Page 14 of The Not So Super Hero
“Fine, but you’re going to tell me why or is it,” Zane held up his hands to make quotation marks in the air.“Classified detective work?”
“Boy,” Chris said, causing Zane to drop his hands and stuff his face with food.It appeared Chris was not up for Zane’s sass today, so it was best that he shut his mouth or stuff it.“I don’t want to tell you in case I’m entirely off base, so just…do what I ask.”
Though Zane wished to argue, he gave in because Chris was the one who had requested it.Nodding, Zane gave his silent agreement and Chris smiled while thanking him for ‘giving into an old man’s request.’Zane rolled his eyes, and the two continued their early dinner with talk of entirely different things, some of which included Bailey.
Chris was not pleased to hear that Zane had been avoiding him so much.Chris hoped there was more to the relationship, but Zane was hell bent on there not being a relationship.It was a pity because Chris thought Bailey was exactly the type of person Zane needed in his life, even if he felt the opposite.
Zane suspected Bailey was a bit like Betelgeuse.Say his name three times and he would appear, not because he showed up at the diner, but because he showed up the next day.Zane’s peaceful stretch of almost a week shattered upon entering Cassi’s Cafe.Although he looked inside to make sure Bailey wasn’t around, the universe enjoyed tormenting him.Not even a minute after Zane reached the counter to order, he heard a familiar voice behind him, “Fancy seeing you here.”
Zane stiffened.His nose twitched, followed by his eye, then his lip.Biting said lip, Zane took the silver hoop located there between his teeth.He turned slightly to see Bad Luck Bailey himself donning an amused smile.He chose to pretend this wasn’t happening by grabbing his coffee and walking away.Unfortunately, Bailey followed.
What was he, a dog?Zane thought he would test the theory, so he turned and pointed at Bailey, who nearly went cross-eyed by how close Zane’s finger was.
“Stay,” Zane ordered.
Bailey gave Zane an incredulous look.“I’m not a dog.”
“It was worth a shot.What do you want?”Zane asked.
With a deep breath, Bailey held up his hand and simply said, “Five.”
“Huh?”
“Five minutes,” Bailey requested, waving his hand before Zane’s eyes.“Give me five minutes and I’ll be out of your hair.”
People in the café stared at the two boys standing in the center.Students walked around them to reach the counter or seats.Some glared as if they thought it would magically make the boys move.Zane hated all the attention and hated even more the one who was causing it.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Zane considered his options.The best way to get Bailey to leave him alone was to give the boy what he wanted; five minutes.This way, they could return to before; Bailey would do something stupid, Zane would happen to see it, he would laugh and they wouldn’t say anything else to each other.
“Fine, five minutes.”Zane felt stupid for holding up his own hand, but Bailey was thrilled based on his eager smile.He led Zane to a booth, where they both sat.Before Bailey said a word, Zane held up his hand to stop him.Bailey tilted his head to the side curiously when Zane retrieved his phone to sit on the table with a counter on it.
“Really?”Bailey huffed.
“Really.”Zane pressed the clock, and the time started ticking by.Bailey had exactly five minutes and Zane was watching the clock more than he was Bailey.
With a deep breath, Bailey said, “Since you won’t let me thank you any other way, I have come up with this.If you come in during my shift, I will give you free coffee until the end of the semester.”
“Deal.”Figuring Bailey was done, Zane grabbed his phone with every intention of leaving.However, Bailey quickly shot his hand out to grab Zane’s wrist.Like before, Zane smacked away the touch, retreating both hands and his phone.
“I still have, like, four minutes,” Bailey said, pointing at the phone in Zane’s grasp.
Who knew five minutes could be so long?Sighing, Zane sat his phone down and leaned back into the booth with his arms crossed.He really didn’t get why Bailey kept speaking to him.
“Are you ok?”Bailey asked, causing Zane to give his own incredulous look.“Sorry, I mean, after what happened, you were ok, right?I didn’t get to ask.”
“Obviously.”
“Good, I guess that is…obvious.You didn’t have to help me at the store, but you did and I’m really grateful for that.”
“You realize I left you there, right?”Zane inquired, watching how Bailey’s eyes widened for a moment, like he was finally realizing the truth.
Zane rolled his eyes, though before he could be sassy about it, Bailey said something that sent a shiver down his spine.“You helped me too.”
He couldn’t bring himself to respond because Bailey was right.Zane blocked him from the blast.Zane helped him up.He led Bailey out, had every intention of taking him to safety, bailed, then made a dumb decision.Bailey’s eyes were saying that, more like screaming it, and that made Zane squirm.
Bailey’s lips pulled into a smile at Zane’s reaction.Zane hated seeing that knowing look, so he averted his gaze.The clock showed the time ticking away, though far too slow for Zane’s liking.
“If you don’t mind me asking, did you see anything strange?”Bailey asked.
