Page 46 of Emergence
“Mmm,” she said.
“Okay, so the massage went well, I see.”
“Beyond good. I can hardly move I’m so relaxed.”
“Okay, I’ll leave you alone and go harass Pete.”
“That’s lovely, dear,” she said, and I doubted she even knew I left.
Even though I was not even remotely an expert, the waves looked perfect for surfing if we’d had a surfboard. But close to the shore where Pete was swimming, it wasn’t so bad.
I dived in next to him and tried to dunk him just like he did me every time we went swimming. I came up just in time to get a face full of water.
We played until we were both tired, crawled onto the sandy beach, and sat close enough to the surf for the water to lap against our feet.
“You said Kaden created this island?” Pete asked.
“I watched him do it,” I said, feeling proud of him.
“Shouldn’t it be a bald spot of steaming volcanic rock?” he asked.
“It should be, and part of it still is, but the islanders have a team of Supes converting it into usable land.”
Pete nodded, and we stared at the ocean for a long time.
“I don’t understand all this, you know. It’s outside my comprehension.”
“If it helps, it’s hard for me to comprehend too, or at least it was before it all happened.”
Pete took a deep breath. “So, I heard someone talking while we were waiting for the massage. They said Kaden was your polarity. What is that?” he asked.
“Oh, well.” I thought for a moment remembering how they described it in class. “So, you know when you have two magnets. When you turn it a certain way, it repels the other, but when you turn it around, it's attracted to the other?” He nodded. “Well, it’s pretty much the same as that. Except when polarity Supes are together, they magnify the other’s powers.”
“So, that’s what you are to Kaden?”
I smiled at him and nodded. “It’s what he is for me too.”
“So, all this is here because you helped him?”
I touched my finger to my nose, just like he’d always done when I got his point.
“He tried to use his powers before I came out to the island, but it didn’t work. When I was with him…” I lifted my arms and moved them in a semi-circle indicating the island, “…he was able to do this.”
“Damn, and I just thought he was your boyfriend.”
“He’s that too,” I said, and lay back in the sand.
“So, this is more serious than just two people dating?” he asked, and I realized this was the point of our conversation.
“Are you asking if I’m in love with him?” Pete’s face looked a little green, and I had to stifle my smile. “Um, yeah, I’m head over heels in love with him. Have been for a while now.”
“Does your mom know?” he asked.
“No, not yet. We’re still learning what it means to be in love, so there’s no rush or hurry. Neither of us has proposed or anything.”
I could see the relief on his face. I looked over to the man who’d been all but my father for the past fifteen years, and asked, “Why, Pete, what’s on your mind?”
“All this, it’s a lot, like a really big thing to digest. It’s hard to think of you as part of something or someone who could create an island.” Suddenly he looked alarmed. “Don’t get me wrong, Libby and I both think Kaden is a great kid. He’s definitely got your best interest at heart, and he watches you like a hawk. It’s just… he’s so powerful.”
