Page 46 of The Not So Super Hero
“If you don’t, what happened the other day will keep happening, but Zane may not always be there.In fact, you should just assume that he won’t be there at all.”With that, Nate snapped his fingers at Bailey like what he just said was a joke and walked away.
Natalia offered an apologetic smile, then followed Nate.They disappeared down the hall.Bailey briefly worried he missed an opportunity to speak with them, to learn a few secrets.However, he ultimately wanted the truth from Zane.It would take time, probably a hell of a lot more than Bailey had the patience for, but when it happened it would make the moment even more special.
Pushing away from the wall, Bailey approached Zane’s apartment.The air had grown tense and cold, a concerning sensation lingering in the air like the aftertaste of pop rocks.He reached for the doorknob, wondering if Zane still wanted him to stick around.Then the door opened without warning to smack him in the face.
“Damn it!”Yelping, Bailey stumbled back while clutching his throbbing nose.At least his glasses were ok, he was going to end up spending all his money on replacing his damn glasses.
“You should know not to stand so close to a door with your luck,” Zane said.
Huffing, Bailey glared with slightly watery eyes.However, upon spotting the sheer sorrow on Zane’s face, he softened.He looked like a child; lost and sad after having lost their most prized possession.
“The talk didn’t go so well?”Bailey inquired, his voice hardly carrying enough volume to be heard.
Zane shrugged, then gestured for Bailey to come in.Zane’s lack of snark and request for silence was as worrisome as getting lost at sea.The same feeling from the hall lingered in the apartment, only ten times worse.Bailey wasn’t even sure what it was from or why it was doing it but his teeth were on edge because of it.
Zane kept his distance.While he wished the boy to be there, he wasn’t sure what to do.He wasn’t the best company right now, yet he wanted Bailey there.No, heneededsomeone there, for once.Being alone meant being stuck in his own head.Right now, that wasn’t a good idea.
While Zane was mentally fretting, Bailey did the same.Each time he thought he came up with every question he could, another popped up.In the end, he simply wished to ask Zane who he was.A fear bubbled in his chest that he would never know.
Zane didn’t utter a word.Though the TV was on, it felt as if the sound was off.The idea of sitting around watching TV was not one Bailey felt like doing.Sitting in that silence, the one that was eating away at their consciousness, wasn’t a good idea.The very air itself felt almost hostile, and it would not do either of them any good.The best option was to leave.At least, that was how Bailey felt.
Hoping that Zane would be cooperative, Bailey asked, “Why don’t we go out?”
The moment Bailey asked, he regretted it because that phrasing caused him to go red up to his ears.Zane took notice of his reaction, that frown of his twitching into a smirk for a mere second.
“Uh, like, go see a movie?”Bailey suggested.
“There’s nothing I want to see.”
“Dinner?”
“We just ate.”
Why did Zane make things so bloody difficult?Bailey was going to end up ripping his hair out.Looking around the limited space, Bailey observed the movies and games on Zane’s shelves.
“Let's go to the arcade!”
Zane snorted.“Are you twelve?”
“Close enough.”Bailey shrugged before taking Zane by the hand.Maybe his cheeks warmed at the action, but there was no need to point that out.“Come on, let’s go.Everyone likes a good arcade game!”
“And if I don’t?”Zane didn’t pull his hand away from Bailey’s either.
“You’d be a liar.”Bailey tugged at him, becoming quite surprised at how easily he followed.Bailey suspected some resistance, maybe more arguing or Zane refusing to move, but he put no strength in his legs.
He easily pulled Zane to the door, where they both slipped on their shoes and a jacket.Bailey had his keys in hand and Zane’s hand in the other.His heart raced, stomach did backflips, and mind melted into a pile of useless goo.
When they got in the car, Zane asked, “Do you even know where the arcade is?”
“Uh…I can look it up on my phone?”
Zane rolled his eyes, leaning into the seat like he expected it to be a long ride.Scowling, Bailey took that as a challenge.He retrieved his phone to search for an arcade that ended up being fifteen minutes down the road.With a triumphant ‘ha’, Bailey showed it to Zane like he won something.Zane chuckled when they got lost five minutes later.
“Where the hell do I turn?”Bailey groaned, mentally cursing his phone that was giving absolutely shitty directions.
Zane shrugged.“Shouldn’t have suggested an arcade if you didn’t know how to get there.”
“You know how to get there, don’t you?”
