ã€ŠSparks Between Usã€‹


 "Hold This"

    Everyone wants to believe that they are the protagonist of their own story. But the simple fact is that most of us just aren¡¯t that interesting. If we¡¯re lucky, we could be a Love Interest or a Best Friend, but a Protagonist? That¡¯s a one in a million chance, and it¡¯s not always a good thing.

    I¡¯m certainly no Protagonist: my life is so simple and devoid of any serious problems that I bore myself thinking about it. I have no distinguishing features; you couldn¡¯t point me out of a lineup of one. Two loving and living parents send me to this average high school every day. Indeed, I am not someone whose life story would pique interest. Just a normal guy.

    Class started a few minutes ago but everyone, the teacher included, is waiting. The lights flicker ever so slightly and we know what to expect. Faster than the eye can see, a streak of electricity shoots out from a socket in the wall and lands between the first row of desks and the teacher. And just like that he appears, down on one knee in a very dramatic pose. Even though we¡¯ve all seen this before, it¡¯s hard not to be impressed.

    ¡°You¡¯re late again, Lamar,¡± our teacher Mr. Piers tries to sound as casual as possible, like that wasn¡¯t an amazing thing to see. Lamar stands up to his full height adjusting the straps of his book bag.

    ¡°Sorry, Mr. Piers,¡± he offers a genuine apology.

    ¡°Hold-up in an alley?¡± he asks with a quirk of his eyebrow.

    ¡°Bank, actually,¡± Lamar points out. Laconic as always. Our teacher mulls it over.

    ¡°I expect three pages on it by Friday, understood?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mr. Piers.¡±

    ¡°Good, now go take your seat.¡± With a nod, the Protagonist of our class goes to his chair.

    Lamar Brown greets people on his way to sit. His seat is next to mine. From this side, I can see the long scar he got in the accident which put him on the path of being a Protagonist. It''s deep, jagged, and didn''t heal very well on his otherwise smooth, dark face. An inch or two to the left and he would''ve seriously damaged his right eye. Maybe even lost it. The scar goes past his strong jawline down to his neck; if it goes any further I can''t see it because of his shirt.

    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± As casual a greeting as I can offer. I¡¯m not sure if I can consider us to be friends. We¡¯re not openly hostile towards each other, but it¡¯s not like we¡¯ve talked about anything besides school. Lamar turns to me.

    ¡°What¡¯s good, dude?¡± Sparks of electricity travel up his scar. Far as I can tell, it¡¯s an involuntary action. But I¡¯ve noticed it happens a lot when I talk to him.

    ¡°Same old, same old.¡± It¡¯s not really an answer, but then again he didn¡¯t really ask me a question. ¡°You?¡±

    ¡°Same,¡± he answers as he takes off his bomber jacket. I wonder if having millions or possibly billions of volts constantly running throughout your body is good for your muscles. Because his long-sleeved shirt is tight on him, he¡¯s as muscular as any athlete our school has to offer. His biceps threatens to rip the black fabric as he takes out his things. Though I suppose running around and fighting crime at all hours of the day is all the exercise he needs. What I really want to know is how his clothes aren¡¯t vaporized every time he turns into lightning. But I don¡¯t think we¡¯re close enough for me to ask such a question.

    Class and school, in general, go by as usual. Everybody looks at Lamar and talks about his various exploits from either today or this week, real or rumored. But no one actually talks to him. It¡¯d be like talking to...there isn¡¯t even a good analogy involving a famous person that I can use because here in Excelsior City, Lamar outranks everybody. Being the most powerful Protagonist in generations tends to put people on a pedestal. I can¡¯t say for sure if he has any actual friends. That thought takes up more space in my head than I¡¯d like, and it certainly stays for longer.

    With the school day over students pour out of the building, but Lamar stands near the curb. Almost like the parting of the sea, everyone gives him a wide berth. But he doesn¡¯t seem to care or notice because of whatever he¡¯s looking at on his phone. Curiosity pulls me over.

    ¡°What¡¯re ya looking at?¡± There¡¯s a map of the city on his phone, he¡¯s looking for something but I can¡¯t tell what. Electricity arcs up his scar as he notices me.

    ¡°It¡¯s a crime alert app. Just checking if there¡¯s any trouble around before I head home. I didn¡¯t bring my battery packs with me, so it could get dicey,¡± he answers.

    ¡°Your battery packs?¡± He furrows his brow, thinking of how best to explain to me.

    ¡°I can generate electricity from my body.¡± He holds out his hand and sparks leap from his fingers. They¡¯re a sharp blue, unlike the deep purple that traverses his scar. ¡°But it can be exhausting to rely on it. So I usually use the electricity around me. Luckily, we live in one of the liveliest cities in the world.¡± He closes his fist and the sparks die. ¡°Anyway, doesn¡¯t seem to be any trouble so I¡¯ll head home for now.¡± He checks his phone for a moment more. ¡°Well, see ya.¡± I half expect him to zip away but he starts walking down the street. It¡¯s the direction I¡¯m headed in too, that¡¯s why I try to catch up with him.

    ¡°I actually go in this direction, too. Can I walk with you?¡± More electricity goes up his scar.

    ¡°It¡¯s a free country.¡± With that, we fall into silence while we walk. Or at least what constitutes for silence in the city. It doesn¡¯t help that everyone recognizes Lamar, who tries his best to be polite and address the fans or reporters that approach him while still moving. A swarm of them surround Lamar and with what I think is his media face, starts answering their questions.

    ¡°How many men were robbing that bank?¡±

    ¡°Eight.¡±

    ¡°Were there any casualties?¡±

    ¡°No, not a civilian or criminal died in that bank.¡± He¡¯s clearly used to being ambushed like this, answering the questions with a steady voice.

    ¡°Do you think this was gang activity?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t comment on that. Ask the Excelsior City Police.¡±

    ¡°Have you heard Crushed Velvet¡¯s offer?¡± A particularly stylish reporter asks.

    ¡°No, I haven¡¯t. What is it?¡± He asks back. The reporter takes out a tablet and shows him something. A screenshot from the official Crushed Velvet website announcing something.

    ¡°They¡¯re offering to make you a signature costume, free of charge if you fly out to their headquarters in Neon City.¡± Crushed Velvet is a fashion group so prestigious they only dress the most influential of people: movie icons, musical legends, and the top-tier Protagonists. If they want to make him an outfit then he really is headed for the big leagues.

    ¡°That¡¯s nice of them, but I can¡¯t just leave my city like that. If they really want to do that for me, they can come here,¡± Lamar answers. The group of reporters explode int dozens more questions. After all, who would turn down an offer from the one and only Crushed Velvet? ¡°Alright I have to get going, so one more question. You in the back,¡± he points to a short redhead. She pushes her way to the front.

    ¡°Hello, Lightning Demon,¡± she greets him by his superhero name. It doesn¡¯t sound like someone who¡¯d be saving the day, but it¡¯s just as scary to the criminals of our city. ¡°What message do you want to say to the kids who look up to you?¡± The whole world seems to go quiet after she asks. Everyone points their recording devices or their phones at Lamar, waiting with bated breath.

    ¡°Well I still think I¡¯m a kid but uhh¡­¡± he takes a second to think. ¡°Always wear your seatbelts,¡± he runs his finger over his scar as sparks shoot out from it ¡°trust me.¡± The media tries desperately for more questions as he makes his way out.

    We walk in silence for a bit before I have to ask.

    ¡°Who turns down an outfit from Crushed Velvet? They ain¡¯t just giving those out, y¡¯know. Do you know many people would kill for one?¡± I lightly slap his arm. ¡°They¡¯d probably give you a dope one too.¡± His scar lights up.

    ¡°Yeah, but I can¡¯t just leave.¡±

    ¡°I heard that answer. It¡¯s not like they¡¯re asking you to move to Neon City. I mean, I don¡¯t know how long it takes to make an outfit but still, man, it¡¯s Neon City! Wouldn¡¯t that be like, your own personal playground?¡± I¡¯m not sure why I¡¯m so excited for Lamar when I barely know him. ¡°City of lights, so you can zip around and the City of Sin...I¡¯m sure there are plenty of bad guys for you to stop.¡± A small chuckle comes from Lamar.

    ¡°That may be true, but nothing beats Excelsior City,¡± he says while sticking his arms up. He gestures to the various skyscrapers and gigantic TV screens around us. Just here in Sundial Square, he¡¯s spoiled for choice. ¡°And besides¡­¡± he trails off. There¡¯s something he wants to say but thinks better of it. I want to ask what is it, but this is the most we¡¯ve ever talked or hung out, so I decide not to push the subject.

    We get to my train station; I¡¯m about to walk down the stairs when Lamar grabs ahold of my sleeve.

    ¡°Uhh,¡± he says with a kind of dumb look on his face. He gulps and more sparks go his scar. ¡°I wanted to say...Tha-¡± He stops mid-sentence and turns to look at something behind him. I follow his eye line to two helicopters flying high above. It takes me a second to see that one is lower than the other.

    ¡°That helicopter is gonna crash. It¡¯s losing power fast!¡± he takes off his book bag and jacket, shoving them in my hands. ¡°Hold this for me!¡± Before I can protest he takes a running leap, his entire body turns into blinding electricity and he soars through the air. A split second later he¡¯s on the side of the failing helicopter, forcing the door open. I didn¡¯t know he could turn into electricity like that. I can just barely see him from here but he seems to be talking to the pilot and someone else. He grabs them both before turning into lightning again, the people inside transform too. Lamar crashes into the ground just a few feet away from me, superheating the air around us. The people he took with him look very discombobulated, which is fair because a second ago they were literally electricity. Another thing I didn¡¯t know he could do. They get to their feet with some difficulty, but the pilot rushes over to a garbage can to vomit.

    Lamar doesn¡¯t notice though, his full attention on the out-of-control helicopter. People around us have finally noticed what¡¯s going on and are starting to panic. But even that doesn¡¯t rattle him, he looks around, trying to figure out something I can¡¯t fathom. When he makes his decision he bolts through the air again, flying towards one of the buildings. Just as quickly as he returns to his human form, he lights his left hand with electricity, melting the concrete so he can get a handhold in the building. As he hangs off the side of this building I realize that¡¯s where the helicopter is going to crash. Everybody around me is still in a frenzy, but I¡¯m frozen to my spot. I can only hold his stuff while I pray he knows what he¡¯s doing.

    Lamar scowls and his body comes abuzz with sparks, the lights turn off in the building he¡¯s on. Then the building next to it darkens, and so does the next; in seconds all the buildings have their lights off. Lamar has drained the entire block, maybe more, of its electricity. I can see from my place on the ground that his eyes are glowing with energy. The helicopter spins in the air, plummeting; threatening to crash into Lamar, killing him and potentially dozens of people.

    Not a moment too soon Lamar sticks out his free hand and what is easily the brightest thing I¡¯ve ever seen shoots out in the form of a huge bolt of lightning. It strikes the helicopter, pushing it back a bit, slowing its descent a minuscule amount. He starts to scream as he brings his other hand around making the lightning bigger, stronger and somehow even brighter. It¡¯s an assault on the ears as well, a constant thunderous buzz shakes me to my bones. The sheer force of his power keeps Lamar pressed against the wall. The amount of electricity pouring out of him sears the air, making what was a mild afternoon suddenly swelteringly hot.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Though I don¡¯t want to, I have to shut my eyes before I blind myself. But it barely makes a difference as the light tries to burn through my eyelids. But just as quickly as it came, the light fades. I open my eyes expecting to see the charred remains of the helicopter. But there¡¯s nothing, no signs of damage to any of the buildings and I realize that Lamar disintegrated the entire thing. I look to him and see my classmate falling with his eyes closed. The once horrified crowd, now relieved; is once again terrified as we all watch the hero who just saved us fall to his death.

    People scream and shout because that¡¯s all they can do. And it¡¯s all I can do too.

    ¡°LAMAR! WAKE UP!¡± I yell as loud as I can. And I know it¡¯s impossible for him to hear me, whether over all the other shouts or the distance between us. But Lamar has shown that the impossible doesn¡¯t matter to him; his eyes snap open and just before he turns into modern art on the sidewalk, he transforms into lightning once more and zips to safety. He reforms next to me and the people he rescued from the no longer existing helicopter. He¡¯s breathing heavily with his hands on his knees, drenched in sweat and the sleeves of his shirt have been pretty much obliterated. He stands up as straight as he can manage, his chest still heaving.

    ¡°You guys okay?¡± he asks them. The pilot gives a weak thumbs-up, using the garbage can to hold himself up. ¡°Drinks lots of fluid, you¡¯ll be fine. And you, ma¡¯am?¡± he addresses a girl next to me. In the chaos of everything that just happened, I didn¡¯t take full notice of her. She¡¯s pretty, like a celebrity. She takes her dark brown dreadlocks and works them into a bun.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been better admittedly,¡± she says with an accent that I can¡¯t place. ¡°But then, I could¡¯ve been much worse. So it evens out. Thank you¡­?¡± The fact that she doesn¡¯t know him just by his abilities or face shows she¡¯s not from around here.

    ¡°Lamar. But some people call me Lightning Demon,¡± he answers having caught his breath. If just a bit.

    ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re the Lightning Demon I¡¯ve heard so much about. How fortuitous that you were here to save us. And everyone else too.¡± She gestures to the oncoming mass of people no doubt on their way to badger Lamar with praise. He shakes his head, offering a world-class smile.

    ¡°Just doing my job. That other helicopter with you guys?¡±

    ¡°Yes, part of my escort,¡± she says casually as if that¡¯s a completely normal thing.

    ¡°There¡¯s a helipad on a building two blocks over,¡± Lamar points to his right, demonstrating his knowledge of the city. ¡°You can meet up with them there. Have a safe flight this time.¡± He nods to her and the pilot before he wobbly walks off, hoping to avoid the crowd. I watch him leave for a moment before I remember I have his stuff.

    ¡°Hey! Wait up!¡± Though it isn¡¯t that hard to catch up to him, since he¡¯s hardly steady on his feet. He stumbles his way to wherever he¡¯s headed. ¡°Do you want your stuff or?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± He turns to me and there¡¯s a paleness to his skin. ¡°Oh yeah, thanks.¡± He reaches for his jacket with trembling arms. I pull it back.

    ¡°You good, dude?¡± His eyes are glazing over and I know the answer.

    ¡°Huh? No, yeah I¡¯m fine. I was just gonna go to the uhh¡­¡± he vaguely points in a direction. ¡°The park. Just need a quick-¡± he doesn¡¯t finish as he falls to his knees. I grab him before his face crashes into the ground.

    ¡°I¡¯m guessing ¡®rest¡¯ was the word you were looking for,¡± I say to what I hope is a fainted Lamar. His skin is clammy and his breathing is still heavy. His cheek leaves sweat on mine as I struggle to get him over my shoulder. ¡°This is not how I thought this day was gonna go.¡± It¡¯s bad enough he¡¯s already taller than me, heavier with muscle, and sweating but I also have to carry his stuff. I throw his jacket over him so no one notices I¡¯m carrying an unconscious Protagonist.

    I lumber along, carrying Lamar on my shoulder and sure enough, the great people of Excelsior City don¡¯t seem to care that an 18-year-old is carrying another 18-year-old down the street in the middle of the day. I take my phone out and follow its directions to the closest park. Though it was a few blocks over, it may as well have been a hundred.

    My shoulder aches as I lay Lamar down on a bench. With what happened in Sundial Square, the park is pretty empty. The bench has a nice view of the lake, some trees and then the city behind it. I put Lamar¡¯s book bag under his head and use his jacket to cover his tattered shirt. I think better of the book bag and let his head rest on my thigh. It¡¯s only for a little while. He rests somewhat fitfully, muttering something to himself and even frowns from time to time.

    I open the StoreRun app on my phone and see there are a few people on it. I hire the closest one and ask him to get a few sports drinks and a couple of sandwiches. Lamar will probably need it when he wakes up. His breathing has steadied and some color has returned to his face. Looking him over, I take in his features.

    The scar pulls the most focus, cutting through his eyebrow almost going up to his forehead. His soft black hair is freshly cut short with a straight hairline. I suppose long hair would get in the way. He has very chiseled features, a strong jaw and cheekbones so defined you can trace them with a finger. His skin is the color of oak like mine. He¡¯s definitely something to look at.

    More time must¡¯ve passed than I thought because the Runner I hired is standing in front of me, awkwardly holding the bag of my requested goods. I pay him through the app and he gives a thumbs up and a wink like he knows something I don¡¯t. He scurries off and I watch the lake as the sun dips lower on the horizon.

    An hour or so passes before I start to wonder if I should check on Lamar. He¡¯s sleeping more soundly now. Should I wake him up? He stirs, turning to lay on his side and moving his hand next to his head. I tense at the contact of his strong hand on my thigh. I¡¯m afraid to move his hand after I saw what it¡¯s capable of...At least that¡¯s what I tell myself.

    It figures the longest time I¡¯d ever hang out with Lamar, has him asleep. Though I¡¯m not sure that annihilating a vehicle, passing out, and then getting carried to a park counts as hanging out. Probably not.

    Now it¡¯s 4:30, I¡¯m scrolling through the news on my phone and people are, understandably, freaking out. Many are ranting and raving about how they didn¡¯t know that Lightning Demon was capable of something like that. It¡¯s a small comfort to know I wasn¡¯t caught off guard by that impressive display of power. There¡¯s practically no videos or pictures of the event as anyone close enough to know what was going on would¡¯ve been blinded by the lightning. Someone even started a hashtag for sharing their stories of what happened.

    ¡°There I was in Sundial Square, minding my own business when a helicopter decides it wants to crash into a building. I¡¯m about to dip when my man LD zapped it right out of the sky. You the GOAT! #SundialBlackout¡±

    ¡°Just when I thought this would be my chance to die, LD ruins it and saves the day. LMAO JK, you¡¯re the best! #SundialBlackout¡±

    ¡°LD turned a thoughts and prayers moment into a celebratory hashtag, real quick. Only in Excelsior City! #SundialBlackout¡±

    ¡°LD had that helicopter SHOOK! #SundialBlackout¡±

    ¡°I was in the shower when the power cut out. I fell and twisted my ankle. =^( Guess it¡¯s cool that LD saved a bunch of people tho #SundialBlackout¡±

    ¡°So LD can just, do that, huh? Ok. #SundialBlackout¡±

    ¡°Oh sure LD destroys a helicopter and he gets a hashtag. I destroy a helicopter and I ruin my son¡¯s birthday gift #SundialBlackout¡±

    ¡°I was in the bank that was robbed this morning when LD saved me. Then when I¡¯m headed home through Sundial Square, he saves me again! I either got bad luck or really good luck! #SundialBlackout¡±

    ¡°I was working when the power cut out so I got to leave early. Thanks LD! #SundialBlackout¡±

    The guy everyone is posting about is using me as a pillow. More and more posts flood the tag but I put my phone away to start eating my sandwich. There must an overabundance of lettuce because this sandwich is packed with the stuff. Some of it spills out when I take a bite, falling onto Lamar¡¯s face. I slowly brush the pieces of green from his cheek. My fingertips graze his full lips. They¡¯re surprisingly soft. A tiny bit gets in his scar. Slowly as I dare, I try to pick it out.

    With a start, he opens his eyes and leans up. He searches around in that calculating way of his before he looks at his hand, which is firmly planted on my thigh. He quickly darts his hand away and clears his throat. Sparks go up his scar, destroying the lettuce in it.

    ¡°Hey.¡± I¡¯m not sure what else could be said to a guy you barely know who was just sleeping on your leg. He looks like himself again, however. ¡°I got you some sports drinks. I didn¡¯t know which you would¡¯ve wanted-¡± Lamar doesn¡¯t let me finish before he grabs the closest bottle and starts to chug the bluish liquid inside.

    I sit in silence as I watch his throat work while he downs the drink, some of it spills from the side of his mouth and streams down his neck. With almost no effort he crushes the bottle once he''s done and grabs another. He fiendishly finishes that one as well, gasping for air as if he just remembered he needs to breathe.

    ¡°That¡¯s good stuff.¡± He wipes his mouth with his arm. ¡°Need to get my electrolytes back up.¡± He chuckles at his own joke. He looks around before he turns to me. ¡°Did you carry me here?¡±

    It takes me a second to realize he¡¯s talking to me.

    ¡°Y-Yeah I did.¡±

    ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°Well first, you did the coolest thing I¡¯ve ever seen. Then acted like it was no big deal. Then you fainted and I had to carry you here.¡±

    ¡°I fainted?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    He leans back on the bench and goes over the memory in his head.

    ¡°That sounds right.¡± He stares at his hands for a moment. A tension goes through the muscles in his arms and electricity arcs between his hands. A frown forms on his face. ¡°Still?¡± He lets out a deep sigh like he¡¯s disappointed by something.

    ¡°You don¡¯t sound like a guy who just saved the day. What¡¯s wrong?¡± He sighs before he answers.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been a Protagonist for two and a half years now.¡± I knew Lamar had been one for a while now, but two years? That¡¯s insane. ¡°I¡¯ve stopped robberies of all kinds. Kept a train from a derailing. Powered a lighthouse so that a ship wouldn¡¯t crash into the coastline down in Harbor Cove. I even fought that three-story robot that mad scientist released into Axle Park that one time.¡± I remember reading about that, it was a weird day. ¡°I¡¯ve been shot three times.¡± He points to little circular scars on his right arm. They¡¯re pretty close together, so he must¡¯ve gotten them at the same time. ¡°A cop I thought I could trust did that,¡± he explains. Lamar lifts his shirt to reveal his sculpted abs. He points to a small scar just below his ribs. ¡°Guy threw a knife at me during a hostage situation.¡±

    ¡°What about this one?¡± I point to one on his deltoid.

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s from a scratch I got on a loose nail.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not an interesting story.¡±

    ¡°The point is,¡± he pulls down his shirt, ¡°that I¡¯ve done all this stuff and I¡¯m still a Protagonist. And I don¡¯t know why. You know how someone becomes one right?¡±

    ¡°Yeah dude, they taught us that in kindergarten.¡± There¡¯s no scientific explanation as to how people get the abilities they receive. All that¡¯s really known is they get them to correct or prevent something.

    ¡°Most Protagonists have their powers for a little while. A month or two. They do whatever it is they have to do and that¡¯s it. They get to go back to having their life on track.¡± He shrugs. ¡°But I still have my powers.¡± He makes electricity dance around his fingers. ¡°I¡¯ve done so much but there¡¯s still something more for me to do!¡± Lightning skates across his skin. ¡°I thought I had completed my Destiny but clearly not. When do I get to have my life back?!¡± He starts buzzing with electricity all over and I move over a bit. Lamar notices the movement and shuts down the sparks.

    ¡°Sorry about that. I didn¡¯t mean to dump all that on you.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s cool dude. Everybody needs to vent sometimes and you had a long day.¡± I put my hand on his shoulder. He chuckles.

    ¡°Yeah, I guess I did.¡±

    ¡°Think Mr. Piers will make you write about this too?¡±

    ¡°Nah, he only cares if it makes me late to class.¡± Lamar grabs another drink and takes a sip. ¡°You know he was a Protagonist years ago?¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Lamar nods slowly.

    ¡°He had heat vision. Stopped a trained pack of wolves from killing some ambassador or something like that.¡± Lamar swirls the bottle around as if it''s a fine wine. ¡°He was like that for a month, saved the day, and went back to normal.¡± He runs his hand over his short hair. ¡°A month, and here I am getting closer to three years.¡± I¡¯m not sure what I could possibly say to Lamar right now that would comfort him in any way. I can¡¯t imagine the stress he¡¯s under, so I stay silent and hope my presence is enough. I reach into the bag and pull out the second sandwich for Lamar.

    He opens the paper it¡¯s wrapped in and looks at the sandwich.

    ¡°What¡¯s in this?¡±

    ¡°Turkey and cheese,¡± I answer. He shrugs and takes a bite.

    ¡°There a boom of lettuce or something? Why is there so much in here?¡± he says around a mouthful of sandwich. I laugh, happy to see he¡¯s not moping anymore.

    ¡°I thought the same thing, dude.¡± Lamar takes out a tomato slice and tosses it. ¡°What will I tell the presses? ¡®Lightning Demon littering.¡¯ The whole country will go up in flames.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s biodegradable, it¡¯ll fine.¡± He shoots me a very charming smirk and continues eating his sandwich. We sit in silence but it¡¯s a comfortable one.

    Night seeps over us as the sun dives further into the horizon, Lamar has pretty eaten everything I bought and he seems well enough to walk. We leave our cozy bench and make our way over to the train station.

    I turn to him before I descend the stairs.

    ¡°You sure you¡¯re good?¡± I feel stupid asking such a question. Even though he had fainted earlier, he still looks healthier than I¡¯ve ever been. Lamar shrugs.

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll be fine. I¡¯m gonna zip home and rest in an actual bed. Not that your thigh wasn¡¯t comfortable or anything,¡± he says with that bright smile of his. I shift on my feet somewhat as blood rushes to my face. I was kind of hoping he hadn¡¯t noticed that. Not sure how to take the comment either. I clear my throat, finding my words sticking a bit.

    ¡°That sounds like a smart move. See ya later, Lamar Brown.¡± I want to make a quick exit but then Lamar says,

    ¡°See ya, Jason Duval.¡± I stop in my tracks.

    ¡°You know my name?¡± the words come out more astonished than I want.

    ¡°Of course I do,¡± he answers with a chuckle. I guess he wouldn¡¯t just let some guy he doesn¡¯t know take him to a park and feed him. A small nervousness I didn¡¯t know I had calms with the revelation. ¡°I mean, we¡¯re friends; aren¡¯t we?¡± he asks, sounding more real question than hypothetical.

    ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re friends,¡± I answer. Another wide smile splits his face. He closes the distance between us and extends his hand.

    ¡°Take care, Jason.¡± It still sounds a little weird to hear his strong voice say my name. Like it¡¯s someone else¡¯s. I grip his hand and shake it.

    ¡°Take care, Lamar,¡± I mirror his farewell. He smiles again before backing up.

    ¡°No promises!¡± He turns into electricity and zips into a power line. He leaves me standing there, dumbfounded again.

    I guess I¡¯m friends with a Protagonist, is that why I¡¯m smiling so much?

    Chapter 1 End

 "Dude Dont Tell Anyone"

    It comes as no surprise that people are still talking about the Sundial Blackout. It¡¯s gotten its fair share of memes, praise, and hate on the internet. I actually started to read one article where some guy was trying to figure out how much energy Lamar needed to do that before I realized I didn¡¯t care that much. Being there was enough to know it was a lot.

    School goes by quickly, it¡¯s Friday so everybody wants to go home fast. I¡¯m putting some stuff in my locker when Lamar approaches me. There¡¯s an awkward little moment when he goes for a handshake but I have my fist closed for a pound. He switches at the same time I do. With a wave of his hand, he dismisses the clumsy interaction.

    ¡°We¡¯ll work on that later. For now, I have a favor to ask you.¡± He¡¯s wearing his usual bomber jacket and a black hoodie. ¡°It¡¯s really inconvenient, it might take a while and I know all of this is short notice so I totally understand if you decline, but I¡¯ll buy you lunch as thanks¡­or dinner. Depends on how long it takes,¡± Lamar says, pressing his hands together in a pleading manner. If he needs my help I¡¯ll gladly give it.

    ¡°Sure, what¡¯s the favor? Need me to help you move some furniture? Hide a dead body?¡± Lamar chuckles.

    ¡°No, nothing like that. After that whole thing in Sundial Square, I¡¯ve been called in for a meeting with the Protagonist board tomorrow. They¡¯re gonna ask me a bunch of questions about it, and I wanted you to be there,¡± he explains. I close my locker.

    ¡°Like a character witness?¡± He does a so-so gesture with his hand.

    ¡°More like a witness witness. They¡¯ll probably want to know more about what happened so having another perspective would help.¡±

    ¡°If you think it¡¯ll help then sure, I¡¯ll-¡± I¡¯m interrupted by Lamar suddenly putting his hands on my shoulders. He looks at me right in my eyes.

    ¡°Thank you! You have no idea what this means to me. Let me get your number and I¡¯ll text you where to meet.¡± I¡¯m taken aback by how easily he asks for it. He puts me in his contacts, takes a picture of me for it, and then sends me a thumbs-up emoji.

    ¡°Should I dress up, like get a suit?¡± I ask to Lamar¡¯s amusement. He laughs a short, incredulous chuckle.

    ¡°It¡¯s not a court of law, dude. You don¡¯t have to dress fancy or anything. Not that you should dress down, what you¡¯re wearing now is fine. I mean you can wear something different, obviously; since it¡¯s tomorrow. You probably don¡¯t want to wear the same outfit.¡± He stops talking and electricity flows up his scar. ¡°Wear whatever,¡± he summarizes. I nod.

    ¡°Aight. I¡¯ll put on my finest booty shorts.¡± Another chuckle from Lamar.

    ¡°Oh yeah, that¡¯ll really put me in their good graces. Catch you tomorrow, man.¡± This time we part ways with a dap.

    Saturday comes faster than I thought it would. After I told my mom about the situation she insisted I at least wear a button-up shirt and since I¡¯d rather fight a bear than argue with her, I listen.

    The spot where Lamar wants to meet isn¡¯t that far from the school (which I guess is the only place we both know). I¡¯m getting kinda nervous waiting; what¡¯s this meeting going to be like? Are they going to hook me up to a lie detector? Are they gonna arrest Lamar if I say the wrong thing? I take a deep breath and try to calm down. He already said it wasn¡¯t that serious. In the midst of my mini-panicking, I hear him behind from me,

    ¡°Yo, sorry I¡¯m late.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s no problem.¡± Lamar certainly didn¡¯t dress up for this. Wearing his usual black jeans, and sneakers. He has on a black, short-sleeved t-shirt that really shows off his muscular arms, it says ¡°No Idea¡± written in red on the front.

    ¡°Is that sand on you?¡± Little brown particles sit on his shoulders.

    ¡°Oh, I still got some on me?¡± He brushes it off. ¡°It¡¯s a long story but the punchline is that there¡¯s a very unconscious sea monster on the docks over at Cubey island,¡± Lamar elaborates. ¡°It¡¯s been a weird morning. Anyway,¡± he takes his phone out ¡°let me order this ride.¡± His app says the car will be here in a few minutes. Lamar scans me with a curious eye. ¡°Want me to charge your phone?¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Your phone, it¡¯s almost dead. Do you want me to charge it?¡± I forgot to charge it last night and I¡¯ve been nervously playing on it this whole time.

    ¡°Sure.¡± I hand him my phone. Lamar sticks out his pinky finger and a tiny stream of electricity surges from him. My phone charges to 100% immediately.

    ¡°You can sense battery levels?¡±

    ¡°Yeah it¡¯s kinda like a¡­¡± he thinks for a moment. ¡°Like an augment to my senses. I can see, hear, and feel electricity wherever it is.¡± He points to the building across the street. ¡°If I look hard enough, I can see the power flowing through stuff.¡±

    The more I hang out with Lamar the more I understand just how much I don¡¯t understand how powerful he is. Between him being to fly through the air and destroy a helicopter, I can¡¯t help but wonder what else he can do.

    Just then the car pulls up and we get in the back. Lamar has a serious look on his face, holding his chin. No doubt thinking about the upcoming meeting.

    ¡°Why do you think the Protagonist board keeps calling you?¡± I ask to break the silence. He sighs before answering,

    ¡°They probably don¡¯t want another ¡°Amelia Owens¡± situation. And being a Protagonist for two years has them nervous.¡±

    ¡°Who?¡± Lamar looks at me for a second.

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right. They don¡¯t teach her story in school. My dad taught me about her.¡± Lamar sits up straighter. ¡°She was a Protagonist back during the Civil Rights Movement. Around our age, she was a Protagonist for way longer than me and was far more powerful. She had her powers for 5 years or so, and she could create miniature stars and black holes. Which, of course, had a lot of people buggin¡¯ out back then. She was an activist, always on the frontlines of marches. She had all that power and still didn¡¯t fight back, peacefully protesting despite what she could do...but it didn¡¯t do her much good. After a string of assassinations, and a bombing at her church; too many of her friends and family died. She made a black hole and just...disappeared. Took the rubble of the church with her. No one knows what happens inside a black hole but that was decades ago so,¡± he shrugs.

    ¡°I doubt she¡¯s still alive. After that, the government decided that people with the power to destroy cities should probably be monitored. Thus, the Board was created. They make sure anyone with particularly strong powers,¡± he points to himself ¡°aren¡¯t being reckless and help guide them if necessary. But mostly they¡¯re a huge pain in my ass.¡± the car stops. ¡°Speaking of, here we go.¡±

    The Protagonist Board building is a tall, but rather plain building. Unremarkable, unlike the people it''s supposed to monitor. As we walk in a man walks out and nods to Lamar.

    ¡°That¡¯s Pookie. Good guy, ¡± Lamar quickly says. The lobby of the building is just as underwhelming as the outside. Off-white walls and floor and without so much as a potted plant this place feels like it''s not supposed to be inhabited. There are only two elevators facing us and Lamar walks to the left one. He pushes one of the few buttons on the panel and looks directly into the camera in the corner. Instead of going up, the elevator lurches and we head down. At a fast speed too it seems, in only a short while we¡¯re past ten floors of the basement I wasn''t expecting. Each floor we zoom by adds to the feeling that I shouldn''t be here. We get to the 44th floor and the elevator opens.

    Lamar walks out into the menacing hallway.

    ¡°C¡¯ mon dude,¡± he says. I guess he¡¯s been here enough to not be freaked out by this. The long hallway is in stark contrast to the lobby. All of it is smooth black tiles with lights in the floor where the floor meets the walls. It''s incredibly sterilized.

    ¡°Are you sure I should be in here? This feels really...secretive.¡± Lamar keeps his pace ahead of me and chuckles.

    ¡°It¡¯s not Area 51, man. This whole place is on public record. Besides, you¡¯re not the one that can see electricity. You don¡¯t want to know what¡¯s behind these walls.¡± I look at them, they¡¯re as smooth as the floor with no visible seams or panels, I haven¡¯t even seen any doors so far.

    ¡°What¡¯s behind them?¡± I ask, unable to keep the worry out of my voice. Lamar looks back at me then shakes his head.

    ¡°I¡¯m trying not to freak you out.¡±

    ¡°Well, you¡¯re doing a terrible job at it. Ain¡¯t you heard of ¡®ignorance is bliss¡¯?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Try not to think about it,¡± he offers. My eyes scan the walls but I can¡¯t see anything that would suggest there¡¯s something behind them.

    The hallways come to an end, the double doors open before we get to them. Towards the back of the room is a dais and there are eight people seated at it. All dressed in suits, all older, and have pissed off looks on their faces when they look at Lamar. Except for the woman at the right end, who looks happy to see him but she withholds the smile from her face. She looks familiar somehow.

    We walk into the room and all their eyes fixate on me and I suddenly regret not wearing a suit like my mom said I should.

    ¡°Who is this?¡± The man left of the center says.

    ¡°Well I was getting tired of getting jumped by you guys, so I brought back up this time,¡± Lamar explains. The board deliberates among themselves for a moment.

    ¡°So you know what this is about?¡± The man on the left end says. Lamar nods. ¡°Good. Then let¡¯s begin. Have a seat, please.¡± With that two chairs shoot up from unseen panels in the floor right behind us. I take a seat and Lamar crosses his arms.

    ¡°I¡¯ll stand,¡± he says.

    ¡°Very well. Tell us about the incident.¡±

    ¡°I was headed home after school when I sensed a helicopter losing power. I saved the pilot and passenger, a girl around my age. The helicopter was still falling, it was going to crash into a building and dozens of people would¡¯ve been hurt. I took energy from the city¡¯s power grid and destroyed it. The only option I had at the time.¡±

    The board writes down some notes.

    ¡°How did you save the people in the helicopter?¡±

    ¡°As you¡¯re aware, I can transform into lightning. I can also do the same to anyone I touch. I took them with me and got them on the ground.¡±

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just do the same to the helicopter?¡± A woman on the right asks.

    ¡°I can only do it to things I can carry. I can¡¯t lift a helicopter.¡± Just as soon as he answers that question another member asks him another.

    ¡°You said you sensed it losing power. Why not charge it instead?¡±

    ¡°The problem wasn¡¯t with the battery. I don¡¯t know what made it fail, it losing power was just a result of it though. I don¡¯t know how to fix a helicopter.¡±

    The board takes another moment to talk and take notes.

    ¡°Well, let''s get to the main issue.¡± One of them presses a button and a screen descends from the ceiling. A map of Excelsior city appears. ¡°You took energy in a three-mile radius.¡± The map shows a black circle where he drained electricity from.

    ¡°Yeah, I needed the power and I didn¡¯t have my battery packs with me,¡± Lamar explains.

    ¡°What if someone got hurt or killed?¡±

    ¡°I know this city.¡± Lamar walks over to the screen, zooming in and dragging the image. ¡°Right here, there¡¯s a hospital.¡± He points to an area just outside of the circle. ¡°All the apartments in this part of town cost some serious money, so I doubt there would be anyone on life support equipment in them. I knew where to draw power from. I¡¯ve had my powers long enough to know how to use them. I¡¯m not some reckless idiot, so don¡¯t treat me like one.¡± Lamar walks to stand right in front of them. ¡°The fact is I stopped a tragedy from and you¡¯re interrogating me like I caused it. So what is this really about?¡±

    The board gives each other looks like they aren¡¯t sure who should say it. The woman on the end clears her throat to speak,

    ¡°We didn¡¯t know you could absorb so much power,¡± she says.

    ¡°You¡¯ve also never seen me shower, doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t do it every day.¡±

    ¡°Lamar, please,¡± she says delicately.

    ¡°I¡¯ll just say it!¡± The man left of the center says, not trying to hide the irritation in his voice. ¡°Your light show made a lot of important people nervous. A Protagonist with your level of power hasn¡¯t existed in a while, your powers show no sign of going away, and now you¡¯ve begun exhibiting new capabilities-¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re not new. I¡¯ve just never had reason to do that before,¡± Lamar corrects him.

    ¡°That¡¯s exactly my point! No one but you knows what you¡¯re capable of!¡± Silence fills the room. Though it wasn¡¯t directly said, the question implied hangs over all our heads. What is he capable of? If he wanted to, could he drain the entire planet of electricity and send us back to the Dark ages? How powerful could he become? What¡¯s to stop him?

    I¡¯m not the one the question is about and I¡¯m sweating. Lamar¡¯s scar lights up but he has nothing to say. I have to say something.

    I stand up quickly, suddenly reminding the members that I¡¯m here in the room. All eyes turn to me. What am I going to say?

    ¡°I just wanted to say that...Lamar wouldn¡¯t have done what he did if it wasn¡¯t absolutely necessary.¡± I have to keep going. ¡°He put the safety of everyone at Sundial Square over his own. He put himself right in the path of where that helicopter would¡¯ve crashed. He made a choice, stuck to it, and he didn¡¯t hesitate.¡± I look at Lamar. ¡°Because he knew if he did, even for a second, people could¡¯ve died. So he went headfirst into danger to save them,¡± I turn to face the board again ¡°because that¡¯s what heroes do.¡±

    The board mulls over what I just said. I can hear Lamar¡¯s scar light up.

    ¡°Also, he fainted right after.¡± They all have quizzical faces and Lamar shoots me a look of disbelief. ¡°So you can probably relax a bit.¡±

    ¡°You fainted!?¡± The woman on the end shoots up from her chair.

    ¡°I was fine,¡± Lamar says, somewhat annoyed.

    ¡°How is fainting ¡®fine¡¯?¡±

    ¡°Can we talk about this later, mom?¡± Mom?! I look closely at her and she does indeed resemble Lamar. Or rather, he resembles her. They have the same strong jawline and nose shape. I can recognize that look his eyes have.

    ¡°Margret, please. Sit.¡± another board member says. She does so reluctantly, but gives Lamar  a look that screams, ¡°We¡¯ll talk about this later.¡±

    ¡°Yes, taking in that much energy and then shooting it out of my hands made me faint. So I don¡¯t think you have to worry about me threatening national security. I passed out after destroying one measly helicopter, and it didn¡¯t feel that great. It¡¯s not something I¡¯d do again if I had the choice.¡±

    The board writes down more notes and talks for a short while. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯ll go in the report. Thank you for your time, Lamar.¡± He nods. ¡°And you¡­¡± Lamar¡¯s mom is talking to me.

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m Jason Duval.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Jason.¡± she gives me a small nod.

    ¡°You can go now.¡±

    Lamar and I leave the room. Soon as the door closes I get the shock of my life as Lamar pulls me in for a hug. This close, I feel his heart beating fast in his chest against mine. His body is warm. Really warm.

    ¡°Thank you for saying what you said in there. Sometimes I think they think I¡¯m not really trying to find my Destiny. That I¡¯m showboating and loving all of this. Couldn¡¯t be further from the truth, but it¡¯s nice to hear someone else say it,¡± Lamar says, his face only a couple of inches from mine. I can¡¯t think of anything else to say but,

    ¡°No biggie.¡± Really, that¡¯s the best I can say?

    ¡°Yes, biggie. Now, I promised you lunch and/or dinner so let¡¯s get out of here.¡±

    After we get out of that creepy basement and that building we walk for a few blocks before I ask,

    ¡°So where you taking me? Some other creepy government basement? This one have a caf¨¦?¡± Lamar chuckles with that strong voice of his.

    ¡°You¡¯re funny, man. Nah, I¡¯m taking you to THE best pizza spot in all of Excelsior city.¡± I stop dead in my tracks.

    ¡°That¡¯s a bold claim, Lamar. A real bold claim. You know how many people say they know the best pizza spot? And I know that the best pizza spot is Tuttarella''s over on Dukes Boulevard.¡±

    ¡°Not even close, where I¡¯m taking you has a brick oven. It ain¡¯t real pizza if it¡¯s not made in a brick oven.¡± I start walking again.

    ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t take you for such a snob. This better be the best pizza ever.¡±

    ¡°Trust me, it is.¡±

    We walk for a bit longer before we come across a little hole in the wall restaurant, a small sign reads ¡°Branzino''s Pizza¡± on the door. For ¡°the best pizza in the city¡± the place is empty. A few tables with space for two.

    ¡°YO, ANTHONY! YOU  SLEEPIN¡¯ BACK THERE?!¡± Lamar yells as we enter. A hefty, middle-aged man comes from the back.

    ¡°LAMAR! My friend!¡± He greets him with a thick Italian accent. When he sees me he points to Lamar. ¡°This young man right here? He¡¯s a saint! The reason I can wake up every morning with joy in my heart!¡± Lamar¡¯s scar lights up.

    ¡°Anthony, this is my friend Jason. Jason, Anthony.¡±

    ¡°Any friend of Lamar: is a friend of mine. What can I do for you boys?¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m here to show Jason the best pizza in Excelsior city.¡±

    ¡°Then you¡¯ve come to the right place, my friends!¡±

    ¡°Can I get two slices of pepperoni and, what do you want?¡± Lamar asks me.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have the same.¡±

    ¡°Four slices coming up. Hey, Cathy! Your boyfriend is here!¡± I involuntarily flinch at the word. Does Lamar have a girlfriend? A girl, no older than eight, comes from the back.

    ¡°I told you to stop saying that, daddy. He¡¯s not my boyfriend!¡± She says. I relax a little, not realizing I was tense. ¡°Unless you want to be.¡± She hugs his legs. Lamar ruffles the little girl¡¯s hair.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m much too old for you, and you¡¯re too young for me. Stop teasing her, Anthony.¡±

    ¡°Ok, ok. I¡¯ll get your food started,¡± Anthony says, going into the kitchen.

    ¡°How are you feeling Cathy? Are you well?¡± Lamar asks the little girl as we sit down.

    ¡°My new pacemaker is much better. I¡¯ve felt great,¡± she answers.

    ¡°New pacemaker?¡±

    ¡°Oh, Cathy-¡±

    ¡°Can I tell the story!?¡± Cathy interjects.

    ¡°Sure. Go ahead.¡±

    ¡°I was with my mommy and daddy, we were going to see a movie when a GIANT robot came out and started destroying stuff!¡± She acts like the robot and mimics it crushing stuff. ¡°We went to hide and this guy tried to stop the robot with this thing-¡±

    ¡°An EMP,¡± Lamar explains. ¡°Didn¡¯t work.¡±

    ¡°Right, so a bunch of Protagonists came to fight it. But the EMP messed with my pacemaker. Lamar found us during the fight and restarted it. He got us to safety and he¡¯s been my hero ever since!¡± She hugs him again. Lamar ruffles her hair once more, a smile comes across his face at the memory.

    ¡°They asked me to come to their restaurant as thanks. And that¡¯s how I found out that they make the best pizza in the city.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Lamar! I have a project to do, see you later!¡± The little girl runs off.

    ¡°That was adorable. You, are adorable,¡± I say.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been called lots of things, I don¡¯t think ¡®adorable¡¯ is one of them.¡±

    ¡°Well then allow me to be the first to say it: you, Lamar Brown, are an adorable young man.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, I¡¯ll put that on my resum¨¦,¡± he says with a chuckle. A silence falls between us and all the questions I want to ask him come to mind.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t tell me your mom was going to be there,¡± I say after a while.

    ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t know either. The board has rotating members for case reviews. That way no one gets too attached to a Protagonist,¡± Lamar explains.

    ¡°....But she¡¯s your mom.¡± Lamar shrugs.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say it was a perfect system.¡± He rolls his shoulders a little like he¡¯s uncomfortable. This isn¡¯t something he wants to talk about.

    ¡°So¡­I didn¡¯t know you could fly.¡± A confused frown knits his brow.

    ¡°What¡¯re you talking about?¡±

    ¡°At the Square. You flew through the air at the helicopter.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that wasn¡¯t flying. It was more like running and jumping at the same time. I have to project myself and control my arc through the air.  It¡¯s exhausting, turning into electricity without a wire is a million times harder.¡± Lamar shoots a few sparks into the air. ¡°Imagine trying to shoot yourself while maintaining a certain mindset. Otherwise, you turn back and that''s not good when you''re soaring through the air and that''s not good.¡±

    ¡°Huh.¡± I never really thought about all the thinking he has with his powers.

    ¡°Look, can we not talk about Protagonist stuff? I wanted to hang out with you, but answering more questions isn¡¯t my idea of a good time.¡±

    ¡°Oh, sure. I get it.¡± After that, the conversation dies as I can¡¯t think of anything that isn¡¯t corny small talk and Lamar doesn¡¯t want to say anything. A few minutes of painfully awkward silence pass and he speaks up.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s just that I deal with this every day and it¡¯s old news to me. But I guess it¡¯s new and interesting to you. So, while I don¡¯t want to talk about this too much, you can ask me one question.¡± he holds up his pointer finger to emphasize.

    One question. What¡¯s the one question I want to know the answer to most of all right now?

    ¡°How do you keep your clothes on when you turn into electricity?¡± That¡¯s been bugging me for a while now. A huge smile comes across his face.

    ¡°Wow, can¡¯t say I was expecting that.¡± Lamar thinks it over for a second. ¡°Ok, I¡¯ll tell you.¡± He leans in closer and I do the same. ¡°They don¡¯t,¡± he says softly. ¡°At least not at first. When I first learned how to do it, I burned off my clothes or would zip right out of them. Lotta awkward naked practicing either way.¡± He chuckles.

    ¡°Well, they don¡¯t now. What¡¯d you do in the meantime?¡± Technically that¡¯s two questions. Lamar looks around like someone might hear his answer.

    ¡°Promise you won¡¯t laugh.¡± A small chuckle rolls from me. I already want to laugh. Lamar sees I won¡¯t keep that promise. ¡°Fine. Just...don¡¯t tell anyone.¡± I nod.

    ¡°Dude, don¡¯t tell anyone. Seriously.¡± I pantomime locking my mouth and throwing away the key.

    ¡°Your secret is safe with me. Now gimme the tea.¡± Lamar deeply inhales.

    ¡°Before I could control it, I ordered...rubber boxer-briefs off the internet.¡± I immediately start laughing. I don¡¯t want to laugh at his face, but I can¡¯t help it. I imagine him at his computer looking up rubber underwear, erasing his search history when the deed is done, hastily taking his package, and hiding in his room. I fall out of my seat with tears in my eyes. To my surprise, Lamar also starts laughing.

    ¡°They used to be so tight!¡± he says between his laughs. ¡°I learned the usefulness of baby powder that summer.¡± We both laugh that much harder. When I finally get back up and catch my breath I ask,

    ¡°Did they at least help?¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s hard not to think about your drawers when they¡¯re rubber and chafe like hell. Eventually, I learned to not burn my clothes and even take them with me. So they helped a little. Glad I didn¡¯t have to wear them in school though.¡± Lamar wipes the tears away, a big smile plastered on his face. Now the mental image of Lamar wearing only the rubber underwear at school pops into my head. In this tiny fantasy, everyone in the hallway parts to let him walk like a runway model.  It¡¯s funny, but I can¡¯t get it out of my head as easy as the first.

    ¡°Aww man, I haven¡¯t laughed that hard in a while...thank you for that.¡± I wipe the tears from my face.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t do much but I¡¯ll take it.¡±

    ¡°No, seriously. I haven¡¯t been able to unwind like this in a long time. I¡¯ve been a bundle of nerves lately, getting pizza with a friend is the most relaxation I¡¯ve had this year.¡±

    ¡°Speaking of pizza, here ya go boys.¡± Anthony comes with the slices and puts them on the table. ¡°Best pizza in the city, guaranteed!¡± I¡¯ll be the judge of that. After blowing on it to cool down I bite into this so-called best pizza. The crust has the perfect crunch to it. Sauce not too sweet but not too bland either. The cheese is melted at just the right amount where it doesn¡¯t slide off the slice from the weight of the pepperonis, which are cooked to perfection. As much as it pains me to even think it, this is an excellent slice of pizza. I eat about half of it before setting it down. Lamar scarfed the whole thing down.

    ¡°And how was that?¡± He asks with a rather cocky smile. He thinks he¡¯s won.

    ¡°I won¡¯t lie, this pizza is pretty good. But it¡¯s been a while since I went to Tuttarella. Hard to compare the two really. I might have to take you there soon so we can really see which is better.¡± Lamar scoffs and licks the corner of his mouth to get some sauce. My eyes are fixed on the articulate muscle as it does its job.

    ¡°Then it¡¯s a date, Jason.¡± I swallow hard and try to act like that wasn¡¯t the hottest thing I¡¯ve ever seen or the fact that I think it was the hottest thing ever. I steer the conversation something less...provocative. We start sharing different embarrassing stories, sharing more laughs. I used to think that Lamar was a quiet guy, but now I know he just didn¡¯t have anyone to talk to. We¡¯ve finished the pizza a while ago but we¡¯re still talking.

    ¡°Y¡¯know, being a Protagonist isn¡¯t as rare as people think.¡± I don¡¯t remember how we got to this topic. ¡°It¡¯s not one in million, it¡¯s closer to one in a few thousand actually,¡± Lamar points out.

    ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s just that most people get small abilities; a lot of them don¡¯t even notice it. Some get a bit stronger, bit faster, nothing that would register to them much but they still fulfill a Destiny of some kind.¡± A small smile comes across his face. ¡°My older brother, Marcus, was the clumsiest dude in existence. Didn¡¯t matter if you gave him a heads up, he couldn¡¯t catch a beach ball. He constantly dropped things too.¡± Lamar is smiling at the fond memories, but I didn¡¯t miss his use of ¡°was¡±. I decide not to bring it up. ¡°But he became a Protagonist for about a week, he had heightened reflexes. He could catch a fly by the wings...even dodge bullets.¡± Lamar stares off into the distance, getting lost in a memory, his scar lights up.

    ¡°Lamar,¡± I say, hoping to pull him back to reality. He shakes his head.

    ¡°Anyway, my point is that the fate of the world isn¡¯t decided by just a few people. More of us help out than we think,¡± he says, half-heartedly.

    ¡°Was that really your point?

    ¡°Nah, I just made that up,¡± he admits.

    ¡°Thought so.¡± He chuckles at that, bringing his mood up a bit. Lamar checks his phone. ¡°We¡¯ve been talking for a while. Let¡¯s get outta here.¡± Lamar pays for our meal and says his goodbyes, not escaping without another hug from Cathy.

    We get a block or so away from the pizzeria when Lamar speaks up,

    ¡°So about that da-¡± he¡¯s interrupted by his ringing phone. ¡°Who¡¯s calling me?¡± he checks and answers immediately. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s up? .... What do you mean ¡®where am I?¡¯ I¡¯m at 3rd and Crow Avenue, why? ¡­. Wait, that was today? ¡­. And it¡¯s right now?¡± Lamar facepalms himself, groaning in frustration. ¡°I completely forgot¡­. I was having lunch with a friend¡­. Yes, I actually have a friend¡­ My social life isn¡¯t important right now, just come meet me.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry Jason. I forgot I had something to do.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a clinic opening up over near the Handle. It¡¯s a very divisive one though since it offers abortions it¡¯s gotten some heat. There are protestors, counter-protestors, and people just trying to get healthcare. It¡¯s a mess and while threats were made, the cops feel it¡¯s not anything to worry about. A group contacted me, asking me to defuse any tension that might pop up. Make sure no one tries anything dumb,¡± he explains. ¡°Well me and an associate.¡±

    A shadow gets cast over us and we both look up. A woman on her cellphone slowly descends to stand next to us.

    ¡°Yes honey, I¡¯ll grab milk after this...I don¡¯t know how long this¡¯ll take...Look, I gotta go, bye Felicia!¡± I can hear her on the other side of the phone,

    ¡°I hate it when you say that!¡± the woman hangs up, offering a shy smile.

    ¡°She¡¯s gonna yell at me later. Oh well.¡±

    ¡°Jason, this is Tanisha Thompson,¡± he introduces her. ¡°Also known as StarStreak.¡±  The first thing I notice about Tanisha is how tall she is. Taller than Lamar, which isn¡¯t anything to sneeze at, she has to be 6¡¯5 at least. The second is how muscular she is. In an athletic tank top, she proudly shows off her impressive biceps and smooth, cinnamon brown skin. She has on goggles which she adjusts to her head on her short, dyed gray hair. She does a heart gesture with her hands and winks at me.

    ¡°I hate that name, what does it even mean?¡± she has a very sweet voice.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t want to be called Lightning Demon either, but here we are.¡±

    ¡°So how do you two know each other?¡± I ask, curious.

    ¡°We¡¯ve been put in a mentor-mentee relationship. In which she¡¯s the

    prot¨¦g¨¦.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me, I¡¯m five years older than you.¡±

    ¡°Yeah but you¡¯ve had your powers for three months. I¡¯ve had mine for two years.¡±

    ¡°You got me there. Anyway, I brought your battery packs since I knew you¡¯d forget them.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡± Lamar reaches into the bookbag she hands him. ¡°It¡¯s ¡®cause she¡¯s an unusual Protagonist, like me. She has two separate abilities, unrelated to each other.¡±

    ¡°Go ahead, guess,¡± she asks me. I look her over.

    ¡°Super strength?¡±

    ¡°Nope, these babies.¡± she stops to kiss her biceps. ¡°Are all-natural.¡±

    ¡°She can turn invisible. C¡¯mon Tanisha, they can never guess it.¡± Lamar attaches two fist-sized objects to his belt loops. They¡¯re cylinder-shaped, completely black, and smooth. They remind me of the hallway at the Protagonist board building.  How they could serve as battery packs is beyond me.

    ¡°Spoilsport. Yes, I can turn invisible.¡± Just like that she disappears right before my eyes. I can hear her laugh at my surprised face.

    ¡°In every sense of the word too, she can¡¯t be detected by any sort of sensor either. Not thermal, motion, or infrared. The only way to tell where she is is if she punches you in the face.¡±

    ¡°That was one time and I said I was sorry,¡± Tanisha says, somewhere.

    ¡°With that and the fact that she can reach supersonic speeds.¡±

    ¡°I broke Mach 2 the other day,¡± she says, from what sounds like behind me.

    ¡°She makes a lot of people nervous. An undetectable, fast-flying individual raises a lot of security concerns.¡±

    ¡°So it figures the other massive security concern should keep an eye on me.¡± Tanisha reveals herself and it turns out she¡¯s flying right over my head. I¡¯m only now aware of her presence. It¡¯s unnerving. ¡°So we ready to go? Is cutie here coming too?¡± she asks, pointing at me.

    ¡°Do you want to come?¡± Lamar asks. I shrug.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have much else going on.¡± He shrugs.

    ¡°Good enough reason to go to a potential riot I guess.¡± Tanisha grabs her bookbag and pulls out a hoodie and another pair of goggles, handing them to me.

    ¡°Put these on,¡± she instructs.

    ¡°Why?¡± She just smiles.

    ¡°Trust me, getting dust in your eyes kinda ruins your first time flying.¡± What?

    ¡°Have fun,¡± Lamar says before zipping into a power line. I put on the hoodie and goggles and Tanisha wraps her arms around my torso.

    ¡°It¡¯s either this or I princess carry you,¡± she clarifies.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go with this.¡±

    With that we start to float in the air, the higher up we get, the more nervous I get and the tighter she holds me. We get maybe forty feet in the air when she asks,

    ¡°You ready for this?¡±

    ¡°Not really.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the spirit!¡± Tanisha flies forward and we zoom over the city. People, cars, and buildings rush in and out of my sight as the wind flows over my face. She¡¯s moving faster than I¡¯d like but as soon as I open my mouth, dust flies in. I hack and cough and decide just to enjoy this as best I can. She flies higher and higher until we¡¯re above most of the buildings, save the tallest skyscrapers. She stops so that I can take in the view. Up here I can see the entire island from end to end. All the buildings that make up the famous skyline take on a new look at this angle. Oh God, I¡¯m really high, aren¡¯t I? I start to hyperventilate a bit

    ¡°Breathtaking, isn¡¯t it?¡± Tanisha asks me.

    ¡°Yeah it is, but this is probably a bad time to mention I kinda have a fear of heights?¡±

    ¡°Gotcha.¡± Tanisha surges down and we plummet towards the city. I don¡¯t understand how she can tell where to go from this high up. We close on in where we¡¯re headed and I can see two large crowds of people, I can even hear them from here. Tanisha lands us on a building overlooking the street. Lamar appears in a flash of electricity next to us and starts scanning the scene. The two groups are yelling at each other from behind barriers. There has to be at least a couple hundred of them on either side.

    Tension runs high as insults are shouted across the divide.

    ¡°Well it¡¯s not pretty but doesn¡¯t seem like there¡¯s any-¡± Lamar starts to say before the sound of clanging metal. The barrier on the side of what I guess is the original protestors falls over. They flood out to close the gap and the rest of the barriers crash to the ground. ¡°I stand corrected.¡± Tanisha flies up and before Lamar zips away I grab his arm.

    ¡°Be careful, ok?¡± His scar lights up before he nods.

    ¡°I will,¡± he answers. He points to a door behind us. ¡°You can get down through there.¡± The two groups meet and a fight breaks out. ¡°We have to stop this.¡±

    ¡°HEY!¡± Tanisha shouts. Even over all the chaos, her voice cuts through and grabs a great deal of attention. ¡°Back up from each other!¡± A small space is made for her as she descends like an angel from the heavens, a stern look on her face. ¡°Anyone who wants to get close to the clinic has to go through me!¡± She announces. A few people start looking at each other, trying to see if they can take her.

    ¡°That¡¯s my cue,¡± Lamar says. He turns into lightning and shoots into the air. Then, like a God of thunder, he lands next to StarStreak who is unfazed. The space between the two groups widens as the Lightning Demon stands as a clear deterrent to anyone that thought about doing anything stupid.

    By the time I get down to the street level the situation has been defused and the protestors, reluctantly, return to their side. The two heroes keep their spot, acting as a new barrier.

    ¡°Looks like everything worked out,¡± Tanisha says.

    ¡°Someone still might try some-¡±

    ¡°Lamar Brown?!¡± a voice calls out. He and I look to the source. The girl that it came from looks familiar. ¡°Oh goodness, it is you!¡± she says with an elegance like she¡¯s at a party and not in the middle of a protest. She has an accent that I can¡¯t place. She gets closer and I recognize her as the girl Lamar saved from the helicopter. She walks right up to him, ignoring the tension that was in the air only moments ago. The girl shakes his hand.

    ¡°Here I am to oversee the opening of my clinic, and I happen to bump into you. What a coincidence!¡±

    ¡°Your clinic?¡± he asks.

    ¡°Indeed, just another of many I hope to open here in this city,¡± she explains.

    ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°My name¡¯s Imani Jordan. And I¡¯ve been looking for you!¡±

    What does a wealthy girl like Imani want with Lamar?

    Chapter 2 End

 "The Truth Is..."

    As it turns out, Imani Jordan isn¡¯t rich. She and her family are wealthy. I searched up her name and dozens of articles on her popped up. Most are about her various acts of philanthropy across continental Africa where she¡¯s from. It explains part of her accent, there¡¯s a biopic about her parents'' polyamorous relationship. Being raised by five people from all corners of the world is why she says certain words in certain ways.

    I¡¯d look into her more but I feel creepy enough, so instead, I get ready for school; picking my long hair out and pulling it into an afro-tail. It''s an unexpectedly hot day out. Seems summer isn''t done with us yet.

    When I get to school, relishing in the air conditioning, I notice the halls are sparse. I worry for a second that I''m late, or worse early when I see some people running to the other side of the building. I follow them and hear something loud going on outside. Everybody is pressed against the windows to look at whatever is causing the commotion. It takes me a little while to get to a window that''s facing the scene and isn''t occupied. Outside on the street amidst a pileup of cars is Lamar fighting what can only be described as a giant chicken.

    Ok, maybe giant isn''t the right word. I mean, it''s bigger than a chicken should be, about nine or ten feet tall. It''s hard to tell with it moving around like a ¡­a chicken with its head cut off. You know what, it''s a giant chicken and Lamar is fighting it. But fighting is an exaggeration too, really he''s waiting for emergency services to get people out of their cars to safety. For now, he''s keeping it at bay by zapping at its feet.

    The chicken flaps its wings in fear as feathers fly comically. I like to think that I¡¯d be more surprised at the idea of a colossal chicken running rampant if it weren¡¯t for the fact that this is the third giant animal to be released in these last few months. The first being a rat, which didn''t help with the jokes about Excelsior City. The second was an ant over in Amboy State. Whatever or whoever is the cause of this has a weird sense of humor.

    Lamar backflips, and I mean really backflips, out of the way when the chicken tries to peck at him. Its beak cracks the asphalt. I open the window and lean out to see and hear better.

    ¡°Careful! You could hurt someone,¡± Lamar points and yells at the chicken. Why is he talking to it? The chicken bawks loudly as a response. It flaps its wings and jumps, trying to scratch him with its talons. He gets out the way and instead a streetlight takes the blow. The metal pole groans and tilts over, crashing into a building.

    ¡°Civilians are clear!¡± One of the police informs.

    Lamar arcs electricity up his arms, releasing a bolt of lightning. It strikes the chicken in what I guess is its chest. The chicken shakes for a moment but continues its attack, pecking at Lamar. The beak is about the size of his head, it keeps trying to hit him. Lamar barely keeps ahead of the assault. He holds the beak open when it tries to bite him.

    Lamar turns into electricity and reforms above it. He grabs it by the feathers, working to get his arm around its neck, and (there really is no other way to say this) starts choking the chicken.

    ¡°GO TO SLEEP!¡± He commands. The bird refuses, starting to thrash about. It manages to throw him off; Lamar lands on his back on top of a car windshield, his weight breaking it.

    I can hear him groan from here, getting up from the hood.

    ¡°OK, NOW I¡¯M MAD!¡± He unleashes another bolt that the chicken dodges. Lamar holds his arm out, watching the electricity soar further away. The chicken gets closer and closer. Then Lamar pulls his arm back, with it the same bolt of lightning comes back and strikes the chicken in the head.

    Yet another ability he has. I¡¯m starting to wonder exactly can¡¯t he do with electricity.

    The chicken is stunned for a moment, which is all he needs. Lamar shoots a stream of lightning into the poultry. When he pulls his arms back the chicken falls over.

    For a second I think it¡¯s dead but then it heaves a breath. Unconscious.

    A second later Tanisha Thompson lands next to him. They start talking about something, I can''t hear them from up here but she walks away to help emergency services. Lamar zips up a power line and in an instant appears next to me.

    ¡°Are you ok?¡± I ask, remembering him landing on a car only a little while ago. He rolls his shoulders.

    ¡°Yeah, I mean, who doesn¡¯t like fried chicken?¡± He laughs at his own joke. That doesn¡¯t answer my question.

    ¡°Hmm, that joke was most fowl,¡± the unmistakable voice of Imani Jordan says. She approaches us in the hallway, looking perfect as always. Dressed in cuffed khakis, flats, and a lilac linen shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Her dark brown dreadlocks are woven into an intricate pattern as they fall in a ponytail. I¡¯m gay and she makes a heart throb. The people accompanying her, less so. A man and woman flank her in black suits and opaque sunglasses. Bodyguards. What¡¯s she expecting to happen?

    Lamar laughs at the joke, finding it so funny as to hold his sides.

    ¡°That was a good one, Ms. Jordan,¡± Lamar says.

    ¡°¡®Ms. Jordan¡¯. No need to be so formal, we¡¯re the same age, Lamar.¡±

    ¡°Sorry, I just feel that since you fly in helicopters I should be formal. That, and you do have bodyguards.¡± He points at the two suits. They scan him up and down. Clearly, they don¡¯t know who he is, otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t think they could take him.

    ¡°Oh, just my parents being overprotective. Your helicopter fails one time and suddenly you have to have armed guards with you.¡±

    ¡°Sure, who hasn¡¯t had that happen  to them before?¡± I say without realizing I¡¯m speaking aloud. Imani giggles and turns to me.

    ¡°How rude of me, I didn¡¯t catch your name. You were there at Sundial Square, and at the protest. I¡¯m Imani Jordan.¡± She offers her hand to shake. I keep the fact that I know her name and family history to myself.

    ¡°I¡¯m Jason Duval.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s my friend,¡± Lamar says. Imani flashes a stunning smile.

    ¡°Well, the more friends the better.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯re you doing here?¡± I ask. ¡°It¡¯s a little late in the semester to transfer.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m actually done with school,¡± Imani informs me. ¡°When you can afford private tutors and go to different schools around the world, you skip a few grades so,¡± she shrugs ¡°I¡¯m done with it. Might as well get some use out of being wealthy.¡±

    ¡°So what are you doing here?¡± Lamar asks.

    ¡°I¡¯m starting a new philanthropy organization to provide schools with better equipment and books. I¡¯m going to spend some time at different schools seeing what they need, make a list and then get the stuff on it. I was actually heading to this school when I saw you fighting that large chicken.¡±

    ¡°It was poultry in motion,¡± I say. Both Lamar and Imani laugh out loud because of course, they have the same taste in jokes. Her bodyguards are still as statues.

    ¡°Well, I have to talk to your principal, but would you two like to do something after school? I haven¡¯t been in Excelsior City long and was hoping to see some more exciting parts of it before I get overloaded with my work. Would you like to be my guides?¡±

    ¡°If it''s alright with your guards here,¡± Lamar remarks. Imani turns to the man.

    ¡°Would that be okay?¡± The bodyguard says something into his earpiece and waits a few moments before giving a single nod. ¡°See? Right as rain! We¡¯ll meet after school and you can show me this city!¡± With that Imani leaves, taking her bodyguards with her. Lamar and I exchange a look.

    ¡°You don¡¯t really think she wants us to show her around, do you?¡± I ask. Lamar shakes his head.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m sure she¡¯s just being nice. Like when people say ¡®we should do brunch sometime.¡¯ I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll forget about us.¡±

    After the giant chicken is hauled off, school starts and the day passes in a relatively normal way. What isn¡¯t normal is the limo waiting outside when we exit the building. Before either one of us can take a stab at whose it is Imani appears out of a rolled down window.

    ¡°Come along boys! The city awaits!¡± Lamar and I look at each other before we enter the fanciest vehicle I¡¯ve ever been in. Leather seats, blue under lights and an assortment of drinks that upon a closer look are just fancy bottles of soda. The bodyguards sit within close proximity to Imani.  ¡°Matthew is our driver today, just tell him where we should go and he¡¯ll whisk us away,¡± Imani explains. She lowers the partition ¡°Matthew! We¡¯ll be taking directions from these gentlemen today, ok?¡±

    ¡°You got it, Ms. Jordan.¡±

    ¡°Where to first?¡± Lamar shrugs at me.

    ¡°How about the Sovereign Building?¡± I suggest.

    ¡°You heard the man. To the Sovereign Building!¡±

    ¡°Right away,¡± Matthew says. I¡¯ve been to the Sovereign Building once but didn¡¯t actually go to the top since it costs a ludicrous amount to ride the elevators. When we get there Imani thinks nothing of the price and we ride up over a hundred floors to the top. Even at this time of day, at this time of year, there are plenty of tourists here. Imani stops us before we get out of the elevator. She hands the elevator operator two hundred dollar bills.

    ¡°We want to see the real top floor,¡± she simply says. The operator puts the bills in his pocket and obliges. We go up another floor and walk onto a skinny balcony, private without anyone else around, and no plexiglass divider between us and the city. Imani gleefully goes to the edge to look out over the city. From this high up the entire city can be seen. It¡¯s not as dramatic as being carried by a flying superhero or being in a failing helicopter but it is safer. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    It¡¯s nice to take in the view of the city without fearing for your life. The three (five) of us walk around the building, seeing all Excelsior has to offer our eyes.

    Imani leans over the railing and without turning to face us says,

    ¡°So what¡¯s next?¡±

    For the next week or so Imani meets us after school and we all go to different places around our city. Places that real Excelsiorites never go to unless they¡¯re showing someone around, the Statute of Hope, Kioshk Island, the Basquiat Museum: real tourist traps. Not that it matters to Imani who is genuinely thrilled everywhere we go. With her paying for practically everything along with taking us everywhere, I know I should enjoy myself more.

    And I would if I didn¡¯t feel like a third wheel the whole time. In exploring our city Imani has found that she and Lamar have many things in common. A terrible sense of humor for one thing, along with a similar taste in music and food...though Imani does agree with me that Tuttarella has superior pizza so I know she has good taste. They even like the same old TV shows.

    It doesn¡¯t hurt that they both always look like they belong on the cover of a fashion magazine or something. Lamar and Imani have the makings of the power couple of the century: her financially and him physically. I¡¯m just the awkward, ordinary friend of these two titans.

    Today, Imani suggests we do something fun now that her parents trust her to go around without her bodyguards.

    Which is good because the feeling that they might suddenly put me in a headlock has been weighing on me this past week. And as usual, neither of them could make a decision so I choose karaoke.

    It¡¯s amazing what you learn about a person when you¡¯re in a room with them for an hour or so with a microphone. Lamar sings well enough but he acts as if he¡¯s glued to the spot. There¡¯s no showmanship in his performance, but his strong voice rolls smoothly for the R&B songs he picked. Imani is almost the exact opposite, her accent has her dragging out certain words and being out of time with the song; but she delivers with great passion. She sings like she¡¯s the headliner at a concert with thousands of adoring fans.

    As for me, I hope I¡¯m the best of both. Once my first song is over they both stand and applaud.

    ¡°Damn, dude!¡± Lamar says. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard anyone sing ¡¯One to Adore¡¯ like that!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re an excellent singer, Jason,¡± Imani adds. I bow for them.

    ¡°I guess those years in choir were good for something,¡± I remark. I remember hating having to wake up on Saturdays to go to practice.

    ¡°Man, when you hit that note on ¡°One day I¡¯m gonna be free¡± and let your hair outta your ponytail...Hooh! You were feeling it!¡± As Lamar says it his scar lights up.

    ¡°Monarch is one of my favorite bands, and when you¡¯re singing this song you gotta feel it.¡± I pull my hair back and fix it with my scrunchie.

    ¡°You¡¯re really good, Jason!¡± Imani praises. ¡°I know some people in the music industry, I can arrange some introductions.¡±

    ¡°Nah, I just like singing as a hobby, I don¡¯t think I can make a career out of it,¡± I reply. She wags a finger at me.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be sure about that. You sound better than some of these musicians nowadays. Be a real shame to hide that voice,¡± Imani says. She¡¯s a very genuine person so I know that she means it.

    ¡°I¡¯ll think about it,¡± I simply say.

    After we exhaust our time we leave the karaoke place. We leisurely stroll through the park not wanting the evening to be over just yet.

    There are storm clouds rolling in, thunder claps somewhere in the distance.

    ¡°Friends of yours?¡± Imani quips. Lamar smirks and sticks his right hand up. It¡¯s hard to see in the low light but the clouds come faster, lightning flashing inside them. The tons of water vapor congregate above us. With an ear-splitting crack lightning spits out from them. Imani and I flinch back but Lamar stands still as the electricity from the sky above goes into his hand. All the clouds direct their energy at him and he absorbs it all until the lightning becomes weaker.

    He lets his arm down and rolls his neck.

    ¡°Nothing like a quick pick me up,¡± Lamar says like he just drank a cup of coffee instead of harnessing the power of weather itself. I add ¡®weather manipulation¡¯ to the apparently ever-expanding list of abilities Lamar has.

    ¡°WOW, THAT WAS SPECTACULAR!¡± Imani exclaims.

    ¡°Seriously dude, is there anything you-¡± I start to say but I¡¯m interrupted by a big SPLAT  that lands on my shirt. It¡¯s bird poop, a bird just pooped on one of my favorite shirts, no doubt scared by the unnatural weather.

    Both Lamar and Imani burst out laughing at my misfortune.

    ¡°Real funny.¡±

    ¡°Oh c¡¯mon dude, you know if it happened to either of us you¡¯d be laughing your head off.¡± I would be but since it didn''t, I''m not.

    ¡°Look on the bright side Jason,¡± Imani says while wiping tears from her eyes. I don¡¯t see what upside bird crap could possibly have. ¡°I heard that¡¯s good luck. Maybe you¡¯ll hear good news soon.¡± Lamar finger guns at me.

    ¡°Yeah, maybe you¡¯ll hit the jackpot in the lotto or something. Then you can take us out sometime.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll hire a deep web hitman to take you both out.¡± They both snicker at the dark joke as we all share a semi-twisted sense of humor. ¡°I gotta wash this off.¡±

    ¡°I think there¡¯s a bathroom over there,¡± Lamar points out. Luckily there is a rest stop with a bathroom but the door has a padlock on it. Before I say anything about it Lamar summons electricity into his hand and melts through the shackle. He just puts a finger to his mouth.

    ¡°I won¡¯t say anything if you don¡¯t.¡± He pushes the door open and the lights inside come to life. If they¡¯re on a motion sensor or if Lamar turned them on is unclear.

    I take my shirt off and grab a bunch of paper towels. Wetting them, I start to clean off the crap, hoping hand soap and warm water will be enough. After a minute or two I get most of it out but I make a mental note to throw this in the wash as soon as I get home. So I put my wet, kinda clean shirt back on and head to the exit. I¡¯m about to get out when I overhear something.

    ¡°Lamar, I must confess something,¡± Imani says. I stop just before the door frame.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°I...can''t stop thinking about the day we met.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that day was crazy.¡±

    ¡°It was but, it¡¯s when you saved me that I keep thinking about.¡±

    ¡°Must¡¯ve been terrifying for you, huh?¡±

    ¡°No, that¡¯s just it.¡± I hear something press against something else. I peek out the door and Imani has Lamar pressed against a lamppost. Just then its light comes on, whether by coincidence or Lamar is again unknown. Her hands rest on his strong chest. ¡°It was exhilarating. I can¡¯t get the sensation out of my head! Being lightning with you!¡± Lamar swallows hard. Neither of them notice me, focused on the person in front of them.

    ¡°Turning into electricity will do that to you,¡± he tries to joke but Imani presses more of her body against his. My heart beats faster.

    ¡°It¡¯s always on my mind, that rush, that feeling of power. Please, let me feel that way again,¡± she says.

    ¡°I only did that for an emergency, I don¡¯t feel comfortable doing that for no reason. Something could go wrong.¡±

    ¡°What if I make you comfortable?¡± She slowly moves her face closer to his for a kiss. Something in me wants to scream out, like there¡¯s something terrible boiling in my stomach that can only escape from my mouth. But it¡¯s trapped by this awful tightness in my chest. Ardent yearning held back by an anxious knowing that this isn¡¯t right.

    That spying on them is wrong and it¡¯s not my place to interrupt. It¡¯s all my heart can take. I¡¯m about to close my eyes to stop the stinging tears welling up.

    ¡°Wait,¡± Lamar says. His hand between him and Imani. ¡°The truth is...I¡¯m gay,¡± He admits, his scar lighting up¡­. Huh.

    ¡°Oh my!¡± Imani says like she just realizes the position she¡¯s in. She backs off and gives him space. I duck back behind the wall in case they notice me. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. I should know better, all my parents taught me about boundaries and here I am ignoring them.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not, I must¡¯ve made you very uncomfortable. The opposite of my intention, believe me.¡±

    ¡°Relax, I¡¯m a superhero, I¡¯ve been uncomfortable before. I forgive you, just y¡¯know keep this between us.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, I will.¡± Lamar loudly clears his throat.

    ¡°Hey, Jason!¡± In that one second I¡¯m horrified to think he saw me. ¡°You almost done in there?!¡± I try to breathe a sigh of relief but my pulse is still running a mile a minute. I have to do something that shows I wasn¡¯t eavesdropping. I notice the hand dryer that I walked past and put my shirt under it in a feeble attempt to dry it off. The noise is loud enough that Lamar and Imani can hear it, but not loud enough to drown out the hammering of my heart from the information I just heard.

    As calmly and straight-faced (poor timing) as I can, I walk out the bathroom I¡¯m trespassing in.

    Imani and Lamar gave the other a wide berth, I decide not to look at too closely. Sparing them any more embarrassment.

    ¡°I think it¡¯s good for now, but I¡¯ll wash it when I get home,¡± I say, trying hard to keep my voice flat.

    ¡°Yeah that sounds- Are you good?¡± He asks me.

    ¡°Huh?¡± My voice cracks a bit more than I¡¯d like.

    ¡°Your eyes,¡± he points out. I didn¡¯t notice they welled up so much.

    ¡°Yeah the smell of that crap really got to me, I have a weak stomach to stuff like that,¡± I fib.

    ¡°Oh, okay,¡± he says sharply. His scar lights up again. Oh my god, how could I have been so stupid? Why am I just realizing that his scar lighting up is him blushing?! AM I THE DUMBEST IDIOT IN EXCELSIOR CITY?! HE¡¯S BEEN BLUSHING THIS WHOLE TIME!

    ¡°Well I have an important thing in the morning,¡± Imani says.

    ¡°I also have important Protagonist business to attend to,¡± Lamar says. He¡¯s not good at making up excuses it seems.

    ¡°Yeah I¡¯m all song¡¯ed out. I¡¯m gonna head home.¡± We all stand there for a second or two. The awkward tension holds us there for what seems like an hour. Then we all go our separate ways.

    HOLY CRAP! HOLY CRAP! HOLY CRAP! HOLY CRAP! I¡¯m sitting on the train heading home with what I hope is a blank expression. Lamar is gay, holy crap what does this mean for me?

    ¡°Sounds like you got a shot with him,¡± a girl says. I look at the seat opposite me. There¡¯s a girl in combat boots, ripped jeans, a black see-through mesh shirt, and a black leather jacket to complete her punk look. ¡°Thank you, punk was the look I¡¯m going for,¡± she says. She¡¯s chewing gum and blows a large bubble. I look around the mostly empty train car in confusion.

    ¡°I¡¯m talking to you in the wet shirt,¡± she says. ¡°I¡¯m a Protagonist, I can read minds,¡± she explains. ¡°And you¡¯re practically yelling your internal narration. I couldn¡¯t help but overhear.¡± She scratches the part in her hair between her blue and green afro pigtails.

    ¡°Oh, sorry,¡± I offer.

    ¡° ¡®S no problem. More entertaining than what people usually think to themselves this late at night. More PG anyway,¡± the girl says. ¡°Don¡¯t call me ¡®the girl¡¯ name¡¯s Z but most of my friends call me SlickBack.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know you well enough to tell you that story or psychically implant it. So what¡¯s good, you gonna hook up with this Lamar guy or what?¡± She asks.

    ¡°Uhh, I don¡¯t know. It¡¯s complicated.¡± I don¡¯t know if he wants to be in a relationship the way his life is right now. Oh crap she just heard all that.

    ¡°I did hear all that. And if that¡¯s the case then ease up I guess, but being in a relationship with someone who cares about you ain¡¯t the worst thing in the world.¡± How would you know I care about him? ¡°Dude, you¡¯re freaking yourself out, thinking about him on a train at night. It¡¯s a safe bet to say that you care about him,¡± SlickBack says. She¡¯s got me there. ¡°I do got you there.¡±

    The train starts to slow down.

    ¡°Listen, I¡¯d love to chat and give obvious advice but my stop is coming up and I got my own Protagonist stuff to do. But you¡¯re cute, I¡¯m sure this Lamar guy would be lucky to have you.¡± The train stops and the doors open. She gets up but before she exits she taps my shoulder.

    ¡°You got a shot, Jason,¡± she says. I never told her my name but I suppose that doesn¡¯t matter right now. She gets off.

    I got a shot, huh?

    ¡°YEP!¡± SlickBack says loudly from outside the car. The train speeds away to take me home.

    Chapter 3 End.