Made of Metal

-Back to Jordan’s Pov-

You know How I said I was going to have an angry grandma situation about missing school, despite New York City having a literal alien invasion?
yeah well, I was right.

Apparently Sam had called my grandparents after I had run to check up on them, and when I didn't show up until three hours later with no strength and looking like I took a stroll in a Walmart on Black Friday, my grandparents weren’t exactly . . . pleased.

They knew exactly what I had done - used my powers to exhaustion and put my life in danger. They had made it very clear that, until I had turned 16/ or had someone to help me, I was not to take part in alien invasions.

Dang.

I had so much fun turning aliens into shish kabobs. Who knows? maybe I could have tried my luck at manipulating space metal. Next thing you know, I'd have people calling me toph and I would be telling a 112-year-old kid how to save the world from the fire nation (or realistically Amazon and Jeffrey Bezos).

So when I set out that morning to get to midtown, and Coincidentally through a ton of metal alien rubble from the day prior, I had to channel my inner restraint more than a white dad trying to refrain from using the sprinkler on the dance floor.

Needless to say, it was extremely difficult.

The only thing that really got me through the walk was the fact that it was strangely a beautiful day. The sun was shining, and it wasn’t to humid, it was almost as if New York had hit a reset button on itself.

Yeah, there was wreckage everywhere, but there was also a ton of people creating and rebuilding. On my left a middle-aged man was nailing up a sign for his sandwich shop as a boy around my age helped. On my right, there was a group of about 5 or so senior citizens just lounging in a park, soaking up the sun. All around me were signs of a new chapter in life. One that was hesitant yet excited, cautious yet hopeful.

It very much fit the new chapter that I would soon embark on- high school.

My feet hit the steps of the impressive building, bringing my thoughts away from the epic highs and lows of high school football. The school’s symbol was front and center of the impressive looking building. Teens of all ages walked past me, some joking with their friends and pushing each other around, while others walked briskly to the entrance with headphones in.

They say that most high school movies don’t really represent what actually happens, but to a home-schooled kid? It felt like something right out of Sky High (which is funny, because I totally would have been eligible to go there if it was real).

Seeing as I had taken a while to gawk at the school, just standing there with my mouth wide open, I had gotten a few looks. Not wanting to seem like a total weird homeschooled freshman kid, I started off to the head office.

Since I required accommodations, elevator passes and such, I had to meet with the front desk. Apparently, I was getting a guide, which felt embarrassing yet relieving at the same time. On one hand I didn’t want special treatment, but on the other, I really needed it.

I had a really hard time swallowing my pride and accepting help, which was even worse in the following days of my accident. I didn’t like when people pitied me or looked down on me, and it took a while for my grandparent to beat into my head that sometimes I had to accept help.

They said there was no shame in asking for help, but a lot of the time I just ignored that and figured problems out on my own. Especially problems that arose as a result of my accident. However, the idea of someone showing me to at least my first class was kind of appealing, so I sucked up my pride and went up the school's obscenely long and inclined ramp that went to the main office.

Midtown School of Science and technology was not a private school. Which wasn’t supported by its impressive exterior; however, it was technically a magnet school- the type of school to require test scores to get into. It labeled itself as a stem school, and funnily enough stem was NOT my specialty.

Sure, I met the test scores to get in- I was my fathers’ daughter after all, but my main focus and passion was history. I loved learning of the past and connecting those events in the current timeline. So many things that happen now are just variants of previous events, and it made me feel super smart when I made these connections.

Honestly, I think the only reason why I was ok with going to a “STEM School” was because of my uncanny knowledge of mechanical engineering (and sometimes electrical). It was mostly an offset of my powers, being that most mechanical systems were made of metal, but I actually did kind of enjoy being naturally gifted at something. It was different from history in that I didn’t have to use my mind at all to understand a lot of the concepts.

Midtown had reached out to me about joining the robotics team before I enrolled, they had seen the works I had done during my time in homeschool, so when they had sent me an admissions letter my grandparents had insisted that I go. Free tuition at a great school was peak life performance to them.

That’s what brought me here, to this school, and was why I was waiting in the main office a little out of breath from climbing all the way up the school’s ramp, waiting for my guide. I often didn’t get out of breath, because my powers did most of the work, but damn was that school’s ramp excessive! As I stared up at the ceiling panting, I was definitely reconsidering if this school was worth it.

“Jordan Donald?” I heard a light voice call out to me, causing me to look down from the ceiling.

Before me was a girl who definitely didn't fit the “STEM school” stereotype. She didn’t look nerdy at all, in fact, she was probably one of the prettiest girls I had ever seen. She was tall with beautiful dark hair and skin, and looked like she walked straight out of an ad for Brandy Melville.

“uh, yeah?” I responded quite lamely, not used to talking to people who were so obviously a part of the popular crowd (I mean I WAS a homeschool kid).

Despite my lackluster response, she made direct eye contact with me and smiled. “ Hi!” she said cheerily, “My name is Liz Allen and I’ll be showing you around today! I am a sophomore, so we might have some similar classes as well!”

She looked down to the bag in my lap and my crutches to the side, and then made an uncomfortable amount of eye contact with me. Did she blink? I am not too sure.

“Do you need help with anything? your first class is AP Euro, which is on the third floor, but of course we will be taking the elevator!”

I cleared my throat, Jeez her personality was strong. “ah, um.. no I got it. I just need directions to where I need to go.”

I put on my backpack before standing up in my crutches, and gestured for her to show me the way to the elevator. She responded to this action with another off-putting, yet dazzling smile, and we made our way through the throngs of students already in the building.

“here at midtown we pride ourselves on our inclusivity and accessibility! as you can see her-” I tuned her out. She was nice and all, and I appreciated her willingness to help me, but boy did our personalities not mix. She was way too bright for me, so as she led us to the elevator I just focused on people watching and how to get to where I needed.

Once we got in the elevator I turned to her and accidentally cut her off from what she was saying, I had no Idea that she was still speaking, honestly.

“Can I actually get my schedule, you don't need to carry it for me … can you just put it in my bag?”

I shifted so my back was to her, so she could access my backpack easier.

“Also once I get to my first class, I got it from there. I appreciate your help, but there is no need to escort me all day.”

This made Liz frown, I don't know if it was because I had rudely interrupted her, or because I was ditching her. Realistically, It was probably both.

“Are you sure Jordan? The principal made sure to tell me that I was to make your first day as easy as possible. I don't think I can do that if I just leave you on your own.”

I rolled my eyes, my back still facing her.

“I got it. I find I learn better from figuring out things on my own.”

Of course that was a complete lie - I had learned best when I had worked in a team with either my grandparents or my father, but Liz didn't know that. She also didn't know that her ultra sunny disposition was giving me serious anxiety.

I couldn't really handle super on the go people yet- as it was literally my first time interacting with someone my age since the accident. Yeah, I had talked with Sam a bit, but she was significantly older than me and already liked me. I had absolutely no Idea what this Liz girl thought of me.

I was totally content with being a loner for the time being, and I had a feeling that If I became friends with Liz, I would have to deal with a lot of people.

Liz’s frown lifted, but only slightly. “Hmmm. This isn't protocol, but I am fine with it. Just in case give me your number though, so you can contact me if you need anything!”

I directed her to where my phone was in my bag and she put her number in, as well as putting my schedule in my bag. Once we got off the elevator, she led me to a fairly empty classroom.

After she was done explaining to me about how my elevator pass works and that classes didn't really fill up until about five minutes before the bell rang, she turned to waive me off. Not until she had tried to convince me to call her at the end of the day, but eventually she left.

At this, I moved into the mostly empty classroom and sagged down into an empty chair in the back by a window. Not only 5 minutes had passed in my time with Liz, and I had already reached my social quota.

God I needed to get out more.