Red

by Richard P Rigoli

  “Number two,” Olivia continued after a moment, “She seems to be able to collect followers. I mean, look at poor Sarah over there.” They both looked over at the blonde Rowan girl. “She doesn’t seem to have a personality of her own—like it got sucked into Kendra or something.” She closed her bottle and pointed the top of it at Ashley. “Oh, and that girl is like her evil Second. She couldn’t have found a meaner girl!”

  “Are we talking about superpowers or DC villains, Livs?” Emma countered.

  “Rai has been training us well, fellow Padawan Learner.” Olivia laughed. “I like this game! Let’s do some more.”

  Emma smiled widely at her friend. What Olivia had said about Kendra did strike a chord. Superpowers would explain what happened to their lunch table.

  She and Olivia scanned the lunch crowd, and eventually came up with a rating system for who might have powers. If people were just average or slightly above average, they were in column “C” for “Common.” Next, they decided whether they were exceptional enough to be paranormal. Once decided, they would be placed in column “A” for how heroic they seemed or in column “B” if they seemed evil. Olivia called it the “Jerk Index.” Emma tried to label column B as “Antagonists,” but Olivia held her ground for the label of “Jerks.”

  The two girls settled back, and Olivia pointed out the Arrens’ table. Sean sat resplendently back in his chair, dragging a pick across the strings of the latest guitar he had made in woodshop. To Emma, he looked like a black cat reclining in a sunny window, completely devoid of any care in the world. He didn’t seem to worry about school, teachers, or anything else. He also seemed to enjoy finding ways around the school dress code. The day’s technical violation was a black shirt with removable sleeves. He was the type of guy that most girls had at least one fantasy about and every good father dreaded.

  “Oh, yes,” Olivia whispered with a sigh, “Definitely him.”

  “Are you saying that because he’s hot?”

  “He’s hot, yeah,” Olivia replied. “But he’s got that whole ‘too cool to care’ and ‘I might be kind of dangerous’ thing going on, too.”

  Emma looked in the direction of Olivia’s gaze and also checked Sean out. His eyes were dark, almost as black as his hair, and for someone who wore black and grey all the time, he didn’t give off a depressed, overly-emotional vibe. Emma leaned on her hand and caught herself staring dreamily at him. “Yeesh! Maybe you’re right about him!”

  “See what I mean?” Olivia gleefully smiled.

  Emma wasn’t sure whether that qualified him as a superhero or a villain. They argued about him being an A or a B for most of the lunch period. Eventually, they placed Sean in a new antihero category by himself. Emma leaned in to whisper while Olivia continued looking around the lunchroom. “I think it has to be more than just matching eyes and hair or being sexy. I’ve been thinking about what kinds of things would stand out as extraordinary compared to average.”

  Olivia looked like she was mulling it over. “If we’re going to point out something that shows up in a physical or noticeable way, I’d pick Jordan.”

  Emma sucked in a breath. “Jordan?”

  “Yeah,” Olivia answered as she folded her fingers together. “He feels powerful. I don’t know how else to describe it.”

  Emma bobbed her head in agreement.

  The bell rang, and Olivia said, “Let’s continue this in art class.”

  28

  HOW ‘LO CAN YOU GO?

  Over the following weeks, things settled into a strange new normal. Rai would show up at her window late every Saturday for their usual superhero discussion over snacks in her room. Now, Rai included himself when discussing powers and which hero could beat whom. Emma was in complete agreement that Rai could beat Aquaman or Green Arrow but refused to relent on Batman.

  “He doesn’t even have powers!” Rai complained.

  “He didn’t need them to beat Superman.” Emma countered.

  “Is Dark Knight even canon?” Rai said petulantly.

  “Don’t try that canon or retcon stuff. You always go there when you’re losing the argument.” Emma said with a laugh.

  He was also working on his official costume and Emma was happy enough to break out her pad and pencils to help him design it. Neither one of them could sew, so the suit was going to stay in the “concept” stage until they figured out how to get it made.

  Tuesdays and Fridays had become her “Jordan afternoons.” Emma and Olivia carefully coordinated with each other for those two days a week to be boyfriend time, so dates didn’t interfere with girlfriend time. Much coffee was consumed, deep conversations enjoyed, and eyes stared into. Emma even tried riding his motorcycle once in the dirt parking lot behind the Cypress. That idea didn’t go so well. But she only scraped her elbow and Jordan was able to get that dent out of his bike.

  Jade was like a ghost, only appearing occasionally on the edges of Emma’s school day. She always had the guitar case. Emma decided to give her friend the time she needed even though questions about the sword—she knew was in that case—nagged at her relentlessly. Rai grudgingly agreed with waiting for Jade to come forward on her own, but demanded Emma let him know the moment she learned anything.

  ***

  One morning in March, dressed for work and looking annoyingly cheerful, Cassandra poured fresh cups of coffee. She smiled almost too widely at her daughter as Emma finally made it downstairs for breakfast. Setting off warning bells in Emma’s mind, she considered running back upstairs. But the scent of java proved too strong a lure.

  “What’s on your mind, Mom?” Emma asked, accepting the offered cup.

  “I was just thinking, isn’t the Junior/Senior Prom coming up?”

  There it was. “Maybe,” Emma hedged. “I hadn’t been paying attention really.”

  “Oh,” the older Vanora frowned, “Jordan hasn’t asked you, yet?”

  Emma took a long sip while she desperately considered the best way to escape this conversation. “Mom, maybe he’ll ask me or maybe he won’t.”

  “Isn’t he your boyfriend?” Cassandra asked.

  “Yeah! I mean, I think he is.” Emma said frowning. “We haven’t labeled it or anything!”

  “Well,” Cassandra began, tapping her finger against her chin disapprovingly, “you’ve certainly gone out together enough. I hope he’s not taking advantage, dear.”

  “Mom, can we not do this?” Emma pleaded.

  “Now, hear me out,” Cassandra continued. “I know what goes on these days. You shouldn’t let him—”

  “—let him what?” Emma interrupted, feeling her face heat.

  “Let him—” Cassandra seemed to consider for a moment “—check out your books without even signing a library card.”

  “Nobody is checking out any books, Mom.” Emma said and couldn’t help rolling her eyes.

  “Good,” Cassandra nodded. “They need to respect you, Dear.”

  “Don’t you have a client to meet this morning?” Emma suggested.

  “Yes! I’m picking them up at ten.” Cassandra moved around the bar and cupped Emma’s cheek. “Thank you for the reminder.” She kissed the top of her head. “I love you.”

  Emma looked up, relieved this awkward conversation was over. “Love you, too, Mom.”

  “Well, I’d better get going.” Cassandra grabbed her purse and computer bag, then headed off to her appointment. “Be careful driving.”

  Olivia was attending the funeral of her second or third cousin on her dad’s side of the family in El Paso and would not be back until tomorrow. She had texted photos of a packed funeral reception complete with a Mariachi band. Emma couldn’t even imagine having a family that size. She texted Olivia back sending her condolences, but privately she couldn’t wait for her friend to return. With Olivia out of the picture that meant Emma had to drive to school in the Vanora spare vehicle.

  Taking the Jeep’s keys from the counter, she walked out to the garage. The word “spar
e” loosely described the old Wrangler stored in there. Emma hefted the large door, stood in the opening, and stared at the old Jeep. She probably should have tried starting it last night.

  It took a few turns to get it going, but it eventually rumbled to life with a cough and a blast of black exhaust. As far as Emma was concerned, it was a decrepit old piece of road history, but her mom kept it for emergencies like this. Emma also suspected it reminded her mom of happier times with her dad. He loved classic vehicles—well, pretty much anything old. He had been in the process of restoring it before he left.

  Emma rolled the monster gingerly out of the garage and let it idle in the driveway. While getting out to close the door, a photo fell out from the visor. It was an image of her and her dad waving to someone from the Jeep, probably her mom. Sudden and unbidden emotions welled at seeing it. Emma loved her dad while simultaneously hating his guts for leaving them. It was very confusing and overwhelming.

  Her phone chimed from her purse. Emma wiped her eyes and pulled it out to read the message.

  “You okay?” It was Jordan and she smiled.

  “I’m good.” She typed, getting back in the Jeep.

  “Cool, just felt like I needed to check.” He added with a heart emoji.

  Emma engaged the Jeep and took her time driving to school. The old car only backfired once on the way, and thankfully, it happened far enough from campus that no one heard. It wasn’t that Emma couldn’t drive, she just preferred riding as a passenger. Especially in vehicles that weren’t this one.

  “You know there’s something deeply wrong with that engine, right?” Jordan said as they walked to class.

  “Don’t even get me started on the Jeep.” Emma complained.

  “Okay, okay. But if you hate driving it so much I could have picked you up.”

  “Your bike scares me more than the Jeep.” Emma scoffed.

  “Fair enough,” Jordan conceded. “But me and my scary bike are going to look pretty good when that thing breaks down.”

  “I’ll take it under advisement.” Emma replied, sticking out her tongue.

  It was hard to miss that prom was coming up. Decorative signs were posted everywhere, with reminders for students to “buy their tickets early!” Girls were receiving pre-prom roses and balloons everywhere. Even Lisa even received a singing telegram from her date that was sung by two members of the Choir’s Glee Club right in the middle of Art. So far there had been no mention of prom at all from Jordan. Should she have brought it up? Was prom really that important to her? It never had been before.

  After school, Emma sat in the Jeep in the school parking lot after last period. Kendra drove by and the redhead looked sad. Emma could not help but wonder about her. Rai would know if Kendra was paranormal. But he took the whole ‘secret identity’ concept very seriously and wouldn’t say, not even to Emma. Then there was Jade. Emma didn’t see her at all today and wondered if her friend was okay. The last time Emma had tried texting her at the new number, she’d gotten a reply hours later saying, “Can’t talk yet.” It was weird.

  ***

  Olivia’s bright and cheery self was back to pick her up the following morning.

  “Prom is in the gym this year,” Olivia announced as Emma got in. “But don’t worry about that. It’s still going to be epic.”

  “I thought they always did it at a fancy hotel.”

  “The new floor they put in the gym ate up the fancy hotel money,” Olivia explained.

  “That sucks,” Emma agreed.

  “Then, because of Kendra, or maybe her dad, we raised enough money to do the hotel thing after all,” Olivia said with a smile.

  “So, is it going to be in the gym or at a hotel?” Emma asked, feeling confused “—and did you just compliment, Kendra Radcliff?”

  “Yes, she’s mean. But sometimes you need a mean girl to get things done.” Olivia explained. “Especially when the mean girl is super rich. We were about to reserve the fancy hotel ballroom but decided to use the now-totally-fat budget to deck out the gym with a fifties theme!”

  “Oh, that sounds fun!” Emma had to agree.

  “We even got a live band!” Olivia announced as she pulled into the lot.

  ***

  Three days before the prom, and Jordan still hadn’t asked her. Emma was beginning to panic despite herself. Even Rai planned to go and even asked Amber Walker, and he hated dances. It was further proof of Rai’s improved level of confidence now that he considered himself a superhero.

  Sitting in Monroe’s history class, Emma was still pouting when she felt a student at her right reach over her shoulder and drop a note in her lap. She quietly opened and read it.

  Hey, Em. This is from Connor. Want to go to the prom with me? Check yes if you want to go.

  The note included two checkboxes, and both were labeled “Yes.”

  Emma read it again and couldn’t help but smile. The note was so amazingly cheesy and yet adorable. She turned to look at Connor sitting in the back row. He was grinning that really wide grin of his back at her and winked.

  When class ended Emma had no idea what she was going to tell the guy. Connor was leaning on the door waiting for her. “’Lo, Em.”

  “Hey, Connor,” she replied. “Got your note.”

  “Yeah, I saw.” Connor answered. “So, you in?”

  “Thanks for asking, Connor. But you know I’m dating Jordan, right?”

  “Everybody knows that, but I heard he wasn’t going.” Connor replied. “Did he ask you already?”

  “No,” Emma admitted. “He hasn’t talked to me about prom yet.”

  “But you want to go, don’t you?” He asked reasonably.

  “Maybe,” Emma said and tried to sound casual about it when she really wanted to go.

  “I think you should go if you want to go.” Connor said as he unwrapped a small green candy and popped it into his mouth. “I’d be happy just being the guy on your arm if you change your mind, Em.” He smiled and walked off, leaving Emma smiling too.

  ***

  Emma walked with Olivia to the parking lot and saw Jordan waiting for her at the edge.

  “I’ll be waiting at Flower.” Olivia said, skipping away.

  As she neared Jordan, Emma saw that he had a weird expression on his face. “What’s up?” She asked.

  “I had a talk with Connor,” He said simply, and Emma felt a sudden stab of concern.

  “Is he… okay?” she asked.

  “It’s Connor,” Jordan said thoughtfully. “Was he ever, quite right?”

  “No, I mean, you didn’t hurt him or anything, did you?”

  “I’m not sure what you mean.” Jordan said shaking his head. “He came up to me to tell me off.”

  “Did he?” Emma asked, now less fearful and more intrigued.

  “He had a lot to say about you and being a proper boyfriend. It was humbling.” Jordan explained. “I mean, he does have some weird ideas but a lot of what he said made sense.”

  “Like what?” Emma asked.

  “Like that I’m kind of clueless about some things,” He admitted. “I figured since you hadn’t brought up prom, you weren’t interested in going.”

  “Ugh.” Emma made a face.

  “But you are, aren’t you?”

  “Yeah,” Emma bobbed her head, “and I should have said something.”

  “I’ve never had a girlfriend before, not really.”

  “So, I’m your girlfriend?” Emma asked, grinning at him.

  “Aren’t you?” Jordan looked exasperated. “Aren’t we?”

  “I want to be,” Emma confirmed.

  “Me too!”

  “So, then we are.” Emma said.

  “Awesome. Do you want to go to prom with me?” Jordan asked.

  “I would love to,” Emma answered.

  “I don’t know how to dance,” Jordan said.

  “We’ll manage.” She beamed.

  29

  PROM NIGHT

  “Stop struggling and
let me get this clasp!” Cassandra barked as she tightened the red dress closed around Emma’s waist.

  “There’s a rib there that’s already moved as far as it’s going to go, Mom!” Emma complained.

  “It’s not even that tight.”

  “I’m amazed women still… torture themselves… to fit into outfits like this,” Emma scowled between breaths as her mom fastened the last clasp and zipped up the dress.

  “There,” her mother confirmed. “That wasn’t so bad was it?”

  “Maybe,” Emma pouted.

  “Oh, for goodness sake, we haven’t even got your heels on yet.”

  “Can’t I just wear the flats?”

  “Not with a side slit like this,” Cassandra said.

  “Why are there so many rules?”

  “There just are, Dear.” Cassandra laughed and started to expertly lace up Emma’s pumps.

  “Well, that was fun, but I’m going to go brood now,” Emma said as she tried to wobble away.

  “Oh, no you don’t!” Cassandra ordered. “We have to do your hair.”

  Her mom gathered Emma’s long hair into a beautiful coiffure with soft ringlets that fell around her face and neck. She watched the transformation in the mirror in amazement. Olivia worked what Emma had considered magic on her for Kendra’s party. But her friend was an amateur compared to what her mother managed. For the final additions, Cassandra brought out a three-strand pearl choker, matching earrings, and a transparent-red, chiffon scarf to serve as a wrap.

  “You look so pretty!” Her mom gushed, standing back with her phone, snapping pictures. The doorbell rang, and Emma felt her stomach lurch. Cassandra flew out of the room to answer it, her small feet thudding down the stairs. Or was that her own heart pounding?