Super Volume 2

Need to Say

Dylan's POV
Addison and I were put on laundry duty this week. "Hey, you're close with Riley, right?" She asked. I pulled my head out of the dryer. "Yeah. Why?" I asked. "What happened the other week? Why did she freak out on the job?" Addy asked. I shrugged. "I don't know. I never actually asked." I admitted. "Maybe you should. It seemed like something was seriously wrong. I mean, you and Retro recruited her because of her bad past. Maybe, as her new family, we should try to look into that past, and help her grow from it." Addison replied. I smiled. "Yeah! You're totally right. I'll talk to her. Wow, you really are just like your moms. Always full of advice." I chuckled. She smiled at me. "Thank you. Hey, I wanted to ask you. Would you come to homecoming with me?" She asked, hopefully. "What, like riding in your car? Sure. I don't really want to see Retro and Ella do their flirtatious banter like always." I groaned. "No, that's not exactly what I meant..." She sighed. "What'd you mean then?" I asked. She just stared at me for a minute and then shook her head. "Forget it. It's stupid. I'm gonna bring my clothes back to my room." She picked up the basket and left.

"Hey, Retro? Are you in here?" I walked into her room. She and Ella were sitting on her bed, reading a book together. I raised an eyebrow. "Am I interrupting?" I asked. "No!" They shrieked. Ella slammed the book shut and Retro teleported right in front of me. "What do you want?" She snapped. I blinked a few times. "We need to talk to Riley about what happened on our last mission. Something is clearly wrong." I said. She sighed. "Yeah. I've been thinking about that. Maybe we should just leave her be. I mean, prying into her past isn't going to make her feel any better. We could end up hurting her more." Retro replied. "We have to try to help her! We can't just leave her like that!" I exclaimed. Ella walked up behind Retro and put her hand on her shoulder. "I think that's a good idea. Riley needs to know that we have her back. Especially you, as our leader, and as her best friend." Ella explained. Retro groaned and dropped her head. "Fine. Let's go talk to her." She agreed.

"Riley! Can we come in?" I knocked on her door. "She gets a knock?" Retro huffed. I rolled my eyes and knocked again. "Yeah! Come in!" Riley yelled. We walked into her room as she came out of the bathroom. "What's up?" Riley asked. "We wanted to ask about that whole scene at our last mission. You freaked out a little." Retro said. "We just want to make sure you're ok." I corrected her. Riley huffed and rolled her eyes. "Of course you do. Look, I'm not one for recollecting, kay? I've been through hell, and you guys saved me, and I am eternally grateful... but let's leave it at that. I don't need you all crying over my backstory when I already have enough shit to deal with. Like, paying off my boat!" She groaned and stormed over to her desk. "You have a boat?" Retro and I were equally confused. "Yeah. My dad tended to use his money on useless things. He wouldn't pay bills or buy food, but he bought me a boat!" Riley groaned. "We can pay for the boat, Riley." Retro said. "You're already paying for enough of my shit. I can't let you pay for that too." She replied. "One or the other, Riley. We pay for the boat or you tell us what's wrong." Retro smirked. "The boat. Easy. That's horrible negotiating." Riley huffed. Retro frowned and I groaned. "Riley please! Let us help you!" I begged. "I don't need your help, Dylan. Thank you for your concern, but unless you have something you actually want to talk about, please get out." Riley replied. "Fine. What are you wearing to homecoming?" Retro asked. "Pfft-" Riley started cracking up and we tilted our heads in confusion. "You will never catch me dead at a school dance. I'm not going." She laughed. "Why not?" Retro asked. "Simple. I hate wearing dresses and suits, I have no one to go with and friends don't count, and overall, I have no desire to hang around in the musty gym all night at what's basically just a rave for minors." Riley explained. "That's... actually a good point." Retro caved. "What's wrong with formal wear?" I asked. "Suits feel weird and I don't like that dresses show my shoulders." Riley explained. "You can find one that covers your shoulders." I said. She huffed a laugh. "Not enough." She shook her head. I raised an eyebrow and Retro locked the door.

Riley's head spun around at her. "Why'd you do that?" She asked. "Just curious of what your reaction would be." Retro smiled. Then she held up her hand and sparked it with electricity. Riley jumped and nearly fell onto her desk. "Retro, what are you doing?" I asked, concerned. "You said that electricity would never get you 'again' in the battle. What did you mean?" Retro asked. Riley just stared at her electrified hand in horror. "Retro, drop it!" I snapped. But she didn't. She just stared at Riley, holding up her sparking hand. Finally, Riley sighed and looked down. "My dad had electric powers, ok? I never got his magic and he resented me for it. I became his charity case, so he bought me a bunch of useless stuff! And when I was ungrateful, because I would rather have food, he would hit me! So yeah, I said that because I never want to see electrical magic again!" Riley let it all out. Retro stopped and dropped her hand. "I'm sorry that happened to you." She said. "Riley, that's awful. No wonder you carried a gun." I frowned. She rolled her eyes. "Don't give me that. The last thing I want is your pity. Now I appreciate your concern, but I'm fine. Really!" Riley walked over to us. I hugged her and she groaned. "Seriously?" She huffed. "We're here to help you, Riley. Whether you think you need it or not." I smiled. She gagged. "Retro, get her off me." She groaned. I let go and punched her arm. Riley chuckled. "And now why do you hate your shoulders?" Retro asked. Riley looked at her confused and Retro just raised her eyebrows, waiting for an answer. Riley sighed and groaned. "My dad stabbed me once." She pulled down her sleeve to show us the scar. "I've never found a dress that fits and covers it completely." She explained. My eyes widened in shock and Retro smiled softly. "That's ok. You don't have to go if you really don't want to. Thank you for telling us, Riley. We won't tell the others." Retro assured her. "Thanks." Riley fixed her shirt.

"Why would you do that to her? You scared the crap out of her!" I exclaimed. Retro sighed. "Sometimes, people don't want to tell you things that they really need to tell you. It's your job to recognize those things, and make sure that you get them to say it. I know that what I did was a little mean, but it's going to help her in the long run. If she could find the strength to tell us the truth, then maybe she can break down her walls with the others too." Retro explained. I smiled at her. "I guess this is why you're in charge." I chuckled. She smirked. "You bet it is. Now get back to doing laundry. I'm running out of socks." She ordered. I laughed and nodded. "You got it, boss." I smiled and walked away.

Addison was folding Ella's laundry when I walked in. "Hey! How'd it go?" She asked. "Good! No need to worry. Riley is gonna be fine." I smiled. "Good. I'm glad she's ok." Addy smiled and turned away. I stared at her and thought about what Retro had said. "Addy? What did you mean earlier?" I asked. "Hmm? About what?" She asked. "About going to homecoming with me?" I asked. She froze for a second. "Nothing, Dyl. Just forget it." She shrugged. "No, Addy! Tell me. I promise I'll listen this time." I smiled nervously. She looked back at me and sighed. "I meant... will you go as my date?" She explained. My eyes widened and I slowly smiled. "I would love to be your date." I nodded. "Really?" She seemed stunned. "Yes! I love hanging out with you, Addy." I replied. She smiled and giggled a little. "Ok! Thank you, Dyl." She said. "You're welcome." I replied.