"Damn, you're a freakin' midget!" I glared at the girl who had decided to taunt me. She was barely older than me and hardly taller than me. And in all reality, being 5'8" wasn't that short!

"Why don't you back off, bitch!" I screamed, pushing her backwards. She scoffed, as if I had deeply offended before pushing me back, hard. I fell to the floor, glaring up as she shrieked in laughter. The kids that were passing by hurried off after they stared a bit. It was class time and I had asked to use the bathroom and ended up running into Paula, one of Lucy's friends. I guess she had been looking for me so she could get revenge. And now, during a passing period, it was her chance.

"You really made a mistake when you didn't listen to her. And now, you're gonna pay!" She ran towards me, releasing a shriek. I stared, wide eyed in fear as she got closer to me. Instinctively, I raised my hands up, already seeing my force field rise up and cover me, turning from the bubble texture to its glossy state. Yet at the same time, I also saw a force field surround Paula, holding her up in mid-air. Her screams were muffled as she clawed and screamed to be released.

My breathing was labored as I watched the scene unfold, one of the worst scenes I'll probably ever be apart of.

Slowly, it seemed that Paula was losing strength, her screams dying down as her movements lagged. She also seemed to be breathing hard before she moved one of her hands up to her throat, holding tightly as she coughed. As she was coughing, I suddenly felt a rush of air through my lungs. Like…extra air. But it was different-a mix of hairspray fumes and air. I began coughing a bit as well but only a little.

Then, a burning hatred lit up in my stomach. I didn't want her alive, if she was anything like Lucy. I didn't want to be back on a metal table, knowing that I had been out for a week. I wasn't going to go through that again.

I felt my eyes narrow and my fingers curl slightly as the bubble around her began to shrink. Her eyes widened in fear and panic as she began curling herself into a ball. The entire time, I only stared as a part of me on the inside laughed in joy. And one thought ran through my head, She'll be dead soon enough.

The bell suddenly rang to end classes. My concentration broke, breaking the force field around myself as well as the force field around Paula. Kids poured into the hallways but stopped as they saw the both of us. Paula was sprawled out on the floor, coughing and wheezing. Immediately, somebody was by my side as Ororo ran over to Paula.

"Jen?" I took a deep gulp of air as I stared at the girl I had almost killed. I almost killed someone. "Piper."

My eyes turned up to see John crouched next to me, his eyes looking feverishly over me as one of his hands grasped onto one of mine.

"John?" I whispered. He nodded, his eyes locking onto mine.

"Are you okay? What happened?" I was slowly set up, my breathing staggered as my eyes were still trained on John. But my mind was racing like crazy! I had almost killed someone! But didn't that make it alright? I mean, one of her friends had tried to kill me and she was trying to finish up the job. So wasn't it right that I should defend myself from her, even if it meant killing her?

"I almost killed her," I mumbled, my body going numb. His eyes bore deep into me, worried. There were probably a few other emotions but that one shone the most. He was worried about me.

"It's okay, Jenny. Just...breathe." I shook my head, looking down at the floor as he pulled me closer to his body. It wouldn't be okay. It just wouldn't.

"John, take her to the professor." I knew Ororo was talking but after that, I stopped paying attention. I didn't notice that John had picked me up in his arms and carried me all the way to Professor Xavier's office. I didn't notice the looks all the kids had given me as we passed them. I didn't notice the evil glare that Paula sent me or that small glint of amusement in her eyes. I just knew that I was breathing and that some girl's life had almost been taken by my powers.

What would happen? Would I get kicked out? Where would I have to go? Where could I go?

"Miss Adams?" I snapped from my thoughts to see I was now in the Professor's office, sitting upright on a small leather couch, Professor Xavier in front of me with John next to him. I stared at them both, taking in a deep breath.

"When should I leave, Professor?" I asked in a quiet voice, not moving my eyes from either of them.

John stared in confusion before the professor spoke, "For using self defense, I don't see that as a reason to be expelled."

"I almost killed her, Professor. I shouldn't be here. And I used some kind of power that I didn't even know I had."

"What do you mean?" John asked, sitting next to me. The Professor also seemed interested in my answer.

"When she came to attack me, I put a force field around myself but there was also one around her. And then, it just started shrinking and…I don't think she could breathe."

"This is the first time you've been able to do this, correct?" Professor Xavier asked, leaning forward in curiosity.

I nodded, "Yes. I mean, I've never been able to shape it after I put it up. I also don't understand why she couldn't breath. I can't do anything like that." So far, after spending a week with Professor Xavier and developing my powers as well as testing them, we had figured out some specific details about my powers.

For one, the size was amazing. It could reach a height of about 4 meters, about as tall as an average adult elephant and could also go out around 3 meters in width without breaking or stressing myself out. The whole thing with the bubble to glossy state was also something I had to develop. Professor Xavier said that when it was still a bubble texture state, it could easily be shaped and was easy to break. And once it was glossy, it could no longer be shaped, was as hard as a diamond, and if you didn't break your hand trying to punch the force field, it had an ability to repel anybody who touched it. Literally a shock that sent you flying, or at least, that's how Logan described it. But if concentration was lost, the force field was as impermeable as a bubble and anyone could break through.

"I don't believe this is connected with your force field powers, Miss Adams." John and I both looked up and stared at the professor as he backed up a bit, his brow crinkled in thought.

"What do you mean, Professor? Does Jenny have some other kinds of powers besides putting up force fields?" John asked.

"Well, it's not rare that powers can branch off. It's a bit like an essay, if you will. Choosing a topic and narrowing it down to something specific to write about. Perhaps, Jennifer, your powers are doing the same. Taking the broad power of producing a force field and branching off into a specific, unique and special power."

"So, what exactly are my powers," I quietly asked, clenching my hands together in my lap. John placed an arm around my shoulders, rubbing my arm comfortably.

"Well, from the descriptions you've told me about the fight, it seems that you've finally gained the ability to shrink and expand the force field in it's second state." That was a bit of good news, I guess. It was an improvement. "As for the lack of oxygen, I'd like to try something, as long as you comply. I'll also need your help, John."

We both looked up at the professor before turning to each other, confusion on both of our faces before turning back. John slowly stood up, squeezing my arm gently before completely leaving me and walking over to the professor, standing next to him, his back towards me.

"Now, Jennifer, as soon as I give John the signal, I want you to act upon the situation, however your instincts see fit." With some slight confusion still buzzing in my head, I nodded and waited, patiently but still a bit tense.

The professor then turned his head towards John, his features giving away nothing. They stood in silence for a while before John nodded his head slightly and straightened up. The professor then looked to me, a small smile on his face. "Alright John. Go ahead."

Slowly, John brought his hand up and aimed it at a plant. Suddenly, a flame burst from his hand and flew straight towards the plant, making it catch fire instantly.

I jolted up, all my previous thoughts gone. "John!" I screamed, rushing over and pushing him out of the way, trying to find a fire extinguisher or something to put it out.

"Jennifer, there is a reason we are doing this," the professor said, almost as if it was simple. I suddenly thought back to when Paula was gasping for air. As if there was no oxygen inside of the force field. And fire, with the absence of oxygen, would die down quickly.

"Good job, Jennifer," the professor praised, "Now, you need to act."

"I don't remember how."

"What were your exact feelings when all of this occurred?"

I looked up at the plant, into the fire. It was going to kill the plant if it wasn't stopped. Just like Paula would've killed me if I hadn't stopped her. And just like that, I brought both my hands up, facing my palms towards the plant. And almost instantly, a bubble like texture began to form around the plant completely before turning directly into it's second, glossy state. Concentrating on the fire, willing it to slowly go away, I suddenly felt a bit of air rushing through my lungs. It was so…clean…and fresh, unlike when Paula was in the bubble. Besides the fact that there was a smoky tint to the air, it was so pure.

The bubble then began to shrink, the fire diminishing to nothing but the plant wilting and the pot cracking a bit as the bubble shaped around the pot and the plant to it's exact shape. As soon as the flame was out, I dropped my arms, letting out a deep breath, tasting a bit of the smoke in my throat before my knees buckled, sending me to the floor.

"Piper!" John called, his footsteps rushing over as his arms wrapped around my body. I looked up, my body now tired as he moved some hair from my face, a small smirk lighting up his face.

"Well, it does seem that I've finally distinguished your powers, Miss Adams," Professor Xavier said, rolling up to us. "I believe that not only have you gained the power to shrink or enlarge your force fields, but you've also seemed to gain an ability to take oxygen out of the air. You did seem to have a feeling of extra oxygen flowing into your lungs, didn't you?"

I nodded, "Yes. It had this bit of fire in it but it was pure and fresh. I've never actually breathed anything that pure before."

"I see. And also, from what I can tell from the pot," he said, rolling over towards the pot and touching it, immediately turning the pot into very tiny pieces as it fell to the ground, the dirt and now dead plant following, "you also seem to have a form of molecular combustion."

"Molecular combustion?" John and I asked at the same time, my voice weaker than his. He sat me upright, my back against his chest as he stood us up, keeping a tight arm around my waist.

"Yes. The main power is usually called molecular manipulation. Your power seems to break the atoms up from the solid object but still maintain some sort of form unless another force or object acts upon it."

I nodded slowly, trying to take this all in. It was confusing, trying to remember all the abilities that I was capable of but slowly, it all just seemed to click.

"Now, then." I looked up, along with John, to see the professor rolled back to his desk, shifting around some papers. "I'll probably call you back in during the week after the field trip to test your powers a little more. Until then, I would strongly urge you, Miss Adams, to be conscious of your powers and train your mind to keep it stable. That will be your new homework assignment from me."

"Yes, professor," I murmured, now being stood up with the help of John.

"You both may leave then." We thanked the professor before grabbing our things and walking out. With John being in the majority of my classes, he took the pleasure to grab my bag before he had rushed me to the professor's office. He handed it to me once we were out in the halls.

"You alright, Piper?"

I glanced up to see John had slung his bag over his shoulder, his eyes trained ahead. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for taking care of me."

He looked down at me and grabbed my upper arm gently, pulling me off to the side as some kids ran by. "Jen, don't thank me for that anymore, okay?"

I gave him a quizzical look, "Why not?"

He took in a deep breath of air before dropping his grip from my arm and looking me dead in the eye, "Cause lately…I don't know. I just feel like it's my job to protect you, y'know? Like, because we're good friends, we don't have to say thank you anymore. It's a given, I guess-that I'll always help you whenever you need it."

"John…"

"I don't know, maybe its just me but, I can't help it. It's like instinct and-" I placed my fingers gently over John's mouth, silencing him. It was his turn to throw me a quizzical look.

"It's not just you, okay? I just wish there were times when I can help you like you help me." His lips turned into a smirk before he took my hand down from his mouth, kissing my fingertips gently before leaning his forehead against mine.

Now that I thought about it, the small things like this that he would do to me, it sent butterflies through my stomach. It felt so right, holding his hand, touching his skin, being this close to him. It felt good…safe…right.

"You do help, Jen. Just seeing your eyes and that smile you give me, it's all worth it. You have no idea how long I felt empty and helpless when you were passed out that week. It was like a part of me died." I lowered my gaze, some of those feelings of darkness rushing back to me. I quickly pushed it aside.

"Really?"

He used his free hand to grip my chin lightly and pull it up so my gaze was fastened with his, "Really." He then softly pressed his lips to my forehead, a light fire pressing heat onto my skin. This did feel right.

My hand that held onto his gripped it tightly, pulling it to my body. He was so warm that it just felt so safe, like no one would hurt me.

"You're the only thing that keeps me happy, Piper. Besides fire," he mumbled against my skin before pressing his lips back to my forehead.

"Why do you call me Piper?" Slowly, he backed away, his eyes a bit glazed over while his hand tightened around mine.

"Promise you won't laugh." I nodded, a small smile on my face that urged him to continue. "Well, the thing is, back when I was still living with my parents, my mom used to watch this one show and one of the characters just reminds me of you. And her name was Piper so I mean, I guess that's where it comes from."

"What's Piper like?" I asked, leaning back against the wall and sliding down, bringing him down with me-he quickly moved himself next to me.

"Well, by the end of the show, she's a strong mother of three who has two younger sisters and has lost an older sister. She has her weak side but she hardly ever shows it. She's always fighting and trying to protect all the people she loves."

"And I'm like her?" I asked, staring into his eyes. He smirked back, pulling my body closer to him as he buried his face into my hair.

"I think you're like her." I smiled and played with his fingers before pressing my lips to the center of his palm. Even there it felt warm but a nice warm. Like when you drink hot chocolate on a winter day or s'mores on a cool summer evening.

"The show wouldn't happen to be called Charmed, would it?"

John went rigid next to me before he relaxed and mumbled "Shut up" into my hair. I giggled lightly, kissing his palm again before I snuggled into his body, his warmth covering me.

"So I'm you're Charmed one. Does that make you Leo, my angel?"

He picked his head up, a sluggish smile on his face. "Of course." We sat there until our stomachs growled and we made a run to the kitchen. And that's how I became Piper and he became Leo.

Well, for all of you, this is actually my first time leaving a message :)

So, sorry for updates being so long. Honestly, I have a very hard time keeping myself focused when writing my stories and it's hard to sometimes come up with ideas. I will, though, try my best in the future to keep on writing. Unlike others, I do not require you to review or rate or whatever. Just read and send messages if you feel it's necessary. And luckily since summer is coming up, I'll have more time (hopefully) to update faster.

Thanks to all who read my stories and who will read my upcoming future stories. I greatly appreciate it :) As always, if you have suggestions or wish for me to write a story for you, please let me know. I would be happy to write stories for your enjoyment :) Forewarning that it may take some while to develop the story line but if you already have one, great :)