"Yeah, well, that sort of luck is determined by the casinos, not by actual luck," Alex said, though he wondered if he could ever get good enough at card counting . . . no. That was a thought for later. He was grateful she liked it and wouldn't say it was weird. Typically, when Alex gave gifts they were pricey and as meaningful as he could make them but usually just going for the price tag representing how much he cared. He was trying to change that.
She asked him about China. Alex didn't know where to start. "It was good," he said to begin, "i needed it this year. Last year I went because I was fighting with Davi and my head was a mess and I didn't get what I was supposed to out of it. But this year?" He paused and then he was standing and he said, "You know I almost killed Ashton." Anyone that was at school at the time learned that and even those who weren't heard about it from others. It was one of the many things in Alex's life that started off meaning to be harmless and went snowballing out of control.
"I mean, I learned how I could kill someone from that. But I talk shit and I'm a moron but I don't want to kill anyone, you know?" he said, "And after that I learned things but I never did anything. This summer?" He stopped and looked at Fred.
"I healed someone," he said, "I actually helped someone with my powers."