Puberty For Superheroes.

Chapter 34 - Felix Martin

He got home right after shopping with Grace. He looked exhausted; dark bags under his eyes, his pitch black spiky hair wasn't straight up but instead it was in jagged ways, a tight knot formed in his shoulders and upper back as he hauled his book bag to the couch.

"Grandma! I'm home." Felix called from the hallway.

Silence.

A small wave drifted through him like a ghost, eerily quiet and unnatural. Something was off but he didn't know what. He tried to remember if his grandparents truck was in the driveway or not as he walked up to the house. His mind was at a blank.

"Grandma? Poppa?" He called again. He slowly, step by step, made his way to the kitchen and peered inside. The light was off, casing a droppy look, and it seemed clean; all of the dishes put away, counters were spotless, medication bottles and paperwork in the corner was neatly stacked and filed.

He glanced back down the hall towards the living room, still no one. The heard claw marks click on the floorboards, echoing throughout the house. Tac peeked his head around the corner, staring at Felix with droppy blue eyes and his head was low.

"Tac, where's ma and poppa?" He asked, crouching low to the floor to welcome his dog. Tac wagged his tail and trotted over to his owner, happily leading his body weight on Felix.

Tac licked Felix's face and sniffed his clothes, smelling the town's scents, new people and pets. After he was done investigating Felix, he barked once then he went to Felix's room.

"Hey? Tac," he started but he stopped when he saw a gift basket on his bed. Tac had his two front legs on the bed while his back legs held him up proudly. The baby dear, Noah, trotted over to Tac then Felix.

Felix walked to his bed and looked down at the gift basket like it was alien. The first thing he saw was posters of famous athletes and junk food, the second was a new snowboard hiding under his fur blankets, and lastly, he noticed a letter.

He picked it up, studying the handwriting like it was the message. His name was on the front and a small piece of tape glued the flap down. He aggressively ripped the flap apart and opened the letter, saying:

To my Dearest,
I know that I'm the last person you would want to hear from but I would like to start over. Furthermore, I would love to have you by my side fighting crime, with or without powers. I've always loved you.
And I know that I wasn't there for you in person, but I was always there. In spirit. I know that sounds horrible but I felt like it's true.
But I have news! I'm coming to Canada soon for work and I would like to stop by and see you and my parents. If you want to see me, let me know.
I love you honey!

-Martin

On the back of the letter was a phone number. Felix read the letter over and over again. He was having mixed emotions; he was pissed,yet confused, and also mournful and distressed. He felt sick, like he rode a rollercoaster while eating a gas station burrito.

"Felix, honey?!" His grandmother called from the front door. Tac and Noah sprinted out of Felix's room while clacking of their claws and hooves echoed throughout the house. Felix sighed and folded the letter into his pocket.

"Yeah?" He called back.

"Can you help Grace with the grocery bags?" She asked. Her heels clicked on the floorboards, muttering something under her breath.

Felix thought of why Grace was here but he would've have just asked her. He played with his pitch black hair, twisting it in his fingers as he turned the corner. He saw Tac jump up and down for Grace's attention while she was petting the dear.

"Hey."

"Hoya."

"Don't just stand there and stare at your best friend, go help lug in the groceries!" His grandmother snapped at him.

Felix got his ass in gear and sprinted to the truck. The snow tried to hold him back but he was determined to win. Once he got to the truck, he swung the back door open and picked up as much bags as he could; but there was one bag he couldn't get.

"Need help?" Grace trotted behind him and quickly grabbed the last bag before Felix objected. He smiled at how her mind set was, the I-got-this-and-you-can't-tell-me-otherwise type of thinking. He admired that about her.

Once Felix and Grace got in the house, everything seemed to calm down. Grace, Felix and his grandparents unloaded the bags and ordered everything where they were supposed to be. After cleaning up, Felix and Grace retreated to the living room.

"So why are you here? Not to be mean or anything, but aren't your parents worried?" Felix asked, spreading his arm on the back of the couch while facing his best friend.

"Well, mom and I were at the store to get some food and we saw your grandmother there, before I knew it she asked me to dinner and she wouldn't take no for an answer." Grace giggled, playing with a strand of her rosy red hair.

"Hmm, yeah. Grandma does that, she gets her way."

They both laughed, grabbing the attention from both Noah and Tac. Grace and Felix played and talked in the living room, his grandma called that dinner would be ready soon. Right after that the door bell went off.

"I got it!" Felix said, he bolted to the door, sliding on the floorboards with his socks. He heard his grandma thank him right as he opened the door.

'Oh crap, this isn't good.' He thought, coming face-to-face with a familiar stranger.