Secret Powers

Chapter 19

Cindy wiped her eyes as she walked slowly down the street. Nothing was making sense in her head. She was positive she was not at the mall last night. She wanted to go to bed because her wounds were throbbing.
Suddenly she paused. She didn't even get to ask Bruno about the mysterious injuries! However, at that moment, she didn't believe he would listen to anything she had to say.
"Cindy?" A voice called out, causing her to stand up straight and furiously wipe her tears away. "Is that you?" She turned to the male voice and was shacked to see one of her old neighborhood friends. "I can't believe it!" He stopped mid-track, and his expression changed from excitement to concern. "Why aren't you in school? Why does it look like you were crying?"
Cindy lowered her eyes, not wanted to make contact with his. "What about you? Why aren't you in school?"
"Oh!" He laughed. "It's a school anniversary thing. You know I'm not the type to skip. Neither were you, which leads us back to why you aren't in school. Didn't you say you were going to that really famous school?"
Cindy sighed and decided to tell him about the mix up and accusation. Maybe he would be able to help her. He was the closest friend she had in middle school. They would study together and she enjoyed his company.
"That does sound like a good reason to cry." He nodded. "Your friends need to take a chill pill. That's not the way you handle this kind of situation."
"But what if..." Cindy didn't know how to explain what she was feeling. "What if I was there? If I really did that to him? Kevin would be right, I am a backstabber."
"You aren't a backstabber just cause you, may have scratched him. Though I completely believe you didn't. It's not in your nature." He chuckled making Cindy feel better. "But if you did, and that's a very big 'if', plenty of people have hit their friends before. No worries really."
"Thanks Raz." Cindy forced a smile as Raz patted her back.
"I know!" He yelled in excitement, then reached into his back pocket and pulled out his smartphone phone. "Do you still have your phone?"
"Yes..." She pulled out a old flip phone she had begged her aunt to buy her many years ago. She was ashamed to take it out now, with all the high-tech cells everyone else had.
"Here, I'll give you my number." He rushed to open hers and to input his digits. "That way if they start acting mean again, you just give me a ring and I'll show them what's what!"
"Be careful there." She giggled. "It's a whole school of fighters and you are talking about their boss."
"Boss, leader, teacher, monkey, president!" He shouted happily. "I'll fight them all! That's what friends are for!"
"Sure." She nodded, playfully nudging him. "That's what they're for."
Right then, another voice was heard and they turned to see Mr. Ace out of breath.
"What do..." He tried to catch his breath as he spoke. "You think you're doing.... on a.... Ugh!" He took in a deep breathe and let it out. "What do you think you're doing on a school day? Get back to class!"
"You should get going." He nudged her up and she waved at him as she made her way back to school with Mr. Ace.