Who Wants to be Batman?

Tam: What is Going On Here?

Classes go by too fast, and all I can think about is how stupid I am. Why did I agree to help Keefe?

"Are you listening Mr. Song?" My mentor pulls me back into the real world.

"Um. Yes," I say. The mentor goes on. I don't even remember her name.

"Mr. Song! Pay attention! We have two minutes left!" The mentor looks tired. I nod, but don't actually listen.

The bell rings. I stand up.

"Tam Song, I will see you tomorrow," the mentor says sternly. I don't answer. I have to give my sister an excuse for not coming home with her. Truth is not an option.

I run to the front of the school , hoping to sneak up on her. I see her sitting on a tree branch about four feet off the ground.

"Hey. Do you um, have anything planned today?" I ask.

"Yeah, actually. I'm hanging out with Biana and Sophie," she says. "How did you know? Are you stalking me now?" I shake my head.

"No, I just.... I just have something to do," I say.

"What?"

"Oh, just studying for a... a... Shade test."

"Mmmhhhmmm. Right. Okay then!" She hops off the branch and runs off. I see her meet up with Biana and Sophie. Someone taps me on the shoulder.

"Are we gonna study, or are you gonna double-cross me for Biana?" It's Keefe.

"Uh. N-no," I stutter. I don't do that. Ugh.

"Then come on!" He grabs my arm and drags me towards the library. I look back to make sure nobody, Linh, has seen us. Linh is talking, oblivious to what's going on. Good. The library comes into sight.

"You're not one for talking," Keefe smirks at me, still dragging me. I want to run away again. I shake him off and walk without being dragged.

"Well, you know me," I say, cowering into shadows. Keefe laughs.

"No, I really don't. You're about as mysterious as Foster. I guess I like that in people." He grimaces. Huh. Then he smiles. "Wanna race?"

I shrug. He starts running, so I sprint to catch up trying not to laugh. He is. And I wouldn't say it's a bad sight. He grabs the door handle.

"Ha! I won!" He grins and opens the door. "After you," he waves me in, closing the door behind himself. The librarian looks up.

"Well hello there boys," she says, barely audible. "Have you come for fun? Or for studying?"

"Studying!" Keefe says, giving her the thumbs up.

"Shhh!" I could definitely hear that. That was the loudest shush I've ever heard. Not that I've heard many. I bet Keefe has heard many shushes in his life. He's is dragging me again. We come to the fifth aisle, and turn into it. Keefe lets go of me, and starts looking for books.

"We're looking for a book about advanced Alchemy, I think," Keefe says to me, absentmindedly.

"Okay," I answer. He comes over.

A door closes.

Keefe turns to me and smiles.

I hear foot steps.

Keefe leans closer, and closes his eyes. Uh oh. No, actually, I don't really mind it. It... feels fine, if not, well good. I cannot believe this is happening. Again. I guess he really does like me. And vise versa.

I hear a voice. "Um, Tam? Oh. Oh. What's going on?"

Oh, no. That's Linh's voice. I push Keefe away, and turn around.

"You. Saw. Nothing." I am now trying very hard not to scream.

"But..." Linh looks very confused.

I on the other hand, am completely consumed with terror.

"Um, Keefe? I don't think I'll be able to help. Ask the librarian," I say, and grab Linh's hand. I start walking out of the library. I need to get to my room and never come out. Linh and I get out of the library and leap home.

***

"Were you, were you, like, kissing Keefe or something?" Linh asks, hands on her hips. "Is that why you were acting weird for the past few days?" I glare at her. "So, yes?" She's too persistent. I stomp to my room. I here a door shut and then muffled talking. What is she doing? Oh. Realization dawns on me. She's telling everyone what she saw. No. No. No.

I run to her bedroom and somehow slam open her door.

"If you tell anyone..." I glare at her.

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" She looks scared, and slightly guilty. "I already told Biana. And you know her. I am so sorry!" I run out of her bedroom, out of the house and into the nearby woods. I'm done. I climb up a tall tree, and roll into a ball. Screaming seems like a good idea, but then Linh would find me. My Imparter rings. It's Sophie. The last person on Earth I really want to talk to. Well, anyone would be. I answer her against my best judgment.

"So, I-I heard, about, you know..." she looks sheepish. "I just wanted to tell you that I won't judge you." She's making my ears hurt. I shut the Imparter off. It rings again. Keefe. I need to yell at him for being an idiot and causing all of this.

"Hey. Are you okay?" He looks worried. "Sophie just told me you hung up on her. Do you need me to come over to your house?" I shake my head.

"I'm not even at my house. I just. Can't. Deal with anyone right now."

"And he speaks!" Keefe jokes. I don't laugh. "Well, where are you then? Supposedly I'm good at comforting people. I think it might be an Empath thing, but then my dad is stone cold and he's an Empath, so... maybe not."

"In the woods near my house." I tell him. Why am I doing this? I haven't even read his shadow.

"You can come on one condition."

"And What is that?"

"I get to do a shadow reading on you."

"Anything for you," he says, and ends the call. I sigh. So much has happened. Keefe kisses me. I agree to help him. He kisses me again. Linh finds out. Everyone finds out. And now I've agreed to Keefe helping me calm down. Not that it'll work.