Superheroes, Super Problems

*8* Boon

"This is for the singles championship cup—and by cup I mean the one...the only...golden spray-painted red solo cup made by our very own host, Sutter Layton," one of Sutter's friends, Jake announced over half the party while standing on a chair near the beer pong table. I watched as Sutter stood at one end of the table and one of his idiotic jock friends was at the other. I was lingering and watched as Sutter won, even after having to down a bunch of drinks and then his friend reluctantly presented him with the golden solo cup trophy.

"Whatever," he slurred. "Just wait til Declan is back."

"Why, so we can beat you at doubles, too?" Sutter laughed but the history I had with him saw the corner of his lip twitch before feigning another laugh. He was faking it. He was missing his best friend. He was worried.

I looked away from Sutter being hoisted in the air for the mundane party championship and saw Leighton with her back against a wall gazing around until some guy tried to hit on her. It was clear that she was completely uncomfortable so I began to weave between people to be her escape, but to my surprise Steele pulled the guy away from her and told him to get lost.

"Thanks..." Leighton told him when I was in hearing range.

"Hey, you okay?" I asked her. She nodded and then looked at Steele. Part of me thought he stepped in because he knew Leighton was my friend and Steele naturally wanted to be around me, but then I saw his crystal blue eyes still on Leighton and wondered that maybe he was starting to be into her. "Thanks," I said to him anyways.

"Of course," was all he said and then nodded to both of us before reluctantly stepping away.

"I don't think he's such a bad guy," Leighton commented once he was gone.

"Because he saved you," I assumed.

"No...his eyes," she said with a slight frown. "They make him look misunderstood."

"Meaning...?"

"Meaning, I think I want to understand him," she informed and then shoved her cup in my hand. "I'll be back later," she added before she took off in the same direction that Steele had. I would tell her to be careful, but the Mike Steele I grew up with had absolutely no malice in his body for anyone but Declan. It seriously made me wonder why he spoke so cruelly about him.

I began sipping more and more of Leighton's drink throughout the night along with refills until I truly recognized how much I disliked parties. Especially Sutter's. The kitchen was covered in food and alcohol in the place where Sutter and I would make dinner. The living space was crowded with teenagers playing party games in the space where Sutter and I used to dance. The couches people made out on were where we fell asleep watching movies. Everything was coming back to me even though I was certain I was over him and then I realized just how much more I hated parties because that was an affect of the alcohol I was drinking.

"You don't care about Sutter. You care about Declan," I reminded myself when I went outside on the upstairs balcony to Sutter's parents' office space. I looked down at couple that made out in the backyard even though Sutter strictly wanted to keep the party inside the house. But that was just it; the two people making out were hidden from the party-goers. Just like me and Declan were hidden to the entire world.

"Goddammit, Declan," I hissed before leaning against the railing with my forehead on my arms.

"I find myself saying that more and more nowadays," a voice startled me and I looked over to see a tall boy dressed in black and grey with a dark mask over his face and a hood over his head. Every fiber of my being wanted him to be the Cavalier, but in this state, I was seeing a dark angel.