Thunder

Chapter 12

I have an enemy? I've been a superhero for two weeks; how have I made an enemy already?

Caitlyn meets up with me a few blocks from the park. "Ky, what happened back there?"

"I honestly have no clue," I reply. We begin walking home.

"Joe, I swear it flew right over me!" One man we pass says to another. Both stare up at the sky in awe. Caitlyn gives me a knowing smile and I return it, sharing our nonverbal secret among ourselves.

Once we are out of earshot of the men, Caitlyn asks, "Are you okay? That fall looked like it hurt."

"The fall you saw wasn't even the first one."

"What?"

"I got thrown off the hood of a car."

"Ouch! Like I said before, are you okay?"

"Well, I don't think I broke anything if that's what you mean. I probably have a massive bruise, though. I'll be fine."

"You should rest. That looked exhausting. I mean I don't know how tiring it is to fly, but..."

"Actually, it's not any more exhausting than walking or running. But yeah, I am tired."

Caitlyn gives me a gentle hug, being careful of my back. "I'm going this way, so I'll see you later." Caitlyn takes a shortcut to her house instead of following me to mine. I walk the final block to my street alone. Then I turn left and head toward my home.

Somebody shouting to my right gets my attention. "I don't see how you could possibly blame this on me!!" The familiar blonde boy next door yells through the doorway, then proceeds to slam the door and stomp away.

"Ryan?" I call out, concerned, as I move toward him. "Is everything okay?"

Realizing that I'm there for the first time, he stops and answers simply, "Yeah, I'm fine."

"I may have only known you for a couple of weeks, but I know you're not fine. What happened?"

"It's really nothing," Ryan tells me. "I just got into an argument with my brother. He's blaming me for him being late to work, but honestly I don't see the logic in that."

"Oh, I'm sorry," I respond, not sure what to say.

"Siblings fight," he says. "I think in some ways it can be worse when your sibling is also your guardian."

"I can imagine," I say. "Do you want to come over? Get away from Andrew for awhile?"

"No, I'd rather be alone right now," he declines.

"Oh, okay." I turn away to leave.

"But," Ryan says, the anger leaving his tone. I spin around to face him again. "Maybe we could do something on Friday?"

"You mean like a date?" I question.

"Yeah, I suppose that is what I mean."

"Friday, okay." I smile. "It's a date!" He returns the smile. I leave Ryan and head home. I make my way to my bedroom. A water bottle sits on the head of my bed, half full. After finishing the contents of the bottle, I lie down and close my eyes, smiling about how Ryan just asked me out on our first date.

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I'm not sure how much time passes before I wake due to a massive clap of thunder. I rub the sleepiness out of my eyes, sit up, and stretch my still sore back.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

My phone alerts me to an incoming call from Caitlyn. "What?" I answer, still half asleep.