Those Darn Dogooders

12

Kid Flash

So far, my plan is working. I mean, why shouldn't it? Icame up with it, after all. Therefore, my brilliance will take care of it on its own.

Jinx is adorable. Seriously. She has no idea that Wally West is, in fact, Kid Flash. Which is the key to this whole thing working. As long as my alter-ego stays a secret, me and my other personality may just be able to pull it off. Yay for schizophrenia!

I have to adjust some of my personality traits, though. I want—no, need Jinx to completely relate to me. Which she does, even when I'm Kid Flash, but she doesn't realize it. If it'll take a complete "stranger" to get her to believe that I'm here to help her…then it's a good thing I'm so cute. The girls will always believe the cute guy. Or the fast guy. Put them together to become Kid Flash…and ladies everywhere will fall to their feet in loving adoration.

So why doesn't Jinx? Oh yeah, she's special. She's better than all that stuff.

So somehow that all leads back to me and how I'm acting. Well, Wally West isn't really an act, it's just a different side of me. Wally West is a little more sarcastic and a little less ADD than Kid Flash normally is. But Wally West is also just as awesome as Kid Flash, and Wally West is the one who is going to make Jinx see the light.

"So, tell me about this guy," I encourage Jinny, knowing full well that 'this guy' she's talking about is me. Well, is Kid Flash.

Jinx lets out a small sigh as we continue to walk to the security checkpoint. "It's complicated," she says resignedly. "I thought I already explained it to you."

"Yeah, well, you were pretty vague about it," I respond carefully, hoping that I won't upset her.

"As opposed to your oh-so-detailed description of Wonder-girl, I'm sure," she laughs as I breathe a sigh of relief. For a second there, I was worried that she'd freak out if I made even a slight mention to Kid Flash. "You didn't even tell me her name."

Damn. You're the fastest boy alive, KF, why can't youthink faster! "Well, I can tell you that she's not Wonder Girl," I say playfully, trying to buy myself time. "Wonder Girl lives in New York. Very feisty, that one."

"Your descriptiveness really helps paint a picture for me," Jinx says, a questioning look in her eyes at the mention of one of my good friends.

Think fast! "Her name is…Jenny, coincidentally," I say pathetically, failing to think of anything better. Next time I have to convince the greatest girl in existence that my alter-ego isn't all that bad, I'm taking Flash cards.

…Haha! Did you get it? Flash cards? Hahahahahaha…oh, geez. I crack myself up sometimes.

"Really?" Jinx asks me, satisfied that I finally gave up a name and laughing slightly. "Cool. I'm honored to have a name similar to that of your girlfriend."

I chuckle. "I bet you have more in common than that. You even kind of look like her," I say, hoping that she's picking up on the subtle hints I'm dropping her. Although the whole key to success for this plan is to keep a low profile, I can't help but pray, Jinx…it's me…realize who you're talking to!

"How so?" she says as we join the end of the surprisingly short line to pass through security.

"Well…you both have a thing for that hero, Kid Flash," I say playfully, pointing to her baseball cap.

What she does next totally deflates my ego. Which I didn't even think was possible.

Jinx winces and makes a face. Even worse than that, at the exact moment that I blink, she rubs her finger underneath her eye and wipes the drops of salty water on her sleeve, thinking I didn't see it happen. Oh, jeez…this is going to be harder than I thought.