groovygamers.com

Megan woke up Sunday morning feeling pretty good, despite the trouble and mayhem of the night before she felt well rested and her mood was good.  She could smell bacon and knew her mom was making breakfast downstairs.

Getting out of bed, Megan was careful not to get in any of the mess in the room as she grabbed some clothes and when to take a quick shower.  After drying off and dressing, she made her way downstairs to see what was going on, hoping her dad was in a better mood and that her mom would not seem so stressed.  Making her way into the kitchen, she spies her mom first and went over to give her a hug.  “Good morning mom.”

Her mother looked like she hadn't slept well, but she had a smile as Megan came in, "Morning hun.  Breakfast?"

Megan could not help but feel guilty at how her mother was looking, convinced that at least part of any trouble she had sleeping was her fault.  “Sure.”  She replied with a smile as she went over to the refrigerator to get some orange juice.  “So, where’s dad?  Off to meet with his people already about things?”  She asked as she sat down on a stool at the center island of the large kitchen.

"He had an early T time and took Donnie with him to caddy.  They're been spending a bit more time together since your sister left.  I guess he's starting to realize that you guys wont be here forever."  Megan's mother moves around the kitchen getting everythign ready for her and her daughter.  "So, quiet a shocker you dropped on me last night.  I have to admit though, I was relieved somewhat.  At least you weren't out having unprotected sex and doing drugs."  She tries to smile, to convey that she's trying to keep this from becoming to emotionally intense a moment.

Megan was a bit surprised to hear her brother had gone out to spend the all morning and probably part of the afternoon with her dad at the country club, but it was nice to hear her dad making some time for his son.  While she was a bit jealous, it did make a bit of sense that he would focus on his son first, not to mention the fact that Donnie was less than two years away from heading off to college as well.  “Yeah, maybe he has.”  Was her response.

Megan was about to offer to get the plates and silverware for her mom, when she started talking about the teenager’s revelation late last night.  Megan again felt a bit bad on having dropped that on her mom in such a way, but at least she said it was better than her having unprotected sex or doing drugs.  “Yeah, I’m sorry about that.  I have hated lying about things to you, and to dad.  Once I figured out what I could do, I…I just kept finding myself in situations where things were going on and what I could do could possibly help.  A couple times I was able to do something small, and not get noticed, other times I did nothing, least with my powers, and luckily nothing bad happened to anyone to make me feel guilty for not having acted.”

She sighed.  “So, I decided to make myself a way to be able to act.  And I have helped people mom, quite a few.”

"I know.  I've read about you in the paper.  Pretty impressive stuff, I'm proud of you."  She serves breakfast and sits down to eat.  "I'm just not sure how we should tell your father.  He seems a bit annoyed that I wanted to take that job with the Wayne Foundation.  Would you prefer to tell him yourself, with me there for support.  Or do you want me to talk to him?"

Megan smiled a bit at her mom mentioning being proud of some of the things she had done as Velocity.  But in the back of her mind, she thought, you might be acting a bit differently if you had seen those electrical burns on my costume a couple weeks ago.

When her mom mentioned telling her father, Megan took a bite to eat, and the answered after swallowing.  “I should be the one to tell him mom, I can’t put that on you.  Not for this.”  The blonde teen then looked over at her mom.  “Why was did he get so annoyed about you wanting to take that job?  I would think it would offer all sorts of networking connections and the like.  Dad is always talking about how important that is.”

"I'm not sure.  It seemed a  little out of character for him.  I think he hasn't thought it through, it was just me saying 'I want to take this job to show the world you aren't providing for me like you should' in his head.  Maybe he and Donnie will talk, it might sink in some with a little time."

Megan thought her dad must really be stressed about things if he was thinking like that.  “Well, hopefully he will soon realize that it would not be hard for people to see that compensation is likely one of the least reasons your interested in the job.”  She replied.  Noticing that her mom had finished her food, the blonde teen looked up at her with a grin.  “I’ll get the plates mom.”  With a flash, she had cleared the plates and silverware, up them in the sink and was back in her seat.

“So mom,” Megan began, “has the PTA’s intelligence network delivered any information about the school’s new quarterback?”

Megan's mother looked around at the missing dishes and smiled.  She reached out and put a hand on Megan's, giving it a reassuring squeeze.


"Well, I haven't seen him, but apparently he's very cute.  His folks have retired after working in state and federal government for the last twenty years.  She's joining the PTA and he's apparently started writing a book about his experiences.  As for their sonn John, he's a good student that's hoping to go to medical school.  There was a rumor that he got mixed up in some trouble back East.  Apparently he's been involved in some matters of police interest.  No one seemed to think it was too serious though.  Why, is he who you went out to talk to last night before you went up to bed?"

Megan was a bit surprised when her mom mentioned John getting into some trouble back in Maryland, but given all she had learned since Thursday, she likely had a good idea what it might have been about.  When her mom asked if she had gone out to see him last night, the blonde teen smiled slightly.  “Yes.”  She replied.  “We went out to the party last night together, I felt a bit bad having to leave early to get back here to catch that creep, so I asked him to wait a bit.  He was also the reason I was home so late after the Con Debate Wednesday.  He’s joining the team as an alternate and came to the debate to meet us all and then asked me to grab coffee with him.”

“He is coming by later tonight to study, so you will get the chance to decided whether ‘very cute’ is a bit of an understatement or not.”  Megan said with a slight smile.  “Seeing as he came in a month and a half behind, and we have one class together and two others we have the same teacher for, I figured I would go over what I have so far for notes.”

"That's nice of you to help him out like that.  And there is the bonus of getting to spend a little extra time with him."  Let me tsalk to your father tonight after he gets back, to guage his mood.  I'll let you know if it's safe to tell him about the Velocity thing.  Do you want me to be there when you tell him?"

Megan gave her mom a faked shocked look.  “Really, spending more time with him was hardly on my mind when I suggested it.”  She replied before she broke into a grin.  “But yeah, he is already getting himself pretty busy, likely due to his goal of being a doctor, so any time to be around him is good.  We are going to the Halloween party together as well.”

When her mom then shifted to the thought of telling her dad about her powers, Megan got a little less happy.  “Yeah, seeing how he is might be a good idea.  You can be there if you want mom, I’m fine either way.”

"Well, I should be there.  He should know that I'm behind you on this."

Megan gave her mom a thankful smile.  “Thanks mom.”  She then paused and gave her mom a questioning look.  “But are you sure you are really behind me on this?”

"Why wouldn't I be?  Having their child want to do good in the world is something I'm sure every parent hopes for.  I'm very proud of you, for so many things.  This is just one more thing I can be proud of."

Megan smiled at her mom and gave her a hug.  “I’m glad mom, and I will always try to continue to do things that will make you proud.”  She then stepped back and looked at her mom as she went on, “well, Sarah is going to be by in a few hours so I can help her with her Halloween costume.  There any things you need help with around the house?”

"I'm sure we can find someting for you to do, if you want to help out."

Wth that Megan's mom set about taking care of a few things and enlisted Megan's help with some of them.

OOC: There is the break when Megan goes to see Seth and then I guess you can come back to this for the Megan and Sarah thing.

After coming back from talking with Seth, Megan resumed helping her mom around the house until Sarah arrived.  The blonde teen lead her old friend upstairs to her room so they could begin their work.  Once up there, Megan described the events of last night.  “Yeah, the creep was standing right over there.”  She said, pointing towards the corner the photographer had been in.  “I could not even tell he was there, thankfully he showed up on the thermal imaging Brian set up.  I just dragged things out so Brendan could get up here and he burst in, sprayed the guy with the fire extinguisher and then laid him flat with it.  Brendan totally had things under control, all I did was get the guy to focus on taking pictures of me.”

She sat down on her bed as she looked over at Sarah.  “So really, was no big deal really, only hard part was getting the creep into the trap, which wasn’t even that hard either.  So, that’s one less threat prowling the halls of school.  How was your night?”

"Last night was great!  We just had fun and danced and talked.  I got your message by the way.  I'm glad your sting worked out okay.  But what are they going to do to that kid?  I mean, he's under age and he goes to what... juvie?  So he turns invisible and walks out?  I mean, I don't think he should be sent to some super prison for what he was doing.  Prison wont make him a better person or understand what he was doing is wrong.  Hopefully he gets some counseling or something.  But what happened before that?  You went to the after game party with the new boy right?  Did you console him over his loss or was he too busy making sure you were okay after that scare at the game?  I mean I'm no fan of Justin's music either but I wouldn't try and drop a pole on you for playing it."

Sarah kicks back on a pillow and relaxes, looking around Megan's room. 

Megan smiled at Sarah as she mentioned her and Colin having a good time, glad things had gone normally for a change.  “Who knows what will happen to him,” the blonde teen replied, speaking about the photographer, “but don’t forget, besides likely breaking child pornography laws, he committed breaking and entering, a much more serious crime, coming in here to take the pictures.  I am sure my dad will have a lot to say about how hard the DA pushes on the case.”

Tuning to the subject of John, she grinned.  “We had a great time at the party, dancing and just hanging out.  Didn’t really talk too much about the game at all in fact, just focused on having fun, and trying not to worry about what might be waiting for me here.  That was a bit easier once John said he would act as back up, just in case.  All he really did was end up waiting in the backyard, listening to what was going on.  My dad was waaaaay mad, to say the least.  I was able to run out and give John a proper goodnight.”  Megan’s grin broadened at the last bit.  Then her face got a bit more serious.  “I saw Lisa at the party last night, and asked her about Candice’s tryouts for the squad.  She did not even remember Candice trying out.  I don’t think she was lying, it was really weird.” 

"I wonder if he's connected to the hidden camera stuff as well?" asks Sarah.  "I guess we might find out later on."

 

"I'm sorry your dad freaked but I imagine someone in his position would have to.  I mean, if he gets spaghetti sauce on his tie at lunch someone might post a photo of it.  Imagine an invisible photographer running around your house half the night.  Good thing you caught him.  Does your dad keep any work stuff here?  I imagine some of that could be pretty confidential huh?"  she shrugs it away as none of her business. 



"Couldn't remember huh?" asks Sarah with marked concern.  "That's a little weird.  Maybe.. do you think I could talk to her sometime?"  Am I jumping the gun?  Was she made to forget something?  For Lisa to not remember someone like Candice trying out... That's just too fishy.  Could I get the memory back?

“I kinda doubt it.”  Megan replied.  “Motives seem wrong.  This guy was interested in the money he could make by getting nude pictures of girls that guys at school would by.  Whomever set up that camera in that closet, seemed interested in sending a message.”


Megan nodded.  “Yeah, to be expected really.  He does bring stuff home, used to when he was practicing as well, but he never leaves it out.  He has a safe in his office he locks stuff in.  Sides, in addition to any possible pictures of him, the guy was standing in here taking pictures of his teenage daughter undressing.  I don’t think you have to be a political figure to get highly upset about that.”



Megan shrugged.  “Yeah, I guess we could try to arrange a time or something.  Just so bizarre, especially as Lisa totally loathes Candice, or that girl, as she refers to her.”

Getting up for a moment, Megan went over to the stereo in her room, flipping through her CDs and picking out the 2006 Clubbers’ guide to Ibiza compilation by the Ministry of Sound and put it in, keeping the volume low as she looked back at Sarah.  “So, any ideas on what you want to do?  We have about four or five hours before dinner, and John will be by at six tonight for a study session,” Megan grinned slightly, “so that basically means at top speed I could get in about forty or so hours of sewing for whatever you have in mind for a costume.”

Sarah laughs and claps her hands before making a whipping motion.  "Yes!  Let the sweatshop open for business!"  She grins. 

"I don't know if you'll need to do much sewing.  I have been bouncing ideas off of Colin and Donnie so far this weekend.  only problem is that there's nothing about my idea that shouts super hero.  I don't have a symbol or a logo or anything...  I don't even have a cool name."

She shrugs that part away for now. "Anyway, I was thinking about just dark colors maybe chocolate and dark green.  I was going with layers to stay warm this fall and winter with some of that light thin insulation stuff from like North Face.  Mix in some arm warmers or fingerless gloves and some good running pants.  I saw some online that had good reviews.  Oh and a half mask so nothing's getting into my peripheral vision and I don't get any nasty wind chapped face if we're out in the cold.  Besides I've been saving my money up for a while to get everything together once I get my idea all together."   

In a blur of motion Megan grabbed a pillow and threw it at Sarah.  “Geez Sarah, all the daydreaming you did of superheroes when we were young and you still can’t come up with a name or anything?” 

The blonde teen looked at her friend with a grin.  “Well, if that’s what you want, it should be good.  I guess the key question is are you more concerned with people not knowing who you are underneath the mask/costume, or do you want people to know you’re a superhero in one glance?”

Suddenly her grin faded a bit as she looked at Sarah.  “Oh, last night, I told my mom I’m Velocity.”

Sarah starts defending her lack of hero name, "Well it's not easy... I mean I thought of lots of names back then but they all fit different sorts of powers and... wait.  You told your mom?  Wow... uh, how did that go over?"

Megan shrugs as she replies.  “Well, last night it really caught her off guard.  Today she said she was proud of me and stuff, and glad that I had not be going out having unprotected sex or doing drugs.  I hope that is the truth, and she isn’t just trying to hide what she really thinks from me.  I had also told her last night how I had been rather mad at her over the last week for some things she did when I was talking to her after my date with Greg last weekend, so hopefully she wasn’t trying to avoid repeating those mistakes by making everything seem like it was just fine.”

The blonde teen paused and then added, “as for my dad, my mom was going to try to gage how his mood is when he gets back from the golf course today to see if it might be a good time to tell him.  Maybe we should cross our fingers for him to have his best game ever.”

"Well then, shouldn't Velocity be out on the green making sure that little white ball finds the hole?"  Sarah grins, half serious. 

Megan chuckled as she looked up at Sarah with slightly guilty eyes.  “I am not so sure Velocity running around the course helping the mayor shoot the perfect game would be a good idea, might raise questions.  Especially if the ball boys there she has wrapped around her finger to help her with some target practice with range balls start talking about her visits.” 

Then another serious look crossed Megan’s face as she paused.  “I went and saw Seth today, he called me actually.  I was already to tell him that things with John seem to be developing in a way I had not expected and that I had to break our date for Homecoming, but he did something unexpected.  He told me he was stepping aside, and that he wanted to just remain friends.  It was a really mature gesture, but I feel somewhat sad that it had to happen, but probably better for all of us in the long run.  Or maybe I am just being selfish and feel this will be best for me.” 

"Wow... That was really nice of him.  Is there anyone  nice and hot we can hook him up with?  I mean its not like he needs help fiding a date or anything though.  He's cute and talented and even if people don't know the whole story there is talk that he's going to be big someday.  I would think he could pick from an easy dozen girls who would love to go with him."

Sarah looks curiosly at her friend.  "So have you got any good costume ideas for me?  Mine aren't set in stone yet.  And even if I go with my idea I still need a logo or a sign or something that says goodguy on it."

She grins merrily, "See how I'm switching the topic back to myself so you don't feel all self absorbed and or anything?"

She gives Megan a wink.

Megan grinned back at Sarah as she switched the topic back to her costume, the primary reason she was here after all.  “Well, I guess that depends on what you consider a ‘good costume idea’.  I have lots of ideas, some sure to be waaaay off base from anything you would want, and others likely lame, but some might have some good points.”

In a flash, the blonde teen was up, opening the bottom drawer of her desk and pulling out a file folder and then was back on the bed across from Sarah.  She started lying out dozens of pictures printed from the internet, or taken from fashion and other magazines, showing various ideas that she had come across in the last couple days.  Some Megan tossed aside as she as took them out (“what the heck was I thinking with this one?”), others were quickly rejected by Sarah. 

As they went through some of the ideas, Megan looked at her friend and said.  “Do you have a real theme your trying to go for?  Or just seeming heroic?  I mean, just because you have a logo or something, isn’t what will tell people you’re a superhero. Its what you do that will tell them that.  I mean, if I had not been running around and pulling people out from in front of cars or stopping prostitutes doped up on a drug that gave them powers, people would see Velocity and think she was just some girl in a really weird and impractical running suit.  This isn’t some old cowboy movie where the good guys all have white hats and the bad guys black, so maybe you should not be overly worried about what people might think when they initially see the costume?”

Sarah shrugs and stares down at the floor.  "I don't know what I should be like.  I've never tried being a hero before.  This super hero stuff made so much more sense when it was just a dream in my head.  I know you don't have to have a fancy costume to be a hero.  Maybe it will make more sense when I actually go out and do something besides stand around." 

Megan could not help but laugh a bit, smiling but quickly getting more serious.  “Sorry, but you just seem stuck in a total Catch 22, I know that’s how I felt to, having a power I knew could help, but afraid to help because I did not want people to be able to recognize me, afraid what that might do to my father’s political career, let alone if anyone wanted to go hurt my parents.  Maybe you just need for now something that will let you act with anonymity and figure other things out from there?  There is no superhero union requirement that says once you wear a costume once it is what you have to wear from then on out.”

“That first night I went out in costume and saved that cop’s life and helped Kel and his grandpa fight the ninjas that had attacked them, I had not even figured out what to call myself.  Felt like a bit of a dope when Kel’s grandpa thanked me and I couldn’t really introduce myself.”  Megan said with a smile.  “But I know that when I got home that night and saw the cop’s wife on the news, thanking me for having been there, it felt right.  So, maybe everything else will sort itself out once you do get out and get a chance to feel that way as well.”

Sarah nods.  "You are probably right.  So where's a good spot to chew bubblegum and kick ass?  I don't have super speed so my range is a little limited."

Megan sighs a bit, “and that is the other problem isn’t it?  Kinda easy to find trouble when you can cover dozens of square blocks in a few minutes like I can, but when you’re a bit more limited, timing becomes even more important.  I mean, I know areas you could go if you wanted to beat up drug dealers, but I am not sure what that would accomplish.  Sure, might be fun beating them up and stuff, but leaving them bound with their drugs for the police to pick them up?  I would think any defense attorney could easily get that thrown out as the guy being framed, there is no ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ that the drugs are even his.  I mean, its one thing to catch a guy taking pictures of you, and have people able to testify to that, not to mention having the evidence from the guy’s camera as well as the camera’s Brian set up in here.”

She thinks for a bit.  “Maybe it might make sense to try to set up patrols in some high crime areas?  We could always come across something that we could stop, a mugging, or a burglary, or maybe even something more serious.  Then there could be more likelihood of the criminal being put away for what you stopped them from doing, and even if not, you could feel good that you stopped the crime anyway and helped their victim at the very least.”

"Great... for this small time stuff we do... we either stop the same criminals over and over again or we have to reveal ourselves to testify and endanger our friends and families for every arrest.  I can see the attraction of taking justice in your own hands."  Sarah sighs, "I guess this is one of those times when you've got to take a different view.  I saw a quote by Ghandi on the web the other day...  You must be the change you wish to see in the world.  Made me think of what we were doing."

Megan was quite a moment then replied.  “Well, maybe that is what we will be.  I mean, even if we could, would we really want to show up to testify at every trial for every petty drug dealer we busted?  Aren’t the prisons crowded enough anyway?  And 'taking justice into your own hands' is a slippery slope I am not sure we want to tread too far onto.  What if we can accomplish more another way?  I mean, since I started running around town as Velocity, the news has reported there has been a drop in crime in the area, is that tied to me?  When I was out looking for Katie the other week, I saw someone getting mugged and stopped to do something about it.  That was all it took for the mugger to run off.  Maybe just by being active we can be a deterrence, there will always be more serious things, these rapists, the witches, Spark and others, that we will have to deal with, hopefully in a way that puts them in jail or eliminates them for good as a threat, but for the more minor criminals, maybe they will decide the risk of committing a crime is no longer worth it?  If even a few do, is that not an accomplishment?” 

"I'd give up some prime-time TV to know that I saved a life.  Thanks.  I think just hearing it out loud helps it sink in.  Okay, seeing that I'm not going to chain you to a sewing machine I'm going to jump ship and get some more stuff done."

Sarah stands up and grabs her bag.  "Listen, if you need backup for when you talk to your dad, let me know?  Sounds like your mom will be on your side but I'm around if you need to talk."

Megan smiled.  “No problem, that is what friends are for right?  I am always here for you to talk to about things, be it hero stuff, school stuff, boy stuff and whatnot.  When you do decided what to do, and if there is sewing you need done, just let me know and I’ll suffer through working on it for you.”

Getting up when Sarah did, Megan gave her a smile as she offered support for whenever the blonde teen might revel her secret to her dad.  “Thanks, though it might not even be today, just going to depend I think.  Sides, you really sure you aren’t going to want to run for the hills if he really looses it?”  She grinned at the comment as she lead Sarah out of her room to see her out. 

Once Sarah had left, Megan made her way into the basement recreation room, working to straighten it up for when John came over.

John arrives at the appointed time.  He's got his books and seems eager to get to work.

Megan met John at the door with a wide smile, and after briefly introducing him to her mom and (assuming he is back) dad, she leads John downstairs to where her books and notes are already waiting.  Figuring the Freshman literature class they had together in the afternoon might be the best place to start, Megan begins with her recently retyped class notes from the class. 

“It just so happens that I have recently been going back over all my notes for all my classes and retyping them and stuff.”  She said as started over them with John.  “And see these little notations?”  She pointed to places where she had placed <3> before a line of notes.  “My sister had Mrs. Thompson as well, and when she keeps coming back to something from one of the books three different times over the days we are talking about the book, it is guaranteed to be on the test.  So I have marked all the times she has done that on a particular point.”

She lets John start looking through the notes, working on some other homework while she does, answering questions or clarifying points when he brings them up.  When she printed the copy of her notes for him, she had added extra spaces between various points, giving him room for any additional notes he wanted to add to what she gave him. 

"I don't suppose anyone has ever told you that you're entirely too organized for a high school freshman, have they?"  He was smiling when he said it, and putting post-it note flags in the text book.

Megan gave a little laugh.  “Blame my parents and their lectures on good study habits.  You need to see Colin’s notebook he has complied on the various things the group has looked into since the start of the year.  It was funny to read the notes he had around news clipings about me when the others didn't quite know what to make of this Velocity chick that was running around and doing good deeds and the like.”

She started to look back at the book they were currently reading when she looked back over at John.  “I told my mom about my powers last night.”  She began, pausing and then continuing.  “Over all it went well, she says she is supportive and all.  Right now we are trying to gage the best time to tell my dad.”

"That's good news though.  I'm sure youtr dad will be fine with it, you shouldn't have anything to worry about."

“Yeah, hopefully.”  Megan said, not particularly convinced, but hoping that it did turn out to be the case.  The blonde teen went back to some super fast reading, allowing John to look over things some, and after about ten minutes had read quite a bit ahead in the book, having jotted down several pages of notes on the reading. 

Megan then starts reviewing some of the notes she had in another class (and teacher) they had in common, just at different times.  After spending a good time going over those notes, she finally leaned back as she said, “I don’t know about you, but I think I am ready for a bit of a break.”

"Sure."  John says.  "What would you like to do?"

Megan looked over at John with a smile as she replied, “what would I like to do? Well…let’s see.”  She looked off to one side as if in thought, then suddenly her head snapped back to focus on John.  “Oh, wait a second, you haven’t had a chance to see it yet.”  She stood up from the sofa they were on.  “Wait right here.”

She hurried up the stairs from the basement, slowing down to a much more calm pace as she made her way all the way up to her bedroom.  It was not long before she made her way back down the stairs, a small gym bag over one shoulder.  She moved over towards the sofa and looked at John.  “Okay, turn a round a second.”  She made a little circle with her finger as she playfully added, “no questioning, just turn.”

When John complies, his head had just turned away when the shirt Megan had been wearing hits him in the back of the head.  That fell on his shoulder and before he could say anything, she spoke with her Velocity voice. “okay, turn back around.”   When he did, she was standing there in her Velocity costume, arms out to the side as she did a slight turn for a moment and the squared off facing him once more.  â€œWell?  What do you think?”

"Well, you don't have much worry of people looking at your face."  he said with a smile.  "It does look racey fast.  How does it hold up under stress?"

Megan chuckled at John’s comment about people not focusing too much on her face due to her costume.  “Misdirection can be a good thing, the wig helps as well I think.”  She pulled off the goggles and mask as she hopped over the back of the sofa, landing next to John to sit cross-legged as she looked over at him.  “It holds up pretty well to my speed, though I don’t know how long that will last if I keep getting faster.  Other things…well, they can wear on it.  I had to do some repairs recently because of some electrical burns that I got.”

“But going back to your question, I feel a bit guilty John.  The last few days have been a lot of fun, but I feel that so far it has just been you agreeing to join me in things I wanted to do.  ‘John do you want to go to the after game party with me?’  ‘John do you want to go to the Halloween party with me?’  ‘John would you be willing to stand around in the back yard a bit just in case I need your help?’  ‘John do you want to go to Homecoming with me?’  What kind of things do you like to do?  Is there anything you would like to do for this little break from studying?”

"Well, I might be able to take care of the costume problem.  I have friends who have access to some pretty amazing fabrics.  If you ever consider a high-tech upgrade let me know."

"As for me doing things you want to do, isn't that how all relationships work?"  He smiles, "You have to remember, I'm noe in town.  I'm not sure what there is to do yet, let alone have any preferences.  I'd really like some coffee though."

“I am pretty sure I will be taking you up on that sometime.”  She replied with a grin.


Megan smiled back as she replied, “yeah, it is how relationships work, which is why I want to be sure we don’t end up always focuing on stuff only I like to do.  And I know your new in town, and I am more than happy to play tour guide,” she went on, moving a bit closer to John as she did.  “But there still has to be things you like doing or would like to do.  But as to the more immediate want, would you rather just I make some coffee here?  Or we could go out for some?”

"I'm game either way.  If we go out there is fresh air, which could be good."

“Okay, I’ll just be a second then.”  Megan replied with a grin as she picked up the shirt she had thrown at John.  Then in a flash she grabbed her other clothes and the bag she had brought her costume down in and was off into the half bath that was off the rec room.  It was only a few moments after the door shut that it opened once more and she reemerged, dressed in her normal clothes once more. 

The two made their way upstairs, Megan grabbing a jacket and then she led John off towards the nearest coffee shop.  As they went, Megan looked up at him as she brushed a lock of blond hair from her face.  “So, you never said anything when I mentioned Homecoming.”

"I thought it was just an example.  Was it actually you asking me to go to Homecoming with you?"

“Well, seeing as it was the only example that was something we had not actually talked about, I would think it would have seemed a bit out of place.”  Megan said with a slight smile.  “But yes, it was me trying to subtly ask you to Homecoming, or at least let you know that I was not currently going to it with anyone.”

"Funny, I heard a rumor that you were going with some musician, otherwise I would have asked you the other day before the game."

Megan stopped and looked up at John.  “Really?”  She asked in response to his saying he had thought to ask her before the game yesterday, but she quickly continued, “I mean, yeah, I was going with Seth, he asked me a couple weeks ago.  But it was just as friends, least, that’s how I saw it mainly.  But over the last couple of days, I have wondered if it would have been all that fair to go with Seth, as I was feeling I would rather be going with you, so I am not sure I could have been that good of a date.  I was going to tell him that I couldn’t go to the dance with him anymore, but he sort of beat me to it.  He had figured that I likely was interested in going with you, so, he said he was stepping aside.”

John looks a little confused.  "Wait, you were going with Seth, but then he cancelled because he thought you'd rather go with me?  that's sweet and all, but it seems a little unfair.  I mean he asked you first, you accepted, I don't want the guy to pass up taking you to Homecoming just becasuse I came along.  There will be plenty of other chances for us to go to dances, he might not get another chance to take you."  John shrugs.  "Don't get me wrong, I'd love to take you to Homecoming, it just seems a little unfair to Seth is all.  I know he cancelled, but I'm guessing he did to make you happy.  That's a pretty nice thing to do, maybe you should go with him."

Megan paused a moment and then replied.  “Yes, it was a nice thing to do, but that does not mean I should go with him.  I mean, it might be a bit unfair to Seth, but wouldn’t it also be unfair to him to take me and for me to be wishing I was there with someone else?  If these last few days are anything to go by, I am pretty sure by the time Homecoming comes around I would have a really hard time enjoying myself going with Seth.  I know that was the case Friday night.  I had been looking forward to that date with Cory Wells, and it was fun, particularly going to the nightclub, but all through the night I was more focused on Saturday night, and thinking about you, I am sure Cory could sense it.  As fun as it was dancing in the mass of people there, I had a lot more fun last night with you.”

"I guess, still it just seems wierd.  I'll have to do something to make it up to him."  John says, "I guess I should meet him first." he says, realizing he's never met Seth.  "You should at least dance with him at Homecoming, it's the least you could do."

“Well, I am sure you will meet him soon.  He often hangs around with Colin and the others.”  Megan replied to John’s mention of meeting Seth and trying to do something to make it up to him.  “And I would be happy to dance with him some at Homecoming, assuming whomever he goes with doesn’t get jealous.”  She added as she started back towards the coffee shop.

"So, I guess I should ask.  would you like to go to Homecoming with me?"

Megan stopped walking once more as she looked up at John, a smile slowly forming.  “Absolutely!”  She replied as she stepped closer and stood on her tiptoes to kiss his lips.

John wrapped his arms around her for a moment, then let her go so they could resume the trip to the coffee shop.  "Is it formal, am I gonna need a suit of a tux?"

Megan found the feeling of John’s arms around her, and the unusual warmth of his body very enjoyable, and even though it was only for a moment, it was more than enough.  When he asked his question once they started towards the coffee shop once more, she nodded as she replied.  “Yeah, you will most likely want a tux, unless your okay feeling a bit underdressed.”  She gave him a grin as they finally reached the coffee shop and made their way inside.

After spending a bit of time at the coffee shop, Megan and John made their way back to her house and resumed their studying.  After another hour of work it was getting time for John to head home.  After he gathered his things, Megan walked him outside, giving him a quick goodnight kiss before he was on his way. 

After making her way back inside, Megan quickly found her mom reading in the large living room off the main entrance.  The blonde teen made her way over to sit down on the sofa as well.  “So mom, what do you think?  Just ‘very cute?”  She asked with a slight grin.

"He's certainly got plenty of boyish charm."  Mom said with a smile.  I had a chance to chat with your father a little, and his mood is pretty good.  We should maybe sit down with him after dinner and tell him about you."

Yeah, hopefully that won’t completely ruin his mood.  Megan thought, but she nodded as she replied.  “Okay, that sounds good.”  She got up as she added, “well, I need to get my stuff back up to my room, but that won’t take but a moment.  Then I’ll come back down to help you with getting things ready for dinner.”

After dinner Megan's brother Donnie left to go to a friend's house to study, and mom had Megan and her dad go into the den with her and close the door.  Dad's mood seemed neutral, Megan got the impression that he knew this was going to be something serious, but he didn't seem angry.

"Don, Megan needs to tell you something.  I want you to hear her out, and keep an open mind."

Megan's father looked over at her, "What is it Megan?"

Megan took a deep breath as she her father focused on her, hoping that this was not a mistake.  But whether it was or not, she could not really back out now.  “Dad,” she began, “there is something that I had been keeping from you and mom since the accident at the lab.  I figured it out a week or afterward.”

She paused a moment, but then realized she had to keep going before he might try to interrupt.  “I have superpowers, I first found out that day the girl with ice powers attacked people when I was in the locker rooms.  Since then I have been figuring things about them, mostly on my own, and just kept finding myself in situations where using them could help people or stop something bad from happening.”

As she talked, remembering everything over the last month and a half, her confidence reemerged as she continued, more forceful and resolute in her words.  “I realized I could not just sit back and not act, but I also realized the possible dangers of acting.  Both to you, mom and Donnie, but also possible harm news of this might cause to your public image.  So, I knew I needed a way to act that would protect you all, so, I made one.”

Meeting his gaze, she did not hesitate as she finished.  “Dad, I’m Velocity.”

His pupils react to the news, even though his expression remains neutral.  He seems like he might be trying to say something, searching for some words to use.  His hand goes to the bridge of his nose, a habit he has when he's trying to focus his thoughts before speaking.  "What made you keep it from us honey?"  he asks calmly.

Megan thought that so far her dad’s reaction seemed okay, but she was caught a little off by his question.  Sometimes it’s good to be able to think ten times as fast as normal.  “I don’t really know.”  She replied.  “At first I was just trying to figure out what was going on.  When I pushed the ball cart towards that girl with the ice powers, I ended up running it into her instead of just pushing it.  As I started testing things out, I found that when I was using my powers I felt…well, energized.”

“I don’t only run fast, I can do lots of things faster.  Like homework, when I first was testing what I could do, what used to be three hours of homework was taking about forty minutes.  Now I can do it in less than twenty.”

She thinks about when she decided to make the costume and some of her first ventures out in costume, before she even had come up with the name Velocity.  “The first time I went out in costume, I felt…kind of free, like I didn’t have to hide what I could do anymore.  I still wasn’t sure about it all that night, till I got home and saw the news interviewing the wife of the cop I had helped.”  She paused a moment and then continued.  “I think it was at that moment that I really realized I could make some sort of difference and didn’t really look back from then.  I think I was afraid that if I told you two, you would want me to stop.”

Megan's father looks at her, then shifts his gaze to her mother.  "How long have you known about this?"  he asks.

"She told me last night.  I thought it best that we catch you in a bit of a better mood then you were last night before springing this on you."

He nods, then looks back towards Megan.  "This is a big responsibility sweetheart.  It's not to be taken lightly.  I'm glad you were mature enough to want to bring this to us before it got too far along.  I know this is a big secret for you, and I'm going to respect that.  I don't want you mentioning this to your brother, I don't want him to have to bear the responsibility of it."   he comes over and hugs her for a moment, "Just tell me that you're being safe, and keep me in the loop if you do any crime fighting, okay?"

Megan hugged her father back, very relieved with the way things were going.  “Thanks daddy,” she said, “I won’t tell Donnie, or Denise.”

“And I try to be as safe as I can.  I…I’m not alone anymore in this.  There are some others I know that have powers and are trying to do something about things that have been going on lately.  Most of what I have done so far is whatever I happen across when out running around town.  But I’ll try to keep you up to date on things.”  She said with a smile. 

He smiles and puts his hands on her shoulders for a moment, "That's all I needed to know honey."   he says, his mood lighter then it was when they came into the den.  "Now, if you ladies will excuse me, I have some calls to make and a pile of things to read before I hesd to bed."

Megan's mother nods and heads towards the door.  "We'll leave you to it then."  she says as she goes out.

Megan smiled back at her dad and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.  “Good night daddy.”  She said before following her mother out of den.