I Promised Myself I Wouldn't Cry, But I Lied
Chapter 1
I'm standing outside Will's house.
It's late in the evening, but I wanted to make sure he and I wouldn't be disturbed.
I also didn't want to disturb his parents, especially his dad.
Things have changed so much in the past few months.
After the homecoming dance, I was surprised and a little scared when the Commander took me aside and said he wanted to speak to me.
I didn't know what he was going to say.
He apologized.
He said he was sorry for what happened between him and Dad. He said Dad would have been proud of the way I handled myself and helped save everyone from Royal Pain and her goons.
I didn't know what to say.
This was the man I had hated for so long. The man who I blamed for my Dad being in prison…kept away from Mom and me. The man whose son I had attacked, but neither of them held a grudge.
He actually put his hand on my shoulder.
"You're already a great hero," he said.
I only mumbled "thank you" as I was too numb to say anything else.
That was the first, last and only time I had spoken to Steven Stronghold.
Now I'm about to enter his home and speak personally with his son.
Because I have something to tell Will…something to show him.
Something that he and all the other people I have come to love have enabled me to do.
I see that the house is dark, except for the light on in one room. I'm sure it's Will's.
I focus for a moment, and I rise into the air as white flames spread from my heart and dance about me. I fly to land on the roof next to the window, darken my fire, and peer in.
It is Will. He is sitting on his bed, reading something.
I don't want to disturb him, but I am about to burst with the emotions in me.
With love.
I have already told my parents, and our friends Zach, Magenta and Ethan.
It is Will's turn.
I tap on the window, startling Will. He looks so surprised that I nearly laugh. He comes to the window and opens it.
"Hey Warren," he says, "what are you doing out here?"
"I…" I stammer, "I wanted to talk to you about something. Can I come in?"
"Sure," he says, letting me climb in through his window.
I look around and see his room. It is such a contrast to my own room with its bare walls. His walls are covered with posters of all kinds from movies and rock concerts, and a few clippings about his parents scattered here and there. I notice the weights in one corner and almost smile, as they won't do him any good anymore.
"Hey, nice coat," he says, noticing the birthday present I was given by our friends.
"Thanks," I reply sheepishly, "it was a gift for my birthday."
"Your…" says Will, who slaps his forehead, "oh man, I TOTALLY forgot. I'm sorry Warren."
"That's okay," I smile back to him, "I didn't mean to disturb you," I awkwardly apologize.
I'm not very good at these things.
"No," he says, "it's okay. I was just reading."
"About what?"
"You."
I have no idea what he is talking about. I then notice that he has been going through the contents of a large folder that holds numerous papers, photographs and newspaper clippings.
"It's the file about what happened when you were little."
I'm completely confused.
"What happened when I was little?"
"Yeah, you know, the hearing…" he said as if he was talking about the weather.
He then sees the look on my face, and realization sets in.
"Warren…oh God…I thought…I didn't mean…"
He's scared, but he shouldn't be. I'm not angry, just puzzled.
"Will, it's okay. I just don't know what you're talking about."
"The hearing…when Mom and Dad tried to adopt you."
Will's words hit me harder than I have ever been in my life.
"What?" I whisper.
Will finally knows that I am at a loss as to what he is talking about. He picks up the papers and hands them to me.
I see the cover and my world turns upside down.
PETITION FOR ADOPTION
In the manner of
STEVEN and JOSEPHINE STRONGHOLD
To become full and recognized guardians and legal parents of
WARREN PEACE
To be henceforth known as
WARREN STRONGHOLD
Adoption papers. The Strongholds were going to adopt me. Take me into their home and make me their own.
What happened?
Why didn't they?
Will puts his hand on my shoulder and guides me to a chair.
"You better sit down before you fall down, bro."
Bro…short for brother. We would have been brothers. We would have grown up together in this house.
"You better read this," Will encourages me.
I notice that his own eyes are red and puffed up. He has been crying. A lot.
I read the transcript of what happened.
I read about Dad's trials…Mom having a nervous breakdown.
I read how the government tried to take custody of me and the Strongholds stepped in to save me. I read about all the heroes who testified for them.
I also read about the villains who showed up as well. I read about Dr. Mandragore, Dad's old enemy, and his impassioned statements on behalf of both families
I read the judge's verdict, how he found in favor of Will's parents.
Why didn't they take me?
I then read about what happened next. I read how the Commander reached out to me, and I went insane.
I kept screaming, "I hate you!" as I attacked him and burst into flames. I read how he held me in his arms as my flames died…as I nearly died.
My hands are shaking, numb. I look up at Will and understand why he has been crying.
"Will…" I whisper, "I don't remember any of this."
To be continued
