by Alan Janney
Even though I was the Outlaw, I was also intensely jealous of him, that Katie would dress like this when he visited. I kind of hated myself. And I wasn’t real happy with her either. Why did she never wear this around Chase Jackson?
I backed beyond the tall evergreen shrubs into deeper night, drawing her after me.
“Is it really you?” she asked, her voice a tremulous whisper.
I nodded. I reeeeally didn’t want her to recognize me. I was able to creditably disguise my voice, with help from the mask. To aid in the deception, I’d drawn a few designs on my neck with a black sharpie that peeked above the collar of my shirt, like tattoo camouflage. The more differences I could manufacture between the Outlaw and Chase Jackson the better.
“Are you…are you mad at me? You look like you’re angry with me,” she said. I was about to reply but a fresh wave of pain hit my brain and took my breath away. I shook my head, trying to loosen the tendrils of discomfort. Whenever my pulse started to race, my headache worsened. “Then why are you here?”
“I’m here for you,” I said. I can make my voice really deep. Sometimes when I wear the Outlaw suit, I sound larger and I feel larger too. “I haven’t seen you since that night.”
“The night on the rooftop,” she nodded and hugged herself. “Thank you for finding me.”
A thousand responses ran through my head. You’re welcome. My pleasure. Anything for you. Any time. Don’t mention it. Let’s make out. None of them seemed to measure up to the Outlaw’s required gravitas. So I said nothing. I’m a genius.
“I’m glad you came,” she smiled. “I’ve been hoping you would.”
Again, another bout of agony. This time my knees buckled. Carter was right…the headaches were going to kill me.
“Are you okay?” Katie cried, reaching out a hand to steady me as I lowered to the ground. This was not going well. The Outlaw isn’t supposed to fall over.
Then she touched me. My neck. As if by magic the pain lifted. She placed her hand on my shoulder and her skin touched mine and every muscle in my body relaxed. Muscles I didn’t know I possessed unclenched and my head cleared.
“Yes,” I said, marveling at her. “I’m fine.”
“You don’t appear fine,” she said, examining me in concern. “I mean, you do. You’re gorgeous. But…you look unwell.” She’d never seen the Outlaw’s face but he was gorgeous? I hated that guy. “I saw the kidnapping video,” she said and she lowered to her knees beside me. “Did they hurt you?”
“Yes,” I lied, thankful for the excuse. “But they won’t anymore.”
“Who are they?”
“It doesn’t matter. That’s not why I’m here. I want to warn you,” I said.
“Warn me? About what?”
“The guy that kidnapped you is still out there.”
She nodded.
I continued, “Have any memories surfaced about his identity?”
“No,” she shook her head, looking spooked. “I wish I did. Do you expect him to try again?”
“I do,” I said. “I don’t want to frighten you, but it’s important.”
“Why me?” she asked, and to my astonishment she wrapped her hands around my arm and rested her head on my shoulder. “I’m scared.”
“It’s because I returned your phone a few months ago, in September. The thief is obsessed with me now, and he considers you a link.”
“You remember returning my phone?” she perked up. “I presumed you forgot all about it.”
“I remember.”
“Why did you return my phone?” she asked, her smoldering eyes practically melting my mask away. “And why did you rescue me? How did you know where to find me? The police asked me that about a hundred times.”
“It’s a secret.”
“Pretty please tell me?” She looked up at me through her lashes, which was a super effective strategy.
“I’ll tell you one day. If I can. Until then…keep safe. Don’t go out with anyone you don’t know. Stay with your friends and family,” I said. And don’t go out with Tank!!!
She nodded and said, “Okay.”
She was no longer touching my skin and my headache was returning. Experimentally I took one of her hands and pressed it against the exposed skin between my glove and my sleeve. As our bodies touched directly I experienced the same calming effect. The pain drifted away.
“What are you doing?” she laughed softly.
“Sorry,” I said. “I…don’t touch people often.”
She examined me for a long time and I was glad it was dark and I had a mask to hide behind. My face was burning in embarrassment.
“Take off your gloves,” she said, tilting her head to the side. “And you can touch me with your hands.” I wanted to do that so bad I was trembling. But that could lead to disaster. I said nothing. She touched my neck with her fingers. “How old are you?”
“Not much older than you.”
“Perfect,” she cooed. I recognized that voice. She used it to tease me sometimes when we were alone. I took her hand in my glove and held it. “You don’t have to be lonely. Not with me.”
“Lonely?”
“Isn’t it lonely being you?” she asked. We were completely hidden from the rest of the world. Just us.
“A little,” I said. “But aren’t we all a little lonely?”
“All us superheroes?” she smiled.
“There are no superheroes,” I told her. “Just us regular people. And I think we’re all lonely.”
“You’re a hero to me, you know,” she said, and she played with my hair. “I don’t remember that night. But I’m still grateful.”
“Do you have friends?” I asked cautiously. This was dangerous territory. I wanted her to talk about Chase Jackson.
“How much do you know about me? When I imagine you, you’re always keeping track of me from a distance,” she laughed. “Which is a little far fetched, I know.”
“You’re not…entirely wrong. I know a little.”
“I knew it!” she grinned.
“It’s a very innocent crush. That’s all.”
“My crush on you isn’t so innocent,” she said and she nuzzled her nose playfully into my mask. I ground my teeth and fought down the robust urge to rip the mask off. “But to answer your question. I have friends, mostly boys, and they kinda suck. No offense, but boys don’t make great friends. I need a friend that I won’t fall in love with, and vise versa. I need a good friend that’s a girl.”
Fall in love with??!
“Like Natalie North? I adore her. Can you get me her number? I met her once.”
“I know.”
“You know I met her? How?” she asked.
Whoops! How would the Outlaw know that? “Because… Natalie told me.”
“Oh. Right. She’s very nice.”
“She is,” I agreed, nodding. “The real Natalie is as nice as her media persona.”
“Is that why you like her? You both wear masks?”
“That’s why she likes me. Very perceptive of you,” I said. “She thinks we have that in common.”
“Are you two still…you know…dating?” she asked and she nudged me with her shoulder. “It’s a very romantic story.”
“No,” I said. “I haven’t seen her in months.”
“Aw,” Katie said. “I bet she misses you!”
“The Outlaw doesn’t really exist,” I sighed. “It’s just a mask.”
“No. That’s not true. The Outlaw is bigger than that. I know you’re probably a real person under there but to the world, to the rest of us, to me…you’re very real. We need you.”
“I just cause more problems than I solve,” I grunted. “By a long shot. That’s why I’ve been gone.”
“Are you married in real life?” she asked.
“No,” I laughed, careful to alter my voice. I forget how mysterious the Outlaw persona is. My best friend just asked if I was married. Surreal. “Remember? We’re about the same age.”
�
��Good,” she smiled.
“What about you? You must have a boyfriend.”
“No,” she said, pursing her lips. “My situation is… complicated.”
“How so?”
“Just typical high school boyfriend girlfriend stuff,” she shrugged and the strap to her tank top slid off her shoulder. Focus! “Want to hear something interesting?”
“Sure,” I said, but it was nearly time for me to go. I’d been here too long, taking too many chances.
“Do you know the guy that gave you the taser? Last year?”
“Yes,” I said slowly, sorting through my web of lies and connections. “How did you know about the taser?”
“He told me. His name is Lee and he’s my friend!”
“The guy from Craigslist is your friend?” I asked, faking surprise.
“Isn’t that a wild coincidence?”
“That’s bizarre. His device really helped. It completely incapacitated Ta…that guy on the roof.”
“Were you injured in that fight?” she asked me.
“Yes,” I nodded emphatically. “Badly. That guy is awful. He’s huge. And mean. That’s why I want you to stay safe. Here. In Glendale. Away from the city.”
“So you can get hurt,” she mused. “Does that mean you don’t have real super powers? Like, really really no super powers?”
I chuckled and said, “Really really, there’s no such thing as super powers. But…I am abnormal. I’m weird in ways I’m still learning about.”
“Like what?”
“That’s a secret too.”
“Are you friends with PuckDaddy?” Katie asked.
“Why do you ask that?”
“Because he was erasing all the video of you. Right? Wasn’t he helping you out?”
“Not exactly,” I shook my head. “It’s all hard to explain.”
“Were you scared that night? When you were kidnapped and PuckDaddy erased the evidence?”
“Yes,” I said. “Very. A lot of the Outlaw stuff is scary.”
“So PuckDaddy is a bad guy?”
“My life is…complex. I don’t know if he’s a bad guy. But he’s not a friend. I don’t have any real friends. At least the Outlaw doesn’t.”
“I’m your friend,” she smiled.
“Thank you,” I smiled back. But she couldn’t see that. “I need to go. Remember why I came here,” I said and I stood up. “Stay away from people you don’t know well.”
“Before you go,” she said and she help up her phone. “Can I take a picture of you? Or just look at you in the light? I can barely see you.”
“No,” I snapped. I snatched her phone and tossed it into the grass near her bedroom door.
“Hey!” she laughed.
“No pictures.”
“Why are you so bashful with the media?” she teased me. “The world loves this stuff.”
“It’s best not to take ourselves too seriously,” I said. “Especially me. I won’t be around for long.”
“Why not?”
“I need a favor. It’s important. Don’t tell anyone I was here. No one. Okay? Not even the guy from Craigslist,” I said, doing my best to impart severity.
“Okay. But then I want a favor too.”
“What?” I asked warily.
“Promise me you’ll come back to visit soon. When you can stay longer. This has been the best ten minutes of my life! I know I’m still a teenager and you’re a grownup…but…this is nice, right? We can be friends. I feel like we’re a great fit.” She smiled so big my heart almost burst.
“I promise that…I will come back if I can,” I said and then I vanished, leaving her in the dark. I was long gone in a matter of seconds but even across the distance I could hear her sigh.
Chase Jackson’s phone was vibrating when I returned home. I had a text from Katie Lopez.
>>CHASE!!! I miss you SO much!! I have so many things to tell you but I can’t!!! AUGH!!! Please come visit SOON!!
Girls are so weird.
But that. Was. The best thing. Ever!
I was going back soon. A promise is a promise! Woooooooo!
Chapter Seven
Saturday, January 14. 2018
A week. A week went by and I was stewing.
No word from Carter. No clues about PuckDaddy. Silence from Tank. Natalie hadn’t texted. My girlfriend was affectionate but distant. Katie and I kept revolving around each other in a weird, tense, unspoken, hot relationship. She never mentioned the Outlaw visit. My Dad was feeling good. I went to bed early each night and I hadn’t suffered any more migraines.
All the nothingness that kept happening was driving me crazy. I was boiling over. In the past I always preferred quiet Saturday nights. Tonight I was doing jumping jacks. I was wired. I’d already attended a boring party with Cory and came home. He persisted in going to bed at a hideously early hour. Now I had nothing to do. But I could probably dig up something reckless, if I wanted. Which I did.
I was contemplating throwing pebbles at my girlfriend’s window or, even better, throwing bricks at Tank’s but thankfully the Outlaw’s phone beeped. It was Lee.
>> Outlaw!! Your vest is ready!
I’m on the way.
Boom!
The motorcycle tore silently across the suburbs on a high-pitched cushion of air. So much speed, so little sound. It’s touchpad display glowed cheerfully. I parked a few blocks away and ran to Lee’s backyard.
He was waiting, trembling, delirious with excitement. It was just me under the mask. Calm down, Lee. You’re making me feel guilty.
“Outlaw! You’re here, dude!” he quietly shouted at me.
“What do you have for me?” I growled, even quieter.
“Here.” He handed me a heavy gorgeous black vest.
“It’s NorthFace?”
“Nothing but the best for you, dude.”
“NorthFace makes bulletproof vests?” I asked, examining the thick vest. It was a work of art that glistened with zippers and buckles.
“Basically I bought the nicest ski vest I could find and then modified it. This is made out of bombproof ballistic nylon. I sewed in flexible kevlar plates, but kept all the pockets. I figured, Mr. Outlaw, that this could be like your Bat Belt.”
I chuckled, staring at the vest in wonder. I loved it.
“It’s an avalanche-proof vest, but I took out that airbag. I can put it back in if you want.”
“No. That’s okay,” I replied.
“I sewed in some elastic around the edges, so it’ll stretch a little bit, for when…you know, when you…get bigger?”
“When I get bigger?”
“Right, dude? I’ve seen the video analysis,” he said, unsure of himself, his voice quavering a bit.
“What analysis?” I asked.
“I mean…sorry. It’s just, that, on the videos it looks like you get bigger. Taller. …don’t you? Sorry, dude. I thought…”
“It’s fine. Forget it.”
“I feel dumb now, dude. Is it supposed to be a secret? Ahhh. My bad, you know?”
“Lee,” I said quietly. “This vest is perfect. How much do I owe you?”
To my surprise, he looked deeply offended. “Dude. I made this for you. Actually I made two vests. Now we both have one.”
“You need a ballistic vest?” I smiled through the mask.
“I figure,” he stammered a little awkwardly. “I figure that if I keep helping you, I might get shot at too. You know, dude…like we’re….like we’re partners?”
“Partners,” I grinned.
“You think Natalie North will like the vest?”
“Maybe I should go ask her.”
Back at the motorcycle, I stuffed my black shirt into the storage compartment and zipped on the vest. Perfect fit. Bet I looked super fly too.
I wasn’t interested in Natalie North romantically. My life was outlandish enough. But her opinion mattered to me. She was really the Outlaw’s only friend.
I took Highway Two to Interstate
Five, pushing the bike close to 100 mph. Tonight I was the Outlaw, and the Outlaw soared. I flew down Natalie’s off ramp near Chinatown, found my favorite hidden parking spot, and climbed up the wall. I didn’t analyze this superhuman feat; just went straight up and over.
Are you home? I texted her.
Two minutes later, >> No, but I will be soon. Why?
Coming to visit.
>> It’s about time! =) See you soon.
Her rooftop was monitored. I knew that now. The Outlaw had hoodwinked thousands of people into believing he actually existed, and so they set up cameras to spy on him. Instead of climbing to her roof I hid in the shadows below, on top of the adjacent structure. I crouched down to wait. The ambient city noise filtered up to me and I smiled, enjoying it from above.
Five minutes later my phone beeped. A new text message. From an unknown number.
>>Hey moron what r u doin
What on earth? Only three people knew the Outlaw’s phone number, and I didn’t recognize these digits. Had to be a mistake.
>>Thats right Im talking 2 u
Wrong number, I replied.
>>im savin ur life dummy get the heck out of there
Could this person really be trying to communicate with me? The Outlaw?
>>u think carter was messin around with u? Shooter gonna burn ur ass
Whoa! I jumped up. Whoa whoa whoa!! Shooter? Carter? Who is this???
>> y r u wearing ur bike helmet instead of the mask?
You can see me? I asked, glancing around, completely freaked out.
>>im everywhere. now move
Who are you????
Just then, Natalie texted me. >> I’m coming up the elevator right now!
Come to the roof, then walk down the fire escape, I told her.
>>get out of there now idiot, the stranger texted me again. >>b4 natalie north gets there
Talk to you later, I replied.
>>wait!!! listen, stoopid!
>>i don’t know y im even bothering but…
>>turn your helmet speaker on
>>pair the helmet’s bluetooth with your phone
