Fire Hazard: Cape High Book Eight (Cape High Series 8)

by R. J. Ross

  “But I could. Dad keeps it from happening to Uncle Flint. They do prescribed burns together, and help all the nearby forests at least once a year. I... I want to,” she says with a shrug.

  “I could help get the animals out, first!” Lance says, getting excited.

  Carla, who’s swinging from a tire swing she’d talked Taurus into adding, looks up with a grin. “I’m in!”

  “Then... well... when you guys are ready for your debuts, we’ll talk to Double M about it,” I say, giving in too easily.

  Looks like my dreams of being in the background are completely shot, huh?

  Well, I can still make sure I get all the movie channels.

  Bonus Section:

  Sous Chef

  The sound of sizzling food comes from the kitchen and the entire dorm goes still for a second before looking at each other. Vinny’s cooking dinner. For a long moment the cape kids look at each other before Justin makes the first move. He dashes for the kitchen, only to get tackled by Ace, who’s staying over for dinner. The boys are jumped over by Morgan, who is promptly tackled by Carla.

  The hall that leads to the kitchen is now so crowded that it’s about to burst. “You don’t even LIVE here, man!” Justin says, struggling to get Ace off of him. “You don’t get to help!”

  “I stay over enough that I’ve got rights!” Ace says.

  “Morgaaaan, I have to go to the bathroom!” Carla says, struggling to get free of Morgan’s grasp. Somehow it went from her holding Morgan to the other way around.

  “I’ve heard that one, one too many times, Carla,” the zoo kids leader says, holding on tight. “I’m not about to let you help in the kitchen! We just rebuilt Vinny’s old room, we don’t need anything else burnt down!”

  “I didn’t burn the kitchen down. I just charred it a little!” Carla protests.

  “Ahem,” Blackjack says from behind them. As a group they go still. “What’s the big deal?” he asks. “I’ve never seen you guys so intent on helping cook before.”

  “Um, well--” Justin starts out.

  “It’s this deal,” Ace says, rolling over and looking at his dad, “where whoever helps him cook gets to decide what’s for dessert.”

  “They do, do they?” Blackjack says, looking thoughtful. “I’ve wanted Rum Cake for weeks,” he declares before taking to the air. The entire group jumps up as he starts going over their heads, grabbing onto him and trying to haul him back down.

  “No way are we eating that!” Morgan says, holding on tightly.

  “I’m getting Black Forest cake!” Ace says.

  “I want cheesecake,” Carla says, dangling off the ground because she’s short, “with cherries!”

  “I want ice cream sundaes!” Morgan says. The sound of someone clearing their throat makes them all look over at the kitchen door. Jimmi stands there, leaning against the doorframe with a little smile on her face and a whisk in her hand.

  “We’re having churros and fried cinnamon ice cream,” she tells them before heading back inside.

  The group drop to the floor. “She’s good,” Blackjack says, shaking his head.

  “What’s a churro?” Carla asks as they all walk away.

  Welcoming Rocco

  “Welcome to Cape High,” Nico says as he leads a tall teen to our little group. He takes a moment to look at each of us, especially me, before going, “Have you guys just claimed Adanna’s place for your own?” he asks.

  “Well she’s at home, right?” I say, swaying comfortably in my hammock. “That means she’s not using it, and it’s just a waste of space if it isn’t being used, right?” I look over at the teenager. “You’re Rocco, right?” He’s got reddish braids and clothes that the Goodwill would burn. His skin is the color of coffee with milk in it. Mixed, maybe? Doesn’t matter.

  “Yeah,” he says, walking over and holding out a hand. “Who’re you?”

  “Vinny,” I say, shaking the hand. “I’m a fire mimic.”

  “Shadow walker,” Rocco says, glancing over as Jimmi slides down into my hammock again. “Rocco,” he says again, offering a hand to her.

  “Jimmi,” she says, pushing my legs over the side.

  “Still not sure this thing is built to hold two of us,” I tell her.

  “The other ones are taken,” she says as she shakes Rocco’s hand. “I drain power,” she adds, looking amused as he jerks his hand back quickly. “Electric power--that sort of energy,” she adds with a grin.

  “Vinny, you can show him the ropes, right?” Nico asks. “I’ve got a date.” He heads off before I can reply, leaving our little group staring blankly at Rocco--and Rocco staring back in the exact same way.

  “Hey,” Lance says from the porch of one of the tree houses, “you’re pretty old just to be starting out, right? Did you just come into your powers?”

  “Huh? Nah, no way,” Rocco says, laughing at the question. “I’ve been shadow walking since I was thirteen--hey, is there somewhere I can sit?” He hops up on one of the porches before we can reply, looking quite comfortable. “But I gotta admit, I had no CLUE what I was doin’ at the time--I wound up breaking into Fort Knox.”

  We all turn and stare at him, earning a wide grin in reply. “First time I ever saw that many guns in my LIFE. Or that much gold, for that matter,” he says, swinging his legs cheerfully. “But the worst part is Marigold--she’s out for my head, still.”

  “Marigold?” Morgan asks, “from the East Branch?”

  “Yep. It was during her watch,” he says. “Course it’s worse now,” he says thoughtfully.

  “Why’s that?” Jimmi asks.

  “Because I did it again just a few weeks ago.”

  Lance is the first to laugh, leaving me to shake my head. “Looks like we’re going to have a new villain, after all,” Morgan says. “Hey, Vinny! If you ask nicely, I bet he’ll let you have his debut!”

  “Not a chance,” I declare. “Rocco, that’s Morgan, she’s the leader of the dorms.”

  He gets up, moving to where he can lean over her hammock. I see them shaking as Morgan says, “I drain power, too.”

  “Electricity?” he asks.

  “Nope, yours.”

  The look on his face as he jerks his hand away has the entire group laughing.

  Heart-to-Hearted Out

  I’m a little confused at the moment, because for some reason the Rosenthorn twins have cornered me during our free outside period, and everyone else has abandoned me. Being stared at from both directions by large green eyes and eager expressions is sort of unnerving. “Um, yeah?” I ask when it doesn’t seem like they’re going to talk.

  “We didn’t get to do the whole heart to heart thing,” Sunny declares.

  “Yeah, and it’s MY boyfriend that came up with the idea,” Zoe says, looking at her twin, “I’m going to have to talk to him about leaving us out of the loop.”

  “I’ll help!” Sunny says, grinning downright evilly. “But first, we’re here to talk to you about important matters or something, right?” he says to me. He reaches up, placing a hand on my arm and giving me a serious expression. “Let it out, man, let it alllll out.”

  “We’re here to be serious, Sunny,” Zoe says, giving her brother a dry look. Then she looks at me. “Do you need a hug? Because we’d be happy to give you one.”

  I choke, slightly, looking away from them as I try to figure out just what they’re thinking. I’m almost positive that Zoe’s being serious, which makes it even funnier when she wraps her arms around me in the hug she threatened me with. She pats me on the back, going, “It’s okay, Vinny, we’re here for you.”

  I lose it. I try and cover my mouth to keep the laughter contained, but somehow they misunderstand. Sunny wraps his arms around me as well. “Let it out, man, let it out!”

  “It’s okay, we won’t tell anyone you cried,” Zoe says, patting me on the back more. I burst out laughing, giving up on hiding it. The twins pull back, looking at each other. “This isn’t going how you said it wou
ld, Sunny,” Zoe tells her brother dryly.

  “It isn’t, is it?” Sunny says, frowning thoughtfully. “Maybe we should try a different approach,” he decides, his expression getting downright devious.

  “Wait a minute--no, seriously--” I say, backing up as quickly as I can with both hands up. “I’m good, I swear I am! I’ve had way too many heart-to-hearts! I’m all heart-ed out.” I take another step back, bumping into a wall. I don’t remember there being a wall there--I turn, staring at the wall of dirt behind me.

  “When did you learn that?” Zoe asks her brother curiously even as the wall starts to collapse--on me. I jump back seconds before it collapses.

  “I’m still working on it,” Sunny says with a shrug.

  “Still, it’s pretty impressive,” Zoe says. “But we’re not here to show off, we’re here to talk with Vinny about his whole nightmare problem. I had an idea on how to help,” she says to me, pulling out a small metal half hoop and unfolding it. “I thought if we looked into your dreams we could see about working through it!”

  Somehow I don’t think this is a good idea. “I ah--appreciate the concern,” I say, taking a step back, “but I think I’ve got it under control--”

  “We’re going to have to put him to sleep for it to work, aren’t we?” Sunny asks.

  “Well, it would be the fastest way--” Zoe says.

  I light up, racing away as fast as I can.

  ***

  “You owe me ten bucks,” Zoe says, holding out a hand to her brother.

  “I could have sworn it would work,” Sunny says, digging his wallet out of his pocket and pulling out a ten. “Maybe we should have gotten Dad to bring in the mind-reading hoop instead of you.”

  “Oh, this isn’t the mind-reading hoop,” Zoe says, waving the hoop around. “Dad locked that up the last time I tried to use it. This is just an imitation.”

  “Yeah? What’s it do?”

  “Mmm, I put it together, but I’ve got no idea--let me try it out on you!” she says, grinning wickedly.

  Sunny races away as fast as he can, as well.

  Trick or Treat

  “Trick or treat,” the black teenage girl prompts, poking the three small boys standing in front of her. She’s wearing a Star Spangled uniform, complete with the heeled boots and face paint, but it’s the three boys that really get attention.

  “Oh, would you look at that--Honey, come see these three, they look EXACTLY like Maximum, Cold Steel and Dragon!” the woman at the door exclaims, practically squealing over how cute they are. “How did you get the makeup to look so real?” she asks the Cold Steel look alike, pulling out her phone and taking a picture.

  “It ain’t makeup, lady,” the miniature Cold Steel says, holding open a large pillowcase. “You’ve got candybars, right?” he demands.

  “Oh, right, of course!” the woman says, digging through her bowl of candy and dropping miniature candybars in each of their bags. “Look at them, aren’t they amazing?” she says as her husband appears behind her.

  “Really amazing,” he agrees.

  “Thank you!” the black girl says with a wide grin.

  “Oh, you look adorable as well, sweetie, I love your pigtails!” the woman says as the four start off. The girl waves as they join a teenager standing in the street with his hands in his pockets.

  “Hey, she gave you a Butterfinger, right?” the “miniature” Cold Steel says, looking in his bag before trying to look in “mini-Maximum’s” bag. “Trade me.”

  “Not a chance,” Max says, moving it out of view. “I’ve got to admit, this was a brilliant idea--I’m a bit shocked it came from you,” he adds, looking at Jack.

  “I’m the one doing all the work here,” Ace says as they start down the street. “I think I should get a third of both of your candy.”

  “I can’t believe I got stuck playing the role of the adult,” Vinny complains. “I’m the one that should get a third. I’m not getting any at all!”

  “Isn’t this AWESOME?” Carla asks, looking around the neighborhood, practically bouncing. “I get to be second in command again!”

  “When did she become second in command?” Ace asks Max.

  “Eh, let her pretend,” Jack says. “She’s actually the one that suggested trick or treating.”

  “Onward, to the big house on the corner!” Carla says dramatically, striking a “Star Spangled” pose. “They’ve got to have a ton of candy, you can tell by all the decorations in the yard!”

  The three biggest names in teen super villains look at each other. “Yes, ma’am!” Max says, chasing after her. The other two look at each other for all of a second before following with huge grins.

  “Get me a candybar, too!” Vinny yells from behind. “I’m going to need the energy to deal with Carla on a sugar-high!”

  “TRICK OR TREAT!” all four at the door shout, completely ignoring him.

  Coming Soon:

  Cape High

  Book 9: Ditto Ditto

  “Okay, everyone,” Nico says from the front of the bus, standing even as we’re driving down the street. “This is going to be a test--so even if you’re having fun, don’t forget it, got it? Your job is to NOT stick out when surrounded by norms. If you don’t think you can pull it off, well, you’re out of luck, because as soon as we’re dropped off the Hall is taking the bus back--we won’t be seeing it again until this afternoon.”

  I raise my hand as high as it’ll go. “What, Em?” Nico asks.

  “I want to bring Ditto.”

  “Then bring her out now--no poofing out of existence or doing things a normal kid wouldn’t be able to do, though, got it?”

  “YES!” I say as my Doppelganger poofs into existence next to me--I glare at her, though, because that seat’s already taken. “Ditto, get off of Aubrey!”

  “But I LOVE Aubrey!” Ditto says, hugging our sister happily. Aubrey lets out a little squeak of laughter before hugging her back.

  “I got a question,” Jack says from the seat behind ours. “I can’t exactly NOT stick out, y’know? And I’m pretty sure I can’t swim, either, so why am I getting dragged along again?”

  “Trust exercise. You’re going to have to trust Ace to keep up his illusion,” Nico says, grinning a bit evilly.

  “No way, no how,” Jack says, shooting a dark look in the general direction of the Goth boy in question. “I’m NOT going to a pool as Jackie. The only bikinis we’re going to see are the ones on official girls, got it?” he says. “I’ll fly home.”

  “Oh come on, man, live a little,” Sunny says from where he’s liberally applying suntan lotion on his nose. Do super heroes even get sunburnt? I hope so, because other than that I have no idea why he wants to look like an utter dork.

  “Sunny, put the suntan lotion away,” Adanna says, flipping the page of the book she’s reading in an idle motion. “You look like an idiot.”

  “I know,” he says with a wide grin. “I’m trying to outdo Justin over there.”

  “It’s a lost cause,” half of the bus tells him.

  “Hey, I worked hard on this outfit,” Justin says. He’s wearing the gaudiest looking Hawaiian shirt I’ve ever seen, giant flower swim trunks, and huge plastic rimmed sunglasses. I can sort of understand why, of course. Justin used to be one of the biggest teen idols around. He’s only in Cape High because he lost control of his powers at his last concert and accidentally sent a few of his fans to the hospital. It still doesn’t forgive that shirt, though. I don’t think ANYTHING could. Well, except maybe being blind. Justin isn’t blind.

  I grunt as I’m pushed almost into the aisle, glancing over at Ditto, who’s making herself comfortable between me and Aubrey. I bet you’re wondering why I’m not sitting with Trent, right? Well, I mean, if you know that he’s my boyfriend, that is. It’s because Aubrey’s been working on a project again lately--she’s a healer--and she’s been gone for a lot of the time after school, trying to get that poor puppy that was experimented on back to health. I miss her!
Ditto seems to, too, because she’s leaning her head against Aubrey’s chest like a little kid.

  “Hey, why did you get middle?” I ask her. “Switch places with Aubrey.”

  “We’re almost there, Emily, she doesn’t need to--” Aubrey starts out, only to sigh as Emily jumps over her, “switch places,” she finishes as we hug her. The bus pulls to a stop just as I’m getting comfortable. “See? We’re here.”

  We watch as the kids in the front get up, filing out the door. I reluctantly stand as it reaches our row, grabbing the bag of toys and swimsuits that Liz packed for us from the rack over our heads. It’s promptly taken as Trent steps behind me. “Here, I’ll get it,” he says.

  “I can get it,” I tell him, not trying too hard to get it back, really. I mean, when your boyfriend is a tank, he makes for a great bag boy--I blink as Sunny hangs his own bag over Trent’s shoulder, then hangs Adanna’s, and--before I can say anything, Trent’s carrying the back half of the bus’s stuff. All of it.

  “That’s a form of bullying, you know,” Nico points out from where he’s still lounging in the front of the bus.

  “No it’s not. He’s Trent,” Sunny says.

  “It is when you’re norms, which is what you are for the day, remember?”

  The bags are grabbed off of my boyfriend, but he grabs mine before I can tug it away. “Carrying your girlfriend’s bag isn’t being bullied,” he tells me firmly. It’s a huge bag--it’s got my stuff, Ditto’s stuff and Aubrey’s stuff inside, but he doesn’t seem to notice. He wouldn’t. He’s picked up buses bigger than the one we’re in, after all.

  “Love you, Trent!” Ditto--yes, not me--Ditto says, jumping up to kiss him on the cheek before hauling Aubrey off the bus with her.

  “Thank you,” I say, blushing slightly as I hug him before chasing after the others. Sometimes I swear I’m going to murder my doppelganger. She pulls things like that in front of the entire apartment all the time! It’s embarrassing!