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Jenna's POV

"Okay, class. Next week is what we call 'Flash Week'. You all will be expected to wear red and yellow," our teacher, Mrs. R, said. "If you behave for that week you'll all get a surprise on Friday."

Flash Week? When did the school start that up? At recess the bullies leader, Olivia, cornered me. "We'll be nice to you for that week, but only because we want to know what the prize is," she said.

Her twin brother, Oliver, smirked. "You are so lucky for that."

I gulped. We were all seven and yet I felt like a bug compared to them. "O-okay."

"You mess this up for us and you'll be very, very sorry," Olivia added.

I nodded. "I w-won't."

Oliver laughed. "You have no friends. How amazing is that? Is it because of your stutter?"

I blinked. "I-I thought y-you said y-you won't b-bully me." I hate my stutter! I only do it when I'm way too scared or nervous. I'm a shy person!

Olivia smirked. "Oh, Wheelhead. That doesn't start until next Monday. Today is Friday."

I gulped again and they beat me up. When they were done I quickly wiped the tears from my face and looked down. I was bruised up pretty well. Darn. I got up and went back down on my knee. Ow. I guess I hurt my ankle when I tried to run from them. I stood up more slowly and limped into class.

When it was Monday my limp hadn't really gone away. My bruises faded slightly though. I was wearing a yellow dress with a red ribbon holding my hair. I sat and sighed. Good thing I won't be bullied this week. The teacher came in. "Oh! Look at you guys. You look amazing and cute," she said.

Friday came and I looked at my mom in the mirror. "I wish the teacher told us what the surprise is," I said to her.

"Then it wouldn't be a surprise," Mom replied.

"I guess." I was wearing a red dress with a yellow ribbon around my waist. My mom was braiding my hair and she tied it off with a yellow hair tie. She dropped me off and I walked into the classroom. Nothing looked new. I sat at my desk. Everyone was chatting excitedly. They couldn't wait for the surprise. When the teacher came in the noise fell quiet instantly. "Well, you all behaved for this week. Your surprise will be here in an hour," Mrs. R said.

I looked around quickly and saw many people sigh. We had done our spelling test, our math test, and a science test by the time there was a knock on the door. Mrs. R opened it and in came Flash. We all gasped. "Everyone, your surprise is Flash paying us a visit," Mrs. R said smiling at our reactions. "I hope you are okay with answering questions, Flash."

He smiled. "I don't mind."

Several hands shot up. Olivia and Oliver included. "Olivia?" Mrs. R said.

"I was wondering if you fight people without powers? Or is it just people with powers you catch?" Olivia asked.

"I do both," Flash said.

"Oliver?" Mrs. R said.

"Have you ever wished that someone else would take your place?" He asked.

I blinked. That was a bad question. Flash shook his head. "I like being able to keep people safe. So I wouldn't give it up."

One-by-one everyone asked a question and when no one's hands were raised Flash watched Mrs. R teach us. At lunch, I sat at the table where I usually sat. The table that was in the corner. Like always no one came over. Then someone sat across from me. My head snapped up and my eyes widened. Flash sat across from me!

"I saw that you hadn't raised your hand. Do you have any questions for me?" He asked me.

"U-um," I stuttered. "I d-didn't have a-a question."

Oliver and Olivia sat down beside me. "Hey, Jenna," Olivia said.

"H-hey," I muttered. They got jealous so they came over.

Oliver leaned in by my ear. "Say anything to make us look stupid and next week's torture will be ten times worse."

I blanched. "O-okay."

Flash frowned. "What did you tell her?"

Olivia smiled. "He just told her that we want to play with her at recess. Right, Jenna?" She said elbowing me in the ribs. Hard.

I nodded. "Yeah, i-it just s-surprised me."

"Why?" Flash asked.

I closed my eyes. "B-because it's s-still surprising m-me that t-they are f-friends with m-me."

"She stutters when she's nervous or scared. She's a shy person," Oliver said.

I fought not to show my surprise. They had actually listened to me when I said that?

Flash was watching me. "Does she now? Why would she be scared at this moment?"

"I-I'm not! I-I'm just n-nervous," I said quickly.

He sighed. "Alright. But can your games wait? I want to talk to Miss Wheeler for a little bit."

Oliver and Olivia both looked at me with murder in their eyes. They had turned just enough that Flash couldn't see it. "W-what about?" I asked terrified by the looks.

He must have heard the fear in my voice and thought I was scared of him because he said, "I won't hurt you. I just have a few questions."

I gulped. I was going to be dead next week. "O-okay."

When it was time for recess Oliver and Olivia left. I stayed where I was. "What d-do you n-need?" I asked trying to calm down.

"They bully you, don't they?" He asked.

"W-who?"

"Oliver and Olivia."

I shook my head frantically. "N-no, they d-don't." He must have seen their looks or Olivia elbowing me or...he couldn't have heard Oliver, could he have?

"Oliver said something that terrified you. You'd only have been scared if he had said something mean. What did he say?"

"Nothing," I said quickly and was glad it didn't have a stutter in it.

"Miss Wheeler, I want to help you and I can't do that if you don't tell me the truth."

I looked down. My mom got really mad when I came home covered in bruises or limping. The only reason the principal hasn't gotten anything from her is because I beg her not to say anything. I sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "They do bully me. I get my bruises from them and when I try to make a run for it I always fall and hurt my leg. You don't have to do anything." Yes! No stutter at all.

Flash raised an eyebrow. "I help people. That's my job. I also want to help you."