Victor, Victorious

Chapter Sixteen

It was half past noon. In the alley near school, Victor looked up at Courtney's dangling shoes. If he hadn't thrown the stupid things up there, none of this would be happening right now.

Nearby, Sergio paced. "I'm all for getting Colin back. But I don't know 'bout this. There's gotta be another way."

"I can handle it, okay?"

"You don't know Sway, Victor." Sergio had met Bart's cousin before. Had seen him almost beat a homeless man to death just for looking at him "wrong". Just for "bothering" him.

"Look, it's okay if you wanna go home."

"No, I got your back," Sergio said, shaking his head.

"Alright," Victor said. "We just gotta stay cool. Lemme do the talking."

"How much you wanna bet Bart's already got his mouth running?"

Victor chuckled. "No doubt."

A black car with dark rims approached, leaving dust clouds in its wake. Its tinted windows were rolled up, but the bass pouring from its speakers still seemed to shake the entire alley.

"Here they come," said Sergio. "Buena suerte, Victorious."

The car stopped next to the boys. The music stopped. The engine died.

A back door opened. Bart stepped out. "'Sup?" he said to his friends.

A chunky older kid, seventeen years old, exited through the passenger-side. He had spiky hair, and a gold chain hugged his thick neck. He had on a long white T and baggy black shorts.

The driver creaked his door open. Some acrid smoke spilled out as he made his entrance. The young man wasn't very tall, but he was ripped. His muscular arms were tatted up from wrist to shoulder. His shaved head shone in the sunlight.

Bart said, "Victor, this is Sway."

"Yo. 'Sup?" Victor nodded to both of the older guys. They raised their chins in turn.

Sway gestured to his friend. "This is my homey, Panda."

Dude's nickname was Panda? 'Cause he was big and fat and wore black and white? Maybe he chewed on bamboo, too.

Panda looked at Sergio, who hung back. "Who's this fool? He don't talk, or what?"

"I talk," said Sergio. "Hi, how's it going?"

"'Hi,' he says."

Sway said, "This fool's alright, Panda. I seen him before. Sergio, yeah?"

Sergio nodded. "Yes." Victor could see how scared his friend was. Victor was frightened, as well. Not that he'd show it.

"Don't look so uncomfortable, Sergio," said Sway. "We ain't here for you. We came to see if what Bart says is true. If your boy, Victor, really has...What'd Bart call them, Panda?"

"Superpowers."

"Yeah. 'Superpowers'." Sway leaned in close to Victor. "You got superpowers, little homey?"

Before Victor could answer, Sergio said, "No, he doesn't."

Sway took a step back. "Is that right?"

"Yeah," Sergio continued. "Bart's lying."

Bart shouted, "No, I'm not!"

Sway said, "Personally, I think my cousin's been blowing some trees. But we came to see for ourselves."

Victor gave Bart an icy stare. Telling Sway about his powers wasn't part of the plan.

Bart held up his hands. "Sorry, man. It was the only way I could get them over here."