Page 25 of The Not So Super Hero
“Say, Scorch, for example, she can control fire.”Amery brushed her red hair behind her ear.“But you notice how the heat doesn’t affect her even without her suit?Technically, heat resistance is another ability.”
Bailey twisted his hands together; the thought of fire made him uncomfortable.He pressed his fingers against the scars on his palms and willed the memories to fade.
“And you remember when that one villain caused a volcanic eruption?Scorch kept the lava to an area while officers evacuated the town.”
“Yeah, and she was burned like hell, so does that really count?”he asked.
“From what I hear, she’s been training a lot, attempting to keep that from happening again.The fact is, she could still do it and that ability branched off her original mutation.She could tap into it and kind of twist it in a way?The point is, mutations are not as clean cut as people think.There are twists and loopholes.We haven’t even scratched the surface to understanding them.I’m sure Professor Lou will explain more after we turn our work in.”
“Better to hear it from someone who actually knows what they’re talking about,” said Bailey, which earned him a swift whack to the head with Amery’s notebook.
“Say Bailey, I never asked, but what got you to pick this major, anyway?”Amery inquired.
Bailey’s mind when blank.His hands shook.“What do you mean?”
“You know, like, what made you think you wanted to study mutations?For me, it’s because both my parents are Level 6 mutants, yet somehow they had me.I have no abilities.You’d think they’d have a kid with some form of mutation.It made me curious.I wanted to know why mutations aren’t always passed on, or why more and more people are getting them each year.”
Bailey pivoted on his heel, walking away.He fiddled with a few things.It was almost closing time so, technically he wasn’t acting odd, but honestly, he was a shit liar.
“I guess mine is kind of the same,” he said.“My dad’s a mutant, a Level 2, but my mom isn’t.There were a lot of kids in my class that were and I had always been a bit of a science geek, so it was something that interested me.”
“Is that it?”
“Yep, that’s it.Sorry it’s not more grand.”
Amery’s expression stated she sensed there was more to the story, and she’d be right.But Bailey didn’t want to talk, and she didn’t push.
“If I meet Scorch one day, I’m going to jump her bones,” Amery said instead.
“Where did that come from?”Bailey laughed.
“We were talking about her, so I thought we would discuss how I would totally eat her out.”
“Let’s discuss this in private, where I am less likely to get in trouble,” he pleaded.
“You realize we’re on a college campus.I am sure there are many people doing exactly that right now.”Amery wiggled her eyebrows, causing Bailey to snort.
“Whatever.Doesn’t mean you say it while I’m at work.I’ll be the one who gets scolded by the manager, or worse.”Bailey stabbed Amery in the nose with his finger.She giggled while promising to keep her statements more PG.
Not long afterwards, the two left.Amery visited Bailey’s dorm and quickly brought up the embarrassing topic of Zane.Poor Bailey felt his cheeks heat up the moment Amery asked, “So how are things with the custodian from hell?Has he tickled your pickle yet?”
“No.”
“But you want him to?”she giggled.
“I would like any hot guy to do that, which Zane is not.”
“Fine.Next time I get laid, I’m not giving you details.”
“Oh no, whatever will I do?”
“Ok, whatever crawled up your ass and died, you need Zane’s help to get it out.Should I talk to him sometime?I’m sure he can replace it with something far more pleasurable.”
Amery got kicked out of Bailey’s room for that.The girl cackled maniacally outside the door before finally leaving a few minutes later, while Bailey remained red as a tomato.When Ryan returned and asked why Bailey looked sun burnt, he simply replied, “Amery.”
Ryan asked nothing more.The night ended with Bailey’s blush remaining and his mental ranting of ways to dispose of Amery’s body.
The last days of the semester went by in a blur.Basically, the moment Bailey got his project due dates, he became a zombie.All procrastinating stopped while he rushed to turn in all his projects.Everything that was due the week before finals.All he did was work and study.Though he was confident that his finals would be fine, that didn’t mean he didn’t stop looking over his note cards every second he could.Ok, so not every second…
