High School Terrans

Kyle Smith stepped off the bus under the shadow of the high school. He looked up seeing the bold black letters spelling out “Carlsbad High School”. He stepped inside walking down the hallway to his locker blending in with all of the other incoming students. Although from his outward appearance, he looked like any other typical seventeen year old, he wasn’t human. Kyle Smith was a Terran. They arrived on Earth seven years ago with as much wonder or fear from the people who were meeting their first alien species proving that humans weren’t the only intelligent life in the universe. They were actually far surpassed having developed extra sensory powers amongst other natural abilities.

For many years Kyle heard the stories passed down from one generation to the next of the blue and green planet and how his ancestors, the Ancient Ones, came from Earth and went out into space to explore the stars and colonize a planet. Although the planet Terra had thrived for centuries, it was in its last months of life as everyone soon realized having suffered a series of natural disasters over time that would have eventually made the planet uninhabitable. However, there was still hope when the proof was found about Earth and that the old stories were true. It was soon after everyone boarded their ships and left in the hopes of building a new life on their ancestral homeworld.

The Earth Congress of the United States of Americas had recently passed the Terran Education Act that allowed all Terran students of age to attend high schools. Even though Kyle possessed a lot of knowledge including having studied a dozen star systems, his parents and everyone else involved felt it would good for them to integrate with other Earth teenagers mingling with people their own age.

Kyle stepped up to his locker hearing a familiar voice in his mind.

“So are we having fun yet?” Dan said inside of Kyle’s head, walking down the hall towards his locker.

“You know we aren’t supposed to use telepathy in school?” Kyle said out loud.

“Yeah, but it’s more fun that way,” he said smiling.

“Yeah, but we’re on Earth which means acting like everyone else.”

“So what class do you have first?”

“World History,” Kyle replied, closing his locker shut. “See you at lunch?”

“Sure, I’ll save you a seat.”

“Thanks and please remember no showing off,” Dan said, slowly walking grinning holding up his hand. “Oh, Scout’s Honor.”

At the start of lunch, Kyle made his way to Dan’s table seeing him raise his hand. Kyle sat down seeing Dan with a cheeseburger, tray of fries, and a bottle of water in front of him.

“Not sure why we had to come here. I mean we already know more than the teachers,” Dan said.

“Our parents just want us to blend in and meet people our own age,” Kyle replied, opening his brown bag lunch.

“Already getting the stares?”

“Yeah, but it doesn’t phase me. You gotta give them some slack. We knew that we’d be met with some uneasiness.”

Dan’s attention became easily distracted as he saw a student, Alan Edwards, at the next table floating a pencil in front of his face.

“Hey look at that,” Dan said.

Kyle turned his head seeing Alan spinning the pencil from end to end in mid air making it go faster. Both he and Dan looked amazed at Alan’s ability to levitate the pencil for someone who looked so young at fifteen years old.

“Amazing control.”

Jason Webber, who in his mind was the reigning star of the football team and felt he could have any girl in the school he wanted, walked by and pushed Alan’s head down making the pencil fall to the floor.

Kyle quickly stood up and said, “Hey, why don’t you leave him alone and walk away?”

“You wanna make me?” he said. “What are you going to do about it?”

Jason stood face to face with Kyle staring him down just as he quickly put a hand to his forehead looking as if he was in pain. Then Jason’s nose began to bleed that made him reach his other hand up to cover his nose. Kyle turned to see Dan’s eyes in a steely gaze with his forehead creased.

“Dan! Stop it! That’s enough!” Kyle exclaimed.

Dan relaxed his face just as Jason lowered his hand away from his head but kept his nose covered now with a bloody hand.

“You’re all freaks,” he said walking away.

“What was that?” Kyle asked.

“Don’t worry,” Dan replied. “I had it under control.”

“Under control? You made his nose bleed.”

"And let him get away with what he did?"

“It still doesn’t make it right just because we can. You understand?”

Kyle and Dan slowly sat in front of Alan seeing that he was more shy and introverted and not as outgoing as the other students.

“You alright?” Kyle asked.

“Yeah,” Alan said sheepishly.

“What’s your name?”

“Alan.”

“I’m Kyle. How long have you been able to do that with the pencil?”

“For awhile. Are you one too?”

“Yeah.”

Alan gave a small smile and said, “Cool.”

Dan extended his hand to which Alan shook it, “Dan.”

“It’s good to know I am not the only Terran at this school,” he said. “I wasn’t looking to hurt anybody.”

“Some people are afraid of what they don’t understand,” Kyle said.

As Kyle looked ahead he could see a tall brunette haired girl in a ponytail walking towards their table wearing a pair of blue jeans below a white buttoned up blouse.

“I hope Jason didn’t rough you up too much,” she said, stopping where the three of them sat.

“No, we’re alright,” Kyle answered. “Who are you?”

“Sarah, Sarah Woods,” she said pausing hearing her voice take on an air of sarcasm glancing over at Jason’s table.” And that was Jason Webber, reigning jock and allegedly God’s gift to women everywhere.”

“Not really a fan?”

“Not really,” she chuckled, “not everyone is as intolerant as him.”

“So where do you stand?” Dan questioned, staring her down trying to figure out where her loyalties laid.

“I have nothing against people who are different. There is actually going to be a school bonfire this weekend. You should come.”

“A bonfire?” Kyle asked.

“On the beach. It’s something that happens at the beginning of every year. Kind of a tradition. Everyone comes out. It’s fun.”

“Okay, we’ll think about it,” Kyle said smiling.

“Great, hope to see you all there.”

Kyle turned his head seeing her walk away raising his eyebrows.

“I think she likes you,” Dan said.

“Really? You think?”

“Doesn’t take a genius to tell no matter what planet you are on.”