Motive | D. Lizewski

CHAPTER ONE ⌖ A LUCKY START ⌖

DAVE LIZEWSKI WASN'T YOUR ORDINARY TEEN. No, he was a complete loser. Not invited to parties, never getting a girl's attention or number unless it was for a group project, and even then, he'd be promptly blocked afterward. Days were spent tucked away in the comic shop with his best friends, Todd and Marty, dreaming of glory and excitement that felt perpetually out of reach.

Inside the store, surrounded by the musty scent of old paper and ink, Dave scanned the shelves until his gaze landed on the newest Batman comic. Batman had always been his favorite hero. Sure, Superman and the Flash had their strengths, but there was something raw and real about a man with no superpowers risking everything to keep his city safe. That was the kind of person Dave wanted to be—a real-life hero.

"Guys, I've been thinking..." he began, a surge of excitement bubbling inside him as he flipped through the pages of the comic. "What if we became superheroes?"

Marty raised an eyebrow, snickering. "You want us to put on tights and fight crime? Seriously?"

"Why not?" Dave said, feeling his heart race. "I mean, think about it! We could actually do something meaningful instead of just sitting around here all the time."

Todd rolled his eyes, leaning back against the comic rack. "Dude, you realize this isn't a movie, right? We can't just become heroes overnight."

"Why not?" Dave insisted, his enthusiasm undeterred. "Batman didn't have powers. He trained hard and made a difference. We could start small—help people in our neighborhood, stand up to bullies, something!"

"Or we could get our butts kicked by some thug in a dark alley," Marty chimed in, crossing his arms. "Sounds like a solid plan to me."

"Come on, think of the glory!" Dave shot back, gesturing dramatically. "We'd be legends! Everyone would know our names."

"Legends? More like the idiots who got their asses handed to them," Todd quipped, chuckling. "Besides, you really think anyone's going to take us seriously? We can barely handle gym class."

Dave's shoulders slumped at the reality check, but the spark of determination still flickered within him. "So what? If we don't try, we'll always be the same losers we've always been. I want more than that!"

"Dude, just because you read comics doesn't mean you have to live in one," Marty said, a teasing smile on his face. "You're just setting yourself up for disappointment."

Just then, the bell above the shop's door jingled, and she walked in, the very girl who could send Dave's heart racing with just a glance. 

Maya Clark was a force of nature, and even in a crowded comic shop, she managed to stand out without even trying. Dave couldn't help but admire the way her dark hair fell in effortless waves around her shoulders, framing her face perfectly. 

Her eyes sparkled with a mix of mischief and intelligence, and the slight upward curve of her lips hinted at the sharp wit that had won her a spot on the newspaper staff. She wasn't popular in the traditional sense, but somehow, she managed to weave her way into every social circle.

As she moved through the aisles, Dave found himself captivated, watching her brows furrow in concentration as she searched for something specific. The conversation between Marty and Todd faded into a dull blur, replaced by the sound of his heart racing. 

It was as if time slowed when she picked up a Batman LEGO set, her fingers deftly handling the colorful box as she examined it. That was it—his sign. This was the day he'd finally gather the courage to talk to her.