SuperNova: Heroes of Arcania Read online

  The warmth of his closeness made me heady. I whispered my answer without thinking.

  “To feel normal again.”

  I leaned in, my eyes closing in anticipation. He cleared his throat and my lids fluttered open again. Cole had stopped moving, nowhere near kissing me. Evidently I’d misjudged the mood. He was looking somewhere behind me; before I could turn to see, he met my gaze, apologetic.

  “I better go,” he said, a hand rubbing the back of his neck.

  My eyebrows furrowed. “O-okay?”

  Did I do something wrong?

  I turned to look back at a picture of Starling on my wall, next to the headline about her murder. Cole was already halfway out of the basement, like I was chasing him out of the place. He spared a wave goodbye before leaving, the door behind him closing with a click. The way he’d acted, I’d half-expected him to freeze me just to get out faster. I spent the better half of the night staring at my corkboards, but rather than thinking of Fortune, I went over the night’s events. Over and over, I tried to think of why Cole left so suddenly or didn’t make a move.

  I could only come to one conclusion. Boys are dumb.

  Penelope and I were walking to Pop’s, the nearby ice cream shop. My sister walked backwards down the sidewalk, grinning as she read a photo description off Facebook.

  “It’s a s’mores sundae,” she said. “And it looks like a doozy.”

  “Sounds like a good distraction,” I muttered.

  “From what?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Right. Nothing. You’ve been acting weird all day.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, pushing forward to get to the shop. I opened the door for her and found us a booth near the front window. Penelope rushed up to the counter and ordered the special sundae from Anna, the shop owner.

  I sat there and sulked, mad at myself for how I’d acted last night at Nova’s house. It was the perfect opportunity to spend time with her. It was my fault, asking to see her office with all her notes and findings on Fortune. When I saw the picture of Starling, it made me worry. And all of Pen’s warnings about Nova being obsessed with Fortune concerned me, too. What if Nova wasn’t ready to move on, to make room for new memories when she had so many of her sister? I didn’t want to accidentally take advantage of her in a vulnerable state, either.

  Within minutes, Penelope and I were sharing the dessert at our table. I didn’t meet Pen’s eyes, but I could feel her gaze on me. Finally, I sighed.

  “What is it you want to ask me?”

  Penelope didn’t hesitate. “What’s up with you lately?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’re moody and forgetful. I thought you wanted to go out with Amber last night and party. Did you not have fun?”

  “Yeah, I had fun.”

  “So what’s your problem?”

  I scowled at her. “It’s none of your business.”

  “It is if it gets me in trouble with Dad.” She took another bite of ice cream and I snorted.

  “As if you’re ever worried about that.”

  Her eyes flashed, a warning sign I should stop there. I thought of how to change the subject. “Hopefully we’ll go back downtown with Nova this week.”

  Rather than smile and join in, as I’d hoped, her eyes narrowed. “You seem to be looking forward to that more than I am. What’s your deal with her?”

  I shrugged. “She’s been really nice to us. She’s strong and—”

  “You’re going to tell Nova you like her.” Penelope’s tone was flat as she stared at me. She slapped her spoon into the sundae, splattering ice cream everywhere.

  I backpedaled, not wanting to get her in a tizzy out in public. That was the last thing we needed and Dad would have a fit. “I don’t know, Pen. I think she’s cool and all…”

  “You can’t date her,” she said. She picked up her spoon and went back for another ravenous bite, like she hadn’t just tried to butt into my business.

  The question came without thinking. “Why not?”

  “Because you two work together,” Pen answered, as though it were obvious.

  She’d given this some thought already. Not comforting. My mouth opened and shut a few times and she sighed.

  “It’s not that she’s bad for you or anything,” she said. “I mean, I like the sudden rebellious streak you’ve got going; I know it’s because of her. It definitely works out in my favor.”

  She spared me a smile and I resisted sticking my tongue out at her. Her smile faded as she shot me a serious look.

  “Nova is dead-set on taking Fortune down.”

  “So?”

  “So that makes her dangerous.” Penelope shrugged in a matter-of-fact way. “To us and herself.”

  “That’s why we’re helping her.”

  “Maybe that’s why you’re helping her,” she said with a pointed look. “But she could easily decide she doesn’t want our help anymore and go out on her own. And I don’t want you chasing after her and getting yourself zapped. I won’t be gentle on her if she gets you killed.”

  Despite wanting to tell her to cool it, I winced at the idea of death by electrocution. Sounds painful. “Pen, I know what I’m doing.”

  She guffawed, but said nothing else. She let her spoon fall again with a clatter.

  “You made a mess,” I said, glancing at the flecks of ice cream all over the table.

  Her thin face scowled at me. “Don’t change the subject or I’ll send the rest of it flying across the room.”

  “Don’t joke like that,” I said sharply.

  “Who says I’m joking?” she replied just as quickly and full of attitude.

  I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. “Can’t it be easy, just once?”

  She hesitated, taking in my annoyance. “What do you mean?”

  “I like living here. Whether or not I like Nova, I like doing good things with her, helping out the city. Don’t you?”

  Rather than get mad, she raised an eyebrow. “It’s better than sitting around bored stiff, sure.”

  I leaned in, making sure we couldn’t be overheard. “We don’t have to hide who we are as much here. Please try to understand that. When you threaten to use your gift and expose us, it worries me. We shouldn’t have to keep starting over. I know you hate it as much as I do.”

  Penelope sighed, the fight going out of her. “Okay, okay. I’ll keep my temper in check.”

  “Thank you,” I said, relieved.

  She held up a forefinger. “I still think it’s a bad idea to date Nova, though.”

  I swallowed back my immediate reply, instead trying to brush her keen diagnosis off. “Noted. Don’t worry; I don’t think she’s into me anyway.”

  Penelope, never the sympathetic type, checked her watch and hopped up from the booth. “I’ve gotta get a couple books from the library before it closes. I’ll see you back home.”

  She was out the door a few seconds later. I sighed, wondered if I’d ever understand my sister. As I moved to clean up the sticky chocolate mess on the table, the doorbell jingled. I’d just finished when a body plopped down in the seat across from me. I opened my mouth to tell Penelope off when I smelled perfume. I glanced up to see Amber, brown spiral curls spilling around her face. She leaned in, giving me an eyeful of her cleavage. Tempting as it was, I managed to keep my eyes on her face.

  She shot me a bright smile. “Hi, Cole. Saw you sitting over here by yourself and thought you could use the company.”

  “Pen just left—”

  “About last night,” Amber said, cutting me off, “I wanted to apologize for, um, not making it through the rest of our date.”

  “Are you feeling okay today?” I asked, my concern not entirely genuine.

  Annoyance crossed her face and I bit back a smile. Her mouth twisted as she thought of her response. “I’m great, thanks. Anyway, I was thinking we try it again next weekend? A new restaurant opened downtown and—”

 
My hand went up to cut her off. “I’m sorry Amber, but I don’t think it’s going to work out. We’re probably better off as friends.”

  Her mouth dropped into an “O,” her pretty face registering shock. Pink flooded her brown cheeks and I instinctively reached out.

  “I don’t mean to embarrass you,” I started, but she sucked in a breath.

  “No,” she interrupted, “it’s okay. Thanks for being honest, it’s rare to find a guy who’d be so upfront about it. I’m more used to being dragged along until they get tired of my texts.”

  “Well then, you should know better, because you’re a lot of fun and really hot. They don’t know what they’re missing out on,” I said honestly. “It’s just…I have feelings for someone else.”

  Amber shot me a knowing smile. “Ah, right. I should’ve figured when I saw you two by the pool last night.”

  I bit the inside of my cheek, not wanting to discuss it with her. I wasn’t dumb; girls were gossipy and I’d much rather Nova hear it from me than Amber.

  “Be good to her,” Amber continued, giving me a stern look. “She’s been through enough without you doing something stupid.”

  I gave her a faint smile, saying nothing as she prattled on. The bell chimed, ushering in new customers. With my back to the front door, I didn’t see who entered.

  “Hey, Henry! Come on up and try the sundae I told you about,” the owner said with a big, friendly smile. Her voice carried in the small space and I perked up at the name.

  Without warning, Amber waved at someone behind us. I looked around to find Henry and Nova. When I saw the look on Nova’s face, I realized what the current situation looked like: me, sharing a sundae with Amber, after I ran out of her house last night instead of kissing her like any normal guy would’ve done.

  Oh no.

  “Hey guys,” Amber said cheerfully, having no idea at the thoughts in my head.

  Henry managed a garbled hello. Nova’s wide eyes said it all. Her hand went up in a weak wave and then jerked back down to her side as though she’d thought better. She turned to Henry and whispered something to him, then disappeared to the other side of the small shop. I could make out the top of her reddish head peeking out from their booth.

  Henry moved to get their s’mores sundae, pulling out his wallet to pay. He glared at me the entire time, slapping his money on the counter. Grabbing their ice cream, he turned his back on me and didn’t look back as he slid into the side opposite Nova.

  “Well, I better go,” Amber said, pulling me back to our table. Still completely unaware of what had happened, she smiled and scooted out.

  I nodded and said my goodbyes, wondering if I should hang around and try to talk to Nova and Henry. She might punch me. I grimaced at how much that would hurt. Maybe a quick text would be better.

  My fingers flew over the keys as I sent a text to Nova. Not what u think.

  None of my biz, she texted back. There was a clatter somewhere from her side, probably dropping her phone on the table in anger.

  I sent another text, desperate to make her understand. Pen left. Amber took seat as I was leaving.

  There was a long pause, too long for my liking. My stomach tightened as I thought about all the things she could be thinking. After how I’d run out on her last night and now sitting here with Amber, I’d probably blown my shot with her. My phone finally vibrated with her reply, but my heart sank at the flat tone.

  OK. No need to explain.

  Finally I slunk out the door, knowing she didn’t want to talk to me right now. I shuffled home, angry at myself for not being honest with Nova. If I could just work up the courage to tell her how I felt, maybe things would change. Instead, I turned yellow anytime I considered the idea.

  About an hour later, someone pounded on my front door. I glanced to Penelope, who had her headphones on while she worked on an essay. Getting to my feet, I went to the door and was surprised to see Henry on the other side. I grimaced, knowing this probably wasn’t a friendly social call.

  “Hey man, what’s up?” I greeted him.

  He didn’t bother with formalities, instead giving me an angry look. His shaggy brown hair fell into his eyes; he brushed it off impatiently and shoved his glasses up on his nose. His finger snapped up to point at me. “If you’re going to jerk Nova around, we have a problem.”

  I sighed, opening the door to allow him inside. He didn’t move, confused at my reaction. Finally, I let the truth blurt out.

  “I like her, okay?”

  A whoosh of breath left Henry. “You do?”

  I nodded. “Yeah, of course I do. That thing with Amber today, that wasn’t what it looked like, but Nova wouldn’t listen.”

  Henry came inside, allowing the screen door to shut behind him. He came closer to me, though he didn’t take a threatening tone. “Look, Nova is like my sister, okay? She’s been through a lot. Too much, and now that she’s finally getting back to feeling like herself, I’m not going to let anyone hurt her.”

  “I get it, I really do. She’s awesome. I’d be blind not to see it. And I want to tell her, I just can’t seem to find the right time.” And thanks to you or my sister or bad guys, we’re never alone.

  “Especially when Amber’s involved, the girl never stops talking,” he said with a roll of his eyes.

  My hand went up to rub the back of my neck. “I hate to even ask this and get you involved, but do I stand a chance with Nova?”

  Henry’s eyebrows went up in surprise. “Dude. Ask her out. It’ll be better for everyone.”

  Relief flooded through me. “It’s less scary now that I know she’ll say yes.”

  “She’s still healing from…ya know,” Henry trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck. His own face showed remorse; surely he’d been close to the little girl, too. “But I know she wants things to be normal.”

  Normal. The wish Nova had expressed to me last night. Henry knew more than he realized. I nodded solemnly. “Trust me, I’m all in.”

  “She’s pretty mad. I doubt she’ll text you back tonight.” Henry brushed a lock of hair out of his face.

  “I’ll let her cool off and try to explain to her in person tomorrow. If she’ll let me,” I added.

  “She will, just be honest with her.” Henry hesitated and shoved his hands in his front pockets. He glanced to me before looking down at his shoes. “Hey, I hope it’s okay I asked your sister out. I don’t want to be a dick or anything—”

  I held up a hand. “Trust me, Penelope knows how to take care of herself. I don’t tell her who to date.”

  His posture relaxed. “Cool.”

  We stood there for a moment, an awkward silence drifting over us. Henry cleared his throat, gesturing to the door. “Well, I better go, I have to write my personal essay for a college application.”

  We shared a fist bump and he left. I stared after him for a moment, thinking about what he’d said. My lips pulled back into a grin. I’m telling Nova how I feel tomorrow.

  “I guess I’m done dating him.”

  I jumped, turning around to see Penelope at the bottom of the stairs. “How long have you been standing there?”

  “Right about the time Henry practically asked for your permission to date me. Too bad, I thought he’d be a little more reckless about kissing his friend’s sister.” A grin dashed across her face.

  My upper lip curled back. “Please refrain from details. Besides, if you’re looking for wild, I doubt he’s it. Henry’s a good guy.”

  I clomped back downstairs and took my seat at the other end of the couch. She flopped down onto her side, pulling a textbook back into her lap.

  Her nose wrinkled. “I don’t know if I want to date someone that you approve of.”

  I laughed, turning back to my homework. I could hardly concentrate, instead thinking up scenarios to prepare for tomorrow at school. I would suck it up and tell Nova how I felt. I only hoped it wouldn’t scare her off instead.

  After the embarrassment at my house and at the
ice cream shop, I locked myself in to do homework for the rest of the weekend. Henry was the only one to text me. Cole had been wise to let me steam it off last night rather than try to go out.

  I felt like an idiot. A confused idiot. Did Cole like me or not? I finally wanted to let someone in, but it was hard not to be offended by him practically running off the other night. The memory made my face burn with embarrassment.

  I managed to avoid Cole on Monday up until our class. I even considered skipping, which would be a first for me, but decided that would look immature. My stomach dropped when I entered the room and saw him already waiting for me at our table. I slunk into my seat, letting my red-blond hair fall like a curtain between us. I made a show of setting up my things, not looking at him. Before he could open his mouth, our teacher started class.

  Not a minute later, he scribbled onto his notebook and turned it my way. I’m sorry.

  After a glance at the teacher, who droned on by the whiteboard, I wrote back on my page: ??

  Leaving your house like that.

  It’s fine.

  I left it at that, hoping he’d take the hint. No luck, however, as he continued on. I don’t like Amber.

  OK, I replied in big letters. I retraced them, blue ink marring the corner of my page.

  Still I didn’t glance at him, but I felt him growing frustrated next to me. He sighed, sitting there for a few minutes. I refused to give him the satisfaction of reacting. Despite my initial anger at him, I started to wonder if I was being too hard on him. I mean, I couldn’t very well be the bigger person if I at least didn’t hear him out, right? Right before I turned to scrawl on my paper, his pen moved to his own notebook again.

  I like YOU. There, I said it!!

  My cheeks flushed, a smile creeping over my face with no hope of hiding it. Cole must’ve noticed the cracking tension, and underlined the first three words a couple times. I giggled, quickly shoving it back when Mrs. Slater shot a glance our way. I stared at the words again, at him finally coming out and saying it.

  Technically, you wrote it. My pen moved fast across the line.

  This time, his hand came over to my page. His hand brushed against mine just so as he scribbled. My stomach did a little flip as I waited for him to finish. He wrote out, just like in an elementary school love letter, one basic multiple choice question.