Peace and Grace

5. Celebratory Dinner

Well, looks like I'm on my own. All of my friends are in 'sidekick', while I'm in 'hero'.

"It's so unfair," Layla says as we get our class schedules. "I mean humiliating us in front of everyone, what's that going to prove?"

"If life were to suddenly get fair, I doubt it would be in high school," mumbles Will in agreement. Just as he feared, due to his lack of powers, he was named a sidekick.

"Good luck breaking it to your parents Will," Zach says as we walk from the bus stop to Will's house.

"Being a sidekick is nothing to be ashamed of," Layla assures him.

He nods, mumbles a 'thanks, see you tomorrow', and heads inside.

The three of us continue on.

"Well I mean, as far as first days go, it wasn't that bad," says Zach.

"It wasn't bad at all," says Layla optimistically. "The start to an exciting year I'm sure." Then she sighs. "Will seemed pretty struck by Gwen Grayson."

Aww Layla. It's pretty obvious that she has a major crush on Will. Of course, he's completely oblivious to this.

I snort in reply to this. "Oh come on Lay, you know Will, he was just being his silly self," I try to reassure her. But it was pretty obvious to anyone that Will was pretty smitten by Gwen.

She gives me a small smile of thanks for my reassurance, and heads to her own house.

Pretty soon we arrive at my house, Zach then continuing on down his street. I love living so close to my closest friends.

Aunt Jen is waiting for me and runs into the front hall when she hears me come in. "So, how was it?!" She's practically jumping around in excitement.

"It was fun, I'm nervous but looking forward to it. It'll be an adventure."

"That's the spirit!" Jen gives me a playful punch to the arm. "And how'd Power Placement go? I know it sounds really intimidating but it's really not that bad right?"

Easy for someone to say who has complete control over their powers and doesn't have to worry about hurting anyone with them. "Yeah, it was alright I guess. I got hero."

"Oh yay! I'm so happy for you!" She gives me a hug.

"Thanks Jen."

She pulls away. "And Zach? Layla? Will?"

"Sidekicks."

"Oh..."

"Yeah, they're okay with it. I'm just sad we won't see each other much in class."

"I'm sure you'll meet lots of great people," she assures me. Then she grins widely. "Now I know we usually order in if we don't cook but I'm feeling like going out! To celebrate! How does that sound?"

"Sounds good to me!"

"Awesome!" She grabs her purse. "Now come on - I know just the place. I'm craving fried rice!"

We drive to a popular local Chinese food restaurant called the Paper Lantern. The host seats us at a booth and we order some dishes to share - including fried rice - and soon an assortment of steaming dishes surrounds us. I pile a little of each on my plate.

"Mmmm," I say after taking my first bite. "This is great. Good idea Jen."

"Thanks," she says through a mouthful. "Mmm this is so good!" Soon she's helping herself to seconds. "So, tell me about today! Any cute boys?"

I chuckle. "Yes, plenty of them."

"Oooo!"

While I continue to eat, I notice someone across the restaurant. A young man who works here, wiping down one of the tables. A familiar young man.

"What're you looking at?" I don't realize I'm very obviously staring until Jen notices. She tries to follow my gaze. "Or who?"

I continue to watch him and when he moves - yes, I thought so! It's Warren Peace, the grumpy guy from school who I keep bumping into, or who keeps bumping into me.

"Hmm - oh!" Jen sees who I'm looking at. She turns back to me wearing a mischievous grin. "On the topic of cute boys, cute boy spotted I see."

"Jen!" I cry with a roll of my eyes.

She only giggles. "Well it's true. I mean look at him..." She casts another look over her shoulder.

"Don't be obvious about looking!" She laughs and turns back to her food. "He goes to my school."

"Oh! Even better!" She winks. "So there are cute boys!"

"He's Warren Peace."

"That's Warren Peace?!" she cries, much like my friends and I at lunch. I wonder how often he gets that reaction, much like Will and the constant "you're the son of the Commander and Jetstream?! No way! What's your power?!" You get the picture. He's sick of it. I bet Warren is too.

"Shhh!" I scold. She looks again. "Stop looking!"

She turns back to me. "Did you meet him? Did you talk? Is he nice?"

"Not really," I say, answering all three at once. "We keep bumping into each other in the hall - literally."

"Hmm, maybe it's fate."

Again, I roll my eyes. Oh Jen.

"And are you sure that's the same guy, cause he seems pretty friendly to me."

She's right, it's true. I watch in surprise as Warren talks with a family sitting across the restaurant from us, smiling at them as he refills their water glasses. Well this is a completely different side of him from the one I saw at school.

"Okay, we should probably stop staring now. It's getting weird," says Jen.

"Thank you!"

She laughs and then raises her water glass. "To your successful first day of high school. May it be the start of an exciting year." I raise my glass and then touch it to hers. She practically chugs hers. "I'm trying to finish it, then maybe he'll come around and fill it up."

"Jen!"

(Haha! Hope you guys enjoyed :) Thanks so much for reading!)