The Distort Arc: Cape High Books 1-4 (Cape High Series Omnibus)

by R. J. Ross

"It's not him. Trent and Max are fully qualified, working capes. Of course Trent's still learning to fly, but honestly most capes never do learn. He qualifies as a super. The rest of you--"

  "Even your own kids?" I interrupt.

  "Especially my own kids," he says without missing a beat. "Zoe could take out half a city if she wasn't careful, Sunny could do the same, maybe worse. Sometimes I miss the peacefulness of being stuck in the cells, honestly. Back then I never had to worry about richter scales."

  He puts his toy on the table and lets out a sigh. "I'm going to tell you this straight out. Both of you are a pain in my neck. I've got enough to deal with with the zoo kids, okay? So when you think of your tragic background stories and start sobbing over yourselves, think about it like this, you both did it to yourselves."

  We look at each other, then back at Nico. "I didn't do anything! My powers just kicked in!"

  "Tell me honestly that you didn't know it was going to happen," Nico replies. When Justin falls silent, he turns to me. "And what about you? No protests?"

  "No," I say. "I got what I had coming." I look at my hand, staring at the swirl of metal lacing the flesh. "At least it looks cool." What? It does!

  "I'm proud of you," Nico says to my shock. "Not many people would even think that. The 'had it coming' part, not the cool part."

  "It's how life works, right? You run away from a foster home, you get stuck in someplace nastier, it's your own fault. You break the law, you get tossed in juvie, you..." I can't help but think of Derrick right now. "Stuff like that," I finish lamely.

  "You're right," Nico says.

  "That's why there's lawyers!" Justin protests.

  "A poor guy can't afford a lawyer," I mutter, glaring at him. "And if there's no adults that are willing to back you up, well, you're lucky if you make it at all."

  "You trying to say I've had an easy life?" Justin demands. "You're saying that you're a poor, misunderstood--"

  "Oh shut up, would you?" I snap, getting to my feet. "You don't know me. You don't know what I've been through. So how would you know what I'm saying?"

  "I made it to where I am on my own," he snarls, getting to his feet and in my face. "I worked my butt off to get where I was--"

  "Then you can get back there," Nico interrupts as my hands fist at my sides. "After you learn to control your abilities. Or don't you know what a big deal a singing cape would be? And before you get on Jack about not becoming anything, look at him for a moment." He doesn't seem nearly as tightly wound as we are, in fact he's back to playing with his toy. Shouldn't he be trying to break it up again?

  "What about him?" Justin demands.

  "He's a future poster boy for the school, if he can get his act together," Nico says bluntly. "I have high expectations for you, Jack. Even if I have to beat you into living up to them."

  I think I'm offended by that fact. "You shouldn't," I mutter.

  "I'm looking forward to beating it into you, honestly. Or, if you're talking about expectations, I know you better than you know yourself at the moment. Get used to that fact." Then he looks at Justin. "You, on the other hand, I expect to run the moment we give you a chance. If it wasn't Double M that was pushing so hard for your training, I would probably let you get away with running away. It's not my fault you risk your audience's lives."

  "So basically you don't even care about my training," Justin says, looking a little stunned.

  "What part of ex-super villain do you not understand? Thing is, I would care, if you did," Nico says. "But since you don't, why should I? I'll only put as much effort into teaching you as you'll put into learning."

  "That's--"

  I stop listening. My mind is reeling over the idea of having someone expect things out of me. Sure, they used to say they expected me to act a certain way, but no one looked surprised when I didn't. Even Marge had only given me a look of disappointment whenever someone told her I'd done something wrong.

  Well, you know, Nico expects me to become a super villain, so I guess doing the wrong thing is doing the right thing in this case, right? So... man, this is more than my head can wrap around. I reach up, rubbing the side of my head, that smooth steel plate. Maybe... you know... maybe it's something I can do. I know how to play a guitar, a little, I really could play up the whole heavy metal thing--especially if I can control metal, right? Wouldn't a metal guitar be an awesome weapon? Not that I really need one. I mean, look at my hand. But it'd look really cool! And Banshee works here, right?

  "Hey," I say abruptly. "Banshee teaches music, right?"

  The two of them look at me blankly, stopping their conversation. "You're not listening again." Justin accuses me.

  "Do I need to?" I say with a shrug. "We've got a music class, right?"

  "Yeah, we do," Nico says. "Why?"

  "Because I think a metal guitar would be awesome."

  "Why not?" Nico says. "Good guy musician, bad guy musician--we could set you two up as nemesis, if we can train you enough to make it look like you're winning without Jack obviously throwing the fight."

  "Why does he get to win?" I demand. Wait, shouldn't I be complaining about being paired up with the guy in the first place?

  "Super hero, super villain," Nico says, pointing to Justin then to me. "That's how it works. Well, once in a while you can win, but in the end, he's got to win. It sucks, I know," he admits. "But being a super is more photo op than black op when we're not up against real crisis, which means we give the audience what they want. The world wants the good guy to win--barely. There's got to be the chance he could lose for it to be interesting."

  A tiny sound came from behind us and I glanced at the stairs. Aubrey stands there, looking a bit lost. "Lunch is over," she says. "Are they done?"

  "Yeah, for now," Nico says. "Think about it, guys, I don't expect you to agree to it straight off, but it's an interesting idea."

  I look at Justin, wondering why he's looking so thoughtful. It's probably the idea of getting to beat me more often than not. "Why can't I go up against Sunny or Trent?" I ask, standing.

  "Because Trent's already paired up against Max and Sunny's got plans that don't include wearing a uniform. But we've got a few other up and coming capes... except, don't touch Morgan," he adds abruptly. "In fact, if you're in the same room I want you on the opposite side, got it?"

  "Why?" I ask.

  "Because it could kill her."

  "Which one's Morgan?" Justin asks.

  "I'll show you," Aubrey says, looking pale. "I never even thought about that," she admits.

  "Yeah, thankfully it hasn't happened," Nico says.

  "Is that for both of us?" Justin asks. "Or just tinman?"

  "Just Jack," Nico says. "You can touch her. We'll probably lose several windows and mirrors, but it won't kill anyone."

  "What is she?" I ask.

  "She takes your abilities and uses them as her own," Aubrey says.

  "You know her?"

  "She's my best friend." The brilliant smile that comes with that statement has my heart beating a bit too loud. Stupid, stupid, stupid, Jack! The last crush you had almost got you killed! Yeah, I can tell myself that, but even I know I'm a moron.

  "Hi," Justin says, crossing over to Aubrey. "I don't think we've been properly introduced. I'm Justin."

  Is he doing this to torment me? He glances over his shoulder at me. Yeah, yeah he absolutely is. My hands fist for a second as she shakes his hand. This is way too much like Zoe and Max. I start liking someone and someone smoother than me comes in and takes her. Actually, now that I think about it, that sums up most everything in my life, doesn't it?

  "Aubrey," she says, looking Justin straight in the eyes. "It's time for class," she adds abruptly, tugging her hand free and looking at me. "Are you coming, Jack?"

  "Yeah," I say, stepping forward so I stand right next to Justin. "We ain't out in public yet," I say coldly before walking past him and grabbing Aubrey's hand to tug her down the stairs, away from the world-famous musician.

>   "Jack!" she says.

  "What?"

  "He's in the same class."

  I let out a curse.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  The classroom is half full with kids, and there's obvious cliques, just like high school. On one side there's Zoe and Sunny's group, lounging in their chairs as they chat. On the other side are kids that I'm assuming are the zoo kids. Aubrey stops, looking at the groups with a frown on her face as the girl that clearly leads the zoo kids waves to her.

  "Over here, Aub!"

  "Um--" Aubrey says, looking at me. "That's Morgan." The one I can't get near. I look at her curiously for a moment, short brown hair, decent face, long and lean body, like a runner. "I can't--" Aubrey starts out.

  I let go. "Go on," I say, nudging her forward before looking over at Zoe's group. I really don't want to sit with them, but it looks like I've got no choice. Trent's in the back, which would leave me sitting next to him and behind Sunny's girlfriend. Zoe and Max are in the front. Sure, there's a seat next to the one I'm looking at, but it's in the middle of the room, which is too close to Morgan. I head for the furthest chair, dropping down next to Trent and blinking as a lunchbox is dropped onto my desk. "I left you some," Trent says.

  I look at him for a moment before opening the box and pulling out a three inch thick sandwich, a bag of chips and a coke. Sure it's class, but I missed lunch. I start eating. I'm starving. It feels like I've been lifting weights all morning long.

  Justin steps in and drops down into the final chair, right next to me. He glares at me as one of those forgotten heroes in a blue and white uniform steps in front of the class. The hero's got white hair and a six pack, which in itself is a disturbing combination. I can almost remember his name... almost. Man it's going to drive me crazy trying to remember.

  "Welcome to Super History," he says, pulling open a book and placing it on a podium. "Get out your books and turn to page two oh one." Trent scoots over, sharing his book with me as if I would actually listen, much less follow along in the book. Super heroes. "Is there a reason you feel you can eat in my class, Jack?" the teacher asks me. Bolt... something. It's definitely got Bolt in it somewhere... man, WHAT is his name again?

  "Nico took my lunch hour," I say between bites. "And I'm starving."

  "I see," he says thoughtfully. "Then try and eat quietly, would you?"

  Wait... that actually worked? It must have because he's starting to lecture us on the original Hall formation. I finish off my food, down my coke, and lean back in my seat, absently paying attention. This is a lot more interesting than regular history. Especially when I realize that the history book is a comic book.

  Man, supers must have really short attention spans or something.

  ***

  Marge had never liked him, Derrick thinks as he peeks around the corner of the neighboring house. She wouldn't tell him what had happened to Jack, even if Jack was dead. A scowl crosses his face as he thinks about what to do--then it leaves completely as he sees the nerdy girl step off the bus.

  Gina. Jack disliked Gina, mostly because of her taste in music, but Derrick isn't that picky. He starts for her, shoving his hands in his pockets and doing his best to look innocent and concerned. She's a girl, right? She probably thinks that a guy would want to check in on his best friend. That it's been a few months... well, he just hopes that Jack was right about how stupid she is.

  "Hi," he says, giving her a grin.

  "Um--uh... hi," she says. There's a hunted look in her eyes and she glances around, seeing if anyone is watching. That means she either doesn't trust strangers or she knows who he is, Derrick decides.

  "I'm Derrick," he says. "A friend of Jack's."

  "Yeah, I know," she says, only to flush brightly. That reaction, he thinks, his eyes widening ever so slightly before his grin threatens to turn triumphant. She's that sort. The sort that likes bad boys. He can use that, he decides. He'll have Jack's whereabouts by the end of the day.

  "You're Gina, right?"

  ***

  I... have no clue how things turned out this way. No, not the fact that I'm walking back to the apartment with a group of supers, or even the way Aubrey is walking alongside me, telling me a story about something that happened during lunch. She's grinning widely, because it's about how Morgan did something funny. Okay, maybe it is this. How did I wind up like this?

  The only guy I got into a fight with today is now lined up to be my nemesis. The girl I'm sort of crushing on is grabbing my hand and telling me I'm walking too slow, and the rest of the group hasn't shot me a look of loathing yet. In fact Sunny's slowing down so he's walking next to me.

  "So," he says, patting me on the back, "I heard about you and Justin."

  "What about it?" I ask, glancing at him.

  "If you're his nemesis, doesn't that mean you've got to go to his shows?" he asks, evilly. "Poor guy, that would SUCK," he adds, shaking his head in a mournful manner.

  I stare at him, then let out a curse. "I don't want to go to his shows!" I wail. Trent starts laughing his head off, so I dig through my pocket, pulling out a piece of metal that I've been playing with since the junkyard. He's a tank, right? So this shouldn't kill him. I roll the metal into a ball and throw it, hitting him in the back of the head. It bounces off like a paper ball. He reaches up to rub his head before turning and tackling me to the ground.

  He's grinning in a purely evil way as I try to shove him off. I roll him over, taking the top spot and make a fist. "You try sitting through his CD and say it's funny," I say, fighting a grin. He shoves me off, sending me flying into a pole.

  I grunt and stand, then reach down, picking up the broken pole. If I focus, I think, maybe I can make this--

  "Put it down, Jack," Nico says. "School's out. If you want a brawl you can have it tomorrow. Although, since you've got detention in the morning, it'll have to wait." It had been decided that we'd work on the bathroom in the morning, after they bring in the new mirrors. I'm not looking forward to a morning with Justin. At all.

  I raise the pole, then sigh and toss it to the side, feeling my muscles complain. "I feel like I've been dragging a mac truck all day," I complain, rubbing my shoulder. "Why are there so many freaking stairs around here?"

  "Because sooner or later most of you will learn to fly," Nico says.

  "Will I?" I ask.

  "Not likely. But you'll get used to the weight."

  Yeah, not helping. "I'm taking the elevator," I mutter as I get in line to go in.

  ***

  "So," Derrick says, tugging Gina closer. She's followed him all too easily, and now they're in the abandoned park down the street. No one ever comes here, the slides and swingsets are rusted and covered in graffiti. It's the perfect place for this little conversation. "I bet the house seems pretty empty now, huh?"

  "Yeah, I mean, I like having my own room and all, but it's a lot quieter."

  "So who all left?"

  "Well Sunny and Zoe got picked up by their dad--he's like this pro-wrestler or something, he's even got a white streak in his hair. He looks like a total bad guy. And then Jack went and got himself turned into a freak. Oh--but--um, you knew that, right? You were friends."

  "I knew, yeah, but nobody wants to tell me if he's okay," Derrick says. "Your foster mom, she doesn't approve of me," he drawls.

  "Um, yeah, but--but that's just because you dropped out of school, right? She thinks everyone should graduate."

  "School's for losers. I've got more important things to do than sit around being yelled at by adults." She looks away and he wonders if he's said the wrong thing. "I mean, I get why you're still in it, since you're living with her--"

  "I don't like school," she says, looking at him again. "But I have to go."

  "Yeah," he says, reaching up and touching her chin with his knuckle. "Hey," he says as she gives him a wide-eyed look. "Can you tell me something?" he asks, leaning down so he's eye to eye with her.

  "Ye--yeah?"

  "Do you know how Jack is?
I'm really worried about him."

  "Oh!" she says, pulling back. "Jack's fine," she says. "Marge says he got out of the hospital the other day and is going to a new school--a special school for guys that look like that, I guess, otherwise it'd really freak out his classmates, right?"

  "Do you know where he's living?" Derrick asks.

  "Nope," she says. "But Marge did say something about Sunny and Zoe for some reason..." She shrugs. "Maybe they're going to the same school, since they were pretty weird, too."

  "That's all you know?"

  "Yeah, pretty much," she admits. "But... um... I think Marge has his new number..."

  "Can you get it for me?"

  "I think so? I'll try. But I need your number," she says. "Or email or something. You know, so I can get ahold of you?"

  "Sounds good."

  ***

  Before the doors of the elevator slide shut in front of me, Zoe shoves her way in, looking determined. "We're going to talk," she says. "Whether you want to or not, got it?"

  "How's Max?" I ask blandly.

  "He's perfectly fine, thank you, but this isn't about him. This is about you and me--"

  "There is no you and me," I interrupt.

  "And Aubrey!" she finishes.

  I stare at her blankly. "What?" I ask, when the explanation doesn't appear.

  "It's obvious, okay? She's got some strange idea in her mind that you're a nice guy! Sure, we both know better, but before she found out about you she didn't even talk to people!"

  I stare at her. "So... you want me to leave her alone?"

  "No!" she says. "I can't believe I'm actually saying this--I hate liars, you know. This is ridiculous and I wish I knew another way--"

  "Zoe, just say it already!" I snap.

  "If you even like her just a little bit don't you dare treat her like you treated me!" she says, turning on me and poking me in the chest. "No bullying, no calling her names, none of that! Don't be rude or mean or any of that! She's not like me, she'll take it to heart! She's too good for you, you know."

  I give her a dark look, then cross my arms over my chest. "Doesn't matter," I say, looking away. "Justin's moving in on her."