by Gwenda Bond
Taxi Jack arrived at the end of my block, and stopped there. He knew enough not to take me to the front door unless it was daylight out.
“I like your young man,” he said.
I started to protest that he wasn’t my young man, but why? “I’m glad,” I said.
“He’s shy, though. You may have to make the first move,” he said.
“Boundaries, Jack,” I said. “Boundaries.” Why did older people always want to make an embarrassing fuss over the relationships of teenagers anyway?
“Taxi Jack,” he said, then drove away as soon as I got out.
I shrugged and started for home. My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I had a moment’s hope it was TheInventor with answers already. More likely it’d be SmallvilleGuy making sure I got home okay and wishing me a good night.
Instead it was a group text from Devin to me, James, and Maddy: This is bad.
It included a link, but instead of checking it out I shot back a response: What are you even doing up?
It was two in the morning, after all.
Devin’s reply was, Never mind that, read the link.
I scrolled back up to his original message. The link went to a local TV news homepage. I clicked through to a story with a headline that made me gasp:
Man Injured in Unusual Dust-Up.
The article related the statement given by the victim, who had suffered from a broken arm. He claimed he’d been pursued by four teenagers matching the same descriptions of those involved in the weird activities all over town in recent days. The kids had then picked him up and dropped in the roadway, where he was hit by a car.
I tapped out a message: Why would they do this?
James shot back: I’m awake now. Maybe it was just a matter of time until they did something like this.
Maddy: Time we’re now officially running out of. (Although could this have waited until morning? I like sleeping.)
She answered her own question: Probably not. Once Perry sees it…
She was right. Now that another news outlet had a story, Perry would no longer be patient. What were they doing? I could have been wrong about them wanting me after all.
Someone had gotten hurt. I couldn’t help feeling guilty that I hadn’t moved fast enough to prevent that from happening.
A boy brushed past me, fast, then wheeled on his heel. Speedy Todd. Was he here to hurt me?
My apprehension must’ve shown in my face—or maybe it was the defensive stance I took. I put one foot in front of the other and put my fists up to shield my body, just like Dad had taught me.
“I see you’ve heard the news,” Todd said. “If you’re wondering, that was your fault.”
Too close to the mark. I wanted to cringe, but then I realized how wrong he was. “Really? Because I don’t remember hurting someone, just because I can, because my masters told me to. I won’t take the blame for what you did. You don’t have to do these things. Let me help you. All of you.”
Todd shook his head. “All they want is you. They said to tell you they want to talk to you, just talk. And only to you. You know where we are.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Come find out,” he said, “and keep anyone else from getting hurt.”
He streaked back past me fast enough to blow my hair back. He was gone by the time I’d blinked.
Not for a second did I believe that all they wanted was to talk. But maybe I didn’t have a choice. It hadn’t been my fault they broke that guy’s arm, but the next time… if I could prevent someone else getting hurt and didn’t? How could I live with that?
I crept the rest of the way home and slipped inside the front door. I waited for Dad to bust me, which seemed almost inevitable. But he must’ve been more tired than I thought.
No one met me. I made it all the way upstairs to my room.
My phone buzzed again, and this time it was a message in the app. No reason not to use it—or not stay logged in—now that Alex was supposedly on our side.
It wasn’t TheInventor, but Clark.
SmallvilleGuy: Did you see the news?
SkepticGirl1: Yes. Perry’s going to want a story. More than he already did.
I considered revealing my encounter with Todd. Clark would only tell me that I had to be careful. So I kept it to myself for the time being.
SkepticGirl1: Night.
SmallvilleGuy: Talk to you tomorrow.
CHAPTER 24
I walked to my locker to swap out my books after lunch the next day. Distracted was too weak a word for my state of mind. Not that I was scattered, I wasn’t. I was the opposite, frustrated and focused on my real problem.
Now that TheInventor didn’t take up as much headspace, all I could think about was getting this story, saving Reya, Todd, Sunny, and Jamie, and taking down Donovan, Jenkins, and the Contessa in the process.
Realistically, school wasn’t any longer today than ever before. But it felt like the longest school day in the world.
We were waiting, and that was exactly what it felt like. We should have been acting.
Or, rather, I should.
After Todd’s latest visit, was it time for me to march up that alley and hit the back entrance that must be there, alone? Stop waiting for the armored squad to come to us? Would TheInventor turn up anything helpful? This was the first time I had not just rushed in and followed my instincts, and it wasn’t working out.
I was beginning to actively regret it.
Clark had texted me that he wanted to visit the Scoop in the afternoon and help however he could. I still hadn’t told everyone about the photo of me or my articles in the folder. I knew Clark thought I should, and it was possible he would force the issue.
I hadn’t mentioned Todd’s latest visit to anyone else. It would only cause them to try to keep me from a confrontation that was becoming inevitable.
I closed my locker door and spun the dial—and ran smack into Dante. He gave me a nervous grin and set me back on my feet away from him. “Lois?” he asked. His T-shirt had a few paint splatters, as usual. “I wondered if I could grab you for a second before class?”
Dante being so tentative was unusual.
Crap. I’d promised Maddy I wouldn’t interfere, and I meant to keep that promise. She’d been horrified by the very idea that my confession the other day involved talking to him about her.
“Of course,” I said. “Unless it’s about Maddy. You guys should talk to each other.”
“We should?” he asked, watching my expression like it might give him a deeper insight.
Don’t screw this up. Don’t say anything you’re not supposed to.
“Um, you know what I mean. If there’s something to talk about.” I started to walk.
“I think you know there is,” he said. He was the nicest guy, there was nothing accusing in his voice. “I’ve been trying to talk to her. I asked her to the dance this weekend and she said she wasn’t sure if she wanted to go.”
Hmmm. She hadn’t mentioned that.
He went on. “I just want her to be happy… and I feel like she isn’t anymore. My question is, what can I do about that?”
“Wait and see? Maybe it’s just a phase.” Why did I say that? I should keep my mouth shut.
“Does she like someone else?” he asked.
“No,” I said. “I don’t think so.”
“Has she said anything to you? About me?” He shook his head when I looked over at him. “I know you can’t tell me that. But… could you tell me what to do?”
He was serious.
I stopped moving. “You are both extremely excellent people who deserve to be happy,” I said. “That’s all I can tell you. You don’t want relationship advice from me, whether things are going good or bad. Trust me.”
Dante considered that. “I do trust you. This helpe
d.”
I resisted asking in what possible way it could have, and went to a class where I knew I’d struggle to pay attention.
*
After school, my friends and I ferried over to the Scoop together by subway. The others were vigilant for interruptions from our armored attackers, but I didn’t bother to keep my eyes peeled for them. I knew they wouldn’t show, not unless I was alone.
Which presented a slight problem, because I wanted to meet Clark out front. The others made for the Daily Planet Building’s revolving doors, and I said, “I’ll be in as soon as Clark’s here. Should be any time.”
“I’ve already met him, you know,” Maddy said, with a superior air.
“Yes, we’ve heard,” James said. “Poor Lois, she can’t even stand to miss out on a few seconds with the guy.”
“I think it’s cute,” Devin said. He lifted his phone. “Maybe I should take a picture for your future scrapbook.”
“If I could kill with thoughts, you’d all be dead right now,” I told them.
They laughed and left me to my post.
I waited by the wall where speedy Todd had been the other day. This time I did stay on high alert.
I hadn’t mentioned to Maddy—yet—that Dante had talked to me. But that was only because I hadn’t been able to grab a moment alone with her.
I wouldn’t have been surprised if the armored gang showed up again now that I was solo, but they didn’t. Clark, however, was right on time.
“You know anyone who can give me a tour?” he asked, long legs covering the concrete between us quickly.
I smiled at him, and then realized I was just standing there smiling at him. Like the world’s biggest dork. He came closer, and on complete impulse I rose onto my toes and pressed my lips to his cheek.
“Hi,” I said. Then, obviously, I started walking extra-fast across the plaza to the lobby doors. “One tour coming right up.”
My cheeks were burning. His cheek had felt like fire beneath my lips.
A hand took mine, and he tugged me around to face him in front of the revolving doors. I took a breath and said, “Yeah?”
“Thanks,” Clark said.
“Oh, uh, that was, um, nothing,” I said, and whirled around. “Right this way. Everyone wants to meet you.”
You could just kiss me right now and then I wouldn’t feel so awkward about having pecked your cheek.
We headed to the guard desk, where Tommy, the freckle-faced redheaded guard I’d slowly won over, was on duty. “Who’s this?” he asked.
“My friend.” Heat flooded through me. I was terrible at life. “My boyfriend, Clark.”
Clark made a little noise at the word, but then scribbled his name in the visitor book.
“You take good care of our Lois. We’re fond of her around here,” Tommy said, grinning.
“Clark already met the General,” I said. “Isn’t that enough?”
The guard fake-shivered. “He came here once. I’m still scared.”
“Right?” Clark asked easily.
Tommy laughed and I waved for Clark to follow me past the super-fancy elevators to our grim gray one that went to the basement. “Now, I’ve told you, our office is not glamorous. Get your expectations in check.”
Clark’s eyes darted around the lobby, before settling on me. “This is pretty impressive. I don’t care what you say.”
The elevator doors slowly eased open, and we got on. I pressed the B button. The elevator doors creaked closed and it ground into motion.
“Is this safe?” Clark asked.
“Probably not,” I said. “So Dante asked me about Maddy today.”
“What’d you tell him?” Clark asked, as if he was bracing.
“That he should talk to her.”
“Do you think they’ll make it?” Clark asked.
I was forced to shrug. “I don’t know. But I like him.”
“But there’s only one of us you like enough to, um, call… your boyfriend?” Clark asked, voice shy. He lifted a hand to my cheek.
Suddenly the elevator was moving too fast. Or maybe time ceased to move at all.
Nope. It only felt that way. The elevator stopped and the doors slid open, but I wasn’t ready to get out.
“No,” I said, breathier than I wanted, “I mean, yes. I have only one friend boy. Boyfriend, I mean.”
Clark smiled, the best smile on earth, and then leaned down and pressed his lips against my cheek, the way I had his outside.
Kiss me, I thought. Kiss me for real.
And maybe he would have, if… “Lois!” James said. “Hurry up!” He was standing outside the elevator.
“We were on our way,” I said. “Until you ruined it. James, Clark. Clark, James.”
James reached out and shook Clark’s hand, and Clark used his shoulder to prevent the old elevator doors from closing on us. “Nice to meet you,” he said. “What’s the rush? Has something else happened?”
James spoke in a hush. “Dante broke up with Maddy.”
“What?!” I didn’t mean it to be so loud. I lowered my voice. “What?”
“I know,” he said. “He sent her an email. She says she’s fine, but…” He flapped his hand, as if I was urgently needed, and then preceded us up the hall.
Clark caught my eye.
“I didn’t say anything I shouldn’t have,” I said. “I swear.”
“Hey,” Clark said, “I know.”
Somehow his easy belief I hadn’t screwed up made the situation better. I sped up, wanting to see how Maddy was doing.
Which appeared to be… fine. When we reached the door, she was sporting her fancy headphones and humming along to whatever she listened to while she typed.
“See?” James said, before going over to his own desk.
I didn’t. She appeared completely normal.
Clark made a slow spin, taking in the entirety of the Morgue.
“Like I said, it’s not much to look at.” I tried to remember my first experience of coming in here.
“Are you kidding?” he asked. “This is the room where it happens. I can’t believe I finally get to see it.”
Devin got up to come meet us.
“Clark, Devin,” I said. “Devin meet Clark, aka SmallvilleGuy, in real life, finally.”
Devin attempted a cool handshake of some sort, but had to settle for a regular one. “I’m glad to finally meet you in person,” Clark said.
“Likewise,” Devin said. He and Clark finished their handshake. “Even if you’re the reason I never bothered asking out Lois.”
Clark smiled at him. “Good call.”
“Some days I have regrets,” Devin said, shaking his head tragically and leaning his hand on the top of my desk.
Clark frowned. “Well…”
“Devin,” I said, “stop that.”
Devin cracked up. “I’m just kidding. Oh my god, you two are adorable. Ignore me. Did James tell you?” Devin asked me. “She just read his message and then informed us and put on her headphones.”
“Yes, and sheez.” I couldn’t believe Dante broke up with her over email. He wasn’t a jerk, but it was a jerk move.
I stalked over to Maddy and gingerly pulled her headphone away from her ear. “You want to tell me what happened?” I asked.
“Dante dumped me in an email,” Maddy said cheerily. She put her earphones around her neck.
I gave her the stink-eye, the look I’d give someone who I intended to break in an interrogation. “Let’s go out into the hall and talk.”
“We don’t need to,” she said. Spotting Clark behind me, she said, “Hi, Clark!” Then, “Margaret…”
“Bourke-White,” he said. “Famous photojournalist, mostly for LIFE Magazine.”
She squinted. “Molly…”
“Ivins, or as Lois calls her, ‘the funniest political writer in American history.’ Nice try.”
“You’re good,” she said.
I just kept looking at her. “You win,” she said, “but we don’t need to talk about it. We have other things to do. Important things.”
“We’ll be right back,” I said, pulling her out of her chair.
I tugged her out and up the mostly darkened hallway. “What happened?” I asked.
She gave me a look, and I could see a little of the wounds she was hiding beneath her cool exterior. Her T-shirt read Never Say Lie.
“Like I said,” Maddy studied her shoes, “he dumped me.”
“Why?” I asked. “It wasn’t…” Because of me? Something I said?
“Wasn’t what?” she asked.
I might as well tell her. “He came to talk to me after lunch. I swear I didn’t say anything.”
“I know,” she said, “he said so in the message. I guess it was what you didn’t say that decided it.”
I placed my hands against the wall and gently banged my head against it for the second time this week. “Why did I screw this up? I’m so sorry. I’ll fix it. I’ll talk to him.”
Maddy’s hand landed on my shoulder. “No,” she said. “It wasn’t just the email. When I saw him at the end of the day, he asked if he could make me happy. Very, very serious about it. I told him I am happy, just not happier when we’re together. He said he needed to think about that, but apparently it didn’t take long. In the email, he said that you told him we should both be happy. And then he said that meant he had to break it off.”
“Well, that’s stupid,” I said. “He’ll never find anyone better than you. And he should have done it in person.”
“But he’ll find someone better than me for him. And likewise.” Maddy pushed her hair out of her face. “We both tried. Lois… there was this moment, when I saw the email and read it, that I felt this kind of sinking feeling. Embarrassed. But then I felt relieved. Because he broke up with me. The wall was gone, immediately. He said he thought I would hate it less if he did it this way, in a message, and he’s right. I wouldn’t have wanted to face him. I hated all these ‘talks’ we’ve been having.” She paused. “You know, I think we’re still friends, even. I need to get stronger. He did me a favor, but I shouldn’t have put him in that position. I should have just told him it wasn’t working anymore and I wanted out.”
