Lillian scrunched her nose up and shook her head, “Nothing for me thank you.” She turned and looked at Ryan, “What about you?”

He looked at the blonde stewardess, “Chicken, I guess.” She smiled politely and handed Ryan the tray of food. “Thanks.” He sat there for a couple seconds holding the tray awkwardly in the air; he rested it carefully on his lap and proceeded to cut the chicken trying hard not to let the tray slip off his lap. Lillian let out a tiny laugh; she reached over and let down the tray table from the seat in front of him. Ryan looked at the table and then over to Lillian, “Oh, right,” he said more than slightly embarrassed and placing the tray on top. He glanced over at Lillian who just sat back in her chair starring in front of her.

“You’re not hungry?”

Lillian turned her head to Ryan, “Not for that. I’m a vegetarian.” She said.

“You don’t eat meat?” Ryan said putting a fork full of chicken into his mouth. He chewed and swallowed, “I couldn’t do that, I love my mum’s chicken. She seasons it just right.” He closed his eyes and smiled, when he opened his eyes and looked down at the chicken on his plate he frowned a little, “Although, I think you’d be safe eating this, I’m not so sure it’s really chicken.”

Lillian let out a quiet laugh; she starred at Ryan for a minute, “Why are you really going to New York?”

Ryan cut himself another piece of chicken and shoved it in his mouth, and mumbled “I tolf yuu.”

“Alright then, what college are you going to?” Lillian said crossing her arms. Ryan swallowed and hesitated, “Well, I haven’t found a college yet.”

“Come on Ryan, tell the truth.”

“That is the truth! I don’t know what else you want me to say!” Ryan said getting frustrated. He knew he wasn’t being very convincing, and to top it all off he could feel his face getting hotter. Ryan continued to stare at Lillian who just wouldn’t back down; she looked at him with that expression people give you when they know you’re full of shit. She suddenly reached down and pulled up a familiar book, Ryan’s eyes grew wide as he snatched at the book almost causing his imitation chicken to go flying through the air. “Where did you get that?” he asked in a panic.

Lillian pulled the book back out of reach, “Calm down, or someone is going to hear you.” She said. Ryan looked around, “How dare you go through my stuff!” he said in an angry whisper. At the moment he hated Lillian, he should have known that this trip to New York wasn’t a good idea.

“Oh please Ryan, get over it.” She said rolling her eyes, “You want to tell me what this is about?”

“I’d rather not, just give me my book back!” Ryan demanded.

“Not until you fess up.”

“Fess up to what?”

“You know.” She said holding the book behind her back. Ryan glared at her; she let out a gasp as the book went flying around in front of her and landed in Ryan’s lap. Ryan looked just as shocked at Lillian was, he blushed and buried the book to his right.

“You can move objects with your mind.”

“What do you mean?” Ryan muttered, “You must be crazy, how could I possibly move something with my mind?”

“You’re a horrible liar.” She said, “You better be careful, someone might see you next time.”

Ryan gaped at her; he didn’t understand how she was being so cool about all of this. Lillian acted as if it was nothing out of the ordinary had happened. She sat back in her chair and smiled, “I knew you were hiding something. I didn’t really expect this was the secret, until I found the book.”

“How-“

“Don’t worry Ryan, I won’t tell anybody, I promise. We’re more alike then you know.” Lillian flashed him a smile.

“I don’t think I understand what is happening.” Ryan stammered.

“Remember when I said I knew what it was like to fly?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, it’s not only on planes.” She looked down at her hands folded in her lap. After a moment she turned to Ryan, “I can fly.”

Ryan blinked, “Fly?” he said in astonishment, and rather loudly.

“Say it louder Ryan, I’m not sure the deaf couple in first class could you.” She paused and continued to stare at him, “You have no idea what you are, do you?” she asked sadly. Ryan shook his head slowly, Lillian sighed.

“We’re special Ryan. We were given powers.”

“Powers?”

“I can fly, and you can, well I guess move things with your mind, you know telekinesis.” She smiled.

“But what does this all mean?”

“I don’t know, but I’d like it if you’d join me and some friends when we get back to New York. We all have abilities. Some can control wind, ice, super speed.”

“Like super heroes?” Ryan asked with a happy beat in his voice. Lillian smiled, “Sure, I suppose you could call us that.”

“Have you spoken with Dr. Suresh?”

Lillian’s expression changed a little her smile slipping into a frown.

“Ryan, I hate to tell you this, but he was killed. Over seven months ago.”

Ryan blinked, “Killed? You mean he was murdered? But how?”

Lillian shrugged, “No one knows who did it. It was in the papers and everything. Don’t be sad.” She said seeing Ryan’s expression sag, “You’re trip isn’t in vain. I mean you can stay with us. Where you really belong.”

Ryan tilted his head, “Belong?” he let out a small laugh, “No I don’t belong in New York I just—“

“Would you rather go back to London where no one understood you and what you can do?”

Lillian asked softly. Ryan glanced at her; he knew she was right no one back in England understood what Ryan was going through. Lillian was the first person he ever met who had special powers like him; she was different just like him. Ryan sat there avoiding looking into Lillian’s eyes, did she really mean what he thought she meant.

“Are you asking me to live in New York City, with you?”

“Of course not just with me. But my friends, we have this” she let out a tiny laugh, “sort of club I suppose you could call it. We all have abilities.” Lillian hesitated before going on, “Although, we’re not wildly accepted by people there. Nobody could truly understand. Nobody but our own kind.”

Ryan finally turned his head and starred at Lillian, lacking any expression what so ever. A girl he had just met was offering him something major, acceptance and a home for good. He thought back to his mother and wondered how she would fair if Ryan never returned on the plane? It’d break her heart and Ryan couldn’t do that to his mother.

“I’m sorry.” He whispered, “But I can’t. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the offer. Honestly it means a lot to me.”

“But…?”

“But, I’m all my mother has right now. I couldn’t up and abandon her without any warning. It’d be selfish of me, and I love my mother too much to do that.” He said definitively without removing his gaze. For a moment it looked like Lillian was about to cry, but the emotion washed quickly off her face Ryan wondered if he had even seen it in the first place. She lowered her head and nodded smiling slightly.

“I understand. I thought the same thing, but once I told my mother what I could do she kicked me out. That was over a year ago, she called me a freak.”

“What?”

“Anyway, I wish you would at least come with me to meet everyone. I mean you’ll be in New York anyway.”

Ryan let out a small sigh and gave a tiny nod, “I suppose I could, not like I have much else to do. I just can’t believe that Suresh is dead. I wish I could have gotten all of the answer I was searching for.”

“Don’t worry, Jed will have the answers.”

“Who’s Jed?”

“He’s sort of our leader. He self appointed himself as leader anyhow. Jed spoke with Dr. Suresh before he died; he knows more about us than anyone.” Lillian flushed just speaking about the guy. Ryan half rolled his eyes when she wasn’t looking, it was clear Lillian had a thing for this Jed guy. And at that moment a small flame went off inside of Ryan’s stomach, but nothing that was worth paying attention to. The feeling vanished just as quickly as it came.

For the rest of the flight Ryan sat there starring out of the window thinking about what Lillian had said about her mother. He couldn’t help but wonder if his mother would act in the same fashion. Would she kick Ryan out like some stray cat? No. He decided, she loves me, and she would understand…