Fire Hazard: Cape High Book Eight (Cape High Series 8) (20 page)

Trick or Treat

“Trick or treat,” the black teenage girl prompts, poking the three small boys standing in front of her.  She’s wearing a Star Spangled uniform, complete with the heeled boots and face paint, but it’s the three boys that really get attention.

“Oh, would you look at that--Honey, come see these three, they look EXACTLY like Maximum, Cold Steel and Dragon!” the woman at the door exclaims, practically squealing over how cute they are.  “How did you get the makeup to look so real?” she asks the Cold Steel look alike, pulling out her phone and taking a picture.

“It ain’t makeup, lady,” the miniature Cold Steel says, holding open a large pillowcase.  “You’ve got candybars, right?” he demands.

“Oh, right, of course!” the woman says, digging through her bowl of candy and dropping miniature candybars in each of their bags.  “Look at them, aren’t they amazing?” she says as her husband appears behind her.

“Really amazing,” he agrees.

“Thank you!” the black girl says with a wide grin.

“Oh, you look adorable as well, sweetie, I love your pigtails!” the woman says as the four start off.  The girl waves as they join a teenager standing in the street with his hands in his pockets.

“Hey, she gave you a Butterfinger, right?” the “miniature” Cold Steel says, looking in his bag before trying to look in “mini-Maximum’s” bag.  “Trade me.”

“Not a chance,” Max says, moving it out of view.  “I’ve got to admit, this was a brilliant idea--I’m a bit shocked it came from you,” he adds, looking at Jack.

“I’m the one doing all the work here,” Ace says as they start down the street.  “I think I should get a third of both of your candy.”

“I can’t believe I got stuck playing the role of the adult,” Vinny complains.  “I’m the one that should get a third.  I’m not getting any at all!”

“Isn’t this AWESOME?” Carla asks, looking around the neighborhood, practically bouncing.  “I get to be second in command again!”

“When did she become second in command?” Ace asks Max.

“Eh, let her pretend,” Jack says.  “She’s actually the one that suggested trick or treating.”

“Onward, to the big house on the corner!” Carla says dramatically, striking a “Star Spangled” pose.  “They’ve got to have a ton of candy, you can tell by all the decorations in the yard!”

The three biggest names in teen super villains look at each other.  “Yes, ma’am!” Max says, chasing after her.  The other two look at each other for all of a second before following with huge grins.

“Get me a candybar, too!” Vinny yells from behind.  “I’m going to need the energy to deal with Carla on a sugar-high!”

“TRICK OR TREAT!” all four at the door shout, completely ignoring him.

Coming Soon:

Cape High

Book 9: Ditto Ditto

“Okay, everyone,” Nico says from the front of the bus, standing even as we’re driving down the street.  “This is going to be a test--so even if you’re having fun, don’t forget it, got it?  Your job is to NOT stick out when surrounded by norms.  If you don’t think you can pull it off, well, you’re out of luck, because as soon as we’re dropped off the Hall is taking the bus back--we won’t be seeing it again until this afternoon.”

I raise my hand as high as it’ll go.  “What, Em?” Nico asks.

“I want to bring Ditto.”

“Then bring her out now--no poofing out of existence or doing things a normal kid wouldn’t be able to do, though, got it?”

“YES!” I say as my Doppelganger poofs into existence next to me--I glare at her, though, because that seat’s already taken.  “Ditto, get off of Aubrey!”

“But I LOVE Aubrey!” Ditto says, hugging our sister happily.  Aubrey lets out a little squeak of laughter before hugging her back. 

“I got a question,” Jack says from the seat behind ours.  “I can’t exactly NOT stick out, y’know?  And I’m pretty sure I can’t swim, either, so why am I getting dragged along again?”

“Trust exercise.  You’re going to have to trust Ace to keep up his illusion,” Nico says, grinning a bit evilly.

“No way, no how,” Jack says, shooting a dark look in the general direction of the Goth boy in question.  “I’m NOT going to a pool as Jackie.  The only bikinis we’re going to see are the ones on official girls, got it?” he says.  “I’ll fly home.”

“Oh come on, man, live a little,” Sunny says from where he’s liberally applying suntan lotion on his nose.  Do super heroes even get sunburnt?  I hope so, because other than that I have no idea why he wants to look like an utter dork.

“Sunny, put the suntan lotion away,” Adanna says, flipping the page of the book she’s reading in an idle motion.  “You look like an idiot.”

“I know,” he says with a wide grin.  “I’m trying to outdo Justin over there.”

“It’s a lost cause,” half of the bus tells him.

“Hey, I worked hard on this outfit,” Justin says.  He’s wearing the gaudiest looking Hawaiian shirt I’ve ever seen, giant flower swim trunks, and huge plastic rimmed sunglasses.  I can sort of understand why, of course.  Justin used to be one of the biggest teen idols around.  He’s only in Cape High because he lost control of his powers at his last concert and accidentally sent a few of his fans to the hospital.  It still doesn’t forgive that shirt, though.  I don’t think ANYTHING could.  Well, except maybe being blind.  Justin isn’t blind.

I grunt as I’m pushed almost into the aisle, glancing over at Ditto, who’s making herself comfortable between me and Aubrey.  I bet you’re wondering why I’m not sitting with Trent, right?  Well, I mean, if you know that he’s my boyfriend, that is.  It’s because Aubrey’s been working on a project again lately--she’s a healer--and she’s been gone for a lot of the time after school, trying to get that poor puppy that was experimented on back to health.  I miss her!  Ditto seems to, too, because she’s leaning her head against Aubrey’s chest like a little kid.

“Hey, why did you get middle?” I ask her.  “Switch places with Aubrey.”

“We’re almost there, Emily, she doesn’t need to--” Aubrey starts out, only to sigh as Emily jumps over her, “switch places,” she finishes as we hug her.  The bus pulls to a stop just as I’m getting comfortable.  “See?  We’re here.”

We watch as the kids in the front get up, filing out the door.  I reluctantly stand as it reaches our row, grabbing the bag of toys and swimsuits that Liz packed for us from the rack over our heads.  It’s promptly taken as Trent steps behind me.  “Here, I’ll get it,” he says.

“I can get it,” I tell him, not trying too hard to get it back, really.  I mean, when your boyfriend is a tank, he makes for a great bag boy--I blink as Sunny hangs his own bag over Trent’s shoulder, then hangs Adanna’s, and--before I can say anything, Trent’s carrying the back half of the bus’s stuff.  All of it.

“That’s a form of bullying, you know,” Nico points out from where he’s still lounging in the front of the bus.

“No it’s not.  He’s Trent,” Sunny says.

“It is when you’re norms, which is what you are for the day, remember?”

The bags are grabbed off of my boyfriend, but he grabs mine before I can tug it away.  “Carrying your girlfriend’s bag isn’t being bullied,” he tells me firmly.  It’s a huge bag--it’s got my stuff, Ditto’s stuff and Aubrey’s stuff inside, but he doesn’t seem to notice.  He wouldn’t.  He’s picked up buses bigger than the one we’re in, after all.

“Love you, Trent!” Ditto--yes, not me--Ditto says, jumping up to kiss him on the cheek before hauling Aubrey off the bus with her.

“Thank you,” I say, blushing slightly as I hug him before chasing after the others.  Sometimes I swear I’m going to murder my doppelganger.  She pulls things like that in front of the entire apartment all the time!  It’s embarrassing!

“Oh, please, like you weren’t thinking it,” she drawls as I catch up to her and punch her in the arm.  “Look how red she is, Aub!  So funny!”

“You’re a flirt,” I tell her.

“So?  He’s our boyfriend, I can flirt if I want!”

I roll my eyes and promptly jump on her back as soon as she looks back to Aubrey.  She lets out a yelp, but grabs my legs and carries me piggy-back to the large group of kids from the school.  They’re waiting for Nico to come and get them in.  Most of them are zoo kids, but there’s a few new faces mingling--Jimmi, who I met in Texas a little while back, and Rocco, who showed up this weekend in a ratty set of clothes and nothing else to his name. 

So far, I don’t know anything about him except his name.  Maybe I can use this pool party thing to find out more!  I blink as Trent pulls to a stop next to us, putting the bags down for a moment.  Nico walks past us, looking perfectly comfortable with a massive group of kids turning to watch him silently.  I wonder if we’ve already blown our “norm” cover with that.  Normal kids don’t wait silently for a teacher before they bellow for silence a few times, right?

Nico stops in front of all of us, looking at us for a long moment.  “Ace, go get Jack--and no Jackie this time, got it?” he says as his eyes land on the Goth boy.

“Yeah, okay, but--”

“No buts, either.  As for the rest of you--try not to break anything, no running near the pool, and if you get called out by a lifeguard, do what you’re told to, got it?”

“You’re staying, right?” Zoe asks him.

“Yeah, I’m staying.  Honestly a few others plan on stopping by, as well,” Nico says, looking up at the sign of the place.  It reads “Central Hall Water Park.”  He shrugs as he looks back at us.  “Try and pick out the ones you don’t already know and you’ll get extra credit for one class of your choice.”  He turns, going up to the front gate and handing over some paperwork as we look at each other curiously.

“Is Jeanie coming?” I ask Trent.  “Liz can’t come, which really sucks.  She’d be a lot of fun!”

“Don’t tell her that,” he says quietly, “otherwise she’ll go buy a swimsuit and electrocute everyone in the pool.”

“Oh, good point.”  Liz is my foster mom, mine and Aubrey’s.  She’s got the ability to turn into pure electricity.  “But she takes showers,” I say, trying to figure it out.

“Yeah, she can turn it off for that long, but it’s still a risk when there’s norms involved,” he says.  “If it’s unnecessary don’t risk it, right?”

“Trent, she’s using me as a horse again,” Ditto complains, making him look at her.  He reaches up, grinning as he ruffles her hair.

“You’re tough, Ditto, you can handle it,” he tells her.

“Okay, boys and girls, we’re going in,” Nico says as he heads for us.  “Keep together, make sure no one is lost--especially Carla,” he drawls as he passes the adorable black girl in question.  “You’ve got to behave, got it?”

“Ye-eesss,” she says, grinning from ear to ear.

“No running, got it?  None.  Even if we HAVE questioned your ability to run on water, we’ll test it somewhere not public.”

“Aww.”  That was half the school, if you’re wondering. 

“And now that Jack is back we can go in,” he goes on as we look over.  There’s Jack, looking completely human--with a blue Mohawk.  Wow, Ace is good.  “Looks good.”

“I’m only doing this because it’ll be funny seeing him sink,” Ace says, making Jack snort.

“If it makes you feel better, there are gigantic water guns you can hit people with,” Nico says.

The two look at each other.  “I do believe I’ve just lost my date for today,” Aubrey says, laughing as they grin evilly.

“I’ll be your date!” Ditto says, dropping me and grabbing her cheerfully.  “Let’s try surfing!”

“I really doubt I’ll be good--” Aubrey starts out, only to be dragged off.  Thankfully I landed on my feet, I think as I grab our bag from Trent.

“We’ll be out as soon as we’re dressed, okay?” I tell him, racing after the other two.  I’m a little nervous, actually, going to a pool full of teenagers in bikinis.  Look, of all the girls in the school I’m the least “looks good in a bikini.”  I’m flat as a board, short, and my hair is choppy and bright red.

Actually--

“Sunny!” I say, veering course to grab the sleepy looking teen by the arm.  “Give me your suntan lotion.”

“What for?” he asks, looking down at the arm I’m grabbing.  His girlfriend is standing right next to him, so I guess it WAS a bad move.  I switch, grabbing Adanna’s arm instead.

“Tell him to give me the suntan lotion, Danna?” I ask, looking up at her and batting my eyes.  “I don’t want to risk getting sunburnt--I’m a redhead, you know?”

“Your girlfriend’s in full flirt mode today, man,” I hear Jack say.  I glance back to see him and Trent watching me.

“Give her the suntan lotion, Sunny,” Adanna says, reaching up and patting me on the head.  “She would look terrible with a burn.”  I grin at her and grab the bottle Sunny offers before racing off to the changing room.

“She’s just excited,” I hear Trent say as I enter the changing room. 

“Finally!” Ditto says.  “We thought you’d never get here!”

I toss her the bottle of suntan lotion and dig through the bag, pulling out the swimsuits to hand out.  “Aubrey, Ditto, and me,” I say, pulling out my suit.  I hesitate, looking at the two piece hesitantly for a moment.  “You think I picked the right one?” I ask finally.

“It’s perfect,” Aubrey promises as Zoe comes out of her changing stall in a sexy little black and white suit.  My little bit of self confidence plummets at the sight.  Stupid, I know, but it’s a girl thing.  “Go on, Trent’s waiting, right?” Aubrey encourages me.  “And I want to find Jack before he decides to mess with that water gun thing.  I’d like to spend at least a few minutes with him before we try surfing.”  We all head into the little changing rooms, changing quickly and heading out.

I’m a bit worried, still.  The sight of Trent standing outside the changing rooms, dressed in a pair of dark blue swimming trunks and sunglasses almost has me turning around--until he starts to laugh.  “Really?” he asks, staring at my swimsuit.

“I happen to LIKE Kid Liberty,” I say, sticking my nose in the air.  The top is more of a sports bra in shape, dark blue in color with a silver Kid’s Liberty symbol across the chest.  The bottom is a pair of boyish swim trunks with silver lace down the sides.  Ditto comes out a few seconds later, wearing a one piece with Liz’s mask clad picture printed across the front and her symbol on the butt.  She turns to show that part off.

“Liz bought that, didn’t she?” Trent asks.

“I picked it out!” Ditto says, hugging her swimsuit happily.  “It’s the next best thing,” she adds with a serious nod.  She wanted Liz to come, too.  We REALLY love our foster mom, okay?  But when your foster mom just happens to be one of the few S class females out there, not to mention someone that absolutely adores you, how can you not?  It’s so different from our last foster family.

“It figures she’d get girls as obsessed with herself as she is,” Trent says, shaking his head and taking our bag from us again.  “We’ve got a row of cubbies for this stuff, so get what you need and I’ll put the rest up,” he says.  We grab our things out of the bag and I grab the suntan lotion from Ditto, holding it up to him.

“I don’t want to burn, so can you help us put this on when you get back?” I ask, only to flush as he laughs.

“Yeah, I’d be happy to,” he says, heading away with our mostly empty bag.

“Nice job, Em!” Ditto says, elbowing me.

“What?  I can’t reach my ba--” I stop as she just stares pointedly at me.  “Oh, right.” I can always reach my back--there’s two of me.  “Oh well!”  Not like I’d take it back even if I could.

“Jack!  Don’t you DARE!” I hear Aubrey bellow from the water area, followed by the sound of her and several others squealing.  I move, trying to see what’s going on while I wait for Trent to come out.

“Is there a reason you’re just standing here?” someone asks from behind us, making a tiny part of my mind twitch without even realizing it.  I turn, looking blankly at a tall-ish blonde girl, one that’s glaring at Ditto.  She turns that glare on me.  “What, twin stupidity?” she asks, her hands on her hips.  “You’re blocking the way to the cubbies.”