I shake his hand, which, unsurprisingly, is very firm. I tighten my own hand around his in order to not appear too weak and give him a nod.
“Nice to meet you,” I say. “I haven’t actually met anyone new around here in a long time - besides fans.”
“Bet that gets old pretty quick.” He returns to the two dumbbells that he left a few steps back and picks them up, curling his arms up one at a time with short, powerful grunts. “So, is she the reason that you’re busting your balls working out after school so much these days?”
This gets me to laugh and I rub the back of my neck.
“Not intentionally… Maybe subconsciously.” I can’t tell him the real reason, but now that I think about it, perhaps I am trying to impress Mae. Just a bit. “You think she would go with me if I ask her?”
Tucker grunts and sets down the weights as he finishes his set.
“There’s really no knowing when it comes to girls,” he says. “Even a guy like me can’t predict how they will answer. It all comes down to looks, personality, smarts, and sense of humor. If you have the right combination of these, you’re a winner. If not, then it’s game over. You have to have the right charisma.”
All of this goes over my head, but I nod as if I really understand. Charisma? How in the world is someone supposed to measure their charisma and sense of humor? I raise my eyebrows.
“So, why are you working out all the time?” I ask, trying to turn the conversation away from myself. “Are you working out to impress a girl as well?”
Tucker smirks.
“Oh no,” he says. “No girls for me, thanks. Not right now, at least. I doubt any of them would be willing to put up with me even if they were interested. I’m a gamer, which means I do a lot of time sitting down, hunched over a keyboard and mouse. Not really good for the body to be sitting around so much, so to counter that, I work out.” He flexes his hands. “Been doing this for about two years. I think it’s paid off.”
I look him up and down once more, wishing that I looked like that.
“I’d have to agree,” I say. “Maybe you can teach me a thing or two sometime.”
He laughs.
“Maybe. It would be nice to have a workout buddy, that’s for sure. Most of the guys here are competitive. Seeing as I’m not a football player, I don’t exactly fit in. But, I make do. Feel free to join me next time we’re here at the same time.”
I nod.
“Thanks for that,” I reply. Then my eyes lock onto the Winter Ball flyer once more, and I am stopped in my tracks. My palms are now sweaty and my heart races. Something about the idea of a dance is making me into a wuss.
Tucker pats me on the shoulder.
“If you want my advice,” he says, “you should just ask her to go with you. Get it over with, like pulling a band-aid off really quickly.”
I gulp. “I don’t think springing it on her is such a good idea,” I say. “She might think it’s out of the blue.”
“Will she?” Tucker winks at me and pulls the flyer off the bulletin board. “If you’re nervous, just ease into it. Maybe watch a movie and then test the waters. If it looks like things are good, then go ahead and ask her. If not…” He shrugs, then hands me the flyer to take with me. “You can always back down. But something tells me that you’re not the back-down type.”
12
The First Attempt
Getting Mae to agree to a get-together isn’t hard at all. We normally hang out on weeknights to get done homework and, in my case, a few panels inked on Super Guy.
It’s the bringing up of The Winter Ball that makes me all sweaty.
What little ambition that Tucker instilled in me back at the weight room has now evaporated and I’m back to the way I was before: a complete wuss.
Thankfully Mae and I elected the living room for our projects, and there aren’t any awkward silences because we have a movie playing in the background. Mae works on her math homework while I sit across from her on the other end of the couch with my iPad propped on one leg. Luckily all my inking is digital because I mess up multiple times while I steal glances over at Mae, trying to figure out if the time is right or not.
Mae seems absorbed in her formulas, so I turn my attention to the movie.
The Battle of Helm’s Deep is just beginning when Mae glances over at me with a puzzled expression.
She leans over and nudges me in the arm.
“What?” I mutter, not looking over at her.
“You’re being uncharacteristically quiet over there tonight.”
I raise my eyebrows and shrug.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I reply.
Great, I think as I try to refocus on the movie. She knows something’s out of the ordinary. Now her attention is on me, and I have no intention of bringing up a dance when Mae gives me an accusatory look.
She raises an eyebrow. “What’s going on with you?”
“Nothing’s going on,” I say as I set my iPad down on the coffee table. Unfortunately when I go to place the stylus on top of it, the clumsy digital pencil rolls towards the edge of the table and I swipe at it until it’s safely back in my hand. “Why would there be anything going on?”
“There’s something you’re not telling me.”
I try to ignore her.
“I’m just watching the movie. Can we not enjoy a movie any more?”
Mae continues to watch me, then settles back in her seat. “You’re not worrying about The Drone, are you?”
I let out a sigh. The first thing to come to her mind is my mortal enemy, so obviously worrying about a stupid dance right now is laughable.
I run my fingers through my hair.
“Well, I wasn’t, but now I am, thank-you very much.”
At least if we talk about The Drone I won’t make a complete fool of myself.
Mae latches onto the subject, and that kills any idea of bringing up the Winter Ball.
“It’s been months since we last saw either of them - The Drone or The Cloak. Where are they? Why hasn’t Bill made his move by now?”
“Maybe he doesn’t have all his pieces in place,” Mae replies. “He’s most likely hiding out in some remote location that we’ll never find. I mean, who knows where Spire Tech is, if it even really exists somewhere? It’s a secret hideout where they can lay low. That’s what villains do in the movies and comic books, isn’t it?”
“But, this isn’t a movie or a comic book,” I continue. “This is real life. There are no rules.” I rub some beads of prickly sweat from the back of my neck. The fabric of the couch suddenly feels rough, and my heart rate quickens at images of Bill Flagrant tricked out in his metal armor. “I’m trying to get used to being normal,” I continue, “but I can’t help feeling this fear in the back of my mind all the time. It’s like we’re being watched by a sniper, and at any moment he might pick us off. We would never know.”
Mae’s shoulders slump a little as she leans back on the couch. She rests her head on the oversized pillow behind her and presses her lips together.
“This is the part of the story that the movies leave out,” she says. “I can’t say that I’m not afraid, too, because I am. I just hide it well when I can focus on school and work. But, we can’t live in fear, waiting for an attack to happen. That’s what The Drone and The Cloak want us to do. You remember what Austin said to you back in the warehouse? He wants to break you down so that you surrender.” She crosses her arms. “I don’t know about you, but I have no plans on surrendering.”
“Me either,” I reassure her. Another sigh, then I lean back in my seat. “I wish it was as easy as it is in the movies.”
“I don’t think it’s easy,” Mae smirks. “It just looks easy. We need to focus on living our lives right now. Even with our superpowers, it is good for us to focus on the little things.”
She turns her head and gives me an encouraging smile. For a moment, as her eyes linger on me, I wonder if now she really is waiting for me to bring up
the Winter Ball.
My hands are all sweaty and I feel like I’m going to suffocate.
But, I don’t bring it up. Instead I ignore it completely like a chicken.
“Let’s finish watching this movie,” I say.
Mae agrees and we turn our eyes back to the TV.
I should feel like a fool right now, and my face must no doubt be red. But, I feel like I just dodged a bullet. The time to ask out Mae is not right. Even if it’s just a dance.
Even so, to my surprise, Mae still leans over and rests her head on my shoulder.
13
New Resolve
“So, did you ask her?”
I close my locker to find Tucker standing not even five inches from me. He has his messenger bag slung over his shoulder and casually leans against the row of lockers as he waits for my answer.
My pile of papers nearly falls to the floor. I catch them just barely as Tucker’s question flusters me.
“Did you just teleport here or something?” I reply, trying to shrug off the question.
“I’m a fast walker,” Tucker replies, following me as I make my way down the hall. “That didn’t answer my question, though.”
I roll my eyes.
“What do you think the answer is?” I say, noticing that Tucker’s enthusiastic expression has suddenly shifted to sympathy, which is almost worse.
“She said no?”
I groan.
“No. I didn’t ask the question.”
“Oh,” he replies. “That’s not too bad. It means you have a second chance, you know? Nobody strikes a home-run on their first try. Don’t sweat it.”
I really want to believe what he’s saying, but inside I feel anxious and sick at the thought of bringing the subject up with Mae. We head for the front doors and step out into the bright sunlight.
“I feel like a loser,” I mutter.
“Hey - don’t be like that. It’s not the end of the world. Maybe you just have to attack the situation from a different angle.”
I stop in my tracks and fix a stare on him.
“That’s easy for you to say,” I start as a gust of wind tugs at our hair and clothing. “You don’t have any girlfriends that I know of, either.”
Tucker’s mouth pulls to one side and he raises his eyebrows briefly.
“Not from lack of trying,” he says.
A wave of guilt washes over me and my expression softens. My shoulders slump a little.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “I didn’t mean to sound so harsh. It’s just that I’m new to this. I almost made it all the way through high school without having to suffer the embarrassment of asking a girl on a date - especially one of my closest friends.”
“It’s just a dance,” Tucker replies. “It’s a one-time deal. Kind of like renting a movie. You’re not really committing, but you’re just seeing if you like it. Have you ever stopped to think that maybe you won’t like it?”
“Why do you think I have such an upset feeling in my stomach whenever I think about bringing up the dance to her?” I ask.
Tucker shrugs.
“That could mean that it’s an important question to ask,” he says. Then he puts a hand on my shoulder for a moment and looks me in the eye. “Here’s what you gotta do. Ask Mae if she wants to meet up somewhere - not your usual hangout spots. Try someplace fresh where there aren’t any pretenses. This way, when you ask the question, she will probably already expect it. You can judge the atmosphere better that way and bail if it truly won’t work out. But, I have a feeling that it will.” He takes his hand back and gives me a wink.
The horrible feeling in my stomach starts to subside as I consider this advice. It sounds promising, and I can bring it up in a non-conspicuous way with a text.
But, I still don’t commit.
“I’ll think about it,” I say and start off towards the parking lot.
Tucker remains standing in place, watching me as I go.
“Good luck, buddy!” he calls after me. “Something tells me you don’t really need it, though!”
___
Later that night I pace around my room with my phone in hand.
It’s still early evening, but I’ve done no work on my comics. My brain refuses to think of anything else besides meeting up with Mae so that I can ask her to the dance.
And yet, I haven’t tapped out one single text message.
I’m stuck.
My rational mind keeps running through the pros and cons of taking our relationship to the next level.
We’re partners, first and foremost. Being Aberrants and really focusing on taking down villains is like a business. There’s no time to muddy up the waters with romantic interest. Even if we start something and have it go well, there will always be that nagging in the back of my mind that something bad will happen to Mae. Just being associated with me is enough to have a target plastered to her back.
Masks or no masks, our chosen hobby is a dangerous one, and I don’t want to make things easier for people like Austin Spencer and Bill Flagrant to get to me by hurting the ones I love.
Still, I stop by my desk and glance down at the blue flyer for the dance.
How many winter balls does someone get to go to over the course of their life? This is our Senior year, after all. Once this school year is over, we will officially be adults. I’m not planning on going to college, but what if Mae is? What if she’s going somewhere out of state? We might not get to see each other as often as we do now.
That thought makes me clench my fists.
What will I do without Mae? If she goes away for school or a job, will it be too far for us to fly to see each other? I don’t know if I want to be an Aberrant without a partner now that we’ve seen each other out of danger more than once.
Still… Asking Mae to the Winter Ball is something that seems taboo to me. As much as I want to, my mind hesitates.
Should I do it?
I’m about to set my phone down when there’s a knock on my door.
I turn to see Mom standing in the doorway. It’s still early evening and the sun hasn’t fully set, but I’m surprised to see Mom wearing a fancy, on-the-short-side red dress covered only by a light coat that goes down to her knees. On her feet are strappy high-heeled shoes, the kind that I don’t see her wear very often.
I raise my eyebrows.
“What are you doing all dressed up?” I ask.
Mom smiles at me sheepishly.
“I’m going out,” she says. When I continue to give her the look, she clarifies. “On a date.”
My hand clenches on the cell phone and I can’t help but frown at her answer.
“A date?” I say. “Since when have you been dating?”
Mom sighs and throws her hands up, all pretense gone into thin air.
“I was debating whether or not I should tell you about it,” she says. “It could end up being nothing in the end, but I figured you might get worried if I was out without an explanation, so here I am, telling you where I will be. It’s not a big deal.”
“I think it is a big deal.” I walk over to her until we’re standing nearly face to face. I stammer. “When did you even start considering going on dates?”
“A few weeks ago,” Mom answers. “I actually wasn’t the one to initiate it. I was approached, if you can believe it. I thought my days of being courted were gone.” She pauses, the glee softening on her face for a moment. “You’re not upset, are you? Because I don’t want you to think that I’m going to be replacing your father -”
Before she can finish speaking I hold up my hands.
“No - of course not! I’m not worried about that. I’m just...surprised.” I lick my lips and glance away as an embarrassed smile breaks out on my face. “Looks like I’m not the only one dealing with potential relationships.”
“Oh?” Mom raises an eyebrow. She motions to the bed, asking if we can sit, and I agree. “Maybe we really should talk for a moment. I feel like there’s a lot going on.”
“There is,” I mutter. She’s waiting for me to continue, so I just get right into it. “It’s Mae. I’m thinking of asking her to the Winter Ball.”
A smile breaks out on Mom’s face and I can see the excitement in her eyes.
“Mae?” she says. “I think that’s a great idea. You two already get along so well. You’re practically inseparable.”
“That’s the problem,” I mutter. “What if I ask her to this dance and then she gets freaked out? What if she doesn’t want to hang around me anymore because it’s awkward?”
Mom tilts her head down a bit and gives me a knowing look.
“Do you really believe what you’re suggesting?” she asks. “Or are you just trying to find excuses to keep you from bringing up the subject with her?”
Looking at the questions as objectively as I can, I shrug. I’m not sure what is going on in my head right now. I just know that my gut is all in knots at the idea of taking things a step further.
Mom puts a hand on my back.
“I think you’re underestimating Mae. Something tells me that she likes you a lot more than you realize.”
“That’s what everyone says,” I groan. It’s ridiculous that I’ve fought The Drone in mid-air without tripping over my own abilities, but the thought of a date brings me to a standstill. I glance up at Mom. “So, you think I should just grow a pair and ask her to go with me, no matter what the answer is?”
She laughs.
“Maybe not in such a harsh way, but, I think you’re also not giving yourself enough credit. You’re an honorable young man. I would think that any girl would count themselves lucky to go a school dance with you. Mae is no different.” She pauses for a moment and brushes her hair out of her face self-consciously. “I mean, look at me! I’m a heck of a lot older than you, but I’m putting myself out there. Do I think there won’t be rejection? Absolutely not. But, I have to try. If it’s something you really want, then you owe it to yourself to try.” She rubs her hand gently against my back. “You owe this to yourself. And if she’s not interested, you can always say that it’s just a dance.”
The Aberrant Series (Book 3): Super Villain Page 6
