"Thanks for letting me have my friends here," I once again expressed my gratitude to my mom, probably for the fortieth time since I woke up at that day. She had always been hesitant with who I kept around, but I think the fact I was taking well to Arrowe meant that she was loosening up on the other people in my life. 

"It's no problem, sweetie. I hope you know that I really have no problems that you have friends, no matter what kind of situation you've conjured up in your head." She grinned warmly at me, but I didn't see through the deception. It was no secret my mom hated that all my friends had manifested with talents, and it was no secret she hated the Fosters more than anyone, so being best friends with Blythe was a blow. 

Instead of responding, I simply nodded and made a little "humph" sound so she knew I heard her and was listening. The only people coming were Blythe, Lyra, and Genesis. I was a bit worried about having Genesis there, as the only interactions we ever had were her making fun of me, but I trusted Lyra and her judgement. 

"How many people are coming again?" she questioned. 

"Three, as far as I know," I told her. 

"You never talk about your other friends, you've only ever mentioned Blythe." She looked at me with a little bit of confusion but oddly enough, she also looked hurt. She let out a sigh and joined me where I was sitting on my bed. "Nova, is there something your father and I have done to make you not trust us?" 

Yes, my mind screamed, thinking about all the times they've bashed people with abilities to the point that I don't feel comfortable telling her about mine. 

"No," I lie instead. 

"We like to know about your friends and your life," she further pressed. 

"Honestly, Lyra has been sitting at lunch with Blythe and I for years but we didn't really become super close with her until recently. And Genesis is Lyra's best friend, although they don't tell people at school they're friends so I wasn't aware of Genesis until even more recently," I tell her the somewhat truth, avoiding explaining about our abilities. 

My mother let out a little "humph" in response. "So, what are their abilities?" 

"Lyra doesn't have one," I immediately lie, before adding in Genesis's cover-up, "and Genesis is an Empath." 

"You've had another talentless friend this entire time and didn't tell me?" My mom's eyes widened. "I've been so worried about you feeling isolated there, surrounded by people who would make you feel different. That's why I introduced you to Arrowe." 

I bit my lip. "Yeah, me and Lyra actually have a lot more in common than you'd think." After that I thought over my next words carefully. "And, mom, I don't want to be mean when I say this, but I really don't care if I am surrounded by people who are manifesting in abilities. I'm used to it, and I know that my worth isn't affected by whether I manifest or not. I know that it means a lot to you and dad, and I know how much you guys have somewhat struggled because of this, but I also know that I, personally, have grown up in a more accepting time where the council is made up of a lot of new members who genuinely care about change and want to include us. The only person who makes me feel isolated because of everything is you." 

She stared back at me, not responding and staying silent. I had never spoken to my mother like that before, always choosing to ignore her attempted jabs at all the people who have manifested. "Nova-"

"No, mom, this is really important," I decided I wasn't done. I still had more to admit to her. "I wish that you wouldn't take eve single opportunity to attack them for things they cannot control. For all the times that you've been angrily trying to explain that it's not your fault you haven't manifested, have you ever thought to think about the fact it's also not their fault they have? It hurts when you attack all these people in my life that have really tried to take the time and accept me as I am, abilities or not. The thing is, you don't make me worried about not manifesting an ability. You make me worried if I do." 

After letting out my grievances, I moved towards my bedroom door. "I'm going to go to the leapmaster so I can meet my friends once they get here," I explained to her. "I'm sorry, but before my friends got here I really felt like I needed to tell you this. Because I lied earlier. You and dad have done something to make me not want to trust you. Did you notice the second I told you that I had a friend other than Blythe, who didn't have an ability, you lit up?" 

I moved away from her, hoping that when I returned to my bedroom with my friends she would be away from us. The first person to arrive was Blythe, which I was immensely grateful for. "You will never guess what happened just before I came here," I prompted to her, eyes wide. 

"Eamon dropped by and confessed his undying love to you in front of your parents before asking for your hand in marriage, explaining he could not care less about matchmaking papers or anything of the sort?" She laughed at her own joke before realizing the seriousness of what I wanted to tell her. "What happened?" she asked, her voice having been dropped an octave in worry. 

"I stood up to my mom and I'm worried about repercussions," I admitted, in an even lower voice and tone. "I just couldn't keep up an act anymore." 

"What do you mean?" 

"She kept asking me about my friends and when she found out Lyra 'hadn't manfiested,'" I put air quotes, "she immediately got so excited and it made me feel so bad for you and all my other friends. I know she doesn't technically mean harm, but the fact that she just constantly badgers down on everyone who has manifested makes me feel uncomfortable about the fact that I've manifested myself and it makes it so I'm tempted to keep my secret even longer."

"Oh, honey," Blythe cooed, immediately pulling me into a tight hug. "I know your mom can be a bit much, but your parents would never try and hurt you like this intentionally. They love you no matter what." 

Our conversation was cut off with the arrival of both Lyra and Genesis. I had been a bit excited to get to know more about Genesis, but the entire evening's atmosphere had been soured before it even began due to my small argument with my mother. It felt like my words came out of nowhere in the moment, but looking back my words were a long time coming. "Hey, guys," I greeted with a lack of enthusiasm. "We're going up to my room." 

I showed them the way, taking notice of the fact my parents were having an intense argument in the kitchen, where there sat snacks my mom had prepared for when everyone would arrive. My mom stared at me without showing emotion, but my dad sent a sad smile in my direction in comfort. My friends glanced at this interaction with a bit of wariness, but I ignored the tension and continued to move towards my bedroom. 

"What was that?" Genesis asked, deciding not to beat the bush. "I thought you were really close with your parents, but it looked like your mom was deciding whether to kill you or your dad first." 

"Gen!" Lyra scolded, eyes wide. "Sorry, she's very blunt." 

"No, it's okay," I replied, letting out a sigh. "I had an argument with my mom earlier because of the way she talks about people who have manifested as if they're gunk on the bottom of her shoes. She just gets me so angry, because she hates the way she got treated growing up due to being talentless that she just takes all that rage and implants it on the people around her, even if they never did anything to her. None of you, and I know your parents either, have ever said a bad word in her direction nor mine just for being 'talentless' yet she just takes personal offense for existing differently at this point." 

"I'm sorry," Lyra apologized gently. 

"Do your parents not know about you?" Genesis questioned, eyes wide. I shook my head. "I have no idea what I would do if I didn't have my parents support." 

"I know my parents love me," I stated. "I know that. It's just... I can't help but wonder how they would treat me if they knew. They spend so much time assuring me they'll love me if I don't manifest in an ability that they haven't taken the time to tell me if they'll love me if I do. I just want them to accept me however I am and I wish they respected my friends as well." 

"What do you mean respect your friends?" Lyra asked, confused. 

"They've been hounding on Blythe ever since we became friends, as if it's Blythe's fault that she manifested and the entire system has been set up to treat talentless differently. As if it automatically meant that I had to feel insecure in my friendship with not only her, but everyone with an ability," I explained. "I told her you didn't have an ability, like you asked me to, and she acted as if it was a heavenly power conjured in front of us. As if me having a friend without an ability meant that I was better grounded." 

"I'm sorry," Blythe apologized gently. 

"No, I'm sorry. I'm sorry it took this long for me to finally stand up for you. I'm so sorry for the way my parents have treated you and your family ever since we became friends. I'm tired of the way they look down upon you because they automatically assume you'll do the same." I let out a breath of air. "And I'm especially sorry for ruining tonight before it's even begun. I know how much all of us have looked forward to tonight." 

"It's not ruined, Nova. We're all friends here, we're going to support you when you're upset," Lyra said in a gentle voice which made me feel slightly better. 

"I know I haven't been the nicest to you," Genesis started, "but I want you to know that if you ever need me, I'll be there for you no matter what. Us pyrokinetics have to stick together and up for each other, the world is too dangerous and scared for us to go through things ourselves." 

"I just realized I'm the only one here who isn't a pyrokinetic, so if your mother's going to be worried about someone being isolated she should be more worried for me than about me," Blythe called to attention, although her voice was teasing. This acknowledgement let go of the slight tense atmosphere and led to us making jokes about abilities and such. 

"So, words on the street that a certain someone has been getting in the way of true love," Genesis prompted during a quiet moment.

"What are you talking about?" I questioned, confused. 

"You," she said, as if it was obvious. "Serena would not shut up about it, it was really annoying." She rolled her eyes. 

"You're friends with Serena?" Blythe asked, suddenly curious. "I thought the only people she talked to were Eamon and Mika. They're the only ones worth her time, anyways." 

"Please," Genesis snorted. "That girl puts up such a front. She's mad because she's always wanted a close girl to be friends with, and all she's stuck with is her biological cousin and the boy who views her as if they're actual cousins when in reality she has such a crush on him." 

"Wait, Serena has a crush on Eamon?" I gasped. "He genuinely views her as his cousin. I can't imagine him liking anyone, to be honest." 

"That's because for you to imagine it, you'd have to accept the person he likes is you," Lyra said, although the difference is unlike Blythe's usual teasing, she was being serious. 

"Why can you guys accept that Eamon and I are just friends." I let out a loud groan. 

"We know that you are both just friends," Blythe clarified, "it's just we're also aware that despite being friends, it's obvious that at least he likes you. And deep, way deep down, there has to be a part of you that admits you like him too." 

"I'll admit that once you admit you liked Arrowe." I locked eyes with her defiantly. 

"Alright," she bit back. "I like Arrowe." We were all silent, not knowing how to respond to Blythe's immediate and loud confirmation of her crush.

"Who's Arrowe?" Genesis finally asked, making us let out chuckles. 

"He's a guy my mom forced me to be friends with because he's talentless and she wants me to have more talentless friends," I explained. "But, honestly, he is really nice. But him and Blythe hit it off completely."

"It's too bad he's talentless and you're not," Genesis stated sadly. "You would never be on each other's matchmaking papers." 

"He might care about that a lot," I said, thinking over my memory of him and his family. "But, I don't think it's worth throwing away the idea of a relationship so early in its stages," I added as an afterthought when I saw the look on Blythe's face. 

"Why is life so complicated?" Lyra questioned rhetorically with a groan, laying back on my bed. She took my pillow and screamed into it.

"What's wrong with you?" I asked, noticing her bad mood. 

"The boy she likes hasn't been answering her calls for almost a week now," Genesis answered for her. "And their last conversation was about the possibility of a relationship, so she's worried he's taking back his words." 

"You know what?" Blythe immediately stood up in front of us. "How about I call for no boy talk for the rest of the night." 

"Alright, but is it okay if I call Eamon really quick," I questioned them, immediately making Blythe fall back with a huff and Lyra started to laugh. "What? We talk every night and I forgot to tell him about you guys so I don't want him to think I'm ignoring his calls." 

"I don't like Eamon," Blythe mocked. "We're just friends." 

"Oh shut up!" I threw one of the pillows from my bed on top of her, making her join in with Lyra's laughter. 

"Just call him," Blythe finally said. "We're all going to pretend we're not here. I want to know what it's like when he's actually genuinely nice to you." 

"Eamon isn't mean to you," I immediately defended him. 

"Not since you've become friends. Actually, to be honest, since you've become friends, he hasn't been mean with anyone." Blythe looked to the side, thoughtfully. 

"It's because when he found out about her not liking the nickname Poopy, and how his one prank affected her entire school life, he realized the consequences of his decisions and decided that he didn't want to be as mean anymore," Genesis stated. "That's what Serena said anyways."

"You still haven't dived into you being friends with Serena," Blythe pointed out. 

"Serena's popular and so am I," Genesis stated. "Despite the differences in our groups, we all talk a lot. Serena needs female friends, and she wouldn't be caught dead trying to befriend someone who could hurt her reputation. She understands that the only reason she's popular is because of who she's associated with, it's something all of us understand. I'm popular because before I manifested, I believed in the whole image being everything ideal and befriended people who I know don't appreciate me the way friends should." She shrugged. "Serena is popular because Eamon gives her the time of day, and his mom is literally in history books. Her parents may be somewhat important, but Eamon's mother is a legend."

I tilted my head to the side, and really thought it out. "You know, I've always wondered about that. Because Blythe isn't popular, but look how big her parents are." 

"Eamon sets the tone. When his siblings were in school, from what I've heard it was just about the same thing. The people his siblings viewed as important were viewed as important by everyone around them. My group of friends is different, they didn't get popular off of association in the beginning. They got popular off of being mutually rude to everyone around them, until everyone was afraid of them. And when everyone became afraid of us, they secretly became jealous of the way we would treat each other with respect, and wanted to join us so they wouldn't be attacked either. And that's what popularity is in the end." 

We all looked at Genesis thoughtfully. I had always wondered what spurred Genesis and Lyra to become friends, but after hearing her speak I realized the true extent of her intellect. She knew what her actions were doing, but there was a part of her that was still insecure and afraid of being attacked by people she once called friends. She was stuck. And Lyra, being herself, understood this and accepted this. Lyra wasn't so insecure as Genesis was, and accepted Genesis wholeheartedly no matter what. 

"I still can't believe everything that's happening is real," Blythe muttered. "I mean, I know that my family is weird, but I didn't realize that it would extend to me as well. Tell me how I somehow, despite ignoring that side of my family and trying to be dissociated with them, found friends in the three pyrokinetics who attend Foxfire." 

"There's more," I stated. "We're not the only ones. It's just we're the ones you know," I said, smiling. 

"I feel so empowered right now," Lyra stated with a grin. 

I nodded along. "I wish my parents knew about my abilities," I replied. "I wish I could tell them, so that I was able to feel empowered all the time. I feel like once I get my parents to accept it, is when I'll be able to accept it myself. I've been trained my entire life to hate what I am." 

"Well, maybe we should talk about it then." I looked up in shock as my parents stood in the doorway. 

***

this was over 3000 words and i wrote all of it at work while ignoring my job. pls still love me despite the cliffhanger. also i love genesis & ever since i've introduced her i've been waiting to be able to type out her side of the story bc i find it really interesting how she views the situation she's in and recognizes her faults. 

chapter question: how do you think her parents will react?