The autumn rain pattered against the window of a small flat in the centre of Groissaint's university district. Troisine's capital was a sprawling modern city which utilised a mix of architectural designs from glass high-rises, industrial brick apartment blocks, to quaint colonial homes.
The city was a little too cold for my liking but the city's multicultural population made the city a tapestry of colourful personality.
At the age of 19, it's the reason why I fled the coup that was my old city of Gascoigne, I had come to become bored of: knowing everyone, bored of the drab culture. It's probably the same thing you'd come to hear from every other uni' student who came here.
In the cheap flat I now called my home, there was a warmth in the dull, grey atmosphere that the room emitted. For in this flat, were two other souls who made it a home.
Krista Hopkins, the energetic, happy go lucky 20-year-old sports management student. She occupied the centre room, besides mine. She was currently out at the moment doing one of her jogs, even in the rain, her stalwart discipline truly is something to admire.
The one who occupied the room closest to the kitchen, was Arjun Sharma, the perpetually studying Engineer student who mostly kept to his room. He was a decent guy, he was pretty loud and confident for someone who for the most part, was a shut in. But that was just in the day, as for after 11. Well... That was a different story.
And here I found myself. Sat beside an old rickety, wooden kitchen table which was surrounded by 3 other seats beside mine. Behind me, the kitchen, of which was mostly utilised by Krista. Although, mine and Arjun's cooking ability is not one to be scoffed at – But that's a story for another time. In front of me, was the living room area which had 2 sofas sat perpendicular to each other, facing a small TV. Looking past the living room, was the large window overviewing the city skyline. The Kitchen, dining hall and living room were all merged into one big room. I assume to save space and money.
Placed in the dining chair facing said window, I was dabbling in what little escapism I could muster and that was my main hobby, drawing.
The sheet in front of me was a sea of charcoal, skilfully crafted into the shape of the skyline before me with jagged lines catching the rain-smeared lights outside.
In my ear, humming, from the headphones I had placed inside. What could be heard through said headphones was the melancholic, ringing guitars of indie music, drowning out the world around me.
Yet even through that, the sound of the door bursting open took me out of the music as I peeped through window of the door into the main hall coming into contact of a figure walking towards me.
And walking towards me, through the very same door, Krista stepped in, stood at 5'9", her long blond hair, with blue tips cascading in damp waves. Freckles dusted her nose and cheeks, just above the beauty mark on her right jaw, flowing down her neck, peeking under her coat collar. A subtle map of her skin that always caught my eye, but I dared not mention.
She dressed up in running gear, cheeks flushed, she'd just come back from a run despite the weather that befell us.
From her blue eyes alone, you could see a warm smile as she greeted me.
"George, what are you doing here, would've thought you'd be at the pub or something"
She pointed to the window express her humorous intent; you could clearly see it was raining cats and dogs. She then kicked off her white sneakers, revealing bright coloured socks with cartoonish designs plastered on them – how quirky.
"And just what are you doing going on a jog in this downpour?"
I smiled back with eyes closed, shaking my head in joking disappointment that she would say such a cheap joke, but I was also being partially serious. Come on now, take a day off.
"Well, you can't lay off, come rain or shine, I mean... It wasn't raining when I left but I couldn't stop, my dad always instilled discipline into me when it came to stuff like this."
She often spoke about her dad, it seems like they have a deep connection. Don't hear a lot about her mum though.
So, I asked her.
"Hey Krista, we've not had the chance to properly get to know each other yet have we? Come on let's chat."
She gave me a confused look in response but still looking like her cheerful self. She walked over to the kettle, filled it with water and turned it on, she stroked one foot with another, seeming deep in thought.
"Sure, I'm making some tea first though, you want some?"
I was never very fond of tea, but seeing the rain trickle down the window gave me the strong urge for a hot drink. There was a cosiness to the warm hue of the light in the kitchen, juxtaposing the cloudy, cold grey sky on the outside.
"Yeah sure, thanks. I'm just gonna go put my stuff in my room, I'll be right back."
"You know you're gonna have to show me your art sometime, right?"
She didn't even take her eyes off the mug as she poured the hot water onto the teabags sitting on the bottom of the mug. But her interest in my art warmed me. I rarely showed others my drawings, it was a hobby I enjoyed in quiet solitude.
I grabbed my paper and tools, taking them back to my room and placing them neatly in my drawer. I looked up from the drawer. On the wall there was a pin up board with some of my pieces on it, they were all drawn recently, the attack on groissaint was a couple weeks ago now so all of a sudden, I had lots of free time.
Then again, it was mostly my own fault, for months after I got my powers, I spent so much of time flying around the world. At night I snook out to fly off to the snowy Himalayas; in the day I would tell my parents I was off to see my friends while I'd float above the clouds basking in the sun – Those were the best when it was a rainy day and I could enjoy the sun as the rain poured below me.
I strolled into the bathroom, staring deep into the image of me in the mirror. I stroked my hand through my hair and continued to ponder, staring into my eyes.
Now that I've come to think of it, in the last invasion, I learned that I can now go into space, I wonder what new horizons I can discover? Will I be the first human to land on mars, could I meet other civilisations. What if there's another human-like species out there. What if there's more like me? with this power?
But time was still flowing and I snapped back into reality, the excited smile of a mad scientist crept its way onto my face, but my tea was probably starting to get cold, so I made my way back through the kitchen door, into the warm rustic light of the kitchen.
On the rickety table I stepped away from earlier, opposite the place where I was sat, was Krista. She was leaning her head on her hand, elbow stretched out on the table. She was staring deeply at her tea as she traced her fingers around the rim. She managed to change into dry, comfy pyjamas. In this light she looked kind of cute.
In my place was a neatly placed mug of tea, on printing on the mug, was a collage of photos of me and my family, she even got my mug.
Once I stepped through the door, she sent a warm smile my way.
"Took you long enough. Come on, take a seat, your drink's getting cold."
I dragged the seat back, giving me enough space to place myself into it, it looked cheaply made – the metal frame of the chair didn't match the wooden table at all – but the cushion on the bottom made it comfortable enough to sit in.
As I sat myself down, Krista followed me with her eyes without moving her head, all the while maintaining a cheeky, closed-mouth grin as I lowed myself into her direct gaze.
I took a sip from the tea in front of me.
Disgusting, it tasted like dirt water. But I didn't make it apparent to her for my distaste for her tea, it wasn't her I just really didn't like tea. She however, drank it like water; she couldn't get enough of it.
Meanwhile, she maintained her grin, she clearly had something she wanted to say.
"Alright, I'll go first... George, have you got a girlfriend?"
I chuckled, almost spitting out my second sip.
"That's what you want to know first? Not my favourite colour? favourite chocolate?"
"Noooo George, that's boooorrring."
She shifted her body lower towards the table as she elongated her vowels. She was now leaning on her hands as she stared at me.
"Come on."
"No."
"Come on, where else would you be disappearing so suddenly?"
I see now, it seems she's still a little suspicious. But again, it seems so complicated to explain it to her, if she doesn't believe me, I'll look like an idiot.
"The tea's nice."
"You obviously don't like it."
"yeahhh..."
We both laughed, she clearly didn't take any offense to it, but if she knew why did she still offer?
"You already told me you don't like tea George, why didn't you say no? I've got Coffee, hot chocolate."
"Well shit, now I wish I did say no."
I stared quietly back down at the mug. This moment felt better than any time I've used my powers. Just sitting, chatting about absolutely nothing. Beats fighting aliens who want me dead any day of the week.
"Hey, Krista, what's life like back at home? Special someone waiting?"
"Life at home... Well... Grew up in Marleille, My dad's my whole world; Mum wasn't in the picture for long – Just disappeared in the night. She was never much of a stay-at-home mum. But hey, it's fine, just made me love my dad even more."
Shit, I didn't expect someone as happy and energetic as her would have such a sad backstory, and here I am complaining about wasting my life.
The room became agonisingly quiet for a moment...
"Sorry didn't mean to kill the moo-"
"No, it's fine, your dad seems like a great guy..."
"The best. Gives me fuel to keep going.
She became weirdly, uncharacteristically quiet. But it was like she wanted to say something but was holding herself back
"Well? Fuel to do what?"
She bit her lip and gulped...
"I'm gonna be the greatest actress the world's ever seen, I'll win so many awards, make billions and pay back my dad for all he's done for me. So, he doesn't have to worry another day about me, and he can relax in a villa on an island in the sun. For the rest of his days."
"Well, well, well, how ambitious. I assume you've had lessons then?"
"No, but-"
"Then how the hell are you gonna become the greatest actress the world's ever seen then?"
"Ok big guy, what about you?"
It's an interesting question, "fulfilment", "freedom", all so hollow but it's all that I ever think about, what is it that I want to do...
How do I achieve fulfilment?
"I wanna help people."
"cool so like a doctor?"
Not quite... It's not so simple as that, I wanna make up for all the wrongs I've done to people in my life. For destroying people's self-confidence. Making people feel like they're nothing.
"No, like... a hero?"
She chuckled...
"A hero? Like a police officer then. Or what, do you wanna be Superman?"
I sound like an idiot, but... shit... technically I am superman.
Hold on... If I lost my powers tomorrow...
Who would I actually be?
"You know what Krista, how about we get some drinks, watch a film and tomorrow we'll look for some acting classes. I'll be your manager."
If I can't think of something for myself, then maybe I can help others achieve their dreams. Maybe then I'll be able to figure out what I want to do o the way.
"Ok, boss. What we watching?"
I grinned on one side, showing teeth on one side.
"21 Jump Street."
The two sat on the worn sofa, bathed in the light of the TV as for the moment, life felt peaceful. No worries on their minds as they sat, enjoying each other's company. The two blissfully unaware of the future that was in store for them.