Panic attack!

Jamie took the white bottle in thin fingers, turning it over and mentally pronouncing the long, difficult name. "Sorry... That must suck." He finally said, quietly handing back the bottle.

Now what was it you wanted to ask a moment ago...Do i?"

"Ah..." He shrugged one shoulder, still feeling like he was chattering despite Dorn's assurance otherwise. "I was just wondering if you knew anyone else with only one power."

He listened solemnly, finally nudging his shoulder against Dorn's in a rare and vaguely awkward display of empathy. "Sorry. Glad he was there to help you. Guess I shouldn't be complaining so much... At least my power has never put me in danger." He stared at his hands, wishing he could think of something more comforting to say. The boy had, in a relatively short time, done more to alleviate his fears concerning the Academy then anyone else had - he wished he could say something to make him feel better.

"You have a special gift and a great power, just like with me you just have to learn to control it, I might not be such a good teacher on the subject but I might be able to help you control your powers if you want me to help you?"

"Really?" He turned to the taller boy with excitement shining clearly in his eyes. "But... How? I don't even know how to... summon it or anything. It just shows up when I get really surprised or embarrassed or something and won't go away."

He reddened shyly at Dorn ruffling his hair, and for a moment couldn't think of anything to say. "...Then you're very lucky. The power to understand people, and the ability to talk to them, as well." He finally said, pushing the hair out of his eyes.

James drew his knees back up to his chest, listening solemnly to Dorn speaking and nodding earnestly every now and then. He was getting nervous about the whole thing - what if it didn't work? What if it did, and he couldn't stop it again? What if it got out of control? He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. Dorn was there. He could always run for help if Jamie took a flying rock to the face.

He examined the rock carefully, balling his hands into fists and curling even further inward on himself. He closed his eyes, frowning slightly in concentration as Dorn's soft voice continued its coaching, quiet over the lapping of the waves. He could imagine the rock in his mind, feel the weight like a strange and distant thing. His problem was actually moving it, instead of only thinking about moving it. He was about to say this out loud when he felt Dorn's hands drop down on his shoulders, and his eyes popped open before he could stop himself.
And then Dorn was calling him a 'very strong person' and Jamie was thinking, what gave you that idea? and trying to concentrate on forehead beams instead of hands, and then suddenly his ears were buzzing and the rock and a few dozen others surrounding it shot twenty feet in the air. He tensed up anxiously as they whizzed back down, fingernails digging into arms as they splashed impressively into the sea a few yards away. A shower of scattered pebbles rained down after them, pelting down upon the boulder they were sitting on and stinging against James' tensed shoulders.

He was silent for a few moments, staring at the half-submerged rocks to make sure they weren't moving anymore before finally turning to Dorn with concern written plainly on his face. "I'm sorry... Sorry. are you okay?" He asked, his relative success ignored as he stumbled over apologies. "It's always... big, like that. I should have told you I'd screw it up and make it dangerous. I'm sorry."

Jamie squirmed a little, averting his eyes from the other boy as he brushed sand from his hair. He wasn't used to someone... touching him so much. Although it was not unpleasant, he wasn't sure how to respond, so he tried to pretend it wasn't happening. "But... I mean..." He tugged at his left shirt sleeve awkwardly, still studiously staring at the ground. "Don't feel like you have to help out someone you just met. If it's gonna be dangerous."

"But are you okey then Jamie, did you get hurt? Are you okey?"

"I'm okay." He said, without hesitation. "You kinda covered me from most of it. Besides, I've gotten hit by plenty of worse things before." He shrugged awkwardly with one shoulder, chewing the inside of his lip. He'd gotten caught in the whirlwind of his powers many times before - at least this time he'd came out of it without bruises. "But maybe I should practice with something softer then rocks next time." He flickered up a glance at Dorn's blue eyes, grinning lopsidedly.

"Yeah next time we will use pillows or something softer."

Jamie nodded, grinning excitedly despite himself at the words 'next time'. It was nice to know he had a friend on the Island, someone interested in meeting him again. "Pillows, huh?" He grinned at the thought, happy that the problem of possibly hurting Dorn was so easily solved. "Probably a good idea."

"Ah... No, I haven't." He pulled a scrap of paper out of his pocket on which was scrawled the number of the dorm he'd been assigned to. "I just got here - haven't been to the school yet." He didn't mention that he'd been delaying it for as long as possible, although he figured Dorn would guess.

He ducked his head, pulling self-consciously at the hem of his shirt as if he could make himself less conspicuous. The shirt was casual enough that it might look natural on someone else, but on him it looked out-of-place and... well, strict. "I was planning on changing as soon as I got here... But my luggage was delayed. They told me to check back tomorrow." He shrugged, absent-mindedly rolling up his sleeves. "Anyway, I'm used to making bad impressions."

Jamie scrunched his nose, embarrassed. "You're right," he said, vaguely surprised. He'd never considered his powers might be used to do something enjoyable. "'Course, it wouldn't be fair to my opponent."

"You would? That'd be great" He said, relieved. The prospect of going to the school was still an unpleasant one, but having Dorn with him relieved some of his apprehension. He nodded at the affirmation of his fears concerning a roommate, anxiety only slightly lessened by the other boy's reassurance that he was nice. He considered asking Dorn what his name was, deciding against it quickly. He didn't know anyone else at the Academy - a name would mean nothing to him. Besides, he'd prefer to avoid thinking about it for as long as he could.

Dorn undid a button on his shirt, and he went red at the unexpected gesture, fingers involuntary going up to the small of his neck where the thin necklace he had tucked under the shirt was now exposed. It made him even more self-conscious, but he had to admit he at least looked more casual. "Thanks," He finally said, grinning appreciatively.

He glanced up and down the taller boy, smiling in spite of himself. Although he guessed the other boy to be only a year or two older then him, he was easily six inches shorter then Dorn, and thirty or so pounds skinnier to boot. "That'd be great - if you think you have anything that would fit me." He grinned, tweaking the other boy's shirt sleeve impulsively. "Got anything you grew out of a few years ago?"