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00:00Growing up in a super small town in rural Arkansas meant that if you were different at all, people noticed.
00:11And I was different.
00:13Hi, my name is Ashley, and this is the story of how my biggest burden became my superpower, and then my burden again.
00:22Ever since I was a toddler, I had a hearing impairment that forced me to wear this really awkward device over my left ear.
00:30My parents told me I could never take it out, that it would be dangerous if I did.
00:35And as I entered tweenhood, I really wanted to.
00:39Paging agent Ashley, do you copy?
00:42Molly, the class clown, was also the class bully.
00:46She would come up and tap on my hearing device.
00:49I said, Ashley, come in, we have a breach of security.
00:53The class would laugh at her shameless harassment, and the teachers were afraid to stand up to her.
00:58They didn't want to get roasted, after all.
01:01My home life wasn't much better.
01:03Mom and Dad were always fighting, and it always seemed like it was about me.
01:08How was school today, honey?
01:10Is that horrible girl still making fun of you?
01:12I was still too busy stabbing my peas with a fork to respond.
01:16I really wasn't in the mood.
01:18Ashley, I said, how was school?
01:20Did you hear me?
01:20Of course she heard you.
01:22She can hear, she's just in one of her moods.
01:25I'm sorry, I'm just trying to connect with our daughter.
01:28Well, maybe you should give her some space.
01:30All you're suffocating isn't helping.
01:33Ugh!
01:33I wish I couldn't hear you both!
01:36I yanked the device out of my ear for the first time ever,
01:39and was met with a piercing, ringing sound that I can only imagine feels like what a dog hears when someone blows a dog whistle.
01:46Honey, no!
01:47Mom and Dad rushed over and shoved the device back in my ear.
01:51I nearly passed out from the pain of the noise.
01:54When I came to, I was in shock.
01:57What was that?
01:58That's what happens when you don't listen to us.
02:00That device is there to protect you.
02:02Don't try that again.
02:04Protect me from what, though?
02:06Hearing loss?
02:07Something felt off.
02:09But I didn't dare remove the device again.
02:11I didn't have many friends.
02:13But my parents got me this harmonica bottle.
02:15Despite my hearing issues,
02:17blowing into the harmonica cap and playing a tune with every sip brought me joy.
02:22I know it's a small thing,
02:23but isn't life all about the little moments that make us happy?
02:27Check out the link in the description.
02:29When I got to high school,
02:31Mom forced me to join an extracurricular in the hopes I would make friends.
02:35So I joined the soccer team,
02:37the only sport I was remotely good at.
02:39But I didn't realize Molly was on the team.
02:43She would tease me for any mistakes I made.
02:45Hey, Trashly!
02:46Can you turn off your music and focus on scoring a single goal?
02:50During our penultimate season game against our biggest rival,
02:53I was so scared that I would mess up
02:55and Molly would never let me hear the end of it.
02:58We were a point away from winning.
03:00The defense was tight.
03:01I had no idea Molly was planning to pass me the ball.
03:05Ashley, get open!
03:07She kicked the ball midair,
03:09and I tried to chest bump it.
03:10But instead,
03:11I felt flat on my chest,
03:13losing us the game.
03:15I thought that thing was supposed to help you here.
03:18I couldn't take it anymore.
03:20I stood up and kicked the soccer ball straight to her head.
03:24I heard you loud and clear.
03:27Bam!
03:28The soccer ball hit her smack in the face.
03:31Fuming, she charged at me.
03:33She tackled me to the ground,
03:34and then I felt her yanking on my hearing device.
03:37Give me that thing!
03:38Stop!
03:39Don't!
03:40Help!
03:41I need help!
03:42But before anyone could save me,
03:44she pulled out a device and chucked it across the field.
03:47That brutal, painful ringing started reverberating again.
03:51It sent shockwaves through my head and my body.
03:54I fell to my knees and screamed in agony.
03:58And then, silence.
04:01Total, utter silence.
04:03I opened my eyes,
04:05stunned by the scene in front of me.
04:07No one was moving.
04:09Everyone was frozen in place.
04:11The ref had his hand around Molly's wrist,
04:13trying to restrain her.
04:15But why was no one moving?
04:17Uh, hello?
04:19Guys?
04:20Guys?
04:21What is happening?
04:22The thing is,
04:24I could hear myself screaming,
04:26perfectly clear,
04:27even without the hearing aid.
04:29I scanned the field for my device,
04:31and found it in the goal post.
04:33I fashioned it back into my ear,
04:35and was met with that piercing ringing again.
04:38But this time,
04:39when I opened my eyes,
04:41everyone was moving again.
04:43Molly was being apprehended by the ref,
04:45getting dragged off the field.
04:47And hovering above me was a boy my age from the opposing team.
04:51I thought he was going to say something snarky,
04:53but instead,
04:54he offered me his hand.
04:55I'm sorry that happened to you.
04:57Oh, weird.
04:58Looks like you got your device back.
05:00Huh.
05:01Anyway,
05:01I know what it's like to be bullied.
05:03I'm Jasper, by the way.
05:05He had these really weird-looking sunglasses
05:07secured to his head with a metal wire.
05:09I can't take them off,
05:11or something about the sun.
05:13I don't know.
05:14Just stay strong,
05:15and don't let it get to you.
05:16What they see as your biggest weakness,
05:18could be your biggest strength.
05:21My biggest strength?
05:22Okay,
05:23there was totally something my parents weren't telling me.
05:27I mean,
05:27I don't want to jump to conclusions,
05:29but something connected to the device
05:31seemed to stop time.
05:33When I got home,
05:34I thought about telling my parents what I had experienced,
05:37but I had no idea how they'd react,
05:40and I wanted to be sure first.
05:42So,
05:43I did a little experiment at dinner.
05:45Your coach called.
05:46Apparently,
05:47you got into a little tussle with that girl Molly.
05:49I'm going to call her mother.
05:50Enough is enough.
05:51Oh, come on.
05:52You think that's what Ashley needs?
05:54Her mother interfering?
05:56Like,
05:56that's going to make school easier for her?
05:58Would you rather she get tormented every day?
06:00I rushed away from the dinner table
06:02and locked myself in the bathroom.
06:04I couldn't listen to them bicker anymore.
06:07I yanked out my earpiece,
06:09ready to face that dreadful ringing.
06:12When it was over,
06:13and I opened my eyes,
06:14all was silent.
06:16The shrill sound of my parents screaming was gone.
06:18I was nervous to go back to the kitchen,
06:21a million thoughts running through my head.
06:24But when I arrived at the dinner table,
06:26my parents were right where I left them.
06:28My mom's fork waving at dad,
06:30spaghetti sauce all over dad's face.
06:33Then I realized,
06:34I couldn't hear the traffic outside,
06:36or the baby next door crying,
06:38or the wind.
06:39I stepped outside to find
06:41that I had frozen the entire neighborhood.
06:45What if I had caused a catastrophe?
06:47I needed to get to the lookout in town
06:49to see how far my, uh,
06:51quirk extended.
06:53My neighbor was frozen on his bicycle,
06:55and I needed transportation.
06:57I snapped a photo of him with my phone
06:59so I could put him right back where I found him.
07:01Then I picked him up
07:02and set him gently on the sidewalk.
07:05I hopped on his bike
07:06and pedaled to the overlook
07:07where I could see all the way out to the water.
07:10I looked out onto the horizon,
07:12desperately searching for any sign of movement.
07:15The river didn't even look like it was flowing.
07:17But then I spotted something.
07:19A fisherman waiting in the water,
07:21reeling his fishing rod.
07:23Whew.
07:24I didn't know if I could handle
07:25the responsibility of freezing the entire world.
07:29I needed to get home and search for answers.
07:32But as I turned around,
07:33I noticed a row of cars parked.
07:35I peered through the windows,
07:37and saw my classmates making out.
07:40Well, frozen, mid-makeout.
07:42I thought the makeout spot was a total myth.
07:45The last thing I needed right now
07:46was another reminder of how abnormal I was.
07:49I'd never kissed anyone.
07:51Then, in one of the cars,
07:53I saw a familiar mop of blonde hair
07:55against one of the windows.
07:57It was Molly.
07:58And in the passenger seat was Jasper.
08:01What the heck?
08:02I had no idea they even knew each other.
08:04The guy who saved me from my bully
08:07looked like he was mid-arguing with her.
08:10Were they dating?
08:11Breaking up?
08:12I was suddenly filled with rage.
08:15I had to do something.
08:17I saw a lizard on the ground,
08:19picked it up,
08:20and dumped it into the crack in the window
08:22onto her lap.
08:23Then,
08:23I hid behind a tree,
08:25put my hearing device back in,
08:27and watched her totally freak out.
08:30AHHHHH!
08:31She jumped out of the car,
08:32frantic.
08:33EW EW EW EW!
08:34I couldn't help but laugh to myself.
08:37I suddenly felt powerful.
08:40This wasn't a quirk.
08:42It was a strength.
08:44Oh, shoot.
08:45Totally forgot to return the bike.
08:47I sped home,
08:48leaving the bike right where I found it.
08:51When I got home,
08:52my parents were livid.
08:54Where were you?
08:55We were terrified.
08:56We didn't even hear you leave.
08:58Sweetie, it's fine.
08:59She's home now.
09:00You don't have to hover so much.
09:02I just went for a bike ride to clear my head,
09:05to get away from your arguing.
09:07I locked myself in my room,
09:09wishing there was a way I could use my powers
09:11to make my parents get along.
09:12I thought maybe I could,
09:15by becoming the social,
09:17well-adjusted daughter they'd always wanted.
09:19So, I started scheming.
09:23First, I would stop time so I could make friends.
09:27While I was at my locker,
09:28I overheard some cool alternative girls
09:30talking about a birthday celebration.
09:32The party was fun,
09:33but no one got me the electronic baby doll
09:35I've wanted since I was a kid.
09:37I know, I know, I'm grown now,
09:39but I've been talking about it forever.
09:41It's like my dream gift.
09:43I took my earpiece out,
09:44suffered through the familiar pain,
09:47and sprang into action.
09:49I dashed out of school,
09:50biked to the nearest toy store,
09:52and hunted down
09:53THE electronic baby doll.
09:55Taking a deep breath,
09:56I put my earpiece back in,
09:58walked up to the group,
09:59and smiled.
10:01Hey, Brynn!
10:02I know yesterday was your birthday,
10:04and I saw the general invite.
10:06I couldn't make it,
10:07but here's a little something for you.
10:09Oh my god, no way!
10:10An electronic baby doll?
10:12Yep, she pees and poos.
10:15Exactly what I wanted.
10:17You're amazing!
10:18Give me a hug, dude.
10:19I invited Brynn and her crew over
10:21to watch a movie,
10:22and I could hear Mom and Dad
10:23talking about me from the other room.
10:25I'm so relieved she's finally made friends.
10:28Now, if only she could get her grades up.
10:30Sure thing, Dad.
10:32Okay, time's up.
10:34Ashley, walk me through the problem.
10:35I was notoriously horrible at algebra,
10:39so I thought I'd buy myself some time.
10:42The problem?
10:43Well, that's easy.
10:44I took my earpiece out.
10:46Time froze.
10:47And then I casually walked over
10:49to the smartest girl in the room's desk
10:51and copied her notes.
10:52I walked back to my seat,
10:54put my earpiece back in, and...
10:56to isolate the variable.
10:58First, subtract 5 from both sides of the equation,
11:01simplifying 2x plus 5 minus 5
11:03equals 15 minus 5
11:05to 2x equals 10.
11:07Oh, great work!
11:09She's a-cheating!
11:10Uh-oh.
11:11Did Molly somehow see me?
11:12Someone's feeding her answers
11:14through her earpiece.
11:15Nope.
11:16Still just bullying me.
11:18But I had an idea for revenge.
11:20At our final season-ending soccer game,
11:23as Molly was winding up
11:24to kick the ball for an easy goal,
11:26I froze time.
11:28She was halted mid-kick.
11:29Then, I moved the ball
11:31slightly to the right.
11:33When I unfroze,
11:34and she kicked...
11:35Gah!
11:36She fell straight onto her butt,
11:38missing the ball completely.
11:40Her face turned beet red.
11:43Might want to check your eyesight.
11:45Grr!
11:46I swear I had that!
11:47And even though it was causing me
11:49immense pain to keep freezing time,
11:52it was worth it
11:52just to see Molly's face
11:54when I froze the field,
11:55moved the goalpost over
11:56ever so slightly,
11:58pivoted the goalie,
11:59unfroze time,
12:00and scored the winning goal!
12:02The crowd went wild!
12:05All of my teammates
12:06lifted me up in celebration,
12:08while Molly was
12:09pouting off to the side.
12:11And after the excitement settled,
12:13I saw Jasper
12:14making his way toward me.
12:15Wow!
12:16Amazing performance!
12:18I didn't know you'd be here.
12:19Yeah,
12:20my best friend plays
12:21on the other team.
12:22Hopefully he'll forgive me
12:23for talking to the enemy.
12:25Hey,
12:25do you want to hang out later?
12:27I blinked.
12:28Uh,
12:29seriously?
12:30From the corner of my eye,
12:32I saw Molly
12:33staring daggers at us.
12:35You're not dating...
12:36her?
12:37Molly?
12:39Ha!
12:39No,
12:40I'm not dating Molly!
12:42I hesitated.
12:44I saw...
12:45What?
12:46What did you see?
12:47Never mind.
12:48There was an awkward pause,
12:49and I needed to do something.
12:51So I grabbed my harmonica bottle
12:53and took a sip.
12:54Then,
12:54without thinking,
12:55I blew into the cap.
12:57A loud,
12:58unexpected whistle
12:59echoed through the field.
13:01Jasper jumped.
13:02Did your water bottle
13:03just...
13:04make a sound?
13:06For some reason,
13:07I decided to play along,
13:08acting just as surprised as him.
13:11Maybe I wanted to
13:12share the excitement,
13:13or maybe I was just
13:14really nervous.
13:16I blinked down at it,
13:17then tried again.
13:18A perfect little tune
13:20played from the cap.
13:22No way!
13:23Jasper grinned.
13:25Okay,
13:25that's actually awesome.
13:27Where do you even
13:27find something like that?
13:29It was a gift,
13:30but you can totally
13:31get one too.
13:32Amazon link's
13:33in the description.
13:34Jasper shook his head,
13:36amused.
13:37Alright.
13:37So,
13:38is that a yes?
13:40Yes!
13:41Awesome!
13:42I'll pick you up
13:43in an hour.
13:43We can go
13:44to the lookout point.
13:45I nodded,
13:46still holding
13:47my harmonica bottle
13:48like it had just
13:49revealed a secret
13:50superpower,
13:51because apparently,
13:53it kind of had.
13:54I think
13:55I visibly gulped.
13:57The lookout point?
13:58Could this be it?
13:59My first kiss?
14:01But I was getting
14:02ahead of myself.
14:03First,
14:04I had to finish
14:04my take-home
14:05algebra test.
14:06There was no way
14:07I could do it
14:08in an hour,
14:09so I improvised a little.
14:11The janitor had
14:11the master key
14:12to every room
14:13in the school,
14:14so when I saw him
14:15in the hallways,
14:16I just casually
14:17froze time
14:18and unclasped
14:19the keys from his belt.
14:20But this time,
14:22the pain in my ear
14:23was really bad.
14:25I had to act quick.
14:26I unlocked
14:27the teacher's office,
14:28carefully searching
14:29for the test results,
14:30making sure
14:31not to move things
14:31too badly.
14:33Finally,
14:33I found it,
14:34but just as I was
14:35taking photos
14:36of the answers,
14:37my ears started
14:38ringing piercingly loud.
14:40I collapsed
14:41onto the desk,
14:42trying to withstand
14:43the pain,
14:44but I accidentally
14:45knocked the teacher's
14:45mug over,
14:46spilling old coffee
14:47all over the test.
14:49I ran out of the office,
14:51locked the door,
14:52and clasped the keys
14:53back onto the janitor's
14:54belt before I fell again.
14:56Then I put my earpiece
14:57back in
14:57and fled the school
14:58before anyone saw me.
14:59I got home
15:00and waited for Jasper
15:02to pick me up,
15:03but he never showed.
15:04I'd been stood up.
15:06Go figure.
15:08Furious,
15:09I borrowed
15:10my neighbor's bike
15:10to the lookout,
15:11and there Jasper was,
15:14wearing his sunglasses
15:15at night,
15:15sitting on the ridge,
15:17desperately clasping
15:18Molly's hand.
15:19Oh, hey, Jasper.
15:22So,
15:22you stood me up
15:23for Molly?
15:24Awesome.
15:26Wait,
15:26are you guys
15:27in on this together?
15:28Trying to humiliate me?
15:30Ashley,
15:31no,
15:31that's not
15:32what this is.
15:33Then what is it?
15:34What are you really
15:35hiding behind
15:35your sunglasses?
15:36You said you were
15:37sensitive to the sun.
15:39Well,
15:39it's night time.
15:41Leave us alone,
15:42freak.
15:43Gah!
15:43I yanked my earpiece
15:45out when the coast
15:45was clear
15:46and pulled Jasper's
15:47sunglasses down
15:48from his face.
15:49But suddenly,
15:50I felt someone's
15:51hand grab my wrist.
15:52It was Jasper's.
15:54Startled,
15:54I quickly pushed
15:55his glasses
15:55back over his face.
15:57His hand fell limp.
15:58Had he
15:59unfrozen?
16:01Shoot,
16:01shoot,
16:01shoot.
16:02When I was safely
16:03down the hill,
16:04I unfroze everything.
16:05I'd almost given
16:06myself away today.
16:08I was getting
16:08too careless.
16:09I needed to know
16:10what was wrong with me
16:11before something
16:11disastrous happened.
16:13so that night,
16:14while my parents
16:15were sleeping,
16:16I sort of
16:16froze time
16:17to make sure
16:18they wouldn't wake up
16:19and I did some digging.
16:20In my dad's office,
16:21I was shocked
16:23to find adoption papers
16:24from when I was
16:25three years old.
16:26I couldn't believe it.
16:28I only had
16:29more questions.
16:30The next morning,
16:32mom stormed
16:32into my room,
16:33livid.
16:34Ashley,
16:35the school said
16:35they caught you
16:36sneaking into
16:36your teacher's office.
16:38Someone spilled coffee
16:38on the test answers.
16:40What were you thinking?
16:41I just wanted
16:42to do well in school
16:42so I didn't disappoint
16:43you and dad.
16:44Well, this is disappointing.
16:46I said you were
16:47putting too much pressure
16:48on her.
16:49And your backseat
16:49parenting method
16:50is really working, huh?
16:52Guys, stop.
16:53I know the truth.
16:55You can stop fighting.
16:56What are you talking about?
16:58Uh, that I was adopted.
17:00Did you know
17:00about my power?
17:02What happens
17:02when I take this out?
17:03My parents went silent
17:05and I hadn't even
17:06stopped time.
17:07Guys.
17:08It's, uh, complicated.
17:11Why don't you sit down?
17:12You did know.
17:14Seriously?
17:15Am I some sort of
17:16science experiment?
17:18Honey.
17:18Don't come near me.
17:20I couldn't even
17:20trust my own parents.
17:22I needed to know
17:23the truth.
17:24And it seemed only
17:25Jasper might have
17:26the answers.
17:27I ran out the front door
17:28when it occurred to me
17:29I had no idea
17:31where Jasper lived.
17:33Before I reached
17:33the end of the road,
17:34someone was flashing
17:35their headlights at me.
17:37Honey, well, explain.
17:38Just come home.
17:39I started running
17:40faster and faster
17:41with Mom tailing behind.
17:43Out of breath,
17:44I pulled my earpiece out.
17:46But amidst the chaos,
17:48I dropped it on the road
17:49and then
17:50I heard a crunch.
17:51Mom's car had stopped,
17:53but my hearing device
17:54had been crushed.
17:56Underneath the front wheel
17:57of her car,
17:58it was completely destroyed.
18:00I desperately tried
18:01putting it back
18:02into my ear.
18:03Come on.
18:04Come on.
18:05But it wasn't working.
18:07Time wouldn't start up again.
18:09I had to find Jasper
18:10fast.
18:11He wasn't at the lookout,
18:13so I went to Molly's house.
18:14She was sitting
18:15on her porch,
18:16crying.
18:17I pulled her phone
18:18out of her pocket
18:19and set it in front
18:20of her face
18:20to unlock it.
18:21There was about
18:2220 missed calls
18:24from Jasper.
18:25I found his address
18:26and her contacts,
18:27grabbed my bike,
18:29and rushed over there.
18:30When I arrived
18:31at his house,
18:32I was stunned.
18:34It was basically a shed.
18:36I squeezed through
18:37the window
18:37to find Jasper
18:39alone on his couch,
18:40frozen in place
18:41as he was holding
18:42a photo of himself
18:43as a child,
18:44surrounded by
18:45a huge family.
18:47I ran to him
18:47and removed his glasses,
18:49and he unfroze.
18:50Huh?
18:51Ashley,
18:52is that you?
18:53What are you doing here?
18:54What's going on?
18:56I ran outside
18:57to see if anything
18:57was moving,
18:58but time was still frozen.
19:01Can you freeze time too?
19:03Huh?
19:04I grabbed his hand
19:05and took him outside
19:06to show him.
19:07Dead silence.
19:09Birds frozen in the sky,
19:11but Jasper
19:12didn't seem surprised.
19:13Oh, wow.
19:15I had a feeling
19:15you had it too.
19:17I haven't met anyone with...
19:19What?
19:20What's happening?
19:21Why did you stand me up
19:22for Molly?
19:23Does she know?
19:24Ashley,
19:24I am so sorry.
19:27I didn't stand you up.
19:28I was scared.
19:30Molly is just
19:31a former friend
19:31who's been making me
19:32do stuff for her
19:33since she found out
19:34about my secret.
19:36But it's little stuff.
19:37Harmless.
19:38Like making her prom queen
19:39and voted most lovable
19:41in the middle school yearbook.
19:42Basically,
19:43buying her popularity.
19:45What was happening
19:45the night I saw you
19:46on the bench?
19:47I was pleading with her
19:48not to spill my secret.
19:50I said I didn't want
19:51to help her cheat
19:52or hack into her ex's phone
19:54and sabotage him.
19:55You were born
19:56October 4th, right?
19:57Yeah?
19:59Me too.
20:00And a handful of others.
20:01Anyone in that nursery
20:03that day
20:03was exposed
20:04to some weird chemical
20:05that gave us this power
20:06to freeze time.
20:08These glasses prevent that.
20:10Your hearing aid.
20:11When my parents found out,
20:12they used me.
20:13They threatened to expose me,
20:15take me to the government
20:16or whatever
20:16if I didn't do
20:17what they asked.
20:18I helped them steal
20:20and cheat people
20:21and get rich.
20:21I don't want
20:22to hurt anyone.
20:23But it seems
20:24everyone keeps
20:25hurting me.
20:26I get that.
20:28My parents never even
20:29told me I was adopted
20:30and I had to find out
20:32about my power
20:32on my own.
20:33They told me
20:34I had hearing issues.
20:36It sounds like
20:37they were just
20:37trying to protect you.
20:39I ran away
20:40when I was 14
20:40and I have been
20:41on my own
20:42ever since.
20:43It's been excruciating
20:44being alone.
20:46But now,
20:46I found you.
20:48Jesper was right.
20:49My parents were probably
20:50just trying to protect me
20:52from the world.
20:53It's what they must have
20:54been fighting about
20:54all this time.
20:56I need to save my parents.
20:58How do we reverse this?
20:59Now that we know
21:00the truth about each other,
21:01we don't have to.
21:03We can get out
21:04of this town now.
21:05Wherever we are,
21:06we'll have the power.
21:07And once we are far enough,
21:09the town and your parents
21:10will unfreeze
21:11and go back to normal.
21:12It didn't sound half bad.
21:15But I couldn't just
21:15run from my problems
21:17forever.
21:18No.
21:18I'm sick
21:19of manipulating things.
21:21Making you like me
21:22because I cheated at soccer,
21:24making friends
21:24because they think
21:25I have cool interests,
21:26taking shortcuts.
21:28It's all a lie.
21:30I don't like you
21:31because you won at soccer.
21:32I like you
21:33because you have
21:34a pure,
21:35genuine heart.
21:36I felt I could trust you
21:37the moment I met you.
21:39If that's true,
21:40then help me.
21:41Please.
21:42We have to start time again
21:44without running away.
21:46And these powers,
21:46they need to end.
21:49I saw him turn away from me.
21:51He looked conflicted.
21:53There is...
21:54a way.
21:55My parents made me
21:56freeze time
21:57and steal a master device
21:58from the lab
21:59where your hearing device
22:00and my glasses were made.
22:02They just wanted
22:02as much control
22:03over my power
22:04as they could have.
22:05I took it with me
22:06when I ran away from home.
22:08Activating the master device
22:09will restart time,
22:11but it will overpower
22:12our devices,
22:13making them useless.
22:14Which means
22:15I'll lose my powers.
22:17Then I'd just be...
22:19normal.
22:20Jasper,
22:21there's nothing normal about you.
22:23If our powers
22:24were in the wrong hands,
22:26imagine.
22:26But we got them
22:28and it led us to each other.
22:31Isn't that enough?
22:32Jasper didn't seem so sure.
22:34So I did it.
22:35I faced my fears,
22:37leaned in,
22:38and kissed him.
22:39And it was
22:40super awkward.
22:43We both chuckled.
22:44See,
22:45doesn't it feel nice
22:46to be generic?
22:48We're just like
22:49every other awkward teenager.
22:51He kissed me back.
22:53And this time,
22:54it felt anything but normal.
22:57It was magical.
22:58Not so normal,
23:00huh?
23:01Okay, Ashley.
23:02Just promise me
23:03we can face this world
23:04together.
23:05No matter what.
23:07There's just
23:07one thing
23:08I think we should do first.
23:10Together,
23:11we snuck into the school
23:12and tied up some loose ends.
23:14Then,
23:15Jasper took out
23:16the master device
23:17and activated it.
23:18Suddenly,
23:19things started to move
23:20slowly again.
23:22He dropped it to the ground
23:23and stomped on it,
23:24then threw his glasses
23:25on the ground
23:26and stepped on them too.
23:28I joined him
23:29till we smashed them to bits.
23:31And everything around us
23:33was in motion
23:33as usual.
23:35Oh, thank goodness.
23:37When I got home,
23:38my parents were sitting
23:39at the kitchen table
23:40holding hands.
23:41Honey!
23:42Oh my gosh,
23:42I'm so happy you're safe.
23:44This is all your fault,
23:45Joe.
23:45If you hadn't...
23:46Stop!
23:46Stop blaming each other.
23:49I know everything.
23:51I know you've both
23:52been arguing about
23:53how to keep me safe.
23:55I just want to know,
23:57how come you adopted me?
23:59Your birth mom
24:00gave you up for adoption
24:01when she found out
24:02you were different.
24:03She was scared.
24:04We were competing
24:05with another family,
24:06a corrupt family,
24:07to adopt you
24:08so we could protect you.
24:10Shoot.
24:11Tears were welling up
24:12in my eyes.
24:14The best way
24:14you can protect me
24:15is by being nice
24:17to each other.
24:18We just have different ideas
24:20about what's best.
24:21And at the end of the day,
24:22I appreciate it.
24:24I was lucky
24:25to be raised
24:25by both of you.
24:26But I've decided
24:28what's best for myself.
24:30I saw my parents
24:31link arms in anticipation.
24:33I destroyed my earpiece.
24:35You what?
24:36I just want to be normal
24:38with all the pain
24:40and beauty
24:41that comes with it.
24:42My parents clasped hands.
24:44I thought they'd be pissed,
24:45but instead,
24:47they scooped me
24:47into a hug.
24:48That makes me
24:49so happy to hear.
24:51Me too.
24:52For the first time,
24:53it felt like
24:54we were all united.
24:56Shortly after,
24:57Jasper and I
24:58started to date.
24:59And even though
25:00we couldn't freeze time,
25:01it seriously felt
25:03like time was frozen
25:04whenever I'd look
25:05into his eyes.
25:06I know.
25:07So sappy.
25:08Don't worry.
25:09My mischievous spirit
25:10didn't die overnight.
25:11That sneaking
25:12into the school charade
25:13we pulled
25:13before smashing
25:14his glasses?
25:15This year's
25:16homecoming queen
25:17is...
25:19Ashley!
25:20What?
25:22Jasper?
25:25I know.
25:29What?
25:30I know.
25:31I know.
25:35I know.
25:38What?
25:38You
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