The Library of Powers

Chapter 13 - part 4

All around him were doors. For some reason, Jackson had pictured each door with identical white trim, marked by a large bronze placard. As Jackson was learning, his assumptions were often wrong.

The doors were widely varying. The long hallway made sure you'd notice that. Where they were, they had doors similar to those in Takeshi High, but even then there were big red doors, small glass doors, even a few revolving doors.

"It's generally random," Selina explained to the collection of Superpower class students, "The doors might look like a certain place, but they're not connected to any real doors. It's, like, metaphorical." Her point was illustrated by sticking her hand behind one of the doors, which was at least a foot off of the wall behind it.

"Do you have to be on solid ground to set a door?" Connor asked.

Connor and Damien were standing a little ways away from him and Melanie. he hadn't seen them since the party. Damien had come up and apologized to Jackson, telling him he was sorry he got so drunk, was sorry he didn't help Jackson stand up to Selina. He said he would've, but Jackson saw the look in his eyes and knew he wouldn't have. Connor did not apologize.

"Nah," she replied, "My dad took me on a helicopter tour for my 17th birthday, I have a bunch all over the city skyline. So I can get flying supers to places even quicker, once I'm a superhero."

Jackson internally groaned. Looking to his left, he could tell Melanie was doing the same. They had been in Selina's plane for a little over an hour by this point, and if they started out seething at having to interact with Selina, by this point they were just bored. It didn't help that Ms. Forrester was much quieter than usual. of course, Jackson could wager a guess that was because of---

"Are there places you haven't been allowed to go?" Principal Gonners posited, interrupting Jackson's train of thought, "Because of your power?"

"Uh, no?" Selina said.

Gonners' eyebrows furled. "Really? Because if I were a bank I wouldn't want you in my vault. You could go back in at your pleasure."

"That's quite enough, Sean," Ms. Forrester told the principal, adjusting her glasses.

"Hmm. I suppose she is only a child."

"Yes, yes she is. I doubt she's even been in a bank vault, let alone thought about robbing one."

"Of course, of course, you're right."

Their interaction puzzled Jackson. He leaned over towards Melanie and whispered to her, "If she's able to get Gonners to stop so easily, why has she been acting so weird around him?"

"Probably scared of him not approving of her curriculum. I mean, look at the guy, he obviously wants all dangerous Altered Humans in a padded cell," she whispered back.

"Seriously? He's anti-super? I thought they didn't exist anymore. And he was basically covering for Selina earlier today."

"Maybe not overtly, but there's about as many as there are FRST nutjobs left. Plus, Selina has money. That can overpower whatever prejudices the guy has."

"Yeah, yeah, you're right." Jackson was offput. There had been something gnawing at the back of his mind, and he had finally realized what it was. He was asking so many questions, always doubting what he knew. And because of that, he was increasingly being treated like a lamb, shepherded from place to place. Melanie was treating him like a child. Perhaps because he was acting like one.

Wasn't it strange, to be coming to such a conclusion at such an awkward time? That must have been why Ivory had grown increasingly bitter with him, up until he took initiative and started his Superhero career. She needed a partner, not a sidekick. He knew this even when Marc called him out on it. He knew that he needed to start working towards being, well, more than being. Thriving. Doing. He even made that damn board this morning. That wasn't so he could organize his life, it was so he could start doing. Taking action. God, had it really taken him 18 years to realize it. Did he really need the Writing Well goading him into it? Something was afoot, and he was tasked with figuring out what it was, and solving it. Would he keep waiting for something to happen to him?

Or would he counter the first move?

No more time for questions. No more time for his internal debates of mind and method. Now was the time to get to work.

"Uhh, Jackson?" Melanie said, waving her hands in front of his face, "Earth to Jackson. Class is over, we can go."

"The Library of Powers," Jackson said. Not blurted, not whispered. He said to her that secret that had been on his chest for so long.

"What?" Melanie exclaimed, "Jackson, are you okay?"

Jackson smiled. He was going to tell her the truth. "I'm going to need your help next week, when the class comes into my plane. You'll help me, right? I'll explain everything after we get away from prying ears."

There was a pause. For a moment, Jackson was back to doubting. Would she even agree to help him? Why would she? Her family was famous, she was set for life, she had no reason to stick her head out on the line for him. "Yeah," she finally replied, "I'll help."