James Knight: Teenage Superhuman - B2

Forty-Two

James

I never imagined I'd feel this way, but being back at school actually felt... normal. Almost comforting. Once that video of me flying blew up online, there was no point keeping up the act. The secret was out. No mask anymore, in any sense of the word.

I never asked to become one of the most recognizable teens on the planet. Honestly, I didn't want it at all. Yet there I was—no powers, too much attention, and eyes on me everywhere I went.

Walking through the halls without abilities was strange. I felt exposed in a way I hadn't felt for a long time. Still, I wasn't on my own. Mark, Bryce, Noah, my cousins, my friends—they were all there. And Claire. They had me. The supergene hadn't disappeared either. It was still part of me, just quiet. Sleeping. For now.

Claire stayed calm, like she always did. That was her strength—holding steady when everything else spun out of control. We hadn't said much about the baby in public yet. Not until we were certain. Sometimes I'd catch myself watching her without realizing it, noticing the way she moved, the way she smiled, or how her hand would drift to her stomach, protective, like she was guarding a secret only she could feel.

No one else knew. Not Max. Not Mia. Not Alexander. And we wanted it that way. The fewer people in on it, the better.

At my locker, I shifted my textbooks around, pretending to concentrate. Down the hallway, Sebastian kept staring, like he was waiting for me to mess up. Same as always. Claire stood close beside me, keeping me grounded. When she leaned in, I kissed her back, pulling her closer—one hand cupping her cheek, the other resting at her waist.
For a moment, I honestly thought it might happen again—that weightless feeling, like we'd lift right off the ground the way we had before. But nothing did. My shoes stayed planted. No flash, no spark, no hum of energy. Just me, standing there.

"How're you holding up?" Claire asked quietly, meeting my eyes.

I knew she wasn't talking about homework or exams. She meant everything else—the powers that still hadn't come back, the mess unfolding around us, and the secret that felt heavier every day.

"I'm okay," I said, putting on a smile I didn't fully feel. "We're safe. Max won't pull anything reckless, not with my family here and Mark watching his back. We'll finish school, get through... all of this, and then—" I glanced toward Noah, Mark, and Bryce standing a few feet away. "Our dads already have a plan. They won't let anything happen to us."

Claire nodded, but her gaze drifted past me to where Maximus stood near Mia and Alexander, staring like he was memorizing our faces for later.

"You're not gonna believe this," Bryce said as he wandered over, that familiar grin already in place. "Some local film crew reached out. They want to do an interview. Your whole life story."

My stomach dropped. "Absolutely not. You could haul me over hot coals and I'd still refuse."

Mark lifted an eyebrow, unfazed. "Yeah, figured that'd be your answer. So we offered up Noah instead."

I stared at him. "You did what?"

"Relax," Noah said with a laugh, slinging an arm around Mark's shoulders and giving him a shove that almost knocked him off balance. "I'm way more entertaining than you anyway."
Mark rolled his shoulder and shot Noah a sideways look. "You're lucky I actually like you, Aussie."

Claire laughed quietly, and I saw some of the tightness ease from her expression.

"I talked things over with Claire," I said, my eyes dropping briefly to her stomach. Nothing showed yet, but the hope was there. You could feel it. "With everything happening right now, the last thing we need is more attention. We're already skating on thin ice."

"She's not wrong," Noah said, stepping closer and locking a hard stare on Max. "If Max even looks at Claire the wrong way, he'll regret it."

"You think I'd let him get near her?" I said, pulling Claire in closer. "He'd have to get past me, my family, and about half the school."

"And me," Sarah said, suddenly popping up next to Noah. "Don't forget the redhead who doesn't fear death."

She slid her arms around Noah's waist. He turned, grinned, and lifted her like she weighed nothing. When he set her down again, he kissed the tip of her freckled nose.

"Fair point," he said, smiling at her. "Still as fierce as ever."

"We've also got Shawn, my dad, and Uncle Martine on our side," Claire added, her voice sounding steadier now.

"That's a lot of backup," Mark said. "They've got bad hair and unresolved daddy issues."

Bryce snorted. "Not wrong. And the fans—so many fans. I could barely get through the doors this morning."

"Don't remind me," I muttered. "I had to sneak in through a side entrance just to make homeroom."

"My locker's already full of gifts," Noah said, shaking his head. "Stuffed koalas, chocolate, and someone even gave me a baby sling."
"Yeah, same," Mark said under his breath. "One girl actually tried to give me a pacifier. I'm not even joking."

Noah snorted. "Kind of cute, I guess. Still pretty strange."

"We'll handle it," I said, scanning the faces around me. "Max isn't going near Claire. Or Sarah. Or anyone else."

Noah dipped his head in agreement. "If he so much as lays a hand on either of them, I'll break both his legs myself. Might even dump him in the outback and let the dingoes sort it out."

Bryce lifted a brow. "You can't be serious."

"Test me," Noah replied, flashing a grin that looked just a little unhinged.

I wanted to trust that confidence. I needed to. Because if Max crossed the line—if he pulled anything—I wasn't going to sit back and watch.

And once my powers returned, there'd be no second-guessing it. Not when it came to Claire. Not when it came to the life we were supposed to have someday. I wouldn't stop, even if it meant cutting straight through Max, Mia, and Alexander to keep them out of harm's way.