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When I finally awoke with a weak groan, the first place my sleepy eyes went to was over at the table clock. I was about a half-hour early from when I usually got up, so I figured I might as well start my day and get ready for school while I had plenty of time to spare.

Time? Shit—I could've just frozen time, walked across the country and back, and still have a half-hour to get ready for school. That, however, would've taken me years to complete and was probably the stupidest idea I could've ever had anyway. On top of that, the previous night's stroll made me realize it was more fun to be in the real, living world than alone in a stilled land of silence. I wanted to be more responsible with my power and keep its use to a minimum.

Responsible, great, I was already becoming an adult thanks to this power.

I headed on down the city sidewalk and made my way to the bus—my usual trek at its usual time. I contently breathed in the cool, morning air carrying the taste of sea breeze and sighed h