SuperNova: Heroes of Arcania

by Liz Long

  Henry shrugged. “I have an interesting piece for the first issue that doesn’t deal with any of that mindless drivel. You’ll see it when we go to print.”

  Amber rolled her eyes. “Print - shouldn’t all of our news be on blogs by now or something?”

  “Some people still like to read real papers instead of getting sucked into their phones for hours on end.” Henry sent her a pointed look.

  I grimaced, glancing down at my lunch. I expected fireworks, but Amber kept a cool head and a chilly tone.

  “You really should’ve listened to us. You should open up the first paper of the new year with some interesting news. Otherwise, I hear you’re on thin ice,” Amber said ominously. She gave us all a bright smile and waved at me. “Think about party planning committee, girls. It’s always fun!”

  She turned on her heel, dark curls springing around her shoulders as she walked to another table. Henry stared after her in shock.

  “How did she know that?” he asked.

  “You might lose your position?” I asked him in alarm. “This is what you wanted, so you can go to college and become the next Barbara Walters. Your mom would kill you!”

  Henry spared me a dirty look before he grimaced. “I’m not going to lose my spot. But McGee warned me I’d get demoted to chess tournaments if I didn’t start lightening up my assignments. He says I should work on ‘reader-friendly’ pieces, too.”

  “I told you that last spring,” I started, but he interrupted me.

  “I know, all right? I get it. Amber wins,” he said, slumping back in his chair, lunch forgotten. “I know we’re in high school, but c’mon, everyone deserves real news, too! And her jab at print - I mean, it all goes on our website, too. I’m even keeping up with that local news blog I started.”

  Cole raised a hand at us to get our attention. “If either yearbook or the paper need a photographer, let me know. It’s not something I’ll major in, but I have my own camera.”

  Penelope eyed her brother. “You’re taking an interest in photography?”

  He shrugged. “Sure. I’m pretty good at capturing action shots.”

  “You do have a talent for catching people in just the right moment,” Penelope said in an amused voice. They shared a secret look I didn’t understand, followed by a quick smile. Must be a sibling thing. My heart ached for a brief moment.

  “Yearbook and the paper use the same student photographers, so you’ll basically have to be at all the events for both of us,” Henry told Cole. “We already have a few, so you probably won’t be needed much, but show me whatever photos you take and I’ll see if we can use them.”

  Henry and Cole traded contact information, plugging numbers into their cell phones. Henry nudged me. “Sorry to jet, but thanks to Amber, I need to go talk to McGee to admit defeat and conform to the masses.”

  “Geez, Henry, it’s only school dances and special events,” I said, exasperated. “It’ll be good for you.”

  Henry flicked my hair as he stood up and gathered his things. “I’ll see you in seventh period. Later, guys.”

  We watched him leave and I checked the time. Glancing at my sheet to remind myself of the next class, I got up. “We better go too, actually.”

  Penelope’s class was at the other end of school, while Cole and I had government class together. We stopped by my locker so I could switch books, then made our way to class.

  “I hope you don’t mind showing me around,” Cole said as we walked upstairs. “I didn’t mean for Henry to dump us on you.”

  “It’s no problem at all, really,” I assured him. “Henry always says I could use more friends.”

  “I suppose I could too, being new. It’s harder than movies make it out to be.”

  I laughed as we rounded a corner. I pointed out the room and we made our way inside. The desks were for two people and we quickly grabbed one together, sharing a grin. When he beamed that bright smile at me, I felt a little tickle in my stomach.

  “Ya know, we could exchange phone numbers,” he said as we arranged our things on the desk. “I mean, in case you ever want to hang out or anything.”

  I nodded, a little surprised. I didn’t think he’d actually call me. He was only being nice because we both knew Henry. Old Nova screamed at New Nova to get a boy clue and answer him. “Um, sure. That would be fun.”

  We exchanged numbers and our teacher began class. After a while, I began to doodle masks again, looking up at the teacher occasionally to prevent any trouble.

  “What are you drawing?” Cole whispered over my shoulder, making me jump.

  “Uh.” My hand quickly covered the work and I glanced up to see Cole look disappointed. He’s taking an interest in you, nutjob. He’s cute. Don’t be stupid.

  My face contorted into a half-apologetic, half-awkward expression and his golden eyes sparkled with amusement. I pulled my arm back to show him. His eyes dashed to the teacher and back to me as he smiled.

  “Face masks?” I nodded and he was full of curiosity. “Why?”

  Hadn’t thought that far. Oops. “Uh…a project for my sister.”

  Cole’s face went sober and I grimaced as he went to apologize. Now I was referring to my dead sister like she was alive? Had I forgotten how to talk to boys? He opened his mouth and I cut him off.

  “I mean…it’s sort of this inside joke we had, that’s all.” I talked too fast and forced myself to slow down. I gave him a small smile and hoped it would lighten the mood. “It beats the usual stick figures and arrow-ridden hearts I usually draw. I’m not a good artist.”

  “Ms. Benson? Mr. Warner? Am I interrupting your conversation?” a sharp voice cut in.

  Mrs. Slater, our teacher, held the seating chart in her hand and gave us a dirty look. Shaking our heads, we apologized and she continued teaching. Mortified, I could barely take my eyes off the table, but when I glanced at Cole, his lips were pursed together and his shoulders shook with a little laugh. Our eyes met and I quickly looked away; I’d break into giggles if we made eye contact again.

  When the bell rang, we walked out and turned to one another. Our classes were in different directions and I explained how he could get to the right room. He grinned at me in thanks and for a moment, with his light hair and wide smile, I was blinded by the brightness of him.

  “Maybe I’ll see you later?” I tried to keep even but it came out more like an excited question. To my relief, he nodded immediately and his smile got bigger. The tickle in my stomach came back.

  “Henry said we all lived close by, so after class.” He gave me a small wave as he backed away. “See ya.”

  I headed to seventh period and managed to slip into the desk beside Henry. “Hey.”

  “Hey. How’s class with Cole?”

  “Uh, fine.”

  “Ask him out yet?” Henry whispered at me in jest.

  I rolled my eyes; we both knew even if Cole told me flat out that he liked me, I’d still never make the first move. Henry smirked as the teacher called our attention to the front of the room.

  I couldn’t help but think things were looking up. Finally. I really wanted this year to go well. I wanted to participate and do things; it was my last year before I left for college and I didn’t want to waste it. I’d been worried about the new school, but the work seemed easy and the people were nice enough. Penelope was on her best behavior, which would please Dad. All in all, not a bad day.

  One person in particular had made an impression. I’d found my thoughts running back to Nova all evening, to the cute way her nose crinkled up when she laughed. I liked her sense of humor. Plus she wore those little shorts that made her legs go on for miles…

  A pillow smacked me in the face. “Hey!”

  “Earth to Cole,” Penelope said from her position on the couch. “Stop daydreaming about her.”

  I didn’t look at her. “Who?”

  “You know,” she said, flipping her hair over her shoulder. Her voice lilted as she said the name. “Nova.”

&n
bsp; “I wasn’t daydreaming about her.”

  “Uh huh.” She eyed me hard and I braced myself. Surprising me, she shrugged and turned back to the screen. “Fast-forward on the DVR, bro.”

  “Why don’t you just take it?” I waved it at her from where I sat across the space.

  She glanced over at me, taking in the distance of the remote control. She shrugged. “Nah, that’s not worth the effort.”

  I rolled my eyes, doing as she asked. We had the same argument ten times a week. Hitting play to put the show back on, I let my thoughts drift again. Within seconds, I was back on Nova, at what I knew about her in our short time in Arcania.

  I heard about Nova a week after we moved here, that same day Fortune bombed the old bank building with all those people inside. Dad, Penelope, and I were out to eat when the local nightly news came on. The media displayed more of Fortune’s reign of terror, showing clips from his previous heists.

  One video showed a teenage girl and her father being half-carried out the front doors. Suddenly, it was all the people in the restaurant could whisper about, the poor Benson family and him being the District Attorney and all.

  Part of my Dad’s new job at the bank involved interviewing people from that fateful day, getting the story on what happened before he arrived. The people of Arcania had no trouble filling him in on the terrible ordeal. Nova, along with her father and sister, had come in at the tail end of Fortune’s heist. Caught in the crossfire, Fortune wasted no time in killing Nova’s little sister, saying it was a message to the people of Arcania. No one, not even the DA’s children, were safe from his cruelty.

  I’d been inexplicably drawn to the idea of Fortune. Thanks to growing up with my father’s tricks, I excelled at research. It eventually brought me back to Starling Benson’s murder. After meeting Nova today, the resolve to do something had only strengthened. I wasn’t sure how or if I could, but my instincts told me to try.

  I hadn’t expected to meet Nova at school today, but I’d hoped I would. When Henry introduced himself to me in second period, I’d felt lucky just to meet a potential friend. Then he brought us over to her locker…I’d have recognized Nova anywhere even without Henry’s help. And truth be told, had I not known about her, I still would’ve wanted to talk to her.

  Nova was beautiful, of course, but I could already see there was so much more to her. She exuded this strength that I knew had to come from her terrible experience. She definitely had a guard up, but the kindness in her eyes said she’d let the right people in. I’d only known her a few hours, yet I already wanted to be one of those people. There was something about her I couldn’t put my finger on, like a puzzle I wanted to solve.

  The garage door opened, bringing me back to the present. Penelope and I shared a glance. Dad was home early. Within a minute, Benjamin Warner walked into his home. He was tall, with broad shoulders and chest that tapered into a trim waist. I was hoping a few more trips to the gym would make my physique as good as his.

  Isn’t that sad? I want a body like Dad’s.

  My father had many talents, but since he’d been in security for most of his life, he made sure he could hold his own in a fight. He was in great shape. He ran at least five miles a day and small flecks of gray had only recently begun to show in his brown hair.

  Penelope and I had inherited our mother’s white-blond locks, but we had Dad’s eyes, a weird brown shade that looked more like gold. Mine were most like his, with copper-colored flecks around the iris.

  My father was a rather imposing man, though I could never decide if it was more for his brains or his brawn. I didn’t envy any bad guy going up against my father; in fact, I would bet my dad could beat Fortune any day of the week. But Fortune never struck the same place twice, so I’d just have to believe it anyway.

  “Hi Daddy,” Penelope said, blowing him a kiss from her spot on the couch.

  “Hi baby.” Dad went over and planted a kiss on the top of her head. He greeted me with his usual nod. “Son, how was school?”

  “It went well. The people are nice. Work should be pretty easy.”

  “Good. Any mishaps?” His eyebrow raised an inch, the only hint in his question.

  I glanced over at Pen, who was absorbed in the TV. I shook my head, hair falling into my eyes. “Nope. We had a good day.”

  Dad nodded, pleased at the excellent report. He had a seat in the chair near the doorway, checking his phone, probably email. I couldn’t remember the last time he was without that phone in his hand. Dad asked a few more questions about school, making sure to bring Penelope into the conversation every so often. After a while, silence came over us. Penelope laughed at some sitcom.

  I cleared my throat, hoping to sound nonchalant. “Hey Dad, you’re still talking to the Arcania Bank robbery witnesses, right?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Have you talked to a Mr. Benson yet?” I asked him.

  He didn’t look up from his phone. “The District Attorney? Yes, why?”

  “No reason.”

  At that, Dad’s head shot up, his shrewd gaze on me. I tried not to flinch or otherwise buckle under the glare that made so many others confess their sins.

  “Why?” he repeated.

  “We met Nova Benson at school today,” Penelope said without looking away from the television, taking the heat off me.

  Dad relaxed, a thin smile crossing his face at my embarrassed expression. “I’ve seen pictures, she’s a pretty girl.”

  My face flamed red, but I couldn’t help the smile that tugged at me. Dad’s face crinkled with amusement.

  “She’s obsessed with her sister’s murder,” Penelope said, killing the good mood in the room.

  She shot us both a knowing smile and my jaw clenched. Penelope was no Telepath; she simply had a knack for reading people. I frowned. Why does Penelope have to say crap like that?

  Dad raised an eyebrow at us. “Is that so? I hope she’s not digging too hard.”

  “Why not?” I asked.

  “Because something tells me Fortune is gifted. That means he’s even worse news than we thought,” he said, sending a chill down my spine. “He wouldn’t hesitate to hurt her if she went looking for him.”

  The idea made a knot form in my stomach. Dad’s phone buzzed, his attention immediately going to the tiny screen. We had maybe thirty more seconds with him.

  “Daddy, what do you want for dinner?” Penelope asked.

  He mumbled something about leftovers in the fridge. Penelope rolled her eyes at me; anything in that fridge was probably better off as a science experiment.

  I sat up, snapping my fingers. “There’s a frozen lasagna up top.”

  “I’ll make garlic bread!” Penelope said, instantly on her feet.

  We made our way upstairs for dinner, having a quiet meal as Dad retreated back into work mode for the remainder of the evening. The phone didn’t leave his hand, fingers scrolling as he checked the news and more email.

  “I’m going to go downtown and help Hao with the lights like I promised yesterday,” I said to Dad before he went into his office. He hummed, not hearing a word I said.

  Penelope rolled her eyes at me as she loaded the dishwasher. “You’re such a nerd, hanging out at the planetarium for fun.”

  “Hao’s paying me twenty bucks to help him out,” I said, trying to get her to lay off. It was a lie, but I hated when she made fun of me; my sister had a scathing sense of humor sometimes.

  I left and headed to the science museum, which was just inside the city lines. Within fifteen minutes and with a nearly empty downtown, I’d parked and headed inside and up to the floor where the planetarium resided. The room was pitch-black, stars swirling above in the domed projector screen.

  “Hao?” I asked, peering into the dark room.

  “Hey, Cole!” another voice sounded from the back.

  Hao turned the lights on, temporarily blinding me. I blinked hard, my eyes slowly adjusting. The tiny Chinese man waved at me enthusiastically from the c
ontrol center.

  “Thanks for waiting,” I said as I crossed through the sections of seats to him. “I know you usually close around five.”

  “I am happy to stay open for you,” Hao said with a cheerful grin. “You are one of few kids who come to see me. You want to learn.”

  The week I learned about Nova, I also discovered the local planetarium. When I’d read Nova’s name, along with her sister Starling, I guessed one or both of their parents to be astronomy nuts. I figured while I was exploring the museum, I’d catch the light show. Turned out, staring into the vast universe was oddly relaxing.

  Hao and I spent the next half hour going over the lights. I’d picked up quickly on the controls. Impressed with the museum, I’d struck up a conversation about my interest to help. He’d gladly offered me a chance to volunteer. After spending some time here, I’d grown to really like Hao, the planetarium manager and only full-time employee on this floor.

  “So did you meet her today?” Hao asked.

  I glanced at him in surprise. “Who?”

  “You know who, Nova. You ask about her on your second day. I know why you want to learn about stars.” Hao shrugged, but didn’t bother hiding the mischievous grin. “Now you go to same school. Did you meet her?”

  Against my will, the corners of my lips turned upward. Hao chuckled, pleased at his correct guess.

  “I might have, yeah,” I said.

  Hao gave me the side eye. “I see her in papers. She doing okay?”

  I sighed at that, gazing up at the galaxy spinning overhead. It disappeared as I pressed a button, a nebula coming up next on the screen. “I don’t know.”

  “She a pretty girl.” Hao nudged me.

  I laughed. “Yeah, she is. Maybe I’ll bring her here sometime.”

  “I hope so.” He smiled again and changed the subject. We spent several more minutes testing the lights and finally I conceded to the late hour.