ANTE BELLUM: III 
RAMSEY BIANCHI

I THREW MY HEAD BACK AND LET OUT A LOUD YAWN BEFORE SCRATCHING MY EYE, I IGNORE THE STARES I RECEIVED FROM SOME NEBBY STUDENTS. I set in my combination before opening the locker, I glance to the side casually and my eyes set on a familiar skater boy. I notice he was talking to Samantha Everest, my eyebrows slightly furrowing as I watch them interact for a little too long. My line of sight was quickly interrupted by a smirking blonde, I quickly averted my eyes and began to grab my notebooks for the first three classes.

 "So, I see Miss Everest is trying to steal your man." I scoff at her teasing as she quickly put on her combination and began placing her notebooks on her cute bag pack.

 "Mmm, for starters; Samantha has a boyfriend and second of all, he's not my man." I clarified, my hand slamming the locker's door shut.

 "Oh, really? Wasn't it you who ditched us yesterday for a little romantic escapade with Mr. Parker?" Gwen tease, I rolled my eyes at her before they glance over at Peter who was now by his locker.

 "It was not a romantic escapade. I was there and he so happened to be there too." I shrugged lazily.

Gwen shuts her locker door and turns to face me with a smirk, "Yer destined to be together Ramsey."

 Yep. She just imitated Hagrid.

 I stare at Gwen for a good ten seconds before concluding that my best friend is in fact, a geek. "Dios mio, don't tell me those were the last two neurons you had left."

Gwen burst out laughing, her face turns a deep shade of red as she cracks up at her own joke. I shake my head; this woman was unbelievable; I sent her a peace sign before slowly backing away from her.

 "See you at lunch."

I twirl the pencil in my right hand as I leaned my cheek against my left hand. My eyes stare at the green chalkboard in front of me, Mr. Lee kept explaining something about logarithmic differentiations. My eyelids fell heavy each time I blinked, my whole body was incredibly exhausted from yesterday and today's practice. I was so close to falling asleep in this class but, I couldn't. I was failing this class, which is a pain in the ovaries because if I don't get at least an eighty in this class I won't be competing in the National Outdoors for track and field.

Which of course I would not allow happening, the problem is that Mr. Lee doesn't make it any easier by adding more and more formulas as time passes by. I swear I go home, watch some tutorials, feel confident about what I learn, and proceed to do some exercises, for then to go to class the next day to realize there is more to the topic. Like I'm aware this is a school for geniuses but, come on, if Flash Thompson is here then so can I.

 I should ask Gwen to tutor me, I got to pass this class.

A sharp ring resonates through the halls of Midtown High School, signaling every student and teacher that the class had reached its end. I adverted my eyes to the ceiling before mumbling a quick prayer, "Gracias Virgen Santisima."

 I pack my things and leave the dreadful classroom, I jog my way toward the cafeteria and push past the double doors. I quickly scan the area, trying to spot Gwen, I looked over to the athlete's table before glancing over to the STUCO table. Coming to the conclusion that Gwen wasn't here, I swivel on my heels before leaving the cafeteria and walking over to the schoolyard where Gwen most definitely is.

The warm sun kisses my skin, making me smile lightly as I'm suddenly six years old. I remember the tropical weather in Honduras, it was mostly dominated by the sun and I loved it. Honduras reminds me of eternal summer, the way the soft breeze would rattle the tree's leaves, and the sound of the waves crashing on the shore. What I love the most was how small of a country it was, it was packed with amazing places and so much culture. Also, don't get me started on its food, the baleadas and pastelitos were to die for. I miss living there, Manhattan is amazing but it doesn't compare to Honduras. I guess that was the last time I felt truly happy, living an ordinary life with my parents. It was home.

 Yeah, I miss that.

"Rams!" A voice snaps me from my reverie, I turn my head to the right and find Gwen waving at me.

 I walk over to her and set my bag on the table, "I thought you were in the cafeteria." I took out my lunch and began to eat my homemade club sandwich.

"It's impossible to read in there, with Flash breathing down my neck or one of the STUCO members chewing my ear off." I chuckle as I happily munch at my sandwich. "I just wanted some peace."

"Duly noted," I said, before swallowing the food.

"So, how have you been? I notice your knuckles are injured." I glance over at my purple knuckles feeling slightly embarrassed.

"It's nothing." I quickly brush it off before taking another bite. "I'm fine."

Gwen rolls her eyes before resuming her reading, silence fell upon us as we both lose ourselves in our own little world. Have you ever asked yourself, why in the midst of so much pain you refuse to let someone in? Like, it's clear you can't carry that burden of sin, whatever you wanna call it, by yourself. I wonder that every time, sometimes I'm suffocating on my own and I can't bear the pain anymore and all I want to do is... disappear. After I lost my parents, I lost a big part of myself. I struggled a lot growing up, I didn't know who I was supposed to be. I just didn't know my purpose, I felt like a pawn in a huge chessboard waiting to be moved but instead, I stood in that same spot for thirteen years.

 "Eat the food!

Eat the food!

Eat the food!"

I weirdly look around to realize there was a crowd forming a good 10 meters away from us, Gwen and I stare at the crowd chanting 'eat the food' while simultaneously fist-bumping in the air. I spotted a familiar buzz cut in the middle of the crowd, he was holding a kid upside down as Flash stuffed his face on the food tray. My jaw drops in shock, everybody around Flash thought of this as amusing and for a reason, it boils my blood. Some people label me as reckless, I reach a point where I don't think, I just do and this was one of those moments where I let my intuition guide me. I narrow my eyes at Flash, there is another part of me many people have no clue about and that is that I'm enhanced, so right now I was trying to use my psionic ability on Flash.

My chests implode with emotions that were not my own, I felt rage, pain, disappointment, and the faintest of them all, a spark of worth. I blink back in surprise, feeling the connection I had established with him disappear as he kept stuffing the kid's face on his plate. I feel taken aback, those feelings weren't the ones I had expected to be present on a bully but overall what caught my attention was the spark of worth he felt. Made me wonder if 0Flash was one of those kids, those who are damaged but act as if everything is okay. Reminds me a little about myself.

I heard Gwen sigh heavily, "Don't even think about doing something you'll regret, Rams." I glance at her and she gave me a knowing look before hopping off the table and gathering her things.

I was about to object when I heard a familiar name being shouted, I look over the crowd and notice Peter Parker standing in there as he shook his head.

"Uh oh," I mumble as Gwen and I hurriedly made our way toward the crowd.

"Take the picture, Parker!" Flash shouts as he's still carrying the poor kid, I manage to get to the front of the crowd. Flash's back facing me as he walks over to Peter who looks uneasy about this whole situation.

"Put him down, Flash." Peter reasoned.

 "Take a picture," Flash demands.

 The crowd begins to shout at Peter to take the picture to which he snaps by saying, "Put him down! Eugene!"

 I visibly wince at Peter's mistake knowing very well how much Flash hated his middle name, I look around as several students around him start to snicker at Peter calling him out. Flash carelessly drops the kid and he lands painfully on his side, I notice him wincing before he's back on his feet and leaving the scene. Leaving Peter to fight off the giant on his own.

Peter tries to go after the kid when Flash steps closer to Peter and lands a neat punch in the gut, Peter groans in pain as he falls to the ground. I balled my fist at the sight of Flash crossing the line, I might have had compassion for him earlier but hitting a student because of his fragile ego does not sit well with me.

"HEY!" I shout angrily, I take a step inside the circle with a deadly look across my face.

 Flash turns around sharply, ready to land a punch on whoever called him out but freezes when he sees me. "Get lost, Bianchi. This is not a scene for a woman."

Around me, I heard a snicker, which only fueled my anger even more. "Oh yeah, scared a girl might kick your ass."

"I mean it, Bianchi. Get lost." I only smirk at him.

"No, you're scared I'll hurt your tiny little ego. Don't worry, I won't tell your daddy his puny son got beat up by a girl!" I taunt, Flash groans angrily and swings his fist toward my head in which I crouch down and land a punch on his manhood.

 Flash doubles over in pain, his face flushes a deep shade of red as his eyes fill with tears. I smirk at him, "You're pathetic Flash, being a bully is not something to be proud of."

He keeps groaning as he holds his manhood, my eyes then move toward Peter who was slowly starting to get up. My eyebrows narrow in concern as I rush to his side, Peter flinches and my heart drops at his reaction.

"It's fine skater boy, I come in peace," I tell him before lacing my hands on his arm and pulling him up, Peter groans and holds his stomach. "You okay?"

"Really Ramsey, was this necessary?" Gwen scolds as she checks on Flash.

The crowd had dispersed by now, everybody minding their own business. Flash kept writhing on the floor, I rolled my eyes and went to grab Peter's broken camera.

"Your boyfriend was acting up, Gwen. He had it coming." I quickly defend my actions.

Gwen turns to me while she remains crouch next to Flash. "I know that, what I meant is; did you have to hit him in there?"

I stop and look at her, I glance at Peter who was also observing me. "Yes, he deserved a hit on the chimichangas." I sass before handing Peter his broken camera and offering him an apologetic look.

"Thank you." He mumbles.

"Do you want to- "

The words dying in my mouth as a loud, angry voice yelled from behind me. "BIANCHI! THOMPSON! MY OFFICE! NOW!"

 Uh oh, busted.

🅷🅾🅻🅰

Busted indeed.

Hello my lovely readers, how are you feeling today? I hope you're okay and healthy. SO, what did you guys think of Ramsey's ability?

She's been learning how to
use them, keep them at bay, or else she would be feeling everybody's emotions.

You might learn how she came to control them, probably.

Anyway, how did you like the last scene where Ramsey goes against Flash? Yes, Flash did try to hit a girl, what a punk. But fortunately, Ramsey was there to teach him some manners.

Don't forget to show some love and comment on your favorite part
of this chapter or just plain feedback.

Stay safe, lots of love (っ◔◡◔)っ ♥