Page 15 of No Capes
Fox scans the pool’s surface and his gaze hardens. “That Aaron guy sure can swim. I wonder what his secret is.”
I’ve seen Fox size up his competition before, and it doesn’t seem like he’s doing that with Aaron. In fact, I’d almost say he was looking at Aaron in admiration.
Maybe there is something wrong with Fox.
Aaron executes a splash-less flip turn at the other end of the pool.
Fox continues, “There’s something shady about that guy. Like, where did he come from? How did he get a spot on the most competitive high school swim team in the country? Why doesn’t he ever talk?”
“Jealousy is a disease. I’d say get well soon, but I don’t—”
“—want me to catch it from you?” he interrupts.
“—care.” I won’t let him ruin my insult.
“Sick burn, Maddragon. She’s breathing fire today, everybody.”
Whatever. Fox isn’t worth it.I tighten my goggles and am about to warm up when he catches my elbow.
“Just be careful, okay?” He pauses the air of self-importance that’s usually in his voice. “Okay?” Fox looks at me through his long lashes, and for half a second, I recognize the guy I used to spend all my time with, the guy from before the day he threw chocolate milk at me. (For the record, chocolate milk doesn’talwaysstain, but when it leaves a mark, it will be on your favorite shirt.)
“What are you talking about, Fox?” I sigh, resigning myself to this conversation.
“I saw him with Zane Milligan yesterday. At that chicken restaurant near the movie theatre. They were there when I was picking up my hot chick sando.”
“And you haven’t gotten food poisoning? Lucky you.”
“That’s interesting. Arielle said the same thing.”
Of course she did.But… this is what he was talking to Arielle about? Zane Milligan?
Zane Milligan is the former mayor’s son, whose house Dark Static set on fire last night. Zane is a few years older than us and dropped out of high school—one day he cut class, decided he had enough, and never came back. Now, he lives in the city center with some roommates and plays the drums or something. People only talk to Zane if they need someone to buy them alcohol, or if they can’t reach his mom.
“Could be a coincidence,” I say. Zane and Aaron are both loner types, but even loners need a friend.
Fox leans close to my ear. “You think the stupidly-good-at-swimming new kid randomly befriends Zane Milligan on the same night his mom’s house is set on fire bycoincidence?”
“What did Arielle say?” I ask. Arielle would consider this a bigger waste of time than I do. Unless… is Fox suggesting Aaron set the fire? That Aaron is Dark Static? Fox was freaked out about the video in History class. This could be his way of coping.
Then again, I can’t be the only one who suspects that Aaron might be D.S. There are too many coincidences. Except… I selfishly still want D.S. to be Damian, mainly because it would freak Fox out more. What if Dark Static is Fox’s best friend?
“Madeline, this is serious.” Fox pushes his shoulders back and scowls. Overkill. He’s not being serious at all.
“Phew. If it were a joke, it’s not very funny.”
The corners of his mouth twitch, highlighting the dramatic curve of his cheeks. “Not all jokes are funny. There’s you, for example.”
Fox may have meant it to be teasing, but his line falls flat, and he winces when he hears it. “My bad.”
“I’m taking that as a compliment,” I say. Ahead, Aaron swims a perfect butterfly. His long arms scoop the water like a machine, notlike a flabby pigeon, as Arielle loves to instruct. Fox is right. Aaron isverygood. Almost too good.
Except that athletes can’t be Supers.
Fox scopes Aaron and shrugs, as if resting his case. “Aaron’s the only guy on the team who doesn’t wear a Speedo. You know that’s blasphemy.”
“Speedos don’t make champions. That’s only their marketing slogan.”
“C’mon.” He answers with a devilish smirk. “Everyone knows Speedos are for winners.”
