I wake up the next morning from a good dream. One where I was fighting crime with Superman as Force.

I try to remember what my uniform looked like but I can't seem to bring it to mind.

I don't find that disappointing or anything. I liked the dream though not as much as the fact that I had no nightmares.

I think that it's also because I have something to look forward to. It's today!

Yes, I'm excited.

Dad, I can't wait to tell...Oh, yeah.

You're in a different room, Starling. How could you have forgotten that he's gone?

I get up then slowly breathe out.

Dad, can you hear me? It's me, your little bird. I miss you.

I wipe my eyes then go to the closet so that I can get dressed. I open it then pick out, obviously, some clothes.

Soon, I'm dressed in my Bikini Kill T-shirt, blue jeans and my shoes. I put my hoodie on then smile at myself in the mirror.

The shirt is one of my favorite ones that I've made. It's red with black outlines of the letters of the band name. I also put Grrrl Power in bright blue.

I wanted to get a shirt from their site but, every time I checked, they were sold out. Yeah, that's why I made my own.

I'll make a Just Dank Gray one after my concert. As you might have guessed, I don't wear merch to a concert.

I head to the dining area, following my nose, to find Clark in the kitchen. "Holy shit. Stop the presses, Superman cooks!"

He laughs. "Actually, Clark does and that's who I really am. Ma taught me."

Uh huh.

I sit down then he puts a plate in front of me. It smells good.

I start eating and...Whoa. This is good.

I usually just have a bowl of cereal. I could definitely get used to this.

I tell him and he laughs again.

"Well, breakfast is the most important meal of the day and you've got a big one ahead of you. I've taken today off so that I can help in any way I can."

I'm just about to say something but he stops me.

"I wanted to be there for you."

Okay.

"Does that mean that Dad's funeral is today too? The tone of your voice did seem to suggest it."

He shakes his head. "I called John. He said that you can visit his grave when you're ready and to tell you Parker is next to Skylark. I as also told to give you a hug for him so..." He gives me one that I return.

I needed that more than I thought.

He looks at me after it's over. "We're both here for you, okay?"

I nod then he gives me his phone number. I can't believe that I almost forgot about my phone.

I get it then quickly put Clark's number in. I unplug it then the charger.

I put the charger on top of the nightstand then, after putting my phone in my pocket, go back to the dining area and finish my breakfast. "What are the plans for today anyway?" I finish drinking some water.

"Well, the visit to your place will be at one and you'll be meeting the members of Just Dank Gray at 5. They said to tell you that pizza will be brought and you will be provided with an amp."

My smile widens. "Nice. I was expecting the amp but not pizza."

Clark takes my dishes which, of course, I'm finished with. "It's a bit of a surprise to me too but the lead singer said that she found a video of you doing a rock off. The band got a huge kick out of it apparently and, according to them, getting you pizza was the least that they could do. I saw the video too though I'm sure that my opinion differs from theirs."

Of course it does.

"Which one was it?"

He pulls it up on his phone then plays it for me.

I recognize that solo.

"That would be from Rock You Like a Hurricane. It's by the Scorpions and it was in the third Guitar Hero game."

Yeah, I've obviously got a really good memory for music.

"Don't expect me to feel sorry for that guy. He thought that he was hot shit and I sure as hell enjoyed taking him down a peg. Knocking the grin off that smug asshole's face was so worth it."

He pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose then pinches it. "Okay, we need to talk."

I roll my eyes. "About what? Seriously, you won't be able to convince me he didn't deserve it. He'd make all kinds of jokes and some of them were so anti-woman that I'd actually kind of mad that I didn't take him down sooner. Yeah, he was that type of guy."

Clark breathes out slowly. "Was his last name Lombard?"

I raise my eyebrows. How did he know?

"I have to deal with a Steve Lombard. I heard him mention a nephew once*. It sounds like he takes after his uncle."

He grins. "You've more than convinced me he had that takedown coming."

Good. Well, not the fact that he has to deal with a frat boy.

"It sucks that you have to deal with that guy but I guess every office has its jerk."

He laughs. "That sounds right."

I nod then look at the clock. Well, it's 10 o'clock and I don't think that I want to wait another three hours until I go back to my place.

Oh, yeah, I have books. It looks like I'm kind of absentminded today.

Hey, I can finish my Runaways binge.

I'm just about to go get the book when Clark stops me, saying my name.

"Yeah?"

He asks about my shirt, telling me that he meant to sooner.

"Bikini Kill is a riot grrrl band. Riot grrrl was what kicked off the third wave of feminism. It's basically what came out of Washington during the 90's besides grunge.

Yes, the spelling of girl is right. Tobi Vail, one of the members of Bikini Kill, came up with it.

No, this isn't official merch and you know what that means."

He nods. "You made it. That's dedication. It's admirable."

I don't consider it dedication but I do thank him then decide to go with my plan. I'll be changing it a bit actually.

I come back with two books in my right hand.

I hand Clark my riot grrrl book. "Educate yourself but bear in mind that book isn't for keeps."

He takes it then nods. "I didn't expect it to be. I'm sure that it's one of your favorites."

I tell him that it is then, soon, I'm starting the book that I wanted to read, feeling only slightly angry with myself that I didn't recite the riot grrrl manifesto for him.

Wait, I had a question.

I mark my spot with a finger. "You kick Dabney's ass for me?"

I hear him laugh gently. "I promised I would. I always keep my promises."

That's a yes then. Good.

I start reading again. My stomach growls when I'm finished.

I bet it's lunch time. I check the clock and find out I'm right.

I go to find Clark and find that he's finished the book, which makes me surprised but only for a little bit. He's Superman.

No, wait. Superman's the disguise.

Hell of a disguise.

I grab the book then, after putting both of my books in the room, come back and ask Clark what he thought.

He blushes slightly. "Well, I wasn't expecting some parts."

I facepalm. "Apparently, even guys from Krypton don't understand shit about the monthly visitor. God, now I'm even more happy that I haven't started getting it yet."

I remove my hand then look at him. "Are you telling me that your cousin's never mentioned Aunt Flo?"

He raises one eyebrow.

I nearly roll my eyes but decide to have some fun with him instead. "Lady business? Shark week? Riding the cotton pony?"

He's turned a brighter red with each one. "Starling, stop it." He turns an even brighter red.

I'm pretty sure it's because he said that in a kind of high pitch.

"Re-wallpapering the fetus hotel?"

His jaw drops and his eyes bug out of his head.

"Okay, now I'm done."

He pulls himself together then rolls his eyes. "Are you proud of yourself?"

I grin, wide and toothy. "Do you really want me to answer that?"

He starts getting stuff out for sandwiches. "On second thought, no. I don't even want to know where you picked those terms up, especially the last one."

He finishes gathering what he had to have thought was necessary, including a couple of plates.

I make myself a ham and cheese sandwich then warm it a little in a toaster oven that, thankfully, I find which I, of course, turn on. "Behold the virtuoso of the toaster oven and the microwave."

I finish warming my sandwich then, after turning off the toaster oven, put it on a plate and carry it to the table. "You learn a few things, being raised by a single parent. I know how to use the stove but I don't like the sound that much."

I start to eat my food. " I'm trying to get over my sensitivity to certain sounds because I don't want to get teased about it."

I finish my sandwich, still feeling kind of hungry. I'm about to make myself another one but Clark does instead, also bringing me a glass of water, then looks at me.

After I thank him, he asks me what other sounds I'm sensitive to.

I breathe out slowly, not really wanting to answer his question. "Tell you what, I'll answer that and any other questions you might have after my concert. Okay?"

He nods then, in what feels like hardly any time at all, we're on our way back to my place. It seems to take even less time before I'm inside.

Okay. I think that I'm going to make this fast.

There's too many memories in here and, to be honest, they're starting to hurt.

I go to my room then, soon, I have my leather jacket and Red Octane T-shirt. I also grab my photo album that's nearly full of ticket stubs and decide to get a box.

I put in the things I already got, my Docs because I might want them and the stuff for Guitar Hero, which includes all of the games as well as two controllers, because I definitely want to have that.

Clark can use Dad's, which I think is okay and I actually look forward to playing with him. I'll start the match when I get back to his place.

No, wait. I wanted to get a few more books. I think I'll get some other things too.

I get Taylor Jenkins Reid's Daisy Jones and The Six, Pat Benatar's Between a Heart and a Rock Place and Ann and Nancy Wilson's Kick and Dreaming: A Story of Heart, Soul and Rock and Roll. That should be enough books for now.

I also get my Judy Nails figurine as well as the one that I have for the character of Pandora. Both are my favorites.

Okay, that's enough. I want to get out of here and play!

First things first though.

Shortly, I'm back inside my new room.

I put together my outfit for my concert. Well, the new things that I got and am gonna wear.

Most of it anyway. I've put my Docs in the closet.

I put my books with the other ones that I brought, still arranging them alphabetically by the author's last name.

I put the photo album on top of the dresser with the figurines after telling Clark who they are and that they're my favorite.

He smiles, which makes me decide to show him some of the ticket stubs that I've collected. I show him the first one that I have and ones for everyone that I have a poster of.

Now I really want to play.

Soon, I've loaded the second game. I've also told him about it, that I've got a song in mind, but I want it to be a surprise.

He accommodates me then it's not too long before the song's loading.

I grin, wide and toothy, because I can hardly wait to see the look on his face.

*canonically is named Jaime.