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This thread is for in character conversations that take place outside of the regualr time frame of the story threads.  Consider this your place to RP stuff that takes place PC to PC and doesn't quite fit in any of the story threads.

(This is set before the trip to the labs, at the end of chapter 2.)

Excited about the recent developments, Colin tries to call up Sarah.
"Hello, Mrs Rollins? I am Colin Crow. I'm in Sarah's algebra class. Is she in? Thank you."

Sarah grins when her mom tells her who is on the phone.  "Thanks Mom." 

"Hello?  Colin?"

"Hi Sarah! Can you talk you talk freely at the phone? Because something big has happened and I can't wait to tell you. It'll blow you away!"

"Hold on.."  Sarah leans around the corner and sees her mom head back into her office to grade more papers.  Her dad was watching the news.  "Yeah, the coast is clear.  What's going on?"  She wanders with the phone through the kitchen grabbing some celery and peanutbutter and heads upstairs. 

"I had a sort of a vision. When we went to look for Kirby, we didn't find him, but we found another guy who had been badly hurt by some bullies. So badly that he was coughing blood. We, Kel and I, brought him into a restroom to gave him some water, and when I looked at the mirror Alex's reflection - Alex is the beaten boy, yes - his reflection was black and white, and distorted, like something out of an old TV with bad reception. Since he was coughing blood, I though he could be ill or something, so I went to check if he had a fever, and I touched his forehead. Yeah I didn't want to, I forgot and I touched him. He wasn't hot, actually he felt quite cold instead, and when I looked into the mirror I saw something like white, dense smoke coming out of my nose. Alex sucked it in with his breath and a moment later he felt really better, no more coughing, no more blood, and in the mirror he was getting colors again. I think this time I may have healed him with my touch. Ain't it insane?
So far I got a vision of the past out of Bruce and got him sick, and a kind of electrical shock out of Seth. But with Alex the vision started before i touched him! Have you ever heard of anything like this? Am I getting even more crazy? You know, I'd ask for help but who can help me? The school's counselor? The spook cops? An exorcist?" Colin says, ending up laughing.

Sarah listens to Colin's story, adding a "Wow", "omigosh" and "cool" along the way.  Finally at the end she answers his questions. 
"No you're not crazy!  You're awesome.  You're a 1/10 percenter!  You've got talents.  I recommend buying a cape and thinking up clever names for yourself right now.  Well okay maybe not that last one.  But seriously... something's going on with you for some reason or another.  You're powers are surfacing... whatever they are.   So I'm completely jealous of you.  Just so you know that.  But I totally want to help you figure it all out.  Don't call the cops or a priest or the counselor.  I don't think any of them is quite the right one for the job.  I know I'm not really qualified but maybe if we figure out what's going on we can find who to talk to.  I've been digging through all my journals with a little help from online.  I thought I had some ideas but these new experiences of yours... Maybe you've got a broad spectrum of abilities.  That's pretty amazing."  

"There's more Sarah... If what you say is true, I don't think I am the only one. No I can't tell you who he or she is, unless he or she tells me it's fine. It's something totally different from me, but really amazing as well. It makes me wonder. How many of us are out there, and we don't know? Maybe you're one too and you don't know yet."

Sarah grins while scooping up peanutbutter with her celery.  "If you're right then you'd better meet me in the girls bathroom tomorrow!  Kidding... Trust me, I've been trying to find a power hidden inside me since I was eight years old.  If it was going to show up it would have by now.  I think a study said something like seventy-five percent of all powers are revealed during puberty when the body goes through it's last big upheaval of change.  Then another big chunk are revealed at birth.  Not much left after that.  A few are revealed after major trauma or some such.  But that's not to say that I wont find a glowing ring or a book of prophecy, encounter aliens, win the lottery...  But it's not like I've given up hope.  I just don't run to the mirror in the morning to see if I've sprouted horns or wings anymore." 

Realizing that, that was a REALLY lame thing to admit to she quickly adds, "Not that I ever really did that... just metaphorically speaking.... Okay, maybe once or twice."  Or two or three hundred times?

"But in order to figure out what's going on you are going to have to try and control the ability, whatever it is, and attempt to use it more often.  Preferably in a controlled environment so it's more like a lab test.  Not that I'm saying we should hook you up in a lab... Speaking of which... did anybody ever hear from Kirby?  I mean, I don't know the guy at all but I'm curious about the mystery of him going AWOL."
 

"I think you'd look good with wings. But really Sarah, Bruce got sick and ran out of a cafeteria full of people, and only you came to check on us.  You may not be one of a kind, but you're kind, and that is just as cool to me."

"Nope, we didn't find him anywhere. I dunno if he even was at school. I'm a bit worried about him, with what the principal said and all, but between the labs and the match tomorrow I'll have no time to look for him. I hope Gretchen and the others will, though.

"Well thank you, Sarah. I needed to talk with someone, and... I have no idea how or when or even if I should tell my mom. She noticed I was quite weird the last few days, but I couldn't get myself to tell her anything. If I know her though, she will corner me and get it out of me soon. Anyway, it was nice talking to you. See you tomorrow on the bus?"

"No problem Colin, see ya then!"  Sarah hangs up and gets back to looking around through her journals. 

Knowledge Arcana for help for Colin (1d20+2=22) (http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=600342)

After sifting through every back issue you have you come across an article about North American Native Magic.  One of the sections in the article talks about what's called Spirit Magic which is related to seeing things like auras. 

Sylvia spends a couple of nights laboring over an e-mail to the Avengers, a group of heroes in New York.  It took her a while to figure out whom to ask for help:  the feds didn't have a meaningful contact point, the Justices seemed too corporate, and various teen paranormal sites online seemed too seedy.  The Avengers, in the press, have been a kind of second-class hero group--competent and well-meaning but somehow lacking the social polish, with the exception of Jill Justice, to garner headlines the way other teams have.

They don't get much in the way of fanfare, and they don't get much in the way of money, which leads Sylvia to believe they're in it for the job:  to do good.

Dear Avengers,

There's something weird going on at my school, Oak Park High just outside of Chicago, IL.  At least seven kids, a lot of them my friends, have started to show paranormal powers.  It's happening all at once, which seems weird to me, and it's causing some problems.  At least one kid has died, and a few have gone to the hospital.  I'm not one of the paranormals, but I'm worried about the people I know, and I'm not sure where to go for help.

I wrote to you because you seem like nice people, and I guess you might know what should be done when the fights that break out at school cause structural damage.

Thank you for reading this.

Yours,



Sylvia Avery-Vaughn.

"Hey, Donnie?"  Sylvia hustles after him as best she can with her heavy tote bag hanging from her shoulder.  "Tell me more about this running thing you're into?"

"Huh? Oh, uh hi. Running? Oh, um. Actually when I say 'running a raid' I'm talking about a computer game. Kind of geeky, but I play an online rpg, er, role playing game, called World of Warcraft. It's what they call a "Massivly Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game", or MMORPG. It's just a fantasy game, but I get to meet and chat with people from all over the world. It's kind of cool. I've met some cool people there from Australia, Canada and really wierd places like California. Do you play computer games or read fantasy?"  Donnie realizes he is babbling a bit and claps his mouth shut, wondering why Sylvia was following him. Smooth Donnie, real smooth.

"Not too many computer games.  My sister, Virginia, likes the Sims."  She pauses.  "I read Mists of Avalon, but I didn't get a lot of it."  Mitzi keeps a copy on a shelf with the rest of her feminist literature.  "What are you reading now?"

Donnie, on familiar and safe ground once again, pulls out a book with a red cover from his backpack. It has a stylized black dragin on the front wrapped around a circulr picture of a sailing ship. He hands it over to her for inspection. "It's a novel by Naomi Novik, called Her Majesty's Dragon. It is about a parallel world where dragons exist. Not magick or anything, but just the addition of Dragns of all types. It takes place in the Napoleonic Era, when Britain is at war with Napolean France. The main character is a sea captain who captures a Frech frigate and finds it to be carryinig a Dragon egg, a very valuable thing in that age. He ends up bonding with the hatchling, and it is about their adventures. Totally awesome. Even more exciting, Peter Jackson has secured the rights to make a movie series out of it. Y;know, Peter Jackson, director of the Lord of the Rings movies?"

His chatter has brought them to the entrance to the library, but he seems to show no inclination to go in, now that he has a captive audience.
"To be honest, I bought it at first because of the dragon on the cover. I adore dragons of all types, oriental or european. But the storyline is awesome. I have read the three books already, but I am reading them again."

Sylvia listens to every word.  She has a thing for history, fostered by long hours in front of the History Channel with Carolyn, so Napoleonic?  With the pretty dresses?  And the dashing guys in romance-novel outfits?  She's right there with him.  "Why dragons?"

"Hmm. Well, I guess because they represent the fantastic. That which does not exist. I have lived in fantasy worlds in my head, in my stories, and in games for most of my life. My imaginary playmate as a child was a dragon named Pip, who would constantly hide things from me and my parents. To be honest, I never really had much luck with friendships as a kid. I am an only child, and both my parents work. I spent most of my afternoons watching cartoons or reading comic books until my parents came home. I am what they call a 'latchkey' kid. My parents are pretty well off now that dad has gotten a vp position, and my mom does not have to work, but she is always at the country club playing tennis or golf or whatever. So, to answer your question, dragons because they represent something that I wish were real, something magical, mystical, and unknown." Donnie laughs and blushes. "Sorry, getting a little psycho-analytical there. Should I be laying on a couch? What's your hourly rate?" He then realizes how that could be taken, and blushes evern harder, "Sorry, uh, forget I said that."

Sylvia doesn't get why guys stammer so much.  She'd heard their voices were supposed to change around now, but she thought that had to do with pitch, not the ability to form coherent sentences.  "If dragons existed, though, wouldn't they be kind of scary?  I thought they ate people or abducted princesses, or something.  Kinda like fire-breathing dinosaurs."

OOC: lol Cass  ;D

"Ahhh, that's just Hollywood movie stuff. Most dragons of legend don't blow fire. Many Oriental dragons were very benificial and helped travellers and those found worthy. The whole 'eating virgins' thing was because of the addition of Christianity, which equated the legends of dragons as representations of the Devil. Then modern day retellings and movies have demonized dragons even further." Donnie shrugs.  "I guess it really doesn't make sense to say "what if". If dragons really existed, humans would probably have killed them off a long time ago. Man likes to be the top of the foodchain."

[OOC:   ;)  ]

"What does Pip look like?"

Donnie smiles. "Well, he has grown over the years in my imagination. My current vision of him is a small winged dragon, with the body size of a small men's tennis shoe. His eyes are pale, glowing green and he has a frill that runs down his back, ending in a spotted tail fan. His scales are a pale green, like jade, and turn to white on his belly. He has two backswept horns and black claws. I have some sketches of him in the margins of my notebook, but I am not much of an artist.."

Sylvia smiles.  It's a charming image, even if she doesn't get the whole dragon thing.  "Does he talk?"

"Nope. He just hisses when annoyed. He has appeared in several of my stories over the years."

"You write?"  Now he really has her attention.

Donnie blushes. (seeing a trend here?) "Yes. I have written 3 completed stories and have about a dozen half-finished ones waiting for me to get re-inspired. I am too much of a coward to send them in for publication though."

Sylvia understands the embarrassment.  "There's like this literary magazine the school puts out at the end of every year.  You could put them in for publication there.  They don't pay anything, though."  She pauses.  "Is that what you want to do someday?  Write for a living?"

Donnie looks away and up, a small smile on his face."Yeah, that'd be great. Or writing for an RPG company or something. I'll think about the literary mag thing. Maybe it's time to pull out and re edit some of those stories again."

Sylvia smiles, glad she could divert Donnie from Colin's thoughtless, but well-meaning, remark.  She finds herself at an awkward point in the conversation.  She could tell Donnie about the godawful poetry she writes, but who wants to share that?  She could tell Donnie about Carolyn's having been published in a couple of magazines, but then she might have to explain her family.  So she does what seems tactically sound and sounds the retreat.

"Well, uh, I have to go check on something in the newsroom.  It was cool talking to you."  A confused little smile crosses her face as she takes a few steps back.  She knows some people can breeze out of a conversation with grace, but not she.

Donnie smiles, then ducks his head a bit bashfully. "Yeah. Yeah, you too. Sorry to unload on you like that. Well, I will probably be joining the paper too, since I have an official invite now. I guess I'll see you later on then." He waves and watches her leave.

(Post Party)

Over the weekend, Donnie mentally reviews the party, appearance of the snake-man-monster, and what it said. If Rob has lost his amazing charm, then it is likely a case of magical possession. Time to call Sarah and pool knowledge to try and figure things out..

OOC: Filling this in so I'm not leaving poor Colin with an ulcer of mystery relationship status from the Party.  Sorry Colin / Doc!!! 

At Dave's Van after the Parrrrty battle...

Colin - "So... Where are we now? I have no idea how these things are supposed to work. Are we friends, or... I don't know, a little more than that? Would you like me to be as Dave or Greg to you... or can we go to the movies again sometimes (and maybe not get interrupted)? I... I... It's your call. Whatever works for you."


Sarah smiles softly at Colins nervousness and his affection towards her.  "Where are we?  Right here.  We're friends Colin, good friends and I'd love to go to the movies with you another time.  I don't care if we get interrupted because I'll enjoy spending whatever time we have together.  Don't worry about the little things like mysterious strangers approaching you with cryptic knowledge.  So if you have to run off to learn about whats going on with you, then go.  I'm not mad or upset about anything like that. "

She shrugs a little bit, "But thats not exactly an answer to your question.  I want us to be friends because even though I just joked about all this crazy stuff being little things... it is a big thing for me too.  All this new stuff... it's scary and strange and terrible.  After dreaming about something like this for eight years you would think I'd have a better handle on what to do.  I can't be in a..."  Sarah makes quotation marks with her fingers and offers a quirky smile, " ...relationship and deal with all this at the same time.  I think I have to figure out how handle these abilities before I can be fare to anyone to date.  So like the mysterious stranger said, 'You've got time'  I'll be here.  No worries.  Besides we're superheroes what could happen?"

Colin raises his eyebrows a bit at her last question. His expression is not easy to read. There's joy and sadness at the same time, lots of embarassment, some regret and some relief. And longing too. Definitely longing.

"That's ok. Friends is something I can do. And I have things to figure out too I guess. Lots of them in fact."

He hesitates, like there is something more.

"There's one thing I have trouble getting over though. Can... can I give you one last hug? I never got to do it properly. Hugs are both a science and an art form in my house, you know?"

Sarah gives him a mock suspicious look before breaking into a grin.  "Of course.  Hugs are free of charge and always welcome."  She'll give Colin a long warm... well okay presently cool and damp, hug. 

Colin holds her tight and at the same time as if she was the most fragile thing in the world.
She can feel him trembling less and less, until something is finally soothed deep within him.

When he breaks the embrace, he is even able to look at her eyes again. She can see tears there, but he's holding them back.

"Let's go back to the house, OK? I don't want you to catch a cold."

Sarah just shrugs.  "I'm a superhero now remember?  They don't catch colds."

Sarah heads back to the party and finds an empty bathroom or bedroom to switch into dry clothes.

OOC: ... and that should do it for a long overdue completion of a conversation.  Sorry Doc, thanks for hanging in there.

OOC: Thank you, sesame. I like challenges, and being Sarah's friend, trying not to cross the line, will be an interesting challenge for Colin. :)

OOC:  Ha Ha!! Welcome to highschool life!

Megan rushed into the house with all her bags after her brother had picked her up from her shopping trip at the Halloween stores (well, appeared to rush to most people anyway ;)).  When Donnie had found her at the mall, he had been rather surprised by all the bags she was carrying from different stores.  She had explained that she was likely going to need a costume for whatever Halloween party Lisa might put together and a different costume to where to school.  Not to mention their father might have some party or another they all had to attend, so that might be a third costume.  And she wasn’t completely sure what she liked, so she had bought a few extra to try on and consider. 

All of that was actually true, she just failed to mention she had found a costume she had liked for other reasons and was planning to use as the basis for a, well, lacking a better word, superhero costume.  She had bought some other things that would go with it, least once she altered them some to fit with the inspiration costume pieces she was going to use.  She also had a couple wigs and masks that she was going to incorporate as well.  While she had been using her new found ability to read and do things faster to help her get her studying done quicker (and put herself ahead in her reading as well), she knew it was going to be useful in getting things altered to make a cool costume.

Kel finds a note stuck into his locker.

 "Fallen for anybody else lately?  I'll be watching if you need a lift.  Catch ya around! :)  "

The handwriting is definitely feminine.

Kel's eye brows rise high on his head, and he looks around as he finishes grabbing what he needs before he leaves the building.  Closing his locker, he then just leans against it and stares at the note for a little while.  This was either some wildly elaborate joke from the cheerleaders, aimed for someone else's locker, or...
Anyone watching him realizes that he just had some sort of epiphany, the flying guy  He then looks back down at the handwriting, er...girl?  Kel stares around then smirks, and writes something down on the otherside of the note hurredly and attaches it to his locker with a piece of chewing gum.
The note reads, in his messy manly handwriting: "I've always wanted to see the Oak Park from the roof at the end of the school day."  He then heads off towards a back exit of the school.

Sammy waits until the coast is clear and grabs the note off of Kel's locker.

"Now?!"  How am I gonna pull this off?  I have band practice!

>>>

A crumpled up ball of paper comes rolling up to Kel's feet, as if it were propelled by breezes.  He'd think it was random trash except for its the note from the locker.  He recognizes the gum...

"Can't do it right now -- I have to go to practice.  If you want to hang around, I can pick you up later."

A second later a girl with an instrument case goes running by in the direction of the athletic fields where the marching band is assembling.

Kel laughs a bit and then jogs after the girl, immediately coming up to pace with her, he then says, "Did you see who threw this?"  He holds up the crumpled up note.

Slowing down a little but still moving, she looks at the note, looks back at him, half smiles and says "I didn't see anybody but you near that door.  Maybe it blew off of the roof?"

Kel smirks back the simple statement meaning a lot to what's just happened, "I hear you have a great view of the sunset from the school roof.  Isn't that normally when all the school practice stuff ends?"

"Band practice is usually over way before sunset, unless Mr. S gets mad and makes us keep going till we get it right.  And don't most guys usually introduce themselves first before they start talking about rooftops and sunsets?"

Kel shrugs then says, "I'm not most guys."

"I see."  She's still moving.  "You look familiar.  Weren't you at Elrod Janush's party?  I was there too.  I was part of the band."

Kel nods, "Yea, I was there, didn't see you though."

She sighs.  "Really?  Nobody ever notices the backup players.   So, uh, what do you think happened there?  I mean, I've heard some kids say it was a mass hallucination or something like that, but it seemed real enough to me, even if it was very freaky.  Then again, I was pretty close to the action and got a real good look at it whether I wanted to or not, and a lot of people were too busy running away to figure out what was happening.  Some people stayed though.""

Kel's eyebrows arch once more, "Really, I was really up close and personal with that thing, and it was real but I didn't see you anywhere near it."

"I was in the gazebo when it started and all those people got knocked down.   I was sheltered a little bit so I didn't fall.  I could see everything pretty clearly from there.  Then things got chaotic, and there was some girl with a white staff and some guy bouncing off  of some weird thing's head, and somebody else flying around in the air... crazy stuff.   Who knew there were kids with powers here?"  She looks over at the band director.  "Oh, man, he's getting angry already.  Nice talking to you, but I gotta fly."

"Alright, have a nice time, see you around."  Kel then looks at her as she walks off then thinks to himself, then goes, "Nahhhhh...well...I'll wait and see."  He then wanders off and settles down under a nice wall not too far off from some sort of roof where he can watch everything around him, waiting to see if someone flies on over or walks over at least.  If no one comes after the practices are done, he just heads home.

After practice, the girl walks out with a group of other girls and spots Kel holding up a wall.

"Waiting for somebody?  Practice is over now."


OOC:  gotta go.  Work in the morning, ugh...

"Oh ya know, just seeing if anyone flies by."  Kel says gesturing up towards the sky.

((Have a great sleep!))

OOC: I hope you don't mind me interrupting, it'll be brief.

Colin is sitting with the phone in his hand, trying to find the right words for something he doesn't like but he feels it's necessary.
Finally he dials a number.

"Hello Matt? It's Colin. Listen... I have to ask you a favor... of the odd kind. The professor from miskatonic universe came and said your theory about necromancy was most probably correct, but he couldn't identify neither the talisman nor the necromancer. Too many obscuring spells, he said. Now, sometimes I have some... guidance on this kind of matters, and I was wondering if maybe I could find anything where he couldn't. Only... it would be really odd for me to go to Rory's family and ask them to let me search through Rory's stuff, I don't want to give them any more pain. Still, I feel like I should try. Can you help me here? Do you think you could ask Shelia or something? Unless you think it's a bad idea too, then let's scratch the whole thing."

"Uuh, guidance? Right, superpower stuff, with the zappy and all? Just don't go zap Sheila and turn her into godzilla or anything and it should be alright. Dunno how I'll ask Sheila about it though without revealing the superpower part, and telling her that could freak her out completely... Any suggestions? Maybe a school paper thing, that we're doing a story on Rory, one of those commemorative thingies and you wanted to get a few pictures of his life outside of school? I dunno, it's the best I can think of... of course that does mean we'll actually have to write that article as well."

Colin takes a moment to think of it.

"Well, I'd rather not lie if I can't help it. If you think she can take it, simply tell her that I... "

Colin hesitates, struggling with the words. He can't really say he was a friend or Rory, and neither he can say how close he felt when he tried to save him, and how it hurted when he died.

"Just tell her that I'd want him to have justice, and I will bother her only briefly. But if you think that would reopen some wounds, your story is good."

"Well... okay, I'll try to look her up at lunch or something tomorrow and talk to her then. She seems to have handled her brother's death remarkably well, better than me in fact, and she was pretty open about it when she told me how he was going to be autopsied... Yea, I'll try to just ask her, and tell her that you're a medium or something. Which wouldnt even be lying for that matter..."

Colin never thinked of it that way, but it's not far far from the truth, he realizes.

"No, I guess it wouldn't. Thank you."

"I heard Justice is in the City this week or next; something about her Grandfather's birthday?  Is she supposed to do a flyover?  That would be cool. "  She sits down next to Kel and watches him closely as she says her next words.  "My name is Samantha.  I know you don't fly, but you do seem to bounce off heads pretty well.  Your name is...?"

(OOC:  and I'm off to work.  Back tonight.)

"Kel."  He states simply extending his hand and fter he shakes hers he goes on, "That's what people tell me, but I always need a little help to get that first bounce.  You wouldn't know how to get someone into the air would you?"

"Trampolines work well , but I might know another way."  Kel notices that she's not sitting on the ground anymore, but is instead hovering an inch or two above it.   Once she's sure he has seen what she is doing, she settles back down.  "I have some pretty good reasons for not wanting to go public right now.  However, I've been watching you, and  I just wanted you to know that I was out here because you seem to be  a good guy.  I thought it would only be fair to let you know that there's somebody else with powers nearby, somebody who is willing to back you up if you get in trouble.  OK?"

Kel smirks, and then says to her, "While I don't do anything nearly as impressive as that, I have powers too and besides what you saw at the party I don't plan on going public either.  There are others like us ya know, like, a lot of us."  He stands and then looks at her, "If you plan on doing something, meet back here on friday night in a costume of some kind, I think it's about time someone did something about what's going on around here.  The people I know are a bit too top heavy if you know what I mean."  He taps his head to emphasize that they're more cerebral and then says, "So I'm looking for the people who are willing to take some action.  If you're in for it, about a quarter to midnight on Friday.  If not, then this has never happened."  He then turns around and walks off.
When he gets home, he only has one thing on his mind, I need a costume by friday.

Later on that Night...

Kel stands below Sylvia's window in usual fashion and tosses up a few rocks to make a clinking little sound on it and says, "Psst, Syl, psst! Wake up!"

Sylvia sneaked too much Coke from the fridge tonight, so her light's still on, and she's amusing herself by casting weird and whimsical illusions against the ceiling.  They stop when she sticks her head out the window.  "Kel?"  As if it would be anyone else.  "Hang on.  I'll be right down."

It's dark, so there's no circus act tonight.  Instead she sneaks out the front door and tip-toes across the front lawn to where Kel waits.  "What's up?  Should I get my bag?"

Kel shakes his head, "No no, just had something important to tell you."  He gestures into his backyard, in front of his grandfather's garden where there's a small scenic bench.  He sits down and pats the area next to him, "About what happened with the police at my house.  Yea, I didn't exactly well...tell the truth today.  It wasn't druggies, it was well.  Ninjas.  Like real black-clad, karate using, katana carrying, ninjas.  They were..." He looks at the house, and then back at her, "You won't believe this but they were after my grandfather."

"Your grandfather?"  The bench is cold, but Sylvia doesn't dare sit any closer to Kel.  That way lies peril, she's pretty sure.  "Why would ninjas come after your grandfather?"

Kel stares up at the sky and then says, "Well...that's what I said.  Turns out, that umm, yea.  He was a super-soldier back in World War Two, and he well, he kicked a lot of japanese ass.  He figured that made a lot of people angry.  But um.  More importantly what gave him his powers during the war.  Well looks like it follows down the family line."  Kel gestures to himself, "I'm a natural super because of what the government did to him 60 years ago."

"That makes scary sense."  Then Sylvia frowns.  "They've been looking for your grandfather since World War II?  Why'd it take them so long to find him?"

Kel shakes his head and then says, "I don't know.  Maybe they haven't been looking for him since then, more of just biding their time till they thought he'd be weak.  But I guess they were proven wrong.  They ended up running away in a cloud of smoke when they were caught between him, me, and that super-chick."

"Running away in a cloud of smoke?"  Sylvia doesn't quite follow.  "I can see how they'd run away from your grandfather, and maybe you, but you said this chick was fast, right?  They got away from her, too?"

Kel nods, "Well, Ninja do this thing with smoke bombs.  Where they just sort of drop them, and the smoke explodes out, and anyone trying to fight them or catch them can't really see them at all.  So they dart off into the shadows and run away.  At least, that's how I always understood it." He shrugs as he looks at her and at the sky, the house, and his own hands.

Sylvia slides Kel a look.  "You know, I gotta ask:  are you part of that ninja clan at school?  The ones who've been jumping bullies in the halls?  I wouldn't tell.  You know I wouldn't tell, right?"

Kel laughs and then shakes his head, "I am definitely not a ninja.  I'm just a guy who knows martial arts and used to live in Japan.  Despite what people think, that doesn't make me a ninja.  T-shirt wearing or otherwise."

Sylvia has to accept that for now, but she hopes maybe someday he'll come clean with her.  After all, how many ninja can there be in one Chicago suburb?  "Do you think they're connected, the ones at school and the ones who came here?"

Kel shakes his head, "No, the ones here were real ninja, pure bonafide japanese talking ninja.  The ones at school are kids who are good at jumping around, hiding, and know enough martial arts to bring down the average guy.  You gotta remember that the guy who gets into fights at school is no where near as capable of alot of people just starting out with karate.  Kids who are in high school and have been training since they were four or five might even have their black belts.  So I don't think they're related at all.  The ninja here were assassins for hire, the guys at school are people who know ninja tactics and martial arts and are just making a difference."  He then looks at her and then says, "Kind of like superheroes do."

"You think we're making a difference?  You think we can make a difference?"  She's been doing a lot of thinking about that, really, what her obligations are, what their obligations are, what their destiny is.  "You ever think of going out there and looking for trouble?  Crimes to stop?"

Tuesday, Chapter 15

Near the end of lunch, Megan catches up with Sylvia in the halls as the other girl was on her way to her locker to get her books for her first afternoon class.  “Hey.”  Megan says with a smile as she comes up alongside Sylvia.  “Had a some squad stuff to talk with you about if you have a sec.  We have a pep rally in a couple of weeks and are working on a new dance for that to Justin Timberlake’s ‘Sexyback’.  We worked out most of it over lunch today, but I wanted to be sure you had a chance to give any input you might want to make.  I’ll get it all typed up later today and email it to you.  Look it over tonight and let me know tomorrow any thoughts you have.”

She pauses a moment before she adds.  “You know, you are always welcome to sit with us at lunch if you want.  I can understand if you have a group of friends you have gotten used to and like to be with, but you are one of us, so we would welcome you to join us if you like.”

Kel looks up at the stars and then says, "I've been thinking about that a lot Syl.  I think that anything's possible, and let's face it, with or without powers we could make a difference but with them our chances are a lot better.  Every superhero starts as just some normal person, kid, adult, whatever, who takes a chance and goes for it.  They try to make that difference.  I think that right now, we're all talking about it but all our theories and junk are not going to be tested till we do something about it, and most of us aren't preparing for that possibility.  Right now, we sound like a bunch of conspiracy theorists scratching at the surface of something that may or may not be true."  He then looks at her straight in the eye, "I do plan on going out there and stopping crimes.  I wouldn't call it looking for trouble, I'd call it doing the right thing.  I know about cops, my entire family is cops, and they are bound by regulations and politics that sometimes means, and they know it, they have to let the bad guys get away no matter how much they know or can even prove.  But Sylvia, we're not the cops, we'll be able to at some point bring up evidence that can really bring down the big guys.  I'm not saying we go out and try to take on the world, I'm just saying if we start soon, maybe one day we could, maybe even work with the cops."  He looks up wistfully again and says, "That's what I told my grandfather I planned on doing with my powers.  He supports me and I really want my friends to be there in one way or another.  I'm not saying you have to charge out there with me, I just don't want you to try and stop me I guess."  He looks back at her, and waits.

"Thanks," Sylvia says.  "I appreciate that.  I'm sitting with them, most of the time, because that's like half the newspaper crew there.  I could introduce you if you want."  She shrugs, knowing the offer is a lame one.  The prestige of sitting with the pep squad outweighs any geek cred Megan could earn sitting with the Usual Suspects.

Sylvia looks at him in silence for a second.  She wishes she could take such direct action, but she's no super soldier.  "I've been thinking a lot about the way things go for superheroes.  I guess, if you have an advantage on the rest of the world, a lot of people choose to keep it to themselves or exploit it somehow.  It means that maybe there are more bad guys than good guys in the world, more people willing to do harm to get what they want than people willing to put themselves at risk to do good.  I'm thinking maybe that means it's not right to stand by, that we have some kind of obligation to help however we can--if we've got the strength."

She stares at Grandpa Stilley's garden.  "Take me with you if you head out?  I can't do much, but--"  She looks determined.  "--I'm going to do something."

Kel smiles devilishly and then says, "This friday, meet at the school about quarter to midnight.  Wear a mask."  He then looks up at the sky, then out at the garden and then he giggles, yes Kel giggles, and whispers, "penis."

Sylvia gives him a look like she's sure he's lost his mind.  "What?"

Tuesday, Chapter 15

Megan listens as Sylvia explains her reasons for sitting with the group she does at the moment, understanding that they were the people she knew already.  Megan had gotten involved with the cheerleading squad over the summer, gone to camp with them, so it was only natural that she would spend time with them.  Sylvia had come in just a bit after school started, and with the sudden removal of one of the other members of the team.  When Sylvia offers to introduce her to the others sometime, Megan smiled as she replied, “sure, that would be great.  I have already met Colin, and Kel of course.  And Sarah I have know for a long time, we were best friends back in fourth and fifth grade.”

“Well, got to run, have to try and catch Cal before class.”  She adds with a silly grin before she starts off.  “See you at practice”  She calls back over her shoulder.

"Bye," Sylvia calls.  She heads off to her next class.

Kel looks at Sylvia and then says, "Just thought we needed something a little fun.  Things are getting way too serious, I mean, yea it is an important thing but come on.  We should still enjoy ourselves."  He then sighs and says, "Never played the penis game, I take it?"

Sylvia blushes beet red.  She can't help it and takes comfort in the fact that it's dark in the garden.  "Uh, no."  She has no idea what that is.

Kel's smile widens as he takes note of Sylvia's embarassment, "It's pretty simple.  Kind of like a competition.  Someone starts off by saying penis, or anything offensive really.  Then the next person has to be louder, and louder, until you attract attention or die from embarassment."  He then leans in real close, and starts of a bit loud than falls to a whisper, "Soooooooooo..penis."

Sylvia giggles and then glances around like she's afraid someone heard her.  Nevertheless, she gives it a shot, upping the ante like a pro.  "Penis," she says with the clear and somber elocution of a trial lawyer.  Maybe, if Kel's family slept with the windows open, they could hear her.  She's hoping they're in the living room, watching TV.  Loudly.

Kel bursts into laughter, then hops up on to the bench and stares boldly off into the sky, it'd be a fairly heroic pose if he didn't let off in a loud sing-song voice, "Peeeeeniissssss!!!!"

Sylvia giggles helplessly.  "All right, all right.  You win.  I'm a wuss.  My moms are going to hear me, and I'm going to get the boy talk again."  The boy talk goes something like:  boys can wait till you're eighteen; always carry mace.  "Hey, when you said to bring a mask, did you mean like a ski mask or a Halloween mask or what?  Are you going to dress up like Batman?"

He bursts into laughter, and hops down, and then shrugs, "Though dressing up like Batman is a great idea, I was going to try and make something a bit more streamlined.  Probably some sort of simple black outfit, maybe raid an army/navy surplus store.  Something to conceal your identity really, whatever you think would work."

Sylvia suffers an attack of prom-itis.  She feels a sudden urge to go out and pick up a magazine full of spandex mask-and-cape ensembles and beg her parents for a few hundred dollars so she can look good on the Most Important Night Of Her Life.  "Okay.  Something dark.  Something to cover my face."  Dammit.  How's she going to convince Mitzi to sew her a superhero costume by Friday?

And there it goes:  first-stage prom-itis means she'll have to spend the rest of the night browsing web pages that offer express shipping on costumes.  "You know what?"  She gets up, agitated.  "I have to go."

Kel smiles, "Alright then, have a nice night."  Kel sits out on the bench after Sylvia goes and just stares up at the sky for a while before he heads in himself and goes to bed.

Chapter 16: Home Sick

Sarah sits on the couch unwashed and hair half out of a scrunchy, in pajamas and a robe sipping broth and flipping through daytime tv.  "Thank god for school.  This stuff is worse than sitting in detention.  Ugh." 
She pauses on a news brief that includes the latest super related crimes.  "This place is just going down hill.  Then again it wouldn't be fair to give me super powers and not have a bunch of evil crawl out of the woodwork.  Oh and give me a stomach virus out of the blue."

It took him some effort, but Colin managed to track everything Sarah has missed since being sick. He looks at the list and grimaces at the thought of her having to go through all this math alone. He hopes she'll accept his help this time.
He looks at the box of cookies he brought her too. The cookies he wanted to share with the *real* Sarah. It makes him feel really miserable, but he still feels he has to be honest with her, he has to tell her. Even if she won't like him anymore. He hopes at least she feels good enough to try them.

Gathering his courage, he rings the Rollins' house bell.

Sarah turns her head slowly towards the door and sighs.  "Curse you fed ex and whatever packet of papers you have sent for my father.  Maybe I can breath on him and watch him crumple into a ball and cry."

Getting up slowly she makes her way to the door and starts to open it.  Looking out she sees a familiar face and slams the door shut.  Oh God!  What's Colin doing here?  Probably checking to see if you're alive?  Bringing you homework?  Coming to tell you your breath smells like puke?  Ahh!

She calls through the door, "Hi Colin."  And he's already seen me... like this.  Oh man I think I really am going to be sick again. 

Sarah clutches her stomach for a few moments and decides its just nerves.  She calls through the door again, "Um, can you wait just one minute?  Sorry!" 

Sarah turns to the hallway mirror and looks at herself.  Blurry face with sleep in her eyes, snarled hair, ugly clothes.. bad breath.  Well I suppose I can fix the breath part anyway. 

She scoots down the hall and into the bathroom grabbing the mouthwash and swishing it around along with a glob of toothpaste on her brush.  It burns!  It burns!!!  Spit.  Rinse.  A splash of water on her face just for fun.  Towel.  Back down the hallway with a last dismal glance at the mirror.  She opens the door.  "Sorry about that.  You can come in."  She steps back out of the way and lets Colin come in revealing herself in all her finery.  Lime green pajamas, pink robe with tissues stuffed in the pocket.  Her feet are tucked in soft lined moccasins and her hair is held up with a purple scrunchy. 
"Hi," she adds again out of nervousness.

"Hi, Sarah." Colin says, his eyebrows slightly raised. "Were you resting? I hope I'm not disturbing. I just passed by to give you your homework, and a little get-well-soon gift."
He gives her the notes he's taken for her and a little plastic box full of cookies.
"If you can eat them, that is, otherwise they'll be a glad-you-got-well gift."
He's not looking at her eyes as he talks with her. Colin is not at his best either. His hair looks like he spent some time torturing it, and from his face she can say something big is bugging him. And no glasses.
"Are you feeling better?"

Sarah flaps her arms in the robe sort of helplessly and shrugs.  "I'm okay.  I mean, I'm mostly empty so the nastiest business seems done.  I think I'll be in school tomorrow."

She takes the box of cookies with a smile and puts them on the nearby table.  "Thanks.  I think I'll have to wait another day before I can get into them though." 

Sarah takes in Colin's rough appearance.  "You don't look so hot yourself.  Are you getting sick?  Oh please don't tell me I got everyone at the lunch table sick!  How awful would that be?  Typhoid Sarah.  Great."  

"No, nothing like that. Actually I was quite wondering if you ate anything at school yesterday that made you feel this way or... if you met a girl just before feeling sick. Because as you went home... something happened." Colin hangs his head in shame.

Sarah puzzles over what Colin was saying, "A girl?  ...No I didn't meet anyone.  I stayed after in Math for some extra help I ate my sandwich while I was there.  I felt really awful a while later and headed home.  Why?  Do you think someone messed with my sandwich?  It was in my locker all morning but it's not like someone couldn't get into one of those easy enough."

Sarah stops and looks at Colin, her brain finally catching up with the conversation.

"Why would some girl be messing with my sandwich Colin???"

She looks worried and feels a little queasy again.  She puts her hand on her stomach and leans against the wall. 

"I don't know if someone messed with your sandwich. But what happened later made me think that maybe... Hey, is it all right? Sit down please, don't strain yourself."

He helps her to the couch, and sits beside her.

"You won't like what I'm going to say. I hope... that you won't hate me when I'm done."

He can't stand to look at her, so he looks at his hands, that keep nervously fidgeting.

"While you went home, another Sarah came to the lunch room and had lunch with us. She looked exactly like you, and talked like you too. I don't know if she had been studying us for a long time, of if she could read our minds. She can weave illusions, so maybe she just made us see you instead of her. After lunch, she told me she had something to show me, and I went with her, because I thought she was you. She said she wanted to tell me something in private, and that Dave taught her many things about the school. She brought me into the basement, and... she told me..."

Colin's voice at this point start to break.

"I am so bloody stupid. She played me like a fiddle. She... told me...  I guess she told me the things I things I wanted to hear. The things I wanted to hear from you. And I fell for it. A part of me kept telling me that there was something strange, but it was you, telling me those things... I wanted to believe, and I..."

His voice keep getting lower until it just a whisper.

"I kissed her."

Sarah listens to Colins story but her face is scrunched in confusion.  "Wait.  Why would someone go to all that trouble just to sneak you off for a quiet kiss?"  Nice one idiot.  "I don't mean it like that.  I mean, why would they sneak you off to the basement when they could just drop by your house or see you after school?  Especially if they messed with my lunch so I was down for the count?"

She looks at Colin and tilts her head studying him.  "You kissed her?  Is that why you look so miserable?  Did you think I would be angry and outraged?"  Sarah shakes her head.  "I know how you feel about me Colin." 
She stops and tries to think of a way to explain her feelings to Colin better this time but she shrugs and moves on. 
"And that means that someone else besides our little group knows and they used it against you."  Sarah thinks of someone abusing poor Colin and she makes fists of her hands, "Bitch.  We'll find out who did that... make sure they aren't using this ability to do worse things than kiss a boy." 

She pauses again thinking things through, "Did all you do was kiss and then head back to class?"

"I..." Colin tries to explain, but it's not easy at all. "I... I should have known. A part of me did know. It was too perfect, too much like I dreamed of it. I... I never kissed a girl this way. I wanted it to be... magic. I wanted it to be with someone truly special. And she... stole it. She's taken it from me. It makes me feel so stupid and... dirty. And I was afraid you would want nothing to do with someone so stupid he doesn't recognize you."

He tries really hard not to cry. He won't give them this satisfaction too. They won't have have his tears too.

"It was just a trap. It made me pass out, so they... They are the witches that summoned that spirit into Rob. They needed me so they could use me for a spell. They put me in a magic circle, undress me and drew symbols on my chest, so they could use me as an oracle. As a crystal ball. And then they left me there. I woke up well into the afternoon, and I was there, in the circle, with candles all around me and... I realized what really happened.
We know who they are now. They know we know too. We're looking for a way to stop them, before they hurt anyone else.."

"I... I didn't tell anyone else. I just told them about the spell, and how they used me. I've told no one about... how they got to me. But I had to tell you, or I wouldn't have been able to look at you again. I don't know if it makes any sense, but I feel much worse about that, than about the magic part. She took something that wasn't meant for her, and that I'm never gonna get back."

"Oh, what they did somehow awakened my eyes. I can see the ghost light now, and... I don't need my glasses anymore."

He looks at her tentatively, just for a moment, to see how she looks with his new sight. As his eyes meet hers, he looks down again.

Sarah smiles at the end.  "I thought you had contacts.   Well at least something good came out of this."  Her expression darkens quickly when she thinks of what's happened.  "But they used you.  And they used Rob.  That's two of my friends.  You know who they are?  Who?  I want names." 

Sarah stands up and starts pacing a little bit.  She doesn't feel very sick any more.  She feels angry. 

"You said 'we'.  You talked this over with the gang and found the witches together.  But you're not here with a happy ending yet so that means you couldn't do anything about them yet?  What happened?"

"Well, it's a bit complicated. Donnie studied how to cast a spell to help us find them, or at least the one who... used magic on me. I hoped we could talk to her, and make her realize what they are actually doing. She had none of it. As soon as she saw me and Kel, she started casting illusions to frame us. She made bruises appear on her face, made a vision of her falling from the staris and went to the principal to tell him we assaulted her. So we went to the principal too and explained our version. In the end he believed neither of us, probably because of one of Sylvia's illusions this time, and ordered us to stay away from each other, else he suspends us. We got her name though. Jane Spofford. She's a junior."

"So... we're still... friends? What I did doesn't make you sick?"

Sarah shakes her head.  "No..no.. Let's see.. you kissed a girl you thought was me because you have strong feelings for me.  I think you're pretty safe with that."  She holds her stomach a little bit.  "I really still don't feel so good.  Jane Spofford huh?"  She nods to herself.  "Thanks for bringing my homework and the cookies and... and for telling me about kissing Jane.  I'm glad you're so honest with me.  It means a lot."
Wish I could be honest with you.  Shut up brain.

Sarah starts thinking up plans for what to do to Jane.  Plans she's pretty certain Colin wouldn't agree with.  So she likes to pretend she's got bruises huh?

Realizing her fantasizing has left her quiet for almost a minute she shrugs, "Sorry Colin.  I must not be out of the woods yet.  I'm going to have to kick you out soon and go lie down for a while.  I hope that doesn't sound too awful.  I really appreciate everything.. I just don't.  Well to be honest I don't want you to hear me start throwing up again.  It's really nasty."

"Oh. If you feel really bad I can try to heal you. Otherwise... I'll just be on my way. Take care. I miss you. And thanks for... understanding. If I don't see you tomorrow, I'll bring your new homework in the afternoon. I..."
He finally looks at her. Even at her worst she looks just right, and he feels something funny in his chest as he watches her.
"I'll just be out of here. See you."

Sarah holds up her hands at Colin's offer of healing.  "I don't want to spread any germs.  I feel bad enough even letting you in the door.  Just incase this girl didn't dose my sandwich and I've come down with something nasty.  You're the last person in the world I would wish this on Colin.  Thanks again Colin."

She doesn't know what else to say to her friend.  "Thank you." 

Later that evening (Chapter 17)...

Shortly after he gets home from Sylvia's place, Matt figures he'll call David Banner, hoping it's not to late and that he'll wake him up. He knows how he is himself if something drags him out of bed, but he figrues if he goes 'duck and cover' in case he hears a roar from across town he should be okay...

"Uhm, Mr Banner? Uh, hi, this is Matt, uh, Mattew Mannox? I was at the, uh, getogether at Syliva's place earlier? There was a question I was meaning to ask you there but sorta, uh, forgot...

"Okay, this may sound kinda strange, but what do you do if you don't know wether or not you got powers? A friend of mine said she saw me change at one time, just suddenly change into this, well, superhero who knocked over a car... over his head. And then flew away. Only problem is I can't remember any of it. And this same superhero has been all over town last few weeks, saving people, and I can't remember any of that either! So..."

"If you trust your friend, then assume they're right and you have this power.  It's not uncommon for people with emotional problems who get powers like that, that afford some form of transformation, to have black outs when they transform.  You can try meditation, to try and make a conscious connection to power.  If that proves unsuccessful give me a call.  I know a psychiatrist that migth be able to help you sort it out.  They really helped me when I was having some trouble."

"Uh, well okay, I'll try. Meditation, like yoga and incense and all, or just thinking really hard? Sorry, I'm not too versed in that, maybe Kel knows some ninja meditation techniques or some of the others could help... Uhm, that is, thanks, sir. I'll, uh, try to figure it out, then if it doesnt work I'll give you a call."

"Matt.  Good luck.  Just try to remember that you have to beleive in yourself, that you're worthy of being a super hero."

"Uuh, y... yea. I'll try." Worthy of being a superhero? Shyea right... Nah, I think when it gets to that I got more villain in me than hero, and a pathetic one at that probably... "Thanks again sir, I'll try to do the meditation thing then, see if that works. Good luck on, uh, civilian life I guess." Saying that makes him feel a bit like Greg would probably feel if he told Orson Welles good luck with his painting.... of houses, that is.

Late Friday night, October 5th

Megan was back in her room after returning from locating the lake view that Colin had seen and drawn.  As it was Friday, she had plenty of time to get to her homework before Monday, particularly as it would likely take her less than an hour to get it all done.  Her parents had gone out to dinner, so she did not have to answer any questions about how the movie had been, though she figured she might have to look up some reviews of it before tomorrow to better answer the question if it was raised.

Sitting on her bed, she looked around her room as she let the thoughts about Calvin’s departure come fully to the front of her mind.  Some tears rolled down her cheeks when she thought of there last real date two weekends ago.  They both had some busy schedules, so they had not been able to spend as much time together as they might have liked, but there had not seemed to be a rush, for it had seemed they had four years ahead of them.  And even though the time had been short, for the blond teen, things had seemed to be going so right and perfect.  Now that had suddenly come crashing back down.

Looking the clock near her bed, Megan realized the chances of her sister being in her dorm room at Yale were likely slim, so she could not call her tonight.  The other girls on the team had actually gone to see the movie Megan had told her parents, and chances were good they were hanging out afterward together, so likely none of them were home.  She could always call Lisa or one of the others on their cell, but she did not see much point, they might sympathize some, but were more likely to encourage her with talk about how she would easily find someone else.

While she had started to get to know some of the other students in her classes, none of them were really much more than acquaintances, and definitely not who she would consider calling about something like this.  For a few moments, that seemed to leave no one, but then she realized that might not really be the case.  Picking up her cellphone, Megan scrolled through the numbers till she came to Sarah’s, which she had put in her phone when they had planed their shopping trip for Sarah’s new shoes.  That had been a fun time catching up some, even if the finish, with the attempted armed car robbery and the appearance if the capped hero that stopped it had been a bit wild.  But since then they really had not seen much of each other, for the incident at Lisa’s party had sort of prevented them from talking there.  Lying back on her bed as she looked at the number, Megan wondered if Sarah was home or out having fun.  Would she even want to talk to her?  Remembering some of the fun times from three years ago, the blond teen felt it was well worth trying to see just how wide the gap that had formed might actually be.  Pressing the dial button, she put the phone to her ear.

Sarah shuffled through the house feeling rather left out.  Mom and Dad were at a Dinner for Dad's work.  Employee appreciation where they hand out cute little trophies in lieu of giving anyone better raises.  From what Mom has described about it in previous years its usually more of an employee intimidation dinner. 

Even Mart was gone.  He was having an all night sleepover (ha) at a friends but as he had lugged his computer along it was probably going to be an all night LAN party. 

Greg was working on theater stuff and Dave was off with some other friends.
Sarah sighed and looked into the refrigerator for solace.  "Nothing good.  Peanut butter toast maybe.  Yeah, that'll work."  She popped two slices of bread in the toaster and cracked out the PB sans J and a knife.

Colin's off somewhere doing something helpful and good.  I just know he is!  He's probably helping an old lady across the street or freeing a wild animal from a trap or getting assaulted by a witch coven? 
Sarah shakes her head to clear the last notion.  "I can't glom on to Colin just because something bad might happen.  Especially if I'm not dating him.  It would drive him insane and seeing all that raw emotion would make me feel so guilty.  Oh that's a nice way to put it.  Like I don't like hanging out with him.  Please.  I could spend all day with him...  Maybe that's the problem.  I've been so worried since all this mess has started I haven't taken the time to relax and be with anyone."

Sarah pours a glass of milk.  The toast pops and she smears peanut butter across the bread.  She takes a bite while it is still hot and fans her hand over her mouth to cool the molten peanuts. 

Naturally it is at this moment that the phone rings.  She grabs the phone and answers, slightly desperate for a little human company.  I'd probably listen to a telemarketer right now  "Hegow?  Un oben pgease!"    Stupid peanut butter!

She gulps a big drink of milk trying to clear her mouth.  "Hello?" 

Friday, October 5th

As the phone rang, Megan brushed a tear from her cheek with her free hand and then started twisting a strand of blond hair around a finger.  When the phone was picked up, she heard something that sounded like a person, but had no idea what they were saying as she gave the phone in her hand a questioning look.  There was a brief pause and then she more clearly heard Sarah’s voice ask ‘hello’.  Glad she did not have the wrong number somehow Megan replied.  “Hey Sarah, its Megan.  I didn’t catch you at a bad time did I?”

Someone normal!  Hurrah!  Shut up brain, don't jinx it. 
"No, not at all, I was eating peanut butter and sort of forgot to swallow before answering the phone.  What's  up?"
Sarah takes another sip of milk and starts rubbing at her hands with a paper towel to get off the excess peanut butter.

Friday, October 5th

Sarah’s comment about forgetting to swallow while answering the phone had Megan smile a bit.  “Well, just was thinking about things and realized we hadn’t really had much chance to talk much since we went to the mall last month.  I feel bad that I hadn’t called or anything.  I stopped by the table you are usually sitting at a couple days ago and got to be introduced to your friends by Sylvia, but they seemed like they were busy on some school paper thing so it wasn’t really that good of an introduction.  You over whatever it was that you had?”

"No way... we didn't possibly go to the mall that long ago.  It was only... uh... wow.  I'm so sorry!  I've been wanting to talk to you ever since but so much seems to have come up!  All the school work and the crazy fights in school..."  Sarah changes to a safer subject.  "You stopped by the table?  I'd be happy to introduce you to everyone.  I think we'd have a better chance to meet and greet if we went to the Tasty sometime.  Better food and no teachers usually makes for a more relaxed atmosphere.  Sorry I'm bouncing all over the place tonight.  Too much caffeine and no outlet.  Yeah I'm all better.  It was some nasty forty-eight hour thing.  Less said the better?"

She pauses for a second, not sure whether to add this or not..."I'm sorry about Cal.  I know you've probably heard all you want about that by now."

Friday, October 5th

Megan could understand Sarah’s surprise, it had not seemed like as much time had passed since the mall visit, even when you did not move and do everything superfast.  “No need to apologize Sarah, I didn’t call either, we both just had a lot going on, which happens.”

When Sarah talks about giving her more proper introductions in more neutral setting like the Tasty Dog, Megan was not quite sure what to say for a moment, as the cheerleaders often went there as a group as well.  “Well,” she finally replied, “I pretty much already got the introductions, just didn’t get to really talk to anyone.  Its no real worry, but maybe we can get together there or somewhere else sometime.”

She laughed slightly at the other girl’s remark about seeming to bounce all over the place, particularly as Megan tended to feel like that at times when she felt she had been standing still for too long.  “I am glad your feeling better, being sick is never fun, regardless of how short a time it is.”

As Sarah brought up the subject that Megan been among the key reasons she had wanted to talk to her old friend, the blond teen felt a bit of wetness in one eye that she brushed away with her wrist as she continued twisting the strand of hair, letting it go and twisting it again.  “Thanks.”  She replied.  “And while Lisa and the other girls in the squad as well as some others have all told me how sorry they were he moved away, none really have had all that much to say.  Lisa has been reassuring that I’ll easily find someone else, and I guess that’s true, but it still feels real bad that I likely will never see him again.  Things seemed to be going so well, he was so sweet and caring, not to mention a cute hunk.  I, just seems life can be so unfair at times.”

Friday, Oct 5

<snip>
"I, just seems life can be so unfair at times.”
<snip>

Sarah thinking of her own life and not Megan's when she agrees with the comment, "Totally unfair.  But I don't have any good advice for you.  I don't even know anything about dating or boyfriends moving away.  I'm at the opposite end of the world.  I'm just not ready for any of it and I've got a boy hanging around who wants to go out with me.  So I'm an idiot.  I like him but.."

She stops not knowing what else to say regarding Colin.  Instead she switches back to their last time together.  "I've been wanting to talk to you about the mall trip."
Not sure how to phrase the next part she finishes lamely, "What happened?  I mean, uh, what did you see happen?"

OOC: Sorry thevshi I really wanted to run this through the weekend with you but mine got devoured!  I seriously need a weekend from my weekend.  Well at least Heroes is on tonight.

Megan had been about to say something about Sarah’s comment about dating and a boy that was interested in her, but the other girl then switched to asking her about what had happened at the mall.  The blond teen rolled over, suddenly worried about answering the question, wondering if she hadn’t done much to contact Sarah as she was afraid about what Sarah might have seen as well.  “Well..”  She began.  “I saw the car with the robbers pull up near the armored car and the guys get out with guns.  I had started inching towards the doors and tried to grab your arm to pull you with me, but missed.  Then this lady came out of the mall and one of the robbers leveled his gun at her.  I don’t know what I was thinking, but I tackled her and got us behind something.  She grabbed ahold like someone drowning as the gunfire started.  Then it was all over so fast, by the time I pried myself free, that capped guy with the square jaw and the bodybuilders physique had taken care of the robbers and I found you again.”

“So, why don’t you feel like you are ready for dating yet Sarah?  If you like the guy and he likes you, why not see what happens?  I mean, dating can mean a lot of things depending on the people involved.  It doesn’t mean you two will be making out or anything more serious right away, or even ever.  I don’t know who the guy is or anything, but it might be that he gets tired of waiting eventually, especially if some other girl shows interest in him.  But I guess you need to think about if you want to be sure to keep a friendship or something as opposed to taking the opportunity.”


(ooc: no worries, the weekend was rather slow for me over all, family on Saturday and all day Sunday at a reading day for the law journal I am on, which meant reading articles we are publishing and checking one last time for errors, particularly in the citations)

Sarah sits down at the breakfast nook and thinks of what to say.  "I don't know why I'm not ready.  Or why I think I'm not ready...or whatever.  It's just.. I've been hanging out with almost entirely guys for the last two years.  Rob, Greg, Dave, Donnie.  None of them have ever bothered asking me. None of them even acknowledge I'm a girl... well except for Rob but that's Rob.  But that's not it.  I haven't been waiting for any of them to ask me or anything.  I don't even want them to.  They're my friends.  And I don't want...  I don't know what I don't want any better than what I do want.  I'm hopeless.  But I'm sure you didn't call me to throw me a pity party. "

Turning the direction back towards the mall like returning a serve, "You tried to save my life that night and you probably saved that other womans life.  It was amazing and I haven't known how to say thank you.  It was really brave.  I was so scared.  I almost got killed by the security guard!  He fired a bullet at one of the crooks and it missed and headed right for me in the brush."  Realizing she didn't have a very good answer as to why she was alive Sarah switches topics once more. 

"With all the crazy stuff that's been going on my mom is half ready to homeschool me.  They worried about me back in Chicago but nothing like this stuff ever happened back there.  Now they're telling me to stay safe and always walk with friends and don't do drugs and any other piece of advice they can think of.  I don't blame them.  I still have bad dreams about Rory's fight.  It's going to keep happening until... until someone can stop whoever is selling that stuff.  I worry that it'll get in my mom's school and she might get hurt.  There's no one there to protect her.  How are your parents handling it?  Does your dad want to get a bodyguard following you around?"

“Oh thank god no.”  Megan says, responding to the last thing Sarah had said first.  “Though if this keeps up he just might.  He had talked to about sending me and Donnie to Fenwick, but I managed to talk him out of it.  Now that they seem to be having major problems as well, it isn’t really an answer anymore.  My mom hasn’t really said much about it, but I think she is worried, she is on the PTA after all.”

“I actually had briefly wondered if my dad might have had some connections in the company Cal’s dad worked at and called a favor to have him transferred back to Texas.  But that just seems silly.  Not like there are no other boys waiting to take his place or anything.  Mom joked about dad having done a background check on Cal too, now that I could see him doing.”  Megan shifted the subject slightly, not all that sure what to say about the crazy stuff going on at school. 

“But as for the thing at the mall, you don’t need to say thank you.  After all, I wasn’t able to grab you to help pull you away.”  Megan added, thinking again about that crazy incident at the mall.  “I guess what I did was brave, sure didn’t feel like it at the time.”

The blond teen thinks back to what Sarah had said about not quite being ready and having hung out with guys for the most part over the last couple of years.  “But as for you little issue with this guy, we are hitting the point in our lives now where things are really changing with us, I know I have gotten some of those discussions over the summer as my father was starting to stress about me being in high school and a cheerleader.  It sounds like most of those guys you have been friends with have just sort of gotten used to you as ‘one of the guys’, that happens, I guess.  But I take it this guy that’s interested in you isn’t one of them, so he doesn’t have the mind set and sees you in a different light.”

“But you don’t seem to want to talk about that much, so I’ll shut up about it in a sec, but just want to say one last thing.  Just because you date a guy, doesn’t mean your friendship with him will end.  I mean, it can happen, things get a bit too intense and when its over everything is messed up.  But it can work out just fine as well.  One of Denise’s best friends through most of high school was a boy she dated some as a Sophomore.”

"Huh.  Food for thought.  So you caught me on the dodging huh?  You're too quick for me."

Sarah's stuck for what to say.  She doesn't want to talk about fluff.  She doesn't want to fill the phone with meaningless chatting but she's not even sure if she knows Megan anymore.  Years had passed.  A long empty silence filled the space between the phones.

"I'm sorry we lost touch Megan.  I haven't had anyone I could just tell things to since back in Chicago.  I have friends but we always talk about games or school or anything but ourselves.  I think that's just boys though.  Mom and Dad are always so busy either with work or driving Mart to the hospital or a game or to the hospital after a game.  They ask me how I am but it's always on the way to somewhere or at the dinner table or in the emergency room waiting area... okay so Mart doesn't get hurt that often but it just seems like there's never a minute to spare to talk..."

Sarah pauses again, "Oh man, now I sound so pathetic.  I'm sorry this really has turned into the pity party for me!  Just shoot me now.  Come on over and shoot me.  I swear I'll answer the door.  Heck just poke the gun through the mail slot so you don't have to deal with me.  I'm such an idiot.  Seriously things are not that bad.  I just miss... It's probably just a bad case of nostalgia.  Life was simple and fun when we were kids and I wish I could just dive under a blanket with my teddy and a flashlight and pretend it all back to the way it used to be."

As Sarah talked about how she had lacked anyone to really talk too about things since they had drifted apart, Megan felt badly she had not done more to maybe try and stay a bit more in touch.  “Your not pathetic Sarah, and I often wish that we had stayed in touch more as well.  I guess I was lucky as I had Denise around to talk with, and mom, though she could be a bit busy with her volunteer stuff at times.  But you know how things have always been with my dad, we practically had to go through his secretary to be sure he would be at anything important too us, and usually booking a month in advance.  I had kind of hoped things might get a bit better when he became mayor, but the have stayed the same or possibly even gotten worse.  Now he is wanting to run for a US Senate seat, and if he wins that, I rather doubt his workload will get any sparser.”

“But who knows, maybe your approach in being friends with mainly guys the last few years might work out better in the long run?”  The blond teen offered.  “When you finally decided your ready to date, you will be familiar with how guys think and such for the most part, and will be very good at being friends with them.  I wouldn’t see why you couldn’t build on that easily.”

To Megan's last comment Sarah replies, "Maybe," and adds quickly, "but listen, don't feel bad about drifting.  We both did.  Our interests started changing.  You got into boys and clothes and dance and school and life and I fell back into fantasies and dreams.  No wonder I'm having a hard time this year.  Up until now I haven't been living I've been daydreaming.  Well screw it.  I'm going to give this real life thing a try for a while and see how it fits.  We should go out again.  Not shopping but I don't know... somewhere.  Something active.  Like lasertag or just jogging or something.  I kind of wish that school had a gymnastics program.  I'd like to get into that again.  I'm still pretty good I think.  Hey would you want to drag Sylvia along?  I think it would be a lot of fun to have girl friends again."    Adding with heavy irony, "Maybe I can share my thorough understanding of boys with you."  

“No shopping?”  Megan asked in a mock scandalized voice.  “I suppose I can give the malls a rest for half a day or something.”  She then replied.  She wasn’t exactly sure what they could do that was “active”, jogging sure didn’t sound like a very fun idea, as she would likely be tempted to go far faster than she would need to.  “I don’t know about jogging, that isn’t the most social of activities.  And lasertag?  I don’t think I have done that since your birthday in Fourth Grade, but I guess we could do that, then maybe catch a movie?”

When Sarah mentioned taking Sylvia along as well, Megan wasn’t to sure what to think.  Her attempts at trying to get Sylvia a bit more involved with things the other members of the squad did together outside of practice had been pretty soundly rejected.  Sylvia’s apparent disinterest in really becoming part of the squad had been something discussed by the other girls before.  “Well, every time I have tried to get Sylvia more involved in other things she has not seemed interested.”  Megan replied to Sarah.  “But if you want to ask her, that is cool.”

Sarah shrugs, a gesture lost to the phone.  "It doesn't have to be any of those things... I'm just tossing out ideas.  I didn't suggest the mall because.. well the stores we shop in are on different floors on opposite sides of the mall.  Yours have European names and smell like leather and perfume.  Most of the places I end up shopping have names with Bargain, Basement, Bin or Warehouse attached to them and they smell like cheap plastic and worn out airconditioning.  I'm not jealous or upset... well okay I am a little but I don't think either of us would be all the comfortable shopping in the others stores.  I'd seethe and you'd probably be half afraid of catching something.  I just don't understand why Mom left her job in Chicago.  She says it was to spend time with the kids but we hardly see her now anyway.  So what was the point?  She prefers living in a small house and buying off the rack after having duplex condo on South Michigan with a view of the park?  I guess something stressed her out about her old job.  She and Dad never talk about it and Mart was too little to really remember or care..." 

Ding Dong, Brain to Sarah, Brain to Sarah you're ranting again.  Just thought you should know.
Oh thanks Brain, next time how about stepping in a little earlier?
Don't blame me, I'm just along for the ride.

"Um... but I'm open for any ideas.  I just want to do something real." 

Megan felt bad when Sarah talked about why she was not interested in shopping given the difference in stores the two of them would likely buy clothes from.  Sometimes it was easier to hang around other girls who’s parents were rich as well to avoid just this sort of problems.  But there had been plenty of times her parents had told her that the easiest choice was not always the right one.  Sarah had been a good friend years ago, so the blond teen was not about to let something like where they shopped be the only reason they didn’t spend time together.

“I guess I can understand your reluctance to want to go shopping Sarah.  Well, something real….how about just going out to get something to eat and having a chance to talk more in person?  Maybe seeing a movie as well?”

"Yeah, the whole money thing can be a drag.. that and the last time I was at the mall I nearly got killed.  I'm sorry, again.  I'm hitting you with every problem under the sun and if we're going to try and make a connection again I've got to learn to play fair and let you vent as least as much as I am.  I know you have to have a lot on your plate right now.  I mean, cheerleading, Cal, your dads career along with all the craziness going on at school, homework... how do you manage to look so laid back and relaxed?"

“Well, I guess it’s because of two things I have managed to learn from my dad over the years.  First, is to schedule as much as you can and stick to that, and second, is just practice at no matter how stressed out, worried, upset or angry you really are, don’t let anyone else know that.  That second part has been reinforced by cheerleading, as we are expected to always be peppy and upbeat, even if our team is loosing.”  Megan replied with a shrug, not that Sarah could see the gesture.

Her voice then dropped some as she went on.  “Of course, that is pretty much a front a good bit of the time, and is not always how I really am feeling.  Today is probably one of the most extreme examples.  After talking to Cal this morning, the last thing I wanted to do was have to be at school.  I wanted to just go home and cry for awhile, but I couldn’t and I knew I couldn’t at school either.  I wanted to cry all day, but couldn’t let myself start even a little, for I knew I likely couldn’t stop easily.  I have done a bit of it tonight, but doubt its over for the weekend.  Sometimes the position you place yourself in, or are expected to be in, limits how you are often able to behave.”

"That's amazing.  I just don't have the...I don't know what you'd call it to do that.  If a great relationship just got wrecked I'd spend the day at home.  I'd spend the week.  I could never be a cheerleader.  A few people wondered if I'd try out.  I can't fake cheerfulness like that.  I don't care much about sports or cheering fans or any of that."  Sarah laughs a little, "Are you sure we should get together?  I might infect you with my slacker ways.  Well maybe secretly I'm hoping your... productivity?  will rub off on me.  I'm starting to feel like a lump and I need to get involved with life a little more.  Do you think it's too late to join a club or something?  Anyway, I'd love to grab some food and catch a movie with you.  You get to pick." 

“Well, I don’t think I seemed as normally cheerful today as I usually am.”  Megan confessed.  “And it took everything I had to get through today.  If this had happened earlier in the week, I don’t know if I could have gotten through it.  But I still can’t let myself totally deal with it because of the game tomorrow, so have to be all cheerful again, and really cheerful this time.”  The blond teen hoped that she would be able to be pulled together enough by the game, there was still a good bit of time, so she should be able to refocus.

As Sarah talked about how she was not cheerful enough to be a cheerleader, Megan thought about Sylvia again.  She did not have the most upbeat attitude, but seemed to get by well enough at it, perhaps she would improve on that with time as well.  “I doubt it’s too late to get into a club.”  She replied to Sarah and then suddenly had a thought.  “You know, I’m going to be part of the Constitutional Debate team, and we need at least one more person to get that started.  So there is something to think about.”

When Sarah agreed to going to get something to eat and a movie, the blond teen thought some.  “Okay, tomorrow is pretty much short, the game is in the middle of the day and there is supposed to be a party later that night.  Sunday could be good, maybe lunch and a movie?  Or maybe next weekend?”

Sarah sounds rather doubtful of Megan's club suggestion, "Constitutional Debate Team?  So that involves public speaking with a deep knowledge and understanding of the Constitution and then making arguments over matters of law and interpretation or something like that?  Well um... if you need like a watergirl or somebody to run the clock or something I could help out.  Sorry that sounds like one of those areas where your mighty cheerleader brain leaves me far behind.  Now if you needed somebody to debate the merits of slushies versus slurpies I might be able to present a persuasive argument." 

She takes another drink of milk and wanders through the house.  Sarah ends up on the couch which was her sickbed not long ago.  The remote rests nearby in its place of honor on the coffee table.  She flicks the television on while continuing her thoughts, "I'm kind of looking for something that will get me out and around.  Maybe I could try my hand at photography or maybe an environmental club or... or... well I'm not totally sure what.  I'm still pretty new to this 'doing stuff'.  Something to consider."

She turns the channels, pausing on the news to glance at the weather for the weekend. 

"Sunday is cool for me to catch a movie.  Next weekend is probably open to.  I'm not too heavily booked socially just now.  No doubt if I give that dating thing a try I'd be busy.  Let me know what your schedule's like after the game okay?  Hey do you need another fan?"

Mighty cheerleader brain?  Megan thought as Sarah commented about the Constitutional Debate team idea.  The blond girl was not too sure what Sarah meant with that, but gave her friend the benefit of the doubt.  “Yeah, that is pretty much what the team will be about.  My dad has talked before about doing that in high school himself and I guess my civics teacher thought I would make a good member so recommended me to Laura Chapman, the Senior who is putting the team together.”

“There are all sorts of clubs and stuff at the school, I think you just got to look for them.  Your friends Dave and Greg are upperclassmen, maybe they would have some ideas of groups you could look to join?  And if there isn’t anything that really grabs your interest, you can always try to start one.”  Megan added.

“Another fan?  You mean showing up to the game?  We always love having more fans there.  Sides, getting out and seeing things that are going on around the school is a good way to get out and met people.  The game starts at noon and will likely go till close to three.”

Sarah laughs, "I'll never figure out how you do it.  Clubs, activities, schoolwork not to mention I bet you probably get dragged off to all sorts of events for your dad these days.  Isn't that what always happens to kids whos parents are wrapped up in politics?  Well that's what the television tells me anyway.  Maybe you can enlighten me to the reality sometime.  I'll bother Dave and Greg about it.  I know Greg will push me towards theatre or anything where he can get his camera out but Dave might have some other ideas."

If you only knew.  Megan thought as Sarah asked how she was able to handle all the stuff that was seeming to be thrown their way in high school, plus all the additional things she had taken on.  You would be even more jealous than you were of just my sewing ability.  “Like I said, live by the day planner.”  She replied with a smile.  “Course, mine is nowhere near as filled as my dad’s, I swear he has every minute of the day planned out.”

“But yeah, there is a lot of junk we have to do in relation to his being a political figure.  I have half a closet full of cocktail dresses and more formal evening gowns ready for any events that come up.  What sucks the most is when they are sudden, like just Tuesday I got home from cheerleading and mom had left a not to be ready for a formal dinner by seven.  I so had to rush to shower and do my hair and everything to be ready in time.  That dope Donnie just flat out refused to go and took off, probably to spend time with his girlfriend, the captain of the girl’s volleyball team or something.”

“Get this though, I so totally embarrassed myself at the dinner though, luckily it was pretty much just with my mom.”  Megan began as she rolled back over on her stomach and propped herself up on her elbows, starting to feel a bit of excitement at letting her old friend in on the embarrassing moment from a few nights ago.  “Here’s what happened.  When we got to the dinner, there was this guy that came up to take Donnie’s empty seat because his wife had not been able to come and he didn’t want to sit alone, so my dad, being the networker he is, said no problem.  When mom and him were introduced, there was this weird moment that they both seemed to recognize each other but acted as if they had never met.”

“But I had caught the looks and was thinking to myself, ‘no, this can’t be what I think it is.’  During the dinner conversation, they both said a few things that kept just making me think they must be having an affair.  There were these looks at each other and smiles, I was so having to work so hard to pretend everything was cool.  Finally, I couldn’t take it and had to go outside for some air and to be away.  Mom came out a bit after that and while I hadn’t intended to confront her about what I was suspecting, but that sort of came up and I did.  She was pretty amused, turns out that her and this guy, Paul, had known each other back when she was a Freshman at Harvard, before she transferred down to Princeton and met Dad.  He was a few years younger, so you know he has to be really smart to get into Harvard that young, and, according to mom, was rather geeky.  But he was a good friend and they helped each other though some rough times.”

“When we went back in, we eventually went to talk to Paul some more, and what does my mom do?  She tells him what I had thought had been going on!  I could have died, though I think he might actually have been more embarrassed than me.  Anyway, he was a really nice guy, and for once having been a geek, something he admitted too, he was pretty cute now.  And get this, he is the head of the Wayne Foundation!  Did you see the story in the news about the rumor my mom was offered a position there as their event coordinator?  Well its now rumor, I was there when Paul offered her the job!  She wasn’t going to take it, but I told her it would be awesome for her, what with Denise gone to college, Donnie always busy and me getting pretty busy to, she has a lot more free time than she used too.  He even told me I could get an internship there this summer if I wanted one.”

Sarah laughs at Megans story and offers with sympathy, "I would have sank through the floor.  Is it every parents duty to embarrass their children?  Well at least it ended well.  How horrible would it have been if you had been right?  Plus an offer of an internship with the Wayne Foundation.  Most parental embarrassments usually don't end on a high note.  At least mine usually don't.  Mostly just a bunch of grown ups chuckling in that way they do."

Megan laughed in return.  “Well, my mom wouldn’t have had a chance to embarrass me if it hadn’t been for my jumping to conclusions thinking I was in an episode of the OC or something.  But yeah, it would really have sucked if I had been right.  I don’t know how I would handle that.  But luckily I wasn’t.” 

“The internship is a cool finish for what had seemed like it was going to be the worst night of my life.  Normally my embarrassing situations with my parents haven’t ended so well either.”  Megan remembered what she had heard at the dinner.  “You know what else I heard at the dinner?  With all this craziness going on, there is talk of trying to get a paranormal registration act passed in the state, sort of a test for the rest of the country.  Almost all the political bigwigs, industrialists and philanthropists at the thing were talking about it.”

"Yipes.  A register of all paranormals?  What would that mean if you were one and you didn't register?  What would it mean if you did?  That's pretty scary stuff.  Is it because of all the recent violence?  That's not even paranormals.  It's drugs!  Uh!  Grownups.  I swear if they don't know what the problem is by now they should go ask a real hero like that Megaman... nah he never hangs around but Velocity is always busting drug dealers.  I think she knows the story but she's almost as camera shy as Megaman.  But then they'd probably just spin the whole situation on her.  They'd start asking questions like If she's so good why is she hiding behind a mask and if she's a law abiding citizen why isn't she in favor of the register... blah, blah, blah.   What do you think about it?"  Sarah flips channels over to Nick and ignores a rerun of Avatar. 

“I have no idea what it will mean if you do or don’t register.  It will depend upon what it says in the act, if it even gets passed that is.”  Megan replies.  “It is rather reactionary, so who knows if it will even fly or not.  I wanted to talk to my dad about it, but haven’t really had a chance.  Don’t even know if he is going to have the backing for a Senate run or not.”

Megan sighs as she thinks about the possible repercussions of passing such a law.  “Personally I think such a law would really suck.  Why should so many people that likely would never do anything illegal have to face possible punishment just because of the behavior of a few.” 

"I paid enough attention during history to know that its certainly not the first time people have been made to register for some reason or another and things went pretty badly for them.  I can understand it in a way... I mean, powers can be like carrying a concealed weapon.  But they aren't making people who are martial artists register and some of them can be just as dangerous.  I mean, the part of me that wants to be safe and unafraid... but putting their names on some list doesn't make anyone any safer.  Either they descriminate against these people or they endanger them by people who fear them.  It's happened before to people who were open about their powers.  Lynch mobs and witch hunts were still happening not that long ago." 

Sarah yawns and her jaw cracks a little.  "I don't think my brain is awake enough to handle any deeper thoughts right now.  I know you told me you learned how to keep smiling when you aren't happy... but are you going to be okay for the game tomorrow?  Listen, if you need anything or just want to vent sometime you can call my cell.  555-5334." 

“Well, one big problem with such a requirement, the people that are likely to use their powers to commit crimes are the ones least likely to register.”  Megan replied.  “But yeah, it is getting way to think about if some law that isn’t even in existence might or might not be good.”

“As for tomorrow…I’ll be ready, somehow.  I already missed one game because of that stupid hospital visit, I am not going to miss another.”  Megan replied.  As Sarah mentioned she was going to give her cell number, Megan was over at her desk in a flash, pen in paper in hand before the other girl started the number. “Thanks, I got it, it will be programmed in once I hang up.”  She said with a smile.  “Tomorrow is likely no good for me, how about lunch and a movie Sunday?”

Sarah smiles once more into the phone, "Sunday is great.  I don't have any plans... other than homework later on."

“Yeah, I will be doing that Sunday night as well.”  Megan replied.  Though she knew full well that it would not take her to long to get it all done.  “I’ll give you a call tomorrow, unless I see you at the game,” she added hopefully, “and we can finalize the plans.  I should probably be going.  I’m sure you have other things to be doing, and I am going to see if I can’t get to sleep without too many more tears.”

"Oh right, yeah, I'm totally busy.  I've got.. stuff to do.  Yeah... stuff."  Sarah laughs a little and finishes up, "Okay, I'll talk to you later.  Good luck at the game tomorrow!"

Tuesday October 9th, 2007 - Chapter 21

Colin sits on his bike after school, waiting outside for Donnie to get out.

When he finally sees him, he waves at him.

"Hi Donnie, have you got a minute? There are a couple things I'd like to ask you."

Donnie waves at Colin and walks over to him. "Yeah I wanted to ask an important question from you too. Did the you-know-whos use the athame on you in that ritual? Meaning, did they dip it in your blood or use it to cut you in any way? I am finalizing me spell and much of its thrust is centered around the athame, so I need to know. I don't want my spell affecting you.."

"Uh... I don't think so. I wasn't cut or anything. They just drew on my chest with a marker. Let's get away from here."

Colin holds his bike with one hand as he walks alongside Donnie.

"There are two things I wanted to ask you. The first is about my part in what you're planning. The banishing. Can you tell me more about it?"

"Whelp. The way I see it, if one of those bitches has another spirit bound, getting rid of it will reduce their power. Since you were able to draw it forthe from Rob with a simple touch, I imagine you might be able to find it and pull it out if you really were trying to get it. Then Kel, Sammy, and Sarah can kick its ass. Hopefully I will be casting my spell on the witches that we find, and once I get one, the others will hopefully soon follow."  

Donnie smiles evily.

"I would like to tell you more about the binding spell, but I don't want to risk them finding out how it worls. They can be pretty powerful, even if their methods are half-assed and sloppy."

"You got me confused. Mitzi said that it's not a bound spirit, it's a spirit they invoke to gain more power. Hence, if they invoke it, the need for it to be banished. So, when they're weak, you can do your part and bind them. I thought they had to be together though. You can do your trick one at a time? Won't the others expect it after you've done it on one of them. Wait. Don't tell me anything more than I need or would like to know. I was just wondering if you knew what kind of spirits  are invoked for power, and how one usually gets rid of them."

"Hmmm. Spirits cannot just be called up on the fly. You need to invoke them, and feed them to keep them active and stuff. Think of them like portable generators. You need to add gasoline to generators for them to run and provide power. Now, the spirit needs an anchor, or it will return to it's native plain or whatever. Rob was the Anchor for the first one, and the bitches were feeding offa the spirit as it was feeding offa him. So, likely one of the witches has either bound another spirit to themselves, or taken a chance and bound it to another unlucky chump. These girls are users, man, and they need to be put down."

"OH! I remember what you are talking about. Yeah the girls are invoking THE Spirit to gain power, not accesssing a bound spirit. Yeah, that's beyond what I can do, I can't cut them out of that. That kind of thing is more your realm of stuff, since you are always saying 'God and Great Spirit!" all the time."

"I don't know it it was my mom or my dad who came up with it first. Anyway it rubbed off on me. Donnie, before this thing started, with the handshakes of doom and whatnot, I knew next to nothing about these things. I'm trying to learn as fast as I can but I'm far from being an expert."

He looks around for the blackbird.

On the other hand, though, I have a guide. Blackbird, if I really trust my instincts and my emotion, and I get the help of my friends in a circle like Mitzi said, do you think I can do that? Is there something else I should do to be prepared? Have you got any advice left for us or we already met our quota?"

"If they have invoked the spirit it is not your place to revoke it.  The power they have drawn to them is niehter good not evil.  To dispell it you will need the art or magic, the magic of humans."

"Oh."

Colin gulps. Just when he thought things could be getting easier.

"Donnie, I have a... feeling that it's got nothing to do with the way I used my talents so far. If we are to do this thing, you'll have to teach me... as you can, that is. It's your kind of magic that is needed."

"Mine? Huh.. Listen, you have an email address I can send you the information on? Maybe I am just paranoid, butI'd rather you read it than me speak it. They used you for a lens, and I can only hope their influence over you does not extend out of that one instance. Interesting thought though: perhaps the precog bitch knew I would cause them trouble and that's why they sent the bat-wielding Psycho afer me. Good thing I have Pip, eh?"  Donne raises his hand, as if to stroke Pip's head where he usually rests on his shoulder, then catches himself doing it. He grins at Colin and after he gets his email address, he jogs to catch the bus.

"It's colin-crow@gmail.com. But wait a minute!"

Colins rushes after him to the bus stop.

"There's another thing I wanted to ask you. Have you... talked with Sylvia?"

Donnie scowls. "No. She confuses the hell out of me. Dude, I can't miss the bus. Call me!"

Sarah jogs down the street after a rapidly vanishing Colin.  "Hey!  Wait up!"

Tuesday October 9, 2007, evening - Chapter 21

Colin was already cycling away at great speed, when he hears Sarah calling. He reluctantly pulls the brakes, and wipes his tears away with his gloves as he slowly goes back to her. He still looks quite distraught.

Chapter 21: Tuesday - October 9th - after -7 Assemled

Sarah keeps running to meet him halfway and to be far enough away from Greg's house to be out of earshot of any of their friends.  When she gets close enough Sarah notices how miserable Colin looks.  "Are you okay?  Did you have another vision?"

"No, it's always that one. I... I don't understand it, and it makes me feel stupid and useless. Not to mention I've been quite stupid with Sylvia before. She wouldn't understand what I was trying to tell her, and I got mad, and I probably got her mad too. I'll try to apologize and fix things tomorrow."

He looks down.

"I'm sorry, I have been quite a poor company today."

Sarah shakes her head, "Don't apologize to me.  There's been a lot going on and you don't have to try and impress me every day.  Save that for the weekends."  She tries to lighten the mood with her very small joke but doesn't expect much out of it.  Carrying on, "I kind of missed what was going on with you and Sylvia.  What were you two arguing about?  I heard my name but I was totally cooing over Pip.  I love that little dragon.  I would totally steal him from Donnie if I thought I could.  But what was the private conversation and the hurt feelings and everything?"

"I don't know why they got so upset. I was only suggesting a little coordination. If they want to go beating on superman dealers, it's fine, but if they tell me, I can tell Chris that those specific heroes in costume are real heroes and not a danger. Also, if they told us about it, before or after that night, maybe some more people could have gone with them, or formed another team. I thought that you would have loved the chance of some superheroing, if you had someone to go with you and cover your back. I wasn't trying to boss them around or anything. Then there's... some more personal stuff."

Colin sighs.

"I think Donnie likes Sylvia. And I think that Sylvia likes Donnie too, even though she isn't really aware of it. But Sylvia spends a lot of time with Kel, and does lots of things with him. This makes Donnie really confused about it all, and I can tell how he tenses up, and grimaces every time he hears they did something together. And it just happened again. I meant to tell Sylvia that she should explain Donnie how she feels, otherwise she'll end up hurting him. But I'm afraid my plan utterly backfired, and we just ended up getting angry at each other. And I don't want to be angry with her, she's a friend. I think Donnie went after her, and I have no idea what she's going to tell him. I may have just ruined everything."

He remains silent for a while.

"I am... preparing something that I hope will impress you. Just a small thing." he says tentatively.

Sarah smiles at Colin, "You're very organized... I mean that as a good thing.  You and Megan should talk more.  She's into that stuff as well.  But try and see it like most everything else in school.  We're kids.  We don't usually organize.  I mean, the closest I get to organizing is... well... I don't really.  I mean I can manage to show up on time for things, usually, well pretty often, but that's about it.  So  Kel and Sylvia wanted to go running around fighting crime.  They were excited and probably just ran out without thinking about everyone else.  Honestly for some of us the only thing we have in common is that we're all freaks now.  Well Kel was raised one but the rest of us have had freakness thrust upon us." 

Sarah tries to explain herself but as usual feels she's failing miserably.   
"I know you want to help them and keep them out of trouble... and now you can.  You can just give Chris a heads up and they'll be all set.  I just dont' think that everyone is ready to form some super hero league just yet.  We all see that we can be a lot of help but I don't think we're going to take over Greg's shelter as a secret hideout anytime soon.  I think maybe we could start small with a phone list on our cells and maybe a group email with text messenger if any of us ever needs help quick or has some important info to share.  Something simple." 

Sarah kicks at a lose stone on the pavement and sends it arcing down the street.  "As for Sylvia and Donnie... well that's there stuff.  No matter how messy or painful it gets, if they don't come to any of us for advice or information then we should stay out of it.  Things can just get worse by interfering.  They need to work through their own stuff until they are ready to share."  She shrugs in resignation, "High school is all about pain and suffering and its not always just in math class.  Even if you can see the future you can't stop people from getting hurt all the time."

She smiles a little, "That reminds me, Katie had one more thing to tell you.  She said that she was only ten and still learning."  Sarah puts her hand on Colin's shoulder and gives it a reassuring squeeze.  "So maybe you shouldn't worry too much what a little girl sees about your or any of our futures.  She might be tuning in the Disney Channel by mistake." 

"That's not a bad idea at all, you know?"


"It was Sylvia that asked my advice first. I was just doing that, giving my advice.". Then, lowering his voice, "I probably suck at giving advice."


Colin makes a face like he has been stabbed, and some more tears fall from his eyes, until he's able to stop them.
"I... You don't understand.... I can't allow it to happen!"
Sarah sees the same despair in his eyes she spotted before.
"If it happens like that, I... I... I'll go crazy, I don't even know what I'd do, what would happen to me. I... I just can't..."
He lets the bike fall to the ground and suddenly hugs her, holding her really tight for a moment.

"I'm sorry. I must seem quite insane. Maybe I just need to think over it again and I'll find a solution. Sorry, I didn't want to scare you." he says as he lets her go, and picks up his bike.


"I hope you're right. I truly hope you're right."

Sarah holds onto a desperately worried Colin.  What can't happen?  What did he see that was so terrible?  Ask stupid.

"Um... what can't happen?" ask a puzzled and worried Sarah.   

If I tell her, she is going to live in fear, and my telling her could be the very thing that makes the vision come true.
If I don't tell her, maybe she will be unprepared, and the vision will come true.
How the hell am I supposed not to obsess about it?

"I... think I saw someone die. But I can't be sure, since my visions show what could happen, not what will happen. Unless I try too much to prevent it from happening. Then it will most likely become true. And what if I try too little, or do nothing at all? I have no idea. It's driving me crazy. That or people shooting around me make me unable to think straight. Don't dwell upon it. It's just... the price I have to pay for being able to do what I do, I guess. I'll come up with something."

As always, Sarah's presence and embrace help easing Colin's mind.

"That's horrible.  Well whatever you saw, it's our job now to fix things and keep stuff like that from happening.  You aren't alone in this you know?  Maybe if you share your visions someone else might have some insight.  If you can describe the person, the place, or even the time of day.. that might give everyone a chance to keep it from happening.  Don't try tonight... it might be better if more of us were around and not still all wound up from everything else that happened.  Unless you think it will happen tonight?"

Sarah looks worriedly at Colin for a moment at the thought of running back out into the night without a clue.

Colin gently caresses the side of her head, slowly sliding his thumb over the outline of her ear. He could stay like this for hours. When he's with her he feels... in peace.

"No, I don't think it's gonna happen tonight. About asking for help... I'll think about it. Now, wondergirl, you can go home and enjoy a nice night of sleep. You've kicked enough ass for today. Did I tell you that that you seriously kick ass? " he says as his face reluctantly relaxes enough for him to smirk.

"Why thank you." Sarah smiles rather pleased with herself.  "Though I didn't technically kick any ass.  I did pretty much short circuit him though.  Blam, lights out.  Thank goodness for Morpheus.  He was literally watching my back or I would have never known the guy was coming."  She sighs and puts her hand over Colin's for a minute and smiling.  "Okay, you're right.  I have to get back home.  This wasn't a planned trip and I'm glad we weren't gone that long.  I still have homework to do!"  She gives him a hug and quick peck on the cheek.  "You be safe on your trip home.  I'm going to get running!  Remember, if you need anything just call."

Colin just looks at her go and wonders how he managed to be so lucky to find her, and how cruel and sick is a world in wich she could be taken from him that way.
He picks up his bike, murmuring "Sorry, my noble steed." and cycles away into the night. He has something at home he'd like to work on.

Chapter 22- Wednesday October 10th, late evening

After getting back home with her mom, Megan made herself a small salad for dinner, eating it quickly to get to her homework given how late she had gotten home.  Though she did not need all that much time for her homework, her mom did not know that.  Once back up in her room, she got all her books out and was then working on homework at a furious speed.  In ten minutes, she was about halfway done with it all when she decided to take a little break.

Taking out her cellphone, she gave Sarah a call, waiting for her friend to pick up.

Donnie calls Colin's cell phone later in the evening after the shooting incident at the school.

Colin looks up from his english homework. He enjoys Mr. Monnitoff teaching style, though he is quite a demanding teacher. He picks up the phone, that is flashing Donnie's number. Colin wishes for a moment he could write like his friend.

"Hi, Donnie. What's up? Problems?"

Donnie sat in front of his computer, reviewing his notes on some spellwork. Occasionally he tosses a ritz cracker in the air behind him, and none so far had touched the ground, even when he tossed two. Pip was perched on the top of his open closet door, crunching noisily and getting crumbs in the carpet.

"Nope, just reviewing my special surprise for the 'you know whos'. Question: when you woke up, was there any sign that you had been cut with the athame?"

"Donnie, you already asked me. I don't think I was cut. There wasn't blood on me when I woke up, and I saw them cutting themselves, but not me, when I touched it. Have you found out what I should do to help you. I got no e-mail from you."

"Sorry, I forgot. I just did not want anything I am doing to wash over you or the others. Just some key phrasing in the spell made me concerned is all. I will explain things after I let it loose. The next time I get close to one of them, I can release it and it will do its work for me, I hope. Once the cat's out of the bag, I will explain the semantics to you and the others."

Donnie rubs his face tiredly, staring at the wall of pictures and drawings. The proud dragon Uther, loyal mount to Prince Devallis in Donnie's Farstrider stories, stands out, head high as he smiled knowingly at the viewer. Donnie had paid an artist forty bucks at a convention for the drawing, and it was totally worth it.

"I am just overtired. And frustrated. Everyone around me seems to be able to do things. When zap-guns fire or bees attack, all I can do is huddle to the floor and hope Pip or others can protect me. Kind of un-heroic, really. I just feel a little emasculated, you know? Especially with Kel showing off his bulging muscles now and Meg- uh, Velocity whipping bad guys on the streets. Sylvia, Kel and Sam whupping drug dealers, you finding all the bad guys, healing people, TJ and his alternate form, Sarah with her light staff, Seth with his TK.

Dunno. Guess I just needed to vent. Sorry you have to hear it."

"No, don't be. Venting is good for your health. That's what friends are for. I can understand why you're feeling that way, but you're not exactly fair with yourself. Now, you feel emasculated, but now you can prepare and cast spells only a student well into college normally can. And you have just started! What will you be able to do in a few month? What in a few years? What if you find out how to summon more friends, not just Pip?"

Colin lets himself fall on the bed.

"Ok, I know that is not helping right now, but, really, I know how you feel. I was telling Megan just today that I'm likely to need help well before all my female friends. Today, when Randy showed up with the zap-gun, do you know what I did? I hid behind my desk and begged for help. Heroic, isn't it? Sure, it looks cool when it looks like I healed someone, but that power is never mine. I just ask spirits for help. So it's not unlike you relying on Pip. And Pip saved both you and Sammy from that thug. Donnie, we would have no chances against... 'you know whos' if it wasn't for you. You found them, and only you can stop them. What good do you think Kel's muscles would do against them?"

"You shouldn't measure your worth by how much criminal ass you can kick. Maybe your true talents just lie elsewhere. There was a lot to you before Pip and magic, and there still is. You know what, we have had little time to relax a bit, among killer bees, missing girls and people shooting us. We should take some time for ourselves, to be boys, and not superheroes, once in a while. I'd like to hear about your friday games, Sarah has mentioned them several times, but we always have some emergency to deal with. We should live too."

Sarah is listening to her headphones and flipping through her science book when her phone starts dancing across the table.  She watches it vibrate for a few seconds before the caller id flashes a picture of a race car.  She quickly scoops it up and answers.  "Megan?  What's up?"

“Hey, just taking a study break.”  Megan began as she spun around in her chair.  “Got home not that long ago from the Constitutional Debate meeting, the appointment with my stylist and going to see Lisa.  Crazy day at school today wasn’t it?”

“Wanted to ask, did Colin officially ask you to the Homecoming yet?  If he did, we totally need to go dress shopping.  Seth asked me today, so I’m going to need a new one as well.  You need to find out from your mom how much you can spend, then we can find the perfect dress.”  She stopped a moment and though for a second, then added.  “You think Sylvia would want to go?  We can get her on and see?”

"That's true. I gues I am short-changing all that i have accomplished. It's just that all this is so sudden and strange and wonderful. I went from a fat kid sitting in front of his computer to some sort of wizard, and I am dating a hawt cheerleader. Just all so fast. I worry about the witches every day, devising and refining spells to deal with them. I just need to get the balls to catch one of them alone, cast the spell, and be done with it. It worries me that I am going to get caught in the bathrrom by a couple of whammied thugs or they'll steal Pip from me or something.
I don't know. Hey, want to go see the Prestige with Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman? It opens this weekend. My treat if your mom or Chris can pick me up.."

When Donnie mentions dating a cheerleader, Colin can't help but smile.

"Nobody is gonna steal Pip from you, Donnie, though Sarah is surely trying her best. The Prestige? I'd love to. I'll ask mom and Chris and let you know. Can't you devise a safe way for us to talk? I'd really like to know more about what you're planning before you try it."

"We can probably talk at the mall. I doubt they would be peeping in on us there. I'll email you the times for Sunday matinees. I'll talk to you later!

"Ok, Donnie, good night to you and Pip!"

Seth felt butterflies rampageing in his stomach. Then some migrated to his heart.

He put the phone down for the third time.

"Man up, Seth. Man up"

He picked the phone up, and dialed Megan. Waited for it to ring.

And it rang a second time.....

Stupid rampageing butterflies.

It had not been that long ago that Megan had gotten home from the Constitutional Debate Team meeting, Cheerleading practice making the start time for the Con Debate meetings later that it might have otherwise been.  She was trying hard not to think about the fact she had agreed to let herself be the bait for the peeping tom photographer, or whatever you wanted to call the creep.  It was bad enough to have him trying to get nude photos of her, but for them to be in her own bedroom, that made it all the creepier.  But, she knew it might be the only way to catch him, and she was the photo subject that made the most sense at the moment for what Brendan had in mind.

When her phone rang, she almost ran across the kitchen to get it from her purse at top speed, but had to stop herself as her brother was sitting at the counter eating a sandwich.  Making her way over at a brisk walk, she answered the phone after the second ring, noting it was Seth.  “Hey Seth.”  She said as she made her way out of the kitchen and into the large dinning room that connected to it, but seemed to get less and less use these days.  “What’s up?”  She asked in a friendly tone, a smile on her face as she was glad to forget about the plans to catch the photographer for a bit.

"Hey...Not a lot. I wanted to talk about the dance. And dance related stuff...

Is something wrong? You sound a little off...

I don't mean to pry. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. If there's anything to talk about at all, that is...

I'm babbiling again, aren't I?"

But she did sound a little funny. Megan was normally such a bright and sharp wit. She just talked and you knew that she was tuned in. But she had that tone of voice that said....i was just thinking about something. Something bad. and then when you ask someone about it they put a smile on their face. But it's a strained smile, and then they say "nothing".  in a tone that means...it's not nothing.

“Just a bit.”  Megan replied, her tone getting back to her normal cheerful one.  “Just was trying to forget about a lame ‘date’ I had this weekend.”  The way she emphasized “date” made it clear she did not quite consider it to have been one.

“So what about the dance did you want to talk about?  Its still weeks away.  I got my dress and its being altered now.  It’s an awesome Vera Wang, silver.”

Ok


"Well thats actually what I called to talk to you about. I wanted to know what kind of Corsage I should get. And what color your dress was so that I could find a tux that matched. I think my mother is taking me tux shopping tomorrow.

She's been babbiling in spanish about this ever since i told her. She wants me to rent a limo.

I'm kinda thinking about it.

Would you mind if i rented a limo? It's probably the only thing I can do to get her to shut up.

Megan thought for a moment and the replied.  “Well, I don’t really have any preferences as far as corsages go, though I do like purples and reds.”  When he mentioned a matching tux, she crinkled her nose slightly as she replied.  “Matching tux?  Well, its up to you, but the whole total matching dress and tux is a bit much in my view, unless we were both wearing black.  I just think you can’t go wrong with a black tux.”

She chuckled some at the mention of Seth’s mother getting worked up about the dance and wanting Seth to rent a limo.  “Yeah, a limo is fine.  Not sure its typical for Homecoming like it is Prom, but if it will help get her off your back.  But you sure she won’t just find something else to go on about?”

"Good point"

"I wasn't thinking of renting a silver tux...Do they even make those?

I was just thinking about the tie...I don't know. Well I guess i'll just pick my favorite colors out then. Surprises for everyone....

The sound becomes muffled.... "No Mom. Mama. I'm talking on the telefono. Yes mama, No. I'll be down in a minute."

"Sorry.

Oh my god, I can't stand it here any longer. I got a get out. Maybe see a movie or grab some coffee or something.

You wanna come? I don't know what's playing. And I'll never get to bed if i have coffee, but the point is, I need to leave before I Darth Vader Force Choke my mom.

She's been really pissy ever since I swiped her mask. She doesn't exactly want me playing hero.

“Its amazing some of the colors they make tuxes in today, but I think a silver an white one has been around awhile.”  Megan replied with a grin.

When Seth asked if she wanted to go see a movie or get coffee, Megan was silent a moment as he went on to talk about powers and heroing, something she really did not want to talk about over the phone.  “Tonight?  Its getting a bit late, and its been a long day, not to mention this weekend was really long as well, I kinda need to catch up on some sleep after studying.  Maybe another time.”

"Fair enough. It is kinda late. But I'm going out anyway. I think I'll catch the late show.

I suppose i'll see you at school tomorrow."

As she had been talking to Seth, Megan had made her way through the front rooms of the house, rooms that really only saw much use when her parents were entertaining guests, though that was somewhat common.  As she started into a hallway to one of the wings of the home, she stopped at the top of some stairs.  “Yeah,.I’ll see you tomorrow.”  She replied to Seth.  “Have fun at the movies.”  She added before hanging up.  Part of her would rather be out seeing a movie, but she was pretty tired, having not really caught up on her lack of sleep Saturday night.

Looking down the stairs towards the part of the basement that was set up as a recreation room, with a pool table, foosball table and giant screen TV, she thought it might at least be a comfortable place for Brendan to hide, but knew that would work.  Her brother and his friends used it pretty regularly, so not the best place to go undetected.  Moving on down the hall, she came to the rooms that were a bit less used, least by most of the family.

The first room was a music room, where her sister had spent many hours practicing piano.  Megan had never show much interest in learning to play, so they had only had her in lessons for a year before getting her into gymnastics and later dance.  The next room was only used by Megan, it was a room her parents had turned into a small dance studio.  Hardwood floors, mirrors along two walls, it was where she practiced the cheerleading dances and had worked on a bit of choreographing for their latest dance.  She also was playing around with some alternate choreography for the “Sexyback” dance.  The room had a closet with the stereo system, so Brian could likely plug in the monitoring equipment there, if Brendan thought the room was good.  No one was likely to bother him here, and it also had the advantage of being underneath the part of the house where her room was.  Just down the hall was a small, secondary stairway that lead right up to the hall her room was on, providing him with another way upstairs other than the grand staircase in the entryway.  Nodding as she figured it was a good place for him to wait, she started back towards the kitchen to get her bags and head up to her room to start to study.

Chapter 28, sometime during the School Day

Kel catches Sylvia as she's leaving one of her classes, always seeming to pop up in his usual fashion.   He smirks and says, "Check the news recently?  It seems like someone 'round here likes setting stuff on fire."

Sylvia nods solemnly enough, but there's a shine in her eyes that seems to come out only when Kel proposes one of his excursions.  "I have.  Are you thinking of taking a look?  Maybe haul along our favorite psychic photographer?"

Kel nods, "Small little excursion.  And I figure since none of us are Sherlock Holmes, we should drag Colin along this time.  You up for it?"

"Absolutely.  Do you have any idea what the security is around the scenes of the crime?  Will we have to dodge cops?"

Kel shakes his head and gives a smirk, "Not a clue, but hey, that's part of the fun."  He winks and then wanders off, "I'll call you later, I need to go find Colin."

Chapter 28, A few minutes later

Kel nearly pounces atop Colin as he rushes about the school, "Hey there Colin!"  He says in a burst of energy, his voice lowering quickly to more normal conversation tones, "Hey, by chance, do you like to play with fire?"  He gives a big wink as he speaks.

Colin jumps as Kel pounces him from behind and nearly drops all his books on the ground. The one he can't catch with his arm he saves with his right foot.

He turns to his friend and gives him a clueless look.

"Hi Kel. Ehm... I accidentally set a christmas tree on fire when I was six, and had a week of hell at home, and I can light enough of fire to roast some marshmellows, but that's not what you're talking about, are you?"

Kel laughs, mumbling something under his breath before continuing, "Not at all Colin, I'm talking about all this stuff that's been going on around here.  Well, another lead just picked up on these whacky fires, I figured some of us should go take a looksie.  Would you be up for a little outing tonight?"

"Oh! Those fires! Sure! Though... oh, I'll figure something. How do you sneak out usually?"

Kel shrugs, "I sneak out...I don't know, I hop off into a tree from my window and go out through a neighbor's yard."  He looks at Colin and then says, "Guess you don't normally sneak out?"

"Well, no. There's no tree out of my window, so i actually have to sneak through the front door. And my mom has to be asleep for that. So you either wait for me, or... Sammy's coming?"

Kel begins to smile, "Figure she could carry you out?"

"Well, it's an idea, isn't it? If she doesn't mind..." he smiles mischievously.

"She probably won't.  Alright, I'll call you later with the exact details.  See you tonight."  Kel jogs off to his next class, weaving through the crowds as he does.

Thursday, October 18th, late evening

Beep - Beep - Beep - Boop - Bop - Beep -Boop
*Ringy Dingy*  *Ringy Dingy*

Sarah waits for Megan to pick up her cell. 

Thursday, October 18th, late evening

Megan was over at her closet getting out some tops when she heard her phone ring.  Fighting her natural instinct, she moved over to her nightstand quickly (but without her superspeed), looking down at the caller ID to note it was Sarah.  She had an odd combination of disappointment that it was not John and excitement that it was Sarah.  Picking up the phone, she put it to her ear as she moved over to her bed to lie the tops down with the ones already there.  “Hey Sarah, what’s up?”

"Hey there.  Just wanted to get your super brain going on a project for me.  Costume ideas...  You know, something thats durable and will keep me warm in the cool weather but still good looking.  No fur parka's please.  We talked about it a little while ago but I've got no knack for this stuff.  Would you have any time this weekend to help me out?"  Sarah asks hopefully. 

She flips open the notebook with several bad and poorly thought out sketches of costumes that all looked roughly the same.  At some point she had given up on quality and started doing goofy stick figures of the worst super costumes she had ever seen or heard about.  Winged helmets and lightning bolts were a common theme. 

"Oh and I wanted to ask you about tonight?  Donnie was saying you were kind of... cranky?  Okay I edited his comment but is everything okay?"

“I was cranky?”  Megan asked with a slight feeling of irritation as she recalled the exchange with Donnie earlier, looking up from the various tops she had laid out on her bed.  “Donnie and Sammy were cracking jokes about the girls on the squad that have been hurt or publicly embarrassed since the start of the year, forcing them off the team and even out of the school.  I snapped back about them keeping the jokes to themselves, mentioning how I don’t sit around making jokes about what happened to you guys’ friends Rory or Rob and Donnie went off about me not having a right to talk about Rory or something.”

She signed a moment as she said, “I know what happened to Rory is terrible, but I was just trying to point out that I am not insensitive about the things that happened to him or Rob, and that Donnie should not be insensitive about what has happened to my friends.  It shouldn’t matter that the degrees of harm are different.  If also felt like they felt because my friends are cheerleaders, it’s okay to make fun of their misfortune.  While I will agree Lisa made a really dumb mistake, it didn’t need to be broadcast all over school.  I mean, jeez, Donnie is going out with Sylvia right?  Slamming on cheerleaders is like slamming on her.”  Megan purposely neglected to comment about how Sylvia was not exactly that into the entire cheerleading thing, something she figure Sarah might be aware off anyway.

As she spoke, Megan went back over to her closet to look for a couple more tops.  It felt a bit odd to be moving at “normal” speed in her room, but as Brian had put the thermal camera in place to catch the photographer, it was something she would have to remember to do for the next couple of days.  He had told her the camera was set to activate when there was a warm body in the room and remain active for 2 minutes after a warm body left.  It was digitally recording and transmitting to the computer down in her dance studio, where Brendan would be waiting Saturday night.  Brian had also told here there as a motion sensor in place that was to measure the movement of air, in case the photographer somehow did not show up on thermal.

A small kitchen fire extinguisher was tucked back between her nightstand and bed frame, hidden by the bed sheet ruffle that ran down to the floor.  She also had a tiny ear radio to communicate with Brendan when she got home Saturday night as well as a panic button set up that was tied to the house alarm system if needed.  Hopefully, everything was covered, she just had to live with the inconvenience of the camera recording for the next two nights. 

After the other members of the Con Debate team had left, she had stayed down in the basement rec room where they had been to study, thankfully her brother had earlier retreated up to his room and had not come out.  That way she had been able to study at full speed for a bit and get all her homework done to make time for the important task of picking out outfits for this weekend.

“But I don’t know if I would say my brain is ‘super’ or anything, but I’ll try to think of something.  I am probably going out shopping Saturday, so I’ll pick up some materials, particularly if anything catches my eye.”  She paused a moment, looking back at her closet as she continued.  “Sunday would really be best for me this weekend, pretty busy.  Date tomorrow night and the football game Saturday and an after-game party following that, which I am going to with John, so, another date Satruday.  Looking over things to wear for each right now in fact.”

"I don't know what to tell you about Donnie... my brain is still wrapping around it all from tonight.  Besides my costume is a much more interesting topic!  I was also wondering... do you think anyone would want a team logo?  I mean... we're not exactly a team.  But maybe if we were ... we might be more focused on what we want to do... and if there were a bunch of us maybe we'd get noticed."  

Sarah stops and thinks about something Donnie had said earlier and explains herself, "I mean, I don't want to be famous or get press... not to be famous... but well; what makes a criminal pause before committing a crime?  Is it Megan Howell, Cheerleader, Strong A student, Debate club and daughter of the mayor or is it Velocity the blond bullet?  And whats better than one super hero?  A team?  I mean, there are a few big names that work pretty well on their own but a team has more options.  You mess with one of us, you mess with all of us.  Kinda where I thought of the logo.  I emailed it to you a couple minutes ago."

When Megan checks she sees a few basic font images.  Nothing fancy because Sarah is anything but an artist. 
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h273/raventongue/us.jpg)

"That and the Usual Suspects.  Do you hate it?  It's stupid right?  Maybe the whole idea sucks.  We're not heroes we're too worried about dates and dresses and what some stupid little witch said about me in gym class.  Sorry I didn't mean one of the real witches.. "

“You don’t have to answer for Donnie Sarah, and yes, your costume is a far more interesting topic.”  Megan replied as she placed a couple more tops on her bed and looked everything over.  “I doubt Megan Howell, what ever she might be, would make any criminal hesitate a moment before committing a crime.  And Velocity is a brunette, not a blond.”  She said with a grin. 

At her friend’s comment about being a team, Megan felt a slight feeling of loneliness as she looked up from the bed.  “You all seem to be something of a team, I am the outsider.  I reveled myself because I saw what you all had, what the Banners said, others that understand what your going through, and I was tried of going though it alone.”  She paused a moment, thinking about her talk with John earlier, realizing things she should have said, and would have to Saturday.  “But it hasn’t really changed, it seems some of your group can’t see past Megan the cheerleader.  I wouldn’t have even been there at the bleachers today if John hadn’t come over during practice to tell me you all were planning to do that.”

Sitting down at her computer and opening her email and finding the new one from Sarah.  Looking at it a moment, she continued, “the one on the far right, looks more classic.”  She then looked away from the screen as she leaned back in her chair.  “And why can’t heroes be concerned about normal things like dresses and dates?  Does a hero have to sacrifice everything normal to be a hero?  I’d like to think not.”

Thursday, October 18th, late evening


Sarah shakes her head in denial of Megan's isolation and realizes that it's kind of stupid to shake her head at a phone.  "No Megan... you're not an outsider.. at least not with me.  You're always on my team... though I think it's the other way around.  I'd be on your team.  I mean.. I think one problem is that you are a solid A type personality.  Go getter, outgoing, do everything and still have time left over to goof off.  Probably helps a little that you have a new knack for it all.  Most of the rest of us are a pile of slackers, or have just been going along doing our own thing.  Heads down and just walking through school without paying much attention to the world.  That's me anyway.  I'd guess Sylvia is another A type which is why you two get along so well.  That's a little joke by the way.." 

Sarah picks up a mentalist magazine from the corner of the floor and notices dust on the cover.  She hadn't flipped through the magazine and it was a brand new issue.  Too much of the real deal to keep reading and dreaming these days.

"I think part of the reason you are on the outside is that you are always, always on the go.  I mean, I don't call that often because I just naturally figure you're off saving people or at another of your Dad's events or running into Chicago to for some quick shopping or any of a hundred other things.  Everyone in the whole group may have a reason why we don't think of you first and none of them are your fault.  A big part for some might just be jealousy.  As far as some are concerned, you've got it all and that's not always easy to deal with."  

Sarah tosses the magazine aside and grabs Burger the Bear for a hug.  "I'm a little jealous.  But it's okay.  I can deal with it... plus you're my friend since from forever so who cares.  Your talents have a natural way of separating you.  Like... like... This is totally petty sounding but..."  
Sarah gets the okay from Burger before continuing.  "That kid with the gun at school.  A few of us all had this plan to ride to the rescue but I remembered to give you a ring.  I knew if you were around you'd be faster.  I knew you could handle it.  But I still felt like an extra wheel when the rest of us came huffing and puffing up the stairs.  We find you standing there and then zoom off you go.  It's so stupid.  It's what I hoped would happen in a way because I knew the sooner that kid was down the safer everyone would be.  I mean, I know Sammy was a big part to so it's not fair to single you out."

Sarah just sighs, "But that's what happens.  You're fabulous.  If we did form a team the media would all be diving for an interview with you.  They'd assume you were the leader and the face of the team and the rest of us are grunts.  If you look at a lot of the big name teams there are usually one or two members who take up all the limelight whether they mean to or not.  I'm good with that.  I hate public speaking.  I'd just stutter and say um, um, um, um, um until they thought I was some sort of special needs super.  Doesn't help that my powers make me look like some kind of Jedi.  If I got in the spotlight I'd just be all over YouTube like that poor Starwars Kid from a few years back.  Truthfully I think you would make a good leader because your smart and clever but your talent takes you away from everybody and you can't be a leader just by being in the lead.  I guess what it really comes down to is we have to find a way to work together.  I hope we can figure it out."



Sarah dances Burger around the bed and smiles, "Thanks for not laughing at my ideas... I hope you're right about superheroes having other concerns.  I'd like to think I wont have to become a workaholic before my sixteenth birthday.  I don't know whether to bring my team idea up with anyone.  I know Colin will support the idea but everyone else kind of works in their own little group.  So I guess I feel a little isolated sometimes too.  Colin is always off saving the day either with Donnie or the others or just helping the police.  Maybe I'll put it on the back burner for a while and just see what happens.  Besides I don't have any money for a uniform yet anyway.  Which reminds me, if you see any cool designs ... let me know!  You and Sammy can not be the only well dressed ones out there.  Well Kel looks good too in a ninja-licious kinda way."

Megan listened to Sarah as she started talking about why she should not feel like such an outsider and why some of the others might have some of their strong reactions to her.  Much of it was things Megan knew, had dealt with for years really, people being jealous of her for her looks, or her money or all of it.  As for her drive, it was hard not to be that way, her father was clearly like that, her mother to a degree as well, so was her sister and even her brother.  It was either keep up with her siblings, or be viewed the disappointment. 

As the other girl explained more about things, citing the specific example of the gun incident last week, Megan could understand some of the others’ frustration.  “Yeah, I am sure things are a lot like that.  Things I have dealt with for a long time really, and I still forget at times how others likely see me.  You’ve always been a good friend Sarah, I’m sorry I let us drift apart as our interests changed.”

She grinned slightly as she sat crosslegged on her bed, looking over the tops surrounding her.  “As for that guy with the gun, well, sometimes it’s hard for me to slow down.  Sides, I wanted to get that dealt with so I could get back to flirting with Zach.  And I am not trying to lead any of you, I am sure Donnie and Sammy would take serious issue with that.  I am just tired of not being able to talk to anyone about this, having to always hide it.”

“And I don’t know if you really have to bring up the forming a team issue, seemed to me you all pretty much had set your minds on that during the meeting with the Banners.  I’d say you all are just working out the details on things right now.  But maybe there does need to be some more formal organization of things.  As for your costume, you mentioned jedi, have you though about anything maybe a bit jedi looking?  Loose, but not too loose, tunic, pants, boots and the like?  Maybe a hood and mask to help conceal your identity?”

Megan picked up one of the tops on her bed, smiling triumphantly.  “As for other concerns, I think we totally can be heroes while worrying about the mundane things.  I, for example, just found the perfect top for my date with John Saturday night.  And on the subject of boys, how are things with you and Colin?”  Putting the top aside, she waited to her what her friend had to say.

At the apology she offers, "No more apologies for who you are.  You are my friend and I don't care about a little lost past which was just as much my fault.  I don't care if you're first in class, first in line, prom queen, Miss America and get offered a spot on a big league team.  You're my friend.  I realized that on the field trip, half way down the hole in the lab.  Everything else is just... not as important." 

Sarah smiles to herself at the mention of Colin, "We're good.  At least I think so.  I mean, we aren't all over each other like some people get... I think that is partly because we've been so busy.  That and he gets a little spooky sometimes.  We can be sitting around just chatting and he suddenly gets a far off look or starts looking all soft and sad like he saw something or remembered something really sad or terrible.  I'm frustrated by my abiliities sometimes but Colin's would just make me nutty."  She laughs a little at that.  "Its also probably because I still don't know... a lot.  I'm just making this relationship stuff up as I go along.  So maybe he's totally frustrated with me and I'm clueless.  I don't know for sure but he usually speaks his mind.  I like that.  Even if I don't agree with something I at least like knowing."

Sarah shifts the same talk back to Megan's comment.  "So you have a date with the fresh meat?  Nice... I was tempted but I actually have someone for the first time in my life.  I'm not disappointed and I can settle for eye candy.  Like I'd know what to do with him otherwise.  Man.  I couldn't date a football player."

Megan could not help but smile at Sarah’s reaction to her apology.  “Thanks Sarah, that means a lot, really.  If you ever want to talk, about anything, you should never hesitate to try to call me.  I can always take a break from whatever I am doing to talk, and even if I can’t for some reason, I would get back to you as soon as I could.”

She then listens as her friend talks about her and Colin, chuckling slightly at the comment on how they were not ‘all over one another’.  “Yeah, the first time I saw what he could do was when he checked out the car Katie had been in when those goons took her from the police.  I can see how that would be rather odd and spooky.”  As Sarah starts talking about her inexperience in general, the blond teen replies, “no one ever knows everything, no matter how many magazine articles or books you read on the subject, how many friends or family you talk to or even how many other relationships you have had.  Yeah, maybe there is things to be learned from all that, but every relationship will have something that makes it different than the last, something that you might not be ready for and have to find a way to deal with.  But communicate with him, try to get a feeling of things.”

When Sarah turned things to John, Megan laid back down on her bed to look at her ceiling.  “Yeah, I do, though some would likely call it a second date, as we did go out for coffee last night.  I am also going to be going to the Halloween Party with him.”  She was quite a moment and then went on.  “Ever since Cal left, I decided I was going to try to go on some casual dates and not just quickly settle on one guy or anything.  I mean, Cal was great, and I know I was lucky for the time we spent together, but in a lot of ways, the whole thing was set up by the popular crowd upperclassmen.  Lisa is a good friend, but she was starting to steer me towards Cal on the first day of school.  I guess I just wanted to feel any further decision I made about who to date was my own.”

“But now, I am not feeling that excited about seeing what all might be out there.  There is a lot more to John that just the football, though that is nice as well.”  She said with a grin.  “I am even feeling guilty about the fact I have a date with Cory Wells tomorrow night that I set up early in the week, and he has said we would be going to a nightclub his dad owns!”  She sighed a moment.  “After this weekend, I am not planning on dating anyone else as long as John continues to show interest in wanting to see me.”  She paused another moment and the continued, her voice getting a bit down.  “But that raises the issue of what about Seth and Homecoming.  I like Seth, but I don’t think he is anyone I could ever really see myself being with.  I guess I will see what things look like after Saturday with John, cause if I break the Homecoming date with Seth, it is probably best to do it as soon as possible, so he has time to find someone else that would really like to go with him.”

"For all that I've hung out with him lately I don't know much about Seth."  replies Sarah.  "He's nice and multi-lingual and his mom is so hot she probably causes traffic accidents on a daily basis.  He can sing down the heavens and bend spoons.  I don't know what he's up to a lot of the time.  He practices a lot... and the headaches.  He's heavy and I feel guilty that I'm so relatively healthy, and trouble free when I'm around him sometimes.  I love hearing him play though.  He could probably make the balogna song rock and get a record deal out of it.  If things take off with you and John you should talk to him about it as soon as you can.  Either that or get two dresses and bring a wig..."  Sarah pauses for a moment thinking about that hokey sitcom idea, "Sorry about that.  I watched too much stupid television as a child." 

“Yeah, I remember hearing him play at the Tasty Dog after the first day of school.  He was amazing.”  Megan replied, twisting a strand of blond hair around one finger.  “I will have to see what happens tomorrow night, John is just, well, he is everything I have ever thought I would want in a guy,” Megan replies, “and more even,” she adds, recalling his revelation that he was paranormal.  “And he told me that he liked me after we left you guys at the bleachers.”

“But I will be sure to talk with Seth as soon as I can see how its going, its only fair to him.  I don’t know, maybe I will even sooner, and just not go to Homecoming if things don’t work out with John.”  Megan replied.  At Sarah’s suggestion of two dresses and a wig.  “Well, I am pretty fast, but that might be too much for even me.  If I could duplicate myself however….”

Megan was smiling at her suggestion when she remembered John talking about honesty and trust and the things she had told him.  Sarah was once her best friend, and was now probably one of her closets friends, particularly given that Lisa was at Fenwick now, and Megan only saw her at best once a week (and talked on the phone a couple times a week or so).  And even then, there were things she would not tell Lisa, that she could tell Sarah.  Her smile faded as she then said.  “Sarah, can you keep a secret?  I mean a possibly serious one?”

"I'm good at secrets." says Sarah.  "Even big ones.  It wont go past me if you need someone to tell."

Megan paused a moment, but knew she should not doubt her friend.  “I know.”  She sat upright again, looking over at where the camera was hidden.  “You know the rumors about that photographer that was getting the graphic photos from inside the girl’s showers?  This weekend, he will be coming to try and get pictures of me in my bedroom.”

"What?!?  You know who it is.. and you're... wait."  Sarah lets her brain work.  "You're setting him up?  How?  How do you know he's coming this weekend?"

“No, we don’t know who he is.”  Megan replied.  “But yeah, I am going to be the bait in an attempt to trap him.  It is not really my plan, Brendan,” she pauses a moment, realizing Sarah likely has no idea who that is.  “That’s Brendan Frye, a senior on the Con Debate team.  Anyway, he really wants to catch this guy, Laura Chapman (the team captain), said that a couple years ago his girl friend was murdered, and kind of caused him to get real withdrawn.  I think he has some guilt issues or something, and so when Brendan started looking into ways to try to catch this guy after our debate meetings, I sort of suggested that if they requested a ‘special’, that is pictures of a girl the guy didn’t have ones of, so they could know who the photographer would be after next and possibly set up the trap that way.”

“After making that suggesting, I couldn’t quite let them find some other girl to be the bait, not to mention it would make a bit of sense for Brendan to ask for a special on me, as he had checked with the middle man that was selling the pictures to find out if there were any of me, which there are not, as a favor.  So for him to come back now and ask for the pictures would not be suspicious.”

“So, the plan, to more fully control and narrow the window when this guy will be gunning for me, is tomorrow Brendan will request the special, to be delivered on Monday, so the photographer only has the weekend.  Tomorrow night I will stay out as late as I possibly can, another reason not to cancel my date with Cory, so hopefully the photographer will give up on waiting for me.  Then we hope to force him to try Saturday night.  Before I go out to the after game party, I will let Brendan in, so he can hide down in that dance studio my parents set up for me, with a video feed to the thermal imaging cameras that Brian, the head of the Science Club and also a member of the Con Debate team, set up in my room tonight.  They are hoping those will catch this guy.”

“When I come home from the party, earlier than I would normally want to,” she added with a slightly disappointed voice, “hopefully the guy will be waiting, follow me in, and we can catch him taking pictures of my while I start undressing.”

She paused a moment before she went on.  “I have not really said anything to anyone for, as I said, this is not really my plan, its Brendan’s.  I just did not want the others trying to be involved and possibly scare the guy away.  Also, I think its important that Brendan catch this guy, might help him some with his guilt issues if he ‘rescues’ me so to speak.”

“So, that’s why you can’t tell anyone, outside the Con Debate team, only you and John know.  Besides, if it comes to it, hopefully I can handle this invisible pervert.  But that is the last resort.  But it is really starting to sink in that when I come home tomorrow night, there could well be this creep waiting for me and I likely won't even know it.  Not to mention that he very likely will be coming into my room sometime this weekend, standing only a few feet away as I undress.”  She shivers slightly at the thought.  “But I have to keep going like everything is perfectly normal.”

"Uh huh, oh okay, I see...  Are you nuts???"  Sarah yells the last part into the phone.  Dropping her voice again she continues, "Sorry.. but that is so dangerous.  So you think it's someone you can't see and not just someone with hidden cameras or a powerful zoom lens or something?  I know the locker room pics had to be taken by someone hiding somehow, but invisible... Brendan might not even see anything on his camera if this person comes in.  You could get hurt.  Do you want some extra help?  I mean... I don't think I could do much to anyone I couldn't see.  "
And I've got a date with Colin... but he'd understand... though he'd want to call up everyone just like Megan doesn't want.

"I think you should ask Sammy for help.  She can sit quiet as a mouse on a roof nearby and out of sight.  If she spots someone she can let you know and she can ride to the rescue faster than anyone else I know.  Maybe if whoever it is turns visible again she could take a picture of him or her outside.  Don't those school camcorders have night vision?  Colin could score one of those easy enough for Sammy and he doesn't need to know why.  I think Sammy might like helping you out." 

It might make her feel better about herself knowing that the great Velocity came to her for help.  Heck I feel a little better just knowing what's going on in Megan's life...
"Thanks for telling me though.  Even if you don't want any help or anything... I'm glad you told me."

Megan almost laughed as Sarah yelled into the phone about being nuts.  “I know, it might be dangerous, but hopefully not too much so.  From what Brendan has learned, this guy has taken ‘specials’ of a couple of girls in their bedrooms already, so that, and an analysis Brian did of some locker room pictures has pretty much ruled out zoom lenses and the like.  And the guy only takes pictures, well, so far at least, so if for some reason the thermal doesn’t pick him up, the only harm to me is there will be pictures of me undressing possibly circulating.” 

“And like I said, I don’t want anyone else getting involved.  This is not about me, I am just the bait.  This is about Brendan and something I think he needs to do.  I have a panic button that will set off the house alarm system if needed, that will bring the police coming fast, so the guy will likely run if I set that off.  Besides, if this guy doesn’t show up on thermal imaging, night vision surly won’t help any.  We need to catch the guy in my room for any charges and the like to stick.  We have fire extinguishers to try to help counter act his invisibility as well.”

“So this stays as it is right now, the Con Debate team, you and John being the only ones that know.  Sides, I went to Sammy for some help on something yesterday, might have been a smaller thing, but I still needed her help to look into it.”

Sarah sighs, "Okay... but if you need me I'll come running.. or if you just want to talk afterwards.  Give me a buzz."

“Thanks Sarah, just try not to worry.  I’m kinda sorry for telling you as you might just spend the next couple of days fretting over this.  But thanks for listening.  And we can talk about more on Sunday, when you come over to work on your costume or just hang out.  How about eleven or so?”

"Eleven is cool.  And I'll try not to worry but you're paying for the manicure if I chew all my nails off," jokes Sarah.  "I'll talk to you later?"   

“Right, I’ll call the salon and have them block some time, just in case.”  Megan said with a smile.  “Of course.”  She replied to Sarah’s last question.  “I’ll see you tomorrow, after all, we have homeroom together.”  With that she hangs up and looks at the pile of clothes on her bed, sighing that she would have to put them all away at normal speed.