Slow and Speedy Win the Fight

97. Are You Feeling Better?

Haresa

"The heck was that, Rudra?"

His lips moved frantically but I couldn't process what he was saying at all. The blaring of the music still invaded my ears and I winced.

I put my hands to my head. "I don't even want to hear it."

I was about to storm off but I felt someone grab my wrist.

"Rudra, I don't—"

It wasn't Rudra. Mia was stretched forward in her wheelchair just to hold my wrist and I took a few step backs so I could stand next to her.

She straightened her back and she looked me in the eye with disappointment. Her mouth was open and more people seemed to glance in our direction to figure out what happened.

It took me a moment but I realized she was speaking. After a few seconds, I was able to process what she had said.

You're leaving for hero duties again.

"I'm not, I just need to... ground myself."

Mr. Dunson seemed to notice the commotion and intervened in the chaos. He seemed to wave Rudra over and I made a face. Mr. Dunson seemed to ask me questions and all I could do was shake my head.

Rudra seemed to be the one listening intently to Mr. Dunson's instructions before I was pulled out of the gym.

I tugged myself away from Rudra and stormed out of the building. It had gotten dark outside and everything seemed quieter outside. Even though I could hear a million things going on at once, it was dampened by the open atmosphere and the soft breeze that whistled quietly as it rolled over my hot skin. The dizzying feeling soon left and I felt my head clear.

"Are you feeling better?" Rudra asked.

That question only reignited the anger and it felt like heat was going to burst from my chest.

"I don't owe you an answer."

"Aren't we still friends? Come on, it wasn't that big of a deal."

"I can't believe you," I spat. "Not a big deal? Are you even listening to yourself at this point? How can you call this not a big deal when you know I've been through this too? And it hurts. So much."

"I didn't know," Rudra said. He fiddled with a pair of glasses in his hands. "Haresa, please. I really need to talk to Sheldon. You guys are in contact with each other, right? Could you at least pass on the message?"

"This is your mess. I'm not helping a friend who turned out to be transphobic."

"I'm not transphobic. I can't be since I'm gay!"

"Being gay doesn't make you a trans ally!" I shouted at him. "At the pride dance of all places too."

"I'm sorry!"

"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to."

Rudra's fingers were tightly wrapped around a pair of glasses and he attempted to hand me them. "At least take these and give them to Sheldon."

"These are Sheldon's?"

"Yeah, he gave them to me for a bit and then everything else happened so fast—"

"Okay. I'll make sure he gets them."

I took the glasses from his hand and shoved one arm into the neckline of my dress. I knew I shouldn't have worn a dress today. I didn't have any pockets to put the glasses properly.

"I hope that means that everything is okay between us now," Rudra said.

"What? Saying sorry doesn't fix things." My leg twitches in irritation and I could feel my powers flaring up again. I inhaled the cold air and let out an angry exhale. "I might not be friends with Sheldon but I don't know if I can trust you after tonight. You need to seriously check your biases."

Before he could even attempt to approach me, I was already fifteen feet into the air. I pulled out my phone and turned on any alerts on the hero app.

It wouldn't hurt to work on one alert for the night. Work always got my mind off of things.