by Jamie Zakian
“Enjoy your stay,” she said, strolling into the hallway.
Shay pushed open the door to the roof of Ling Enterprises and poked her head outside. There he was, Firestorm, in his favorite spot—leaning over the edge of a building.
“Hey,” Max said, without moving a muscle or glancing at Shay. “How you been, really?”
“Good.” Shay walked onto the roof and the door slammed shut behind her, which sent a flinch to jolt her bones. She stepped beside Max, but his gaze remained stuck to the vial in his hand. “How about you?”
“I was gonna set her free, but I didn’t know how.”
“You could’ve called.” Shay looked at Max, finding his stare on her. Those deep eyes, she’d almost forgotten the sway they held in real life.
Heat rose in her chest, sizzling. If she didn’t chillax, solar rays could shoot from her fingertips and pulverize half the city. Typical teenage girl problems.
“I’m sorry I took off on you guys like that.” Pieces of broken rock crunched under Max’s elbows as he shifted against the stone wall that bordered the rooftop. “I needed some time alone, to figure stuff out.”
“I get that,” Shay said, even though she didn’t. It sounded nice. She’d like some time alone to figure stuff out. Hell, it took two lies just to shake Alexie and get on the roof.
“It was, just, kinda weird how you ran out of the room and left town the second you found out I had Jenna’s power.”
“I didn’t leave because of that.” Max stayed slumped on the roof’s thick wall, rolling the vial in his hands. “There were things I needed to … learn about myself. I wouldn’t have been able to do that here, with people buzzing in my ear.”
That Shay did get. The shower and bed, those were the only times of peace she got since her and Evie moved into Ling Enterprises.
“It’s cool. You don’t have to explain yourself to me.” Shay pointed at the vial in Max’s tight grip. The glass looked worn, scratched. He must have spent a lot of time holding that thing, staring at it.
“You sure you’re ready to let her go?”
“Yeah.” Max handed Shay the vial, without hesitation. “I want Jenna to be free.”
Shay unscrewed the lid and poured the tiny nanobots into her palm. She called upon the power Jenna left behind inside her, and focused it on the nanobots that held Jenna’s soul.
Strands of orange wind swirled above Shay’s hand. The light gusts swept the bits of metal off her skin. She flicked her finger and the bots shattered to dust.
An orange-tinged breeze carried the specks away. Sunlight hit the broken pieces of nanobots, and cast a rainbow of glistening light over the city as the sparkles whirled toward puffy clouds.
In Shay’s mind, and inside her body, Jenna had left a while ago. But to Max, the ache must be fresh. The look on his face screamed to the world, letting everyone know agony lived in his heart.
“I have to tell you something.” Max looked away from the sparkly dust that glided across the sky and gazed into Shay’s eyes. “I’ve thought about this a lot. I want you to live a normal life, with normal experiences. Go to parties, date boys your own age. All that stuff.”
“Have you been talking to Evie?”
Max grinned, even though sadness gripped his expression. “Evie did say some things to me that made a lot of sense.”
“And this is what you want me to know?”
“No.” Max took a step closer to Shay then shuffled two full paces back. “I want you to know when you’re done doing all that stuff, I’ll be waiting for you.”
He smiled at Shay as he backed toward the roof’s door. “Even if it takes ten years, I’ll be waiting for you.”
Shay tried to speak but her throat clamped shut. Max opened the door and walked away, leaving her alone with his words. That dude sure knew how to make an exit. Too much, it was way too much for Shay to take in.
She tilted to the side and let herself fall over the roof’s edge. An icy breeze ran through her hair, clearing her mind as she plummeted past the many windows of Ling Enterprises. No thoughts, no Evie, no Max, just the rush of falling free and the heat inside her chest.
The street raced closer as she plunged downward, but she wasn’t afraid. An unnatural energy surged beneath her skin, and every fiber of her being told her it’d protect her no matter what came her way.
A sensation of bliss overcame Shay’s mind, just as a bright orange orb flared out to surround her body. She launched toward the sky, leaving a trail of rippling light in her wake. Her giggle echoed off the tall buildings she soared past. Never had she felt this free, clear-headed, and connected to the pulse of the Earth.
Shay dropped straight down in a spiral roll as she buzzed the front of Ling Enterprises. This she could get used to.
Her fist shot out, body stiff as she flew full-speed above Liberty Street. The downdrafts between each building swayed her from side to side, and the force of flying bunched her clothes. She could see the logistics behind a skin-tight suit and a cape now.
In a burst of solar winds, Shay rocketed through Gemini City. The orange-laced cyclone around her kicked up the bits of trash strewn along the crowded streets below, and her laugh bounced off the gleaming skyscrapers above.
The End
Acknowledgements
I’d like to acknowledge the everyday heroes: the police officers, firefighters, and first responders. These brave men and women run headfirst into danger to save others and keep their communities safe. They are real-deal heroes and I’d like to thank them for their service.
As always, I’d like to thank my awesome family (including my farm family). Their support and encouragement is what keeps me going.
Big thanks to Georgia McBride and everybody at Month9Books for continuing to have faith in my writing. She, the editors, cover designers, and marketing team have worked tirelessly to get my words out into the world.
I only have one critique partner, but she’s worth a million. Thank you, Kaelan Rhywiol. You are an amazing author, an irreplaceable friend, and a beautiful person. It’s an honor and a pleasure to be riding shotgun with you down this bumpy road of publishing.
Last but definitely not least, I’m sending many thanks to my friends in the #amwriting community. The interactions we have on Twitter brighten my days and remind me I’m not alone in this wild writer’s life.
–xoxo
Jamie Zakian
Jamie Zakian lives in South Jersey with a rowdy bunch of dudes, also known as family. A YA/NA writer, her head is often in the clouds while her ears are covered in headphones. On the rare occasions when not writing, she enjoys blazing new trails on her 4wd quad or honing her archery skills. She’s a card-carrying member of the Word Nerd Association, which means she’s probably stalking every Twitter writing competition and offering query critiques so keep an eye out.
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