Super Powereds: Year 1 (65 page)

“Okay, fine, but obviously someone realized Will has a real ability and took notice of it,” Stella said. “So that’s a bad example.”

Dean Blaine raised an eyebrow. “Yes, Miss Hawkins, ‘someone’ took notice. I want you all to think about something, though. Which seems more likely: that there was a long certification process through which ample evidence and documentation was provided, making the case for technological brilliance to be considered a power, or that a scenario very similar to the one I just described occurred and a Hero’s corpse was all the proof that was needed?”

“Oh,” Stella said, sliding down a few inches in her chair.

“Yes. Oh.” Dean Blaine realized he’d been addressing Stella directly and turned back to the rest of the class. “Please remember, a story like that is applicable to almost all of your powers."

Some of the more astute students noticed a sliver of sadness in his voice at his next words. Luckily, they were also astute enough to gather the reason and keep it to their damn selves.

"So keep your wits about you, and never make assumptions. Because I’d very much prefer it if the next power to be added to the list was done so through the boring paperwork route. It would be a very welcome change of pace."

115.

Sasha’s lips pressed firmly against Vince’s neck, slowly trailing down to his collar bone. She kissed that more delicately, then gently nipped a bit of the skin between her teeth. The first time she’d tried this trick things had gone poorly, but Sasha was an older, more practiced girl now.

Her hands worked her way under his shirt, her nails slowly etching their way up his back. He’d always been lean, but with each month the body she touched was growing stronger and more muscular. He’d been cute when they first met; now the boy was bordering on hot.

She reversed the direction of her hands, circling around and leaving scratches down his front. She paused when she reached his belt line and took a moment to lightly run a finger across the implied border. She ran her left hand from one hip to the other, marking the line in the skin, then she pressed onwards, downwards. Her thumb popped the button on his pants before Vince reacted.

“That’s okay,” he said, taking her adventurous digits and clasping them caringly in his own conservative ones. “I’m fine with just kissing.”

Sasha sighed and sat back. They were on the couch in her common room, making out yet again at the end of one of their dates. Most of the other girls were off having fun (naked fun at that, Sasha knew all too well), so she and Vince were free to pursue their hanky-panky right here in the open. Unfortunately, it was, once more, turning out to be all hanky and no panky.

“I know you’re fine with just kissing,” Sasha said, exasperation settling in and making itself quite at home in her voice. “You’ve been fine with just kissing me, your girlfriend, for months now. And while I appreciate the gentlemanly care that entails, I have to tell you, I’m starting to wonder if there’s something bigger here. I mean, you find me attractive, right?”

Sasha leaned forward a bit at the word “attractive,” treating Vince to a panoramic view down the front of her low-cut shirt. She was wearing tight denim shorts as well, and (although Vince didn’t know it) lingerie designed to plump and pull in all the right directions. She’d put in a lot of work to look sexy tonight, in the exceptionally frustrating exercise of trying to seduce her own boyfriend, and it had paid off. She was beautiful in a way that conveyed accessibility rather than intimidation.

Vince swallowed. “You’re gorgeous. I find you incredibly attractive. That’s not it.”

“Then what is it? I know you don’t want to push me or anything, but in case you’ve missed the signals, you aren’t pushing anything. I’m ready. I have been in a continual state of readiness for some time now, so where are we hitting the snag?”

“I’m not,” Vince said.

“You’re not what?”

“Not ready,” Vince took a breath and glanced away from Sasha, trying to get some of his blood flowing in the proper directions.

“You’re eighteen and male. A sweet male, but yeah, pretty sure there’s a biological mandate that you guys are always ready at this age,” Sasha pointed out. “So if you aren’t then I’m guessing there’s a deeper reason than just being nervous about your first time.”

Vince thought very carefully before his next answer. He’d never lied to Sasha about this, or even hinted in that direction. He had noticed that she’d never asked him the question, though, and somewhere along the line he suspected the assumption she’d made. That was going to make this awkward, but he’d made that choice of non-action and now he had to face the consequences for it.

“It wouldn’t be my first time,” Vince admitted. “I’m not a virgin.”

Sasha’s eyes widened. “Wait, what?”

“I’m not a virgin,” Vince repeated.

“Look, I understand you might have messed around with a girl a little and accidently finished, but that doesn’t count as losing your-”

“Sasha,” Vince said taking her hand. “I’ve had sex. Full on, real deal sex.”

“Wow... um... when? I mean, was it a girl you met in the program before me?”

“We met on the first day,” Vince reminded her. “And no, it’s no one here. It was years ago.”

“Years? How many years are we talking?” Sasha asked. “I mean, you’re eighteen now, so...”

“I was sixteen,” Vince told her.

* * *

“Stop! Thief!”

Vince’s breath was ragged as he pounded through the dense forest. A rogue branch scratched at his face, but he didn’t so much as break stride. He needed to keep-

* * *

“I was seventeen,” Sasha said, snapping Vince back to the moment at hand. “I guess we never really talked about it, but I mean, I figured you would assume after knowing me this long. And of course I assumed from the way you kept holding off that... anyway, I was wrong.”

“It’s my fault, too,” Vince said. “I thought you might be under that impression, and I didn’t correct you. That was wrong of me and I am so very, deeply sorry. I understand if you want me to leave.”

Sasha barked out a laugh, then subsided into a fit of giggles. “Wow,” she said once she regained her composure, “I can’t believe you sometimes. I mean, here I am wondering if this semi-secret means there’s some hidden darker side to you, and then you go an apologize because you thought I might have made a wrong guess about you and you didn’t immediately correct me.”

“But I really am sorry,” Vince repeated.

“I know you are, sweetie,” Sasha said, her posture relaxing. “That’s part of what makes you so you. It’s not your fault I assumed you were a virgin. If I wanted to know, I should have just asked. You wouldn’t have lied to me.”

“Of course not,” Vince said.

“Of course not,” Sasha echoed, leaning in and kissing him. This wasn’t a kiss like earlier, meant to seduce. This was one driven by so much emotional connection that it burst forth and had to manifest in a physical form. This was her kissing him because in that moment she simply had to. It was as unstoppable as an airborne object’s eventual descent.

They eventually parted but their faces stayed close, almost touching yet not quite, as they picked up their conversation.

“So, if you’ve already lost it, and you keep putting me off, and it’s not because I’m unattractive to you, then I can only guess that the first time didn’t go so hot,” Sasha speculated.

“It was fine during,” Vince said. “It was the after that was problematic.”

“That can happen,” she said. “And you’re not ready to try it again?”

“If it matters that much to you, then maybe I can-”

“No.” This time it was Sasha’s turn to cut off Vince. “You wouldn’t ask me to do something I wasn’t ready for to make you happy, I’m not going to do that to you. Take your time. I’ll be here when you’re ready.”

“Thank you.”

“No problem, cutie,” Sasha assured him. “That said, when you are ready, I expect to be told immediately. I don’t care if we’re knocking people senseless in the middle of gym and a rogue blow puts it in your head. Immediately. No delays. Zip. Deal?”

Vince laughed. “Deal.”

“Good,” Sasha said, kissing him lightly once more. “For now, though, let’s go hit the video store.”

116.

In the course of any given year, there are certain periods which elicit expectation in their arrival among different demographics. In most of America the season of football is met with widespread anticipation. In Seattle there is a constant hope for a period called “two days in a row when it doesn’t fucking rain.” The deeper south looks forward year-round to its three days of winter or “Christmas” when they are able to wear long-sleeved shirts and pants without bursting into sweaty messes. Some seasons, however, are enjoyed less by a geographical demographic and more by a gender-based one.

“God I love mini-skirt season,” Alex said as he, Hershel, and Vince trekked their way across campus to the cafeteria. His comment was sparked by the bevy of co-eds currently crossing their paths, many of whom were employing the aforementioned fashion device.

“Pretty sure they call that ‘spring’ nowadays,” Vince said.

“‘They’ can call it what they want,” Alex replied. “I know what I look forward to, and it is not the increase in heat.”

Despite debate about its proper term, spring had undoubtedly sprung. Gone at last were the occasional snow flurries, the chilling wind, and desolate landscape. In their place was a bounty of foliage and endless warming sunshine.

“Call it whatever,” Hershel chimed in. “I’m just glad I don’t have to wear a jacket anymore. I’ve been ready for this ever since the beginning of Christmas break.”

“That far back?” Alex asked.

“Uhh, Chicago is really cold,” Hershel said lamely. In truth it had been their trip up the mountain that had soured him on winter weather, but he could hardly explain that to Alex without going into why the Melbrook students had an extra mid-term. That was a conversation Hershel hoped to put off until an appropriate time. Like, say, on his death bed.

“So I’ve heard,” Alex said, not sounding too convinced. “But who cares, it’s over now. And just in time for spring break!” Alex actually yelled the last two words, leaping up and punching the air. On a coolness scale of one to ten, it looked ridiculous. None the less, there were other calls of “Spring Break!” and some generic “Wooos!” that met Alex’s enthusiastic outcry.

“Plus we get the best spring break out of anyone,” Alex said. “Next week at this time we’ll be floating down the river, surrounded by friends and girls in swimsuits and with no fear about getting busted if someone sees us using our talents. It will be heaven.”

“I’m not sure how some people would feel about heaven including young women in skimpy clothing, but I see where you’re going,” Vince said. “And it will be fun to get away from it all for a while.”

“Glad you finally got on board,” Alex said. “How about you, Hershel? Excited?”

“What, are you joking? That trip is going to be all Roy,” Hershel said. “He’s been excited about it since January, and it is definitely more his scene than mine.”

“Aw, that sucks,” Alex said. “You don’t even want to hang out for a while?”

“Nope,” Hershel said. “Roy’s been pretty accommodating about letting me have some weekend time to spend with Mary. I owe him this.”

“I guess I can see your point,” Alex admitted. “Still won’t be as fun without you. I’m sure Mary will feel the same.”

“I doubt it,” Hershel replied. “She isn’t going.”

“Seriously?”

“Have you met her? Yeah, the wild drunken river trip isn’t her idea of a good time,” Hershel said.

“Wait, people are staying?” Vince asked.

“Don’t even think about it,” Alex snapped. “If Hershel’s not going to be there then you have no way out. Besides, we both know how much Sasha is looking forward to it.”

“I almost forgot that,” Vince said. He shrugged his shoulders. “Oh well, I already signed up anyway, and I’m sure it will be plenty of fun.”

“That’s better,” Alex said. “So Hershel is out, Mary is out, any other friends skipping the class trip?”

“Not that I know of,” Hershel said. “Nick and Alice are both gung-ho.”

“Same for Will, Jill, Thomas, and his friends,” Vince added.

“Good good,” Alex said. “Then we can still have an awesome time.”

“That is the goal,” Hershel agreed. “Any word on who they got to chaperone us yet?”

“Not sure who it will be, but someone told me they always get the top-ranked people from sophomore year to fill the role. It’s a reward to them since they get to spend their time on a free trip, and it lets us know from go that these are chaperones we can’t mess with,” Alex said.

“Some of the top-ranked sophomores, huh? I wonder if it will be anyone we’ve met,” Vince said.

“I doubt it,” Alex replied. “I mean, the only ones we really talked to were the beer-pong douches, and I’m not thinking either of them qualifies as a heavy hitter.”

“People can surprise you,” Vince said. “Besides, you’re forgetting someone. The hostess.”

“Oh yeah,” Alex said. “Man, she did have some badass mojo about her. Sort of cute, too, in a scary way. I don’t remember her name, though.”

“I do,” Vince said. “It was-”

* * *

“Angela,” Shane DeSoto mumbled as he neared the blonde girl in the hallway. He gave her a brief nod and hoped she would continue walking. He was not so lucky.

“Shane,” she replied. “Have you heard the news?” She pulled herself to stop, and he was expected to do the same. He complied. They were in their HCP uniforms, walking along the corridors below campus. He’d just wanted to squeeze in some quick training. Of course he’d run into her, though. It was that kind of a day.

“I have not,” he said stiffly.

“It looks like they selected Ben and me to supervise the freshman river trip this year,” she said.

“I expected as much,” Shane said. “You are the number one in your class, after all. That’s why I don’t plan on going.”

“Don’t be silly, your name was on the sign-up sheet,” Angela said.

“I must inform you that you are mistaken. I certainly did not sign up for this trip.”