Blue Masked Hero

by Dee J. Stone

  “Who said I can’t have fun with these powers.” I rub my chin. “Should I unfreeze you, turn you invisible so no one will ever find you, or should I leave you like that? Hmmm…”

  “Nick,” she warns, all the humor gone. “We have an algebra test today. First period, you know that.”

  Only Maddie would care more about the fact that she’ll miss a test than being frozen like that.

  “If I miss it, you’re dead,” she says.

  I stand there as innocently as I can. Annoying Maddie is so much fun, especially because she’s been very moody lately. I just want us to laugh and have fun like we used to.

  “Nick. Come on. You know how important it is for me to get good grades so I can get a scholarship. We don’t have money for college.” She averts her gaze.

  We don’t talk about money. I know her parents aren’t swimming in dough. She’s got to work hard to get into college. I remove my hold. “Sorry. Really sorry. I don’t know why I was acting like such a jerk. Was just kidding around.” I feel like crap. I just wanted to make her laugh, but the opposite happened. I really do suck.

  She doesn’t say anything as we resume walking to school. “Was just goofing off,” I say. “Is that why you’re so different lately?”

  “Different?”

  I stop walking, but she continues on. I quickly catch up. “Yeah, quiet. Moody.”

  “I’m not moody.”

  “Okay.”

  Quiet again. I hate that we have these awkward silences. It’s never happened before.

  “I’ll pay for the fabric,” I offer.

  “Nick.”

  “It’s my uniform and you didn’t have to spend so much money on the game. You can have it, if you want.”

  She stops and glares at me. “I don’t want to talk about this.”

  “I know, but we’ve gotta—”

  “What, Nick? What do you want? You want us to talk about how my family sometimes can’t afford stuff?”

  I rake my hand through my hair. “The game—”

  “Forget the game. It was my birthday present to you, okay?”

  “No, not okay. I won’t accept it.”

  She groans and stomps toward school.

  I leap to her side. “Look, I’m sorry.”

  “Will you stop apologizing?”

  “Only if you tell me how you got the money for the game.”

  She groans again.

  “Please? I’ll feel a whole lot better knowing you didn’t have to go through crazy ways just to get me the game.”

  “For your information, my stepsister gave it to me. I didn’t spend sixty bucks on it. I lied.”

  “Your stepsister?”

  “Yeah, her boyfriend—the one she stole from her friend—works at the store and he got two copies for free. He took one and gave me the other.”

  “Thanks. But why didn’t you take the copy for yourself?”

  “Doesn’t matter.”

  It does matter. A lot. But she clearly wants to drop the subject.

  We reach school and enter the building. Maddie’s quiet as we walk down the hall to our lockers. They’re close to one another. I feel really bad about bringing up the money thing. I hate hurting her feelings. She might not show them on her face, but they’re there, strong and deep. I remember when we were ten and her parents got divorced. She pretended to be okay with it, but one day she climbed into my room and cried, telling me how much it sucked and how she no longer believed in love. I’m not sure if she still feels that way. We don’t really talk about that sort of thing. Well, I do. She doesn’t. She’s pretty much a closed book.

  The bell rings and I rush to class.

  ***

  “Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?” I ask Maddie as we stand outside the school building. School ended a few minutes ago and she’s rummaging in her bag for the notes she made on my uniform. She doesn’t let me look at it. I’m the one going to be wearing the uniform, yet I have no say in it. Kinda sucks. But I do trust her judgment.

  “For the millionth time, I’m sure,” she says.

  “How about I come with you but not into the store?”

  She shakes her head.

  “Don’t make me go home,” I groan. “Kaylee’s obsessed with piggyback rides now. All because of the stupid telekinesis.”

  She raises an eyebrow. I tell her how my power held her up while my muscles were seconds away from exploding. “The kid thinks I’m a machine,” I say.

  She laughs. “Your sister is so cute.”

  “Cute? In what century?”

  She slaps my arm.

  “Okay,” I say. “She is kinda cute. Want me to walk you to the bus stop?”

  “I’m okay. You’re going to miss your bus.”

  I look to where the kids are getting on the stuffy, stinky school bus. Nicole doesn’t take the bus. Her dad drives her to and from school every day. Lucky.

  Matt is getting into his car. Squinting, I notice that his girlfriend isn’t there. Maybe there’s an extra spot for me. “See ya later,” I say as I place money in Maddie’s hand. “For the uniform. Don’t argue.”

  I rush over to Matt’s car. When my bro sees me, he starts the car and it pulls out of the lot. I hold my hand out, stopping it.

  Matt steps on the gas, but the car doesn’t move. I head over and stick my head in the open window. “Can I have a ride?”

  “To where?” one of his friends says. “Loserville?”

  “So original,” I say.

  All three guys glare at me like they want to pound me to death. My chest tightens and I jump back. Matt speeds away. I slap my forehead. Stupid, stupid. I may have these amazing powers, but I’m still a wimp.

  Peering toward the bus, I find it gone. Great, just perfect. I missed the bus. Again. I’m too tired to walk all the way home.

  Wait a minute. I don’t have to walk. If I was able to lift my clock and Maddie and stop Matt’s car using telekinesis, can I lift myself the same way? Maybe I can fly like all those superheroes in movies and comic books.

  But people will be able to see me…no, of course they won’t. I’ve got invisibility.

  Making sure I’m invisible, I slowly lift myself off the ground. When I was a kid, I always wanted to fly. Now I have the chance and it’s nothing like I imagined. My arms spread out like a bird and the wind hits me from all over.

  I glance at the ground and panic. I’m very high up and if I fall, I’ll probably die. These powers are part of me and I trust them, but I’m still a noob. Who the heck knows what could happen to me?

  The wind is so strong it pushes me from left and right like I’m the punching bag in our basement. The wind also makes it impossible to see. I shut my eyes, which is really dumb because I’ve got no clue where I’m going.

  I’m tossed to and fro before I smash into something hard and crash to the ground. I think it’s the wall of a building. My body hurts all over, like the football team ran over me. I can’t move. So much for flying.

  Aw, crap. How am I going to get home now?

  My eyes feel heavy and my head rings. I’ll just lie here for a bit…

  Chapter Six

  When I open my eyes, it’s still light out. I sit up and look around. I must have been knocked out for a little bit. I’m still invisible. Guess it makes sense that no one found me.

  I feel around in my pocket for my phone, but I can’t find it. I check my backpack. It’s not there, either. Great. I probably dropped it while flying.

  I have no choice but to walk home. I don’t even know where I am. Where the heck did the wind take me?

  Pulling my hoodie over my head, I start the trek toward home. I get there forty minutes later and push the door open. Mom and Dad are watching TV in the living room, it sounds like Kaylee is singing in her room, and Matt is probably out with his friends.

  “Nick, you’re home,” Dad says when I walk into the living room. “Where have you been? At Maddie’s?”

  “Yeah,” I lie, �
��I was at Maddie’s.”

  “Did you eat dinner there?” Mom asks.

  “No. We were…um, out for a bit. And we didn’t have money for food…” Okay, this lie is starting to get a little complicated.

  Mom sits me at the kitchen table and stuffs me with leftovers. Then Kaylee yells for her and she disappears.

  Dad sits near me, a serious look on his face. “There’s something I want to discuss with you.”

  This is it. He’s going to tell me why all these weird things are happening to me. Maybe he can help me.

  He sits forward, but doesn’t talk. I gulp down my water. Then Dad starts, “Is Maddie your girlfriend?”

  I nearly choke on the water. “What?”

  “You’re spending an awful lot of time with her. Now, I have no problem with that. Maddie is a sweet girl, but I just want you to make sure—”

  I leap to my feet. “Maddie’s not my girlfriend.”

  Dad motions for me to sit down, and I slowly do. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. You know how much we love Maddie. But someone needs to talk to you about—”

  I’m on my feet again. “Dad, you’re not listening. I don’t like Maddie. Not like that. She’s just a friend.”

  “Your mother told me there’s a girl you like.”

  “Yeah, another girl at school.”

  I’m disappointed and a little pissed. Here I am expecting my dad to explain to me why all these changes are happening and he thinks I’m into Maddie? I don’t want him to think differently about her every time she comes over. I don’t want things to be awkward. Especially because they’re not true.

  Dad leans back. “I see.”

  “Please don’t have the talk with me. It’s not like I’m ever going to ask the girl out, so you have nothing to worry about. Trust me.”

  “Are you sure nothing is happening between you and Maddie?”

  “Dad.”

  “Are her parents home when you’re at her house?”

  “Dad.”

  “Are—”

  “Dad. Nothing is ever going to happen between me and Maddie. So can you please not make her uncomfortable when she comes over? You know how much she hates when people look at her funny.” It’s very important for him to treat her the same. Because she’s going to be over a lot, helping me with the superhero stuff.

  “I’m tired,” I say. “Think I’m going to head to bed.”

  When I’m at the door, Dad says, “The girl you do like. Who is she?”

  “Doesn’t matter. Because I’m not even a speck of dust on her shirt.”

  Dad frowns. I know I disappoint him, being all wimpy and insecure and not confident with the ladies like Matt is. And like he was when he was my age.

  “Night, Dad.” I head toward the door.

  “Talk to her tomorrow,” he tells me.

  I face him. “Who? Nicole? I can’t.”

  He stands and places his hands on my shoulders. “Yes, you can. All you need is some confidence. Believe in yourself and you can accomplish great things.”

  I pull away. “You’re talking about sports.”

  He’s quiet for a second or two. “Your mom thinks I’m pressuring you, but I’m not. I’m just trying to encourage you to try new things.”

  “We’ve talked about this hundreds of times. Can we please drop it? I’m not made for sports.” Why can’t he accept that I’m not like him or Matt? Why can’t I just be me?

  It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him I’ve got powers. Maybe he’d be more proud of me or something. But I hold back because I don’t want anyone—specifically my parents—to find out about it.

  “Night, Dad.”

  This time, he doesn’t stop me from going up to my room. Dropping on my bed, I fold my hands beneath my head. Talk to Nicole? After what happened in school the other day? No thanks.

  Though if I want to be honest, I wish I could just walk over to her and talk. Not sure about what, but something. And this time, I wouldn’t have toilet paper stuck to my sneaker. Why do I always get all twisted up when I’m around her? When I see how pretty and perfect she is?

  I sit up as a thought hits me. Maybe the problem is talking to her face to face. What if I did it over the phone first? Then she’d see what a cool, decent human being I am and not some freak who stutters whenever he’s around her.

  I reach into my pocket for my phone, but feel only empty space. Right, I lost my phone while flying today. Guess I have no choice but to use the house phone.

  As soon as I pick it up, I stop. I don’t know her number. Well, there goes all my confidence. I was so ready. Looks like I’ll have to get her number somehow.

  “Psst,” a voice says from outside my window. Maddie’s out there. She likes to climb the tree outside my house and get into my room instead of using the front door. I let her in.

  “What’s up?” she asks as she slides inside. “You didn’t answer your phone all day and I didn’t know what to think. I wasn’t sure if I should ask your parents. Then I saw you come home. Where were you?”

  I close the door so no one, like Bro, can overhear. “I went flying.”

  Her eyes widen.

  “Completely crashed, but that’s not the point.”

  “Wait, you can fly?”

  I shove my hands into my pockets. “Sort of. And I lost my phone because the wind decided to treat me like a punching bag. I blacked out and woke up a few minutes later. Good thing you didn’t call my parents because they thought I was with you.”

  Her eyes circle my face. “You said you crashed? Are you hurt?”

  I wave my hand. “Nah.”

  She looks very worried.

  “Why?” I ask.

  “Why what?”

  “Why do you care?”

  She slaps my chest.

  I cough. “Ow.”

  “You’re my best friend, dummy.” She heads over to my bed and sits down. I hope Mom or Dad doesn’t come in and find her here. They don’t like me having girls in my room, even Maddie. And after that talk with Dad…yeah.

  “We’re going to have to practice your flying if you’re going to save the world.”

  I join her on the bed. “Yeah.”

  “Did anyone see you?”

  “Was invisible.”

  “Good. Smart.”

  “Thank you.”

  She laughs lightly.

  “You should know that my dad thinks we’re a thing. I told him we’re not, but he’s not convinced. So if he acts weird around you, just ignore him. I told him I like Nicole and he said I should ask her out.”

  “Will you?”

  The thought makes my body freeze. “Dunno. Don’t think I can. She’s, like, all the way up there.” I wave my hand over my head. “And I’m just a bug. Something she could squish with her shoe.”

  “She’s just a girl.”

  “Not just any girl.”

  Maddie gives me a face. “What’s so special about her?”

  “Awkward much?”

  “Just answer.”

  I rub the back of my neck. “Not sure.”

  “Because she’s pretty?”

  “Of course it’s not only that. I’m not shallow.”

  “Then what?”

  “Why’re you getting so mad?”

  She throws her hands up. “I’m not. I’m just sick and tired of hearing Nicole this and Nicole that. It’s bad enough everyone at school talks about her, but I don’t need to constantly hear it from my best friend, too.”

  I don’t say anything because I’ve got no clue what to say. I never thought how much it bothers other girls to hear everyone talk about Nicole.

  “Sorry,” I say.

  “Whatever. I just came here to see if you’re alive. Now that I know you are, I’m going home.” She heads to the window.

  I don’t want her to leave when she’s mad at me, so I ask, “How’s the uniform coming along?”

  She turns around. “I didn’t start yet.”

  “That’s f
ine.”

  “Um, I need to measure you.”

  “Huh?”

  “Take your measurements to make sure the uniform fits.”

  “Oh. Tomorrow?”

  She nods and faces the window.

  “Hey, Maddie?”

  She turns around again.

  “Are we cool?”

  “Of course we’re cool. We’re always cool.” She climbs out.

  Chapter Seven

  Maddie and I are on our hands and knees. She has called my phone a million times, but it doesn’t seem to be around here. I’ve traced the path from home to where I crashed, but we can’t find my phone. We woke up early so we’d have enough time before school starts.

  “This sucks,” I mutter. “I just got it. My parents won’t buy me another one.” And we can’t track it, which means it’s probably turned off or dead.

  She digs around in the grass “Wait, there’s something here.” She pulls out a black, thin object.

  “You found it!” I grab it from her and check to see if there’s any damage. Except for some dry mud, it seems okay. I quickly turn it on and scan it for texts or missed calls. Nothing, except for a few from Maddie asking me why I’m ignoring her. “Thanks, Mads.”

  “No problem. We’d better get to school.”

  We both stand. I hold out my hand. “Wanna fly?”

  She backs away. “Not until you’ve perfected it.”

  I scowl. Guess she has a point.

  “We’ll take the city bus,” she says.

  It seems like forever until it finally gets here, and it’s packed. Maddie and I squeeze in the back. I manage to grab a pole above, but she’s too short and has nothing to hold onto. She clutches the bottom of my jacket.

  “You’re so learning to fly,” she says between clenched teeth.

  “You bet.”

  I’m spaced out, thinking about different things like Nicole and my powers, and the math test I didn’t do well on, when Maddie yells, “Nick!” and points. A little kid runs into the street, chasing a ball. Right in front the bus

  I cause the bus to make a short stop, making sure to hold the passengers in place so they don’t go flying. The bus misses the kid by only a few inches. The kid just stands there, his eyes wide. Then his mom comes and gathers him in her arms while the bus driver yells at the kid to be more careful.