by C. C. Ekeke
One giant cereal bowl and four poppyseed muffins later, Hugo felt satisfied. He moved to leave until spotting a folded sheet of paper on the countertop. His name was on it, scrawled in Mom’s handwriting.
He almost disregarded it. But guilt made him open the note.
Bogota,
I know you’re upset over everything that’s happened. I can’t imagine what it’s been like going through these changes. You have every reason to be angry with your father. Don’t forget that he loved you and AJ, despite his depression. He was a good man who still deserves our respect. Just know I'm always in your corner. Let’s talk this week.
Love, Mom.
Hugo crumpled the paper up and closed his eyes. Holding back tears was a struggle. “I hate you sometimes, Mom,” he whispered with an affectionate smile. Opening his teary eyes, Hugo looked at his watch. Three minutes till eight.
Without a moment to lose, Hugo sprinted to school and arrived with six seconds to spare.
“Cutting it close, Malalou,” Mr. Parker scolded. The pale and portly teacher rocked a combover that worked for no one.
“Sorry,” Hugo apologized, dropping his shut-off cellphone into the bin with the others. Seven other students sat in the stark, gleefully colorless classroom. Hugo recognized only three. TJ Kim, a bald, built-like-a-boulder, and ugly footballer. Cody Banks, a lanky, strapping basketballer with sandy and shaggy soccer-mom hair. Their ringleader, Baz Martinez, was tall and long-limbed with slicked-back dark hair and a sneer carved into his handsome face. Like a typical ballplayer douchebag, Baz popped his polo collar. Those three nearly pounded Simon last week and once made Hugo’s school life a daily hell. Before getting Titan’s powers.
Hugo's hatred at seeing Baz and his cronies was volcanic. And by their muted glares, the feelings were mutual. Hugo reminisced on ragdolling them around last week. He could've snapped them like twigs but chose not to. That made him smile as he sat far across the room.
Luckily, three hours of detention flew by. The whole time, he overheard Baz and friends snickering over every nasty name they called Hugo. Since school had started, these clowns called him “Roid Freak” because of his new physique or “Golden Boy” because of what Baz did to Hugo last summer.
He pushed away those horrible memories, focusing on Biology and Geometry classwork.
When detention ended at eleven a.m., everyone signed out to prove they’d attended.
“No fights to report,” Hugo declared on his cell, striding down Paso High’s empty halls.
“Dammit,” Simon griped on the other end. “I wanted another Baz-tard smackdown.”
Hugo laughed. “And get in more trouble? No thanks. Fighting them for you was an exception.”
“I feel so special,” Simon mocked. “You coming over? My mom’s making Korean barbeque. Except, since I’m Korean, we just call it barbeque.”
“Totally.” Hugo reached his locker.
“Then we’ll discuss the other thing,” Simon added enthusiastically.
Hugo grimaced. The “other thing” was his superhero future. Simon still rooted for him to become a masked protector. Hugo had to find a way to tell Simon that wasn’t happening. “Anyway, I’ll see you in a few.” Hugo hung up and opened his locker to switch out some books before his first few periods on Monday.
Then he spotted an unread text from an hour ago.
Presley: Tacos and basketball tonight. Come over!
Hugo smiled. He’d met Presley last week by chance. She and her five roommates were superhumans like Hugo. Since last week, he’d hung out with them every night. Hugo eagerly replied.
Me: Def. I’ll be over by 9.
Presley: