Powers

Chapter 14

Selena sat at a small table in the corner of the coffee shop, absently swirling her drink with a straw. The soft hum of chatter around her felt distant, almost muffled, as she stared out the window, lost in thought. It had been weeks since she had last seen Megan, and the weight of their silence felt unbearable. Today, she needed answers—she needed to confront the confusion that had settled like a fog over their lives since Sabrina's tragic explosion.

With a deep breath, she pulled out her phone and dialed Megan's number. It rang twice before her sister picked up, her voice laced with irritation. "What do you want, Selena?"

"Hey, can you meet me at the coffee shop? We need to talk," Selena replied, trying to keep her tone steady despite the tension she felt building inside.

Megan hesitated, the silence stretching uncomfortably long. "About what? More talk about Sabrina? I thought you wanted to forget all that."

"No! I want to understand it," Selena insisted, her voice rising slightly. "I need to talk about our powers, about everything. I miss you, Megan."

There was another pause, then a begrudging sigh. "Fine. I'll be there in ten minutes."

Selena hung up, her heart pounding in her chest. She hoped this meeting would help them reconnect, but a nagging doubt crept in. What if they ended up fighting?

Ten minutes later, Megan pushed through the coffee shop door, her presence commanding the room's attention. She wore a hooded sweatshirt, her dark hair falling around her face, partially obscuring her expression. As she approached the table, Selena felt a mix of relief and dread.

"Thanks for coming," Selena said, gesturing to the seat across from her.

Megan plopped down, crossing her arms defiantly. "Let's just get this over with."

Selena took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. "I know things have been hard since—since the explosion, but we can't ignore what happened to Sabrina. It's tearing us apart."

"Maybe it's supposed to!" Megan shot back, her voice rising. "Maybe we're not meant to be together after everything that's happened! You don't get it, Selena. You weren't there."

"I was there!" Selena argued, her frustration boiling over. "I saw her die! But we can't just act like our powers don't exist because we're scared. We need to talk about it, to understand how to control them, especially with the way things are now."

Megan shook her head, her eyes narrowing. "You think talking about it will fix everything? You don't even know how to control your powers, and I'm still trying to figure out mine. You're acting like this is just some family therapy session!"

"It's not just that!" Selena's voice was pleading now, her hands shaking on the table. "It's about us. You've been avoiding me, and I feel like I'm losing you. Can't you see that?"

"Maybe that's what you deserve!" Megan yelled, causing a few heads to turn their way. "You've always been the golden child, the perfect one. I'm tired of living in your shadow!"

"Megan, that's not true!" Selena exclaimed, her eyes wide in shock. "You're amazing in your own right! I've never wanted to compete with you. I just want my sister back!"

The tension in the air crackled, their emotions swirling like a brewing storm. Megan's eyes blazed with anger, but beneath that, Selena could see a flicker of pain, a reminder of the bond they once shared. "You don't get it!" Megan shouted, her voice breaking. "You don't understand what it's like to feel so powerless!"

With a loud thud, Megan slammed her hands on the table, causing the cups to rattle. "I'm done with this! I can't talk to you if you keep bringing up Sabrina!"

And just like that, she stood up, her chair scraping violently against the floor, drawing more attention from nearby patrons. Selena opened her mouth to call her back, but the words wouldn't come.

Megan turned away, storming out of the coffee shop, leaving behind an air thick with unresolved tension. As the door swung shut, Selena felt a hollow ache in her chest, a mix of anger and despair. The warmth of the coffee shop faded into an icy chill, and she buried her face in her hands, fighting back tears.

What had they become?