Superheroes Suck

Chapter 10: Well the Alternative is Dead

Of course I told Mary.

Who the hell else do I have to tell?

Seriously, you're acting like I have a group of friends waiting to drop everything and listen to my problems.

Mary of course didn't see it as a problem.

Of course.

Of course.

Mary thinks we're perfect for each other. If you're foggy on the proof of said statement, refer to Chapter 1: "Who Thinks Organopaw is a Good Name for a Superhero?". She has been team PenNova since the idea popped into her head.

"And you got mad when I called him 'Your Penn'. You are seriously living the life Nova Renier. How many girls would kill to have a drool worthy lacrosse captain ask them out?" Mary was currently sprawled across my bed, staring at me and kicking her legs over the edge of the bed.

"I don't know." I was blow drying my hair. Mary was the one who said we had to start getting ready early but she's the one who won't get off her lazy butt. "Look, Penn is my best friend."

"You like him though." It wasn't a question, but a statement.

"Of course. It's impossible not to like Penn."

Penn is the most likeable person I know. He's on track to win the "Everyone's Buddy" senior superlative, it's impossible to hate him. Unless you're George or the football team, I really don't know why they hate each other. Well of course I know George has a thing for me but I feel like that's a dumb reason for Penn to hate him.

"The problem Mary," I put down the hair dryer, all the heat was making me dizzy. "is that Penn is my best friend."

Mary sat up and looked at me, really looked at me. "Why is that a problem?"

"I need Penn more than I need to love Penn. My relationship with Penn is worth more than risking it for any sort of romantic relationship." I admitted.

"Nova..."

It surprised me that I had opened up to her like this. We're friends, but Penn is usually the person I open up to. He's always been there for me, even when my parents were too busy to listen. Our friendship is too important to risk it, but that doesn't mean I don't have feelings for him.

"...I'm scared." I bit out. "I can't lose Penn, especially to a relationship I'm not sure I want."

"Nova, it's okay to be scared to lose someone you care about." Mary pulled my desk chair over to the vanity so that she could sit next to me. "I bet Penn felt the same way about asking you out."

"What?" The thought confused me until I really thought about it. Penn cares about me just as much as I care about him, he wouldn't just ask me out on a whim. Penn had to have thought the whole thing through. He wouldn't just throw away all of our years of friendship for something he didn't feel strongly about.

"Penn has been in love with you since freshman year." Mary explained. "Everyone knew it. Hell, I bet even Ray knew he was madly in love with you. You're all he talks about and I bet you the only reason he dated Ray was because he didn't want to take the chance that he would fall more head over heels in love with you. Spoiler alert: It didn't work because you are too amazing to just fall out of love with."

I wiggled my eyebrows suggestively. "Are you saying that from experience?"

Mary gasped in faux surprise. "Shut up and finish blow drying your hair. It's still wet, and I can't curl it like that."

She couldn't control her giggles as I stopped the hair dryer for a moment and stuck my tongue out at him. "I can curl my own hair, thank you very much."