Burnt out

The next morning, Dan couldn't focus. He bumped into people in the street, the teacher said his name three times before he noticed, and the blonde girl kept flashing him smiles and he could never figure out why. Half an hour into his first class, the interruption he dreaded arrived.

Holding his shield was tiring. It was like having a single muscle tense all the time. After a while, it ached, then cramped; and then, perhaps inevitably, gave out.

It wasn't as bad as he feared. Most of it went into the flat battery he'd tucked into his pocket, and the rest just made the fabric of his chair smoke.

Dan was suddenly incredibly tired. He heard himself groan softly, and then his head was on the desk. He didn't remember telling it to go there. People's heads snapped around to look at him, and then the teacher was there, lips moving, shaking him so fast his body couldn't keep up. Her voice arrived a few long moments later, like a delay. 'Wake up.'

Alarmed, he tried to raise his head, but it was so slow, snail-like compared to the dizzying speeds of everyone else. He saw Steve arrive, laying a hand on his forehead as though he was checking Dan's temperature. Dan felt a jolt go through him.

The world went back to its normal speed again. He breathed in. The musty smell of the classroom and the teacher's perfume assaulted his nose. Then he was coughing and gasping, and Steve was there, helping him stand. Steve said something, but Dan didn't hear it, and he was towed outside.

They leaned against the trunk of a large oak. Dan took a deep breath. The air was clearer here. He could feel his power, barely enough for his own body. Dan reached into his pocket for the battery. It buzzed against his fingers as he reclaimed the power.

Steve waited until Dan looked more alert. 'What happened?'

'Well.' Dan bit his lip. 'Last night I did a few small experiments. At least, I thought they were small.'

Steve shook his head. 'After all the practice you did earlier? No wonder you burned out.'

Dan blushed. 'I'm sorry.' It came out as a mumble.

Steve smiled and patted his friend on the back. 'Don't worry. I won't tell Uncle.'

'Why not?'

There was a wry tone in Steve's voice. 'We all make mistakes. Just don't do it again.'

Dan smiled shyly. 'All right.'

The two sat in silence under the tree. Neither of them wanted to go back inside, and anyhow it was nice and cool in the shade.

Steve leaned back against the trunk. Something had been nagging him all day. 'Dan...If you grew up in an orphanage, surely they had records of your parents there. Or at least of the person who dropped you off there.'

Dan shook his head. 'Someone put me in an empty cot when I was barely a week old. It took them more than a month to notice they had an extra baby.'

'Ouch.'

'Hey, I don't blame them. One baby looks a lot like another.'

'Even so...'

Dan sighed. 'Yeah. Maybe.' He looked away.

Steve frowned at Dan. He always seemed to be moody about something. 'Hey. Do you want to know how I found out about my heritage?' No response. 'It's really embarrassing.'

'Maybe later.' He sounded distant. 'Trouble's coming.'

Steve followed his friend's gaze and saw class had ended. The blonde girl was marching over with her gang of girlfriends and a pissed spark in her eye.

'Hello.' That was all Dan could think to say.

A yellow eyebrow arched prettily. 'What? You don't even remember my name?' The girls behind her sniggered.

'Never really bothered to learn it.' Steve stared at him. He was either stupid or arrogant. Or perhaps he was still dazed and didn't know what he was saying.

The girl's eyebrows narrowed. 'Well if you're still thinking about me as a potential girlfriend, you can give it up. I'm never going out with someone as rude as you.'

Dan shrugged. 'I never did. Think of you as a potential girlfriend, I mean.'

'Then why stare? Do I have something stuck in my teeth?'

'You were just a diversion.'

The blonde was scowling meanly now. 'Explain precisely what you mean by "diversion."'

'I don't think so. I'm tired.'

Steve decided to intervene before she slapped Dan. 'Come on. Let's get some lunch.' He tried to ignore the hot glares that made his neck sweat. His friend didn't seem to notice.