Fire Hazard: Cape High Book Eight (Cape High Series 8) (9 page)

“Yeah?  What about?” he asks as he drops down next to her, draping a large arm over her shoulders.

“I think... um... that we should break up,” she says, looking at him finally.

“What?” he asks.

“I think we should break up,” she repeats, pushing his arm off of her shoulders and getting to her feet to look at him.  “Are you and the gang just using me?” she demands.  “You’re using those tubes as a boost, aren’t you?”  She reaches forward, pulling the glow-stick out from under his shirt and ripping it off of the string.  “You’re using me for this!”

“Give it back, Jimmi,” he says, his eyes narrowing.  “It’s that Vinny guy, isn’t it?  He’s been messing with your mind and you think he’d be a better boyfriend than I am--a better super.”

Jimmi wraps her hand around the glow-stick and pulls the energy out of it.  “He says you and the others need to meet him in the Walmart parking lot.  You can prove you’re a super there.”

“You killed it,” Tank says, his eyes focused on the empty glow-stick.  “Why did you DO THAT?” he demands.

“If you’re a real super you won’t need it,” she says.  “Walmart.  If you don’t show up in half an hour I’ll assume you’re forfeiting and call the cops on you.”  She runs off before he can reply, but she hears him bellow with rage behind her. 

The guilt and relief she feels right now is making her a bit light headed.

***

“These sort of suck,” Carla says as we come out of Walmart.  She’s wearing a new pair of sneakers, one of the off-brand names that they sell, but she’s not very happy about it.  “They aren’t going to last all the way home, Vinny!”

“Well since I’m the one paying, they’re the best you’re going to get,” I tell her patiently, “and seriously, Carla, none of the shoes meant for norms are going to last for long.”

“How about this,” Trent says, seeing she’s about to start crying, “when we’re done here we’ll talk to the South Branch about seeing one of their tailors, okay?  We’ll get you a specialized pair.”

She nods, looking up at him with a hint of adoration.  I groan.  “Trent, quit babying her,” I say.  “If she doesn’t want to ruin her shoes we can send you both home in a car, or something.”

“NO!” Carla says, looking a bit panicked.  “I can’t stand car trips!  They’re so boring and you’re stuck inside forever and--”  Trent looks at me with a slight frown before touching Carla’s shoulder and making her stop.

“Hey,” he says, “why don’t you go find an empty part of the lot where we can have the competition while I talk with Vinny for a bit?”

She nods slowly, looking at me.  I nod.  She takes off, leaving me with Trent.

“What’s got you so mean today?” he asks bluntly.  “You’ve practically been ripping heads off--for you, at least.  You and I both know that Carla needs a gentle touch--all of the younger zoo kids do, don’t they?  You’re usually the guy offering that.”

I feel guilt rise up and I let out a sigh.  “I know,” I mutter, sitting down on my bike.  “This trip’s gotten to me for some reason.  I’m here to save a spoiled rotten brat that’s got as close to a perfect life as I could imagine,” I admit slowly.  “And last night she tried to go off on a rant about how I’ve got everything.  All because I’ve got friends and the only thing she has are posers.”

Trent shocks me as he starts to laugh.  “What?” I demand.

“I was there,” he says.

“Last night?”

“No.  Where she’s at--I was there.”  He drops down on the ground next to my bike, stretching his legs out in front of him.  “I wore my specialized boots,” he points out, “they’re made for super heavy wear.  But like I was saying--I was exactly where Jimena or whatever her name is.  No friends, couldn’t play sports, couldn’t show off the stuff I could do, because my secret identity would be blown.  I’ve got great parents, you know?  My mom and dad would have moved Heaven and Earth for me, but I was so stuck on the fact that I was all alone in this world that I didn’t even notice.”

I look at him.  When he just grins at me I smack him upside the back of the head.  “Feel better?” he asks, not even moving with the slap.

“A little,” I admit.  “Still, it’s so stupid!”

“It’s human nature,” he says, “if you’ve got nothing to compare your circumstances to, you always see the bad parts as really bad.  Being different isn’t easy, Vinny.  Being looked down on or avoided by all the people around you, it sucks.  With me they instinctively knew I was different if I did something to draw attention.  With Jimena--well, you saw her eyes.  Can’t exactly hide something like that.  I would have done anything to be able to join the football team--to fit in.  Instead I was looked down on by the jocks in the school since I had to sit out gym.”

“You had to sit out gym?”

“I had a running excuse with my coaches,” Trent says, “asthma and a few other weird things.  I had to just sit there and watch as the norms ran around in circles.  It was sort of like how Carla feels about car rides--boring.”  He looks at me.  “Want to know what changed things for me?”

“What?”

“Max.  He showed up following Zoe around like he always does, and found me.  Within minutes he had me pegged as a cape--maybe even seconds.  Even if he was one of the biggest super villains around, I still felt... indebted to him, like I owed him for it.  So when he told our group that we were going after you, well, I was the first to volunteer.  He took my girlfriend, instead.  Not sure on that one--did she flirt with you?” he asks curiously.

“Emily isn’t my type and I’m definitely not hers,” I say, looking down at the guy who’s already almost twice as broad through the shoulders as I am. You wouldn’t believe how happy I am that I’m telling the truth--making him jealous could easily classify a guy as suicidal. “She robbed me for smoothie money and told me a little about her past.  Then Ditto totally blew off a guy hitting on her, saying you were cute enough for both of them,” I add, grinning slightly at the memory.

“Yeah?  What guy?”

“One of the guys I plan on showing up today,” I say.  “So... are you dating just Emily or are you dating both of them?” I ask, unable to help myself.

“Trying to take Ditto from me?” he asks.

“Nope.”

“Honestly?  Ditto IS Emily,” he says after a moment.  “That she says different things, and that she reacts differently once in a while, well... Emily has a history of abuse.  Dad says she spent so long removing herself from what was happening to Ditto that she started thinking about her as a different person.  I don’t know if that makes any sense, but, well, when it comes right down to it--even if Emily winds up making more duplicates than just Ditto, or changes Ditto to look like someone else, whatever she does, that’ll be a part of her.  To me, as her boyfriend, all it really means is I gotta pay closer attention when one of them looks innocent and pay twice as much on a date.  It’s a really good thing I’m getting paid by the Hall now.”

I stare at him for a moment, and then let out a heavy sigh.  “So basically what you’re telling me is that Jimmi can change with a chance, so I shouldn’t be biting people’s heads off over it,” I summarize.

“And that a duplicator girlfriend can get seriously expensive,” he agrees.  “You can’t have a duplicator girlfriend unless another one shows up out of nowhere, though, so the whole changing part is the important thing.”

“Hey Vinny!  I found it!” Carla calls from across the parking lot, waving her arms over her head--the blue stuffed toy held firmly in one hand.

“Did you HAVE to let her buy the pony, though?” I ask Trent.  “Couldn’t it have waited until after the job?”

“It made her happy--and that kept her running beside me, because she spent the entire run down here telling me all her favorite episodes,” Trent says with a shrug.  “If they make fun of her we’ll knock them out, how’s that sound?”

I think of the group running like chickens the moment the sirens started, leaving me buck naked and arrested.  “Sounds excellent,” I say as I mount my bike and start it up.

“That is one awesome bike,” he says as we start for the area Carla chose.  She’s sitting on the ground poking at her new tennis shoes with a frown.

“Fine.  After this is over we’ll talk to Century,” I say, giving in.

“Thank you!”  She hops to her feet, bouncing up and down for a bit before stopping.  “Jimmi’s here!” she adds, racing away before I can say anything.

“She’s changed,” Trent says.  “You’ve done good--she’s not nearly as shy as she was when you first showed up.”

“She’s one that has,” I admit.  “I’ve got another six that still don’t talk to anyone other than other zoo kids and your dad.”  I watch as Carla drags Jimmi over, silently noting that her eyes look red.

“They should be here soon,” Jimmi says, wrapping her arms around herself.  Before we can say anything else, a truck pulls to a stop just a foot behind her, almost hitting her.  The door swings open and Tank jumps out, racing straight for me.  He’s got a glow-stick in his hand, I realize too late.

The punch slams into my face, sending me flying backwards.  I grunt as I hit a car, sliding down it and falling to the concrete, a bit stunned.  “VINNY!” Jimmi yells, racing for me.  Tank grabs her arm, hauling her back.

“You think you can just storm in here and take everything?” Tank demands, completely ignoring Jimmi’s struggling. “That you can take my girl, take my place?  I think not,” he says, uncapping the glow-stick with his teeth and shoving the open end to his chest.  He literally starts to glow and his muscles start bulging.

“Vinny,” Trent says, hauling me to my feet, “this is your fight, isn’t it?”

“Unfortunately,” I say, popping my neck.  “But you’re welcome to interfere if it doesn’t seem to be going my way,” I add evilly.  He lets out a surprised laugh and steps back as I drag my shirt off.  Should I feel guilty about beating up a norm?  Not when he hits like that, I decide, lighting my hands on fire and rushing forward.  I slam a flaming fist into his gut, sending him back through the air.  He’s heavy, I notice.  He doesn’t fly nearly as far as I’d hoped for, and he lands on his feet, catching his balance quickly.

My hair lights up, flickering above me.  I don’t think I can do a full body burn without another hit of Jimmi’s power, I just hope I don’t need it, I think as I see a large fist racing towards me.  His speed has improved with the power boost, I note as it slams into my gut, shoving me into the air for a moment.

“Light him up, Vinny!” Carla shouts.

“Put your mask on!” Trent bellows.  “We’ve got company!”

I grab the mask out of my pocket and slap it on.  The last thing I want is for norms to see my face on television.  It’s just in time, I think as a helicopter flies towards us, hovering above as they film the fight.  Tank grabs my bike, lifting it in the air over his head.

“KID!” I yell.  “SAVE MY BIKE!”

“On it!” Trent calls back as Tank throws the bike straight at me.  The Liberty boy jumps, grabbing the bike and flipping to his feet.  “Safe!” he says--only to look down.  “Well, other than the grip mark.  Sorry, Vin, think I bent your wheel.”

I curse and dodge another car, not bothering to try and get it saved.  Tank has this look on his face that’s starting to make me worried.  I think he’s lost control.  He’s also causing massive damage to the cars in the parking lot.  Every other car he grabs winds up with a piece pulled off before he sends it flying through the air.  He really needs to learn the proper way to throw them.  “I can help!” Carla says.

“Don’t!” I say, holding up a hand in her direction only to wind up getting hit by a car.  Ouch.  I’m pinned to the ground for a second and I curse as I see a blur rush past me.  “CARLA!” I bellow.  I don’t want her hurt!  The last thing in the world I want is for my little sister (or as close as I’ll ever get to one) to get beat up because some crazy norm is out of control on a power high!

I hear a gagging sound as the car is pulled off of me and tossed aside.  Trent hauls me to my feet and I look over at Tank, who’s having trouble breathing.  He’s in the middle of a miniature twister, I realize as I see the afterimage of Carla pass in front of him.  She’s going to suffocate him.

I ah... didn’t realize she knew how to do that.  I’m seriously betting she saw it on a movie and thought it’d be fun to try out.  “Carla, stop,” I say as Tank falls to his knees, grasping his throat. He’s starting to look a bit blue. “This is my fight.”

“But he--” she starts out as she pulls to a stop.  I place a hand on her head, between those two puffy pigtails she’s so fond of.  “He hurt you!” she says.

“Nah, I’m tougher than that,” I tell her.  “Have faith in me,” I say quietly, looking into her eyes.  “I’ve got to prove I can keep my position, right?  Go stand with Jimmi.  If he goes after her, grab her and take off, got it?”  I won’t let my little sister get hurt--or become an accidental murderer.  I never realized just how dangerous she was until now.  I’ll have to deal with that, later.  Right now I’ve got a fake Tank to take down.

“Yeah,” she says, nodding and racing away.  I look at Tank, who’s already starting to recover.  His eyes are wild, and I’m positive now that the excess power is more than he can handle.  I rush forward, slamming my burning fists into his chest as fast as I can.  I need to take him out before someone that isn’t super gets hurt.  He grunts, his body jerking with each punch, but he’s still conscious, somewhat.  His hand comes up, shoving me away. Even in this state his hits are pretty heavy.  I definitely felt that. He’s on fire thanks to my own hits, but he doesn’t even seem to notice as he staggers forward, drunkenly.  He shakes like a dog, his eyes clearing slightly.  A snarl pulls at his lips and he starts forward, hands clenched in fists.