Zoom, Academy for Superheroes: Part 3

Begin Again

        "We tell stories and we don't know why, I'm coming off a little shy, but I do. And you throw your head back laughing like a little kid, I think it's strange that you think I'm funny 'cause he never did. I've been spending the last eight months thinking all love ever does is break and burn and end, but on a Wednesday in a café I watched it begin again."
-Taylor Swift

*****

        "So... " Jack teased when he saw Marsha that morning, with a rub of her forehead, she knew exactly what he was about to bring up. "... how do you feel this morning?" He finished, a little too mockingly.
        "Please don't be annoying," Marsha pleaded, squinting her eyes from the facility's bright fluorescent light. "I have a headache."
        "No, really? You lightweight." He continued to tease, much to her annoyance, "You could get drunk just thinking about alcohol!"
        "Okay, okay, I got drunk, it was funny, can we move on please?"
        "Once I said 'tequila' in front of you and you fell over."
        Marsha just looked at him impatiently as he teased. "Are you finished?"
        "I'll come up with more later."
        "Hey, you two!" Dr. Grant said cheerfully, suddenly appearing beside them and causing Marsha to cringe at his shrill voice. "Getting excited about the annual assessments we have coming up?"
        Jack and Marsha just glanced at each other, they were dreading the annual assessments, as usual. But Grant's enthusiasm never faltered. Grant wanted to continue chatting over the assessments, but he suddenly realized he had somewhere to be and left the two of them alone. Jack and Marsha looked about themselves, other than Grant's chipper tendencies, the facility seemed awfully quiet today.
        "So, no training today?" Marsha asked, hoping to make some casual conversation before having to go off to work.
        Jack shook his head, the kids had booked this day off a while ago. The four of them were heading on a shopping trip that Marsha could not attend due to work and Jack had no interest in attending. "They should have fun, though."
        "Well, they've only been looking forward to it for weeks."
        They both chuckled before Marsha sighed, realizing she should probably go. "So..." she began, drawing out the word.
        "So..." Jack repeated back, wondering if there was an end to her sentence.
        "I guess I'd better go."
        "Yeah," Jack decided that he himself could use a coffee, and that the lounge would be his next destination. "I'll, um, I'll see you later?"
        "Yeah, see you later." Marsha said and struggled to give him a smile through her headache, but turned around and headed towards her office. Unfortunately, her office was all the way across the facility, and the walk took her extra long because her feet were aching from the heels she'd worn all last night.

        Meanwhile, Jack had stopped in the scientist's lounge, somewhere Marsha told him he shouldn't enter unless he was a scientist, to pick up a copy of the newspaper before heading to the lounge he was actually allowed to be in.

        When Marsha finally arrived in her office, she was about to sit down and wait for the appointment she had with another employee. Before she could, a yellow sticky note on her desk caught her eye. Written on it in a messy script were the words "Appointment cancelled, will reschedule another time, thanks." Marsha sighed, it was bittersweet. She was glad to not have anything to do today, but also the walk to her office alone had worn her out.

        Jack looked around himself, basking in the eerie silence of the room that was usually filled with laughing children. He forgot all about the coffee he was going to make, and found himself getting lost, as usual, in the sports section of the weekly paper. He'd been so enthralled in it that he almost didn't hear the door open and close and someone enter the room.
        Glancing up, he saw Marsha, looking tired, and wondered why she wasn't off doing what she usually was doing at this time of day, what exactly what was, he didn't know. He asked the question with his eyes, and she sighed before answering.
        "Cancelled."
        "Well," Jack said, standing up and putting away the paper, "looks like it's just you and me today."
        Marsha looked a little concerned for a moment, "Have you noticed that's been happening more often lately?"
        Jack thought about it, and he realized that their team had been somewhat split up lately. "Yeah, you're right. We're hardly ever all together anymore, I wonder if something's up?"
        Marsha sighed once more, her headache finally starting to dissipate, and decided that she would deal with the separation of her team later, for now she was going to do something relaxing yet enjoyable with her day. Jack seemed to be thinking the same thing.
        "Hey," he began, as if he'd had an idea of some sort. "you want to do something?"
        Marsha smiled, "Like what?"
        Jack stepped towards her and began to lead the two of them out the door, "Let's get out of here, go for coffee or something."