Hidden Heroes

Thirty 3

I ran over to Zachary's house more eagerly than I should have. Within a few minutes, I was already walking along his street, looking for him standing outside the door.

Eventually, I walked up to the familiar house and peered through the gate. I saw Zach's figure wave at me from afar and he ran up to me. He had his usual, emotionless face on, his eyes showing no hints of him actually being tired. His hair was still kempt, although I wondered if it was always like that, even while he slept, or he brushed it before I came.

He unlocked the gate and the metal door creaked as he shut it behind me.

"Do you have a reason for calling so early?" he asked.

I gnawed on my nail as I admired the structure of his house. It wasn't as daunting as it was when I first came here. The sight of it was more calming now, knowing that I came here when I was in danger.

"No," I finally responded to Zach. "Sorry."

"It's quite alright," he said as he lead is to the living room. I noticed they changed the carpet, probably because blood stains are not the easiest thing to get rid of.

"Before you came, I was reading the news." Oh dear.

"So you know?"

Zachary nodded. He knew that my dad was released from prison. The person who injured his parents to the point where they couldn't use their legs or arms. I couldn't even imagine what would be going through his head.

"You obviously have a different view of him," Zachary said. "Because he's your dad. But I can't imagine you staying in the same house as him."

He led me to sit next to him and I kept my distance as I sat. "He was a bad person back then. But he's not like that anymore. You can still hate him and I would understand, but I can't say I share the same opinion."

"In a few years, we'll be adults, doing our own thing. My sister will move out and it'll just be me here." He rubbed his neck, thinking about what to say next.

"Zachary, I hope you're not suggesting-"

My words faded as he went to the kitchen. "I'll make some tea."

I followed him. "I'm good. But continue what you were going to say."

"Nevermind that. I think blueberry tea is good for the morning."

I grabbed the kettle before he could and set it away from his reach. "I said I dont want tea."

Zachary looked at me before looking back at the tea packets and setting down the one in his hand. He dropped it back in the box and walked back to the living room. I didn't want to follow him.

I watched as he sat on the sofa from the kitchen doorway. I made things too awkward accepting his invite to come here. I came here to try and lift my spirits but I only brought them down.

"Fable," Zach said, still not looking at me. "I like you."

I felt my heart drop to my feet. If this were any other time of day, I would be ecstatic. I've been crushing on this boy since the beginning of the school year. I would have ran up to him and this very moment and hugged him, never letting him go.

But my feet were glued to the ground. My arms were shaking, determining whether or not to go and hug him or stay folded across my chest. I didnt even know if I considered him a friend at this point. Did I consider anyone a friend at this point?

Finally, I walked up to him and sat down. I could hear him taking a soft breath before looking at me. The light green flecks in his eyes lit up with the lamp directing its light towards us. He was too pretty.

If I'm either going to let him down or kiss him, I had to choose one now.

:.~^*^~.:

It was a little past 6 in the morning and dad and Max still weren't home. It would be hard to get home fast with all the commotion dad's release was causing so I didn't mind.

I decided to make a poached egg for breakfast so I filled a pot of water and grabbed the lighter. I tried to light a flame but it seemed the thing had run out of fuel.

"You were working fine a few days ago!" I slammed the lighter on the counter and a huge flame erupted from beneath the pot. I shrieked and backed up quickly and hid behind the small island, fearing the fire was too large to contain.

I peered over the island and the flame was still there, but smaller. The water was heating up. I gripped my shirt and sighed.

Why is everything always being set on fire? If the villain league was trying to get me to manifest my powers, did fire have to be it?

I closed the stove and got rid of the water. Maybe no messing with heat today.

I started to walk up the stairs when I heard a clattering noise coming from my room. I stopped moving and heard a silent curse coming from the room. The door was a creak opens and I could see a shadow moving around through it.

Already guessing who it was, I slammed the door open and Jason dropped all the pens he just picked up from the floor. Tom was sitting on my bed with a smile on his face.

"Hey Fable."

I narrowed my eyes at him. I can't believe he would just waltz into my house and sit on my bed like he lived here.

"Get out before I call the cops." I narrowed my eyes at Jason. "Both of you."

"Don't be like that," he said.

"Be like what? A girl trying to get two boys out of her room who came in without her consent?"

"Well," Jason spoke "when you say it like that..."

Tom sighed and walked up to Jason. He pushed Jason towards the door and closed it till it was open a creak.

"Guard the door in case her brother comes, okay?"

I heard Jason reply with "what are you about to do?"

Tom didnt respond as he shut the door and locked it.

"Its just you and me again," he said as he walked towards me.

"Back off," I spoke, slightly backing up. This guy had many tricks I didn't know of up his sleeves.

"I mean, we've known each other for a while. We're basically frenemies now, right?"

"No, no we are not. Dont tie me into your weird-"

I banged my foot against the leg of the bed and winced in pain. I fell onto the bed and glared at the red syringe in his hand. At least this isn't anything new.

"You should know by now that stuff doesn't work. In fact, it might have the opposite effect."

"No, I'm pretty sure it's working," he responded. "I mean, how else did you set fire to the kitchen down there?"

"Maybe I'm just learning to manifest my powers properly?"

Tom grabbed both my hands so that I wouldn't move them from my lap. I wanted to kick him but I felt like that would've been a bad move.

"You ever wonder why you're so casual to villains even though you 'hate' villains?"

I pulled my neck away from the needle he held steady in his hand. "No, I don't."

Annoyed, he pushed my on the bed so I would stop moving.

I wondered if Jason knew what was going on. If he did, he wouldn't have let him hurt me.

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This coranvirus pandemic is really getting on my nerves. There's no more water bottles, toilet paper, or bread to buy 😓 But at least, I got Pringles that were on sale.
Lots of luck and other stuff 🍀