Hyper! (Vol.1)

Crossroads

In a time of crisis, I didn't expect the first person I remember to be Aurore.

We were sitting on the bench at the courtyard, occupying opposite ends. It was a day after the KIDZ+ announcement, which resulted in disaster for the both of us. We didn't talk for a while, and even if we did, we were sure it would lead to an awkward moment. She knew that I knew she was Stormy Weather, although none of us dared to bring up the topic. It was plain to see, anyway. I'd managed to convince Alec, the show host, so we could share our position as co-hosts for the weather segment. He hesitated at first but relented afterwards, seeing how it might prevent future evilizations on Aurore's part. Out of everyone in the studio, he alone felt responsible for what had happened to her, because of the way he'd mocked her on-screen.

"I need to make it up to you, Mireille," Aurore said, breaking the silence.

The words slid automatically from my mouth: "It's alright. None of it was your fault."

"No, it was," Aurore said. "I wouldn't have become... like that... if I wasn't jealous of you. The truth was I was." She covered her face with her palms. "Man, I can't believe this is how my career gets ruined. I mean, gossip? Haters? Slips of the tongue? Posting the wrong stuff on social media? I can handle those. But getting turned into a supervillain?" She groaned. "I am so embarrassed!"

"Your career didn't go down the drain," I said, hoping to lift her spirits. "We're both weather girls now!"

"Which is great. Yippee." Aurore raised a weak fist into the air. "But my image, darling, is crushed."

"They'll forget about it soon enough, I'm sure of it." The names of previous villains seemed to swirl up around me, jumbled together and illegible. "And besides, you aren't the first famous person in Paris to be evilized. It could've happened to anyone."

"I almost froze you to death!" she cried. "Is this how you talk to someone who almost froze you to death?"

"I gotta admit, no. But you're my best friend."

"Still?" she said in disbelief. "After all the horrible, monstrous things I've done?"

"Yeah." I forced myself a smile. "I'm fine and trying my best to get over it."

Aurore rushed over to hug me tight. I gasped and almost choked.

"Thank you, Mireille," she whispered shakily. Warm tears dripped on my shoulder. "You're-you're too nice to exist..."

"Believe me, I'm not."

"Oh, nonsense!" She let go of her tight grip, her face shining with newfound determination. "But I want to help you out somehow. I simply have to! I'll... I'll teach you something! I'll give you lessons!"

"Lessons on what?"

Aurore thought of the perfect topic. "Aha! Confidence."

I blinked. "...Confidence?"

"You heard me right."

"Confidence," I repeated once more.

"I've noticed you're a little camera shy in our auditions. After all, it was your first experience being on TV. Don't get me wrong, it doesn't actually matter much—the viewers think it's a charming part of your personality—but as your pal and mentor, I wanna to see you speak out once in a while. Do something on your own accord, beyond the script you're given." Aurore grinned. "Trust me, it's good for your health."

Aurore did have a point. At the time, I always felt nervous to talk around people I didn't know well, especially when I was in front of a camera. I became so aware of every move I did, every single mistake, every audible breath on the microphone. I wouldn't be able to survive a broadcast every morning if I kept this up.