Rose
Things between Jake and I have become awkward. After we hooked up, we stopped talking. I have no idea why but whenever I approach him my legs get all wobbly and my throat swells up. I get too nervous to utter anything but a simple “hi”. I don’t know why he hasn’t said anything to me. Maybe it was better when we were just friends. At least then we were able to talk to each other without feeling like an ant standing before a stampede of elephants.
We’re hoping Matt will quit working for Rob and Scotch. We found him stealing our money and after he healed his injuries from Rob and Scotch, he left. We don’t know if he quit or not. I get a little mad at Krys for caring so much for our enemy. I look at her and Hunter wrestling. I can kind of see why Matt likes her. She’s tall and pretty. She has thick curly hair that comes just past her shoulders. Her blue eyes sparkle in the light. She pins Hunter down and rests on top of him, smiling down at him. She’s also as tough as nails. I look over at Jake sitting with Steve, May and Drew at a table nearby. I want to go up to them but I’m frozen in my seat. I feel paralyzed like the world will keep going and I’ll be stuck watching but not moving. I find myself pushing off against the neon pink chair and standing up. I shuffle forward like I’m in a trance. I see nothing but the back of Jake’s head. His mop-head of floppy black hair dangling near his neck. I reach out to tap him on the shoulder but I turn away. I quickly walk to the kitchen and out the backdoor without saying a word no matter how many times I hear my name.
I don’t know where I’m going. I just need a break. I take long strides down the sidewalk and don’t stop until a ripple of air blocks my path. I stop short and make fists ready to punch the person about to exit the portal. Joe walks out of the portal and stands in front of me. “I’m not in the mood, Joe.” I growl angrily shoving him out of my way. He flies along beside me like a devil hovering over my shoulder. Luckily the streets are empty so no one can question the odd glowing boy defying gravity next to me. “What’s wrong?” Joe asks mockingly but with a tad of sincerity in his voice. “None of your business.” I snap blushing. “Seems like a boy problem.” He observes. “Go away!” I snap angrily. Right now for all I care he can take out a gun and shoot my head but I don’t want to fight. “Feisty! But really . . . is Jake giving you a hard time?” he asks landing in front of me. My face burns. I stay silent but stop walking. “We’re not all blind you know.” He adds. “Aren’t you supposed to be trying to kill me or something?” I ask annoyed. He shrugs.
Joe thinks for a moment and smiles. “You remember that dare where I had to-” I cut him off. “Don’t ever bring that up.” I growl. His eyes get big for a second and he blushes a little. I remember him feeling me up against a tree with all his friends laughing. I didn’t fight him or I’d be dubbed a “pussy”. But in retrospect I would have given anything to stop him. “You know . . . it may have been a dare,” he begins his face glowing red. “But I wouldn’t mind doing it again.” His voice lowers. “If you know what I mean.” My face turns white. “No way asshole! I can’t believe you would even . . .” I’m too flustered to speak. I take off running. Joe flies after me. “Fine! I was joking anyway! Like I’d ever want to go to second base with you!” he shouts down at me. I ignore him and keep running. “Get away from me, you creeper!” I yell daring a glance over my shoulder.
Joe grabs my waist and tries to stop me. It looks ridiculous since he’s so short. “Stop!” a voice yells. I whirl around to see the rest of Super Six running over to us. “Damn you Joe! Get away from her!” a different voice yells. I look to see Jake shoving past my five friends and running up to us. Joe pushes me away. Into Jake. He stops me from falling and embraces me. I hear my heartbeat rattling around my skull. “Are you okay?” he asks. I nod and pull out my gem. The rest of Super Six follows my lead and we all touch gems and transform. Joe looks scared for a moment but two portals open behind him. “You can’t fight him without fighting us.” Matt says stepping in front of Joe. “You’re outnumbered.” Hunter points out. “So what?” Nick asks. I begin to notice windows opening in nearby houses. We’re exposed and people are slowly filling the streets.
“Damn! People are gonna see us.” Mute mutters. “I guess it doesn’t matter.” John says dismissively as though Super Six hasn’t been a secret experiment forever. “It was inevitable anyway.” Mute adds. I feel something nick my ear and blood trickles down my ear to my neck. I look to see Nick threw his dagger at me. I shoot him with a beam of pink light. I look to my right to see that the knife didn’t just nick my ear but it hit Jake’s shoulder. Jake falls to the ground. “Shit! Are you okay?” I ask breathlessly. “I’ll . . . be fine.” he mumbles trying to pull the knife out of his shoulder. “Quick! Jenny! Take him back to Le Café.” Hunter orders. Jenny nods and helps Jake up. We all turn back to Nick, Joe and Matt. Joe pulls out his gun. “Look!” a voice yells. I look to see a little kid wiggling her finger in our direction. “Uh-oh.” Krys mutters under her breath. People begin to notice. I hear little snippets of hushed conversation. “Who are they?” “Why do they look like that?” “Those costumes are so cool.” One person pulled out a phone to record us. Might as well entertain our growing audience.
Joe shoots at Hunter and misses. Hunter jumps in front of him and pushes him down. I run over to help him. I kick Joe’s head while Hunter has him down. I look back at the rest of Super Six to see Matt and Krys sneaking off. Nick is trying to stab Mute but John pounces on him. I turn back to Joe and kick his stomach. I can imagine his ribs crack with each hit. I remember him asking to repeat one of my worst mistakes. The sick, morbid pleasure he probably felt when . . . I shake that thought away and kick him hard. “Should we call the police?” a voice asks. The same little girl from before breaks through the crowd and runs over to me. She pulls my cat tail sending chills down my spine. “Is dis really real?” she asks looking up at me. It looks like she’s looking up my dress. I just nod. Joe looks around and teleports away. I look to see Nick and Matt are already gone.
When we arrive back at Le Café I don’t join my friends’ chitter-chatter about how many people saw and recorded us. I run to the Healing Room. “Jake!” I cry desperately. Steve and May walk out of the Healing Room. They quickly see my concern. “He’s fine.” May assures me. I nod a little in disbelief and barge into the room. Jake is sitting up in bed. He looks completely fine. “You okay?” I ask casually. “I think I should be asking you. I heard all that crap Joe was saying about ‘second base’. Are you alright?” he asks deeply concerned. Like today wasn’t bad enough before my crush who kissed me and ignored me found out I went to second base with a guy who repeatedly tried to kill me. “Oh . . . that was a long time ago . . .” I explain, flustered, my face burning. “It was a dare and-” Jake interrupts me. “It doesn’t matter. He’s a jerk for even bringing it up.” He mutters angrily. He thinks for a moment and sighs. “Things have been pretty awkward between us lately.” He mumbles. I sit down perched at the corner of the bed.
“I hate it.” Jake says confidently. What does he hate? Us ignoring each other? The possible romance growing between us? The awkward blushing we shared for the past week or so? “Me too.” I agree without even knowing what I’m agreeing to. “Maybe . . .” I sigh. I always told myself that dating Jake would screw up our friendship. And our friendship has grown since the start of Super Six. Do I really want to risk it for some stupid stereo-typical “boys-and-girls-can’t-just-be-friends” relationship? “Maybe we’d be better off if we just . . . forget about it . . .” I pause and catch a look of confusion on his face. “The sex.” I add softly to clarify. “We’d be a lot better off if we were . . . just friends?” I say like a question. His big gray eyes are set on the white tile floor. He frowns and bites his lip. “I guess you’re right.” He mumbles sadly. I smile, nod and pat his shoulder playfully. Like pals or buddies. I think . . . maybe . . . I hate this more. I peck the top of his head and awkwardly walk away.
