The Phobia of Renegade X

by Chelsea M. Campbell

  “It’s okay, Kat.”

  “No, it’s not. I shouldn’t have let her get to me. But come on. All that stuff she was saying? It just hit too close to home.”

  “I didn’t know you felt that way.”

  “I know, I thought I was past blowing up at her. But sometimes…” She squeezes the steering wheel.

  “No, I mean all that stuff you said about us living in different cities.”

  “Well, we do.”

  “I know.”

  A group of people dressed for Prom walks past the car, toward the restaurant. All six of them slow way down and stare at me as they move past, and one guy even snaps a picture of us with his phone. He tries to do it discreetly, like we won’t notice.

  I glare at them, making eye contact, and they move on.

  “I know we live in different cities, Kat. But I just thought…”

  “What?”

  “I don’t know. That it didn’t bother you the way it did me?”

  She laughs. “Are you serious? Do you have any idea how much I miss you? Like, all the time?”

  Of course it bothers her. I knew that, and now I feel really stupid for doubting it. “But you have all your friends. And movie night. And waffle breakfasts.”

  “And a butt ton of homework.”

  “Yeah, that.”

  “None of that is you, though. And you have Riley, and Zach, and… Sarah, I guess.”

  “Yeah, well, I don’t know if you’ve noticed this, but they’re not you, either.”

  She smiles a little. “I thought it bothered me more than you. The not seeing each other. I always end up crying when you leave, or when I have to go back.”

  “You can’t help it if your boyfriend is just that amazing. I wouldn’t want to spend that much time away from me, either.”

  “Shut up. I’m being serious.”

  “I know.” I swallow. “The truth is, Kat, it totally kills me every time I have to say good-bye to you, too. Spending the whole weekend with you is going to make Monday so much worse.”

  “Just think about next year, about how hard it will be to be apart after we spend the summer together.”

  It was bad enough this year, when I didn’t actually know what it would be like. But next year? I can’t even picture it. “I should have gone with you on that ski trip last winter. It was stupid not to.”

  “You went to your mom’s wedding.”

  “And you were right—it just made me miserable.”

  “But you would have regretted not going. And I’m not going anywhere this summer.”

  “I don’t care what you do this summer, as long as I get to be there. I won’t miss it this time. And we’re not headed in different directions.”

  “Oh, really? Because you’re a hero and I’m a villain.”

  “Yeah, but I’m not a very good hero. That’s almost like being a villain. And anyway, I might be dropping out of school soon.”

  She must think I’m joking, because she ignores that last comment. “You’re the one who’s always saying you don’t know what your future will be.”

  “True. But the one thing I do know is that it’ll have you in it.”

  “It better.”

  “You’re the one who’s going places. You’ll have some amazing career as a villain, and I’ll just be… here. Hoping you don’t leave me behind.”

  “You’re famous, Damien.”

  “More like infamous. And not that much.”

  “Really? Because people we don’t even know keep staring at you, and I’m pretty sure someone tried to take a picture just a minute ago.”

  “So?”

  She holds in a breath, then lets it out all at once. “I worry that you’ll forget about me. That we spend so much time apart that one of these days you’ll forget why you ever even liked me. You don’t need to be going anywhere, because you’re kind of already there. You already do amazing things, and sometimes I feel like I’m the one who can’t keep up. And maybe some people don’t like you, but there are a lot of girls who would—”

  “That’s not going to happen.”

  “Us being together is really hard. And…” Her voice goes tight. “What if someday you decide that it’s too much?”

  “It’s not too much. Kat.” I put my hands on her wrists. I look her in the eyes. “It’s not. I don’t want things to be easy, and I don’t want anybody else. I just want to be with you.”

  “Okay. I… Okay.” A look of relief washes over her.

  “Do you want it to be easy?”

  “What? No. Of course not, Damien.”

  “Good. Because I… I love you, Kat. All the time. Not just when it’s convenient. And being with me is pretty much never convenient, so I can only assume you feel the same way.”

  She grins, though her eyes are a little watery. “You assume right. And not seeing you all the time doesn’t change how I feel about you.”

  “It’s only another year.”

  She squeezes my hand. “I know.”

  “A really long year, but still.”

  “Damien.”

  “Well, it’s true. But that’s all. Just one. And if you want to drop out of school and get married and join the circus or start up a detective agency or something, I’m available.”

  “Thanks. I might take you up on that detective agency thing.”

  “I mean it, Kat. I’d do anything for you. You know that, right?”

  Chapter 15

  WE GO BACK INSIDE the restaurant and have dinner with Riley and Sarah.

  Even though Kat leans over in the car and whispers seductively in my ear about just forgetting all this and going back to her place.

  And reminds me that it’s been over a month.

  And slides her hand up my leg and kisses my neck.

  Okay, so maybe we make out a little bit first before going back in. At least until a camera flashes and I hear some people laughing.

  Another group of Prom-goers is meandering past the car, stopping to watch us like this is a free show.

  Me and Kat pull apart. Her face is flushed, and she stares down at her knees in embarrassment.

  And I think about how there was a time, not that long ago, when I wouldn’t have let random onlookers stop us like that. I would have just kissed her more. Especially if there were cameras.

  But it’s not fun when they don’t want to look away. When instead of being horrified, they actually want to watch us. It’s gross, and it kind of really creeps me out.

  So we stop and go back inside and have dinner.

  I mean, Riley and Sarah are my closest friends besides Kat, so we weren’t really going to just leave to go have sex at her dorm. Plus, it’s a forty-five minute drive. My house is way closer.

  After dinner, we all head over to the dance.

  Apparently A Night to Remember means a night-sky theme, plus lots of red roses everywhere, and some fake pillars with gauzy material draped between them.

  “I’m just asking when you might have time to work on it,” Sarah says, getting out a small notepad and pen from her purse.

  Kat makes a frustrated sound. “I already told you, no.”

  Sarah shakes her head, like that answer’s unacceptable. “I know from what Damien’s said that you have a really busy schedule that doesn’t allow for a lot of ‘alone time.’”

  Kat glares at me.

  “But I can come meet you on campus.”

  “Okay, first of all? You are never coming to Vilmore again. Not after what happened last time.”

  She means when Sarah went crazy and tried to wipe out a whole generation of supervillains. Not that she was exactly herself when she did that, but I can still see how Sarah and Vilmore would be a bad idea.

  Sarah opens her mouth to say something to that, but Kat cuts her off.

  “And second of all, I already told you, you’re not working with us.”

  “We can meet somewhere halfway. Or talk on the phone. I just think that this mission would go more smoothly if al
l four of us were involved.”

  Kat stares at her in disbelief.

  “I can help,” Sarah adds.

  “You’re not part of this. You don’t even go to their school—”

  “Neither do you.”

  “—and you don’t go to mine. And I’m not working with them. And I already have a partner.”

  “He can come, too. I don’t mind.”

  “Uh, no, he can’t,” I tell her. “Because I do mind.”

  “So do I,” Riley says. “Tristan’s a total douche. And we’re not even working with them.”

  Sarah purses her lips, giving us all a look that says she doesn’t quite buy that. “I really think I could help. And you guys have to do this mission either way, whether I’m involved or not, so—”

  “Not happening,” Kat tells her.

  “But—”

  “So, who wants punch?” I ask, getting between them.

  Sarah narrows her eyes at me. “Don’t try to change the subject.”

  “I’m not. I just thought punch was part of the whole Prom experience.”

  “Hey,” Zach says as he and Amelia come up to join us.

  Speaking of the whole Prom experience. They’re both grinning, and kind of sweaty, though I think that’s just from being in a room with a couple hundred people in it. And maybe from dancing. At least, I hope it is. But Amelia’s hair still looks perfectly in place, despite being in lots of curls stacked up on top of her head, and Zach’s tux doesn’t look rumpled or anything, so they probably haven’t defiled each other. Yet.

  “Hey,” Riley says, nodding at his brother.

  Kat smiles at Amelia. “Cute dress.”

  “Huh? Oh, thanks.” Amelia glances down at the black velvet dress she’s wearing and laughs nervously, even though no one said anything funny. She unhooks her arm from around Zach’s to wipe her palms on her thighs.

  So, they definitely didn’t do it, then, or else she wouldn’t be so nervous. Right?

  “How’s your night so far?” Riley asks.

  Zach wrinkles his nose. “Dinner was kind of gross. The place we went to only served fish. I can still smell it.”

  “Melissa didn’t know that when she made reservations, though,” Amelia says. “And she’s allergic. So after dinner, I called up a bunch of snacks from home.” She holds out her hand, mimicking using her power. “Everyone was really glad I was there.”

  I raise an eyebrow at her. “Even though they could only have food you’ve touched before?”

  “Ha ha. I only touched the packaging, because I helped Mom put all the groceries away.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “I did. And I saved Melissa from starving to death.”

  “At least you didn’t get spaghetti stains on your dress,” Kat tells her.

  “Aw, man,” Zach says. “You got the spaghetti? It’s so good there.”

  Kat points at me. “Damien got the spaghetti, and then Damien flung his noodles all over me.”

  “Is that what the kids are calling it these days?” I grin at her.

  She smacks my arm. “Stains, Damien. My dress has stains.”

  “Two very tiny stains that you can’t even see because they totally blend in.” Orange and pink aren’t that different. Sort of. In the grand scheme of things.

  “You mean those ones? Right there?” Zach squints and points at Kat’s waist.

  Kat gives me a look.

  I hold up my hands in innocence. “I still say it’s hardly noticeable. Zach must have really good vision or something. And I’d like to point out, for the record, that it was only one noodle, not noodles, plural. And it was Riley’s fault for elbowing me.”

  “For the last time, I wasn’t elbowing you,” Riley says, sounding really put out about it. “I was putting on my coat so I wouldn’t get lasagna on my clothes.”

  “You still elbowed me.”

  “But not on purpose.”

  “The real question,” Zach says, “is do any of you have leftovers? Because I’m kind of starving.”

  Amelia’s nostrils flare, like his hunger is a personal affront. “But I saved the day. With snacks.”

  “I know,” Zach tells her. “Think how much more starving I’d be if you hadn’t.”

  “I’ve got some of the noodles from my chicken Parmesan left,” Kat says.

  “Noodles with sauce, Kat.” I shake my head at her. “That’s practically spaghetti. In fact, I think that is spaghetti.”

  “I know where you’re going with this, Damien, but we all saw you lose half your plate to the floor.”

  “And yet, only one noodle landed in your lap. That sounds kind of suspicious to me.”

  She rolls her eyes. “Anyway, Zach, it’s in the car. There’s not a lot, but you can have it.”

  “Really?!” His whole face lights up.

  “Yeah, I’ll go get it.”

  “Oh!” Sarah raises her hand, even though we’re not in class. “I’ll go with you.”

  Kat’s mouth drops open, but she can’t seem to think of a reason why Sarah should stay here.

  I’m about to volunteer to go with her instead when Amelia grabs my arm and pulls me a little ways from the group.

  “So. It’s Prom night. This is it.” Her voice is really high-pitched, and she’s talking kind of fast.

  “And what part of me not wanting to be involved in this in any way whatsoever didn’t you understand?”

  She goes on, like I didn’t say anything. “How do I look?”

  I make a face. “Like my sister?”

  She scowls. “Well, Zach already told me I look gorgeous tonight.”

  “Then why did you ask?”

  “Because.” She bites her lip. “I thought maybe he just said it. Because that’s what you’re supposed to say to your date on Prom night, right?”

  I sigh. “I’m sure he meant it. And Kat said you look cute.”

  “No, she said my dress was cute. It’s not the same. Besides, tonight’s a big night. I want to look more than just cute.”

  “Yep, wow, look at the time. I left Riley all alone over there, so—”

  “He’s talking to Zach.” She peers past me real quick to confirm it. Then she takes a deep breath. “I’m so nervous. About, you know, that thing we talked about.” She gives me a knowing look, as if I could have possibly forgotten.

  I consider faking a bout of food poisoning. Pretending to be sick right now wouldn’t exactly be hard.

  Amelia’s wringing her hands together and shifting her weight from foot to foot. “I’ve been waiting all night, and I just feel like… like I’m going to explode, you know?”

  “Um.”

  “I just need to get it over with. Then I can relax and enjoy the rest of the dance.”

  “Please stop. Just stop talking.”

  “And go for it? I know, I know. I just need to take Zach somewhere a little more private and get it done.”

  “I said I— Wait, what?”

  “Wish me luck!” She grins at me and hurries back over to Zach and Riley.

  I follow, not sure what the hell is happening right now.

  Amelia grabs Zach’s arm. “Hey.”

  “Hey,” he says, smiling back at her. “What’s going on?”

  “Nothing. I mean, something. I mean… I just need to see you over there for a minute.” She indicates somewhere further in the crowd, away from us.

  Zach shrugs and wanders off with her.

  Riley wrinkles his eyebrows. “What was that about?”

  “You don’t want to know.”

  “Okay. If you—”

  “My sister’s going to go have her way with your brother.”

  “What?” He looks at me, then in the direction Amelia and Zach just went. “Wait, seriously?”

  “That’s what she said.”

  He gapes at me. “Here? At the dance?!” Actually, he looks a little sick.

  “Maybe? That’s what it sounded like.”

  “X, that’s… That couldn’t be w
hat she… And you just let them?!”

  “Geez, Perkins, now who’s freaking out? What happened to you being cool with it? What happened to it not being our business?”

  “I never said I was cool with it. And I… I know it’s not our business, but… Here? There’s no way you heard that right.”

  Kat and Sarah come back. Kat’s got a little paper box of leftovers in one hand. She holds it up. “Where’s Zach?”

  “He’s right over there,” Riley says, gesturing to a spot in the crowd not that far from us. Meaning it’s way too close for comfort.

  I make a face. “I don’t want to know.”

  Riley scowls at me. “Oh, my God, X, they’re not having sex on the freaking dance floor!”

  Kat’s eyes go wide.

  “Rite of passage,” Sarah mutters. “What did I tell you?”

  I look over. And yeah, Riley’s right—I mean, of course he is, because no matter how crazy Amelia sounded, she wouldn’t really do that. At least, I don’t think. But anyway, she and Zach are standing a little ways apart, obviously talking about something.

  It looks kind of serious.

  Maybe kind of really serious.

  And then Amelia’s face crumples. Zach reaches out to her, but she turns and runs, tears already streaking down her face.

  “Amelia?” I call, poking my head into the girls’ bathroom.

  There are three girls in front of the mirror, fixing their makeup and talking, though they all go quiet and stare at me when I open the door.

  Which makes it easier to hear Amelia sniffling in one of the stalls. Not that she’s exactly being quiet about it.

  One of the girls rolls her eyes at the noise, and they all exchange a look. Then one of them says, “Uh, this is the girls’ bathroom?” as if I hadn’t noticed.

  As if I don’t feel completely out of place. I’m actually kind of thinking I should have sent Kat or Sarah in here instead, but it’s a little late for that now.

  I ignore the death glares the girls are giving me and come in anyway. One of them sucks in her breath, and then all three of them grab their stuff and run off.

  “Amelia?”

  “Go away!” she wails.

  “Are you…” I stop myself from asking her if she’s okay, since obviously she’s not. “You want to tell me what the hell happened?”