SuperNova: Heroes of Arcania (23 page)

“Well sure,
now
, because we’re alive,” Penelope mumbled. But her anger had faded and I knew she’d get over it.
 

Nova breathed a sigh of relief, managing a weak smile. Disappointment flared through me when she dropped my hand and pulled away.
 

She changed the subject. “At least we got out of there uninjured. And we managed to annoy Fortune, too.”
 

Penelope relaxed at the thought, taking a seat on the couch. “Might as well cause some trouble.”
 

“He did look pretty mad,” I said, thinking back at the way Fortune’s mask crinkled with rage as he struggled to get up. “I wonder why he didn’t chase after us?”
 

“Maybe he knows we’re too much for him,” Penelope suggested.
 

“Fat chance. He probably got what he wanted.” Her smile died at Nova’s sharp remark. “Even without his crazy lightning, his men are bound to be gifted. How are we supposed to fight that?”
 

“Why don’t they use their gifts?” Penelope asked, sounding more curious than worried. “I mean, think of the damage they could do.”
 

I cleared my throat. “I think it’s because he doesn’t want to use gifts out in the open. Draws too much attention.”
 

A bark of laughter escaped Nova. “That makes no sense. Fortune is
all
about attention.”
 

“When it comes to his psychopathic ways, yes,” I said, nodding, “but not when it comes to his gift. He doesn’t want you telling anyone about it. The only reason he used it tonight was because he knew we, or at least you, were gifted. I think he was testing us.”

“I wonder how we did,” she said, shooting me a dark look.
 

“Here’s my question,” Penelope said, raising a forefinger, “what was Fortune doing there? What did the Runner go in after?”
 

I frowned, having forgotten that necessary detail. “Yeah, it’s been banks in broad daylight. Why the switch, breaking into some empty building at night? What’s on the second floor?”
 

Penelope whipped out her phone to search for the answer, but Nova answered first. “Public Records.”
 

“He couldn’t do that during the day like everyone else?” Penelope rolled her eyes.
 

“That’s stuff like marriage licenses, right?” I asked.
 

“And land records, wills and deeds, criminal case records, the whole gambit.” Nova paced the living room, trying unsuccessfully to imagine Fortune’s plan.
 

“He wants land records for something, maybe?” I suggested.
 

“If he wanted to use the stolen money to buy some, sure.” We liked the theory, but who knew how we’d go about stopping that. Those sorts of plans always had strange legalities.
 

“He’s checking marriage records for a lost love,” Penelope said, a wide grin spreading across her face.
 

I couldn’t help myself, laughing at the ridiculousness of the idea. Nova giggled, too. The tension broke and I knew we were okay. I checked my watch to find it a very late hour. Nova grimaced as she realized the time.
 

“Sorry guys, we’ll have to keep theorizing later. It’s past my bedtime.”
 

“It’s still early,” Penelope protested.
 

“It’s a school night,” I said, tapping my watch.
 

She wrinkled her nose. “I guess I do have that paper for Stein due tomorrow. Night.”
 

Without another word, she went upstairs to her room. I moved to the front door, trying to keep it from getting awkward between Nova and me.
 

“Want any company on the walk home?” I asked. I thought there might be a hopeful look in her eyes, or maybe that was just me
hoping
she was hoping.
 

“Sure,” she said.
 

In truth, I’d walked her home every night we’d been out. We’d talk about school or music, but we’d somehow made an unspoken truce not to discuss the evening’s activities. It had become my favorite moment of each day, something I looked forward to even when I woke up the next morning. It was probably the most normal I’d felt, like, ever.
 

I loved making Nova laugh. I didn’t think she did enough of it. I had a talent for celebrity impressions, such as my surprisingly impressive Vin Diesel one, and often tried to come up with others on the spot by her request.
 

“That’s a pretty good Bill Murray,” she said after my latest attempt, “though not quite as solid as last week’s Shia LaBeouf.”
 

We laughed, the sound of her giggle making my heart lighter than it had been all day.
 

“I wonder what that Runner meant, when he said to think of our advantage against Fortune,” I blurted out, looking up to the heavens.
 

Nova clammed up and I wanted to kick myself. The mood went downhill instantly.
What is wrong with you, Warner?

She kicked a pebble off the sidewalk and into the grass. “We don’t usually talk about that stuff on the walk home.”
 

“I know,” I said quickly, “and we don’t have to, I just wondered—”

“I don’t really know,” she said, cutting me off. “I’m sure I’ll lose sleep over it later tonight.”
 

I grimaced. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t—”

“It’s okay.”
 

Neither of us spoke as we ventured the last street over to my house. As always, I walked her right to her basement door, rocking on my heels.
 

“You’re thinking of her, aren’t you?” I asked, startling her out of her reverie.
 

“Sorry?”
 

“Your sister. I can always tell, you get this look on your face…”
 

Heat flushed her cheeks, but the smile said she was pleased I’d paid close attention. “That obvious, huh?”
 

“It’s not a bad thing,” I said quickly, waving the idea away. “But you always seem to go somewhere else when she’s on your mind.”
 

“It’s just how I focus now, I guess.” She shrugged, trying to break the dark cloud that threatened overhead.
 

God, I was an idiot. Why was I trying to get her to talk about her sister when all I wanted to do was kiss her? An awkward silence came between us; I had no idea how to make things anywhere close to romantic now. I’d ruined the moment.
Stupid, stupid, stupid
.
 

She stuck her hands in her back pockets. “I better get inside, I’ve got a project to finish.”
 

“Night then,” I said, disappointment flaring inside. I’d gone chicken again.
 

After a half-hearted wave, I departed, cursing myself. Why couldn’t I just ask her out? We already hung out practically every night, so why did I freeze up anytime I tried to even remotely talk to her like a regular girl? Then again, she was nowhere close to the average girl, one of the reasons I liked her so much.
Maybe that’s why it’s impossible to ask her out.
 

Over the next two days, I berated myself for how I’d acted at the courthouse. I’d finally had a chance to confront Fortune and I ruined it by letting fear control me. I hadn’t tried to stand up to him or even so much as said anything. When that blue lightning appeared and Fortune’s shadow slithered in, my entire body had locked up. The man sent me into a tailspin. I didn’t sleep, picked at my food, and mostly obsessed over what I’d do when I saw him again.
 

Next time, I’m taking him down.
 

I barely noticed when Andy Vicker caught me before the last class of the day. Nearly a head taller than most people, he spotted me in the crowd of students meandering down the hallway.
 

“Nova!” he said, waving at me. In a few long strides, he’d skirted through the panicked freshmen and hormonal sophomores. “Just the girl I wanted to see.”
 

“Why is that?” I asked, curiosity piqued. Andy and I hadn’t really spoken much since Henry’s newspaper article a few weeks ago.

Andy grinned down at me. “I wondered if you wanted to go out with me this weekend.”
 

“Oh,” I said, taken by surprise. I stalled by allowing a couple kids to walk between us. When he merged back to my side, I opted to go with the blunt truth. “I don’t want you asking me out only because I saved your life.”

Andy’s humor dropped, replaced by sincerity. We reached my classroom, but he placed a gentle hand on my arm to stop me from heading inside.
 

“I’m not, honest. I wanted to ask you out last year, but then after what happened…you’re cool, Nova. You’re hot and funny and nice to everyone, which is pretty much everything I like in a girl.”
 

I couldn’t help but be pleased at his answer, a warm feeling in my chest. Andy was always nice, but to hear such sweet things — and from such a handsome face — made a girl feel good.
 

“Come on,” he urged. “Just say you’ll think about it.”
 

I bit my bottom lip, losing the fight against his upbeat demeanor. “Okay. I’ll think about it.”
 

“Yes!” Andy made a touchdown motion with his arms. They remained up as he walked backwards, grinning at me like an idiot. I giggled and quickly went inside my class.
 

Henry came in a second later, curiosity all over him. He’d clearly seen everything.
 

“That looked interesting,” he whispered as he slipped into the desk on my left. He shot me a knowing smile.
 

I ignored him, making a show of getting out my notebook and pen.
 

“You should go out with him.”
 

I dropped my pen in surprise. “Nosey much?”
 

The teacher called for our attention, cutting our conversation short. Halfway into her lecture, Henry held up his notebook for me.
 

U should go out w/ him.

I scribbled on my own paper.
Said I’d think about it.

He likes you.
 

I huffed, annoyed that Henry felt so involved. Refusing to write back, I took notes instead. I also tried to avoid thinking about Cole, though that didn’t go so well. He’d barely spoken to me today, only asking to copy a few notes he’d missed on the lecture. The teacher’s voice droned on, nearly losing me to daydreams about catching Fortune. We had barely been dismissed before Henry leaned over to jump back into it.
 

“Are you gonna go out with him?”
 

“What’s the deal with you?” I asked, stuffing my book back into my bag. “Why are you pushing me into a date with Andy?”

“I’m not,” he said, hands up in truce, “but it would be good for you.”
 

We exited the room, eager to get outside and enjoy the last rays of sunshine. We made our way to the front doors, swept up in the waves of students headed in the same direction. We paused by the steps as other kids merged into the flood.
 

“For real, Nova, you’ve been into him forever.” Henry nudged me. I looked in his direction to see Andy by his locker. To my dismay, Henry waved at him, motioning to come over. “Have a little fun. This is your chance.”

“I don’t know.” I shifted my weight from foot to foot, unable to stand still as Andy made his way over to us.
 

Henry lowered his voice. “If this is about Cole, I should warn you that Amber’s already set her sights on him.”

“So what, you think that means I don’t stand a chance?” Even as I said it, my heart sank. No wonder Cole wasn’t asking me out, if he had a chance with bubbly, beautiful Amber. Once she sets her sights on a guy, he was usually toast, charmed by her wiles. Henry didn’t miss the insulted tone of my voice, though, quickly waving his hands.

“No, of course not! I guess I thought this, going out with Andy of all people, would make you feel more…normal. It’s something you wanted for a long time, ya know?”