Libby started towards their usual table in the school cafeteria when her eyes fell on the new kid. He'd been there a couple of weeks now - rumour had it he'd just come from rehab and he was living with Tanya. Curiousity over came her and she made her ay over to the table where he was sitting alone.
"Hey," she said.
Hugh looked up.
"Hey," he said cautiously.
"So, how do you like it here?"
"It's okay."
"I'm Libby."
"Hugh."
"You're real talkative, huh?"
Hugh shrugged.
"And you seem to like hanging out with the boys."
"That's because boys are much more sensiable than girls," Libby nodded. "Girls like annoying things like clothes and make up and gossip about crap and I have nothing to discuss with them."
"Ahh... okay..."
"Hey," Trent said as he and Dan approached. "We interupting?"
"Nope, come, sit," Libby said cheerfully. "I decided the new kid had enough time being alone and now he has to make friends."
"Uh huh," Trent grunted and sat down next to her, giving Hugh a look.
Hugh raised his eyebrows at Libby's comment and had no problems getting Trent's message: "she's mine, back off", even without his telepathy to pick the words off the top of his head.
"Hey we all sitting over here today?" asked Matt, joining them.
"New kid," Libby said, pointing. "Hugh. Hugh this is Trent, Dan and Matt. Josh here yet?"
"Someone call?" Josh replied.
"Ahh, marvellous."
"So," Matt said, turning to Hugh. "Is it true you were in rehab?"
"Matt!" Libby frowned.
"Hey, we all want to know."
"Yeah, it's true," Hugh replied.
"Cool, whatcha do?"
"I don't believe that's any of your business."
"Just asking. What's your power?"
"Telepathy."
Dan looked nervous and inched away slightly.
"Cool. I'm a healer. Dan's got vacuum -"
"And don't ask him to clean up after you," Libby giggled. "I have bubbles."
"I've got invisibility," Josh said.
"Yeah... I so wish I had that. Girls' locker room," Matt sighed wistfully.
"And I have strength," Trent said.
"Matt's an idiot, by the way," Libby informed Hugh. "Obsessed with sex and being a perv and stuff."
"You love me."
"No, no I really don't think I do."
"Uh huh," Hugh said, wondering if there was a way he could escape.
"Is it true you're living with Tanya?" Matt asked.
"Umm, yeah."
"That's so cool. Hey you might have met Avie."
"Avie?"
"Avery Hanson. She's a telepath too, taking the Ga'Revali classes."
Hugh shrugged. There was no reason to tell them he'd only been taking private sessions with Tanya while she figured out which Ga'Revali class to put him in.
"You can't miss her, she's pregnant," Josh said dryly.
It was Josh's attitude more than what he said that peeked Hugh's interest and he took a passing glance at his mind. Ahh, he had a crush on Avery and was bitterly jealous that she was interested in another guy, blah blah blah. Hugh subsequencly dismissed Josh as unimportant.
"So, you play basketball?" Libby asked.
"Uhh... no..." Hugh said slowly.
"Okay, after we're done eating we're going to go play a game. You can come with," Libby encouraged.
"Aww, Libs," Dan said.
"What? It'll be fun."
And somehow, Libby managed to talk all five of the boys into it. No one was more surprised than Hugh.